Evan let his words settle before continuing, his gaze steady.
"So, if my guess is correct, this phenomenon—your Dantian connecting to your heart—must be a result of the dragon's blood. Dragons have this kind of mana system, and it's part of what makes them superior to us."
Ignis absorbed this revelation calmly.
"So," Ignis asked, his voice measured, "has there ever been anyone else who awakened like me?"
Evan shook his head. "Not that I know of. If there had been, my father would have told me about it."
Ignis nodded, though the uncertainty lingered in his chest.
Evan's gaze drifted to the katana in Ignis's hand. His expression tightened as if trying to make sense of its existence.
"I don't know why you received this artifact," he admitted. "Maybe… it's some kind of blessing—from the dragon or even from a god. A miracle, one beyond my understanding."
Ignis tightened his grip on the hilt. A blessing? He wasn't sure if that was the right word for it.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he asked, "Dad, is there a chance I'll awaken more dragon abilities?"
Evan exhaled, his gaze thoughtful. "From what my father told me, dragons have many abilities, but one stands out above all others."
Ignis leaned forward. "What is it?"
Evan's eyes darkened with reverence. "Dragon's Might."
Ignis got confused. "Dragon's Might?"
"It's a pressure," Evan explained. "A force that a dragon naturally emits. Weaker creatures won't even have the will to attack, and those of equal strength will fight with fear in their hearts."
Ignis's fingers unconsciously tightened.
"In battle," Evan continued, "fear is deadly. If your opponent hesitates for even a moment, the fight is already over." He gave a slight nod. "And that's just one of a dragon's many abilities. But for now, you don't need to worry about the rest."
Ignis exhaled slowly, his thoughts racing.
Isn't this just like the Spiritual Pressure of a Shinigami?
In his past life, a Shinigami with weaker Spiritual Pressure was powerless against one with overwhelming force. The gap in power alone could crush the will to fight.
Yet in this life, despite once being Yamamoto Genryūsai, he was unable to wield his Spiritual Pressure. For the longest time, he assumed he had simply lost the spiritual power of his previous existence. But when Hōgyoku evolved him, he had felt it—his power wasn't gone.
It was sealed.
By Hōgyoku itself.
Now, at least, he knew the truth.
Before he could dwell on it further, Alenna's voice cut through his thoughts.
Her tone held a trace of concern. "Although this is a joyous occasion—Ignis's mana structure being similar to that of a dragon—we're overlooking something important." She turned toward Evan. "How exactly is he supposed to train? We don't have a mental cultivation method suited for this… unique mana circuit."
Evan, who had been basking in the excitement of his son's newfound power, suddenly stiffened. His smile faded.
Because Alenna was right.
Ignis's mana system wasn't just different—it was unprecedented.
And without the right method to guide his growth…
It could become a problem.
Evan ran a hand through his hair, his brows furrowed. "This… is a huge problem. I'll need to think about it."
Alenna remained silent, but her expression mirrored his concern.
Ignis, however, was already formulating a plan. If no existing method suited him, he would create one himself.
He considered asking his mother for the mental cultivation techniques of magicians. If he could study them alongside knight training methods, he might be able to craft a unique system—one tailored to his new mana circuit.
After all, with thousands of years of experience from his past life, why wouldn't he be capable of doing so?
Just as he was about to speak, something unexpected happened.
A message—silent yet unmistakable—resonated in his mind.
His breath hitched.
Hōgyoku…?
It was the second time it had ever taken the initiative to communicate with him. The first had been when it evolved him.
Though the Hōgyoku did not speak in words, Ignis understood its meaning perfectly.
Absorb mana.
That was all he needed to do.
The Hōgyoku would take care of the rest. It would absorb the mana alongside him, and once it reached its limit, it would help him break through to the next level.
Ignis's eyes gleamed with realization.
Since birth, the Hōgyoku had been passively absorbing mana at an incredibly slow rate. But now, if he actively practiced—if he focused on absorbing mana himself—the process would become exponentially faster.
Still, he needed to test this for himself.
Taking a slow breath, he suppressed his excitement.
Ignis noticed the concern etched on his parents' faces and spoke quickly to reassure them.
"Dad, Mom, you don't need to worry," he said, keeping his voice steady. "A memory just surfaced in my mind… a method on how to cultivate my mana."
It was a lie, of course. He couldn't tell them about the Hōgyoku.
Evan's eyes widened. "A memory?" He paused, then suddenly clapped his hands together. "Of course! How could I forget? My father once told me of an old dragon legend—sometimes, dragons are born with the inherited memories of their ancestors." His excitement grew as he nodded to himself. "Perhaps… this is something similar?"
Ignis seized the opportunity. "I think so too," he agreed, keeping his expression neutral.
That was exactly what he wanted—to let his parents find their own explanation, one that wouldn't make them suspicious.
Alenna, however, remained unconvinced. She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Are you sure?" Her voice held a trace of doubt. "You're not just making this up, are you?"
It wasn't accusation, but worry. She was his mother, after all. And she didn't want him making reckless decisions.
Ignis met her gaze, his expression unwavering. "Mom, why would I lie to you?"
Alenna searched his face, looking for any sign of hesitation or deception. But Ignis had spent centuries as a battle-hardened commander in his past life—his resolve never wavered.
After a long moment, Alenna exhaled and finally relented. "Alright… If you're sure."
Ignis nodded. He had successfully diverted their suspicions.
Now, all that was left was to put his newfound cultivation method to the test.
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