After carrying the wounded bird, Ryo continued soaring high above the clouds, enjoying the cold wind brushing against his pale skin. Eventually, he decided it was time to rest.
With a gentle smile, Ryo looked down at the small creature in his arms.
> "Alright, little one… Let's sit here for a bit. I'll get you some proper food."
He left the area silently, blending into the shadows as he entered a nearby city. Walking calmly, he slipped through alleys and stole food without being noticed. In a flash, he returned to his feathered friend.
Placing the food gently down, Ryo said:
> "I'm back… How are you feeling? Let me check your status. System, scan!"
> Scanning…
> Scan complete.
Name: Unknown
Species: Dragon
Lineage: Descendant of the Ancient Emperors
Age: 4 years
Level: Undetectable
Skills:
Flight [Max Level]
Blue Flame Breath [Level 4]
Fire & Ice Manipulation [Level 10]
Elemental Fusion [Level 2]
Magic:
Complete Mastery of Fire Branches [Level 1]
Complete Mastery of Ice Branches [Level 3]
Ryo's eyes widened in shock.
> "…A… dragon?!!"
> Confirmed.
Ryo, stunned, whispered:
> "I can't believe it… How did I end up taking care of a dragon? This is… a lot to handle."
---
After a moment of silence, lost in thought, Ryo suddenly stood up.
> "Alright… time to train. I'll focus on the earth element."
He stretched out his hand, imagining a tree so massive it could pierce the skies—over 100 miles tall and 50 wide. The earth began to tremble beneath him.
Moments later, a colossal tree erupted from the ground, towering far above the clouds. It could be seen from thousands of kilometers away.
> "That tree… It's even bigger than I imagined. Come on, little dragon, let's explore it."
Ryo and the dragon flew to the highest point of the massive tree, where leaves were the size of forests, and branches were wider than mountains. There, Ryo used his earth magic to build a grand, breathtaking castle—large enough to house three full-grown dragons.
> "This will be your home when you grow up… But there's a problem."
He sat quietly for hours, thinking. The size of the tree was bound to attract adventurers and greedy humans.
> "What should I do…?"
Closing his eyes, Ryo summoned a colossal wall around the tree. Then he created a maze—an infinite labyrinth with shifting floors he could change at will. He filled it with beasts born from nature and earth, towering mountains, harsh weather, and unbearable environments.
Yet, at the peak of the tree, serenity and beauty reigned.
---
Three months later…
Humans began to gather around the mysterious tree, driven by rumors and curiosity.
But no one could pass the maze. Each floor shifted in environment, time, and physical laws—each one felt like its own dimension.
---
On one of the maze's floors…
> "Zalarosa! Behind you!"
A pink-haired girl named Yui screamed.
Zalarosa spun just in time to dodge a lethal strike from a towering ghoul. With a flash of her blade, she shredded it into a thousand pieces.
> "Don't worry about me. Watch your own back," she smirked.
She dashed into waves of charging monsters while Yui began to chant.
> "Hellfire Magic: Flame Collapse."
A blazing black-and-red beam erupted from her hands, consuming the monsters like a storm and reducing them to ashes.
> "Well done, Yui," Zalarosa said proudly. "That's my girl."
> "T-thank you…" Yui replied shyly.
---
High above…
Ryo observed everything while calmly eating next to his little dragon.
> "Those two girls… they're strong. I don't want them to die."
He raised his hand, altering time around Zalarosa and Yui.
While centuries might pass outside, only moments would pass for them.
---
> "Alright, little dragon… it's time to discover my next power."
Suddenly, Ryo's right eye began to glow with a dark violet aura…
---
To be continued...