Before Derick could fully activate his class, it happened.
He didn't even see it clearly—only a blur of motion.
The Deva was suddenly blasted sideways, its body hurled through the air by a powerful strike. Stone shattered where it crashed.
Derick's eyes widened as he turned toward the attacker.
A human clad in black dragon armor. The armor was sleek and menacing, forged in overlapping obsidian-black plates that resembled a living dragon's scales.Etched into the chest plate was the head of a dragon, its fanged maw sculpted in ruthless detail. The emblem seemed almost alive, radiating pressure.
The human turned toward Derick, his presence overwhelming.
"Go," the man said coldly.
"Head to the Pathway. This battlefield isn't meant for your kind."
The words weren't mocking—just absolute.
Derick didn't hesitate.
He stepped backward into the teleporter, light swallowing him whole as the roar of battle vanished in an instant.
---
When his vision cleared, he found himself inside his designated room in the East Drowned City
The air here was still peaceful compared to the chaos he'd just escaped.
Only then did Derick allow himself to breathe.
His legs gave out, and he slumped against the wall, chest rising and falling as adrenaline slowly drained from his system. His heart hammered violently, replaying the image of the Devas, the battlefield, the sheer hopelessness of it all.
"I really almost died…" he muttered.
After resting for a while, Derick pushed himself upright. The silence was suffocating, boredom creeping in now that the danger had passed.
To distract himself, he summoned the interface.
His gaze settled on the class he had copied earlier—from Jrt.
A faint spark of interest returned to his eyes.
"Let's see what you're worth," Derick said quietly, reaching out to inspect it.
---
Status Screen — Updated
---
[Race] Human
[State] Ordinary
[Realm] Ordinary Realm
[Class] Copy
[Elements] None
---
Class Description:
Grants the ability to copy the Classes of others and store them for personal use.
Storage Limit: 3 Classes
Restriction / Flaw:
Only one Class may be copied from each category:
Summoner
Transformer
Armourer
Copying a new Class of the same category will overwrite the previous one.
---
[Copied Classes]
Armourer — Phoenix Carapace
Transformer — Jade Skin
Summoner — Perfect Replica
---
[Merged Class]
Hybrid Transformation / Armour:
Jade Phoenix Carapace
A fusion of transformation and armor-based combat capabilities.
---
[Evolution Requirement]
Kill and Consume
Consume beasts to obtain Ascension Permits, allowing progression beyond the Ordinary Realm.
---
[Ascension Permit Progress]
Feral Points: 88
Primeval Points: 45
Aberrant Points: 28
Absolute Points: 23
---
Beast Souls
Aberrant Grade:
Lethal-Backed Crab (Summon) ×3
Lethal-Backed Crab (Possession)
Lethal-Backed Crab (Weapon) ×3
Lethal-Backed Crab (Shield) ×2
…
[Absolute Grade]
Crab Warrior (Summon)
Crab Guard (Armour)
---
[Lifespan] 200 Years
{GENESIS — RESTRAINED}
---
Derick's gaze lingered on the newest copied Class.
---
Copied Class — Perfect Replica
Active Skill — Replica:
Summons a perfect replica of the user within a ten-meter radius.
Restriction: Replica summoning is locked until the user acquires an Ascension Permit.
Passive Skill — United:
Each replica within ten meters increases the user's overall attributes by 10%.
The maximum number of replicas is determined by the number of Ascension Permits possessed.
Derick's eyes widened.
This class is ridiculous.
A slow grin crept across his face.but it will become very handy in the future.
---
Derick spent several days resting within the Pathway. During that time, he familiarized himself with its inner workings—the rules, the rhythms, the unspoken dangers. Remembering Jet's warning, he refused every invitation to hunt, choosing patience over reckless gain.
Eventually, he stood before the teleportation platform in his room once more. This time, however, there was no excitement on his face—only caution and lingering fear.
After a brief hesitation, he stepped through.
The world shifted.
Derick emerged on the other side amid the ongoing reconstruction of the teleportation station. Cracked platforms were being reforged, damaged structures reinforced, and workers moved briskly through the site, restoring what had been nearly destroyed.
As he walked through the chaos, his gaze suddenly froze.
A familiar face.
One of the guards from Rui Yan's household.
Before Derick could even react, the guard had already noticed him and strode over. Without offering any explanation, the man gestured for Derick to follow and escorted him away from the reconstruction site.
Moments later, Derick found himself standing before the towering gates of the Dragon Spirit House—the leading family of the Dragon-Borne Valley.
There were three great families that governed the valley: the Dragon Bone Family, the Dragon Blood Family, and the Dragon Spirit Family. In the past, the Dragon Spirit Family had been regarded as the weakest of the three. But in this generation, everything had changed.
Under the rule of its new matriarch, the Dragon Spirit Family had risen to prominence, overtaking the others to become the undisputed leader of the valley. More importantly, it was the only family that had emerged from the Deva invasion without suffering significant losses.
That single fact alone spoke volumes.
The guard stopped at the gate and nudged Derick forward.
"Go in."
Taking a steady breath, Derick stepped through the gates.
Stepping into the compound, Derick felt the atmosphere shift. The air was calm, yet disciplined—every guard alert, every servant measured in their movements.
Dillard appeared almost immediately and fell into step beside him, steering him toward the residential sector.
"You had us worried," Dillard said casually, though his eyes studied Derick closely. "For a moment, we thought you were among those caught in the Otrans Tragedy."
Derick blinked.
"The Otrans Tragedy?"
Dillard glanced sideways, surprised. "You haven't heard?" He chuckled lightly. "Then where exactly have you been hiding?"
Before Derick could answer, Dillard continued, tone playful but probing.
"I even tried finding you in the Pathway. Thought we could hunt together sometime. But you vanished."
Derick shrugged. "A generous lady took a liking to me. Gave me a decent job—personal porter on a trip to—"
Before he could finish, Dillard abruptly reached out and covered his mouth.
"Nope."
Dillard draped an arm over his shoulder, grinning. "I didn't ask for your romance arc, did I?"
Derick stared at him.
Dillard burst out laughing. "Relax! If I had a recorder, I'd save that expression for the future." He shook his head. "Seriously, you're way too stiff. At this rate, you'll scare every girl away."
He leaned closer. "So—who's the lucky one? And how was the honeymoon?"
Derick nearly choked. "What honeymoon?! I only just met her. We're still talking! I haven't even asked her out!"
Dillard raised a finger wisely. "Rule one about women—if they play hard to get, don't back down. Persistence wins eventually. Who knows? One day she might fall for you."
They continued walking, exchanging light words as clan members passed by, greeting Dillard with subtle respect and curious glances toward Derick.
As they neared Rui Yan's quarters, Derick suddenly spoke, his tone shifting.
"So… how does the Dragon Spirit Family treat its invited members ?"
Dillard stopped.
For a brief moment, the laughter drained from his face. The playful ease vanished, replaced by something sharper—calculating.
Then he smiled again.
"You won't regret it."
That answer settled heavily in Derick's chest.
They stopped before Rui Yan's door
Dillard pushed it open and gestured inside. "I won't be joining you this time. Family matters."
He paused, eyes narrowing just slightly.
"Be careful what you say in there, this may as well be a one time opportunity."
Then, with a final nod, he stepped back and left Derick alone at the threshold.
Stepping into the garden, Derick was greeted by the soft, familiar sound of a violin. The melody drifted through the air like a whisper, guiding his steps as he followed the path they had once walked together.
As he drew closer, he saw her.
She sat on a simple wooden stool, posture straight yet relaxed, completely absorbed in her music. Her left hand fingers danced along the strings with effortless grace, plucking each note with precision, while her right hand held the bow and gently striking it on the vuolin. The violin sang beneath her touch—deep, tender, and aching in a way that stirred the heart. The garden itself seemed to listen, every leaf and stone held captive by the melody.
Remembering Dillard's advice, Derick resisted the urge to announce himself. Instead, he quietly moved to the side and sat down, allowing the music to wash over him. He listened in silence, afraid that even a breath might disturb the fragile beauty of the moment.
After a while, the melody began to rise, climbing gently toward its peak. The notes grew richer, more intense, as if telling a story that was nearing its end. Then, with one final, lingering stroke of the bow, the music faded away.
The silence that followed was almost painful
the kind that left anyone who heard it yearning for just one more note.
She gently placed the violin on the chair, resting the bow neatly atop it, then walked toward Derick and sat beside him.
"It's been a long time," she said with a faint smile. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine," Derick replied.
"So," Rui Yan continued, turning slightly toward him, "have you considered my offer?"
"Yes… about that." Derick hesitated, then exhaled softly. "I've been meaning to ask—why give me such an opportunity? Why me, among millions of people? I know I'm not that special, so—"
Rui Yan raised a hand, stopping him gently. "Let me be honest with you. It was not my decision to invite you into our clan. That choice belongs entirely to the Matriarch. All I can tell you is this—if you accept, you will not regret it." Her expression grew serious. "But be warned. Once you accept, there is no turning back."
Derick fell into deep thought. Silence stretched between them before he finally spoke.
"I'm in."
Rui Yan's brows lifted slightly. "Are you certain?"
"Yes," Derick said firmly. "I'm in."
"Then wait a moment," she said.
She raised her voice slightly, and at once a young maiden dressed in servant's attire rushed in, dropping to her knees and bowing respectfully.
Rui Yan leaned down and whispered something into her ear. The girl's eyes widened in shock before she sprang to her feet and hurried out. Some time later, she returned—this time not alone.
Two guards flanked her, both clad in the familiar armor of the Dragon Spirit House. In the maiden's hands was a tray, carefully draped in a white cloth.
She approached Rui Yan and knelt once more, presenting the tray with both hands.
Rui Yan lifted the cloth, revealing a red crystal resting beneath it, its surface gleaming with an eerie inner light.
"This," Rui Yan said, turning to Derick, "is one of the three Sacred Artifacts of Dragon Bone Valley. It is known as the Fragment of Binding and Obligation."
"It ensures that spoken vows are never broken."
Something like this actually exists? Derick thought, staring at the crystal.
"Do not be afraid," Rui Yan said calmly. "I have no intention of stripping you of your freedom. This artifact exists only to ensure that promises are honored."
She met his gaze. "I will ask you to swear an oath—that anything you see or hear within these walls remains here. You are forbidden from speaking of it outside unless commanded by the Matriarch of the house or her appointed companion."
She gestured toward the crystal.
"You will swear this oath while holding it."
Derick's eyes followed the red crystal as Rui Yan held it before him, its deep crimson glow reflecting in her calm, unyielding gaze. .
"Place your hands upon it," Rui Yan instructed, her voice firm but gentle, "and swear your oath. Let the Fragment of Binding and Obligation seal your words."
Derick hesitated for a heartbeat
Reaching out he touched the fracment of binding and obligation, and then...