Draconic Overlord: Leveling up with an OP dragon system

"Liam, breakfast's ready!" a high-pitched voice called out.

"Coming!" a short reply sounded, accompanied by the creak of a door opening.

As the creaky door swung open, it revealed a messy-haired boy rubbing the sleep from his eyes, which were framed by immense black bags that spoke of a sleepless night.

"Morning, mom," he mumbled, shuffling into the kitchen with a sluggish gait.

"Why did you sleep in so late?" his mother asked, her bright eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity. She paused, her hands momentarily still in the soapy water as she gazed at her son. "Anyway, hurry up! You're supposed to head into town today to get the things you'll need for the academy next week," she reminded him, her voice returning to its usual warm and nurturing tone as she continued washing the utensils.

Liam didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the plate of food in front of him. His mind was elsewhere, weighed down by the knowledge that his mother was struggling to make ends meet. She worked multiple part-time jobs, sacrificing her own comfort and well-being to put food on the table and pay his tuition fees at the prestigious Siiren Academy. The burden of her sacrifices hung heavy on Liam's shoulders, and he felt a pang of guilt for not being able to ease her struggles.

The weight of his mother's struggles was compounded by Liam's own disappointment in himself. He had always dreamed of becoming a renowned Hunter, but his aptitude test results had crushed those aspirations. With a dismal score of 28%, he had failed to qualify for the coveted Dream Class, the most elite and sought-after program for future Hunters.

However, the same test had revealed a shocking paradox - Liam's magical aptitude was off the charts, with a staggering 99% score, a feat considered almost impossible. This contradictory result left Liam feeling confused and uncertain about his future, torn between the expectations of his family and the discovery of his hidden potential.

Liam's hesitation to pursue a magical path stemmed from the widespread perception that magic-related classes were inferior. Mages were often viewed as weak due to the inherent limitations of their craft. Spellcasting required a prolonged period of preparation, and the need to chant incantations before casting made them vulnerable to interruptions. Furthermore, mages were generally considered liabilities in close combat, relying on their magical abilities rather than physical prowess. These setbacks had led to a stigma surrounding magic-related classes, making Liam reluctant to take that path, despite his exceptional aptitude.

Liam had grown up with a singular goal in mind: to become a high-ranking close combat Hunter, just like his father. He and his brother had trained tirelessly, day and night, honing their skills and building their strength. But everything changed when Liam reached the age of activation, a milestone that marked the beginning of a Hunter's journey.

Tragedy struck when his father, citing unspecified issues, abruptly divorced his mother and took Liam's brother with him. The sudden loss of his father and brother left Liam reeling, feeling abandoned and lost. His dreams of becoming a Hunter like his father now seemed hollow, and the pain of his family's fracture weighed heavily on his heart.

"Thank you for the food," Liam said, his voice low, before taking his plate to the sink and heading back to his room. Once inside, he called out, "System."

A holographic screen flickered to life before him, displaying his profile:

[Profile]

Name: Liam Noir

Age: 15

Race: Human/???

Title: [Child of Mana]

[Once in a Millennium Genius]

Traits: Cold-blooded

Attributes:

Strength: 9[F] (Locked)

Stamina: 11[F] (Locked)

Agility: 10[F] (Locked)

Defense: 7[F] (Locked)

Mana: 10[F] (Locked)

Skill:

Absolute Replication [Ex] (Locked), Eureka [S] (Locked) Mana Resonance [A]

....

[Title: Child of Mana]

Description:

A rare and mysterious title bestowed upon individuals born with an exceptionally high affinity for mana. Children of Mana possess an innate ability to sense, manipulate, and amplify magical energies.

Pros:

- Increased Mana Sensitivity: +20% to mana perception and sensing abilities

- Enhanced Magical Affinity: +15% to magical damage and effectivity

- Mana Regeneration: Passive regeneration of mana at an increased rate (+10)

As a Child of Mana, you have been granted a unique skill:

- "Mana Resonance" [A]: A passive skill that allows you to resonate with magical energies, increasing your mana recovery rate by 20% and reducing magical damage taken by 10%.

Additionally, when your mana falls below 20%, Mana Resonance triggers a secondary effect:

- "Mana Surge": A burst of magical energy multiplies your magical and elemental attacks by 150%.

[Title: Once in a Millennium Genius]

Description:

A rare and extraordinary title bestowed upon individuals possessing unparalleled cognitive abilities, creativity, and innovative thinking. Once in a Millennium Geniuses are capable of revolutionizing entire fields of study and making groundbreaking discoveries.

Pros:

- Omniversal Insight: +30% to intuition and instinctual knowledge

- Accelerated Learning: +50% to learning speed and retention

- Innovative Thinking: +25% to creativity and problem-solving abilities

- Genius's Instinct: Passive ability to occasionally stumble upon hidden patterns and connections

Additionally grants skill

"Eureka!" [S]: A passive skill that grants a chance to gain extraordinary insights allowing the user to discover new skills, abilities or knowledge

[Absolute Replication [Ex] [Unique]

Description:

A rare and extraordinary skill that allows the user to perfectly replicate any skill, ability, or technique they have witnessed or experienced.

Unique: Only one of this skill is currently in existence

Liam's eyes seemed to glaze over as he gazed at the screen, his mind wandering back to the moment he received his extraordinary stats. His voice was barely above a whisper, filled with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy.

"I remember how happy I was when I received these stats..." He paused, his eyes drifting away from the screen as if lost in thought.

"But it's all just a cruel joke, isn't it?" Liam's gaze snapped back to the screen, his expression twisting into a bitter smile. "Skills like Absolute Replication, Mana Resonance, and Child of Mana... and yet, I'm still weaker than an 11-year-old."

Liam's words dripped with frustration and self-loathing. He couldn't understand why his stats were locked, why he couldn't access the true potential of his skills. It was as if he was being held back, deliberately crippled.

"What's the point of having these skills if I'm not even allowed to use them?" Liam's voice cracked, his emotions boiling over.

Liam stood up, shaking off his frustration. "No use bantering about this now... It's better if I just head to town to get some equipment," he muttered to himself, trying to sound convincing.

He quickly got dressed and headed for the door. "Mom, I'm leaving for town!" he called out.

"Okay, dear! I'll transfer some money to your account. Just make sure not to stay out too late," his mom replied from another room.

Liam nodded to himself, even though his mom couldn't see him, and stepped out into the bright sunlight. He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination wash over him. It was time to stop worrying about his stats and start taking action.