Chapter 48: Special Entity Alice mogs

[The Dragon Rider Path is formed through a resonance between a rider and a dragon.]

[Practitioners cultivate through a specialized breathing technique.]

[At equivalent stages, the overall combat capability of the Dragon Rider Path remains within the same general limits as the Body Path, Magic Path and Official Path.]

[Primary Characteristic - Draconic Physique]

[The specialized breathing technique gradually strengthens the Dragon Rider’s body, improving strength, speed, durability, recovery and senses.]

[However, the physical enhancement remains inferior to that of a Knight at the same stage, as the Body Path is specifically specialized toward strengthening the body.]

Alaric nodded slowly.

That made sense.

Mira wouldn’t possess the physical strength of a Knight, but neither would she remain an ordinary human who became useless whenever Zephyr wasn’t around.

She could still fight independently.

There was more.

[Secondary Characteristic - Draconic Aspect]

[As the bond between rider and dragon develops, the rider may gradually manifest characteristics influenced by their bonded dragon.]

[The resulting Draconic Aspect varies depending upon the dragon, the rider, their compatibility and the development of their bond.]

Alaric’s eyes narrowed.

Now that’s interesting.

That meant two Dragon Riders at the same stage could develop completely different abilities depending on their dragons.

Mira’s eventual Draconic Aspect would therefore be influenced by Zephyr.

Considering that little bastard was a genius even by dragon standards, Alaric was looking forward to the draconic aspect.

But that little shit is also very strange. Who thinks invisibility means freedom?

Alaric had no clue what draconic aspect Mira might get.

[Tertiary Characteristic - Mounted Synchronization]

[While mounted upon their bonded dragon, the thoughts, intentions and movements of rider and dragon may partially synchronize through their resonance.]

[As synchronization deepens, both parties may coordinate complex movements and attacks without verbal communication.]

[Only during Mounted Synchronization may the Dragon Rider channel resonant power into their weapons, temporarily enhancing their durability and destructive capability.]

Alaric raised his eyebrows.

That’s actually fucking useful.

A normal person riding a flying dragon would probably spend half the battle trying not to get thrown off.

Mira wouldn’t.

If Zephyr suddenly dove, rolled or changed direction, she could understand his intention almost immediately and move alongside him.

And during mounted combat, she could reinforce whatever weapon she used, allowing her to actually attack while Zephyr handled movement.

Dragon Rider wasn’t superior to the normal power systems.

Its strength came from a reinforced body, the gradual development of a unique Draconic Aspect, and the ridiculous combat coordination possible between rider and dragon.

Alaric heaved a sigh. He wasn’t exactly disappointed, but not impressed either.

This is really around the same combat prowess of other power systems at the same rank. A special power system just means a few special things I guess, not something broken.

Alaric then asked the System.

System, How do I find a Dragon Rider breathing technique for Mira? Do you have it in your System Shop?

The response arrived immediately.

[There’s no need for the host to find it for Mira.]

[Upon successful awakening of a special power system recognized by the laws of the world, foundational knowledge is imparted to the practitioner.]

[The corresponding Dragon Rider breathing technique and general knowledge required to cultivate through the first rank have already been imparted to Mira Hawthorne.]

Alaric remembered what Mira had said earlier.

Random memories.

A breathing technique she had never learned.

Knowledge she couldn’t explain possessing.

"So that was the laws of the world?"

No wonder she had looked so fucking confused.

She had gone from being a completely ordinary child who didn’t even know how people became powerful to suddenly having the introductory knowledge of an entire power system shoved into her brain.

Alaric leaned back in his chair.

At least I don’t need to go hunting for some legendary Dragon Rider inheritance.

Mira could already begin progressing once she properly processed the information.

His eyes then moved toward another notification.

[Reward: Talent Points +13]

Thirteen is definitely a lot.

Yet when Alaric had first seen that number, he had thought of something else.

It was Alice.

When he recruited Alice, the System had rewarded him twenty Talent Points for bringing a Special Entity under him.

Mira awakening a special power system had given thirteen.

Alice gave me twenty.

Alaric narrowed his eyes.

At the time, he had been so excited about suddenly getting enough points to reach a qualitative improvement that he hadn’t really appreciated just how abnormal the reward itself was.

Mira had awakened an entire special power system connected to a fucking dragon and still gave him less.

Just how special is Alice?

His fingers tapped against the desk.

He had mostly treated Alice as a dangerous unknown variable whose future knowledge needed to remain under control.

That mindset probably needed to change.

The System had already told him what he stood to gain.

[Completely gain their loyalty to unlock the system function - Quest Creation.]

Combat Simulation had just been unlocked by earning Mira’s loyalty.

If Quest Creation was being placed behind Alice’s complete loyalty, its value could easily be even greater.

I’ve been putting too much effort into controlling her and not enough into actually making her want to stay.

That needed to change. He had been taking it slowly for way too long.

Of course, he couldn’t go around immediately showering her with gifts.

But he had to start treating Alice as something more than an information source under contract.

Alaric pushed the matter aside and finally opened the newest System function.

[Combat Simulation]

A detailed explanation appeared before him.

Combat Simulation allowed him to recreate battles against individuals recorded by the System.

Physical injuries suffered inside the simulation would not affect his real body, nor would weapons, resources or consumables actually be lost.

Only memories, decisions and combat experience would be transferred over to him.

Alaric’s eyes immediately lit up.

This shit is damn good.

He could fight without worrying about dying in this combat simulation.

More importantly, he could repeatedly fight the same opponent and experiment with things he’d never risk in reality.

Technically, he would be gaining combat experience without any real danger. It would patch a great weakness of his.

The only real restriction was cost.

[Combat Simulation will consider the host’s strongest power system’s rank while calculating the cost]

[Opponent at or below host’s current rank: 1 Coin - 10 simulations]

[Opponent one rank above host: 1 Coin - 3 simulations]

[Opponent two or more ranks above host: 1 Coin - 1 simulation]

Kinda reasonable I guess?

It wouldn’t empty his coins if he wanted to use this function but he also couldn’t abuse it.

One more thing. Repeated simulated battles would mentally exhaust him even if his real body remained intact.

I feel the urge to try it.

He had fifteen coins left.

Alaric immediately began thinking of opponents.

Evan was obvious.

Fighting someone with Minor Mastery in swordsmanship would be incredibly useful.

Zephyr was another possibility, but not to mention how strong the baby dragon was with his Magic and Body path, he was a rank above him.

Which meant he would only get three chances to fight him for one coin.

Grok was the same.

There were plenty of useful candidates. But none of them were the person he selected first.

A smile slowly appeared on Alaric’s face.

There was one individual beside him whose strength he had been curious about since the moment the System called her something special.

Alice.

He had never seen her properly fight.

He didn’t know what she could do, how strong she had become, or even what kind of abilities her strange existence had given her.

If Combat Simulation could reproduce her accurately, he could finally find out without exposing that he was investigating her.

System. Designate Alice as my opponent.

[Opponent selected - Alice]

[Combat rank evaluated.]

[Simulation cost falls within the first pricing category.]

[Beginning Combat Simulation.]

Alaric’s surroundings disappeared.

His study vanished, replaced by a wide empty training ground.

A familiar young woman stood several meters away from him in her ordinary maid uniform.

Alaric instinctively reached toward the throwing knives hidden beneath his coat.

But just then, something happened which shook him to the core as he died in the combat simulation immediately.

His pupils contracted as he stood in his study, having already completed his first combat simulation against Alice.

What the fuck?

For the first time, Alaric understood that perhaps the twenty Talent Points hadn’t been excessive at all.

Is this what it means to be a special entity?