By evening, Jae had grown restless. The white-washed walls of the infirmary seemed to close in tighter with every passing hour, the faint scent of herbs and sterilizing powder doing nothing to soothe his impatience.

He pushed himself upright on the bed, rolling his shoulders with deliberate exaggeration, testing his strength. His body still ached faintly, but nowhere near the crushing exhaustion that had pinned him down earlier.

The head healer, an older woman with sharp eyes and hands that never shook, caught sight of him standing. She frowned, her lips pulling tight. "You're not going anywhere yet," she said, coming to his side. "You arrived here half-broken. That kind of recovery doesn't happen in a day."

Jae gave her a disarming smile. "You underestimate me, Healer. I feel well enough to stand, walk, maybe even run. And lying here isn't doing me any good."

Her gaze narrowed. "That bravado is what puts young men like you in graves earlier than they should be." She pressed her hand lightly against his arm, as if gauging the tension in his muscles. "Your pulse is steadier than before… but you're still in rough shape."

Jae straightened his back, deliberately firm. "I've fought worse. I'll manage. Please, release me."

There was a beat of silence where she studied him, weighing stubborn pride against medical sense.

Finally, she exhaled, shaking her head. "You are relentless. Fine. But don't come crawling back here tomorrow worse off, or I'll have you confined."

Jae's grin widened. "I'll be fine."

At that moment, Elise appeared from the side wing, carrying a folded blanket. Her eyes lit up when she saw Jae standing, though worry quickly followed. "They're letting you leave?"

"He bullied me into it," the healer muttered, retreating toward her desk.

Elise gave Jae a long look, then hurried to his side as he gathered his things. Together they stepped into the cooling evening air, walking down the stone paths that cut across the academy's grounds.

"You really are impossible," Elise sighed. "Most people would be grateful for an extra night of rest."

Jae smirked. "Most people aren't me."

She shot him a sidelong glance, her lips pressed tight as though she were holding back something else. Finally, she asked, "So… what now?"

He leaned slightly closer. "Come visit me later tonight."

Her step faltered, surprise flashing across her face. "Visit you? Now? After everything? Are you even strong enough for that?"

Jae chuckled, unable to resist. "What makes you assume I want you to come so we can sleep together?"

Elise's cheeks colored instantly. "B-because…" She trailed off, realizing she had trapped herself.

Jae's grin turned mischievous. "That's exactly why, though."

She swatted at his arm. "You're insufferable"

"Maybe," he said, his tone softening just enough, "you like it though"

Her blush deepened, but she bit her lip, wrestling with her concern. "I just… worry for your health. If we do that tonight, won't it make things worse?"

Jae waved it off. "It'll be fine. I can handle it. Besides, " his smile curved wickedly "I'll do most of the work."

Her hand tightened briefly around the strap of her satchel, her face a storm of emotions. Finally, she exhaled in surrender. "…Alright. But only because you're impossible."

When they reached his dormitory building, Elise lingered at the steps. She touched his arm gently, then leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Don't make me regret this."

Jae smiled, watching her walk away before turning toward the door.

The climb to his room was slower than he admitted. Each step sent faint protests through his body, and by the time he shut the door behind him, a dull ache had settled across his shoulders. He leaned against the wall, breathing through it.

He knew he still had two bottles of Refresh Elixir stored away. No chance he'd use them in front of the infirmary healers, he wasn't about to let anyone question the source of his recovery. That was why he had pushed so hard to be released.

Crossing to his trunk, he pulled out the slim vials. Their glass caught the light, glowing faintly with swirling liquid. He uncorked the first, tilting it back in one long swallow.

Heat rushed through his veins instantly, the ache evaporating, muscles knitting together as though reforged. His heart quickened, not from strain but from sheer vitality.

"Much better," he murmured.

He didn't hesitate before downing the second. Again, power surged through him, this time stronger, filling every fiber with renewed strength. His breathing eased. Even the faint cuts along his arms sealed, leaving smooth skin in their place.

Only then did he strip off his clothes and move toward the washroom. The cool water cascaded over his skin, steam rising faintly as it met the heat radiating from his body. He closed his eyes, letting the water rinse away the dirt and blood, though his mind refused to settle.

Images of the battle flashed again, the blinding glow that had surged from him, the golden sheen that had covered his arms before fading.

He raised his hands under the water, studying them. Nothing now. Just his usual skin. But he remembered the way the world had trembled beneath that light.

Something inside him had changed.

His system no longer felt like the one he had grown familiar with. It pulsed differently, deeper, as if two currents had merged.

Before, he had been the Flame Dragon Lord, his power tied to fire and might. But when he absorbed the Shadow General's essence, something had fused into him.

His system window flickered to life in his mind's eye.

[SYSTEM STATUS]

Class:

Flame Dragon Lord

Shadow General

Stats:

Strength: 55

Speed: 50

Stamina: 55

Perception: 50

Skills (Flame Dragon Lord):

Dragonfire Blade

Ember Step

Molten Skin

Gravity Punch

Meteor Punch

Iron Skin

Appraisal Eye

Shadow Summon (2 Lesser Beasts)

Items:

Smoke Seed

Anti-fire Cloak

Acid Fang

The shadow general's essence had given him a new ability.

"I'll test it out tomorrow". He thought to himself, although the logistics would be a little stressful