Chapter 21: Third Spell
Once his maids set the Spellweaver’s Monolith on his desk, Han sat at the table and studied its smooth surface. He forgot to dismiss his maids, but seeing his excitement, they left without a word. Now it was only him and his reward for succeeding his Father’s trial.
Han caressed the marble before biting his thumb and smearing blood across it, tracing a new magic circle he’d invented. He had drawn many circles for his third spell, but none worked, and he discarded them. Now that the circle was etched on the marble surface, the Spellweaver’s Monolith slowly read its pattern and revealed flaws.
I see how it works now. Parts that don’t shine are blocking my spell. Fine, I’ll redraw them and encompass everything in a perfect circle!
Through trial and error, using the best tool at hand, Han immersed himself in the study and experimentation he’d always loved. He picked apart each error and inched toward a third spell, more dangerous than his first two.
—
It was late at night. Han sat in silence before the Spellweaver’s Monolith. It had lost all its light, meaning its purpose was fulfilled. Sweat trickled from his hair and chin, and he was paler than before; he’d used his blood for countless variations of his circles until he struck the perfect one.
He exhaled slowly, a small, satisfied laugh catching in his throat.
He was tired, but he didn’t think of sleeping; he was hungry for power. Still, he headed to bed. Now that he had his wings under control, he could finally lie on his back. Closing his eyes, he hoped to sink into his subconscious. He knew no other way except to exhaust himself.
It happened.
A faint dragon’s growl welcomed Han into his subconscious. He turned and walked toward the sound until two Dragon Veins shone before him. One was dark, the other red; both were sealed by a waterfall of white snakes that refused to leave him alone.
"Things have changed now, snakes," Han said, voice low, eyes narrowing.
He sent a wave of mana that formed three magic circles around him in a triangle. Each was much larger than the chest‑sized circles he’d used before. Winged Dark Dragons slid out from the three circles and orbited Han in reverence as he bared his horns and wings.
It was Han’s first spell, and now he could cast it three times with little strain. His second spell, created on the fly in his Father’s artifact, was Dual Breath. It formed two circles; from each, a different dragon peeked to spit flames, both with distinct purposes.
And the third one...
"Go!" Han shouted.
All three zoomed toward the snakes, closing the distance in a few breaths as Han tracked their lanes and anticipated counters. Within reach, the dragons began clawing and biting into the snakes without tearing them apart. The sheer numbers took their toll as the snakes counterattacked with their own teeth.
Han’s dragons held, but with so many snakes latched on, none could gain an inch.
Then the wounded snakes convulsed. Their eyes darkened, and black spots spread across their scales as though someone had knocked over a bottle of ink on them. They grew so weak their jaws couldn’t hold the dragons. Their gazes went empty as their very purpose evaporated.
A moment later, a horn and a single wing sprouted on each of them with a wet crackle and the rip of splitting scales, and a new purpose appeared within them—Serve the one and only Black Dragon, Han.
The corrupted snakes turned and attacked their former allies, spreading the same curse. From afar, it looked like a blank sheet being dipped into black paint as the snakes became dragons and climbed across the Dragon Veins.
Han’s heart hammered with triumph.
Dragonification. If mere Parasite Bears can turn others into their kind, then I, the Black Dragon, can turn others into my kind. And I’m not going to waste any of this foreign mana within me. Instead of killing all these snakes, I’ll turn them into dragons and take it for myself to grow even stronger. Ranking up once I learn all seven spells is a given!
Suddenly, a low hiss rolled through the darkness. Looking up, Han noticed white, reptilian eyes staring from the ceiling—huge. As the monster edged closer, it revealed itself in its entirety: a massive white snake with a sharp, forked tongue, ready to slice Han and stop him from fully unsealing his bloodlines.
The dragons howled as the last snake appeared, its mana rolling over them.
Han clenched his fists, sneering. "It couldn’t be over so easily, right?"