First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System-Chapter 266: Azure Expanse

He sat slowly, the heavy chair creaking gently beneath his weight, and began carefully mulling over the documents.

Maps filled with markings, reports of sightings, and descriptions of suspicious activities—all spoke clearly of rising tension, a subtle yet definite shift suggesting deeper, hidden threats lurking just beneath the surface.

Eldric’s brows knitted together deeply, his eyes narrowing as he processed each piece of information, the weight of potential danger steadily mounting within him.

He sighed deeply, whispering quietly to himself, "Just what exactly are you planning, damn demons? And why did the Insanity Creed suddenly appear now, of all times?"

As Eldric continued his meticulous examination, elsewhere within the mansion, the atmosphere shifted distinctly.

Seraph’s chamber was peaceful, bathed in gentle sunlight filtering through gauzy curtains. The young girl sat silently on the chair beside the window, wrapped in a simple gown, her green hair cascading softly around her shoulders.

Her expression was quiet, gentle, yet carried deep sadness within her green eyes.

She gazed out the window, the view offering vibrant gardens, blossoming flowers, and peaceful fountains. Yet none of these serene sights penetrated her quiet melancholy.

Her slender fingers gently traced patterns upon the table, her mind heavy with memories too painful and raw to express.

Silence reigned within the chamber, heavy yet comforting. Seraph had slowly grown accustomed to the peace, the safety offered by the Helstorm Estate.

Yet a deeper, hidden part of her soul remained uncertain, fractured by traumas she could not yet voice.

She had been waiting for the one ray of sunshine in her bleak life for the past few days, yet she saw no one coming. Turning her head towards the gate with a hopeful look in her eyes, she softly muttered to herself, "O...r...ion... la...te?"

She had trouble voicing her words, yet she practiced daily so when an opportunity to talk with Orion arrived she wouldn’t miss it.

A vast azure expanse stretched endlessly in every conceivable direction, a boundless realm devoid of any landmarks, filled only with gently swirling azure gas.

The ethereal currents flowed in serene harmony, forming delicate patterns that shimmered with an almost hypnotic rhythm.

This was Orion’s Sea of Consciousness—now strangely unfamiliar, transformed into a dreamlike domain without edges or limitations.

Amidst the infinite stillness, a subtle shift occurred. Two eyes—luminous, aware, and filled with confusion—slowly opened, casting faint golden rays through the serene blue mist.

Yet there was no physical body attached to these eyes; Orion found himself floating gently as a flickering golden flame, his form ethereal, delicate, and subtly shimmering with life energy.

For a moment, Orion’s awareness was hazy, fragmented. He blinked, attempting to process the surreal sensation of being reduced to mere consciousness.

"W-what’s happening...?" he thought, his voice echoing softly within his own mind, reverberating gently through the azure void.

Carefully, Orion examined himself—only to realize he was no longer flesh and blood, but merely a fragile, flickering flame.

An understanding dawned slowly, bringing clarity tinged with interest. This gentle flame was the Life Fire he had struggled so long to ignite, now fully formed and burning steadily within his Sea of Consciousness.

"Did I wake up prematurely, before my evolution finished?" Orion wondered, puzzled yet fascinated. "Maybe igniting the Life Fire triggered my awakening sooner than expected."

Attempting to make sense of his strange situation, he tried focusing outward, attempting to sense the world beyond his Sea of Consciousness.

Yet no matter how much he strained, there was nothing—no sensations, no external sounds, no control whatsoever over his physical body. Frustration briefly surged through him, only to be quickly replaced by calm acceptance.

"Seems I’m completely disconnected from my physical self," Orion acknowledged silently. "Well, no use worrying about it now."

Deciding to move instead, Orion willed his ethereal flame-form to move through the infinite blue expanse. But his flame merely flickered slightly, stubbornly remaining in place.

Realization dawned quickly. "Right... I’m not even a fully formed soul yet. Just an ignited Life Fire. I suppose movement is still beyond my current state."

With movement impossible, Orion resigned himself to floating patiently, suspended gently within the tranquil azure mists.

His thoughts drifted naturally toward recent events—the intense battle in the forest, the kidnappers, Fiora’s true form, and the Tier 7’s death.

His heart clenched slightly at the vivid memories of helplessness, anger, and determination he’d felt.

Instinctively, Orion reached out mentally, seeking familiar comfort. "Lumi?"

Yet the silence stretched on for a heartbeat, two heartbeats—then finally, a single translucent notification appeared clearly before him:

[Limitless System V3 is undergoing evolution.]

Orion’s flickering flame widened in surprise, illuminating briefly brighter as excitement surged through him. "Another evolution? So soon? Last time, the update gave me the quest and the treasure history feature... This should be interesting."

His momentary excitement quickly gave way to introspection. Memories of his battle replayed clearly—particularly the frustration and inadequacy he’d felt when facing multiple skilled opponents simultaneously.

"My swordsmanship is strong... but against multiple enemies at once, a single sword just isn’t enough," Orion considered deeply, his flame flickering thoughtfully within the blue void. "I definitely need to learn dual wielding. With two blades, I’d be able to cover more angles and fight more fluidly."

His mind quickly began forming detailed plans for training once his evolution was complete, eagerly mapping out future strategies, techniques, and training sessions. For a short while, the pleasant mental exercise kept him entertained.

Yet soon, hours passed without change, then days. By the second day, Orion’s initial excitement gradually waned into restless boredom.

By the third, his patience began wearing thin. Trapped within his own mind, he felt keenly the wasted time.

By the fourth day, Orion’s restlessness became intolerable. The serene blue expanse felt almost mocking in its perfect stillness, offering neither stimulus nor escape. His patience finally snapped.

"Ah, fuck it," he growled inwardly, frustration evident. "If I’m stuck here for who knows how long, might as well make productive use of this time."

Determined, Orion recalled clearly the mana circuit and runic inscription books he had borrowed from the academy’s vast library.

He’d carefully read through them before, but never had the chance to fully internalize their intricate contents amidst the chaos of recent events.

Without physical books to reference, Orion delved inward, reconstructing the texts meticulously within his mind. Page by page, diagram by diagram, word by painstaking word, he visualized each detail precisely, steadily immersing himself in focused, thorough study.

First, he mentally reconstructed the mana circuit book. Its intricate diagrams materialized clearly in his mind, each mana channel and pathway vividly recalled with exacting precision.

Orion meticulously traced every line, every route, every interaction between circuits, fully comprehending their detailed functions and nuances.

Time ceased to have meaning as he immersed himself deeply, unraveling each subtle intricacy within the ancient mana theory.

Orion’s mental clarity grew sharper with each passing moment, his understanding deepening profoundly, as though the absence of physical distraction enhanced his ability to learn exponentially.

Completing the mana circuit text after what felt like an eternity, Orion shifted effortlessly to the runic inscription manual. Carefully, he mentally visualized each runic line, recalling clearly their delicate structures and subtle meanings.

In his mind, he practiced engraving each runic line precisely, his mental hands tracing their elegant curves and sharp angles again and again, until he reached a level of mastery and comfort he’d never achieved before.

As Orion diligently studied, time continued to pass unnoticed in the real world, yet within the infinite azure expanse, he made immense strides forward.

His profound comprehension of mana circuits and runic inscriptions reached unprecedented heights, thoroughly surpassing mere familiarity to approach genuine mastery.

Occasionally pausing to rest his thoughts, Orion’s flickering flame-form shone steadily brighter, radiating greater confidence and strength as his mental foundation grew infinitely more robust.

His frustrations slowly dissolved, replaced by focused determination and quiet satisfaction. Even trapped in his Sea of Consciousness, he was determined not to waste a single moment.

"By the time I awaken," Orion thought resolutely, determination ringing firmly within his mental voice, "I’ll have thoroughly mastered these subjects. Then I can play around with spells and other stuff as I please"

Thus, within the silent, boundless azure expanse of his Sea of Consciousness, Orion’s tiny flame of Life Fire steadily burned brighter, patiently awaiting the moment he would be finally free from this place.

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