All of this had happened less than half an hour ago.
From dying on the runway.
To standing inside a massive underground abyss filled with dragon skeletons and mana rivers.
If Ren had been an ordinary person, he would already be screaming.
But after years of handling billion-dollar crises, his mind adjusted far faster than his emotions.
Right now, he only had one thought.
This place is ridiculously dangerous.
The air itself felt heavy.
Every breath filled his lungs with burning energy, making his muscles twitch slightly as if they were absorbing something unfamiliar.
Ren slowly flexed his fingers.
Crack.
The stone beneath his boots fractured.
"…This strength is not normal."
In his old world, peak humans could break bones.
Here, he had casually cracked solid rock.
Before he could test further, a translucent screen suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[SOVEREIGN STATUS]
Host: Ren Alaric KingswellBody Adaptation: 3%Mana Affinity: SupremeDragon Authority: Locked (Partial)Mana Pool: Overflowing (Unstable)
Ren frowned.
"Body adaptation?"
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
System Explanation: The Sovereign Body requires gradual synchronization. Sudden output beyond adaptation level may result in internal damage.
"…So I can injure myself if I go too hard?"
Correct.
Ren's mouth twitched.
So much for instant god mode.
He had expected limitations, but seeing them so clearly was still annoying.
"And the mana pool being unstable?"
High-density mana zones rapidly increase energy accumulation. Without control training, overflow may cause mana backlash.
Ren stared at the glowing rivers in the cavern.
"So this place is basically a power booster and a death trap."
Accurate.
Ren sighed softly.
Figures.
Power always came with risk.
Just like in business.
His gaze shifted to Ignivar.
The massive dragon remained kneeling, breathing slow and steady, heat radiating from his body like a furnace.
"Do you always kneel?" Ren asked.
Ignivar lifted his massive head slightly.
"My existence recognizes your sovereignty. Standing without command would be disrespect."
"…You can stand."
The dragon slowly rose.
Even that small movement caused wind pressure to ripple through the cavern.
Ren felt his clothes flutter violently.
Alright. Definitely not normal.
Ren walked carefully along the cavern floor.
With each step, faint mana streams curled toward his body instinctively.
It felt like invisible threads pulling energy into him.
His chest burned slightly.
Not painful.
Uncomfortable.
After a few seconds, the system chimed.
Warning: Mana absorption exceeding control threshold.
Ren immediately stopped.
"…Already?"
Yes.
So even standing here too long was dangerous.
This abyss really was an extreme cultivation zone.
No wonder the system went into overdrive.
He looked around.
Dragon bones.
Ancient weapons half-buried in stone.
Mana crystals the size of cars.
This place was practically a treasure vault.
"System," Ren asked quietly, "is this cave mine alone?"
This is the Abyss of Sovereigns. Highest natural mana concentration on Aetherra. Historically ruled by the Dragon King.
"So I woke up in the most dangerous and valuable place in the world."
Correct.
Ren rubbed his temple.
Luck was truly absurd.
Before he could ask more, a faint rumble echoed deeper within the cavern.
The ground trembled slightly.
Ignivar's eyes narrowed.
"Host Sovereign. Creatures have sensed your awakening."
"Creatures?"
A low growl rolled through the abyss.
From the shadows, multiple glowing eyes opened.
Dozens.
Large shapes began shifting between the pillars of bone and crystal.
Thick scales scraped stone.
Heavy breathing echoed.
Not dragons.
Something uglier.
Massive abyss beasts, twisted by dense mana exposure.
Their bodies were muscular, distorted, with crystal growths embedded into their flesh.
Some resembled wolves the size of trucks.
Others crawled like armored insects.
All of them stared directly at Ren.
Hunger burned in their eyes.
Ren swallowed slowly.
"So this place isn't exactly peaceful."
Ignivar's wings twitched.
"Shall I erase them, my Sovereign?"
Ren hesitated.
Part of him wanted to let the dragon handle it instantly.
But another part understood something important.
If he relied on others from the beginning…
He would never truly master this power.
"Wait," Ren said.
Ignivar froze.
Ren took a deep breath.
His heart burned hotter.
Mana surged faintly through his veins.
He stepped forward slowly.
The beasts growled louder.
One of the wolf-like creatures suddenly lunged.
Its jaws opened wide, crystal teeth flashing.
Ren's instincts exploded.
He twisted aside.
The creature slammed into stone where he had stood, shattering rock.
Before Ren could think—
His body moved.
His fist drove forward.
Pain exploded through his arm.
But the beast's skull shattered like glass.
Blood and crystal fragments sprayed across the cavern floor.
The creature collapsed instantly.
Silence followed.
Ren stared at his trembling hand.
Blood dripped from his knuckles.
Not his blood.
The beast's.
His arm throbbed painfully.
But it wasn't broken.
Just strained.
Body Adaptation increased: 3% → 4%
Ren exhaled sharply.
So fighting raised adaptation.
Interesting.
The remaining beasts hesitated.
Fear flickered in their glowing eyes.
Then one screamed.
The entire pack charged.
Ren's pupils shrank.
"…So much for one at a time."