Isaac told Celia that the skill was called Master of Dual Cultivation, and it improved the efficiency of all Dual Cultivation skills and arts by five times.
"Oh? That’s pretty good," Celia said immediately, her eyes lighting up. "That means we can upgrade our Physiques much faster."
"Yes—"
"Let’s check the skill," she added before he could finish.
"...Aren’t you tired after everything that happened today?"
Celia gave him a cheeky grin, the kind that already answered the question.
...
Selene’s POV
It was a dream. Selene was certain of it.
But it didn’t feel like one.
Everything felt too vivid, and real.
There was carnage everywhere. Moon Dragons were dying in droves, torn apart by monsters. Some of the dragons were being corrupted mid-battle, their silver scales turning dark as their eyes filled with madness. The newly corrupted ones immediately turned on their own kind, attacking former allies without hesitation.
No one was spared.
The sky burned. The land cracked. Screams echoed endlessly.
Everything living on the Moon was being slaughtered.
Then the world suddenly shifted. The perspective zoomed across the battlefield, past the dying dragons, past the corrupted beasts, and toward a massive temple built from pale stone. The structure stood tall despite the chaos, its pillars glowing faintly under the dying light of the Moon.
Inside the temple, a woman was kneeling.
She was praying.
Selene’s expression stiffened.
That woman looked just like her.
Outside, dragons screamed and died. The ground shook. The sky fractured. Yet inside the temple, the woman remained kneeling, her hands clasped tightly. Tears streamed down her face as her shoulders trembled.
"Why?" the woman screamed. "Why won’t you let anyone escape?!"
Her voice cracked, filled with desperation.
"At least... let the children go. I... your Saintess... beg you..."
She slammed her forehead against the ground. Once. Twice. Again.
Her prayers went unanswered.
The destruction outside only grew worse.
The woman’s breathing became ragged. Her hands trembled. Slowly, the despair in her eyes twisted into rage.
"If you won’t listen..." she whispered.
Then she began to curse.
"I pray that all of your people die, War God ■... I pray your legacy crumbles... I pray your believers turn to dust... I pray—"
The curses poured out endlessly, filled with hatred and grief.
Selene didn’t recognize the woman. She had never seen her before. Yet hearing those words stirred something deep inside her chest. An unnatural anger rose within her, like an old wound being torn open.
It felt like a grudge.
A deep, ancient grudge.
Just then, space tore open inside the temple.
A crack formed in midair, glowing with white light. From within it, a humanoid figure stepped out. He was clad entirely in radiant white. His presence was overwhelming. His face couldn’t be seen clearly, but his aura alone felt absolute.
He didn’t speak.
He simply stared at the kneeling woman.
The temple began to collapse.
Stone cracked. Pillars shattered. The ceiling crumbled.
The woman slowly raised her head and glared at him, her eyes filled with hatred.
"If there is another life..." she said, her voice shaking but resolute, "I will kill you."
Dust rained down around her.
"I promise you... I will take revenge for my brethren... and I will kill you."
The humanoid figure remained silent.
He didn’t respond. He didn’t move.
He simply watched.
Then the world shattered.
The dream ended.
...
[Apex rank Evolution completed]
[Species: Royal Moon Dragon (New)]
[+400 to all Stats]
[New skills unlocked]
[You have gained...]
Selene’s eyes snapped open.
She was inside the life pod, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her breathing was uneven, and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. For a moment, she didn’t move. Her mind was still stuck in that dream.
That humanoid figure...
It was the War God.
She knew it instinctively. After going through the Trial and comparing the information she had received, she could tell that the Saintess had been cursing the War God because he had trapped everyone on the Moon, dooming them to their deaths.
During the Trial, that decision had seemed reasonable to her. It had felt like a calculated sacrifice.
But now...
Now she could feel an echo of the woman’s emotions.
Grief. Rage. Despair.
The countless deaths the Saintess had witnessed seemed to linger inside her mind. The feeling was faint, but it was there. It made her chest feel heavy.
At that moment, a screen appeared in front of her.
[Legacy Quest generated]
[Requirements: Kill War God]
[Reward: Memories of Selene Calloway’s past life, Truth of the World and Apocalypse, ???]
Selene’s eyes widened.
She froze, staring at the screen.
She didn’t even check her appearance. The sudden quest shocked her too much. Her thoughts became sluggish as she reread the words again and again.
Kill... War God?
Before she could think further, the door to the living room opened.
"Selene!"
Her father rushed inside. His eyes widened in relief and worry as he hurried toward her. He reached the life pod and helped her sit up, then guided her out carefully.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Good?" Selene muttered.
She decided to ignore the quest screen for now and focused on her body instead. The moment she did, her expression shifted.
She felt... strong.
Incredibly strong.
Her muscles felt light yet powerful. Her senses were sharper. Her mana flowed smoothly, like a calm river instead of scattered droplets.
Was this how an Apex-rank species felt?
At that moment, she felt something behind her.
She turned her head and saw a beautiful silver-scaled tail swaying slowly. The scales reflected faint light, giving them a soft glow. She reached out and touched it in fascination. The sensation was strange but natural, as if the tail had always been part of her.
Then she remembered something.
She raised her hand and touched her head.
There were horns.
Unlike her older sister Alice’s curved horns, Selene’s horns branched outward like a gazelle’s. Several thin extensions spread elegantly, giving them a delicate yet majestic appearance.
"Dad... do you have a mirror?" she asked.
"Yes."
Chairman Lucius took out his device and opened the selfie camera. He held it up so she could see herself.
Selene stared in fascination.
The horns glowed faintly in the night. Within the white surface, tiny black stars moved slowly, like a miniature galaxy trapped inside. Looking at them for too long made her mind drift, as if they pulled her attention inward.
She blinked and looked away.
Selene then reached behind her back, checking for wings.
There were none.
Just as she was examining herself, Chairman Lucius suddenly muttered, "Where is that bastard?"
Almost on cue, the door opened again.
Isaac rushed in.
He looked slightly disheveled. His face was flushed, his breathing a bit heavy, and his clothes were wrinkled as if he had just finished intense physical activity.
Chairman Lucius narrowed his eyes.
For some reason, Isaac felt guilty under that gaze. He avoided eye contact and immediately looked at Selene instead.
"Selene... how are you feeling?" he asked.
Selene didn’t answer.
She just stared at him.
For some reason, she was reminded of the quest.
[Requirements: Kill War God]
Her gaze lingered on Isaac longer than necessary, her expression unreadable.