{Eren Brown POV}
I opened my eyes to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling. The first thing I noticed was the strong smell of alcohol and disinfectants—so I was in a hospital, wasn't I?
I raised my head to see my mother looking at me with worried eyes. It seemed she truly cared about me.
"Hello, Mom."
The moment she heard my voice, she pulled me into a tight hug—something I found both comforting and uncomfortable.
Comforting because my mother cared. Uncomfortable because the pain in my back was burning.
"Let him go, Helena. Can't you see he's in pain?"
A man spoke—a man I recognized instantly. Yes, my father.
"Thank God you're safe, my son," he said, relief evident in his voice.
"How can I let him go when he's been unconscious for a whole week?"
That shocked me; I hadn't imagined I'd been out for that long.
…
After talking with my parents for a while—something I truly appreciated—they left the room so I could rest. It seemed I would be discharged tomorrow.
I muttered softly,
"Status."
Name: EREN BROWN
Race: Human (Half-Dragon)
Talent: EX
Rank: E+
Strength: E+
Mana: E
Endurance: E+
Intelligence: D-
Magic: E+
Luck: S
Arts:
Flash Strike Art (★★)
An art that allows spear strikes to be 90% faster and stronger for critical hits.
Spear King Art (★★★★★)
The strongest spear art in human history. You are the first and last heir to this art.
The first style of the Spear King, consisting of five forms.
Current mastery rate: 10%.
Skills:
Reader's Mind (SSS)*
Allows you to think five times faster than normal, making time seem to slow down; grants resistance to all mental attacks and immunity to the Author's abilities.
Dragon's Presence (S) (Passive)
Most creatures and monsters fear you instinctively and keep their distance. You can release an ominous pressure that affects all creatures equal to or lower than your rank.
Bonds:
Dragon Egg (Unknown)
?????
I immediately noticed that Reader's Mind had become SSS—meaning its rank had dropped.
I didn't dwell on it much. Instead, the last words spoken by that white-haired man echoed in my mind.
"My thoughts and emotions?"
I muttered, thinking—does this mean I was manipulated to reach this point?
"Wonderful… truly wonderful."
My lips curled into a crazed smile.
But I promised the one who manipulated me one thing—
"This game isn't played by just one person."
My thoughts began to drift toward the steps and measures I needed to take from this moment on.
I would show the manipulator how it feels to be manipulated.
And also…
"The Author must have taken that art at this moment."
I muttered as I thought about the current events of the novel.
---
"Lucas Silver POV"
I opened my eyes to find a man standing before me, holding a bow.
"It seems you've finally decided to wake up. Now begins your final test."
He paused, then continued,
"You must endure against me for one minute."
He vanished instantly—literally, my eyes couldn't track his movement.
I felt a presence above me, but before I could even look up, a sharp pain tore through my left arm.
"Argh!"
I groaned as I pulled the arrow from my arm. Don't get the wrong idea—it was painful, truly painful—but I didn't have the luxury of time to dwell on it.
"Is that all you've got?"
The man muttered, standing in place with a smile on his face.
"If you do nothing, you won't inherit the art this way."
My brain raced, searching for a way out of this predicament—but it seemed he had no intention of giving me time to think.
He disappeared again and repeated the same attack, this time striking my right leg.
"Next, your left leg."
He said it, but the pain made it hard for me to focus.
"Damn it… I've got one chance, and I won't waste it."
I muttered, knowing that if my left leg was hit, I'd lose.
I began focusing on the man, searching for his movement pattern and point of appearance.
Despite all the pain, my mind managed to retain some clarity.
I noticed something about the previous two attacks—he had a pattern, a tell.
His left foot lifted slightly before he moved.
So I waited, preparing a solution for survival—and victory.
The moment his foot began to rise, that was my cue.
I aimed my bow upward at a slight angle and released just before he vanished.
"Yes!"
I muttered, feeling a surge of joy—I had hit him.
But he surprised me with loud laughter.
"You're very entertaining. Try blocking this."
He said that and vanished. The next thing I realized was that an arrow had pierced my stomach.
"Impossible… I—"
I muttered as my consciousness began to fade.
"Don't worry, boy. You passed the test."
Those were the last words I heard before darkness claimed my vision.
I opened my eyes to find myself before the tree where I had collapsed earlier—but notably, all my injuries were healed.
So I did the first thing one should do in such a situation.
"Status."
Name: Lucas Silver
Race: Human
Talent: SSS
Rank: D-
Strength: D
Mana: D
Endurance: E+
Intelligence: E+
Magic: F
Luck: B+
Arts:
Rapid Fire Style (★★★)
Allows you to fire dozens of arrows in a single second.
Mastery: 70%.
Bow King Style (★★★★★)
The strongest bow art in existence. You are the fourth heir to this style.
The first style of the Bow King, consisting of three strikes.
Mastery rate: 1%.
Skills:
Author's Authority (EX)
You can do anything as long as you have Story Points.
Current Story Points: 147.
Eagle Eye (D)
Allows you to see distances of up to five kilometers as if they were right before you.
"Excellent."
I muttered, feeling immense joy. How could I not? I had achieved my goal in coming to this place. Now I could finally begin training at ease…
"But that old man is truly strong."
I muttered, recalling what had just happened.
"Now I must train until the academy—so I can survive those events."
I muttered, remembering everything I had written about that place.
---
In the same arena from which Lucas had emerged, two men stood together.
"Are you sure you want to grant him this style?" one of them asked, uncertainty clear on his face.
"If you knew what I know, you wouldn't say that. He had to be given the style—and it seems he will become either a curse or a blessing to us humans," the man said as he and the surrounding space faded away.
"Let us hope he becomes a blessing."