System malfunctioning?

"Hmm!"

Tap.

In the alley where Ashoka and the nobles whom he beat up left, Alberad stepped down.

Looking at the noble children, who were helpless as they left, he licked his lips.

'That was an entertaining sight.'

He was just wasting his time like always, but he ended up watching something great.

'I get more curious the more I watch him.'

The Ashoka that he saw today was not a sheltered kid like everyone thought.

'Is he a genius?'

Alberad had heard that Ashoka had been taught basic combat techniques by Sage Vyasa and Sage Chanakya from an early age.

But even then, he was only six years old.

There was no way that such a young kid had any fighting experience.

Maybe he had never hit anyone or was ever hit by anyone.

However, the movements that he had just shown proved otherwise.

He avoided the first fist with the least movement possible and struck back immediately after.

He finished his second and third opponents before they could even grasp the situation with a single strike on their vitals.

It was a bit rough, but his punches weren't at the level that a first-timer that too six-year child could have pulled off.

Alberad would have thought that he just had excellent willpower, but it also looked like he was talented in martial arts.

'I guess he does have the blood of the Mauryan family.'

Alberad grinned, remembering how Ashoka beat up the nobles and threatened them.

It reminded him of someone that he had met back in the day.

He was the strongest person he had ever met and he probably ever will.

He felt like he was seeing that person in action when looking at Ashoka.

That person had even managed to impress Alberad, who used to despise humans.

'On top of that…'

The way Ashoka threatened the nobles using their own words was even more like that person.

"A mysterious talent among the best talents…"

Alberad cheerfully rolled on the ground.

"My heart is racing."

The corners of lips twisted up smoothly.

* * *

Ashoka entered room 236, following the number on the key that the instructor gave him in front of the dormitory.

It was a wide room, not much different from his usual room in the tempest manor where he stayed. The bed looked comfortable, and there was enough space to train the mana circulation method.

'Then…'

After quickly looking around the room, he sat on the bed and brought up the message from earlier.

[Drakorinith, the Dragon monarch, is satisfied with your actions.]

[Agility increases by 1.]

It was a message telling him that his agility had increased, along with a message saying that Drakorinith was satisfied.

'I can increase my stats like this?'

Apparently, satisfying Draco gave him points, just as withstanding his mental attacks did.

It was obvious from a general point of view. The system is a power that is exclusive to the dragons, particularly in Ashoka's case, it is the power that formerly belonged to Drakorinith.

So every time Ashoka withstood Draco's attack or satisfied him, the system would consider it as Drakorinith's will to transfer its power to Ashoka.

[Drakorinith, the dragon monarch, roars.]

{It's a mistake! This monarch isn't satisfied! It's still not enough! You should have at least cut their heads off!}

Since Draco was making a fuss, he got it regardless of Draco's intentions.

Ashoka was happy getting free stats but Draco was furious.

{This system is malfunctioning! I didn't approve to transfer my power to him! How can I possibly agree to give my power to this puny human}

"Well, you still remember being defeated by this 'puny human', don't you?"

Ashoka taunted Draco.

{Arhh! This all happened because you stole the system from me!}

"Well, the fact still remains that you lost to me."

{Kuh…}

Draco's voice trembled as if all his pleasure from earlier had vanished.

{I will look into why the system is malfunctioning, just wait for a movement}

Draco got silent as if he wasn't even there.

It must be pretty embarrassing for him to talk more.

With that, Draco's presence disappeared. The ring was still there, but his soul seemed to be gone.

Ashoka tried swinging his hand, but nothing happened.

"It's silent for once."

Ashoka lowered his hand. Thinking that he would use this opportunity to take a bath, he headed to the bathroom on the fourth floor.

After taking a quick bath, he returned to the room. Without even drying his hair, he sat down on the ground.

'He is actually a goose that lays golden eggs.'

He grinned, looking at the flowery ring on his hand.

Gaining stats for being acknowledged, or withstanding his mental attacks, was as good as getting them for free.

Since he had the <Enhanced mana circulation> and Resistance against all attributes, he wasn't going to lose to Draco, either. Only benefits existed.

'Shall I train before he comes back?'

Satisfied, he closed his eyes to practice the <Enhanced mana circulation> method.

It was as he was about to start the training that he heard it.

{Kuh!}

"You are back again?"

When he opened his eyes, clicking his tongue, Draco was on his wrist and shivering.

{You thief!}

"Thief?"

{You were stealing the power that this monarch had achieved in his lifetime!}

'I see.'

Ashoka nodded slightly since he wasn't interested.

Crack!

He could hear Draco grinding his teeth.

{What's that answer?! You are just a dung fly, stealing the power of this monarch! You should kneel and worship me!}

"You aren't giving it to me because you want to, so is there any reason why I should be thankful?"

{Kuh…}

Draco just groaned as he couldn't say anything about it.

{Your arrogance truly reaches heaven.}

"Not really."

Ashoka shook his head. He never thought about anything like that. Draco was just too used to being worshiped, to the point that he couldn't handle direct answers.

The soul of this monarch is currently linked to you. That's why the status window has been passed on to you.

'Hmm…'

{So, I have a suggestion.}

"Suggestion?"

{Let's make a bet. If you win, I'll give you the stat points. But if you lose, you shall take my wrath.}

Draco's voice contained anger and resentment, just like when he'd met him the first time.

[Draco has suggested a bet with you.]

---***---