[System Notification: Memory Playback Initiated...]
All the scenes replayed before me, slowly dimming until they dissolved into an endless, cold darkness.
I trembled uncontrollably; pain was not something I took lightly, especially when I bore scars of my own to heal.
> [Mission Directive: Rank up and get stronger .]
"So you see, this isn't just about you—it's the fate of the entire world resting on your shoulders."
" And why am I supposed to care they all freaking hate me out there cus I'm weak cus I belong to the lowest rank and my dad's a general why should I care. " I shouted with all the pent up rage in me .
" Cus it's what your father would want and your grandfather " the voice became subtle.
" And your mother"
"Where do we begin?" I asked with tears in my eyes.
"First, your source has been locked. That's why you've had no powers since you were born. You must unlock it, and then we will sync," came the measured reply.
> [Quest Update: Unlock Your Source]
"How do I do that?" I questioned.
"Close your eyes, focus, and let the darkness wash over you."
Obediently, I shut my eyes.
Immediately, a chilling sensation wrapped around me, creeping deep into my bones. As I concentrated, an intense heat flared from within—as if my very insides were set ablaze. The agony was unbearable.
> [Warning: Inner Core Overheating—Critical Threshold Approaching.]
"Don't you dare break it. Search inside of you—find it, find it!" the voice urged.
I deepened my concentration. The pain escalated sharply, reaching a deafening crescendo—and then, abruptly, it all ceased.
I opened my eyes to a pitch-black void until I heard another voice, clear as day:
"Walk until you find a white gate. That is your source." I heard Damien's voice.
> [New Objective: Locate the Source Gate.]
I stumbled forward into the darkness. Each step felt futile until a dim light glimmered ahead. As I drew closer, the light resolved into a magnificent White Gate, pulsing with an overwhelming aura.
Securing the gate was a Golden Padlock engraved with a dragon's head, exuding an ancient majesty.
> [Artifact Identified: Seven Dragon Seal — Guardian: Prince Kindyra.]
"That is the seal of the great prince Kindyra—the Seven Dragon Seal. It won't break easily. We must fuse into one," the voice explained.
"Fuse—as in, you becoming part of my body?" I asked, incredulous.
"Yes. We have no other choice."
"How do we do that? You're just a sword," I protested.
"Simple."
A brilliant beam of light erupted, flooding the void and blinding me. When the light subsided, a hooded figure emerged, slowly approaching.
As he neared, he lifted his hood—revealing my own face, though his blue eyes had turned a fierce, burning red.
"Who said you could take my form?" I demanded.
"Hold my hand and concentrate as much as you can," he commanded, dismissing my protests.
> [Fusion Protocol: Initiate Core Synchronization.]
Reluctantly, I obeyed, closing my eyes once more. A surge of raw, searing power flooded through me. It was so intense it burned worse than any fire.
I heard a system notification
> [Synchronization Rate: 10%... 15%... 20%...]
"Control it—don't open your eyes!" he insisted urgently.
"Aggghhhh!" I screamed in agony, collapsing to my knees but he didn't let go he kneeled with me .
> [Synchronization Rate: 45%... 57%... 69%...]
"Control it!" he shouted again.
"I can't!" I cried, voice breaking under the crushing pain.
"You are the great son of Michiko—slayer of demons, conqueror of legions, a true warrior. You can do this," he said, his words striking something deep inside me.
The pain intensified, my cries echoing endlessly through the darkness. But I summoned every last shred of willpower, clutching his hand tighter I stood up.
> [Synchronization Rate: 96%... 97%... 99%...]
Suddenly, a burst of pure white energy erupted around us.
Damien roared, a voice that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand souls:
"KAVALAMAAAAAAAA!"
---
At that same moment, a being with a dark, oppressive aura stirred.
Draped in tattered black garments, ancient and ragged, his red eyes flared open—piercing and deadly.
"Kindyra" he murmured, a faint, knowing smirk twisting his lips.
"Let the games begin."
---
Descending from a swirl of clouds onto a dark, cold floor, a blue ray of light enveloped me.
The clouds evaporated instantly the moment my feet touched the ground.
Opening my eyes, I felt transformed—lighter, almost weightless.
I walked toward the golden padlock.
As my gaze fell upon it, the dragon's head sprang to life, its mouth opening wide as if to devour the very air itself.
I stepped back as the padlock morphed into a colossal Blue Dragon—its body cloaked in gleaming blue scales, its belly a pristine white, and its crystalline blue eyes blazing.
> [Summoning Complete: Legendary Beast — MEZUZAH, the Blue Dragon.]
Kingston's voice resonated nearby:
"Behold the great Blue Dragon MEZUZAH—once the cherished pet of Kindyra in life. The deadliest, immortal beast of legend."
"What?!" I gasped in disbelief.
I had always thought MEZUZAH to be mere myth—a fable of the slayer of demon legions, master of the sea air and mountains.
"How is it that I'm not trembling?" I wondered aloud.
Kingston chuckled.
"What's so funny?" I snapped, irritated.
"Because you now wield its power," he replied coolly.
> [New Title Acquired: Heir to the Blue Dragon Mezuzah.]
"What?!" My jaw dropped in disbelief. I now carried the might of the great prince and the twelve elders, including MEZUZAH.
Still reeling, I watched the mighty dragon lower its enormous head to gaze directly at me.
Then, in an utterly unexpected gesture, it licked me—its saliva thick and sticky.
Before I could react, the creature vanished into thin air.
"He likes you," Kingston's voice echoed playfully in my mind.
"Ha ha, really fun," I muttered sarcastically, trying to wipe off the sticky residue—without much success.
"Just snap your fingers, genius," Kingston snorted.
I snapped my fingers—and instantly, the mess and lingering tension evaporated.
Shifting my focus back to the gate, I stepped forward and unlocked it.
**System notification**
> [Seal Broken: Access Granted.]
In a cascade of illusions, a giant ice castle materialized before me.
I did not flinch—instead, a strange, serene calm settled over me, as if I had grown accustomed to the extraordinary.
I approached the castle's grand entrance. As I neared, the massive front door swung open by itself.
Crossing the threshold, the door slammed shut behind me, sealing me within what felt like paradise.
Snowflakes drifted lazily through the air, covering the ground in a soft white blanket. Whimsical snowmen lined the shimmering walls, each carved with playful artistry. The entire castle shimmered, its roof and walls crafted from mesmerizing blue ice.
"What the heck is this place?" I whispered to myself.
As I wandered the glistening hallway, I noticed no visible light sources—but the room shone with a soft, gentle radiance.
Following the corridor, I reached a corner. Turning left, I discovered a flight of steps leading to a grand, intricately adorned golden door.
Statues of dragons flanked the stairs, standing like silent guardians.
"At least this is better than frozen caricatures of monsters . I muttered dryly, annoyed by Kingston's prolonged silence.
I descended the stairs, and as if sensing my presence, the enormous door swung open, revealing a breathtaking sight.
Inside lay a vast armory—thousands of weapons: swords, spears, rings, cloaks, staffs, necklaces—all meticulously arranged across ornate tables and along shimmering walls.
Another system notification
> [You Have Entered: Kindyra's Relic Treasury.]
I roamed among the legendary artifacts, marveling at each one.
Kingston spoke up:
"This is Prince Kindyra's treasure room—where he safeguarded every weapon and relic he had ever gathered."
I nodded silently, awestruck.
Soon, I reached a smaller, even more elaborately carved dragon door.
"What's with all the dragons?" I mused, running my fingers over the intricate engravings.
Prince Kindyra adored dragons. He had even taken in MEZUZAH as a hatchling.
This door's handle was shaped like a dragon itself.
I grasped the handle and turned—but the door remained stubbornly sealed.
"Oh, right—it's protected by Prince Kindyra's seal. Stretch out your hand," Kingston instructed.
Following his command, I extended my hand.
Immediately, a shimmering blue seal rimmed with a dragon motif materialized in the air.
A thrill surged through me—it was the first time I truly wielded magic.
Focusing intently, I pushed the seal forward.
My first attempt failed. Gritting my teeth, I tried again—this time channeling all my strength and focus.
Finally, the door shuddered and swung open, revealing a winding staircase descending into shadow.
> [New Area Unlocked: Depths of Kindyra's Sanctum.]
Step by step, I descended carefully.
At the final landing, I froze—
What I saw there nearly made me stumble back in shock.