Over the past five months, Ke Xiu Si had spent his time in the Bokara Mountains, searching for powerful beasts.
The Red Dragon not only used them as sustenance for his growth but also as experience for his upgrades.
Appropriate caution was necessary; Ke Xiu Si would not attempt to challenge powerful creatures without full confidence.
Now, Ke Xiu Si had advanced to Level 2, learning the "Mana Surge" ability and gaining magical power.
After this period of hunting, this young Red Dragon, currently in a growth spurt, had grown several sizes larger, measuring a full six meters from snout to tail tip.
His scales were more vibrant in color, and subtle bone spurs had emerged along his spine, though they hadn't yet formed a complete dorsal fin, indicating he was about to enter the next stage.
His raised head became more ferocious, the horns on his forehead elongated and hardened, displaying new horn rings, and short, keratinous points grew on his chin, while his pupil color had lightened somewhat compared to before.
Of course, the Red Dragon still possessed the characteristic of an immature dragon: a large head and a small body.
His proportions were still a bit comical.
Ke Xiu Si gulped down a piece of meat, then looked up at his panel.
"Choose to advance Sorcerer level."
【Your Sorcerer level has increased to Level 3】
【The magical power suppressed deep within your body, mind, and soul is released, allowing you to twist the spells you cast with powerful willpower to achieve the desired effect, gaining the ability 【Metamagic】】
【You can choose two Metamagic effects】
【You have gained 【Metamagic: Quicken Spell】 【Metamagic: Twin Spell】】
【Metamagic: Quicken Spell】:
You expend a certain amount of magical power, twisting the spell with a powerful Sorcerer's will; your spells can be cast instantly without preparation.
【Metamagic: Twin Spell】:
You expend the corresponding magical power, using a Sorcerer's will to duplicate a prepared spell, which can simultaneously affect multiple targets.
Ke Xiu Si directly chose the most straightforward Metamagic combination from his previous life.
Although he didn't need to construct spell models like a Wizard, a Sorcerer still needed to feel the Weave with his will and prepare for magic.
However, Quicken Spell Metamagic allowed for direct casting, making spells instantly responsive.
And Twin Spell Metamagic goes without saying; in combat, even half an extra spell, let alone a full one, could change the tide of battle.
【You have gained 1st-level spells 【Charm Human】 【Thunderwave】】
【You have gained 2nd-level spells 【Invisibility】 【Enhance Ability】】
In terms of spells, Ke Xiu Si chose more functional spells rather than direct damage spells.
After all, as a Red Dragon, most of his early low-level spells dealt less damage than his fangs, claws, and fire breath, not to mention his daily Scorching Ray.
And if he could become invisible or Charm Human, the effect would be far greater than a bit of damage.
After making his choices, the Red Dragon slowly closed his eyes.
Vast magical power was unleashed from deep within his body, gushing out like a spring, powerfully attaching itself to his will.
There was no need to calculate parameters or construct models; he only needed to use that power to unreasonably twist magic according to the caster's needs.
This was the Weave, a system of operation that simultaneously contained both order and chaos.
And several spells emerged from the depths of his mind, deeply imprinted in the Red Dragon's memory.
He had finally reached a higher level of the Weave and gained a deeper understanding of this world's Weave.
"It's about time to leave here."
"The next destination will be Stormwind Highlands."
The Red Dragon, full and satisfied, unceremoniously abandoned the few disused nests in the mountains and spread his wings, soaring into the sky.
The sky was clear, a vast expanse of azure.
He looked down at the earth, beneath him was a dense forest with lush trees, where forest deer darted through the woods.
Further in the distance lay a vast and desolate plateau, with the faint outlines of several cities visible.
And even further, were endless, snow-covered mountains, seemingly stretching beyond sight.
This was the Anzeta Great Wilderness, located in the northwest of the Elzergay Western Continent, surrounded by the majestic Anstika Mountains, and known as the "Land Without Spring" due to its year-round cold climate.
Over a millennium, the resilient Scanlan people established dozens of cities here, gradually forming the Northern United Kingdom, led by Grand Duke Bosk.
Orcs, giants, goblins, and even dragons, various creatures coexisted in this vast region.
The strong winds in the air scraped against the Red Dragon's scales, drying the lingering bloodstains at the corners of his mouth.
All these real physical sensations so clearly reminded Ke Xiu Si, or rather, Lin Kai:
He was alive.
Truly alive under this sky.
This was not a virtual game.
The Red Dragon looked down at the vast land, muttering to himself:
"I am Ke Xiu Si..."
But the latter half of his sentence dissipated in the howling hurricane high in the sky—"...and also Lin Kai."
Deep within the mountains, in the coldest part of Anzetta, stood a black tall tower.
No one knew its origin, nor dared to visit it.
From within the tower, the wails of unknown beasts often echoed, so people called it the Night Demon Tower.
At the top of the tower, a man in a black hooded robe, his face obscured, was waiting for something.
On his chest was a rusty medal, depicting a flame with an eye, burning on a dragon's claw.
Immediately after, a portal appeared out of thin air, and an ugly monster slowly wriggled and crawled out of it, kneeling before the man in a peculiar posture.
The monster was over three meters tall; even kneeling, it was considerably taller than the man.
Its body was twisted, like a defective product haphazardly glued together with flesh and blood.
It was covered in many white scales, but large areas of bare flesh remained, and dense hair hung down from its head, making it appear disgusting and ugly.
The monster spoke with great difficulty: "Master, it's, it's a Red Dragon."
With that, it extended its bloody, twisted limb, presenting a charred bone, still recognizable as a dire wolf's skull by its outline.
"A powerful Red Dragon?"
"Excellent, excellent!"
The man's tone was surprisingly excited.
"It's very cunning, I haven't found its lair yet."
"Hahahaha, don't worry, I know these Red Dragons too well: arrogant, greedy, wrathful, accustomed to violence, tired of thinking..."
"Once these creatures possess enough power, they will vent like dogs in heat, marking their territory, and fully displaying their immense strength."
The man laughed madly, his voice intoxicated and obsessed.
"At that time, this power will be under my control."
"Yes, Master."
The monster slowly lowered its head, its abundant hair obscuring its eerie blue eyes.
The man stepped forward, gently stroking the monster's head, not caring that his hand was covered in an unknown viscous fluid.
He softly said:
"I will not fail again, absolutely not."
These words seemed to be spoken both to the monster and to himself.