Kazuya turned away, convincing himself it might just be an illusion. Yet sweat trickled down his face, betraying his unease. He picked up his bag and began heading downstairs. The silence in the stairway sent a shiver down his spine—no voices, no footsteps, no students. The entire school building was empty. He was utterly alone.
He tried to calm himself, whispering that it was only his imagination. But his heart refused to listen, pounding louder with every step. Thoughts swirled in his mind, each more unsettling than the last.
"What if that was… a portal… to another world?"
He froze mid-step, the idea striking him like lightning. Then, almost in panic, he rushed down faster, his footsteps echoing through the hollow stairwell. Within minutes, he emerged outside the school building. The grounds stretched before him, eerily quiet. He scanned the area, hoping to see someone—anyone. But there was no one.
Turning toward the direction of the strange phenomenon, he began walking, his pace quickening as anticipation and dread tangled within him. His heart thumped harder with every step.
And then he saw it again.
That black, circular void shimmered faintly against the wall, like a wound in reality itself. His eyes locked onto it, unable to look away. It was as if the abyss was pulling at him, dragging his gaze, his very soul.
Without realizing it, his hands moved forward. They trembled, hesitant, yet irresistibly drawn. Finally, his fingertips brushed against the surface.
Nothing.
He blinked in disbelief. It felt like touching air. But when he pressed further, his hand slipped inside effortlessly—as though the void had been waiting for him.
Panic surged. He tried to pull back, but a strange force gripped him, tugging harder. Sweat dripped onto the ground, born of both fear and a strange, intoxicating excitement.
Before he could resist, the force intensified. In an instant, his body was yanked forward, swallowed whole by the abyss.
The school grounds remained silent, untouched by the chaos that had just unfolded. Not a single soul had witnessed Kazuya vanish into that strange phenomenon.
Was he lost forever? Or had he just stepped into a world beyond imagination?
***
Kazuya's eyes fluttered open. His body ached, his head pounding as though he had been thrown into a storm. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the strange light filtering through the canopy above.
The forest around him was unlike anything he had ever seen. The trees twisted unnaturally, their bark glowing faintly with hues of green and blue. The air was thick, heavy, yet strangely vibrant. Birds—or creatures resembling birds—screeched in the distance, their cries echoing through the woods.
He sat up slowly, clutching his chest. Dragged in… I was dragged into that thing. His memory was hazy, but he recalled the sensation of being pulled, the suffocating darkness, and then—nothing. He must have lost consciousness.
And now… here he was.
Kazuya's lips curled into a grin despite the fear gnawing at him. "This… this is an Isekai!" His voice trembled with excitement. His heart raced, not from terror this time, but from exhilaration. He stood, brushing dirt from his uniform, and began to move, inspecting the strange surroundings.
The grass shimmered faintly under the sunlight, and the air smelled of moss and something metallic. Every step he took felt surreal. Dragons… maybe dragons exist here… The thought alone made his chest tighten with anticipation.
After walking for a few minutes, he froze.
Ahead of him, a group of small, twisted figures emerged from the shadows. Their green skin glistened, their jagged teeth bared in cruel grins. Goblins. At least a dozen of them. And towering above them was one larger goblin, its body bulkier, its eyes glowing with malice. It carried a massive wooden club, scarred and splintered from countless battles.
Kazuya's excitement drained instantly. His throat tightened. "G-Goblins…?"
Fear surged through him. He turned to run, but before he could escape, more goblins appeared from behind, cutting off his path. Their guttural laughter echoed, their crude weapons raised.
One lunged forward, swinging a rusted blade. Kazuya stumbled back, barely dodging. Another jabbed with a spear, grazing his sleeve. His heart pounded wildly as he ducked and twisted, his movements clumsy but desperate.
"Damn it…!" he gasped, sweat dripping down his face.
Then, the larger goblin raised its head and let out a guttural roar. Instantly, the others stopped their attacks, stepping back in obedience. The leader grinned, lifting its massive wooden club high into the air. The weapon gleamed under the sunlight, ready to crush him.
Kazuya's eyes widened. He couldn't move. He couldn't breathe.
But before the club could descend, a sound tore through the forest.
A howl.
Long, deep, and terrifying.
The goblins froze, their eyes wide with fear. Their bodies trembled, and without hesitation, they turned to flee. Panic spread through the horde like wildfire.
From the shadows, it emerged.
A massive black wolf, its mane bristling like dark flames. Its fangs were long, gleaming like ivory blades. Its claws dug into the earth, sharp enough to tear through stone. Its eyes glowed crimson, reflecting the sunlight with a bloodlust that chilled the air.
The goblins screamed, scattering in every direction. But the wolf was faster. It lunged forward, tearing through them with savage precision. One swipe of its claws split a goblin in half. Its fangs sank into another, crushing bone effortlessly. The forest echoed with the cries of dying goblins, their bodies falling lifeless to the ground.
Kazuya stood frozen, his body trembling. He was horrified—yet a part of him was… thrilled. The wolf was terrifying, but it had saved him. It had slaughtered the goblins before they could kill him.
"Unbelievable…" he whispered, his voice shaking. "A monster… no, a predator…"
But then, the wolf turned.
Its crimson eyes locked onto him.
The bloodlust in its gaze was unmistakable.
Kazuya's breath caught. His legs moved instinctively, forcing him to stand. He turned and ran, his heart hammering in his chest. Branches whipped against his face as he sprinted through the forest. Behind him, the sound of claws tearing into earth echoed. The wolf was chasing him.
"Not good… not good…!" he cried, stumbling over roots, forcing himself forward.
The chase felt endless. His lungs burned, his legs screamed in pain, but the wolf was relentless. Each time he glanced back, its glowing eyes were closer, its fangs bared in hunger.
Then, with terrifying speed, the wolf leapt forward.
It landed just ahead of him, its massive body blocking his path. Its jaws opened wide, fangs gleaming inches from his face. Kazuya stumbled back, his body shaking violently.
The wolf growled, low and deep, its breath hot against his skin.
And then—it leapt biting him left arm ferociously.
Time seemed to slow. Kazuya's eyes widened, his mind blank. He thought of dragons, of the abyss, of everything that had led him here.
Is this… how I die?
Kazuya's body trembled as the wolf's crimson eyes bore into him. Just as its fangs sank deeper into his arm, a voice echoed in his mind—soft, distant, yet commanding.
"Erif… erif… erif…"
His eyes widened. Fear surged through him, and he shut them tight, bracing for death. The wolf's bite tore into his flesh, pain exploding through his body. In desperation, he shouted the word that had been whispered into his mind.
"Erif!"
The moment the word left his lips, a spark flickered on the back of his right hand. It glowed faintly at first, then grew brighter, larger, until it formed the shape of an "S." Two lines cut through it perfectly, forming an "X".
The spark erupted into flame.
Fire surged outward, growing larger and larger until a blazing veil enveloped both Kazuya and the wolf. The beast howled in agony as the flames consumed it, its black fur igniting, its body writhing in pain. The fire burned mercilessly, reducing the predator to ash. Yet in its final act of defiance, the wolf's fangs tore through Kazuya's arm, ripping it apart.
Kazuya screamed, his voice drowned by the roar of the flames. The fire veil grew brighter, hotter, until it seemed to swallow the entire forest. Then, slowly, it began to fade—fainter and fainter—until only embers remained.
On the back of his hand, the mark lingered. The "S" and "X" glowed faintly, etched into his skin like a brand.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he staggered, his vision blurring. "I… I'm going to die…" he whispered, his voice weak. His body collapsed, consciousness slipping away.
But just before the darkness claimed him, he saw it.
A silhouette.
Majestic, towering, wings spread wide against the faint glow of the dying flames. Its form was unmistakable.
"A… dragon?" he murmured, a faint smile curling on his lips.
And then, with that final thought, Kazuya fell into unconsciousness.
***
Deep within the mountains, hidden from the eyes of men, lay a cavern untouched by time. Its walls shimmered faintly, lined with crystals that glowed like fragments of moonlight. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like frozen spears, and the air was heavy with silence—an ancient stillness that felt eternal.
At the center of this cavern, upon a bed of stone polished smooth by centuries, a dragon slept. Its scales gleamed silver, reflecting the faint glow of the crystals like liquid light. Each breath it took was slow, steady, as though it had been resting for a millennium. Its wings, vast and majestic, folded neatly against its body, and its long tail curled around itself like a guardian's embrace.
This dragon was no ordinary beast. Its presence radiated power, wisdom, and sorrow—as if it had been waiting, endlessly, for something… or someone.
Then, suddenly, its eyes snapped open.
A strange wave of energy rippled through the cavern, shaking the crystals, making the air tremble. The dragon's silver eyes widened, shimmering with tears.
"…That presence… after all this time…" Its voice was deep, resonant, echoing through the cave like a hymn. "Could it be… my master?"
The dragon rose, its wings unfurling with a sound like thunder. Dust scattered, the cavern trembling under its sheer size. With a powerful leap, it soared into the night sky, its silver form cutting through the clouds like a streak of moonlight.
It flew swiftly, its heart pounding with anticipation. The energy it felt was faint, fragile, but unmistakable. It was the call it had been waiting for—a call that resonated with its very soul.
Soon, it reached the forest.
There, lying amidst the blood-soaked earth, was a boy. His left arm was torn apart, blood flooding from the wound, his body pale and trembling even in unconsciousness.
The dragon's eyes softened. Tears welled again. "So fragile… yet… it is you. My master."
It lowered itself beside him, folding its wings carefully. Closing its eyes, the dragon began to concentrate. Its breath grew steady, its aura expanding. The ground beneath the boy shimmered, and then—light bloomed.
A white magic circle appeared, glowing with intricate patterns. Spirals intertwined with runes, lines crossing in perfect symmetry, forming symbols older than time itself. The circle pulsed gently, its light wrapping around the boy like a protective embrace.
The boy's torn arm began to shimmer. Flesh knit together, bone reformed, veins and muscle regenerated as though time itself was reversing. Within moments, his arm was whole again, unscarred, as if it had never been torn away.
The dragon exhaled, its silver breath fading into the night. The magic circle dissolved, leaving only faint traces of light upon the earth.
The boy remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling weakly.
The dragon lowered its massive body beside him, curling protectively. Its silver eyes gazed at him with a mixture of sorrow and joy.
"My master… after a millennium, you have finally returned," it whispered, its voice trembling. "Sleep now. When you awaken, I will be here. I will not leave your side."
The cave of silence had been broken, the wait of centuries ended.
And so, under the watchful gaze of the dragon, the boy slept, his fate forever changed.