*It feels like I just threw a spark into a barrel of oil.*

The heat surged.

The combination of the Thunder Dragon’s Breath technique and the Thermal Potential method was far more powerful than Theo had anticipated. The magical resonance flowing from the dragon heart through his core intensified the heat, causing his entire energy system to burn even hotter.

On top of that, the improved purity from the Pure Essence and Blue Glow Pills enhanced his mana, making it feel as if his body would burst into flames if he didn’t release some of it.

*This is too hot… I need to release more of it!*

He channeled the searing energy along the waves radiating from him, creating an intimidating mix of heat, steam, and crackling lightning around his form.

*Still not enough. I need to release even more…!*

The rate at which his martial energy was surging was outpacing how quickly he could vent it, forcing him to think of a solution.

The quickest answer was simple: *Get rid of the enemies in front of me as fast as possible.*

*There should be documents in a nearby vault connecting this place to Troyban or Ed. Let’s break through to it.*

With memories from his past life guiding him, Theo moved with decisive intent. Back then, he had been a low-level soldier following orders, but now he had the freedom to act according to his own will.

*Thump. Thump. Thump.*

The dragon heart pounded violently. With each pulse, waves of heat surged through the underground chamber, quickly raising the temperature.

*Bang!*

“Stop him!”

Where Theo’s feet pressed against the floor, charred marks appeared, and trails of white steam lingered in the air.

In a flash, the blade of his drake-forged sword began a frenzied assault.

*Dragon’s Five Claws – Rending Slash*

*Five strikes within a single breath.*

Determined to put his training to the test, Theo employed everything he had learned from Julius and the Plum Blossom Lady.

Lines intersected with curves.

Speed fused with illusion.

Force combined with grace.

Destruction met harmony.

Though the Mad Dragon Arts and the 24-Step Plum Blossom Swordsmanship seemed as incompatible as oil and water, they had one commonality:

*Light.*

Kael had given each of the Nine Dragons a unique understanding with his single stroke. In the Third Blooming Form, Theo had witnessed Kael’s blade technique and now sought to interpret it in his own way.

The rapid slashes weren’t just fast—they carried a scorching heat and tremendous power.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Everything in Theo’s path shattered and crumbled. Cracks appeared in the walls, dust fell from the ceiling, and assassins were smashed aside, broken and thrown.

And with each strike, his speed only increased, allowing him to add two more claws to his assault.

*Dragon’s Seven Claws*

Seven slashes in a single breath—like a whirlwind of devastation.

“Who is this guy…?”

Fear flashed across the assassins’ faces.

*There it is.*

As Theo reached his target destination, the assassins guarding the vault grew frantic.

“Block him!”

“Damn it! Don’t let him through! Hold your ground!”

Desperate to protect the vault, the assassins rushed forward, but Theo unleashed a surge of energy to eliminate them.

*Flash—*

*BOOM!*

For the first time, someone blocked Theo’s attack.

A middle-aged man wearing a blood-red himation (a type of cloak) grinned wickedly, catching the blade of Theo’s drake-forged sword with his blackened hand.

“Priest!”

“It’s the priest…”

The assassins’ faces lit up with hope at the sight of the man.

But the man’s attention was solely focused on Theo.

“Ah, an epiphany achieved amidst a massacre? How fitting—a seed of corruption. Today, I am bound to open the kill circle.”

Theo’s eyes narrowed.

“The Blood Priest.”

“You recognize me, young disciple?”

“Draped in the robes of the Holy Demon Church. Isn’t that a bit contradictory?”

“Ah, you are indeed observant, young one,” he chuckled.

The *Holy Demon Church* was a fanatical sect that preached the world’s end, claiming a savior would descend from the heavens to establish a millennial kingdom. Their power rivaled that of the Empire’s greatest noble families, and they were responsible for the Empire’s eventual collapse during the *Great Chaos.*

While their appearance might seem sudden, Theo had anticipated their involvement.

*They were active well before the Great Chaos. And they had close ties to Troyban.*

Though the connection between Troyban and the Holy Demon Church was only uncovered long after the Empire’s collapse, Theo now intended to reveal their collusion, along with Ed’s schemes, to Ragnar.

*Ding!*

>[A Quest has Arrived.]

+  
**[Scenario Quest #2]**  
You’ve encountered an enemy from your past. Stop their plot and claim victory.  

· Difficulty: A+  
· Reward: 10 Coins  
· Failure: Death  
+

*Enemies from my past, huh…*

Theo’s eyes narrowed further.

*Was there something about Troyban that I didn’t know?*

He thought of his mother Cecilia’s false charges, his family’s disgrace, and his own death. Perhaps he was finally closing in on the truth behind it all.

Holding his sword more firmly, Theo surged his mana into the drake blade, causing a clear ringing sound to reverberate from the blade as steam rose from its edge.

Simultaneously,

>[The skill: Lesser Drake’s Fear activates, sharpening the killing intent around the blade.]

A deadly aura condensed around the sword, enveloping the Blood Priest.

The Blood Priest narrowed his eyes.

“Yet you are foolish. Despite recognizing me, you still choose to fight. Your youthful hubris consumes you. Indeed, fate has decreed this offering…”

A gleam of red light shone in the Blood Priest’s eyes.

“Prepare to become a sacrifice for the gods!”

The priest twisted his torso, his blackened hands tearing through Theo’s killing aura, aiming for his throat.

The Blood Priest was no ordinary fanatic. As a high-ranking member authorized to recruit new followers, he was a formidable warrior, stronger than many of Ragnar’s seasoned knights.

*CRACK!*

*Spark!*

Sparks flew as Theo’s drake blade clashed with the Blood Priest’s dark hand.

“A remarkable weapon. Few blades can withstand my Black Iron Hand.”

The *Black Iron Hand* was a martial technique of the Holy Demon Church that required training on iron sand mixed with special herbs, granting the practitioner a skin tougher than most weapons.

“A weapon like this is too dangerous for a young disciple. I’ll hold onto it for you.”

Ignoring the Blood Priest’s taunts, Theo focused entirely on his attacks.

*Mad Dragon Arts.*

He channeled the overwhelming strength of the Mad Dragon he had learned from Julius, unleashing a killing aura that grew even more vicious.

The priest sensed something and frowned just as another wave of strikes came at him.

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

As Theo deflected the Black Iron Hand, fierce winds and lightning bolts filled the air.

Thunder roared as Theo’s strikes grew faster, his attacks creating a vortex from floor to ceiling.

“Gah!”

The priest’s hands and feet struggled to keep up, and more wounds appeared on his muscular frame as his tattered clothes fell away.

Four dragons of lightning closed in from his blind spots.

*Death Beat.*

*BOOM!*

The Blood Priest was thrown back by the explosion, his blood-soaked appearance making it hard to believe he was the same feared figure.

“Just a boy, yet truly a Ragnar. Leaving you alive would only obstruct the gods’ great work!”

But rather than look distressed, the Blood Priest appeared even more delighted.

With a wicked smile, he prepared to show Theo why he held his rank in the Church. His mana surged even more, and the red light that had been confined to his eyes now radiated from his entire body like a halo.

He thrust his fist forward with the force of a battering ram aimed at Theo’s sword.

*BOOM!*

The ground beneath them caved, and both fighters spun in opposite directions, readying their next attacks.

Theo’s blade moved from left to right while the Blood Priest’s hand descended from above.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

As their attacks collided, Theo sensed a shift in the Blood Priest’s aura.

*Bloodlust Harmony… so troublesome in person.*

Not only was the priest a fanatic who ignored pain, but his fighting power also increased over time. Through the Church’s possession technique, they achieved a state called *Descent,* where their stamina and mana grew stronger as the fight dragged on.

Theo watched the priest’s mana, tracing its flow to the spine and up to his head.

*He’s knocking on the “Thunder Gate” to strengthen his spirit? That’s insanity—he’ll go mad!*

Theo struggled to understand the principles behind Bloodlust Harmony.

His quest might offer insights into body-mind-spirit fusion, but this seemed beyond comprehension.

The *Thunder Gate* remained a mystery; Theo was only beginning to grasp its power thanks to the *Grimoire of Amon.*

But recklessly bombarding it with mana? That was practically suicidal.

Yet the priest seemed to be controlling his rampaging energy, achieving increased stamina and mana.

*If I could learn this technique, it could help me manage my own explosive energy.*

Though tempted to mimic the priest’s technique, Theo quickly dismissed the idea, realizing that it might come at the cost of his sanity.

*Still, there might be hints to uncover here.*

He pondered briefly before a realization dawn

ed on him.

*Wait. If he’s strengthening his spirit, can I… see into it?*

Using *Hatchling Sync,* he might glean insights into the Bloodlust Harmony or uncover the priest’s hidden intentions.

*Let’s try it.*

With renewed focus, Theo accelerated his movements, shifting from the Mad Dragon Arts to the 24-Step Plum Blossom Sword.

Petals filled the air as the phantom of a dragon’s claws blurred with speed.

“A futile trick. You think these parlor moves will change anything…!”

The Blood Priest sneered, ready to dismiss Theo’s attacks, but his vision blurred as the steam and lightning distorted his perception.

>[10 Stat Points allocated to Agility.]

>[Agility: 79 → 89]

>[Movement becomes smoother.]

>[Attack speed increases.]

Theo used the bonus stats he’d gained from his first scenario quest, boosting his agility and adding explosive speed.

*Tempest Form – Whirlwind Spirit.*

A fierce wind enveloped Theo, and by the time the Blood Priest adjusted his sight, Theo had already closed the gap.

*Grab!*

The priest felt Theo’s iron grip clamp down on his head.

*What’s he doing?!*

Through the narrow slits in his fingers, the priest’s eyes bulged, brimming with panic.

“What am I doing?”

Theo sneered, answering before the priest could even form his question.

“I’m opening your mind.”

>[Skill: Hatchling Sync. Attempting to read dormant thoughts.]

Their gazes locked, and in that instant—

*Whoosh!*

Theo felt himself plunging into the depths of the priest’s subconscious, sinking into an abyss of hidden memories.

And from the darkness, an immense presence emerged.

*Thump…*

Theo’s heart pounded as he sensed the weight of the entity.

It was vast, like facing Kael or even Hilda.

*『Who are you? Why do you disturb my slumber?』*

A voice resonated from the depths, each word like the rumble of a mountain shifting.