Resurrection System: Become the Strongest

Chapter 08

Instantly, a shockwave of black energy mixed with gold exploded from Richard's body. That surge of energy not only shattered the marble floor around his feet, but also bounced back Duke Harrison's mana pressure with equal force, pushing the family head slightly backward and forcing him to take a single step back to maintain his balance.

All the nobles present gasped in horror. They could not believe that a young man who had just awakened his mana was capable of returning the pressure of an experienced Archmage.

Ding!

[Congratulations! The Host has successfully claimed the reward.] [New Active Skill Acquired: 'Dragon Scale Guard'] [Skill Description: Creates an absolute dragon scale shield capable of deflecting all forms of physical attacks and magic below divine tier for a certain duration.]

A shadow symbol of golden dragon scales flashed briefly across Richard's forehead before finally fading into his skin. An extraordinary feeling of safety enveloped his entire body, confirming that the system never joked about any of its promised powers.

Duke Harrison took a deep breath. The anger in his chest now mixed with deep curiosity and a wariness he had never felt before toward anyone. He realized that the boy before him was no longer the timid and obedient Richard of the past. There was a new soul, a new power, and a far more dangerous iron determination now residing within the young man's body.

"Do you think that by showing off power like this you can escape responsibility for the chaos here, Richard?" Duke Harrison spoke in a strained, cold voice, trying to control his authority before the invited guests who continued to observe his every move.

"Responsibility?" Richard snorted softly. He glanced briefly at Leonardo, who was still lying unconscious near the pillar, then shifted his sharp gaze to the elders who now bowed in silence. "I didn't cause chaos. I was merely cleaning out the trash that had been left to rot in this house for far too long. And regarding my business with the Drag family."

Richard paused for a moment. He turned his body slowly, turning his back on the main throne and staring at the towering main gate of the hall.

"Starting today, I, Richard Alexander Drag, am no longer bound by your rotten rules. Whatever happens within this family is no longer my business. But remember one thing," Richard turned his head back slightly, casting a cold gaze that made anyone who saw it shiver with fear. "If any of you dare to look for trouble with me or test my patience one more time, I assure you the destruction of the aptitude test stone earlier was just a small prelude to what I will bring upon all of you."

After delivering that outright and daring threat, Richard stepped forward with full authority. His footsteps sounded steady, echoing regularly across the partially shattered marble floor, creating a rhythm of dominance that forced everyone in the hall to clear a path for him.

Not a single person dared to move to block him. The private family guards standing beside the main door swallowed collectively, their legs feeling stiff as if embedded in the floor as the shadow of Richard's body walked past them.

Even Duke Harrison himself chose to remain in his place, staring at the back of his son as he walked away, leaving the main hall without looking back even once.

That decision was not because he wanted to show mercy, but rather because his fighting instincts warned him that attacking Richard right now before eyewitnesses from various factions would only embarrass the Drag family's reputation even further.

Richard's footsteps continued along the long corridor toward the outer part of the mansion. Every second he passed felt so real, carrying the wind of freedom he had long yearned for—not just freedom for the new soul he inhabited, but also vengeance for the pain felt by the original body's owner in the past.

The fresh outdoor air welcomed his face as soon as he pushed open the side door of the mansion's main garden. Morning sunlight struck his skin, reflecting a faint glint of the lingering jet-black energy still spinning slowly around his palms.

Ding!

[Next Main Quest Unlocked]

[Title: Escaping the Dragon's Cage]

[Description: You have left the Main Hall and refused to submit to familial tyranny. It is time to build independent power outside the Drag territory.]

[Rewards: Location map of ancient soul-forging ruins, 500 Stat Points, and unlocking the system shop feature.]

Richard paused for a moment in the lush garden. A faint smile curved upon his lips once more, this time not a cynical smile to mock an enemy, but a smile full of confidence welcoming the broad new future stretching out before him.

"The world of Arcane Legend..." whispered Richard softly to the blowing wind, his voice drowning among the rustling leaves of swaying magic trees. "All of you thought I was useless trash. But just wait until I return to this place as the absolute ruler who makes all of you kneel in the dirt."

Without wasting a single second, Richard turned his body away from the grand building of the Drag family, stepped firmly past the massive stone gate, and walked toward his new destiny in the vast and mysterious world without ever intending to look back.

The atmosphere inside the Drag family's Main Hall was still blanketed in a chest-suffocating silence after Richard's departure. The elders looked at one another with pale faces, realizing that the foundation of power they had built over centuries had just been shattered by someone they had always looked down upon.

"Your Grace," an elderly elder spoke with a soft, trembling voice, breaking the frozen silence. "That boy possesses truly terrifying potential. If allowed to live and grow out there, he could become the greatest threat to our family's existence in the future."

Duke Harrison slowly closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to quell the wave of anger still churning violently within his chest. When he reopened his eyes, a cold, deadly glint radiated clearly from his pupils.

"Send our best shadows," ordered Duke Harrison in a heavy voice containing absolute authority, making all the elders in the room bow their heads deeply. "Find him, dead or alive. Someone who cannot be controlled and intends to destroy the good name of the Drag family does not deserve to keep seeing the sun rise."

The absolute order had been cast. The hunt for Richard had just begun, yet the young man had already stepped far ahead, ready to welcome any storm sent by his family with the dragon power now resting within his grasp.