The break was over.
All too soon.
---
The system hadn't even given me time to get used to the peace and quiet.
---
I was standing in the training zone again.
Alone.
---
But this time—
---
with renewed strength.
---
'Form control…' I said quietly.
---
Akarania flared up:
---
[MODE: PARTIAL DRAGON TRANSFORMATION]
---
I exhaled.
---
'Right…'
---
And I tried.
---
---
At first…
nothing.
---
Then—
---
my eyes.
---
The world became sharper.
Stronger.
---
But along with that—
---
pressure.
---
— Ugh…
---
I clenched my teeth.
---
My body began to change.
---
Slightly.
---
My skin grew thicker.
My strength—heavier.
---
But control…
---
was slipping away.
---
---
— Too much…
---
---
SHRAM smirked:
---
— Did you think it would be easy?
---
---
I took a step.
---
And the ground beneath my feet cracked.
---
— Damn…
---
---
I tried to maintain the form.
---
But the energy began to break apart.
---
---
Akarania:
---
[STABILITY: 32%]
---
---
— Not enough…
---
---
I tried again.
---
---
🔥 Attempt No. 2
---
I concentrated.
---
Slowly.
---
Smoothly.
---
Just as I'd learnt before.
---
---
The power surged.
---
But now—
---
it was pressing down from within.
---
---
— ARGH…
---
I fell to my knees.
---
---
My body couldn't take it.
---
---
SCAR said quietly:
---
— You're not ready to hold this for long yet.
---
---
I gritted my teeth.
---
— Then I will be.
---
---
I stood up again.
---
---
⚡ Attempt No. 3
---
This time—
---
I didn't force it.
---
I let the form manifest itself.
---
---
My eyes lit up.
---
Part of the power stabilised.
---
---
But—
---
not for long.
---
---
A second.
Two.
---
And everything collapsed again.
---
---
I fell.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
---
— It's… too difficult…
---
---
Akarania:
---
[PROGRESS: MINIMAL]
[GROWTH: SLOW]
---
---
I smiled.
---
— Of course…
---
— It can't be easy.
---
---
SHRAM chuckled quietly.
---
— You're currently at the level of a child with the strength of a dragon.
---
---
I closed my eyes.
---
— Thanks… that's very encouraging.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
I lay there.
---
Staring at the ceiling.
---
And I felt—
---
exhaustion.
---
Real exhaustion.
---
Not from the battle.
---
But from the trying.
---
---
'Why is it so hard…' I whispered.
---
---
And at that moment—
---
a voice rang out.
---
'Because you're doing it wrong.'
---
---
I opened my eyes with a start.
---
And sat up.
---
A girl was standing in front of me.
---
Calm.
Confident.
---
But…
---
her presence was different.
---
Deeper.
Heavier.
---
Like…
---
mine.
---
---
'Who are you?' I asked.
---
---
She tilted her head.
---
And smiled slightly.
---
'You really can't feel it?'
---
---
A pause.
---
I tensed up.
---
And listened.
---
---
And then I realised.
---
---
— …you…
---
---
She nodded.
---
---
— Yes.
---
---
And said calmly:
---
— I'm a dragon.
---
---
Silence.
---
---
My heart began to race.
---
---
SHRAM chuckled quietly:
---
— Ooh…
---
— Now that's interesting.
---
---
I slowly stood up.
---
— So what do you want?
---
---
She took a step closer.
---
---
— To look.
---
Pause.
---
— at the prince.
---
---
I froze.
---
---
She smiled more broadly.
---
---
— And decide…
---
---
— whether you are worthy of this power.
---
---
The wind around us grew stronger.
---
---
And for the first time—
---
I felt…
---
a pressure equal to my own.
---
---
To be continued…