Chapter 125 : Chapter 125

Chapter 125 : Dragon's Trial (1)

Weak.

That was Hike’s cold evaluation after she carefully scrutinized the four of us: me, Keldric, Bea, and Everchen.

My companions’ faces were filled with bewilderment. But I hid my expression.

Even within the Adjak Expedition, Hike was a strong individual who had reached the rank of a Regulator.

She was a person evaluated to possess enough power to regulate this world.

From the perspective of such a being, it was only natural that we were weak.

More important than that was whether we could undergo the Dragon’s Trial.

“Yes, we are still lacking. That’s why we want to pass the Dragon’s Trial.”

“Even compared to those who traveled with Adjak, you are too weak.”

However, Hike didn’t respond to me and continued speaking.

Everyone was intimidated by Hike and frozen, but Bea mustered up her courage.

“...Of course. Everyone in the Adjak Expedition was a hero.”

“Are you a descendant of Gawen?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Gawen would not have spoken like you’re making an excuse.”

This is not good. I looked at Bea’s face with worry.

She left Kipaso to follow the same path as Gawen.

She had continuously worked hard, vowing to live a life that would not bring shame to her ancestor’s name.

It was no different from Hike provoking Bea.

Of course, that didn’t mean Bea could get angry at Hike.

Hike was not only a hero of the entire continent, but she was also a companion who went on the expedition with Gawen.

Bea simply clenched her fists and lowered her head.

Her fists trembled.

“Even those who were with Adjak in the expedition were all ordinary at first. No, not even Adjak was strong from the beginning.”

Hike’s words were correct.

The people Adjak had as companions were all notable NPCs, but they weren’t the strongest individuals gathered from each continent.

Adjak gathered companions who had enough potential for growth rather than those with outstanding current abilities.

He traveled with them and grew together.

“There were many times I was dissatisfied when Adjak brought new companions. I thought he was only gathering brats. But they gradually grew. When we went to Myeolji, there were more than a few who had become stronger than me.”

“...Was Lady Gawen weak at first too?”

“Yes. Gawen was with us as the commander of the elves, so her starting point was ahead of others. But she also became a Regulator while on her journey with Adjak. Compared to when I first met her, it was a remarkable growth.”

“...”

Bea still held her fists tightly, but she no longer lowered her head.

“You must become stronger than Adjak’s companions.”

“Yes, we will become stronger.”

I spoke as if I were making a promise. My companions also answered one by one. I could feel the determination in their voices. Hike must have felt it too.

“We want to become stronger. Please give us the Dragon’s Trial.”

Hike looked us over once more and she slowly said.

“The Dragon’s Trial does not necessarily help with growth. Some people even die while undergoing the trial. Do you still want to receive it?”

“Yes.”

“I want to receive it as well.”

“Me too.”

After hearing each of our answers, Hike spoke with dignity.

“I will give you the first trial. Find the High Dragon’s Nest and come to me.”

I was slightly bewildered. Is that a trial?

The High Dragon’s Nest constantly moves, so it’s impossible to pinpoint its location and go there.

However, if you narrow down the possibilities by moving towards areas with a high concentration of Mana, it’s not impossible to find.

I was able to find it myself right after my Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

But as expected, the Dragon’s Trial was not simple.

“Instead, do not use Mana, Tune, or Divine Power to find it. You must find it with only the power of your body.”

“How will you limit the use of Mana and Tunes? Can you use such a Dragon Speech?”

“I can. But you must learn not to use it yourselves.”

Hike simply dismissed my question.

“Even if you secretly use Mana, I won’t know. But if you want to become stronger, don’t deceive yourself and pass the trial.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After saying that, Hike transformed from her human form into a dragon.

In her Draconian form, Hike looked just like any other human, except for her thin wing membranes and vertically-slit pupils.

But when she transformed into her dragon form, her majesty was extraordinary.

Her long, graceful neck and sleek, streamlined body were covered in scales that glittered under the sunlight.

Hike flapped her massive wings and flew into the sky.

My companions and I, along with the people of the imperial capital, stared with our mouths agape at the distant Hike.

It was a beautiful and majestic sight, but I felt another sensation.

‘She’s going to give us a hint about the direction.’

Thankfully.

I turned to my companions and said.

“Then, let’s take the Dragon’s Trial.”

***

Adjak had also experienced the Dragon’s Trial.

Each dragon could give a trial with their own authority and Adjak had received his trial from the Former Dragon Lord, the owner of the rim now engraved in my heart.

The Dragon’s Trial that Adjak received had been reconfigured as the task for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony I participated in.

Hike gave a different trial from the former Lord.

The type and stage of the trial were different for each dragon.

Naturally, the rewards that follow would also be different.

I was curious about how many stages Hike’s trial would have and what kind of reward I could get after completing it.

But the reason the Dragon’s Trial was famous was because the process of the trial itself was a great help to growth.

‘There must be many people who want to receive the Dragon’s Trial... but few who actually get it. We are lucky.’

Although all dragons can give trials, there are only two dragons in this era: Hike and Baden.

Our first trial, to find the High Dragon’s Nest without using Mana or Tunes.

Considering it was the first trial, I thought the difficulty wasn’t that high.

“But how do we not use Mana?”

“Right... How? Can we not use Mana?”

But the low difficulty was just my thought.

We faced a problem before we even started.

“Should we not breathe?”

“Ugh...”

Ever since we were able to perceive Mana, we had only been contemplating how to handle Mana well.

We maximized our physical abilities through Mana and used Mana to cut down our opponents.

Even if we couldn’t handle Mana at all, for those of us who had handled Mana as if we were breathing, not using Mana at all was a huge limitation.

Because of that, we couldn’t take a single step and were stopped in front of the banquet hall.

Especially me, thanks to my Dragon Heart, I was a First-Rank who could feel Mana from birth.

It was difficult to imagine a life without Mana itself.

So, while I was struggling for a long time, a sudden realization came to me.

‘Anyway, before I was 15, I only felt Mana but never used it, right?’

Suddenly, I found a clue. In the past, I only sent Mana to my heart but never utilized it at all.

It might be impossible now to not breathe in the Mana floating in the atmosphere.

But wouldn’t it be possible to confine the Mana that came in through breathing into the heart?

I tried that method.

I confined the Mana mixed in with my breath into my heart.

I also gathered the Mana that was spread throughout my body into my heart.

Gradually, Mana began to gather in the Dragon Heart.

The Dragon Heart seemed to be pleased with the feeling of fullness it hadn’t felt in a while.

It thumped, feeling the Mana that was coming into it.

“We can’t stop Mana from entering just from breathing. Instead, you can think of it as confining the Mana in your heart.”

My companions, who got a hint from my words, began to try one by one.

Keldric, who was holding his breath until his face turned red, happily exhaled.

And everyone succeeded in confining the Mana in their hearts.

“I have... no strength at all.”

Everchen said, sounding unaccustomed.

I was the same.

It had only been so long since Mana helped and supported my body and when I confined the Mana, I felt like all the strength had been drained from my body.

Still, since they were all talented individuals, they quickly got the hang of it.

“Then, let’s really start!”

“Let’s go.”

We stepped forward with vigor.

By looking in the direction Hike had flown and walking one step at a time, we would be able to arrive at the Dragon’s Nest.

***

“Keldric. Be careful. Mana is leaking out.”

“Oh, you’re right. Thanks.”

Keldric and Everchen, who had become close, encouraged each other as they walked.

Not just them, but me and Bea too.

If we relaxed even a little, Mana would try to leak out from our hearts.

It was inevitable for those who had become so accustomed to using Mana that it was no different from breathing.

But we just kept moving forward one step at a time, without deceiving ourselves, just as Hike had said.

Before we knew it, we were out of the imperial capital and walking on a forest path.

Perhaps because Mana wasn’t enhancing our overall physical abilities, just walking felt very taxing.

But we knew this was also part of the trial, so we slowly walked forward without trying any tricks.

However, a problem occurred.

“It’s a cliff.”

Following the direction Hike had flown, we walked in a straight line and faced a sheer cliff.

Everyone sighed, not knowing what to do.

“...Hah, if only I could use Mana, I could just cross it.”

“We can’t do that.”

Keldric grumbled and Bea said with a resolute voice.

Although the distance was quite far, with the use of Mana, everyone would have been able to cross it without difficulty.

“Should we go back?”

“No, I’ll try to jump over it.”

Keldric took a deep breath.

He bent and straightened his legs, stretched, and shook his arms, dispelling the tension.

Keldric, as a martial artist, would at least have a stronger body than others.

“You can do it.”

Bea encouraged Keldric.

Then, without hesitation, she began to climb down the cliff.

Climbing down the cliff was by no means easy, but she must have judged it to be better than jumping across.

Everchen also swallowed and patted Keldric’s shoulder, then followed Bea down the cliff.

“Polarin, what are you going to do?”

“I’ll watch what you do, brother.”

“Good. Believe in me!”

Keldric overcame his fear and took a running start from a distance.

Dadadadak!

Keldric took quick, short steps and leaped with all his might.

The distance between the cliffs was so far that Keldric looked like he was almost flying.

But it was a little short.

I was surprised and shouted.

“Keldric!”

Keldric didn’t have time to answer.

Instead, he swung his fist and smashed the cliff, barely managing not to fall.

Ugh, it looked painful to me. To break the cliff with a bare fist without Mana. Still, Keldric groaned and grabbed the cliff, climbing up.

“Polarin! I did it!”

Keldric, seemingly unaware that blood was dripping from his fist, smiled brightly and waved his hand widely.

I, too, waved back with a sigh of relief.

‘Can I cross it too?’

I gauged the distance.

I could just jump over, but I wouldn’t be able to break the cliff with my fist like Keldric.

I wondered if I could just stick my sword in. While I was thinking, I encountered a shocking sight.

“Brother! Behind you!”

Behind Keldric, a Grade 4 Beast, a Pera, appeared.

It was a beast with a massive body like a rhinoceros and a thick horn protruding from the center of its forehead.

But Keldric didn’t seem to notice and kept waving his hand.

“Brother! Keldric! Behind you!”

Keldric belatedly noticed my gestures and was surprised, turning around.

Thump!

The Pera rammed into Keldric.

The original Keldric would have been able to handle a few Grade 3 Beasts without difficulty, but without using Mana, it was hard to say.

We had fought a few beasts on the way here, but fighting without using Mana was definitely difficult.

There was no time to hesitate any longer.

I gritted my teeth and ran straight toward the cliff.

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