Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain

Chapter 266: Double Jump

[Warning!]

[Pure Abyssal Energy Detected]

[Consuming this energy has a high risk of acquiring a parasite.]

[Would you like to advance or forfeit the energy?]

The words burned its way into Noah’s mind.

He stared at them, feeling the intoxicating pressure of the abyssal energy coming from the dragon’s corpse.

And if he claimed it, he risked acquiring a parasite?

The guards nearby were beginning to notice something was wrong. One of them raised their voice at the other, asking if they’d noticed the mana nearby. Another shouted, drawing his sword.

Noah didn’t hesitate. He needed to get stronger.

"Advance."

Darkness moved.

Shadowy hands erupted from the ground, twisting and clawing towards the enormous carcass. The air shuddered as the magic intensified.

The guards froze for a moment, then chaos erupted.

The darkness lunged forward, gripping the dragon’s corpse. The hands of the abyss wrapped around its massive form and began to drag it down.

The glowing fissures along the scales dimmed one by one as the energy was consumed. The sight was monstrous, like the earth itself was eating.

A deep rumble echoed across the ruins, and Noah felt the surge strike him like lightning.

Power flooded through every nerve, like a dam breaking. His blood felt like it had been replaced with lava.

The darkness of Feast kept swirling around him, rising in a vortex. In an instant, the corpse was gone.

Then, wings burst from his back, four of them. They unfurled wide, stretching to full span.

Gasps and shouts followed.

"It’s a hybrid!" one of the soldiers yelled. "Stop him!"

Bolts of fire and arcs of lightning shot across the night.

Noah leaped into the air, wings beating once with a gust that sent rubble flying.

Spells whistled past him, but he paid them no mind. Not when he could feel the energy surging through his body.

He didn’t stop. The wind roared in his ears as he streaked to the sky, intent of getting out of the teleportation field.

Every beat of his wings sent pain through his chest, but he didn’t care. The energy coursing through him was slowly overwhelming.

He angled towards the walls, trying to control his flight.

The mana in his body surged again, unbalanced and raw. His vision blurred, and for a moment he thought he would crash into the battlements.

He forced his magic outwards, pulling himself just above the walls, scraping the edge with one wingtip.

Then, the air shifted. The oppressive barrier around the capital vanished the moment he crossed the threshold.

Perfect.

"Null Stride."

The spell triggered. The world blurred, and he vanished.

He reappeared in the academy infirmary, slamming into the tiled floor with force.

"Noah!"

Professor Cecilia rushed forward, her eyes wide. She knelt beside him, her hand glowing faintly as she tried to find what was wrong with him.

"What did you do? You’re burning up!"

He tried to speak, but pain swept through his body. His vision fractured. It felt like his bones were trying to crawl out of his skin.

Then it began.

His hands twisted first. The bones cracked, lengthened, and reset with a sickening sound.

Black scales spread from his knuckles, climbing up his forearms like fire consuming paper. His fingernails hardened into curved claws.

Cecilia drew back, half in horror, half in awe. "By the heavens..."

Noah gritted his teeth, the pain feeling unbearable. He could feel the dragon’s essence fusing with his own, and reshaping him.

His breath came out in short gasps, each one releasing a cloud of mist.

The power finally settled, the transformation slowing. The scales stopped spreading. The claws finished forming.

Silence fell.

Then, the notification appeared again before his eyes.

[Congratulations! You have ascended to B-rank.]

[60% synchronization with Abyssal Energy complete.]

He blinked, the words swimming before his vision. "B-rank..." he whispered, dazed.

Cecilia stared at him, then at the black scales covering his arms. "You advanced two full ranks in one night?"

He nodded slowly. The exhaustion was immense, but the power thrummed beneath his skin. "The dragon’s energy... it was stronger. Dangerous, but worth it."

She stood and crossed her arms, still processing. "You’re insane, you know that?"

Noah gave a faint smile. "Maybe. But it worked."

He flexed his hands. The scales shimmered faintly, then retracted, sinking beneath his skin until his arms looked human again.

He let out a long breath. "Let’s see how much stronger I’ve become."

He raised his hand, calling up his status screen. The familiar grid of glowing lines appeared.

[Status:]

[Noah Webb]

[Race: Dark Dragon]

[Rank: B]

[Potential: FFF]

[Affinities: Darkness, Fire, Void, Decay, Hunger, Ink, Bone]

[Core Attributes:]

[Strength: B]

[Endurance: A+]

[Agility: A+]

[Mana Capacity: SS]

[Magic Control: S+]

[Skills:]

[Roar (FFF-Rank), Dark Furnace (SS-Rank), The King’s Dominion (SS-Rank), Decay of a Thousand Ages (SSS-Rank)]

[Spells:]

[Fireball (F-Rank), Flame Spark (FFF-Rank), Rot (D-Rank), Blackflame (D-Rank), Pillar of Judgement (A-Rank), Void Bolt (S-Rank), Utter Annihilation (SSS-Rank), Frigid Hunger (F-Rank), Eternal Cradle (B-Rank), Null Stride (A-Rank), Pocket Cube (S-Rank), Feast (S-rank)]

He read it twice, still barely believing it.

"I’m... B-rank," he said finally, almost to himself. "And I jumped two full levels in one night."

Cecilia leaned closer, her expression softening into a mix of pride and disbelief. "You’re serious? That’s almost unheard of. Even with perfect conditions, most mages can only rise one rank per major ritual."

He looked up at her. "That’s why I had to take the risk. The dragon’s corpse was my only chance."

She shook her head, though a faint smile was on her face. "You’re reckless. But... it seems your gamble paid off."

He laughed quietly. "You sound relieved."

"I am," she admitted. "And terrified. You’re almost on par with me now."

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Almost?"

She grinned faintly. "Don’t let it go to your head, Dark Dragon."

Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

Both of them turned towards the sound, eyes narrowed and alert.

Why would anyone visit Noah at this hour of the night? And more importantly, what could they possibly want?

Noah straightened. The power inside him stirred, eager and restless.

The knock came again, louder this time.

And so he answered. "Come in."