Leon stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror before slipping into a set of casual yet practical clothes—the fabric soft but durable, perfect for a trip into the forest.
In his hand, he held the treasure map with a glimmer of hope. A rare weapon? A strength-enhancing potion? Every possibility felt more real than ever.
Without further delay, he set off. The crunch of dry leaves beneath his steps accompanied him as he made his way toward Blackbell Forest.
---
Meanwhile, Lucas drove smoothly, the soft hum of the engine rising and falling like a lullaby as he cruised back to his villa.
Tonight... he was more than satisfied.
The sweet taste of victory still lingered on his lips.
That meteor shard held an immense amount of mana—no doubt, if he absorbed it, he'd break into the Spirit Realm.
But Lucas wouldn't waste such a treasure on something so trivial.
He knew of a method to fully harness its power. However, it required special materials—components he had yet to acquire.
"Ah... what a pleasant evening," he murmured with a smile. "Looks like I won't need to stop by the restaurant tonight."
He had already told Sofia to prepare dinner. And now... he was beginning to feel hungry.
With a slight push on the gas pedal, the car surged forward.
---
Less than ten minutes later, he arrived at his villa. As usual, the guards opened the automatic gate. The sound of metal shifting echoed as his car rolled in and stopped in the garage.
Lucas stepped out and entered the villa. The aroma of freshly cooked food greeted him the moment he entered the living room.
When he reached the dining room, a table full of hot dishes awaited him. Wisps of steam still rose from several plates—clear signs the food had just been served.
He grabbed a fried shrimp and took a bite. Just as he expected—delicious.
Lucas smiled. In the original story, Sofia was known for her cooking skills. That's exactly why he had asked her.
"Sofia, where are you?" he called out, his voice echoing through the dining hall.
But no answer came.
Lucas frowned. He quickly walked into the next room. There was no way she could've escaped—the villa was surrounded by dozens of guards.
"Oh, Young Master," one of the large guards nearby greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Do you know where Sofia is?" Lucas asked.
"She's in one of the rooms upstairs, sir. But we're not sure why. A few of us tried to check, but she locked herself in," the guard replied.
Lucas let out a sigh, his face showing a hint of irritation. He didn't know if Sofia was sulking or something else, but clearly, this wasn't a good sign.
"Alright, I'll talk to her myself."
But just as he took a few steps toward the stairs, Lucas suddenly stopped. His left hand rose to his head.
'Meet me in the backyard, Young Master…'
A whisper echoed in his mind—clear and familiar.
Lucas flinched. That voice… he recognized it. It was Garran!
Was this telepathy? He hadn't expected Garran to possess such an ability.
Without hesitation, he headed straight to the backyard.
When he arrived, he saw a cloaked figure standing alone in the dark.
"Uncle Garran, did you call me?" he asked.
The figure turned, pulling back his hood to reveal Garran's face beneath the shadows. He appeared to be in his early forties, with silver hair, crimson eyes, and a neatly groomed beard that added to his imposing presence.
"There's something we need to talk about, Young Master," Garran said calmly, a faint smile on his lips.
Lucas nodded and stepped beside him.
"Lately, you've been obsessed with Sofia—even going so far as to kidnap her. Tell me, do you truly love her?" Garran asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Sofia? No," Lucas replied casually.
Garran studied his face. After a few seconds, he gave a slow nod, smiling faintly.
"Your eyes don't lie. But then why make her your servant?" he pressed further.
"I have my own plans, Uncle. Nothing to worry about," Lucas answered.
"Very well," Garran said with a nod. "But I'll say this—there's something unusual about that girl. Something… intriguing."
Lucas didn't respond.
He already knew that.
He'd read the original story from start to finish. Of course, he knew who Sofia really was—and the secret she carried.
"I haven't figured out what it is just yet. If you like, I can look into it," Garran offered.
"No need, Uncle. I already have her under control," Lucas replied confidently.
"Alright. One more thing," Garran said as he pulled something from his storage ring.
A large vial appeared—its surface etched with ancient runes, and inside it swirled a thick, glowing crimson liquid. The air around it shimmered faintly with power, and a faint, otherworldly hum resonated from within.
Lucas's eyes widened. "Uncle Garran… is that…?"
Garran nodded. "Yes. The essence of pure dragon's blood. Refined and preserved from an ancient dragon. It can fortify your soul—perhaps even elevate the Miracle Spirit you're destined to awaken."
Lucas accepted the vial with both hands, awe flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected this. In the original story, this priceless essence had fallen into Leon's hands.
Maybe that was why, when Leon eventually crushed the Darkbane family, this was one of the keys to his rise.
But now, the future had shifted.
A grin formed on Lucas's face. "Honestly, I was still angry that you didn't show up at the hotel last night when my life was on the line, but now… I've let it go. Thanks, truly, Uncle Garran," he said sincerely.
"Your life was threatened? How?" Garran's brows furrowed. "So in your human state, someone tried to harm you? Just say the word, Young Master, and I'll handle it."
Lucas went silent, weighing Garran's words. Yes, he could send Garran to eliminate Leon.
But he hesitated. A protagonist with thick plot armor like Leon… would be incredibly hard to kill. Lucas knew this. Sending Garran might just trigger another plot point, one that would make Leon even stronger.
In the end, he shook his head. "Forget it. I've already taken care of it. Besides, where were you yesterday?" he asked.
"Yesterday, I…" Garran paused. "It's strange. I don't remember anything about yesterday," he said, frowning.
Lucas shook his head. Of course. A damn plot twist. "Never mind, Uncle Garran. What matters is—I'm still here. Alive."
Garran nodded. "Alright. And remember, that dragon's blood isn't just a gift. The elders are hoping you'll awaken a Miracle Spirit of the ancient dragon—perhaps one stronger than your father's or grandfather's."
"I won't disappoint them," Lucas replied, his voice full of conviction.
He knew exactly what the Drakebane family's Miracle Spirit potential was. Their bloodline was one of the rare few still pure—and their signature spirit was the dragon.
His family was powerful and respected. To put it simply, not a single member had a Miracle Spirit ranked below A-level.
"Then I'll take my leave, Young Master," Garran said.
Lucas nodded. "Alright."
In the blink of an eye, Garran vanished into the darkness.
Lucas stood there, still holding the horn, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere—Garran's true identity.
He didn't know much about the man. His father had only said Garran was incredibly powerful.
But Lucas could sense something… different.
From his unfamiliar surname that different from Drakebane's, to his habit of wearing ancient-style clothing—everything about him felt off.
Even in the original story, Garran had barely been mentioned. He appeared briefly—then vanished after Leon annihilated the entire Drakebane family.
A wild thought suddenly entered Lucas's mind—and strangely, it made sense:
Garran might be from a higher realm.
Far in the original story, it was revealed that a realm beyond this world existed.
Zeus, Odin, Anubis, and other mythical Miracle Spirits weren't just symbolic—they were real, and they didn't come from this world.
---
Meanwhile…
"Hah… hah…"
Leon lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily.
His body was soaked in sweat, every muscle strained from exhaustion. He had finally arrived at Blackbell Forest, after a grueling journey.
Instead of taking a vehicle, he had chosen to run the entire way—counting it as part of his physical training.
From his house to the forest, it had taken nearly an hour.
Sitting down, he wiped the sweat from his brow, then grinned as he looked at the map in his hand, then ahead—fast and dark forest.
He couldn't help but smirk.
"Heh… the treasure is right in front of me."