The clearing was finally quiet after the crazy fight. Smoke was still rising from the burned ground where Null and Stella stood. The smell of blood and smoke hung in the air, but everything felt still, like the whole world was waiting to see what would happen next.
Null stared at the spot where the Swordsman Master had disappeared. He couldn't stop thinking about it—there was no way a beginner teacher should have that Death's Deal thing. Someone was definitely pulling strings behind the scenes. Someone who wants to see him fall or have the reason to do so.
He clenched his fists. That artifact was way too powerful for a normal class master to have. It didn't make sense. Someone was messing with the game.
Stella shifted beside him, her wings partly open as she stared up at the sky. Her golden eyes were glowing slightly, like she could see something he couldn't.
"What is it?" he asked.
She didn't answer, just kept staring upward, her whole body tense. Null felt a nervous feeling in his stomach. Slowly, he looked up at the clouds. Trying to find what Stella was looking at but all he saw was clouds.
That's when the air exploded with pressure.
A force like nothing he'd ever felt smashed him down to his knees. He couldn't breathe right, his vision got blurry, and then he heard a voice that felt older than time itself. The same voice he heard back then.
Null swallowed hard, his instincts screaming even before he spoke. "Ancient One... I won."
The sky answered.
Golden light ripped through the clouds, pouring down like liquid fire. The air itself started burning and warping. And then he appeared. The one and only!
A massive dragon descended through the torn sky, wings so big they could cover whole mountains. Every golden scale shone with divine light. His very presence made the magic in the air go crazy. Null's heart pounded like crazy. He didn't need to ask who this was. He already knew.
Lord Aurelius.
The ancient dragon. Stella's father. The being who could destroy kingdoms without even trying. What is an end game boss doing at this stage of the game right?
Null couldn't breathe. The sight was both beautiful and terrifying. The pressure from the dragon's gaze crushed him, but it didn't feel angry—it felt like he was being judged. It felt like he can see right through him.
"You have grown," the voice echoed in Null's mind, deep and everywhere. "Faster than I expected."
Null forced himself to stand up, even though every muscle was shaking. "If you wanted me dead," he said quietly, "you would've done it already. So why show up now?"
Aurelius tilted his giant head slightly, his golden eyes showing a little amusement. "You assume a lot for someone so small. But you're right I could end you with a thought." His voice rumbled like thunder, but there was something like respect in it. "And yet I haven't. Do you know why?"
Null's throat felt dry. "Because of Stella." My lucky star
The dragon shifted, looking at his daughter. Stella lowered her head respectfully, making a soft rumbling sound that vibrated through the ground. Aurelius looked at her with something like warmth, then turned back to Null.
"She has bonded with you. Chosen you. That alone makes me curious. You, a human, stand beside my heir—and you survive. You fight. You get stronger. Interesting."
Null felt the weight of the dragon's power pressing against him, testing him, seeing if he was worth anything.
"If you want to stay with her," Aurelius continued, "you have to prove you're worthy of her bloodline. Words aren't enough."
The air around them shimmered with golden energy, and a system message appeared in Null's vision, written in fiery letters that glowed with power.
System Alert: Hidden Quest Received — "Trial of Worth"
Quest Giver: Lord Aurelius
Objective: Defeat the mysterious figure hiding outside Aethelburg
Details: Prove your worth to the Dragon Heir's lineage. Only victory will be recognized.
Reward: ???
Failure: Permanent loss of favor with Lord Aurelius.
Null read the message, his chest feeling tight. A quest from a dragon god. The message was clear—fail, and he'd lose Stella forever.
He breathed out slowly. "And if I say no?"
Aurelius' eyes burned brighter, like actual suns. "Then your bond with her breaks. Her destiny is bigger than any human can handle. But if you want to fight fate itself... then stand up and face it."
Null looked right back at him without flinching. "I'll prove it. Not because you told me to but because I want to."
For the first time, the dragon's expression softened just a little. "Good."
His wings spread wide, golden fire flowing off them like waterfalls of light. Before leaving, Aurelius gave Stella one last look, his voice echoing softly. What father wants to see their baby leave the nest?
"Grow well, my daughter. The world will shake when your wings truly awaken."
Then, with a roar that made the sky tremble, Lord Aurelius flew up into the clouds, his body dissolving into blinding light.
Null stood there for a long time after the light faded, breathing hard. The pressure was gone, but his heart was still racing. He stared at the empty sky, thoughts spinning.
"That... was something else," he mumbled.
Stella leaned against him, her warm scales touching his shoulder. Null smiled a little, patting her neck. "Guess we've got our work cut out for us, huh?"
He opened his game menu, letting the golden light of notifications fill his vision.
Class Advancement Successful — Swordsman.
You are the first player to achieve a class change.
Rewards: B-Rank Outfit – Blade Dancer's Garb, better stats, and more fame.
"I'm rolling in the fame haha."
Null put on the new outfit right away. It fit perfectly—light but strong, with a quiet hum of magic energy. A soft silver glow ran along the edges, a mark that few players would ever get.
Next came the Death's Deal reward. A list of Althar's stuff appeared. None of the weapons looked special, except one thing: a cloak that shimmered with pale silver light.
Cloak of Silent Gale (Silver Tier)
Level Requirement: 20
Description: A cloak made from ancient winds. Makes you harder to detect and move faster.
Null grinned a little. "Well, at least we got something good from that mess."
Then, a new announcement flashed across his screen, with the special sound that meant everyone in the game saw it.
World Announcement:
Player [Rain] has completed Class Advancement: Swordsman.
Null's face got serious. "So someone caught up already." He checked the details and saw that Rain had finished his trial just minutes after him. "That was close. If I'd been any slower, I would've lost being first."
He sighed and closed the menu. The game world was moving faster than he thought. Other people were getting stronger too, leveling up just like him. The real competition was just starting.
As night came, Null decided it was time to log out. He opened the logout screen, the game's light surrounding him as everything faded to black.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in his boring bedroom walls instead of the game world. The quiet hum of the gaming pod faded away.
Leo—his real name, not Null sat up slowly and took off the headset. His body felt achy, though nothing like how tired he felt after fighting in the game. He took a deep breath the air felt cool and heavy. Vastly different to the game.
Downstairs, he could smell dinner cooking. He followed the smell to the kitchen, where his mom was cooking and his dad sat on the couch watching news. You know the usual family stuff.
"Leo, you're up," his dad said, putting the remote down. "How you feeling?"
"Okay," Leo said. "Just tired."
His mom turned around, her eyes worried. "You've been in that game all day again. You need to rest more, honey."
"I know," he said, forcing a small smile. "I'll take it easy."
His dad stood up and walked over. "Your mom and I were talking. Maybe we should try more treatments. I'll figure out the money somehow, but... you're our only kid. If anything happens to you—" He stopped, his voice cracking.
Leo looked away, his throat feeling tight. He wanted to tell them the truth how much it hurt, how scared he was but instead he managed a quiet smile. "I won't let that happen. I found a way, Dad. A real one. In the game Oblivion Online you can make actual money. I can help with the bills, maybe even more than that so just trust me."
His dad's forehead wrinkled, not sure whether to believe it, but the determination in Leo's eyes made him pause. He just nodded.
Dinner was quiet. Between bites, Leo coughed a few times, the sound rough and dry. His mom reached out and put her hand over his.
He squeezed back gently. "It's fine. I'll be okay."
Later that night, lying in bed, Leo stared at the ceiling. His lungs hurt with every breath, but his mind was clear. The game wasn't just a game anymore. It was his only chance to change things.
"I'll make this work," he whispered to the dark room.
The next morning, after breakfast with his parents, Leo got back in the gaming pod.
Light filled his vision, and Null opened his eyes in Aethelburg again.
He went to the class area. A new teacher stood where Althar used to be, and several players were already waiting for their turn.
Null watched from the sidelines. The game world was changing fast.
Stella floated beside him, her scales shining in the morning sun. Null smiled faintly and patted her neck.
"Looks like we're just getting started," he said quietly.
Together, they turned toward the road leading out of town, where the next challenge—and the Trial of Worth—was waiting for them.