Golden pupils—deep and ancient—locked onto Ryan.
At that moment,the world seemed to stop.
Ryan's body froze.
His legs trembled uncontrollably as an invisible weight pressed down on him.
It wasn't just fear.It was instinct.A warning screaming from deep within his soul.
Danger. Absolute danger.
Ryan tried to take a step back—But his body refused to listen.
The ground beneath him felt heavier, as if gravity itself had increased.Even breathing became difficult.Each inhale burned his lungs.
Duruma's mere presence distorted the space around it.The air shimmered faintly, like heat rising from molten metal.
Ryan's instincts screamed.
Run.
But his legs wouldn't move.
Then suddenly—The pressure vanished.
Like it had never existed.
Duruma exhaled slowly.Smoke curled from its nostrils as it lowered its massive head.
Its gaze never left Ryan.
"You…"
Its voice was low, ancient, and heavy—like thunder rumbling across the sky.
"…are different."
Ryan's heart pounded violently.
Can it sense me?
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's enough."
His voice carried authority.
The pressure disappeared instantly.
Ryan staggered slightly, gasping for air as the invisible weight lifted.
He was still breathing heavily.His small hands trembled as he looked up at Marcus.
"Dad…" his voice shook,"w-what was that?"
Marcus glanced at him.
For a moment, he didn't answer.Instead, he asked—
"What did you feel?"
Ryan's body stiffened.
"…Death," he murmured."I felt death."
His fingers clenched tightly.
Fear still lingered in his chest—but there was something else.
Excitement.
Ryan lowered his gaze slightly.
So this is what true power feels like…
Compared to this—he was nothing.Less than nothing.
But instead of crushing him—it ignited something inside him.
One day…I will stand above even this.
A faint, almost maniacal grin appeared on his lips.Not from madness—but from desire.
The desire to rise.To surpass.To dominate.
It disappeared just as quickly.
No one noticed.
Marcus nodded, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Good," he said."That's an honest answer."
His gaze shifted toward the massive dragon behind them.
"That feeling you experienced…" he said slowly,"…is called pressure."
Ryan looked up, still trying to steady his breathing.
"Pressure…?"
Marcus nodded.
"It's something only the strong can release."
He glanced at Duruma.
"A natural suppression. The weaker you are…""…the harder it becomes to even stand."
Ryan clenched his fists.
"So… that means…"
Cynthia stepped forward, her voice calm.
"In this world, strength isn't vague, Ryan.It's measured."
Ryan frowned.
"Measured… how?"
Marcus raised a finger.
"Through ranks."
He paused briefly.
"Beasts are divided into levels:Bronze. Silver. Gold. Platinum. Diamond."
Each word landed heavily in Ryan's mind.
Marcus's tone deepened.
"And above all of them...King."
Ryan's gaze slowly shifted toward Duruma.His throat went dry.
"…That's… King level?"
As if understanding him, Duruma let out a low snort.Smoke curled into the air.
Marcus smirked.
"Show some respect."
Ryan swallowed.
Even standing near it had almost crushed him.And that was only King.
"…Then what about Emperor?" Ryan asked quietly.
This time—Marcus didn't smile.
"Emperor-level beings…" he said, his voice turning serious,"…can wipe out cities without effort."
Silence fell.
Ryan's pupils trembled.
That dragon… can reach that level…
Cynthia gently placed a hand on his head.
"Humans follow a similar system," she said softly."But unlike beasts, we don't rely only on growth."
Ryan looked up.
"Then how do humans get stronger?"
Marcus grinned.
"Three things."
He raised three fingers.
"Your system.Your intelligence.And your contracted beasts."
Ryan hesitated.
"…Can I check Duruma again?"
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Go ahead."
Ryan focused.
The world blurred slightly.
A translucent screen appeared.
[Beast Potential Analysis Activated]
Name: Duruma(Ancient Dragon)
Current Level: King
Potential: Emperor
Ryan stared.
Then—
His pupils suddenly shrank.
The screen flickered.The text is distorted.
Hidden Potential: ???
Status: Locked
Condition: Unknown
A strange chill ran down his spine.
The symbols didn't feel normal.They weren't just information.
They felt… alive.
Ryan blinked—
And everything disappeared.
The screen returned to normal.As if nothing had happened.
"…What was that…?" he whispered.
Behind him—Duruma's pupils narrowed.
For the first time—The dragon took a slow step back.
Marcus frowned slightly.
"…Duruma?"
But the dragon said nothing.
It only continued staring at Ryan—more cautiously this time.
Ryan slowly clenched his fists.
Fear still lingered in his chest.But now—something else burned alongside it.
Curiosity.
Marcus looked at Ryan deeply.
"If used correctly…" he said slowly,"…your ability could shake the entire world."
Ryan looked up.
His eyes slowly sharpened.
The world had just become far bigger than he imagined.And now—
so would he.
Marcus turned and began walking back.
"From today onwards," he said casually,"You'll start training."
Ryan didn't reply immediately.
His gaze lingered on Duruma.On that overwhelming power.
Then—He smiled faintly.
"Good," he whispered.
Because this time—he wouldn't die weak.