Crack! The egg continued to crack, pieces of its shell falling to the marble tiles. The dragon’s bumpy orange scales were now visible. Then, he shook himself and the egg shattered completely. Boom! He raised himself and flew out, his long body like that of a snake, and he had two horns that looked like deer horns on his head. He stretched out and coiled around Yeon-woo, his scales sticking up until the moisture on his body evaporated. His scales finally hardened, flashing as they settled down, a black color occasionally shimmering along them.

Although he looked like a Mythical Dragon, the most superior Mythical Beast, at closer inspection, there were a lot of differences between him and the Mythical Dragon.

Edora and Phante thought Yeon-woo’s Mythical Beast looked familiar.

“Edora, that...”

“Yes! It looks like Akasha’s Snake, but not exactly.”

They were reminded of the snake they’d killed in the Tutorial, perhaps because the Mythical Beast had borrowed the snake’s form after seeing it in Yeon-woo’s subconscious. However, his aura was heavy and sharp, rather than the holy and noble aura a Mythical Dragon was supposed to exude. ‘Demonic energy.’

Unlike other energies, magic energy could create other energies, but demonic energy was more fundamental than others, and it was the power that the demons on the ninety-eighth floor used.

Demonic energy was corrupted and evil, but it also had strong offensive powers, which meant that a lot of players liked demonic energy, such as the Devil Army of the Eight Clans.

A Mythical Beast that had demonic energy and was on the same level as a Legendary Beast was more appropriately called a Magical Beast. No one in the One-horned tribe had seen a Magical Beast like that on the eleventh floor. The strength he emanated was extraordinary, even though he had just hatched and was still weak. His potential was so outstanding that it seemed like he could bloom into a majestic flower at any time.

He also had the energy of all Four Legendary Beasts, which smoothly circulated under the demonic energy. Six hundred years ago, something similar had happened after a player passed the tests of all the Legendary Beasts. After the Tower was created, it seemed like the achievement couldn’t be repeated, but Yeon-woo even managed to add the foundation of the Legendary Beasts.

The elders were only grateful that this happened in front of them, and they could observe it up close. They stared, their eyes wide open in case they missed something. A few rushed over to the archives and tried to search for records of anything similar.

“It’s different from a Mythical Beast. Wouldn’t it be more suitable to call it a Demonic Dragon?” The Head Elder looked at Yeon-woo and the Demonic Dragon, who were conversing with each other. He pushed his glasses up his nose once more. He couldn’t hear what Yeon-woo and the Demonic dragon were saying because of a barrier made of magic power, but they seemed to be speaking to each other in a warm manner.

The Martial King looked on calmly.

***

As soon as the Demonic Dragon hatched, Yeon-woo created a barrier around him and the Demonic Dragon with magic power. It would have been difficult to block rankers from eavesdropping on them in the past, but with his Draconic energy, his barrier was like a fortress.

He’d set it up so that no one could listen to their conversation because he was sure that the Mythical Dragon had already died. The Mythical Dragon was almost as powerful as a Legendary Beast. It could easily consume all properties and had the skills for several fighting methods. That was why his brother had caused such an uproar in the Tower when he awakened the Mythical Dragon.

It was also the reason why Kalatus had taken an interest in his brother. But as strong as the Mythical Dragon was, it had several restrictions and was a manifestation of the owner who’d hatched it. People had different characters in their unconscious, and the Mythical Dragon was the outward form of one of them. It could freely change its form, and it usually followed its owner’s character. Sometimes, it even locked itself in the owner’s subconscious.

If their original form disappeared, they would also disappear, which was why Yeon-woo believed that his brother’s Mythical Dragon had closed his eyes permanently, especially after discovering that Leonte had his Neidan. Even though he’d sensed the aura of the Mythical Dragon from the egg, he just assumed they were of the same element or the same species. But now that it had hatched, Yeon-woo was perturbed to sense that its aura was just the same as the one in the diary, even though the Mythical Dragon looked different. What had happened?

『I’ve been waiting for a long time in a dark place. I discarded my physical body and locked myself in darkness to wait for your return.』 The Demonic Dragon’s eyes brimmed with sorrow, hate, and also joy at meeting. 『You told me to leave, and you even cut our connection so that I could live apart from you, but I believed that you would come back. Thankfully, you didn’t betray my faith in you. It’s a relief.』

Yeon-woo was jarred by the Demonic Dragon’s words. The Demonic Dragon didn’t see him, he was looking at his brother through him.

『Say something. It’s been so long. In the past, you would have jumped around, so why are you so silent now? 』

Yeon-woo still couldn’t speak.

『Well, I guess if you’ve gone through those experiences, it’s not strange that your personality has changed, but…what happened to you? Your demeanor has completely changed.』 The Demonic Dragon looked Yeon-woo up and down, curling around him. 『My new body is different now. But say something, it’s too frustrating.』

Yeon-woo was trapped in his thoughts to discover that the Mythical Dragon had waited for his brother’s return, and he didn’t know what to say to it at all. “Sorry.”

『Hm?』

“I’m not the person you’re waiting for.”

『What are—?』 The Demonic Dragon’s eyes widened.

Yeon-woo didn’t reply. He pulled back his magic power and said to the Martial King. “Seseung-nim, I want to say to talk privately with this hatchling, would it be OK to leave for a moment?”

The Martial King nodded. The elders were all surprised because they’d been hoping to observe the Demonic Dragon up close, but Yeon-woo ignored their desperate pleas and stepped on Shunpo to leave quickly. Chirpy followed behind him, saying that they should go together. The Demonic Dragon cocked his head to one side in confusion and flew up into the air with a resolute face, looking as though he were swimming in water. He followed Yeon-woo to a forest located far from the village. After Yeon-woo spread his senses around to check that there wasn’t anyone close by, he stood on the highest tree.

『What are you talking about? You’re not yourself?』

Yeon-woo took off the mask he was wearing, thinking that the magic on the mask had confused the Demonic Dragon. The Demonic Dragon looked at Yeon-woo and cocked his head to one side.

It was the same face, but the bright aura was a lot colder. Still, that wasn’t too odd considering what Jeong-woo had endured. However, as the Demonic Dragon continued to observe Yeon-woo, his head suddenly jerked back, and his questioning eyes shook. He frowned, and demonic energy flew around him as he growled, 『Who…are you?』

Yeon-woo answered with a composed expression. “Yeon-woo.”

『Yeon…woo?』 The Demonic Dragon frowned, his head feeling itchy as though he were about to remember something. His eyes widened at Yeon-woo’s next words. “Jeong-woo’s older brother.”

It was as though time had frozen. The Demonic Dragon couldn’t say anything.

“I don’t know if you've heard about me, but I am Jeong-woo’s twin. That’s why our faces are the same. I came here to avenge Jeong-woo.” Yeon-woo started to explain what had happened between him and his brother in the past and what he had gone through in the Tower. The Demonic Dragon saw all of Yeon-woo’s memories through their connection. He was silent and confused, as though he’d received a terrible shock. Yeon-woo left to give the Demonic Dragon privacy to organize his thoughts.

***

『You’re here to avenge your brother and get rid of his enemies?』 An hour had passed before the Demonic Dragon spoke again. He seemed to have a lot of thoughts, and his golden eyes—a common feature of Mythical Dragons—were filled with a certain madness, as though he would stand by Yeon-woo to chew and swallow all of the bastards that had made Jeong-woo suffer.

“For now.”

『For now?』 The Demonic Dragon growled, baring his teeth as though he didn’t like Yeon-woo’s answer. He looked like he was going to attack him any second.

“If possible, I’m going to break the Tower as well. Then, I’ll be a little less angry.”

『What? Hahaha!』 The Demonic Dragon laughed in amusement, the madness in his eyes disappearing. His eyes filled with light instead as demonic energy fizzed around them and shook the atmosphere, making it clear just how powerful he was.『You’re crazy, but I guess that you must be for me to work with you. I think I can do that.』 The Demonic Dragon smirked. 『New master, I want to follow you. Will you accept me?』

“Of course.” Yeon-woo nodded. With the Demonic Dragon, his brother had managed to grow stronger rapidly, making even his teammates jealous.

Although he had just hatched, the potential of the Demonic Dragon was palpable, and he even had the power of the Four Legendary Beasts. Any restrictions would be swept away as he grew. With the Demonic Dragon, Chirpy, Shanon, Boo, and the Guai by his side, he would be able to see his revenge through, slowly but surely.

『Then give me a new name since I’ve been reborn. I need one to bind myself to you.』

After some thought, Yeon-woo found one.

***

Yeon-woo returned to the tribe after his conversation with the Demonic Dragon.

“Where’s the Demonic Dragon?”

“He’s resting because he’s just hatched.” Yeon-woo could feel the weight of the sleeping stone near his heart. Chirpy was excited to finally play with his friend.

“Edora.”

“Yes?”

“Is my naming ability that bad?”

Edora was silent for a moment. “Did...something happen?”

“I gave him a name, but he angrily rejected making a contract with me. He said that he wouldn’t leave, so I should spend time thinking of a name before he accepts the contract.”

Edora awkwardly scratched her cheek. Somehow, this wasn’t a surprise to her. “What name did you pick for him?”

“Growl.”

Edora instinctively put her face in her hands.