Sorcerer Metamagic

For the past five months, Keosius had remained in Bokara Mountain Forest, searching everywhere for relatively powerful beasts. The Red Dragon turned them into both food for his growth and experience for his advancement.

A proper degree of caution was necessary. Until he was fully confident, Keosius would not attempt to challenge those powerful creatures.

Keosius had now reached level 2, learned the ability Magic Spring, and gained sorcery points.

After this period of hunting, the young Red Dragon, still in its growth stage, had grown several sizes larger. From snout to tail tip, he measured a full six meters long.

His scales had become brighter in color, and slightly protruding bony spines had emerged along his back, though they had yet to form a complete dorsal fin. It was clear that he was about to enter the next stage.

His raised head had become more ferocious. The horns on his forehead had lengthened and hardened, new horn rings had appeared, short keratinous spikes had grown beneath his jaw, and his pupils were several shades lighter than before.

Of course, the Red Dragon still possessed the typical juvenile dragon trait of a large head and small body.

His proportions were still somewhat comical.

Keosius gulped down a chunk of meat, then raised his head to look at the panel.

"Choose to increase my Sorcerer level."

[Your Sorcerer level has risen to level 3]
[The magical power suppressed deep within your body, mind, and soul has been released. You can use your powerful will to twist the spells you cast, allowing them to achieve your intended effects. You have gained the ability Metamagic.]
[You may choose two Metamagic effects.]
[You have gained Metamagic: Instant Spell and Metamagic: Twin Spell.]

Metamagic: Instant Spell: You consume a certain amount of sorcery points and use your powerful Sorcerer will to twist a spell. Your spells can be cast instantly without preparation.

Metamagic: Twin Spell: You consume the corresponding amount of sorcery points and use your Sorcerer will to duplicate a prepared spell, allowing it to affect multiple targets simultaneously.

Keosius directly chose the Metamagic combination considered the most brainless in his previous life.

Although Sorcerers did not need to construct spell models like Mages, they still needed to use their will to sense the Weave and prepare their magic.

But Instant Spell Metamagic allowed them to cast spells directly, making magic as easy to command as an arm.

And there was even less need to mention Twin Spell. In battle, let alone an extra spell, even half a spell could be enough to change the course of a fight.

[You have gained the 1st-circle spells Charm Human and Thunder Wave.]
[You have gained the 2nd-circle spells Invisibility and Enhance Ability.]

In terms of spells, Keosius chose those with greater utility rather than direct damage spells.

After all, as a Red Dragon, most low-circle spells in the early stages did less damage than his fangs, claws, and Fire Breath. Not to mention, he also had one daily use of Scorching Ray.

If he could turn invisible or charm others, their usefulness would far exceed that small amount of damage.

After making his choices, the Red Dragon slowly closed his eyes.

Vast sorcery power was released from the depths of his body like a surging spring, forcefully attaching itself to his will.

There was no need to calculate parameters or construct models. He only needed to use that power to unreasonably twist magic according to the caster's needs.

That was the Weave, a functioning system containing both order and chaos.

Several spells emerged from the depths of his mind and deeply imprinted themselves upon the Red Dragon's consciousness. At last, he had touched a higher level of the Weave and gained a deeper understanding of the Weave in this world.

"It's about time to leave this place."

"Let Storm Highlands be my next destination."

Full and satisfied, the Red Dragon carelessly abandoned several ruined nests in the forest and spread his wings, soaring into the sky.

The sky was cloudless for thousands of miles, a clear expanse of blue.

He looked down at the land below. Beneath him lay a dense forest filled with flourishing trees, with Forest Deer darting among them.

Farther away stretched a vast, desolate plateau, where the outlines of several cities could faintly be seen. Beyond that, even farther away, lay endless mountains blanketed in snow. This was the Anzeta Great Wasteland, located in the northwest of the Erezege Continent and surrounded by the majestic Anstica Mountains. Because of its frigid climate year-round, it was known as the "Land Without Spring."

Over the course of a thousand years, the tenacious Scanlan People had established dozens of cities here, gradually forming the Northern United Kingdom led by Grand Duke Bosk. Orcs, giants, Goblins, and even dragons—creatures of all kinds—lived together across this vast land.

The fierce wind in the sky swept across the Red Dragon's scales, drying the lingering blood at the corners of his mouth.

Every one of these vivid sensations reminded Keosius—or rather, Lin Kai—so clearly:

He was alive.

Truly alive beneath this sky.

None of this was a virtual game.

The Red Dragon looked down upon the vast land and murmured, "I am Keosius..."

But the latter half of his words scattered into the howling gale high above—"And Lin Kai."

Deep in the mountains, in Anzeta's coldest region, stood a black tower.

No one knew its origins, and no one dared visit it.

The wails of unknown beasts often echoed from within, so people called it the Polar Night Demon Tower.

At the top of the tower, a man clad in a black hooded robe, his face obscured from view, waited for something.

A rusted medal hung on his chest. Upon it was a flame with eyes, burning atop a dragon claw.

Then, a portal appeared out of thin air. An ugly monster slowly wriggled and crawled out of it, kneeling before the man in a strange posture.

The monster stood over three meters tall. Even while kneeling, it was still much taller than the man.

Its body was twisted, like a defective creation stitched together from a chaotic mass of flesh.

Many white scales covered its body, but large patches of bare flesh remained exposed. Thick hair hung down from its head, making it look disgusting and hideous.

The monster struggled greatly to speak. "Master, it... it was a Red Dragon."

As it spoke, it stretched out a twisted, mangled limb and presented a charred black bone. Its outline still made it recognizable as a Dire Wolf skull.

"A powerful Red Dragon?"

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

The man's tone was unusually excited.

"It is very cunning. I haven't found its lair yet."

"Hahahaha, don't worry. I know these Red Dragons far too well—proud, greedy, wrathful, accustomed to violence, tired of thinking..."

"Once these creatures possess enough power, they will vent themselves everywhere like dogs in heat, marking their territory and flaunting their great strength to their heart's content."

The man laughed madly, his tone intoxicated and obsessed.

"When that time comes, this power will be under my control."

"Yes, Master."

The monster slowly lowered its head, its thick hair covering its icy blue eyes.

The man stepped forward and gently stroked the monster's head, unconcerned as unknown slime covered his hand. He softly said:

"I will not fail again. Absolutely... not."

These words seemed to be directed both at the monster and at himself.