Chapter 3

"You're from the Class of 2020 too? What's your department?" Rose asked, her eyes shining as she spoke to the boy on the school path.

Standing at 1.7 meters tall, he wasn't very tall, but he had a special vibe. His determined face had a sense of steadiness that most students lacked.

"Business Administration. You can call me Serpens," he replied with a smile.

"Business Administration? Our classes must be nearby. You're not heading home for the break either?" Rose continued, expressing her gratitude for his help earlier. She couldn't imagine what would've happened without him.

"No need to thank me. It was nothing," Serpens replied modestly. "And no, I'm sticking around for a summer job off-campus."

"Oh, really? What a coincidence! Sadly, I got fired by my boss," Rose said with a hint of disappointment.

"Hehe," Serpens chuckled. "My dorm's right over there. Catch you later."

With a wave, Serpens walked away. Rose watched him go, a little surprised at his swift exit. "Bye then..."

"What's up?" Serpens asked when he noticed her pause.

"Can I add you on WeChat? Thanks to you, today's mess got sorted out. Let me treat you to a meal sometime," she requested.

"Sure thing." Serpens agreed, but then he glanced at his fishbowl and umbrella. "My phone's in my pocket. I'll give you my number, and you can add me later."

"Got it." Rose nodded, adding Serpens on WeChat.

"Okay, I won't keep you any longer. See you." Rose waved as Serpens hurried off.

"Goodbye," he nodded before quickening his pace toward the dorm.

"Did I lose my charm?" Rose wondered aloud, touching her face as she watched Serpens leave. "If it were someone else who helped me, maybe... He's so unique. Could he already have a girlfriend?"

Lost in thought, Rose sent a message to a classmate about Serpens.

"Celest, do you know a guy named Serpens in your class?"

"Serpens? Yeah, what's up? Is he trying to woo you? Unlikely, he's pretty introverted," her classmate replied.

"Introverted?" Rose pondered, surprised by Celest's response. "He went to First-grade Restaurant for lunch today!"

"He had something going on at First-grade Restaurant?" Rose was puzzled but replied, "Got it. From what you said, he seems pretty cool."

"Oh, Goddess Shuqing, you can't be serious. Think carefully!" her classmate advised.

"Don't worry, I'm focusing on my studies..." Rose reassured her.

Unaware of the gossip about him, Serpens returned to his dorm, locking the door behind him. Excitedly, he gazed at the eight goldfish in the tank.

"Will this take a lot out of me?" he wondered, picking up one of the goldfish.

With a simple thought, he infused Dragonic Force into the black and white Ranchu goldfish, which had cost $120 each. They were selected to be similar in color to the valuable Redcap Brown Oranda.

As the Dragonic Force flowed into the goldfish, a sense of control filled Serpens. He smiled faintly, knowing that Dragonic Force could upgrade marine animals like this.

Grabbing his phone, he upgraded the goldfish according to a picture.

"Done." Serpens admired the upgraded Redcap Brown Oranda, even more beautiful than he'd imagined.

But the process was draining. "Upgrading one Redcap Brown Oranda costs two points of Dragonic Force. If I want to upgrade larger fish like arowana or koi carp, it might take twenty or thirty points."

Deep in thought, he realized he only had nineteen points left after helping Rose. "I'll need to earn more money first. I can gather Dragonic Force by catching fish or through cultivation practice."

Continuing his upgrades, Serpens created several Redcap Brown Orandas. Seeing them lively in the bowl, he grinned.

"Eight goldfish! They could be worth more than two million," he realized, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

With determination, Serpens knew he needed to work hard to level up and build his Dragon Palace.

Examining the information about himself, Serpens's excitement grew. Sitting on his bed, he began his cultivation practice, directing Dragonic Force into his body and soaring into the sky.

Name: Serpens

Race: Human (Can turn into a Dragon)

Level: 1

Dragonic Force: 3/1000

Superpower: Control marine animals weaker than you

Devour any living thing to gather Dragonic Force

Art of Cultivation: Great Dragonic Morph

"I used up 16 points of Dragonic Force and now I feel weaker. I need to work hard to reach level 2 and become a real Great Dragon. I also want to make my own Dragon Palace."

 Serpens's eyes sparkled as he reviewed his information. With a casual jump, he landed on his bed and sat with his legs crossed. He focused on channeling Dragonic Force into his body, imagining himself flying high in the sky as a magnificent dragon.

The following morning, he contemplated the fifty days it would take to reach Level Two at his current pace, as per the Great Dragonic Morph guidelines stipulating the First Transformation achievable only at Level Nine.

"It's a long road ahead. But once I've earned some cash, I'll head to the sea," he resolved.

With swift movements, Serpens readied himself for the day. "Dahai's scooter will do," he decided, retrieving the keys his friend had left him.

Serpens Dahai, a close friend, hailed from the same locale as Serpens and often looked out for him. Despite his quirks, including an offer to visit a brothel, Serpens Dahai's generosity was undeniable.

Carrying the fishbowl, Serpens descended the stairs. The morning air, post-rain, was invigorating, signaling a promising day ahead.

Mounting Serpens Dahai's sturdy scooter, Serpens set off for the Flowers and Birds Market, hopeful of selling his fish.

"I hope to sell them all," he grinned, navigating carefully to prevent spillage.

Approaching the bustling market, Serpens noted the influx of visitors, likely for the Goldfish Fair.

"Looks like it's attracting quite a crowd," he observed, accelerating slightly as he made his way to the parking lot.

Suddenly, the roar of motorcycles interrupted his thoughts. Four heavy-duty bikes thundered toward him, one swerving dangerously close.

"Hey, watch out!" Serpens exclaimed, veering to avoid a collision.

The lead cyclist, unharmed, chuckled as he dismounted, ignoring Serpens's damaged scooter.

Ignoring Serpens's distress, the cyclist offered compensation without much concern for the damage caused.

Displeased, Serpens confronted him, highlighting the destruction of his scooter and the fishbowl.

"Six thousand?" Serpens scoffed at the paltry offer. "That won't even buy a fish scale."

The young man, undeterred, insisted on the amount, dismissing Serpens's demands.

As bystanders gathered, discussing the incident, Serpens remained resolute, refusing to accept the inadequate compensation.

"Six thousand won't cut it," he declared, retrieving his fish amidst the murmurs of the onlookers.