Chapter 63: The Pulse of the Gauntlet
I stopped.
I did not show surprise.
I spoke calmly: "So… the one inside is you. Alright, that is not surprising."
A short silence followed.
Then the reply came:
"I am the one who has been here since the beginning.
But until now… you were not qualified to hear my voice."
My fist tightened.
I muttered, "And why now?"
The red gauntlet shifted slightly.
With that movement, the entire Sea of Consciousness was thrown into turmoil.
The gray sky split with black fissures, and the transparent ground rippled like a mirror struck by a stone.
"Because you have become ready for power.
You… are ready to bear it."
Behind the gauntlet, the shadow began to condense.
It was not a complete body at first.
The massive head of a dragon appeared first… then the body followed.
A red Welsh dragon, with a long neck and green eyes, red and golden spikes extending across his entire body.
His voice did not come from his mouth.
It emanated from the space itself.
"And because you have come here to awaken me."
He fell silent for a moment.
Then he declared with steady ancient majesty:
"I am Ddraig… the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination."
His name alone—made the Sea of Consciousness grow heavy,
so much so that the Northern Emperors and Yi Lai Ke Si concealed their auras and vanished.
In that moment, they seemed faint… as though they had never existed at all.
When his voice sounded, the Sea of Consciousness trembled for an instant… not in fear,
but in awe.
He spoke in a calm voice:
"And the power you carry… is not yours alone."
I raised my head.
I met his eyes directly.
I did not avert my gaze.
Nor did I retreat.
I answered with calm and steadiness:
"I do not seek borrowed authority.
If this is your power… then one day I will make it my own, and I will surpass it."
His eyes stilled for a moment.
Then the dragon's head lowered slightly.
And for the first time—
his voice was not merely a test…
but acknowledgment.
He spoke in a heavy tone:
"Very well then, my new bearer… show me the extent of your ambition."
In the next moment—
the red gauntlet ignited with a crimson light.
Power surged through my arm; a violent pulse, as if the heart of a dragon had begun beating within my blood.
It was not a promise of authority.
It was the beginning of an unexpected life.
And from this moment—
I am the Red Dragon Emperor of Domination.
Silence fell.
Then I opened my eyes.
I examined my hand and felt one thing clearly — the Boosted Gear.
The Boosted Gear… First Stage of Synchronization.
What appeared on my right arm was a dark crimson gauntlet.
It shone for a moment… then stabilized.
From the jewel embedded in the gauntlet, Ddraig spoke in a calm voice:
"From this moment onward… you can multiply power and transfer it."
This means you are able to double your energy every ten seconds without stopping until you reach your maximum limit — whether it is your physical strength, magical power, or demonic power — according to the energy you are using.
You can also transfer energy to multiple targets at the same time.
And remember: this Sacred Gear is capable of transforming emotions and strong will into tremendous power.
A faint smile formed on my lips.
I murmured:
"This… is excellent."
I clenched my fist, then asked with slight surprise:
"Hmm… Ddraig, are you a girl? Why does your voice sound like a female's?"
Another silence followed.
Then Ddraig's voice came:
"Yes, I am… and I have always been."
I answered without hesitation:
"I see no problem with that… in fact, it makes me happy."
Then I added calmly:
"Anyway, Ddraig… I hope you'll be gentle with your roommates, alright? Don't be harsh with them."
Her voice reached me, with a clear trace of surprise:
"What do you mean? And anyway… it seems you carry a dragon bloodline. Hmm? No… not exactly. It is the origin of a dragon bloodline, but it has not fully merged with you yet. This is truly interesting… something rare I have never heard of before. Very well, I will help you merge this origin."
I answered without hesitation:
"Alright, thank you. You seem very kind."
Ddraig's response came immediately, firm in tone:
"Enough of that nonsense. This has nothing to do with kindness. What I do is for benefit. The synchronization between us… and having a strong partner benefits me as well. So I act for my own interest."
I let out a light laugh:
"Alright… just make sure you're gentle with your roommates, agreed?"
A short silence followed.
Then Ddraig spoke again. Her voice was deep, but this time it carried open curiosity:
"Anyway… this world is not the world I know. The rules here are different, and even the energy… everything is strange. Can you explain to me where we are? And how we arrived here?"
I sighed, searching for the proper words.
"Alright… first, the name of this world is Douluo."
"It is not merely a world, but a universe different in its laws and rules… compared to your world. Here, humans are the supreme beings."
I continued explaining the fundamental differences, speaking about my ability to travel between worlds and universes, and about parallel timelines.
I also touched upon the idea of wandering across worlds… to obtain greater power, discover new laws, and explore horizons not yet opened.
After I finished explaining, the atmosphere fell into silence…
I leaned slightly forward, rested my elbows on my knees, and interlocked my fingers before my face.
After deep thought… I began to understand.
The Gate of Worlds and Time…
If I do not specify the destination precisely, the choice will not be random.
Instead, it will be determined quietly… according to my prior inclinations, even if I was not aware of them.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then released a slow breath.
That is why Ddraig was female.
Not male.
The Gate of Worlds and Time had led me to a parallel timeline… a path in which Ddraig exists in her female form.
I raised my hand and slowly ran it through my hair.
I truly do not know what I should say.
But…
discovering that early was, without a doubt, a good thing for me.
I leaned back slightly, then straightened again.
After this much thought…
I realized that I had rushed more than I should have.
I made some mistakes.
I used Plunder Cards and Loyalty Cards recklessly.
I lowered my gaze to my palm.
My fingers slowly tightened.
And now, after my thoughts have calmed…
spending all those cards in the Douluo world does not seem worthwhile.