Leon died countless deaths, a cycle that left him utterly lost in time. His eyes grew expression less as he became a hollow shell, mindlessly enduring being thrown from the mountain by the Dragon God again and again. Without even a moment to think or process the pain, he simply gave up. He abandoned even the will to curse God; instead, each time he was hurled into the abyss, he only laughed loudly like a maniacal fool."
You have died...
You have died...
Mana expanding.....
Dragon heart Increased Low into Mid tier.....
Dragon heart expanding.....
The agony of his expanding dragon heart surpassed even the trauma of being hurled from the mountain. With every cycle, he perished from the dual torment of the shattering impact and the internal pressure of his swelling heart.
"Mana expanding... The Dragon God's special training was a success...
Finally, the pain is subsiding, though I feel like I'm about to die. That crazy god—he's no Dragon God, he's a Devil God. Even thinking about the training makes me want to puke."
"Oh? Finally, you look like someone who can actually stand. Still, you're just barely hanging on. Good. I want my student to be even crazier—I want you to be able to crush everything in your path."
The Dragon God let out a booming laugh. "By the time I was your age, I had already ascended to godhood. You aren't even a fraction as powerful as I was. But then again, I was born with this power." He continued to mock and tease Leon, his laughter echoing through the training ground."
"There he goes again. How many times has he bragged about being more powerful, greater, and stronger? At first it make me furious , but now I can endure it. I've grown used to his mockery. 'Provoke me as much as you want, 'but you're forgetting one thing: your student is also smarter and crazier than you.' Leon smirked."
"Nothing? No reaction? How disappointing. Usually, a single word from me is enough to provoke him into a frenzy. But this silence... it's no good. I need him to snap so I can justify dragging him through another round of torment."
But he's just standing there, smiling. That smile... it's actually a little creepy. Wait, what? Well, I suppose that's to be expected from my student. I am really a genius; after that training, he's grown even stronger. Even his gaze has changed—it's getting weirder."
The Dragon God cleared his throat. "Leon, close your eyes. Try to feel the Dragon Heart."
Leon obeyed, closing his eyes and focusing with all his might, but there was no result.
"Leon," the god continued, "humans do not inherit natural mana, so acquiring pure magic is normally impossible. If you cannot feel the magic, then you must imagine it. Create a world within yourself that exists only for magic."
"Reflect on your nature, Leon. You are a rarity. Even with an Immortal Rune, creating your own Dragon Heart is a task bordering on the impossible. Though you are human, your vessel can withstand what even gods fear. Only you can reclaim the purity of the mana that the world has long lost."
"Magic isn't inherently great or powerful. Its strength comes from finding your own unique truth. It is a constant—beautiful to some, yet a curse to others. Never forget that the path of magic is a legacy that you must uphold, just like the blade at your side."
"Create a world of pure magic," the Dragon God commanded. "Make it stronger, more absolute, so that nothing in existence can destroy it."
"Yes, Master," Leon replied.
He tried repeatedly to follow the Dragon God's guidance, but the 'world' refused to take shape. It wasn't a lack of mana or understanding; he was simply lost on what a 'world' truly meant. Suddenly, a memory surfaced: his family, his home. To protect them, he began to visualize a sanctuary. He built a home in his mind, then expanded the territory around it.
But then, a thought struck him. If I return to my world with this power, I can save my family... but what about the others? He saw the faces of those with nothing. Could he simply ignore them? The memory of the screams and crying he heard before being thrown into this world echoed in his mind.
How can I protect only my family while countless others lose everything? Leon's resolve hardened. I will protect them all. I will be the shield. I cannot promise perfection, but I will never give up.
I know this task is nearly impossible, but I will endure it. I do this for those who have sacrificed everything for the sake of others."
Leon did not just create a home for his family; he manifested a world for all who face unfairness, a sanctuary for every suffering soul.
The Dragon God stood frozen, his breath catching. "Is he truly human?" he whispered to himself. "Is this really his first time wielding magic?"
A shadow of deep sorrow crossed the god's face. "If only I had met you back then... would things have changed, my child? I am sorry for abandoning you." He looked at the radiant world Leon was building—a place of mercy he himself could never have imagined. "Even I could not create a world as beautiful as yours. I was too selfish. But thank you, Leon... for reminding me of the person I used to be." For the first time, the Dragon God's eyes were clouded with the weight of ancient regret.
"I did it, Master! Did you see? I actually did it!"
"Hmph. I saw it. Well done," the Dragon God replied, quickly hiding his emotions. "But don't let it go to your head. You haven't even reached the first stage yet—you're still just a beginner."
"Wow. Can't he just appreciate me for once? Looks like the path of magic is going to be brutal."
"Did you say something?" the Dragon God barked.
"Nothing, Master!" Leon squeaked.
"Now that you've manifested your mental world, we need to begin the next phase. You're going to kill the floor boss using only magic. No other skills—and the sword is strictly forbidden."
"What?! Me and Ethan are inseparable! If I don't use him, I'll lose sleep!"
"Do you even have time to sleep?" the god scoffed. "When I was your age—"
"Wait! I'm a human, not some divine being! Even when I'm rushing to clear floors, I need at least two hours of sleep to function!"
"Fine. Clear Floor to 162, and then I'll teach you the next step. I'll even throw in a reward. Here—you'll probably need this."
The Dragon God began his 'debugging.....
New restrictions: you are banned from using anything except your magic and Rune of Immortality." He tossed a dusty tome at Leon's feet."
[The Book of Valish] - ( Low Tier )
( It was a beginner's guide written by some clearly insane deities.
The subtitle even warned: 'Better if you don't read this.' It was ranked Low, but its aura felt anything but weak.
Description hidden - Too Awesome for Beginners: Implies Leon isn't cool enough to read it yet.)
"Due to the active restrictions, Leon was unable to see the true description of the book the Dragon God had given him; in truth, only the Dragon God himself knew how to unlock its power."
"Wow! The name of this book is actually interesting. Just like a manga protagonist, if I open this, will I suddenly gain epic magic spells? Ha! Is it really that easy? Then again, the Dragon God isn't the type to give away something precious so easily. Maybe it's because I'm his student? Don't overthink it, Leon. Everything's going to be alright."
"You crazy old.........
I can't even curse you. "
" Master, are you sure you've actually accepted me as a student?"
" I can't use Ethan. This is the absolute worst. One moment I'm creating a 'world for magic,' and the next, he's telling me to defeat some monster with it. He could at least pretend to explain how. Instead, he just throws me a book with half the pages torn out. Only the book front page is good.My life is officially ruined."
" I can't die because the Immortality, becuase its completely imprinted on me, but if I didn't have it, I wonder what that crazy god would have done... I'm getting the chills just thinking about it. God, I miss my bed. I miss my room. Someone just tell me this is all a dream."
I even tried ending it all just to wake up, but no luck. I knew the moment I heard that crazy god's voice that my life was about to become a living hell..... "
[ Item: The Book of Valish)
Description: A product of divine boredom.
Effect: None (supposedly).
Advice: To any magic learner who finds this—don't. Just... don't. Using this book is a one-way ticket to a headache.]
[Quest: The Dragon God's Trial]
Objective: Clear all enemies and reach Floor 162.
Condition: Magic Only. All physical skills, weapons, and non-magical abilities are strictly sealed.
Penalty for Failure: Additional "Special Training" from the Dragon God.