Chapter 61 : Heading Towards the Truth (1)

When I came to my senses, I was already on the ground.

The beings, difficult to even call human, who had been hostile towards me for invading their territory, were now scattered on the ground as

shards of ice.

Seeing smoke in the distance, it seemed the other fighter jets had all crashed as well.

Bathed in the falling snow, I slowly approached the place where the most intense presence could be felt.

The snow, already piled up to my ankles, could have been an obstacle, but for my body, imbued with the blood of a dragon possessing the ice

attribute, it felt rather invigorating.

Feeling the strengthened mana circulating through my veins, I reflexively opened my status window to check the synchronization rate.

‘As expected, the synchronization rate has gone up.’

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[Synchronization Rate: 10.0% achieved. Reward: Hatchling’s Dragonheart]

[Synchronization Rate: 20.0% achieved. Reward: Wings]

[Current Synchronization Rate: 23.76%]

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The synchronization rate displayed in the notification window floating in the corner of my vision reached a staggering 23%.

I remembered the rate being 5% the last time I checked the status window; it seemed the injuries sustained in the battle with Eunrang had

significantly increased it.

‘The strengthened heartbeat and mana pool, and the wings sprouting from my back, must also be rewards from the increased

synchronization rate…’

I had felt an itch on my back for a while now, and small wings, having torn through the back of my clothes, twitched as if wanting to

announce their presence.

A sigh escaped me as I looked at the cute, small wings, reminiscent of the fried chicken wings I occasionally indulged in when I had the

chance.

“Sigh, now I’ll have to tailor all my clothes.”

Otherwise, the wings would be uncomfortable, forcing me to go topless.

Even now, with the back of my shirt almost completely torn, revealing even my underwear, the sensation of the wings lightly brushing against

the fabric was ticklish and hard to bear.

Having just sprouted, they seemed sensitive to various stimuli, like newly healed skin after an injury.

I flinched in surprise when I casually touched them, the sensation far more sensitive than imagined.

Back when I was no different from a normal human except for the horns, all clothes fit as long as the size was right, excluding hats.

Those good old days are gone.

‘…Anyway, can I even fly with wings this small?’

As soon as I thought that, the wings began to grow rapidly.

No, rather than growing, it was more like they were inflating as if air was being pumped into a balloon, finding their original form.

Looking at the wings, which had become too immense to describe with a short exclamation, I felt as if I could soar into the sky at any

moment.

Although not immediately noticeable, the synchronization rate exceeding 20% would undoubtedly change my existing emotions and senses

considerably.

It was widely known among users that once the synchronization rate exceeded a certain level, the unique traits of the race would strengthen,

accompanied by corresponding side effects.

When I first encountered that information, my synchronization rate was only in the single digits, so I ignored it, but now it had reached 23%.

This vitality overflowing throughout my body due to the abundant mana was clearly also a result of the increased synchronization rate.

This can’t continue.

If the synchronization rate keeps rising this fast, ‘I’ might cease to be myself in the near future.

I had to find a way to quickly lower the synchronization rate somehow.

“…But right now, there’s something that needs to be resolved faster than the synchronization rate.”

Having found the lump of meat that used to be Eunrang, or rather, ‘what used to be Eunrang’, I cast a simple barrier around it.

<High-rank Magic: Ambrosius‘s Blackout>

This barrier, blocking smell and line of sight, would deceive not only insects and animals drawn to consume the corpse but also the eyes of

humans coming to retrieve the body.

Look at all the blood splatters. How disgusting,

Instinctively, I felt revulsion looking at the snowfield splattered with filth, but that was all.

The grief over the fact that a friend with whom I shared many memories had died outweighed the shock of seeing an acquaintance’s corpse.

Until recently, seeing a corpse wasn’t exactly shocking, but I don’t think I was this emotionless.

To be so indifferent even when seeing a friend’s body.

My head started to ache, wondering if this too was an effect of the synchronization rate.

After finishing the task of concealing the body, I looked at the barrier, unintentionally turned into something resembling a grave by the white

snow covering it, and bowed my head slightly.

“I didn’t expect our reunion after so long would turn out like this. I was planning to deal with those conducting horrific experiments anyway,

but seeing you, I’ll make sure the masterminds suffer more. Rest well here. I’ll be back soon to bury you in a sunny spot.”

After briefly expressing my condolences, I spread the wings on my back.

Each membrane of the wings stretched out cleanly without wrinkles, providing a refreshing feeling like stretching after a long sleep.

My whole body trembled slightly from the refreshing sensation, which even brought a small pleasure.

The wings, hidden for a long time due to the diluted dragon blood, seemed to instinctively want to move up and down, eager to savor the

feeling of liberation regardless of my will.

As I focused my mind to control the wings trying to move on their own, a sudden anxiety struck me—could I really fly without the aid of

magic?

But that anxiety was fleeting, replaced by baseless confidence welling up from deep within my heart.

‘Yes, just as even mere humans can naturally learn to walk, it’s a piece of cake for me, who carries the blood of the great Dragon, to realize

how to conquer the sky with these two wings.’

The fully extended wings began a gentle up-and-down motion, and just then, the wind blowing through the snow clouds started to support

them from below.

Once my body began to lift, the rest was easy.

I simply entrusted my body to the flow of the updraft that naturally came into view, and my perspective started soaring upwards.

My body, lifted instantly without a running start or jump, soared to an altitude where the distant horizon was visible.

It was on a different dimension from Flight, which forcibly lifted the body by binding it with mana.

The smooth glide provided by the wings sprouted on my back was an amazing experience I had never encountered befor

In the North China region, a huge underground research facility hidden in the heart of the Gobi Desert was filled with the clamor of busy

researchers.

The laboratory, entirely painted white, displayed a chaotic scene as the siren announcing an ‘Emergency Situation’ blared, its red light

flickering erratically on the white partition walls.

When a woman with a ponytail, seemingly the head of the facility, vented her frustration, the subordinate researchers began moving busily as

if to avoid her anger.

Her name was Angelica, the director in charge of the Gobi Desert research facility and a capable scientist with exceptional talent in human

experimentation.

“Grab only the backed-up data immediately and proceed with incinerating or deleting the rest of the research materials. We are abandoning

this facility and evacuating to the headquarters in Shanghai!”

Amidst the researchers scurrying around following the irritable command, a cold yet clear voice, devoid of any emotion, reached Angelica’s

ear.

“Contact has been lost with all three SC-37 units dispatched for air defense. It seems the Chinese military has given up on resolving this

situation and is attempting to cut ties using us as scapegoats. Furthermore, the annihilation of the combat experiment squad led by Zhang

Wei, dispatched to escort the SC-37s, has been confirmed.”

“What about Eunrang’s clone? Don’t tell me even that was taken down?”

“That is unclear. We cannot establish any contact, whether it turned to dust swept away by the powerful energy wave detected on radar

moments ago, or if the internal machinery malfunctioned due to the wave’s influence. My speculation is…”

“Summarize it briefly!”

“…While the exact details are unknown, based on the circumstances, it is reasonable to assume it was defeated.”

“Damn it! We’re all ruined!”

Bang, a loud noise echoed as file folders and writing utensils on the desk scattered onto the floor.

Clutching the hand she had slammed on the desk, enduring the stinging pain, she asked her trustworthy adjutant.

“If we were to mobilize the test subjects and fight back against that crazy b*tch, what are our chances of survival?”

“Exactly 0.3%.”

An immediate reply.

Hearing the words spoken with near 100% certainty, Angelica grabbed the back of her neck.

That man was the only researcher in this facility she could trust completely and entrust with everything, a talented individual.

Perhaps even more talented than herself.

Especially in the field of probability calculation, he had already overwhelmingly surpassed her talent, so his words would be as accurate as a

computer’s calculation.

A hopeless situation where even he was certain of a near-zero probability.

She felt incredibly wronged that such a situation had befallen her, who had expected nothing but smooth sailing after securing the position of

research director.

‘Even God is too harsh. Why give me such a trial.’

Pressing the back of her neck to lower her rising blood pressure, Angelica exhaled the breath she had been holding and opened her mouth.

“Sigh… In that case, what’s the probability of a successful escape?”

“Around 20%, I’d say. Though it would literally require using every possible means, regardless of cost.”

20%.

That was a much higher figure than she had calculated.

A small smile touched her lips at the thought that there might be hope.

“20%? That’s worth gambling on. I’ve risked my life on worse odds to get to this position. So, what’s the method?”