Dragon Heart 2

In the World Tree’s mana training room, a sizeable intermediate mana crystal was embedded in the center.

Doyun sat in a lotus position, focusing his mind on his dantian.

After hearing Tiamat’s explanation of the Dragon Heart, Doyun recalled similar concepts from the knowledge he had acquired on Earth.

‘Stars. And nuclear fusion.’

The Dragon Heart was akin to a star itself.

It continuously compressed an immense amount of mana into a single minuscule point, generating overwhelming mana pressure. This caused the mana to fuse together at the very center, like a nuclear fusion reaction, resulting in mana efficiency levels incomparable to anything prior.

And the heavy crystallized byproduct formed from this mana fusion was precisely the gem-like Dragon Heart.

It was not a mana crystal where mana was merely stored within metal or stone, but a pure mana crystal possessing ultimate density in and of itself.

In other words, the Dragon Heart was an engine of infinitely burning mana akin to a star, while simultaneously serving as an limitless mana reservoir like an ocean.

‘Compress all the body’s mana into the heart.’

To create this mana fusion reactor, one had to continuously compress an immense amount of mana, forming overwhelming mana pressure.

Ordinarily, this would have been an impossible feat for a Mana Rank 3 mana capacity. Even Tiamat had only taught it for when he grew further in the future.

But Doyun’s unmatched mana control talent on the continent enabled it.

Ding!

[The Innate Trait ‘Acquired Genius’ has activated.]

[Acquired Genius]

(You were born as an ordinary person, but through dozens of deaths and hundreds of years of effort, you have even transformed your innate qualities. You no longer struggle to learn new things and can quickly polish existing skills. This is not an inborn enlightenment, but hard-earned experience. Thus, your growth is based on what you have witnessed and learned.

An adjustment will be applied to your growth rate. This scales proportionally to the years you have lived.

An adjustment will be applied to your growth method. This is based on your experience.)

A system notification appeared before Doyun, but he remained unaware, deeply immersed in his inner contemplation.

Once a renowned master of mana cultivation methods whose teachings had greatly influenced the evolution of Enoch’s [Războlnic’s Style Mana Cultivation Method].

His tutelage and Doyun’s experiences with him now facilitated Doyun’s growth.

Enoch’s mana cultivation insights born from experience melded with Doyun’s innate talent for mana control, calmly observing the flow of mana.

‘Not the heart.’

Soon, Doyun realized this cultivation method didn’t suit him.

‘I’ll modify the method to fit me instead.’

His mind swiftly analyzed Tiamat’s technique.

For dragons, their mana cultivation was merely their natural breathing process.

Not any systematic mana manipulation, but an innate breathing cycle aligned with draconic physiology.

‘Then I should be capable of the same.’

According to Tiamat, Doyun’s form surpassed even dragons as the highest sacred beast.

If so, there was no reason he couldn’t replicate what dragons did.

He would deconstruct and reshape the dragons’ breathing into a mana technique tailored for the sacred beast Han Doyun.

‘Not the heart, but form the Dragon Heart in the dantian.’

The mana mass that had coalesced within his heart slowly reverted to its original location.

The dantian.

And through sheer will, he continuously compressed the mana, generating overwhelming pressure around that dim central point.

Sweat poured from Doyun’s body like rain, his concentration and willpower beyond human realms completely dominating the mana within his dantian.

Eventually, an explosive burst of power erupted from the mana mass condensed in his dantian.

‘…!’

For an instant, his dantian became a star.

Ding!

[The Skill ‘Draconic Mana Breathing – Triumph (Kai): Războlnic’s Style’ has been created.]

[The Sub-Skill ‘Draconic Mana Breathing – Triumph (Kai): Războlnic’s Style’ has been integrated into the Higher Skill ‘Războlnic’s Style Mana Cultivation Method.’]

[The Rank of the Skill ‘Războlnic’s Style Mana Cultivation Method’ has increased due to the integrated Sub-Skill. Current Rank: S]

[The Acquired Trait ‘Hetzling’s Dragon Heart’ has been created.]

The Războlnic’s Style Mana Cultivation Method, perfected over countless iterations, had now evolved once more.

Doyun’s eyes shone at the tsunami-like mana undulations he sensed within his dantian.

‘This is… the Dragon Heart…!’

Truly befitting its reputation as a gem crafted by the gods – an awe-inspiring output.

While this new technique would greatly accelerate his mana accumulation rate, his overall mana capacity itself hadn’t increased this time.

But Doyun immediately grasped that with his current Mana Rank 3 capacity, he could now output at Mana Rank 5 levels. A more than twofold boost, rather than the surface number increase – attribute ranks exponentially compounded in value.

Additionally, this new method would enormously hasten his mana charging speed while completely removing any bottlenecks on the maximum mana his body could hold.

Living beings had innate limits on their mana storage capacities. The higher one’s realm, the lower that maximum efficiency became as they neared those limits – a major reason why mana accumulation grew increasingly arduous over time.

But the Dragon Heart’s mana capacity was virtually limitless by compressing mana, a form of energy, into its crystallized state for storage.

‘I can bring my mana capacity to the same extremes as my past life.’

While human, Enoch had accrued mana through the reincarnation’s blessing – a special inheritance method.

If represented in the current system, prime Enoch’s mana likely reached around Mana Rank 9 levels.

This growth had laid the foundations for Doyun to approach his former life’s output levels.

Euphoric tremors wracked Doyun’s body as he clenched his fists tightly.

The Dragon Heart he currently sensed within his dantian was barely a quarter the size of an infant’s fingernail. But it continued growing in real-time, soon to swell rapidly.

‘This is not the time.’

Doyun resumed his lotus position, his newly invigorated zeal for training bordering on uncontrollable.

Savoring the ever-expanding Dragon Heart, he immersed himself in mana cultivation with single-minded focus.

Unbeknownst to him, a faint smile had formed on Doyun’s lips.

+++

“The report review process within the guild has concluded. It’s been forwarded to the Alliance’s Quest Management Headquarters, so all that’s left is to wait.”

Doyun sipped his tea as he listened to Eloah’s words.

“It feels rather odd. I discovered my own vault, yet I’m being rewarded points for it.”

Eloah chuckled at Doyun’s quip.

Points.

An intuitive metric representing the ‘feats’ the gods evaluated, introduced alongside the system – a resource that could be exchanged for various precious items through its store.

In this era without divine revelation, the system served as the sole channel of communication with the gods, and its points and store items were akin to rewards bestowed by the divine.

“Don’t the clergy grow apprehensive without divine contact? Wouldn’t their faith waver?”

“Not at all. The system provides an immediate and intuitive channel. If anything, this miraculous system has only deepened the devotion of the faithful. Divine revelations were exceedingly rare to begin with.”

“But why can’t we converse with the gods anymore?”

“…Originally, only Saints and Heroes could directly converse with the gods. The very notion of conversing with the divine was nonexistent for ordinary people.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

After a moment’s contemplation, Doyun spoke,

“I mean, it seems like something happened to the gods themselves.”

“Ah, about that…”

Eloah hesitated briefly before continuing,

“Yes. While it’s classified information, there’s no need to hide it from you, the Hero.”

“…The gods have been sealed away.”

“…Sealed?”

Doyun narrowed his eyes at this wholly unfamiliar information, never taught even in the Cradle.

“The system is the greatest blessing. As you’ve experienced firsthand, its power is truly immense. The gods expended far too much divinity to create it and had to seal themselves away to sustain their existence as recompense.”

“…I see.”

“The world remains oblivious to this, believing the gods have perished – an impression the Demon Lord’s forces share. Since it’s classified information… you must never breathe a word of this to anyone, understood?”

Doyun nodded. If the gods’ sealing was revealed, it would indeed cause an immense uproar.

“I had intended to visit the Holy Kingdom’s grand cathedral during this Heroes’ Conference to attempt contact. But it seems pointless now.”

“Precisely. Ah, and about the conference – it’s unlikely you’ll be able to attend, Sir Hero. Given its nature as a highly classified military meeting, there’s considerable reluctance to allow external observers, even as a reference.”

“I suppose. If even you can’t participate Eloah, there’s no chance for me.”

Despite his words, Doyun felt a tinge of disappointment. He had inwardly looked forward to encountering the other Heroes, especially after Haineken and Brudhild’s accounts.

“Then will they at least send a Hero to inquire about the situation from me instead?”

“Pardon? How did you know?”

Eloah’s eyes widened at Doyun’s words. Had she already mentioned this to him?

“Considering they’re even more formidable than Haineken, they must be Heroes.”

“Pardon?”

Doyun sipped his tea.

“They’re already here outside.”

Eloah started, glancing towards the door in surprise. Even after Doyun’s words, she couldn’t sense any presence outside.

Shortly after, a voice called from beyond the door.

“Knock knock.”