Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each collision shook the air, spreading waves of raw force across the barren plains surrounding the city. The earth itself groaned beneath the pressure as two colossal presences clashed in an almost playful but undeniably world-shaking duel.
A tall, muscular, bald man in simple monk-like robes stood at the edge of the battlefield, his eyes narrowing as the shockwaves reached even this far. "Hermes. What do you think?"
Beside him stood a silver-haired youth, calm and composed despite the chaos before them. Compared to the old warrior's rough presence, he seemed refined, almost scholarly. Hermes folded his arms, his gaze sharp. "Arch Dragon level in terms of combat power, at the very least," he said flatly. After a brief pause, his tone grew more solemn. "However, I believe he already stands at the threshold of a Dragon Lord. The density of his magicules has reached that stage."
The old man, Middray, let out a low hum, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile. "You aren't wrong. Look at him move... his control has grown far more refined than during his first bout with Milim-sama." His eyes gleamed with admiration as he watched another thunderous impact tear through the landscape. "He's improving, and at a terrifying rate. I have never seen growth like that before."
These two were Middray and Hermes, dragonnewts of the Dragon Faithful, the devoted followers who worship Milim Nava, the Dragonoid Demon Lord and ruler of the City of the Forgotten Dragon.
At present, they stood as witnesses to a duel between their revered goddess and her newly arrived "friend," Charybdis, the so-called Bastard Child of the Storm Dragon, Veldora.
Initially, Charybdis had been reluctant to reveal his true identity. Despite Milim's outwardly carefree and childish behaviour, she was without doubt a ruler. She understood that bringing an unknown, overwhelmingly powerful being into her domain without explanation could cause unrest among her people.
And so, after some discussion, both she and Charybdis agreed to reveal the truth, at least to the higher-ranking members of her faithful, to avoid unnecessary panic.
Middray and Hermes were among the few entrusted with that secret.
Watching the battle unfold before them, the two could only stand in silent awe.
Their admiration, however, wasn't directed at Milim. That was a given, being impressed by Milim Nava was practically the default state for any living creature. No, the one who held their attention now was Charybdis.
At first, they had assumed the so-called child of Veldora was merely an unstable being, powerful, yes, but untamed and lacking control, just as the rumours suggested. Many had believed Milim brought him along as a toy.
But the truth was vastly different.
They hadn't expected him to completely shatter their expectations. Technically her, though no one really understood why Charybdis insisted on using a male form, he was far beyond what they imagined.
Middray, being a Divine Dragonewt, was no weakling himself. In fact, among the countless dragonkin across the world, he was easily one of the strongest to ever live. If one were to exclude the True Dragons and Dragonoids, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the strongest being with draconic heritage.
Or at least, that used to be true.
Because as he watched the young dragon before him clash with Milim, the sky itself splitting with every exchange, the ground below reduced to molten earth from stray shockwaves, he felt something he hadn't experienced in centuries.
Inferiority.
And it wasn't because of Charybdis's absurd magicule density or overwhelming aura; what truly unsettled him was the speed of his growth.
He'd witnessed their first spar, seen that chaotic, unrefined exchange. Back then, Charybdis was strong, sure, but still clearly beneath Milim. Yet now, just a few bouts later, the difference was staggering. His movements were sharper, refined. Every time Charybdis clashed with Milim, he grew stronger, faster, as if his very existence was learning, adapting, and evolving mid-battle.
Although anyone could grow stronger by fighting powerful opponents, Charybdis's growth rate terrified him.
And he wasn't wrong.
Charybdis was improving, every second spent fighting Milim pushed him closer to perfection. The secret lay in the Antares template, a being whose combat instincts were honed over eons. The assimilation process was still ongoing, but by continuously fighting, Charybdis was accelerating it far beyond normal limits, gradually inheriting the monarch's vast experience and battle knowledge.
In Solo Leveling, Monarchs were beings born alongside the dawn of existence, entities of chaos and destruction, much like the Primordial Demons of this world. Antares, the Monarch of Destruction, stood among the highest of them, his status in his world akin to a Primordial Red.
That influence now shaped Charybdis's existence.
His current alignment had already become a mix of Dragonic and Demonic attributes. His elemental affinities had also evolved, fire and darkness inherited from Antares, and wind and water from his Veldora lineage.
Charybdis's POV
I can feel it. I've improved again.
Coming with Milim really was the best decision I've made.
It's given me time not only to train but also to understand myself better.
For one, I've discovered something odd, I have mana, the same energy used in the world of Solo Leveling. When I asked Milim if she could sense it, she said she could, but only from me. That means this mana doesn't exist naturally in this world. I'm drawing it from somewhere else.
Like how Marvel sorcerers tap into external dimensions for power, maybe I'm connected to another reality, to Antares's world.
Initially I thought the abilities I gained are changed according to this world setting but actually it isn't the case , I still had antares abilities seperately which can only be used with mana, the one I gained during my evolution, it seems votm replicated them.
The same is the case with the magic I gained from Antares, I can't use them without mana or use magicules as alternative.
Still, it's intriguing.
According to Milim, magic cast through mana(Antares fire magic) can bypass Magic Nullification, but that doesn't make it invincible. Strong beings in this world have too many layered resistances and skills to block even foreign energy types. In the end, it's just another kind of power, once someone grasps its nature, they can still counter it.
BOOM!
Another punch sent me flying back a hundred metres before crashing into the side of a mountain.
No serious injuries, thankfully.
Milim's holding back. I can tell. She's got a perfect read on my limits, strong enough to hurt my pride, but not enough to actually hurt me.
While this was training for me, to her… this was just playtime.
I exhaled, pushing myself up from the crater, wings flickering with embers. With a thought, I surrounded her with my barrier and filled it with Flames of Destruction. The heat could melt mountains, yet Milim emerged from it unscathed again.
I felt a twitch in my eye.
It hurt, watching her stroll out of my strongest technique with that carefree smile, like I'd just splashed her with warm water.
Still, seeing that grin, I couldn't help but sigh in relief. She was fine.
Maybe it's because I've been alone for so long, but somewhere deep down, I've started to genuinely care for this reckless dragon girl.
Hmm… she's transforming. Horns… wings… oh shit, is that…
"Mil—"
"Dragon Novaaaaa!"
I died.
DING
[Dimensional chat group has sent invitation]
[Accept/Decline]
"...."