Null walked away from all the noise of New Haven. Everyone else was crowding around the NPCs, standing in dumb lines for quests and fighting over stupid flowers and wolf skins. That was their game. He was playing something else now. Every move he made was like saying "screw you" to the stupid fate life gave him.
His inventory felt heavy but good. Every item in there was like a middle finger to the hospital and being sick. He adjusted the strap on his bag, feeling the weight of his Bronze-tier armor. It felt solid. Finally alone, he walked into this empty field where only some weird purple trees and strange animal noises broke the quiet. The sky was that pale afternoon color, and the wind smelled like grass and... something else. Something wild. Finally, some peace and quiet.
And no one stepping on my feet, he thought, smiling a little. Gotta enjoy the small stuff. But man this game is too realistic. How did they even make something like this but can't fix my illness. They got their priorities fucked up.
"Well I'm really gonna do this," he whispered to himself, his voice quiet but steady. "I'm gonna fight for real." Well, in the game but close enough.
He opened his inventory screen. The Bronze-tier stuff—[Scratched Bracers], [Dented Greaves], [Old Helm], [Worn Legguards], and the cool [Simple Ring]—made him look like a real adventurer instead of some noob in a tunic like the rest.
Set bonuses were nice, but Null knew the good stuff was what he got from the cash shop. He opened the [Silver Gear Selection Box], fancy pictures of armor pieces floating in the air. He remembered reading that necklace slots were super rare, so he picked a necklace first.
The box turned into sparkles, leaving behind a green pendant that glowed warm in his hand. It felt... nice.
Next, he put on the [Stormchaser Outfit] from the gold tier. His plain clothes changed into sweet blue robes with silver designs that shined in the light. Stats popped up showing it was way better than starter gear.
Then he pulled out the weapon. The [Frostfang Sword] appeared in a flash of blue light. The handle felt perfect in his hand, the blade looking like it was made of ice. A cold feeling went up his arm—not bad, just... powerful.
Level requirements? Whatever. Null used [Null-Command] twice—once for the necklace, once for the sword. The rules just disappeared. He felt that awesome power again. It's getting addicting already.
A level 1 character with stats of like a level 10. This trait isn't just cheating, he thought. It's like I'm hacking reality.
But Null knew this was just getting ready. He looked at the most important thing: the [Dragon Egg]. It seemed to glow brighter out here in the quiet. He took it out careful, feeling warmth coming through his gloves, like a tiny heartbeat in his hands.
[Dragon Egg] (Unique, SSS-Rank)
Description: The last heir of the ancient dragon bloodline.
Bound to Player: Null
The shell changed colors like a rainbow, reflecting the sun. He could feel something moving inside. This isn't just loot. It's alive.
"Alive, and probably wondering why its stuck with me," he joked to himself.
Meanwhile, in Some Weird Space Place... Deep in the void.
This crazy space between worlds was full of swirly colors and broken stuff. Two giant dragon creatures were watching the world.
"Lord Aurelius," said a younger dragon, his bronze scales looking dull next to his master's shiny gold ones. "Was it really a good idea to give your last heir to... that guy? Our family is legendary! Why a human?"
Aurelius moved, his wings making the space around them wobble. "The Game Rules make me, Karthas. When the system said someone got the SSS-Rank prize, I had to give them the egg. Stupid rules."
The space got quiet. Aurelius continued, sounding kinda amused. "But the rules don't say anything about him being able to keep it. They assume he'll fail."
Karthas tilted his big dragon head. "My Lord?"
"The big show wasn't a gift—it was putting a target on his back," Aurelius explained. "That egg glows like a freaking lighthouse. Every greedy player, every big guild, every monster—they all know about it now. They all want it."
"Oh," Karthas understood. "A level 1 human, glowing like a snack for everyone."
"Exactly," Aurelius said, his old eyes looking entertained. "When he dies—and he will—the egg comes back to me. Free storage with automatic return."
Back in the field...
Null put the egg on a flat rock, feeling it vibrate in his hands. This was it—the big moment.
"Hatch," he whispered, putting all his hope into that one word. "Please."
The game message popped up immediately:
System Alert: Warning! This [Dragon Egg] cannot hatch normally. You need:
[Dragon Lord's Blood] (SSS-Rare)
[Golden Nectar] (SS-Rank)
[Ancient Spirit Herb] (SS-Rank)
[Star Core Pearl] (SS-Rank)
Impossible. Legendary items that probably didn't even exist. He felt that hope in his chest starting to die.
Then he remembered the doctor's face, all serious when he gave the diagnosis. Anger boiled up inside him.
"No," he said out loud, voice firm. "I don't think so."
System Alert: You have used your trait [Null-Command] (Unique, SSS-Rank) to ignore material requirements!
The egg started glowing brighter, shaking more. Another message:
System Alert: Pet System locked! Reach Level 80 first!
Level 80. The game was really trying to stop him.
Null stayed calm. Not happening. Never. He smiled a little.
You have used your trait Null-Command to ignore system restrictions!
System Alert: Hatching starting...
Golden cracks spread across the shell like lightning. The ground started shaking under him.
One second. Two. Ten.
CRACK! The top of the shell broke open. A little dragon head poked out. Eyes like molten gold blinked slowly, looking around. It started eating its shell, messy but hungry, new scales starting to show.
Null stared. Small, weak... but trying so hard. Just like me.
"Rawr!" it squeaked, sounding more like a kitten than a dragon.
System Notification: You successfully hatched the [Dragon Egg] and got the ultra-rare Unique pet: [Dragon Heir Hatchling]! Make a [Soul Bond]?
"Yes!"
A huge magic circle appeared under them, golden light covering everything. Ancient symbols spun in the air, making a connection stronger than normal game stuff. Null felt something click in his soul—like a thin string connecting them, but strong as steel.
System Alert: You made a [Soul Bond] with the [Dragon Heir Hatchling]! Luck +1!
The baby dragon, now about cat-sized, stumbled into the air, wings flapping all crazy. It bumped against Null's face, looking at him with complete trust.
"We're stuck with each other now, little guy," Null whispered.
The dragon made a purring sound, warm vibrations going through him. In that space between worlds, Aurelius's confident look vanished, replaced by shocked silence. The impossible actually happened.
And Null, for the first time since he got sick, felt like he was flying.