Chapter 48: [Lv3]!
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Shin Akira
Lv.2 → Lv.3
Strength: SSS·1199 → I·0
Endurance: SSS·1199 → I·0
Dexterity: SSS·1199 → I·0
Agility: SSS·1199 → I·0
Magic: SSS·1199 → I·0
Magic: Touch of Shadow, Shadow Domain, Crimson Flame of the Dragon
Skills: King of the Shadowkhan, Greed, Shadow Force, Dragon Blood
Development Ability: Mage · D
Hephaestus stared silently at the freshly updated Falna in her hand.
It had only been ten days since Shin Akira first received his Falna. And now, in such a short span, he had already ascended to Level 3. A speed like this wasn't just rare—it defied all logic.
But the status engraved before her left no room for denial.
[Ding]
[You have inherited 10% of the Template's legacy.]
[Ding]
[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired the Skill: Psychic Force.]
[Ding]
[Congratulations, Host. You have summoned a new unit: Night Bat Corps.]
A surge of unfamiliar power pulsed through his body.
Akira could feel it—his strength had jumped again. And with that came a new airborne unit for his Shadow Legion. Not only that, he had gained a new ability—Psychic Force, more commonly known as Telekinesis.
It was a mysterious power that allowed him to project his mental energy outside his body and use sheer will to control the world around him. The strength of the Psychic Force depended entirely on the user's mental fortitude.
A faint distortion rippled through the shadow beneath his feet.
As the air shimmered around it, a figure rose from the darkness—another soldier of the Shadow Legion. It had a humanoid shape, but with bat-like wings sprouting from its back. Its eyes glowed red, forming a sharp "V" that made its face look eerily menacing.
"A new evolution to your Shadows again?" Hephaestus blinked, watching from across the room. "Wait... does that mean your Shadow soldiers evolve every time you level up?"
Akira turned and nodded. "Looks like it. This one's a new airborne unit—Flying Shadow. Not bad, right?"
"Definitely interesting," she muttered, still observing the creature.
The more she saw of him, the more convinced she became—Akira was a walking anomaly. A skill set too vast for a Level 3. A dragon-based artifact beyond anything the Lower World should possess. A body that fused human and dragon. It was as if fate itself had chosen him as its favorite child.
"Five options for your next Development Ability popped up," she said, flipping through the status sheet. "Hunter, Status Resistance, Healing, Magic Resistance, and Physical Resistance. Take your pick."
"Three resistance types? What am I, a tank?" Akira raised an eyebrow. "I'm not planning to become some walking meat shield. What am I gonna do with all those resistances?"
He sighed. "Just pick Hunter."
"Alright."
With a quiet hum, the choice was sealed. He officially became a Level 3 adventurer.
Hephaestus handed back the Falna scroll. Akira glanced over it, but his eyes paused at one particular part—Dragon Blood.
Most of the entries were predictable. But that one line—'significantly extends lifespan'—stood out.
Akira already didn't need to worry about lifespan, not after inheriting Enkidu's legacy. His power had already surpassed the realm of normal humans. Even so, the idea that just one bloodline could grant such a massive lifespan boost was absurd.
Granted, the Template system and Falna system overlapped in function, but they were entirely separate systems, with no direct interaction. And yet… it still worked.
"With your current status," Hephaestus said quietly, "you're essentially a half-dragon. Your lifespan's probably increased by hundreds of years—maybe even over a thousand."
Akira looked thoughtful. "How long do dragons usually live in this world?"
"There aren't many left," she replied. "But adult dragons? They can live for tens of thousands of years. Why?"
"Huh... tens of thousands. And I only get a few hundred out of it? Kinda feels like I got the short end of the stick."
She gave him a sharp look. "You do realize you're not a pure-blooded dragon, right? It's just partial bloodline inheritance."
"Well, at least a few hundred years is something. Saves you the trouble of looking for me after I kick the bucket," he joked.
"Hmph. As if I'd bother looking for you," she huffed—but there was a hint of softness in her voice.
Deep down, she was relieved.
If Akira truly died and reincarnated, finding him again would be nearly impossible. Even if she marked his soul with a divine seal, the process of reincarnation and re-growth could take eons.
"Oh, right—Hephaestus," he suddenly said. "There's something I've been meaning to ask."
"Hmm?"
"What's the maximum level for Falna?"
"In theory, there's no upper limit," she replied calmly. "But in practice, humans in the Lower World have restrictions. The highest anyone has ever reached in the last thousand years is Level 9."
"So... what happens if someone breaks through and reaches Level 10? Do they become a god?"
"Don't be ridiculous." She smirked. "It's not that simple. But... if someone ever reached Level 10, it would mean they're beginning to step onto the path of divinity."
Akira didn't look surprised. That explanation made sense.
The gods in this world were different. Born from the world itself, they weren't just characters from mythology—they were true divine beings, like Zeus, Loki, Hestia, and Hermes. Even if they were killed, they would eventually revive over time.
"Why the sudden curiosity?" Hephaestus asked, raising an eyebrow. "In Orario, there's only one person at Level 7. Forget 9 or 10—that alone is considered the city's greatest asset."
Akira gave her a small smile. "Because as the man loved by the Goddess Hephaestus, I don't want to keep disappearing from your life over and over. If I can avoid being lost… then I'll avoid it."
"H-Hmph! Who said you were my beloved?! Don't say such nonsense!"
But her heart skipped a beat.
As a woman, her attention was instantly swept away by the implication of his words. She didn't even register the deeper meaning Akira had tried to convey.
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