Ryan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ryan Clayton (Ryan; 萊恩)
Alias(es)	Baron Ryan; Lord of Frozen Earth; Northern Military Chairman; Imperial Tutor; Dawn Godfather
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Frozen Earth Territory; Ryan Family; The Empire
Occupation/Role	Baron and lord of Frozen Earth Territory; military commander; founder of the Ryan Family
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Formal Knight	37	Advanced through the Blaze Dragon Knight Breathing Technique. His heat-filled breath, immense strength, and fear-inducing aura made the territory's other knights—apart from Brandt—unable to match him. 37
Bronze Knight	59	Refined vital essence for ten days and broke through on Rhino Horn Mountain; crimson battle aura formed the image of a winged dragon and suppressed the territory's wildlife with Dragon's Might. 59
Peak Golden Knight	359	Demonstrated peak Golden Knight speed and overwhelming physical strength while defeating ten Bilki warriors and five Frost Lord-blessed Armored Bears. 359
Sky Knight	379	Emerged from seclusion after gaining two additional blessings. His Battle Aura overcame gravity, granting flight, while his Sky-rank Seed of Life awakened Dragon's Stomach. 379
Peak Saint Realm	658	Following the Crimsonwing Plains campaign, his body continued evolving and his strength grew passively, particularly within Frozen Earth Territory. 658
Legendary Knight	758	Had become Legendary and spent time mastering his new power at Rhino Horn Mountain. 758
Demigod	945	Used the Spiritual Realm Ember Extinction; Vortex Sea to confront legendary Hill Person Ashwood and Dwarf Bofur Furnace simultaneously, forcing both to retreat. 945

Background

Ryan transmigrated into the Empire's impoverished Northwind Province and awakened with an assassin's rapier wound through his chest and back. The least conspicuous of Count Clayton's many children, he received the Frozen Earth Barony as part of a political compromise following his father's northern campaign. 1

On reaching Frozen Earth Territory, Ryan inherited a neglected domain with scarce food, abandoned housing, and only a little over one hundred impoverished villagers. He used his Spirituality Panel to understand that subjects generated Spirituality, then began attracting former slaves, bandits, and refugees with freedom, food, protection, and prospects for advancement. 3 4

His first major expansion came through the people of Aixnier. After they swore fealty, Ryan gained a massive increase in Spirituality and used it to grant Brandt the Deer Spirit's Blessing, elevating him to Formal Knight and making him Ryan's Guardian Knight. 6

Although born a Clayton, Ryan's barony made him the founder of a separate noble house. His descendants inherit the Ryan Family name, while his connection to the Clayton Family is defined by blood and political alliance rather than direct authority. 146 651

Appearance

Ryan is a fair-skinned young noble with black hair and faint red eyes. His physique becomes increasingly powerful through knight cultivation while remaining refined rather than bulky. 20 302 505

• Dark or black hair and gem-like red eyes. 20 302
• Commonly wears a noble baron's robe, even after battle. 359 1025
• Uses gleaming Mithril Armor when expecting combat. 40 302
• His growing Dragon's Might and Spirituality can create overwhelming pressure or fear in those around him. 37 880

Personality

Ryan is ambitious, pragmatic, and convinced that his Spirituality Panel gives him the means to become a creator of history rather than another stagnant noble. He seeks wealth, people, technology, military power, and extraordinary talent as tools to transform Frozen Earth Territory and expand his influence across multiple worlds. 358 642

As a ruler, he favors incentives over simple exploitation. He rewards labor, creates pathways for commoners and former nobles to earn status, and uses material ambitions to bind talented people to his territory. 16 57 1027

Ryan is also highly transactional and manipulative in noble politics. He cultivates alliances through profit, recognizes that loyalty follows interests as well as oaths, and readily uses intimidation, assassination, or military force when he considers them necessary. 112 483 485

Abilities & Skills

Spirituality Panel and Blessings

Ryan possesses a translucent Spirituality Panel that began at nine Spirituality after his transmigration. His subjects increase this resource, while greater loyalty and exceptional retainers can provide substantially more. 1 3 6

• Can spend Spirituality to bestow blessings on people, strengthening their bodies and advancing their knight cultivation. 6
• Blessings manifest differently according to the recipient's qualities; Brandt's Deer Spirit's Blessing enhanced his physique and breathing technique while reflecting traits such as valor, fearlessness, loyalty, and leadership. 6
• Accumulated blessings transformed Ryan into an all-round Knight, including agility from the Wolf Spirit's Blessing. 379
• Has used blessings to dispel the Andara Royal Family's Bloodline Curse and select candidates for the rebuilt Hall Knight Legion. 763
• Spirituality cannot be directly upgraded through ordinary means. 429

Blaze Dragon Knight Breathing Technique

Ryan's primary knight cultivation method develops his body, vital essence, Battle Aura, and draconic presence.

• Grants immense physical strength; at the Formal Knight stage, Ryan could lift a millstone one-handed without strain. 37
• Produces a soul-level intimidation effect that weakens enemies through instinctive fear. 37
• Its breakthroughs manifest as Dragon's Might and crimson dragon-shaped Battle Aura. 59
• At Sky rank, allows aerial movement by using Battle Aura to counter gravity. 379
• Ryan's Clayton bloodline is naturally suited to knight cultivation and carries dormant extraordinary power. 292

Dragon's Stomach

After becoming a Sky Knight, Ryan developed Dragon's Stomach through his Sky-rank Seed of Life. 379

• Replenishes bodily deficiencies through consuming food.
• Restores vital energy depleted through exertion.
• Allows gradual recovery from injuries through sufficiently nourishing meals. 379

Spiritual Realm: *Ember Extinction; Vortex Sea*

Ryan's Demigod-level Spiritual Realm lets him impose his authority over a battlefield. 945

• Restrains and disrupts legendary opponents within its range. 945
• Supported Ryan's simultaneous battle against Ashwood and Bofur Furnace. 945
• Amplifies his dragon-like physical power and allows his attacks to combine with manifestations such as the thunder-bearing stag. 945

Divine and Dragon Authority

Ryan has acquired several powers connected to Dragons and great beings.

• Received the Dragon Emperor's favor after witnessing Surtr's battle with the Dragon Emperor in Nidhogg. 480
• Formed a soul contract with Surtr to oppose the Dragon God and Demon Dragon. 480
• Bears the Divine Essence of Eternity, allowing him to publicly establish himself as a Grace Bearer of the God of Light. 890
• Drew power from the Spear of Longinus without rejection, blessed a knight into a unique Holy Knight, and temporarily transformed into a giant through the relic's sacred aura. 1011

Military Command and Statecraft

Ryan is widely recognized for never losing a war and for his ability to build and lead Extraordinary Legions. 653 880

• Won against Count Weiss's army with only one thousand soldiers. 96
• Built Frozen Earth Territory's forces with superior weapons, armor, warhorses, retainers, and soldiers. 653
• Uses noble titles, wealth, trade privileges, and military rewards to build durable networks of obligation. 57 112 430
• Established Ryan's Vault in Corland Kingdom to gain political influence through lending, qualifications, and shared economic interests rather than direct conquest. 642
• Advocates civilian travel, trade, and retained wealth to stimulate productivity and limit noble exploitation. 1027

Equipment, Weapons, and Mounts

• Mithril Armor — Enchanted armor with Eagle Eye, Power Boost, and Aura Burst; blocks most spell damage from mages below Archmage rank. 40
• Knight's Greatsword — Used during his Bilki challenge, where Ryan fought warriors and Armored Bears alone. 359
• Heroic Spirit Crown — Temporarily grants Ryan the Stag's immense vitality and peak Saint Realm power. 557
• Spear of Longinus — Holy relic Ryan borrowed from Hildegard and successfully wielded. 1011
• Winter's Chill — Ryan's Northwind Charger; remained steady against the force of Ryan's clash with legendary Bofur Furnace. 150 945
• Arryris — Frost Dragon allied with Ryan; Ryan has ridden atop its head in battle. 481 866

Relationships

• Beard — Ryan's childhood caretaker and loyal butler. He assists with territorial administration, trade, and the operation of Ryan's Vault. 1 642
• Brandt — Ryan's Guardian Knight and combat tutor. Ryan granted him the Deer Spirit's Blessing; Brandt later became a Legendary Knight. 6 57 789
• Avril Melendez — Ryan's wife, initially joined to him through a political marriage alliance. They have a son, Iserian. 160 887
• Iserian Ryan — Ryan and Avril's eldest son and the first named continuation of the Ryan Family bloodline. 887
• Count Clayton — Ryan's father, a Dragon Knight and head of the Clayton Family. Their relationship becomes increasingly respectful as Ryan proves himself as a lord. 146 147
• Kalami Sterling — Ryan's birth mother, Count Clayton's second wife and daughter of a Legendary Warlock. 146
• Katz Clayton — Ryan's elder brother, a Sky Knight who delivered the Dragon Heart and the Clayton Family's letter. 142
• Grand Mage Macken — Life Magic specialist hired by Ryan to develop Northern Warhorses and advise Frozen Earth Territory. 155 161
• Kristan Miles — Political client and ally whom Ryan backed against Rag Miles, ultimately helping him become Viscount Miles. 104 113
• Surtr — Fire giant with whom Ryan formed a soul contract against the Dragon God and Demon Dragon. 480

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Founding Frozen Earth Territory — Arrives in Northwind Province, survives assassination, addresses hunger, recruits former slaves and bandits, and begins developing the abandoned barony. 1 3 4
• Aixnier and the Blessings — Gains Aixnier's fealty, unlocks large-scale Spirituality growth, and establishes his first empowered retainers under Brandt. 6
• Northwind Provincial Wars — Exploits the Orc retreat for labor and wealth, strengthens his knights, defeats Count Weiss's forces, and becomes a major power in Northwind Province. 37 96
• Miles Succession Crisis — Manipulates surrounding nobles into recognizing Kristan Miles, kills Rag, and secures the Miles Family as part of his political network. 112 113
• Southern Alliances and Development — Returns south, secures his marriage to Avril, recruits mages and craftsmen, and brings Grand Mage Macken to Frozen Earth Territory. 160 161 164
• Otherworld Expansion — Leads armies through Planar Gates, subdues native tribes, gains control of Bilki, and receives Fenrir's people's loyalty. 234 282 359 379
• Rise as a Legendary Power — Builds Extraordinary Legions, confronts Grand Duke Meyers, gains recognition as the Dawn Godfather, and becomes a Legendary Knight. 653 758
• Northern and Foreign Influence — Rebuilds the Andara Hall Knight Legion, expands through trade, guilds, academies, and Ryan's Vault, and uses military and economic leverage to reshape neighboring kingdoms. 763 799 1027
• Demigod Campaigns — Battles legendary enemies with his Spiritual Realm, expands into new worlds, and negotiates directly with great beings such as Kraken. 945 1054

Notable Quotes

“The free things are always the most expensive.” 430

“I will change the lives of everyone in the Corland Kingdom, whether noble, commoner, or even slave.” 642