Chapter 182 — The Dragon Was a Ruler
1
The Crystal Golem.
Nia had heard of it before, but this was her first time seeing one in person.
Santo Leo was chiseling away at its surface, but Nia couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the current situation was off.
The Dragon’s Eye.
Her Yongan—the fabled Dragon’s Eye—revealed a great deal of information to her.
It showed what kind of magic was being used.
The flow of mana.
How much mana was flowing into her.
And how much mana was needed to cast a spell.
‘But… there’s no visible weakness on that thing.’
Beside her, Senior Manus was bombarding the golem with magic.
Then, she noticed something peculiar about his spells.
Magic.
There was something layered over it, something that was destroying the golem’s barrier.
It was a mysterious sight.
It wasn’t like the barrier was being shattered; it peeled away, as if it were being unwrapped like plastic.
Nia saw it clearly.
‘Perhaps…’
An idea suddenly occurred to her.
In ancient times, dragons were known as the lords of magic.
The originators and masters of magic.
Great, supreme beings who were said to have even created the world with their magic.
Would they have fallen to mere golems?
Did their eyes fail to see something so obvious?
Her doubts turned into certainty.
And that certainty soon led her to a profound realization.
“Ugh…!”
“Nia, are you okay?”
“Katarina, protect Nia!”
“Got it!”
She clutched her eyes tightly shut.
The pain started in her eyes, throbbing so hard it felt like her head would explode.
Dragons.
What kind of eyes had they used to see the world?
Nia didn’t know.
They were still confined by the limits of “human” perception, after all.
Maybe they hadn’t cared about such trivialities.
“Haaah…”
“Nia, are you sure you’re alright?”
“…Yes, I’m fine now.”
The girl who had begun to fade from the world was about to find her answer.
When she opened her eyes again, the world looked entirely different.
It was like the scene from the movie The Matrix where Neo sees the code beneath the world. Nia’s eyes began to perceive things ordinary people couldn’t.
“Oh… Now I really am fine.”
She could see the elements that made up the world.
The drifting mana.
And something else moving within that mana.
Wait, was there… something inside the mana?
Her eyes turned a shimmering golden hue.
2
[Nia’s eyes are awakening.]
[Awakening: Stage 1]
“This… this is incredible.”
Nia’s awakening continued until Senior Manus had finished his match.
When she finally opened her eyes again after what felt like an eternity, her presence had changed entirely.
A composed woman stood there.
The aura she exuded wasn’t all that different from the Caesar family’s.
‘Finally.’
Surely, that wasn’t the answer she had been seeking.
There was still a long, rough road ahead.
But a signpost had definitely been placed along the way.
The Caesar family’s mindset reflected the state she was in.
Nia was struggling—struggling not to be forgotten.
Struggling to make her mark on the world and on the people around her.
“Nia, your eyes… they’re…”
“What? I feel great.”
Crackle-!
Two magic circles formed in her hands, one on each.
Double casting.
It was a technique that had become so common around her recently that it almost seemed like it had lost its rarity, but it was still an impressive skill.
[Fulgetra]
[Glacius]
Two spells shot toward the golem in quick succession.
Lightning crackled across the surface of the golem, and a massive ice spike pierced into one of its joints.
Thanks to this, the golem’s movements were momentarily halted.
Nia glanced over her shoulder.
She saw her junior, Senior Manus, standing with his arms crossed, observing her with his sharp blue eyes.
“Hmph.”
Was he looking at her with that expression because he thought she could do it too?
Why was he gazing at her as if he were proud of her?
She waved her hand dismissively.
She saw it.
There was something inside the mana—spirits.
They were drifting lazily through the mana, living carefree lives.
It annoyed her.
Here she was, struggling so hard, and they were just playing around?
‘Come here, you little things.’
[Nia’s Exclusive Technique: Mana Domination]
Shuuuaaa!
In an instant, the surrounding mana was drawn to her.
More precisely, she had seized the spirits hiding within the mana.
Mana spirits.
Dragons had ruled over the mana spirits.
That was why they had become the lords of magic, why there were records of them using magic so effortlessly.
Nia had found her path.
And beyond that, she saw the direction her family, the Abrel family, needed to take.
[Manubia: Rapina]
Golden lightning, not the usual blue, slithered through the air like a snake.
Senior Manus saw the power contained within the spell.
It was a truly astounding sight.
‘So, you can draw power like that…’
[Mana Domination]
[You have dominated the spirits within the mana and now control them like your limbs.]
[All defenses and buffs created with mana are ignored.]
[Interference confirmed.]
[Abrel Nia has left her mark on the world.]
[The time before she is forgotten has been extended slightly.]
[Reward: The ability to more easily find your opponent’s weaknesses.]
‘The power of dragons… so that’s the legacy of the Abrel family.’
The true extent of her potential was finally being revealed.
It was fascinating to watch.
It was also a power that Manus himself coveted.
“Start with the legs—.”
Boom!
Golden lightning swallowed the golem’s leg.
The leg, which should have been protected by a strong barrier, collapsed as if it were nothing.
Of course, losing one leg didn’t mean the golem was completely down, but it was still a shocking sight.
“Watch out, it’s coming!”
Nia’s eyes detected the incoming threat.
Katarina, quick on her feet, raised her shield and blocked the golem’s fist.
Nia’s magic continued unabated.
As the golden magic poured down on it, the golem crumbled helplessly.
She had finished second, right behind Manus.
And on top of that, she had taken the golem down with precision and grace, so it was only natural that all eyes were on her.
“Who is that girl?”
“She’s from the Abrel family, isn’t she?”
“They say the blood of dragons runs strong in her veins, and it seems they weren’t exaggerating.”
The nobles who had come to observe murmured amongst themselves.
There truly were many different types of magic in the world.
Each noble family wielded a unique magic born of their lineage.
But even among them, the Abrel family’s magic was in a class of its own in terms of speed and destructive power.
Some of the Abrel family retainers were present, too.
Their faces were filled with pride as they looked at Nia.
It was a blessing.
A true blessing.
At last, someone in the family had awakened the blood of the dragon.
“Father, did you see that?”
“Yes… I saw it. To think she could use magic like that…”
“Indeed. Finally, at long last…”
The eldest son was even tearing up.
Once a great family, they had fallen on hard times.
But now, it was time for them to rise again.
“Nia has done it. Our family will wield great influence once more.”
“We should go ahead with the business ventures we’ve been planning. And as for that anomaly…”
The family head glanced around.
Everyone was focused on the match, so their conversation went unnoticed.
He leaned in to hear more from his son.
The anomaly.
Something strange was happening on the continent.
No one knew exactly what it was yet.
There were suspicions, but without any concrete evidence, no one could be sure.
But now, it seemed like they had found a clue.
The son spoke to the family head.
“It seems something is happening within the academy.”
“In that case…”
“Yes, we should be able to use Nia.”
The family head nodded.
An anomaly within the academy.
It was too risky for the Abrel family to intervene directly, as many others would be eager to involve themselves.
But using Nia to establish their influence and bide their time wasn’t a bad idea.
Both men’s gazes fell on Nia, who was standing proudly, a smile on her face.
The Abrel family’s eldest son noticed something odd.
Nia wasn’t looking in their direction at all.
‘Why isn’t she looking this way? We’ve come all the way here.’
Her golden eyes weren’t fixed on them but on another student, a boy with incredible power.
A boy with black hair and piercing blue eyes.
An exceptionally talented mage who had left a lasting impression.
The Abrel family knew who he was.
‘Nia… you’ve become close with the Caesar family, haven’t you?’
Good.
If they could draw that boy to their side, their influence at the academy would grow stronger.
As much as they desired something greater than the family’s interests, they would have to wait and watch for now.
“Since things are going well with the Caesar family, we should encourage her to form a closer relationship with that boy.”
“That boy has shown remarkable skill.”
“He’ll have no rivals, not among his peers, and likely not even in the future.”
The family head nodded.
If there was an insurmountable wall, sometimes it was best to become part of what lay within it.
And if the day ever came to bring that wall down, so be it.
If not, then one could live within it forever.
The head of the Abrel family contemplated the wall that was the Caesar family.
Would Nia, with her fully awakened dragon blood, be able to surpass that towering, solid wall?
Their eyes glistened.
Even more so than Nia’s brilliant golden eyes, the eyes of the Abrel family glittered with hope.
3
All the trials had concluded.
Those who had ascended the tower, the chosen students, had all achieved outstanding results.
Each had brought down a golem in their own way, leaving a strong impression.
Tomorrow would be the interpersonal combat trial, followed by the survival trial, and finally, the dungeon crawl.
The final day would be capped with a grand banquet, a proper way to celebrate and unwind.
Once the midterms were over, they would need to focus on strengthening their overall performance.
‘It’s almost time, so why am I so uneasy about what’s happening inside the academy?’
Senior Manus looked up at the night sky, pondering the test to come tomorrow.
He recalled the students who had rejoiced after bringing down their golems.
They had grown stronger, just as he had intended.
It was a promising development.
Not only that, but a variety of unique talents were beginning to blossom.
Kael, Anais, Alano… and now Nia, too.
‘And yet, I still feel uneasy.’
The story was now unfolding in ways that were beyond his control.
Even though he knew there was nothing he could do about it, Senior Manus couldn’t shake the feeling and remained wide awake.
Moreover, ever since the incident involving Alano and Invidea, he couldn’t stop thinking about the interference in his own story.
What could it all mean?
Lost in thought, Senior Manus simply gazed at the sky.
Time would continue to march forward.
It wouldn’t wait, even for those lost in their worries.
“I need to focus on the things in front of me first. If I could have an audience with the Emperor, I’d love to ask him, but…”
There was no guarantee he would agree to meet him.
The first light of dawn began to creep into the sky.
A new day was about to begin, and with it, the trials.
Something big was on the horizon.
This time, there was no skill or item that could block an instant-death attack.
The second enemy wasn’t one that used physical attacks, after all.
After spending the night in thought, Senior Manus rose to his feet.
The answer would come soon.
Just because you find a path doesn’t mean everyone will be able to walk it.
“Still, I have reliable allies this time.”
They were comrades he had nurtured and protected for the past three months.
It was time to finally reap the rewards.
Senior Manus put on his uniform and checked his mana.
Despite all his worries, it was just another ordinary day.
And just like any other day, it would pass in the blink of an eye.
–TL Notes–
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