The Low-Grade Energy Crystal pulsed faintly in Draven's tiny claw, barely larger than a pea, yet to him, it felt like a hidden treasure. It was a tangible asset, a true commodity, far more valuable than any ephemeral "scale polish." His inner trader rejoiced. This was the first brick in his new empire, built not on Ethereum or Bitcoin, but on the raw, untapped potential of this peculiar world and his even more peculiar Penny Stock System.
He tried to "analyze" it with his thoughts, much like he used to pore over crypto charts.
[Low-Grade Energy Crystal]
[Description: A common crystal containing a minute amount of raw elemental energy. Can be used for minor energy replenishment, very basic crafting, or as a catalyst for rudimentary elemental control. Evolvable to 'Mid-Grade Energy Crystal' (Requires 100 Low-Grade Crystals & 10 'Basic Mana Infusion' usages).]
Draven's eyes, still adjusting to their new reptilian form, widened. Evolvable! And it clearly stated the requirements. This was crucial. It wasn't just about accumulating junk; it was about compounding, about upgrading. The system wasn't entirely useless; it was just… under-leveled. Much like a promising altcoin with a low market cap, waiting for the right catalyst to pump. And he, Draven Malcairn, was going to be that catalyst.
He tried to absorb the energy. A faint warmth spread through him, but nothing significant. The system didn't give him any notification of power gained. Clearly, one crystal was not enough. One crystal was like one satoshi; you needed millions to make a difference.
He looked around his nest. Myra, his mother, had temporarily left the chamber. Aerion and Lyra were still nearby, observing him with that familiar mix of curiosity and mild disdain. It was Lyra who spoke first, her sapphire scales shimmering under the faint ambient light.
"He's still clutching that crystal. Most hatchlings would be trying to explore or demand sustenance. He's… focused."
Aerion scoffed, a deep rumble in his chest that Draven could feel through the ground. "He's likely just fascinated by its sparkle. Newborns are easily amused. Mother is too generous with her praise for him." He took a step closer, his sharp, emerald eyes narrowing. "Tell me, little one, do you understand what that crystal is for? Or are you simply admiring it?"
Draven suppressed a groan. Confrontation. Great. He couldn't speak, not yet. He had to convey intelligence without words, a challenge reminiscent of explaining blockchain to a skeptical boomer investor.
He held up the tiny crystal with his claw, then deliberately nudged it against his chest, near where he instinctively felt his "core" or "dantian" might be. He then gestured towards Aerion, then to the vast, open cavern mouth, implying the larger world, the need for strength.
Aerion blinked, then let out a sharp laugh. "He's trying to cultivate? With a Low-Grade Energy Crystal? That's barely enough to power a glow-worm's lantern, little brother!" His laughter echoed, a mocking sound. "Perhaps he truly is weak. Such a small core, seeking such meager energy."
Draven felt a familiar heat rise in his chest. Weak? He'd made a fortune from nothing, lost it, and made it again. He'd weathered market manipulation, rug pulls, and regulatory FUD. He would show them what "weak" truly meant. This was just a temporary dip.
[Quest Available: Prove Your Intent to Cultivate!]
[Quest Description: Convince Aerion, your elder brother, that you are serious about cultivation, despite your perceived weakness and 'low-grade' methods. You need to show ambition beyond superficial desires.]
[Reward: One (1) 'Mana Manipulation' skill fragment (Stage 0.005) OR Five (5) 'Low-Grade Energy Crystals'.]
Mana Manipulation! That sounded like a skill to control energy, not just receive it. That was a game-changer! And five more crystals meant he was halfway to evolving! The system was pushing him, forcing him to engage, to prove himself. It was like a daily task with a bonus reward for beating a specific challenge.
He couldn't just "whine cutely" his way out of this one. Aerion was a direct challenge. Draven had to demonstrate foresight, a strategic mind.
He let out a focused, intense gurgle, then used his tiny claw to draw an imaginary line on the stone floor. He pointed to his current tiny crystal, then with a dramatic sweep of his claw, pointed to a distant, grander section of the cavern, then up towards the unseen sky. He then pointed to himself, then to the crystal again, and finally, made a gesture of accumulation, of gathering many things together.
Lyra, ever the more perceptive, gasped. "He's not just absorbing it, Aerion! He wants to collect them! He means to gather many Low-Grade Crystals, to use them to climb higher!"
Aerion scoffed again, but his eyes were now narrower, more thoughtful. "To gather many? For what purpose? Even a thousand of those wouldn't match the power of a single Mid-Grade Crystal grown naturally from our clan's core."
Draven let out another powerful gurgle, his tiny body trembling with effort. He then pointed at Aerion, then at himself, and made a clear gesture of surpassing. He wanted to show him that even with "penny stocks," he would eventually overtake him.
A tense silence filled the chamber. Lyra looked intrigued, almost impressed. Aerion, however, merely stared. His expression was unreadable, but the scoff was gone. Replaced by a flicker of something Draven recognized from the human world: suspicion. A seasoned trader seeing a new, unknown player enter the market with a strange, unconventional strategy.
"You speak of surpassing me, little one?" Aerion finally said, his voice low, no longer amused. "With this?" He gestured dismissively at the tiny crystal in Draven's claw. "This is not the path of a true Malcairn. Our power comes from within, from our bloodline, from the grand energies of the world, not from hoarding pebbles!"
Draven's resolve hardened. This was the clash of philosophies. Traditional, bloodline-based power versus his calculated, evolutionary approach. He would prove his method, just like he proved that a carefully managed altcoin portfolio could outperform traditional stocks.
[Quest Update: Aerion's Skepticism!]
[New Objective: Overcome Aerion's prejudice. Make him acknowledge the potential of your 'low-grade' method, even if he doesn't fully understand it. Reward improved: Mana Manipulation skill fragment (Stage 0.01) OR Ten (10) 'Low-Grade Energy Crystals'.]
The reward had doubled! Aerion's resistance meant a bigger payout. This was exactly like dealing with a volatile market: higher risk, higher reward. Draven mentally smirked. His first real test, and it came with a juicy bonus. He just needed to find a way to impress his prejudiced older brother without any real power. He had to be smarter. He had to innovate.
And the first step to innovation was always observation. He began to simply… watch. He watched Aerion, Lyra, and even his mother, absorbing every nuance of their movements, their expressions, their reactions. He was in a new market, and he had to learn its trends, its whales, and its hidden opportunities. And perhaps, just perhaps, his "Penny Stock System" was exactly the hidden opportunity this world didn't even know it needed.