The abyss didn't fully settle after the guardian's death.
The mana currents slowed, but something heavier lingered in the air.
Pressure.
Not violent.
Not hostile.
Just… watching.
Ren wiped the blood from his chin and straightened slowly.
"You feel that too, right?"
Lyra nodded.
"It's like a mountain is breathing nearby."
Ignivar's wings twitched uneasily.
"This presence is not a beast."
Ren sighed. "Of course it isn't."
Because why would things ever stay simple?
The cavern trembled faintly.
Far beyond the glowing crystal rivers, space itself seemed to distort.
The mana parted like water around something massive approaching.
Ren's instincts screamed danger.
Not the kind that made him panic.
The kind that told him he was completely outmatched.
A voice echoed through the abyss.
Deep.
Ancient.
Amused.
"So… the Heart has chosen a human."
Ren stiffened.
From the shadows emerged a colossal dragon.
Its scales were a deep sapphire blue, glowing faintly with runes older than the bones scattered across the cavern.
Its eyes held intelligence that felt heavier than centuries.
No rage.
No hostility.
Just curiosity.
Ignivar immediately lowered his massive head.
"Lord Zephyrax."
The name rang like thunder.
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"So this is one of your coworkers?"
Ignivar didn't laugh.
Which was worrying.
The ancient dragon leaned closer.
Each step cracked stone like glass.
"Interesting," Zephyrax murmured. "You smell of fresh power… and reckless growth."
Ren coughed lightly.
"Still working on the reckless part."
Lyra stared at Ren.
"Please don't joke with ancient apex predators."
Zephyrax's eyes glowed faintly.
"…I like him already."
Ren blinked.
"Well that went better than expected."
The pressure intensified suddenly.
Ren's knees bent slightly under the weight.
Not crushing.
Testing.
A sovereign aura.
Pure authority.
Ren's heart burned in response.
The Dragon King's core surged.
A counter-pressure radiated outward.
The air exploded between them like colliding storms.
Crystals shattered.
Mana spiraled wildly.
Lyra shielded herself instantly.
Ignivar growled deeply.
Zephyrax's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
Ren gritted his teeth.
This wasn't an attack.
It was a measuring contest.
His bones creaked.
His muscles strained.
But he held.
Barely.
After several long seconds, the pressure faded.
Zephyrax pulled back slowly.
"…You carry true sovereignty."
Ren exhaled sharply.
"So I passed orientation?"
The dragon rumbled with something close to laughter.
"You didn't collapse. That alone is impressive."
Ignivar looked proud.
Which was somehow worse.
Zephyrax circled slowly.
"You are not yet a dragon lord in strength," he said calmly. "But your growth speed is monstrous."
Ren nodded.
"Working on it."
"Good," Zephyrax replied. "Because the others will not be so polite."
Lyra paled slightly.
"The others?"
"Several ancient dragon lords sensed the Heart awakening," Zephyrax explained. "Some will challenge you. Some will attempt to kill you."
Ren rubbed his neck.
"So basically, I woke up the whole dragon neighborhood."
"Accurate."
"Great."
Zephyrax paused.
"Tell me, little Sovereign… why do you seek power?"
Ren didn't answer instantly.
He thought of his old world.
Of corruption.
Of quiet wars.
Of innocent people crushed by greed.
"I want to build a world where strength protects instead of preys," he said calmly. "Order without cruelty."
The abyss was silent.
Zephyrax studied him for a long moment.
"…You sound like the old Dragon King."
Ren blinked.
"That good or bad?"
"Dangerous," the dragon said with faint amusement.
Then he stepped back.
"I will not oppose you," Zephyrax declared. "For now."
Ignivar released a breath he'd been holding.
Lyra exhaled shakily.
Ren whispered, "For now always sounds threatening."
Zephyrax laughed.
"It should."
Before leaving, the dragon glanced back.
"Grow faster," he said. "The first challenger arrives within days."
Then he vanished into distorted mana currents.
Silence returned.
Ren slowly collapsed onto a crystal pillar.
"…I need to level up."
Lyra nodded vigorously.
"Preferably before we all die."
Ignivar rumbled solemnly.
"The abyss has officially become a battlefield of kings."
Ren sighed.
"Why can't I have a peaceful tutorial zone?"
System: Tutorial zones are statistically unlikely for Sovereign-class entities.
Ren stared upward.
"Of course they are."