Liam''s Perspective


    The Dragon Spirit hovered between us, its ethereal form pulsing with ancient power. Dudley''s face contorted with rage and desperation as we both lunged forward, racing to im the prize.


    "It''s mine!" Dudley screamed, his voice cracking.


    I pushed my legs harder, channeling energy through the Venerable Fifth Mountain. The artifact responded instantly, lending me supernatural speed. The ground beneath my feet blurred.


    Dudley''s eyes widened in panic. He jabbed his fingers toward me, unleashing a wave of divine sense. The invisible attack hit like a sledgehammer, making my vision swim.


    "You think you can match me?" he snarled. "I''m a Martial King!"


    I gritted my teeth against the mental assault. The jade pendant at my neck grew warm, neutralizing most of the attack. Still, it slowed me down just enough for Dudley to pull ahead.


    He reached into his robes and pulled out an earthen pot covered in ancient runes. "Taste despair, fool!"


    The pot expanded instantly, growing to the size of a small house. It tilted toward me, its mouth gaping wide. A powerful suction force pulled at my body, trying to draw me in.


    "Heaven Devouring Earth Pot!" Dudleyughed. "Not even your mountain can save you now!"


    The suction intensified. Trees uprooted around us. Rocks lifted from the ground. I dug my heels in, but still slid forward inch by inch.


    I raised the Venerable Fifth Mountain. "Shrinking Ground Into An Inch!"


    The technique I''d recently mastered surged through the artifact. Space itself warped around me. Suddenly, what had been fifty yards between me and the Dragon Spiritpressed to mere steps.


    Dudley''s jaw dropped. "Impossible!"


    I shot past him like a bullet, the earthen pot''s suction rendered irrelevant by my spatial technique. The Dragon Spirit loomed before me, its golden eyes fixing on mine.


    "No!" Dudley howled. He thrust his arm forward, creating a barrier of energy between me and the spirit.


    I didn''t slow down. The Venerable Fifth Mountain zed with golden light as I swung it like a battering ram. It collided with Dudley''s barrier, shattering it like ss.


    The impact sent Dudley flying backward. He crashed to the ground with bone-breaking force, his precious pot rolling away. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to rise.


    "The Dragon Spirit is MINE!" I dered, my hand closing around the glowing entity.


    It felt both hot and cold, solid yet fluid. Power unlike anything I''d ever encountered rushed through my fingertips, up my arm, and spread throughout my body.


    Dudley crawled toward me, his dignified facade crumblingpletely. "Please," he begged, blood dripping from his lips. "You don''t understand what you''re holding."


    "I understand perfectly," I replied, clutching the spirit tighter. "It''s power. Power I need."


    "I''ll pay any price," Dudley pleaded. "I''ll give you anything you want!"


    I raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"


    Hope flickered in his eyes. "Yes! I have treasures you can''t imagine. Ancient scrolls. Rare artifacts." He reached into his robe with trembling hands and produced a small jade box. "This—this is a ten-thousand-year-old ckfire Ginseng. Worth more than most kingdoms!"


    The box emanated an aura of incredible medicinal power. Even from several feet away, I could feel its potency.


    For a moment, I hesitated. Such a treasure could advance my cultivation significantly.


    Then I remembered his earlier words. "Tell me about this ''Divine Dragon Power'' you mentioned."


    Dudley''s face paled. "That''s... that''s just a legend. The spirit merely enhances one''s existing abilities."


    His eyes darted nervously. He was lying.


    "Really? Then why risk so much for it?" I asked, studying the pulsing spirit in my hand.


    "Please," he whispered. "You don''t know what you''re doing."


    I smiled coldly. "I think I do."


    Before he could speak again, I brought the Dragon Spirit to my mouth and swallowed it whole.


    Fire erupted in my core. Liquid heat spread through my veins, reaching every extremity. My muscles tensed and bulged. My bones creaked as they grew denser. Golden light burst from my skin, enveloping me in a draconic aura.


    The pain was excruciating, yet exhrating. I felt my body changing, adapting, bing more than human.


    Dudley scrambled backward, terror evident in his eyes. "You fool! It wasn''t ready! The spirit needed more time to—"


    His words cut off as something behind me caught his attention. His face drained of all color.


    A voice, ancient and terrible, echoed across the clearing. "Dudley Lowell. You have failed me for thest time."


    Dudley''s eyes widened in absolute horror. "Master? No, please! I can exin!"


    "There is nothing to exin," the voice continued, seeming toe from everywhere and nowhere. "You promised me the Dragon Spirit. You have lost it."


    Dudley trembled violently. "Give me another chance! I''ll get it back!"


    The pain in my body reached a crescendo. I dropped to one knee, golden light pouring from my eyes and mouth. Through the haze of agony, I saw Dudley frantically crawling toward the unconscious Atticus.


    "We must leave," he muttered frantically, pulling a small bronze disk from his pocket. "He''ll kill us both."


    The mysterious voice spoke again, closer now. "Running will not save you, Dudley. But I will give you onest opportunity to redeem yourself."


    Relief washed over Dudley''s face. "Thank you, Master! I won''t fail you!"


    "See that you don''t. The consequences will be... severe."


    Dudley activated the bronze disk. Light engulfed both him and Atticus. In an instant, they vanished, teleported away by the magical artifact.


    The voice fell silent. The mysterious presence withdrew.


    Finally, the pain subsided. The golden light receded back into my skin. I stood up, feeling utterly transformed. <samp ss="ref-01c8e4">To report errors, please visit the original post on *.</samp>


    Strength coursed through me like never before. I flexed my fingers, marveling at how responsive my body felt. When I channeled my qi, it flowed with twice the potency, infused with a draconic essence.


    I moved to a nearby boulder and punched it lightly. The massive rock shattered into dust. Iughed in amazement.


    "This power..." I whispered, feeling the Dragon Spirit''s energy merging with my own. "It''s incredible."


    A groan caught my attention. My heart dropped as I spotted Evelyn Norton lying face-down on the ground, motionless.


    "Evelyn!" I rushed to her side, turning her over gently. Her face was pale, lips slightly blue. I pressed my fingers to her neck, feeling for a pulse.


    "Evelyn," I called again, shaking her slightly. "Wake up!"


    She didn''t respond. Her body remained limp in my arms as the golden draconic power continued to pulse beneath my skin, a stark contrast to her lifeless form.