"Please… relax."
The Red Dragon Mother's gentle voice sounded beside Kurose Akira's ear as she personally removed the last piece of clothing from him.
"Th-this…"
When she saw the dazzling holy radiance before her, a trace of astonishment surfaced on her face.
This was the first time she had ever witnessed such a shocking sight. Could it be that Kurose Akira was… a half-dragon?
"How long will it take?"Kurose Akira asked curiously, anticipation filling his heart as he thought about the fusion of the Red Dragon Mark.
"Very soon—about an hour or so~"
The Red Dragon Mother lightly swayed the tip of her tail as she held the Red Dragon Mark suspended in her palm. Yet her gaze never left the blazing holy light, as though it had awakened something deep within her draconic bloodline—some instinctive ripple inherited from ancient dragons.
A faint blush even crept across her cheeks, her heartbeat quickening slightly, fluttering like a startled fawn.
Her reaction made Kurose Akira pause for a moment."Are you… alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine~"She gently shook her head, her eyes carrying a soothing warmth."Close your eyes~ sir~"
She extended her left hand and softly pressed it against Kurose Akira's chest.
Although she had assumed a human form, the Red Dragon Mother still retained draconic traits—placing her closer to a half-dragon. Her arm bore dragon claws and scales, and when her hand touched his chest, Kurose Akira could feel a faint coolness from the scales against his skin.
"Alright."
Kurose Akira nodded and slowly closed his eyes, entrusting himself completely to her as she prepared to fuse the Red Dragon Mark into him.
Yet just before beginning, she glanced once more at the holy light, unable to stop herself from thinking:
So… this is what a human's 'tail' looks like… so unique…
—No! What am I thinking?!
The Red Dragon Mother lightly patted her cheeks, forcing herself to refocus on the Red Dragon Mark in her hand.
She began chanting an ancient draconic secret art, activating the mark.
In the next instant, the Red Dragon Mark burst forth with brilliant crimson light.
Scorching magical power gathered in her palm, like a blazing flame impatient to pour itself into Kurose Akira's body.
"Sir~"
Her soft voice echoed by his ear. With his eyes closed, it sounded all the more alluring.
"I'm going to begin now~"
"Mm."
Kurose Akira nodded lightly, his heartbeat accelerating without his consent.
With his eyes closed, his other senses sharpened. The heat radiating from the Red Dragon Mark caused a thin sheen of sweat to form on his skin, each bead sliding down with heightened clarity.
Seeing this, the Red Dragon Mother quickly reached out with her fingertips to wipe away the sweat, worried it might interfere with the fusion. But realizing that her sharp claws might scratch him, she hesitated—then gently leaned in and used her dragon tongue to lightly lick away the falling droplets instead.
The sensation sent a ripple of confusion through Kurose Akira's mind.
What…? Why is she licking…?
"It'll be over soon~"
Seeing that the Red Dragon Mark was fully activated, she decisively pressed it against Kurose Akira's chest.
In that instant, the searing Red Dragon Mark adhered tightly to his skin, the power of the red dragon surging forth with an intense, burning sensation.
"Ah!"
Pain tore through Kurose Akira's body. He clenched his teeth, his muscles trembling violently, unable to calm themselves. The agony was on par with the pain of Idis piercing his heart.
At once, the Red Dragon Mother pulled him into her embrace, pressing his head into her full, snowy softness as she soothed him gently.
"Please endure it a little longer—it'll be over soon~"
Her voice seemed to carry a strange power; remarkably, the pain truly began to subside.
Kurose Akira could feel the Red Dragon Mark gradually fusing with his flesh. The scorching sensation faded, replaced by a warm, enveloping flow. Though his eyes remained shut, he could clearly sense the mark's power spreading through his body, quietly reshaping him from within.
As time passed, faint red dragon scales began to surface along his limbs, appearing and vanishing in shifting patterns. His frame slowly expanded, muscles becoming more defined and powerful. He could even feel something strange at the base of his spine—as though something was growing there.
Suddenly, a force pushed the Red Dragon Mother back.
She looked startled, only to realize it hadn't been Kurose Akira who repelled her.
Instead, the brilliant holy light had entered a defensive state, gently pushing her back about half a meter.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
The holy radiance was even more dazzling than before.
Seeing the pain etched across Kurose Akira's face, hesitation filled her heart. She wondered whether she should allow the holy light to fully bloom to help ease his condition—but she had never done anything like that before…
After a brief struggle, she softly pleaded,
"Please—no matter what happens next, don't open your eyes!"
Her words made Kurose Akira frown slightly, but he still chose to trust her and nodded.
Then, in the very next moment, the holy light trembled violently. Kurose Akira felt his sacred radiance being… enveloped by something.
"You—"
"Don't ask! Please don't question it! This is all to help you successfully fuse with the Red Dragon Mark!"
The Red Dragon Mother cried out anxiously, struggling to steady her emotions while enduring the pain the holy light inflicted upon her soul.
Kurose Akira obeyed her request, allowing her to act freely.
"Gulp…"
The Red Dragon Mother stared at the blazing holy light, unconsciously swallowing.
She had never done something like this before—but for her child, she was willing to give even her soul.
Mmh…Urgh…
Why is it getting hotter…? And why is it still expanding…?
(What follows is the Red Dragon Mark fusion sequence. One hundred thousand words omitted…)
"Alright. You can open your eyes now."
Kurose Akira slowly opened his eyes, his gaze immediately catching the Red Dragon Mother's profile as she wiped away tears. Perhaps the searing holy light had hurt her…
He was about to speak—
—but she cut him off.
With a radiant smile, she pointed toward a mirror nearby.
"Look. You're completely different now."
Reflected in the mirror, Kurose Akira now bore unmistakable draconic features.
Dark red dragon scales covered his arms and legs. From the base of his spine extended a small tail, about ten centimeters long—far shorter than the one he had glimpsed earlier.
Dragon wings had yet to form, perhaps because the Red Dragon Mark's power had not been fully absorbed.
Beyond those features, his physique had expanded dramatically. His height had grown from 182 centimeters to well over two meters.
His muscle definition was now perfectly balanced—an almost flawless build.
But what shocked him the most… was the holy radiance itself.
He had now become something closer to a true dragon.
[Skill Acquired — Half-Dragon Transformation (Red Dragon)!][Half-Dragon Transformation: The body undergoes a draconic shift. All attributes +100%, damage reduction +20%, Greedy Desire +50!][Note: This skill has no cost and can be freely toggled on or off.]
Half-Dragon Transformation!
Joy surged through Kurose Akira's chest.
Was he… about to stop being human altogether?
..
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