Each step Theo took seemed to naturally summon a *Deathbeat* beneath him, allowing him to run across the sky. His telekinesis and physical movements had seamlessly become one, enabling him to "sprint" through the air.

*Fwoosh!*

"This… This can't be!" Evelyn gasped, watching him from below. She had heard from Julius that Theo had unlocked his telekinetic abilities during the Ceremony of Emergence. Although telekinesis was a gift only accessible to those with exceptional talent, she had assumed he’d barely begun to master it. Yet here he was, maneuvering through the air as if it were second nature.

Evelyn gave Rangus, her wyvern, a firm pat. "Let's go! We can’t let him get ahead of us!”

Rangus, understanding her urgency, let out a long, powerful cry and flapped his wings, surging forward.

* * *

As Theo drew close to Umbra, he propelled himself upward using the *Deathbeats* as platforms, reaching a high vantage point. Then, with a flick of his telekinesis, he directed his *Deathbeats* toward the wyverns surrounding Umbra.

*Go.*

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The four daggers shot through the air, generating a burst of crackling energy from the friction, creating a display of lightning dragons descending from the sky.

*Rumble!*

Four lightning dragons snaked down, their claws tearing through the air.

The wyverns harassing Umbra only noticed the threat at the last moment, swiveling their heads toward Theo.

*Kraaaah!*

As the lightning dragons tore into them, several wyverns shrieked as blood splattered into the air. Most of them, belonging to the Poison Wyvern and Swift Wyvern species, were too weak to resist the assault and quickly retreated. However, one Beast Wyvern remained, sensing Theo was a threat.

But Theo was already descending with his zweihander, Drake’s Edge, in hand.

*Dragon’s Claw Technique – Ravage*

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

The zweihander, charged with mana, was formidable enough to prevent even the massive Beast Wyvern from closing in.

*Whoosh!*

Theo’s blade sliced across the wyvern’s neck, leaving a deep wound. With a pained roar, the Beast Wyvern flapped its wings and fled, deciding Theo was too dangerous to engage. As a trained wyvern, it recognized the emblem of the White Armored Dragoons on Theo and had instinctively avoided direct confrontation.

With the other wyverns following suit and retreating, Umbra finally caught a break.

“Are you alright?”

Theo gently stepped onto a *Deathbeat* that had reverted to its dagger form, carefully approaching Umbra. 

However—

*Grrr…*

Umbra snarled at Theo, baring its fangs. Though Theo had helped, Umbra couldn’t trust his intentions immediately.

Theo hesitated, wondering what he should do. Before he could react, Umbra turned and bolted.

"Agh…!" Theo started to chase after it, but Evelyn quickly guided him back onto Rangus.

Noticing that Theo’s telekinetic endurance was almost depleted, she reassured him, “Umbra’s on edge right now. You should approach it slowly.”

Theo shook his head. “No, it’s precisely now that it needs someone by its side.”

Evelyn raised her eyebrows, but Theo’s expression remained determined. “Alright,” she sighed, nudging Rangus to follow.

* * *

Just as Theo predicted, they soon found Umbra resting on a rocky ledge nearby, breathing heavily.

*Grrr…*

However, even in its exhausted state, Umbra warily eyed Theo and Evelyn as they approached. The moment they tried to get closer, it bristled.

Perhaps food might help?

Evelyn considered trying to coax Umbra with food, but her wyvern, Rangus, seemed uninterested, scratching idly at its hind leg.

“Wait here. I’ll handle it,” Theo said, not waiting for Evelyn’s response as he moved toward Umbra.

*Kraaaah!*

Umbra bared its fangs again, clearly prepared to bite if Theo dared get closer. The wyvern’s mixed heritage showed in its imposing size and intimidating aura, a force known as *Wyvern Fear*.

*‘Its neck is seriously injured. If I don’t treat it soon, it could be fatal.’*

Theo quickly summoned the system menu.

*Open Store.*

Within moments, he found what he needed:

---

**[Tamer’s Healing Potion]**

- Type: Healing, Potion
- Requirements: Level 5
- Effect:
  - Accelerates wound healing
  - Partially restores stamina

---

*You have purchased ‘Tamer’s Healing Potion x2’ for 2 Coins.*

*‘Now the question is how to apply it to Umbra…’*

Theo stood about twenty meters from Umbra, close but still far enough that any sudden movement might startle it. 

*‘There’s no other choice.’*

Reluctantly, he decided to use his intimidation to subdue it.

*[Skill: Lesser Drake’s Fear activated to counter Wyvern Fear]*

A powerful aura emanated from Theo, canceling out the intimidating presence of Umbra’s Wyvern Fear. Umbra flinched in surprise, its eyes widening slightly, but it continued to glare defiantly.

In that moment of hesitation, Theo closed the gap, grabbing its foreleg with his enhanced strength, bolstered by [Mighty Strength].

*Kreee…!* 

Umbra struggled, but Theo held firm.

“Stay still, or you’ll just make your wounds worse,” Theo said as he poured the potion over its injuries.

*Sizzle.*

The potion worked instantly, stopping the bleeding and beginning to close the wounds. Umbra’s struggles lessened as it noticed the pain fading. It rolled its eyes, cautiously observing Theo.

“Feels better, doesn’t it?” Theo asked, pouring the remaining potion over its other wounds. 

*Whimper…*

As each wound closed, Umbra flinched but made no further attempts to resist.

* * *

For a brief moment, silence settled between them.

*Thump. Thump. Thump.*

Slowly, Umbra’s heartbeat fell into rhythm with Theo’s.

Theo sensed this change, a faint smile forming as he observed Umbra’s softened gaze.

He could feel the emotions it had carried—a heavy burden of loneliness, sadness, frustration, anger, and sorrow, born from years of isolation and exclusion.

It had been scorned by its own pack, left alone with only bitter memories and lingering heartache.

Umbra was suspicious of Theo’s kindness, yet it longed for companionship, a paradox that Theo, who had experienced similar feelings of abandonment, understood deeply.

As Theo gently patted Umbra’s scales, he spoke softly, letting his actions convey his sincerity more than words ever could.

“How… did you manage that?”

Evelyn finally approached, awe clear in her eyes. She had never seen Umbra so calm.

In the past, several Dragoon riders had tried to tame Umbra, each one drawn to its immense size, power, and unique features. But Umbra had always resisted, unwilling to wear a saddle or reins.

Yet, it had accepted Theo without a fight.

“I’m not sure,” Theo replied with a slight smile, keeping his thoughts to himself.

*‘Perhaps it’s the contract with Lodbrok that made it easier.’*

Dragons could sense each other by instinct.

But he quickly changed the subject.

“Evelyn, could you find something for it to eat? It looks like it hasn’t eaten properly in days.”

Evelyn glanced at Umbra’s emaciated frame and nodded. “Understood,” she said, before guiding Rangus skyward.

As she left, Theo inspected Umbra’s injuries one last time.

Its gaze, however, was fixed on something near his chest—the brooch Kirson had given him as a graduation gift.

*‘Could it be?’*

Testing a hunch, Theo unhooked the brooch and held it up. Umbra’s eyes followed it intently.

He moved it to the right, and Umbra’s gaze shifted with it.

He moved it to the left.

Umbra’s eyes followed, mesmerized.

He moved it up and down, diagonally, and every time Umbra’s eyes trailed the gleaming brooch.

“Ha! So, it wasn’t just Lodbrok’s aura—you’re drawn to shiny things, huh?”

It was a well-known legend that dragons loved treasure, and here was proof.

The brooch, with its brilliant design and glittering gems, had clearly caught Umbra’s attention.

“You want it?”

Umbra looked away as if feigning indifference, but it continued to steal glances at the brooch from the corner of its eye.

Theo chuckled, using the store to purchase a five-meter iron chain, which he attached to the brooch. Then he draped it around Umbra’s neck like a necklace.

*Clink.*

The brooch clinked against Umbra’s scales.

*Kree…?*

Umbra gently pawed at the brooch, inspecting it, then looked back at Theo, curious as to why he had given it such a gift.

“It’s yours.”

*Kree?*

“If you come with me, you can have even more treasures like this… what do you say?”

Theo noticed the subtle tremor in Umbra’s eyes as it processed his words.

“This isn’t all. Have you ever seen a ruby as big as your palm? Imagine how beautiful it would look on your claws.

 My mother even has a headband adorned with—”

The more Theo spoke, the more Umbra’s pupils dilated, its gaze fixated on him in fascination.

“I could even decorate your saddle with jewels if you don’t mind wearing one.”

*Kraaah!*

Umbra stood, letting out a triumphant cry, clearly eager to see these treasures for itself.

*Ding!*

---

**[You have successfully gained the trust of the Bifur Wyvern.]**

**[New skill acquired.]**

---

**[Wyvern Taming]**

- Grade: C-
- Proficiency: 1%
- Effect: Increases trust from tamed draconic species. All abilities increase by 10% while riding.

---

Theo grinned, realizing he had won Umbra’s complete loyalty.

The skill was more valuable than he’d anticipated, especially the 10% boost to all stats. This improvement affected not only his physical attributes but also his skills and abilities, giving him a crucial edge in battle.

*‘And if this applies to all draconic species… it might even extend beyond wyverns to creatures like desert death worms, drakes, or sea serpents. This could prove invaluable.’*

Theo suspected each taming scenario would require unique conditions, but he wasn’t worried.

Umbra might require more treasure to keep it content, but Theo already had a plan in mind.

*‘Kirson can handle that.’*

At that moment, far away, Kirson was counting a stack of coins when a sudden chill ran down his spine, as if sensing his future troubles.