After their laughter faded and the echoes stilled, a contemplative silence settled between them. Varvatos folded his arms, his eyes scanning the vibrant currents of energy flowing through the air.
"Veldora," he said, his voice calm but curious, "tell me about the energy of this world. The one I feel flowing around me—dense, rich, and alive. It's not the same as the mana or soul essence I knew."
Veldora's eyes gleamed with interest. This was a question he enjoyed answering.
"Ahh, so you can feel it. Impressive. What you're sensing, Varvatos, are magicules—the fundamental energy that governs this world. Unlike simple mana, magicules are the source of life, power, and even evolution here. The stronger the magicules within you, the higher your potential. Monsters, spirits, even demons are born from them."
Varvatos nodded slowly, already beginning to make connections in his mind.
"And what about these... 'skills' I've heard whispers of while I studied the world? I've seen fragments of how beings here manifest power differently—Ultimate Skills, Unique Skills. They're like conceptual weapons fused into the soul."
Veldora's wings flexed proudly behind the barrier, clearly enjoying the conversation.
"Exactly! You catch on fast. You see, this world operates on a skill system. Every living creature, especially intelligent ones, can develop Skills—starting from Basic ones. As their soul grows stronger, they evolve into Extra Skills, Unique Skills, and finally the rarest of all: Ultimate Skills."
Varvatos raised an eyebrow. "And these Ultimate Skills…?"
"They are the manifestations of deep concepts—Law, Wrath, Creation, Time, Space… absolute forces that shape reality. They're not just tools. They become part of your existence, your mind and soul. A being with an Ultimate Skill can even rival a True Dragon if the conditions are right."
That made Varvatos genuinely pause. He had fought gods, rewritten rules, and altered dimensions in his old life—but this was a systemized structure of power that operated with surprising complexity and elegance.
"Fascinating," he murmured. "So in this world… your strength is determined not just by raw energy, but by the concepts you can wield. Power with identity."
Veldora grinned, the pride of his world swelling in his voice.
"Exactly. It's why beings like Guy Crimson or Milim Nava are so terrifying. They don't just have Ultimate Skills… they are their Ultimate Skills. Their very existence warps reality around them."
Varvatos began to chuckle softly.
"This world truly is interesting. Perhaps even... worthy."
"Worthy of what?" Veldora asked, tilting his massive head.
"Worthy of conquest?" Varvatos said teasingly, then smirked. "No... worthy of my time."
The two looked at each other for a moment, and then Veldora let out a booming laugh once more.
"Hahaha! You're starting to sound like Guy now."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Varvatos replied with a playful glint in his eyes.
Veldora, still lounging behind the shimmering barrier of his prison, tapped his chin thoughtfully with one claw.
"Oh—and another important thing about this world, Varvatos… names."
Varvatos raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Names?"
Veldora nodded. "Yes. Giving someone a true name in this world isn't just a formality—it's a contract. A blessing. A rebirth. A named individual becomes vastly stronger than their unnamed counterpart. It strengthens the soul, deepens their connection to magicules, and even evolves their species if the name holds enough power."
"I see," Varvatos mused, "so the act of naming here… is more like embedding a fragment of your own essence into them."
"Exactly!" Veldora grinned. "But there's a catch. Only someone with more power than the one being named can give a name. And the stronger the being you name, the more it drains your own magicules. If you're careless, you could end up passing out—or worse."
Varvatos chuckled lightly. "Fascinating… it's like bestowing divinity in fragments. A true blessing only those at the peak can afford."
"That's why True Dragons, Demon Lords, and certain other beings can name monsters and create powerful followers," Veldora said, his voice lowering slightly. "It's also why a lot of powerful beings don't go around handing out names willy-nilly. It can be dangerous—and political."
Varvatos leaned against a nearby rock wall, processing it all. "And the ones who are named… they become loyal, don't they? It binds them, body and soul."
"For most, yes," Veldora nodded. "Especially among monsters."
Then, Veldora shifted the topic, his wings flexing.
"Speaking of monsters, this world is rich with intelligent species—far more than humans alone. You'll find goblins, orcs, lizardmen, ogres, dryads, beastmen, harpies, titans, elves, dwarves, and even dragonoids—like my brother's daughter, Milim."
Varvatos tilted his head, slightly amused. "This world really is a melting pot of life. Diverse races, rich energy systems, unique naming rules... and a well-organized balance of power."
"Heh, and chaos too. Never forget the chaos," Veldora said with a sly grin. "Especially with Milim around."
"So… would you say monsters here are inferior to humans?" Varvatos asked.
"Not at all," Veldora replied proudly. "In fact, monsters rule most of the wildlands. Many humans would get torn apart if they wandered into monster territory without preparation. Power rules, not race. Remember that."
Varvatos closed his eyes briefly, his aura simmering beneath his skin.
"This is going to be... very entertaining."
Veldora's smile widened. "I had a feeling you'd say that."
Veldora leaned forward slightly, his large, curious eyes narrowing as he examined Varvatos more intently. The runic energy of his prison hummed quietly in the background, but his attention was fixed solely on the enigmatic man standing before him.
"You know…" Veldora began, his tone shifting from playful to thoughtful, "you're quite powerful yourself. Even though you're hiding it."
Varvatos gave a small, knowing smirk, his arms crossed casually.
"Oh? And here I thought I was doing a decent job concealing it."
Veldora gave a thunderous chuckle. "Maybe to others. But I am a True Dragon, after all. I might be sealed, but my senses aren't dull. The way the magicules bend around you… the way the space itself reacts when you move—it's subtle, but telling."
"I suppose that's the downside of hiding from those who can't be fooled," Varvatos said, his voice tinged with amusement.
Veldora grinned. "It's not just your strength. Your aura has… weight. Authority. Something ancient. You're no mere reincarnated soul."
"You're right," Varvatos replied, his gaze drifting upward to the glowing ceiling of the cavern. "I ruled over demons and gods alike in my world. I was called the Demon Lord Varvatos, and though I sought peace, power never truly left my side."
Veldora said with growing interest. "Well, now I really want to see what you're capable of. This world may just have gotten itself a new storm to deal with."
Varvatos chuckled softly, his eyes glinting. "Not a storm… a reckoning."
The two powerful beings stared at each other—one sealed in ancient magic, the other reborn in a new world. A moment of silence passed between them, not of discomfort, but of mutual respect.
"I look forward to seeing what chaos you stir up, Varvatos," Veldora said at last.
"And I look forward to seeing how much this world can entertain me," Varvatos replied smoothly. "It's been far too long since I've truly lived."
As the radiant hum of Veldora's voice faded behind him, Varvatos turned his gaze deeper into the vast expanse of the sealed cavern. The walls pulsed faintly with magicules—dense, wild, and ancient. The Storm Dragon's prison had turned the interior of the cave into a haven for magic-rich monsters, a perfect battlefield for a reborn sovereign seeking to understand his powers.
"I sense many strong creatures lurking here," Varvatos muttered to himself with a subtle grin. "A perfect proving ground."
Veldora, watching from within the barrier, smirked. "Don't die, Sovereign. I rather enjoy our talks."
Varvatos didn't respond. His figure vanished in a ripple of light as he activated [Dimensional Step], phasing forward deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of the cave.
Day 1 — The Trial of the Twin Basilisks
Two enormous Basilisks emerged from the stone like titans. Their scales shimmered with metallic green, their eyes glowing with petrification magic. Varvatos didn't draw a weapon—he needed none.
The moment the Basilisks struck, Varvatos lifted a finger and channeled [Sigilcraft]. Runes flared to life mid-air—Runes of Disruption, breaking their gaze technique.
"Interesting… weaker than expected, but your resilience is commendable."
With a gesture, [Hydra Lightning] surged, a spiraling torrent of serpentine electricity tearing through the first basilisk. The second lunged, but Varvatos inscribed a sigil beneath its claws—Delayed Rupture Glyph—and it exploded mid-pounce.
[Astral Archive] noted the basilisks' traits, converting their petrification spell into his own modified form: Stasis Gaze.
Day 2 — The Swarm of Shadow Bats
Thousands of shadow bats screeched through the caverns, casting darkness and illusion spells in tandem. Varvatos narrowed his eyes as he hovered midair using [Sky Sovereign].
"Let's see how well [Ultima Flare] handles swarm targets."
He inscribed a massive sphere in the sky—an ancient fusion sigil combining fire, gravity, and astral elements. The flare detonated, consuming the bats in a swirling supernova. Screeches fell silent in a wave of annihilation.
Their illusion magic was absorbed by [Astral Archive], converted into an upgraded version of [Reflect Barrier], now capable of bouncing back not just damage, but spell illusions.
Day 3–4 — The Cradle of Centipede Lords
Deeper into the tunnels, the air grew dense, claustrophobic. The scent of acid filled the air. Giant armored centipedes, each over 30 meters long, slithered from the rock walls.
"Tough shells, rapid regeneration… Good. I'll test [Groundburst] and [Sigilcraft] sync."
Runes crawled across the cavern floor, intersecting beneath the creatures. With a stomp, [Groundburst] ruptured the terrain, followed by [Elemental Fusion] of earth and lightning—causing magnetic shrapnel to shred through the centipedes' natural armor.
A particularly large Centipede Lord tried to counter with a venom mist—Varvatos responded with [Flash Judgment], a light-elemental beam focused with precision, slicing through the beast's core.
Day 5 — The Lesser Dragons
In the central chamber, three draconic beasts slumbered—lesser dragons, warped by proximity to Veldora's aura over centuries. They roared upon awakening, their elemental affinities firing in tandem—flame, frost, and thunder.
Varvatos raised a hand calmly.
"Three at once… perfect."
Using [Elemental Fusion], he wove a spell combining wind, water, and fire. The result: Tempest Cascade—a storm of boiling gales that tore through the thunder dragon.
The frost dragon lunged. Varvatos used [Dimensional Step] to vanish and reappear atop its neck. A sigil glowed beneath his feet—Seal of Implosion—crushing its spinal core with compact spatial energy.
The fire dragon breathed an infernal blaze, but Varvatos caught it in his palm with [Reflect Barrier], redirecting it into a Mega Flare Zone, amplifying the fire and launching it back tenfold.
Day 6–7 — The Endless Chambers
As he pushed deeper, Varvatos encountered increasingly coordinated monster packs—mimics, chimeras, cursed spirits. He responded with methodical precision.
He began layering spells via [Sigilcraft], creating intricate arrays: one sectioned a path with Force Walls, another trapped beasts in Delayed Abyssal Flares, and a third array stacked Healing Crests that healed only him within the zone, allowing endless combat.
He trained himself in conserving magicules, refining sigil casting mid-combat, and learning to alter spatial laws on the fly with [Varnakiel — The Authority of Dominion].
By the end of Day 7, the monsters had all fled or fallen silent.
The cave had been claimed.
Varvatos emerged into the chamber where Veldora remained sealed. Dust coated his cloak, his eyes alight with clarity and exhilaration.
Veldora blinked. "You were gone seven days. I felt the tremors down here."
Varvatos cracked his knuckles.
"I've remembered who I am… and now, I've learned what I've become."
Veldora smirked. "So? How was the warm-up?"
"Satisfying," Varvatos replied. "But now, I hunger… for a real challenge."