Chapter 18
Avince closed his eyes, focusing on the essence of his ability. He thought he needed to envision a dungeon filled with a powerful creature—but also a challenge that could push him to his limits while offering a chance to learn and grow. His heart raced with anticipation as he mentally sifted through options, seeking the right balance between danger and opportunity.
Something strong enough to kill me, he thought, a wry smile crossing his lips, but not so powerful that I can’t do something in the fight. His thoughts drifted to dragons—legendary creatures he had only heard tales about, their might woven into the fabric of stories. The idea of fighting a dragon was exhilarating.
But I need to pick one that’s manageable, he reminded himself, mentally scanning the hierarchy of dragons. What’s the weakest dragon I can find? After a brief moment of contemplation, he settled on the idea of an ice dragon. They were known to be fierce, yet he had read that the youngest of them, the Wyrmling, was at least a C-rank monster—dangerous, but not insurmountable if he played his cards right.
Given his experience dealing with ice and his adeptness at using fire magic, he felt confident that he could exploit the elemental weakness to his advantage.
With determination, Avince consumed all of his mana, channeling the energy into his ability. He could feel the familiar sensation of being pulled away from reality, the world around him fading into darkness. Moments later, his consciousness was thrust into the depths of a dungeon.
When his surroundings came into focus, he found himself standing in a cold, desolate chamber that echoed with a haunting stillness. Ice coated the walls, and remnants of what looked like dragon nests littered the ground—an abandoned breeding ground, perhaps. The air was thick with the smell of frost and decay, and Avince shivered involuntarily, his breath visible in the frigid air.
Alright, focus, he reminded himself. He activated his ability, allowing it to scan the area. The results came back quickly, revealing that the chamber was indeed full of ice Wyrmling dragons and their unhatched eggs. His heart raced at the sight—this was exactly what he had hoped for.
A new thought struck him: dragon eggs were usually valuable, with many adventurers and tamers seeking them out for their potential. He recalled stories about individuals with special abilities who could hatch and bond with dragons. What if his ability could store a living dragon egg? The idea fascinated him as he remembered his sister. Could she tame an ice dragon?
Curiosity piqued, Avince activated his ability to navigate the dungeon, honing in on the general vicinity of dragon eggs. His senses tingled as he eventually stumbled upon an egg nestled beneath a mound of ice, its surface shimmering with an icy sheen. But as he moved to claim it, he noticed a Wyrmling lurking nearby, its eyes narrowed and body poised to strike.
Looks like I’m not the only one interested in this egg, Avince thought, his pulse quickening as the Wyrmling approached, clearly agitated by his presence. The Wyrmling stood protectively over the egg, ready to defend it against any intruders.
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With no time to waste, Avince prepared himself for battle. The ice Wyrmling lunged at him, its jaws snapping, and he barely dodged to the side, the icy breath of the creature chilling him to the bone. He quickly conjured a Fireball, hurling it toward the Wyrmling, but it barely scratched the surface of the creature’s tough hide.
The Wyrmling retaliated with a powerful swipe of its tail, forcing Avince to roll away to avoid being knocked off his feet. He could feel the wind from the strike whip past him, a reminder of the creature's strength. As the Wyrmling struck again, he focused on the egg, attempting to use his ability while simultaneously fending off the creature’s relentless attacks. To his surprise, the attempt worked; the egg vanished into the void of his ability, safely stored away. However, this only enraged the Wyrmling further.
With a furious roar, the Wyrmling charged at him, its icy breath coiling around Avince like a fog. He sidestepped the creature’s snap, narrowly escaping the bite, and countered with a Fireball. This time, he infused it with more of his mana, hoping to catch the Wyrmling off guard. The spell exploded against the creature's flank, sending shards of ice flying, but the Wyrmling hardly flinched.
Fighting against the creature was becoming increasingly difficult. The Wyrmling was relentless, its strikes coming faster than he could anticipate. Avince found himself on the defensive, parrying blows and dodging the icy blasts that erupted from the dragon’s maw. Despite his best efforts to strike back, the dragon’s sheer power overwhelmed him. He received several injuries, each more debilitating than the last—one particularly deep gash along his arm left him momentarily stunned.
As the pain surged through him, he pushed forward, determined to hold his ground. Instead of being on the offensive this time, Avince flicked his wrist and created a wall of flames between himself and the Wyrmling. The fire roared to life, crackling and popping, forcing the creature to halt and reconsider its approach.
Avince didn’t waste the opportunity. He conjured fiery whips, lashing out toward the Wyrmling with precision, each strike designed to keep the beast at bay. The flames sizzled against the ice, creating a mist that filled the air, adding an element of confusion to the battlefield. The Wyrmling hissed, clearly agitated by the sudden onslaught, and lunged forward again, this time aiming to break through the barrier.
As it crashed into the wall of fire, Avince focused on redirecting the flames. He twisted his hands, and the fire shifted, enveloping the Wyrmling in a torrent of heat. The creature roared in pain, but it was a desperate roar—one that fueled Avince’s resolve.
Now was his chance. He launched a series of Fire Arrows, each one aimed at the Wyrmling's vulnerable spots, seeking to exploit its weaknesses. The arrows flew true, striking the creature and forcing it to stagger back. Avince pressed his advantage, combining his attacks with bursts of flame that swirled around him like a dance of fire.
But as the Wyrmling charged him again, claws extended, Avince stumbled back, the icy breath of the creature catching him off guard. He fell to the ground, his vision blurring as the Wyrmling loomed over him, preparing to deliver a final blow.
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The dragon is simply too strong for me, he thought, as the world around him faded to black and his consciousness slipped away, pulled back to reality.
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When Avince regained consciousness, he found himself back in the familiar surroundings of their house. He saw Kartana standing nearby, her blue eyes glinting with interest. Erwin was at her side, looking equally curious but far less animated.
“Ah, took you long enough,” Kartana remarked, her tone teasing yet critical. “I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost in there.”
Avince groaned, still feeling the lingering effects of his recent experience. “I was fighting a Wyrmling. It didn’t end well.”
Erwin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “You fought a dragon? A Wyrmling, you say? That’s impressive.”
Kartana stepped forward, her expression serious as she examined him. “Your mana was completely consumed right from the start,” she noted, her voice carrying a tone of authority. “But my artifact hastily regenerates and heals any damage caused by using that much mana so quickly. It works just as intended.”
As she spoke, Avince felt a warmth spreading through him, the effects of the pendant working to restore his strength.
“However,” she continued, her gaze piercing, “I’ve observed something else. Over time, your soul appears to be sustaining damage at irregular intervals. The amount seems random.” She paused, studying him closely. “And it’s not just that. You look... worn down. Your body shows signs of strain—like you’ve been through repeated exhaustion. Have you noticed feeling weaker or more tired every time you use your abilities?”
Avince paused, a realization dawning on him. “The injuries to my soul... they must correspond directly with the ones I’ve taken in fights,” he said aloud, connecting the dots. “But the exhaustion? That makes less sense.”
Avince’s expression then turned thoughtful as he looked at Kartana. “I just remembered something—from the second time I used my ability. I didn’t get hurt at all; I was just running around, casting lightning to keep the enemies back. But afterward, I felt completely exhausted, like I’d physically done everything myself.”
He paused, considering the implications. “Maybe… all the physical activity I do in the dungeon somehow translates back to my real body, even if I don’t get visible injuries. It’s like my body is carrying the fatigue as if I actually did it all outside the dungeon.”
Kartana nodded in understanding, her expression shifting from analytical to reassuring. “That makes sense,” she said thoughtfully. “It explains the randomness of the soul damage—and the exhaustion. It seems like any physical or mana-based exertion you experience in the dungeon translates back to your real body, even if you don’t sustain direct injuries. It’s as though your consciousness links the physical toll back to you.”. The pendant’s capabilities should be able to keep up with your mana trying to repair the soul damage. This could turn out to be beneficial; it’s a unique kind of training that might enhance your mana, body, and soul, ultimately increasing their strength and capacity.”
Avince processed her words with interest. The idea of training his soul presented an intriguing challenge, though he still had questions about how that would work in practice.
“Now, about your next steps,” Kartana continued, breaking his reverie. “I’ll need an unattuned monster core to demonstrate how to replenish the pendant's mana supply.” She turned to Erwin, who nodded and quickly rummaged through his belongings.
While Erwin searched, Kartana’s gaze shifted to Avince, her blue eyes sharp with focus. “You have great potential, Avince. “Your ability to train your soul is significant,” Kartana explained. “If your soul grows strong enough, you can apply your will to your attacks and even your magic, making them more powerful and allowing them to have a greater influence on the world around you. At higher levels, this becomes one of the primary ways to advance, which is why individuals at my level must possess some knowledge of the soul. Unfortunately, most lack a reliable method for training it, including me”.
Erwin returned, holding out an unwieldy core that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. “Here it is,” he said, his voice steady. “An unattuned core from a high-tier monster.”
“Good,” Kartana said, taking the core from him. She examined it closely, nodding in approval. “Watch closely, both of you.”
With practiced ease, she crushed the core in her palm, the material crumbling into shimmering dust. To Avince's astonishment, the pendant began to absorb the crushed core’s remnants almost instantly, glowing with a vibrant light as it replenished its mana reserves.
“Fascinating,” Avince murmured, unable to look away. He was in awe of how effortlessly she shattered the high-tier core, a feat that required a level of strength currently beyond his reach. The sheer amount of mana contained within that core was staggering, and he knew it would be a long time before he could even hope to replicate her prowess.
“Now,” Kartana said, returning her attention to him, “this process shouldn’t be attempted by you yet. It requires refined control of mana and a deep understanding of how the cores function. For now, the pendant will serve you well, especially since the monster core has filled it nearly to capacity.”
Avince turned to Erwin. “You should be able to break a monster core to fill the amulet as well.”
Erwin nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll fill it when it's needed”
“Thank you,” Avince said to Kartana, his voice steady. He felt a surge of respect for the archmage; not only was she powerful, but her willingness to guide him through this challenging path was invaluable.
Kartana stepped back, her eyes narrowing slightly as she began to cast a spell. Avince recognized the incantation as one that summoned constructs. A shimmer of magic enveloped the area, and ethereal shapes began to form around her, materializing into elegant figures of light and energy.
Avince recognized the spell as Kartana conjured the glowing constructs around her. He knew it was a teleportation spell, designed for long-distance travel and requiring a significant amount of mana. He could feel the weight of the magic in the air, a testament to her capabilities.
He marveled at the constructs, their forms fluid and graceful, radiating an otherworldly beauty. The aura they emitted was palpable, showcasing the immense power she wielded.
As the last of the constructs formed, Kartana turned back to Avince and Erwin, her expression softening. “I’ve used too much of my time already, I have somewhere else to be.”
With a final nod, she stepped into the circle of constructs, which flared with brilliant light. In an instant, she was enveloped by the magic, her figure disappearing along with the constructs. The air buzzed with residual energy, leaving Avince momentarily speechless.
Erwin broke the silence, his voice steady and calm. “You should get some rest now, Avince. You’ve had a long day.”
Avince nodded slowly, still processing everything that had just transpired. “Right. Thank you, Dad,” he said, feeling a surge of gratitude towards his father. He appreciated the support, especially in moments when he really needed it.
As he climbed the stairs to his room, he thought about how he would approach his ability from now on.. Perhaps this was the key to finally closing the gap between him and the stronger contenders he had witnessed in the tournament.
Once in his room, Avince settled down, the pendant resting on his bedside table, glowing softly. He stared at it for a moment, contemplating what his next approach should be.