Miyoung had spent almost two whole years alone within the System Introduction. Over six hundred days by herself, with no-one but Long Shen Xi, Jiu Mei Lan, and Rosenrot by her side.

  Mere days after returning to Korea, she found herself being whisked away to some strange, bleached landscape, one devoid of shadows, depth, colour and even sound. After thinking about things carefully, she ended up choosing a Strength Mana Core out of the dozens of different possibilities that came to mind, thinking that it was something she could rely on no matter what this “System Introduction” could end up being.

  The nineteen-year-old at the time found herself dropped in the centre of some strange, alien-looking forest, filled to the brim with colourful flowers and vibrant leaves that she had never been before back on Earth.

  It had taken her a week to fill out her Strength Mana Core before completing one of her optional tasks and receiving a Bow Mana Core as a random reward. From there she also managed to obtain a Beauty Mana Core and Rose Mana Core after eliminating a Third-Initiated Mortal mutated beast, integrating them both merely a month into the System Integration.

  It was then that she managed to summon the Graceful Dragon Of Treasured Beauty, who informed her of the inherent “outwardness” of her Source.

  “If I may be frank,” Long Shen Xi spoke, “If I possessed even half of the concepts that are inherently present within your greater Source, then I do not believe that I would have died a mere Marquis. Whenever you decide to integrate a fragment, please remember that you may always draw upon the concepts that are contained within you rather than just the fragment itself.”

  “Your “beauty,” “desire” and “femininity” could grow into something unfathomably powerful. Although I do question your decision to integrate a Hunt Mana Core and Dragon Mana Core, through virtue of your beautiful Source alone…”

  “You can become someone great… Miyoung.”

  The Archon Of Reigning Dragons clenched her fists tightly, remembering that conversation.

  It was one that she had repeated with both Jiu Mei Lan and Rosenrot numerous times before. Despite the former having manifested from her Dragon Mana Core, she questioned her decision after being summoned, feeling the blossoming concepts within her Source.

  The manifestation of her Innana-Graceful Smile and Astarte-Chaste Lust were not expected, at least in the form of passive mutations. Although they only seemed to stoke the thoughts and emotions that her summoned companions had supplanted within her mind.

  ‘No… I don’t want that…’

  It felt… wrong to place value in her appearance and innate concepts alone. That the concepts that she did not choose to be born with were what should define her. It might seem self-centred, knowing that there were tens of trillions of lifeforms throughout the integrated universe that desired such a fate, but her idea of “strength” did not align with concepts of “beauty,” “desire,” or “femininity.”

  She desired the overwhelming might associated with draconic myths and heroic visages.

  She desired the graceful vengeance she associated with hunters and archers.

  She desired the painful death that was born from a poisonous rose, one beautiful, but all the more deadly.

  She was nineteen and had already seen all of what the world had to offer. Travelling from one side of the globe to the other. Being a singer and dancer was not what she had imagined doing after finishing middle school but was something that she did at the repeated urging of her parents and friends.

  She just so happened to get famous in the process.

  ‘But… as much as I love doing it, I-.’

  Her Innana-Graceful Smile curling upwards at the corners, flashing a set of pearly white teeth that almost seemed to shine despite the dusk and obscurity. Her eyes gazing up towards the Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation, whose face was still covered by both his Heretical Chalk Protection and Memento Source Item.

  “Show you more huh?” She whispered.

  Her flesh rippling with strength natured and dragon natured spiritual energy, as she activated her Fragment Of Draconic-Metamorphosis and Fragment Of Pride.

  [Half-Dragon Transformation; Azure-Scaled Tyrant].

  [Azure Dragon Of Subjugation].

  The appearance of her flesh and skin shifting, transforming in brightly-coloured azure scales. Her long black-hair gaining several blue streaks to it as an illusory dragon horn sprouted from the top of her forehead. Its appearance transient, not connected to Miyoung’s actual skull.

  Her form erupting in an explosive amount of draconic pride and magnificence. The effectiveness of all her Dragon Trait abilities were enhanced through the effects of her Fragment Of Pride, which were then in turn strengthened through the effects of Archon Of Reigning Dragons.

  Both of her once dark-coloured eyes gaining a slight blue-tint to them, emphasizing the transformation of her round pupils into draconic slits.

  For the first time since meeting her, Jon felt his breath hitch, observing Miyoung.

  He watched as she extended one of her hands outward, allowing a runic glyph symbol to manifest itself on her palm. His eyes widened, recognizing the familiar presence of a Fragment Of Rune, not remembering seeing such a thing when he observed her status page several days ago.

  Her draconic arrogance saturating the foundations of her Reckless Strength Palace.

  Placing her hand in the direction of the Hive-Womb Capital, she activated her Fragment Of Maw.

  [Runic Dragon Art; Monstrous-Spiritual Jaws].

  Enhanced through the combined effects of her Tiamat-Duality Hearts, Mortal Title, and Fragment Of Aura, Miyoung’s runic dragon art experienced a tremendous increase to its size and effectiveness. The space in front of Jon and Song Lian Yu growing dark as the fifty-metre-long figure of the epoch-heart dragon was obscured beneath an even larger spiritual construct.

  The visage of a malevolent horned-dragon manifesting in front of them, jaws wide exposing dozens upon dozens of rows of fanged teeth.

  As if replicating the actions done by Miyoung’s hand, the monstrous-spiritual jaws clamped themselves shut as she clenched her hand into an impossibly tight fist. Manifested directly in front of the Hive-Womb Capital it was obvious what the intended target of her Spell was-.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Dragon natured spiritual energy tearing through the external structure of the floating hive fortress. Dozens upon dozens metre-long fangs carved deep gnashes along the outside of the Memento Source Item.

  Miyoung found it difficult to clench her hand into a perfectly closed fist, feeling a powerful resistance from the Hive-Womb Capital. The runic-glyph on her hand glowing even brighter as she poured more spiritual energy into her Fragment Of Maw, allowing her spiritual construct to expand even further in size, opening itself up once more before-.

  [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction].

  Her eyes widened, feeling a near-uncontrollable eruption of spear natured spiritual energy burst forth from Jon’s body.

  The familiar presence of a Fragment Of Eradication overflowed from his Spear Mana Core, alongside another concept which she had never felt before. The spiritual energy that she intended on flowing into her Fragment Of Maw was diverted towards her Fragment Of Lightning, observing Jon manifest a sixty-metre-long spiritual construct, coloured pink and mimicking the Thulian Rainspear.

  His arm thrusting forward, launching a piercing strike towards the location where her runic dragon art had landed. Given that Fragments Of Eradication were particularly effect against spiritual shields and pseudo-spiritual constructs then, then it should have come as no surprise that it pierced straight through the outer layer of the Hive-Womb Capital.

  And through the second.

  And the third.

  Before arriving within the fourth layer of the Memento Source Item. The enormous sixty-metre-long spiritual construct coming to a complete halt, having all of its momentum absorbed by the floating hive. Miyoung felt her eyes widen, [Predator Spell Eyes] able to perceive that his imperial spear art had not even pierced half-way through the Hive-Womb Capital.

  Her free arm moving towards the Seven-Stringed Reignbow, pulling back on three strings at once while readying her Fragment Of Lightning. Her Fragment Of Mind almost not hearing the sound of Jon’s voice whisper in the back of her Reckless Strength Palace.

  “Give it a moment. Fragments Of Vajra usually take a few seconds before reaching criticality.”

  Her Fragment Of Perception twitching in response to his words, before watching as the thulian-coloured spiritual construct started glowing brighter and brighter, chaotic spear natured spiritual energy surging within the vajra-spear extinction.

  Miyoung felt her eyes widen and Long Shen Xi stir beneath her, flying parallel with the Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est. She watched as the Thulian Rainspear in his hands started humming with a tremendous spiritual energy, releasing a high-pitched whirring sound that seemed almost reminiscent of-.

  ‘Lightning?’

  Miyoung lifting her head to the dark skies above her, watching as Jon manifested another instance of his Fragment Of Eradication.

  The Graceful Dragon Of Treasured Beauty shaking her head in response to her thoughts.

  “No Miyoung,” Long Shen Xi said, “It’s not a Fragment Of Lightning. It’s not even a Fragment Of Duplicity. The feeling of this concepts is-. Wow, I never would have considered using a Fragment Of Vajra in such a way…”

  “A Fragment Of what?” Miyoung replied.

  Her thoughts were cut short as she noticed Jon slash Luin downwards. The lingering vajra-spear construct that pierced through the side of the Hive-Womb Capital glowing an effervescent pink as the skies around them gleamed with a similar colour.

  Jon appeared unmoved beneath his Heretical Chalk Protection and Shapeless Mask Of Jade Lies. His form illuminated beneath the growing thulian light.

  ‘Vajra is a weapon. Representing the indestructibility of diamonds and the irresistible force of a thunderbolt. The complexity of its concepts makes it difficult to use as an actual weapon, but when layered atop the effects of a Fragment Of Eradication then…’

  It would produce two instances of the Spell.

  One instance representing the “indestructible” aspect of vajra.

  While the other the “irresistible force” whose strikes are akin to lightning.

  Jon unable to suppress his grin even while wearing Lethe. His Helel-Star Pride and Carcosa-Form Horrors both churning within himself, their inherent natures spilling over into his Fragment Of Mind.

  Words flowing from his mouth before he even realized what was happening.

  “Accept the gift of this wandering princeps…”

  The other manifested spear construct launched itself forward at an impossibly fast speed. Too fast for Mortals to even comprehend its shape and form. It was faster than the arrows that Miyoung shot from Lenecia and even faster than the speed of Long Shen Xi and Song Lian Yu.

  A thulian-coloured irresistible force descended from the heavens as though divine retribution. Carving jagged-arcs through the sky as it swerved around dozens of Knight-level insects. Even those that attempted to fly into it so as to divert its trajectory found themselves unable to react as the vajra-spear curved around them.

  Towards its other half.

  The moment the “indestructible” spear came into contact with the “irresistible” spear was a moment of unfathomable light and sound. An outrageously bright thulian-coloured light shattered the growing darkness the moment its struck the Hive-Womb Capital, accompanied by a sonic boom whose presence was felt before it was heard.

  Those fighting on the ground beneath Thermia noticed the presence of a pink star in the skies above them. The light of eradication which pierced through the Sunless Cloudlight Obscurity. Which was shortly followed by the sound of something akin to a meteor crashing into the earth.

  Miyoung felt her eardrums tremble at the sound of Jon’s [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction] crashing into the Hive-Womb Capital. An explosion, far beyond anything she could ever reproduce in both size and intensity erupted from side of the floating hive construct, sending pillars of roiling pink flame high up into the air, thunderous spear-natured spiritual energy crackling around the side of the Memento Source Item.

  The Graceful Dragon Of Treasured Beauty, alongside the half-dozen-or-so other dragon-type summoned companions around her observing Jon several dozen metres above them. Each one staring at him with varying degrees of fear and awe on their scaled faces.

  Seeing him stand atop his draconic partner, Thulian Rainspear in hand reminded them of why their summoners both feared and respected the power of the Princeps Of The Wandering Mutation. His faceless helmet seemed to contain nothing but an abyssal darkness where his face should have sat, nothing blemishing its pure and untouched exterior.

  His shadow, which seemed magnified with the growing pillars of pink flame in front of him, seemed to stretch infinitely down behind him, monstrous wings and serpentine tails swishing about as though a pale reflection of the beast within.

  Jon turned his attention towards Miyoung, not bothering to communicate using his Fragment Of Shapeless-Carcosa. His voice both loud and deep, containing within it an overwhelming sense of pride and arrogance.

  “It’s not enough!”

  “More!”

  “I want to see more!”

  His eyes turning towards the Hive-Womb Capital, enveloped Song’s [Threaded End] Aura. His Fragment Of Instincts pushing his gaze in the direction of a powerful threat, feeling both his Longinus-Rune Spirit and Helel-Star Pride churn within him.

  The eight compounded-eyes of the Voracious Swarm Mother focusing on this single individual, allowing her own Fragment Of Spirit and Fragment Of Aura to surge in response, manifesting in the form of a high-pitched shrill.

  All of the insects that flew across the skies of Springtown pausing.

  Before turning their focus towards this single Knight.

  [Fragment Of Eradication]

  [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction]

  (Spear, Eradication, Technique, Spell, Ability, Debuff)

  (Vajra)

  Effect (Knight): The [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction] now manifests two pseudo-spiritual constructs; one to serve as the “indestructibility” and the other to serve as the “irresistible force.” The indestructible vajra-spear strikes first, replicating the actions of the caster. While the irresistible vajra-spear manifests in the skies above and launches itself downwards to strike its other half, resulting in an explosive burst of spear natured spiritual energy.

  The [Imperial Spear Art; Vajra-Spear Extinction] now also inflicts instances of [Vajra-Spear Curse] and [Indestructible Curse] on those struck.

  [Vajra-Spear Curse]: Inflicts a continuous spear-natured damage over time effect. Spear natured spiritual energy blooms as though a flower within the mind, unfurling pointed spear-tips. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

  [Spear Paradox Curse]: Inflicts a continuous spear-natured damage over time effect. Spear natured spiritual energy is trapped within an entropic loop of disorder, inflicting random instances of damage. Additional stacks have an additive effect.