Ren sat motionless beside the stream.
The horns were real. His reflection confirmed that. His eyes burned faintly gold under the unfamiliar stars, and his skin felt… heavier. Not sick but different.
He flexed his hands slowly, breathing in the cold, metallic-tasting air.
"Status" he said, as his status appeared.
[Character Sheet]
Name: Ren
Gender: Male
Race: Dragonkin (Variant)
Class: Evolving Sovereign
Level: 1
Health: 540 / 540
Mana: 900 / 900
Stamina: 450 / 450
Strength: 45
Dexterity: 36
Intelligence: 60
Vitality: 54
Perception: 35
Willpower: 65
Class Skills:
Sovereign's Instinct – Passive
Enhances reaction time, threat perception, and battle awareness. Always active.
Draconic Breath – Active
Releases a cone of scorching elemental flame. Evolves with use and story progression.
Base Damage: 190 per target
Mana Cost: 120 MP
Cooldown: 45 seconds
30% chance to inflict Burn (5 seconds).
Ancient Pulse – Active
Emits a shockwave of draconic force, damaging all nearby enemies and interrupting spells.
Base Damage: 280 area damage
Mana Cost: 180 MP
Cooldown: 60 seconds
6-meter radius, 2-meter knockback.
Eternal Sovereign Form – Active – Sealed
Adaptive Growth – Passive
Class, race+, and abilities evolve naturally based on combat experience and significant events.
Heart of the Dragon God – Passive – Sealed
Life Skills:
Cooking: Beginner
Fishing: Beginner
Ren stared at his status, silent.
There was no way to logout, even though the system responded to him. He remained by the stream, letting the night pass thinking, and eventually curiosity stirred.
He reached up, fingers grazing the small horns now curved along his brow. Smooth, cool, and real.
`Can I hide these?`
It wasn't panic. Just practicality, closing his eyes, Ren focused—not on the system, but inward.
The instinct came quietly. Not from a skill menu. Not from a button or interface command. Something deeper. Like flexing a muscle he hadn't known existed. A soft pulse spread through him. Not mana. Not stamina. Something older.
He felt it, and the horns retracted. Not dissolved. Not vanished. They folded back, receding beneath skin that warmed faintly as the change completed. He reached up again. Smooth forehead.
Ren opened his eyes slowly.
The tail and wings followed the same quiet command. No announcement. No glow. Just... gone. Hidden beneath skin and bone.
A concealed form.
He checked his reflection. Human. Almost. Golden eyes still marked him, but the rest? Normal enough.
"Huh." He breathed slowly, rolling his shoulders. His body still felt heavier. The strength was still there but at least now, he wouldn't draw stares walking into a town.
'Useful', he thought.
Ren sat back, letting the new silence settle. He'd figure the rest out later.
For now... he just watched the stars.