"Well, let's put this treasure chest aside for now," Rian muttered as he stored the chest back into his Void Ring. "I can always open it later… when I'm in the mood."
He then turned his gaze toward the Descendants of Destruction certificate in his right hand.
"Eight hundred thousand system points?" he murmured softly. "That's roughly equivalent to a Rank 3's entire fortune."
His eyes continued to trace the ancient text across the parchment. "Besides, this feels like a leveling system from a game. It's like… becoming Jinwoo, but as the Monarch of Destruction version."
However, Rian's brow furrowed as his eyes landed on the section mentioning Mana.
"But… System, what exactly is Mana? As far as I know, it's called Magic Energy. Are they… the same thing?"
Ding!
[Mana is another term for Magic Energy. It is the natural energy that radiates from everything possessing magical properties within the world of Solo Leveling.]
[This energy originates from the Itarim and their creations, such as the Rulers and Monarchs.]
[Furthermore, when Mana fuses with a living being or object, it enhances their innate traits and grants them magical capabilities.]
Hearing that explanation, Rian couldn't help but be taken aback.
"This profession…" he murmured quietly, "…is actually pretty incredible. But this Trait thing… what does it even mean, System? Why are there so many terms I don't understand?"
Ding!
[Trait refers to a unique property that emerges from the interaction between the body, soul, or object infused with Mana.]
[Additionally, Traits possess a distinctive quality—they can grow, evolve, and define how an entity adapts within a world governed by Mana.]
[Thus, the stronger the Mana possessed by a living being, the higher the possibility that their Trait will develop and evolve.]
[For example: if a Mana user channels their energy into a dagger, the blade will become sharper due to the Trait enhancement effect provided by the user.]
[Of course, the quality of the object being enhanced also affects the final result.]
As the system's explanation came to an end, Rian fell silent for a moment, letting every word sink deeply into his thoughts.
"So…" he muttered softly, tapping his chin with his finger. "You could say… Mana Reinforcement, huh?"
He stared blankly into the air, as if comparing theories forming in his mind.
"It's similar to reinforcement using Cursed Energy," he continued, his tone carrying a mix of curiosity and analysis.
Rian's gaze then fell upon one particular line in the item's description—a phrase that stood out clearly: Kill to gain Exp.
"Even so…" Rian whispered quietly, "this profession demands the lives of other beings in exchange for power."
He took a short breath. "I'm afraid… I might get addicted to killing."
Minutes passed in silence. Rian sank deep into his thoughts, weighing the pros and cons—morality against opportunity.
Then, slowly, a faint smile curved on his lips. "Doesn't mean I have to kill often, right?"
With his resolve firm, Rian finally decided to use the Certificate of the Descendants of Destruction.
However, before doing so, he first distributed all the attribute points he had previously earned—pouring every last one of them into INT.
It wasn't a decision made without reason.
Reverse Cursed Energy demanded an enormous amount of energy capacity to be used consistently.
Moreover, advanced techniques like Hollow Technique and Domain Expansion, which he planned to master later, would require equally immense energy consumption.
Only after making these thorough preparations did Rian finally activate the Certificate of the Descendants of Destruction.
In the next instant, an unfamiliar energy—one he had never sensed before—began to emerge.
It glowed in a deep crimson hue, flowing like an unstoppable river of light before being completely absorbed into his body.
Rian felt the energy seep into every inch of his being—through flesh, bone, and down into the core of his soul.
He could feel that power reconstructing his entire internal system, as if rewriting the very foundation of his existence as a living being.
In an instant, a series of notifications appeared before him.
Ding!
[Congratulations! Herald with serial number 90,000 has successfully transitioned to the profession: Descendant of Destruction.]
[Herald with serial number 90,000 has obtained the ability –Authority of Dragon–.]
____________________
Name: Rian Andromeda
Race: Human
Title: Beloved by Infinity
Job: Descendants of Destruction
Level: Ascension 1
EXP: 0/100.000
Level Authority: 5
***
STR : 48 (+22) {+11}
VIT : 47 (+22) {+11}
AGI : 49 (+22) {+11}
INT : 102 (+42) {+11} [+19]
____________________
Staring at the status panel, Rian smiled in satisfaction. Even though he was still at Level 5, he now possessed a total of 246 attribute points — an achievement that was far from trivial.
"This is incredible," he muttered, his gaze then shifting to the EXP bar. "…Though, the amount of EXP needed to level up is also insane. Haiz… the path of a handsome man is never easy."
After that, Rian clicked the Skill Status Menu in the top corner of the screen.
Ding!
___________________
Special Ability:
> Six Eyes
Passive Abilities:
> Traditional Silat (Lvl. 1)
> Wing Chun (Lvl. 1)
> Authority of Dragon (Lvl. 1)
Type: Passive
Description:
An absolute authority possessed only by the King of Dragons, the embodiment of supremacy among the highest race in existence.
The user of Authority of Dragon can subdue all dragon-blooded beings under their will — through fear, domination, or spiritual binding.
Subdued Dragons: 0/50
(Note: This skill can level up.)
Active Abilities:
> Technique Limitless
> Senjutsu (Lvl. 1)
___________________
Feeling satisfied after reading the description of each skill, Rian nodded and closed the holographic screen, then stepped toward the door before him.
With a single smooth motion, he opened it and left the dark room without looking back.
His next objective was clear — to obtain the Infinity Stones, Uru Metal, and even Vibranium. All of it for one purpose: to upgrade Alice, his personal Al who resided in Eden.
As for studying Domain techniques and the art of Shikigami, Rian decided to postpone them for now.
***
[World: DxD]
In the quiet corridors of the academy, long after classes had ended and both students and teachers had gone home, the world outside was painted in shades of orange—a sky burning softly with the colors of dusk.
Through the empty hallway walked Sona Shitori, her face a storm of emotions—embarrassment, anger, irritation, and sheer exasperation all fighting for dominance.
Her cheeks were flushed, but not with a gentle blush—rather, with the heat of fury barely contained.
A radiant blue aura of magic enveloped her body, distorting the air around her with waves of raw energy. The atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive, as if a tempest were about to descend within the school itself.
And through clenched teeth, her voice came out in a seething mutter:
"Rian Andromeda… I swear I'm going to wring your neck, you narcissistic bastard! Just you wait!"
It wasn't because of his usual flirty remarks, or one of his playful, teasing advances.
No—this time, Rian had gone too far.
The cause of Sona's fury was simple—yet utterly insulting.
Someone had slipped a book titled "How to Be a Good Wife" into her private locker, complete with a handwritten note from Rian himself:
"Dedicated to my favorite bespectacled future wife. Study hard, okay? And remember—don't get angry too often. It's not good for setting an example for our future kids."
Not far behind her, Tsubaki Shinra followed silently, letting out a long, weary sigh as she massaged her temple, which was beginning to throb.
Somehow, Rian Andromeda always managed to press every one of her president's red buttons with near-scientific precision.
From Tsubaki's perspective, there was one thing she knew for certain—Rian absolutely enjoyed watching Sona lose her composure.
It was as if the chaos he caused was his own personal form of priceless entertainment.
And as Tsubaki trailed behind her fuming superior, she couldn't even begin to imagine what might happen next.
All Tsubaki could do was silently hope—hope that no magical tsunami would end up drowning the entire school because of Rian's outrageous antics.
Meanwhile, on the balcony of the Occult Research Club building, Koneko stood quietly, gazing at the orange-streaked sky with her usual blank expression.
In her arms, she held a large, fluffy white teddy bear, soft and warm to the touch, with a red ribbon neatly tied around its neck.
It was a farewell gift from Rian—something he had given her before leaving the DxD world.
A gift that felt… heavier than she was willing to admit.
"…You stupid, narcissistic Senpai," Koneko murmured softly, her voice barely carried away by the wind. "Hurry up and come back."
Additional note:
For now, I've decided to keep Rian's status as a Descendant.
Once he reaches his full potential—just like Sung Jinwoo at the end when he truly became the Monarch of Shadows—he'll ascend to something greater.
Got any suggestions?
Leave them in the comments!