A week had passed since the cataclysmic battle against the Red Death and Ursula.

In the Kingdom of Atlantica, peace had slowly returned. The polyps that had once lined the palace halls were freed, their twisted forms restored to merfolk, soldiers, and nobles who wept with joy and relief. King Triton, though still weakened from his ordeal, sat once more upon his throne, the trident safely returned to his grasp. Ariel and her sisters stayed close to him, their family bond stronger than ever. The sea witch’s dark reign was over, and the currents once again flowed with hope.

On Berk, life had changed in ways no one could have predicted.

Vikings now lived among dragons. Not all of them were comfortable with it yet, some still flinched when a Gronckle wandered too close or a Zippleback sparked playfully but adaptation took time. The village no longer feared nightly raids. Instead, dragons helped with fishing, carried heavy loads, and even played with the children. The atmosphere was strange, sometimes tense, but undeniably hopeful.

The greatest gift from the battle was food.

The Red Death’s massive corpse had provided an enormous bounty. Though much of it had been lost to the sea or claimed by scavenging dragons, the Vikings had spent five frantic days carving, preserving, and storing as much meat as possible. The liver, heart, and other organs were carefully divided. Bones, claws, and teeth were turned into weapons and armor.

The thick hide, after being properly treated, became prized material for clothing and shields. Some parts were even set aside for trade with passing merchants. For the first time in years, Berk did not dread the coming winter.

_____

Inside his modest house near the edge of the village, Lucian sat cross-legged on the floor.

Five unopened Blind Boxes floated before him, glowing softly. He had saved them until things calmed down. Now, with the afternoon light streaming through the window, he was finally ready.

He started with the most special one.

[Do you want to open the Special Blind Box from: Ursula?]

"Yes," Lucian thought.

[Congratulations! You have opened the Special Box from Ursula and gained a skill: Lessen Curse]

[Lessen Curse: An innate ability that consumes mana to weaken, dilute, or suppress the effects of any curse placed upon a person, object, or oneself. It does not remove the curse entirely, but reduces its severity and restrictions to a manageable level. For example: if a person is permanently transformed into a bear by a curse, this skill will alter the effect so they can freely shift between their human form and bear form at will. It can also tone down other curses such as bad luck, weakness, or gradual decay, turning life-threatening or crippling effects into mild inconveniences or conditions that can be lived with. The amount of mana required depends on the strength and complexity of the original curse.]

Lucian’s eyes widened. The implications were enormous, he could help break or ease curses on others. But then reality hit.

He still had almost no mana.

"What’s the use of this if I can’t even use it properly?" he muttered, face deflating.

He moved on, opening the remaining boxes one by one.

[Congratulations! You have opened the Rare Box from Red Death and gained: Dragon Fire Glands]

[Congratulations! You have opened the Rare Box from Red Bluster and gained: Dragon Respiratory System]

[Congratulations! You have opened the Uncommon Box from Flotsam and gained: Electric Generation Organs]

[Congratulations! You have opened the Uncommon Box from Jetsam and gained: Bio-Electric Regulator]

Lucian read through the descriptions carefully, his expression shifting from curiosity to genuine shock, then to pure delight.

[Dragon Fire Glands: A pair of specialized internal organs located in the throat and upper chest. They synthesize and store highly volatile, self-igniting chemical compounds. At will, the user can expel these substances as streams of fire, explosive blasts, or searing mist. The internal lining of the mouth, throat, and body is naturally heat-insulated, making the user completely immune to fire and extreme heat.]

[Dragon Respiratory System: An enhanced lung and airway structure that processes oxygen with extreme efficiency and filters out toxins, smoke, and harmful gases. It allows the user to hold their breath for hours, survive in thin or toxic atmospheres, and even withstand high-pressure environments. It also strengthens vocal cords, enabling powerful roars that can shake the ground or intimidate enemies.]

[Electric Generation Organs: Three specialized biological organs embedded along the spine, the Main Organ, Hunter’s Organ, and Sachs’ Organ, composed of thousands of electricity-producing cells. The user can generate low-voltage pulses for sensing surroundings, stunning targets, or powering devices, or release high-voltage discharges strong enough to incapacitate large foes, overload machinery, or create blinding flashes of light. The user’s nervous system is adapted to be completely immune to their own electricity and external electric shocks.]

[Bio-Electric Regulator: A unique internal organ located near the heart that controls and stabilizes the flow of electricity throughout the user’s body. It prevents accidental discharges, allows precise control over voltage and current, and converts excess electrical energy into vitality to accelerate healing, boost physical stamina, or temporarily enhance strength and speed.]

Lucian was still processing the sheer power of these rewards when a sudden, sharp ache exploded in his stomach. He clutched his midsection, gasping. The pain intensified rapidly, spreading through his chest and throat like liquid fire. His vision blurred.

He collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

When Lucian woke up, he was drenched in sweat. His body felt... different in ways he couldn’t quite describe.

He pushed himself up slowly, breathing hard. As he exhaled, a small puff of green vapor escaped his mouth. On pure instinct, he ignited it.

Whoosh!

A short but controlled burst of green flame shot from his lips, lighting up the room before dissipating harmlessly.

Lucian’s eyes widened. He quickly pulled up the descriptions of his new rewards again and read them more carefully. The Dragon Fire Glands... the heat-insulated throat... the volatile chemicals... Everything clicked.

"So that’s how it works," he muttered, a grin slowly spreading across his face.

He focused once more. This time he took a deeper breath, feeling the new organs in his throat and chest activate naturally. Another stream of green fire burst out, stronger and more stable than the first. It felt as instinctive as breathing. No manual, no complicated technique. His body simply knew how to do it.

Excited now, Lucian raised his right hand and looked at the descriptions for the electric organs again. The Electric Generation Organs and the Bio-Electric Regulator.

He concentrated.

A faint crackling sound filled the room as bright blue electricity began to dance across his palm and between his fingers. It felt completely natural like flexing a muscle he had always possessed but never noticed until now. He clenched his fist, and the electricity vanished without harming him or the surroundings. He opened his hand again and released a small, controlled arc that jumped to a nearby metal cup, making it spark harmlessly.

Lucian stared at his hand for a long moment, then threw his head back and laughed out loud, genuine, and full of pure joy.

"Finally," he said between laughs. "Real power."

Even though these abilities came from biological organs rather than traditional mana or spells, they felt like sorcery, innate and part of him. He didn’t need instructions. Using them was as natural as walking or breathing.

Of course, true mastery and control would still require training, but the foundation was already there, embedded deep inside his body.