I drifted aimlessly through the endless void of space, my body weightless, the lingering pain in my bones a strange mixture of agony and relief. My flesh had been torn apart, then painstakingly mended, piece by piece. Healing magic was no stranger to me, but it always came at a price—the sting of wounds forcibly sealed, a cruel reminder of mortality. I had heard whispers of shadow and dark magic that could heal without pain, but I hadn't found the time to seek or craft such forbidden spells. Time—something I now desperately needed.
Slowly, a distant gravitational pull tugged at me. It grew stronger, dragging me toward a planet far below. The atmosphere rushed past me in a blinding blur as I fell, impact imminent. I crashed hard, the ground exploding beneath me and carving a deep crater. Groaning, I forced open my eyes to a night sky dominated by two moons. If this were Earth, it would be near nine o'clock.
A snap of my fingers summoned a cloak of dark magic, shrouding me in familiar shadowy comfort. I pushed myself to my feet, wincing as residual pain gnawed at my muscles and bones. I began walking north, uncertain how far I would have to travel, driven only by a fierce determination to find civilization. The pain dulled over three agonizing days, and by the tenth, a distant town shimmered into view.
The city was a marvel of futuristic design, nestled between mountains and hidden behind an advanced camouflaging barrier. To any untrained eye, it would have been nearly invisible—but I saw through the illusion easily, the city glowing in full splendor. Towering statues, over twenty feet tall, flanked the entrance gates. The doors themselves were smaller but formidable, guarded by unseen sentinels.
As I approached, a piercing red beam scanned my body. A holographic screen flickered to life, displaying information I hadn't expected:
[Name: Shiro Hiroyuki
Race: Dragonoid
Level: 75]
The words echoed inside me. Dragonoid? The label stirred something ancient and deep within my soul.
Without warning, a searing pain erupted through my body, sharper and more brutal than any before. A guttural scream tore from my throat as I dropped to my knees, clutching my head. Dark purple wings—long thought lost—burst forth from my back, accompanied by a thick, scaled tail. Scales spread over parts of my body, armor forged by transformation itself.
The gates swung open, guards rushing out—then blackness swallowed me whole.
When I awoke, I was in a stark hospital room. Sterile white walls and the soft hum of machinery surrounded me. Slowly sitting up, I rubbed the fog from my mind and muttered, "Where am I? Why am I still alive?"
A voice crackled from a speaker, calm and detached. Though the language was unfamiliar, some magic translated it flawlessly into my mind. I scowled and tried to summon my dark magic, but nothing stirred. No movement magic, no energy flowed. Frustration surged as I conjured a dagger—but even it refused to shift forms, remaining stubbornly unchanged.
Then I noticed it—a strange bracelet etched with intricate, alien patterns encircling my wrist.
Dropping the dagger, I retreated to a corner and sank against the wall, the only place that felt safe. No one could sneak up on me there.
Memories clawed at me—of the planet I had destroyed, the fury I had unleashed. The weight of it crushed my heart. Satre... I whispered, voice cracking, Was it me—the one you loved—who took your life? A single tear slid down my cheek.
Suddenly, emotion twisted into madness. My mind blanked, laughter bursting forth—hysterical, hollow, and echoing through the empty room. I sobbed until my throat burned and tears ran dry. Exhausted, I collapsed into unconsciousness once more.
When I awoke again, footsteps approached—three men. Seizing my chance, I swept the legs from beneath the first, kicked the second's chin, and used the third as a springboard to launch myself out the door.
I sprinted through long corridors, instincts guiding me. Bursting outside, I darted down an alley and leapt onto a building's wall. My wings unfurled, beating hard as I glided skyward.
But I could not stay. Danger lurked close.
Landing beside a tranquil lake deep in a forest, I stared into the water's surface. The reflection was alien: two black horns crowned with purple flames; long, dark purple hair obscuring my eyes; the dark wings and tail of a dragon reborn. My armor was gone, replaced by a pure white clergy robe—an official's garb, pristine and out of place.
Behind me, voices thundered, sharp and urgent. "Find him! The Dragon Lord! The Queen wants him now!"
Magic refused me still. No shadow, no movement, no protection answered my calls—not even Sanguine or Kyoko.
My ears twitched as footsteps drew closer. "He's here! I found him!" a soldier shouted. A black-haired man emerged, spear in hand.
Fueled by rage and desperation, I charged. Speed surged through me, stronger than before but far from full power. Two swift slashes later, his head and torso lay separated—a lifeless heap on the forest floor.
I soared into the night sky once more, wings cutting the wind. This world was dangerous, my magic locked away. But I would survive. I had to.