"D–D… Dragon Transformation?"
Yun Che's voice cracked as he pointed at the notification, his pupils trembling with disbelief. "This… this isn't part of the original story! This is way different! What the hell, System?!"
He began pacing back and forth across the shimmering lake, every step splashing ripples of golden light. His voice rose in both panic and excitement.
"Alright, calm down, Yun Che. Stay calm. Gamer's mind, where are you when I need you?! This is the freaking Dragon Transformation! An out-of-this-world power-up!"
He took a few deep breaths, shaking his head to clear it. Slowly, the thrill began to outweigh the shock. His lips curled into a smirk as he straightened his posture.
"Alright then, let's see what this baby does."
He tapped the glowing notification with trembling fingers.
"System, explain to me how—" He gulped audibly, his throat dry. "—'Dragon Transformation' works."
==============
[Ding… Dragon Transformation]
[Description]
The Dragon Transformation is a once-per-day transformation that allows the host to manifest the form of a dragon — fully customizable in appearance and nature — designed by the host's imagination. The transformation lasts for ten minutes and cannot be undone prematurely. During the transformation, the host retains full mental control of the dragon's body and consciousness.
=============
[Effects]
Upon activation, the host receives a 100% increase in strength, effectively elevating the host's overall power by one full realm.
Defense is enhanced by 200%, transforming the host's scales and body into near-impenetrable armor.
The transformation inherits the elemental attribute of the host's current active Evil God Seed. The chosen attribute amplifies all corresponding elemental techniques by 200% while transformed.
============
[Current Active Heretic Seed]
Evil God Seed of Fire
Host can currently assume the form of a Fire Dragon.
===============
[Progression Phases of the Dragon Transformation]
Immortalized Dragon – (Unlocked upon initial acquisition)
Divine Dragon – (Unlocked after surpassing Level 101)
Dragon God – (Unlocked after surpassing Level 201)
??? – (Unlocked after surpassing Level 301)
==========
[Warning]
During Dragon Transformation, Zanpakutō and Spirit Weapons are sealed.
Any active Bankai will be forcibly cancelled upon activation.
However, the Dragon Transformation can be stacked with the Evil God Berserk Arts and Hollow Transformation (limited to Adjuchas mode). Further Hollow evolutions are incompatible during transformation.
=============
The glowing system interface faded into darkness, leaving Yun Che motionless in its golden afterglow. The reflection of the shimmering runes danced across his eyes, still wide with disbelief.
For a long moment, he said nothing. He just stood there — silent, stunned, utterly speechless.
"This… this is real," he finally muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with awe.
Never before had he unlocked something like this. Not even the Hollow transformation, nor the Phoenix inheritance, compared to this. The Dragon Transformation wasn't just another power — it was the embodiment of dominance. A trump card among trump cards.
And the best part? It was his.
"Once a day use… perfect," he whispered, a faint grin curling on his lips. "That's exactly what I need. A last resort — a weapon for when the world itself turns against me."
In his mind, he calculated calmly.If he stacked everything — his Hollow powers, Heretic Art Purgatory, and now the Dragon Transformation — his strength could reach the Grand Perfection of the Sovereign Profound Realm.He'd be untouchable.
But even then, Yun Che wasn't reckless.
He'd use this power only when necessary — just like Final Getsuga Tenshō, the forbidden ace he vowed to keep sealed unless the world left him no choice.
"This is it… my trump card. The final form of defiance."
He smirked.
"The gods better watch their backs."
Still, he wasn't satisfied. Not yet. His gamer's mind was already drafting the roadmap.
Once this was done, he'll awaken his Adjuchas form, reawaken his Quincy powers, and finally achieve Dangai Mode – Tensa Zangetsu.
Multiple contingencies. Multiple escapes.Because Yun Che knew one thing better than anyone — power attracts predators.And this transformation was exactly the kind of miracle that could paint a target on his back across the entire continent.
"If word of this gets out… everyone and their ancestors will come after me," he muttered, crossing his arms. "No, better to keep it hidden. My ace stays my ace."
A familiar chime interrupted his thoughts.
=====================
[Ding… Before assuming the transformation, host must design the dragon first.][Be warned: this is a one-time offer. Once completed, the design cannot be altered. The host must also design alternate forms for all seven elemental attributes. The evolved forms will unlock as the host reaches the required levels.]
[Ding… Do you wish to initiate the shaping process?]
====================
Yun Che inhaled deeply, steeling himself.
"Alright, you dumbass," he muttered, slapping his cheeks lightly. "This is it. Moment of truth. Don't screw this up, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
His eyes gleamed with resolve as he pressed the button.
The interface burst into life — familiar holographic grids spreading before him, just like when he designed Mio's body during the Phoenix trial. But this time, the air was heavier, crackling with divine pressure. This wasn't shaping a spirit.
This was designing his true dragon form.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, eyes narrowing as blue holograms of dragon templates hovered in front of him.
"Alright… how should I make it?"
He scrolled through a few conceptual models, grimacing.
"Nah, that one looks like that weird dragon from that kid's show. Ugly."
He swiped again.
"Nope. This one's too long and noodle-y — what am I, Kaido from One Piece? I need something that can move, not wiggle."
He crossed his arms, pacing. The holograms flickered, each rejected model dissolving into blue mist.
"I want something balanced. A dragon that's both beast and warrior. A humanoid dragon — strong, agile, terrifying. Something that can walk like a man but fight like a god."
Then it hit him. His eyes widened, and he snapped his fingers.
"Wait. That dragon…"
A flood of nostalgia rushed over him — flashes of childhood memories. Long nights in front of an old PlayStation 2 screen. The roar of a digital dragon echoing through static speakers.It came from an obscure game adaptation of a long-forgotten anime — one that had vanished with time, but had lived in his heart ever since.
A dragon that could transform into six distinct forms, each one tied to an element.
"That's it. That's the one."
His lips curled into a nostalgic smile.
"You've been waiting a long time, old friend. Let's bring you back to life."
He focused, closing his eyes. In his mind, he reconstructed every detail — the lean, humanoid physique, the regal crest of horns, the wings of fire that could fold seamlessly into its back, the six elemental variants shimmering in their unique hues. He visualized it with photographic precision — every scale, every fang, every roar etched into memory.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze burned like molten gold.
"System, transfer the form to the shaping feature. Include the full transformation sequence and all seven elemental forms."
==============
[Ding… Template received.]
[Design transfer complete. Beginning synchronization.]
[Warning: Shaping process will define the permanent base for all future Dragon Transformations.]
==============
As the holograms converged, the dragon's shadow began to take form — a towering humanoid figure with scales of living flame, wings like blades of light, and eyes burning with divine fury. The lake below reflected its silhouette like a mirror of the heavens.
Yun Che stood beneath it, his heart pounding with childlike excitement.
"Heh… never thought I'd see you again. Let's show this world what a real dragon looks like."
Yun Che stood before the shimmering display, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
Every curve, every contour of the seven dragon forms glimmered before him in magnificent detail — the culmination of all his careful shaping. He scanned each one, taking in the distinct colorations and elemental auras:Fire wreathed in crimson flame, Water flowing with azure serenity, Wind gleaming with emerald speed, Earth forged in golden might, Lightning crackling in radiant fury, Light shining with divine brilliance, and Darkness cloaked in shadowed majesty.
All seven stood before him — reflections of his vision, the legacy of a dragon he once admired as a boy.
He couldn't help but smile.A quiet, heartfelt smile filled with both nostalgia and triumph.
"You were once the reason I loved dragons," he murmured, voice tinged with emotion. "And then you faded away — just another relic of time."
He placed a hand against the glowing hologram, its surface pulsing faintly with his spiritual energy.
"But today," he said softly, his eyes gleaming with purpose, "I'll bring you back. Not as a memory… but as me. My dragon form."
He drew a deep breath and clenched his fist.
"System, finalize the transformation."
============
[Ding… Estimated automated assembly initiated.]
[Ding… Would the host like to rename this skill?]
============
He blinked, caught off guard.
"Rename it, huh?"
He crossed his arms, thinking for a moment. Naming a power like this wasn't something to take lightly. It wasn't just a skill — it was a legacy.
After a long pause, he nodded.
"Yeah. Rename it."
============
[State the new name of the skill and its activation phrase.]
[Host may also rename each attributed form to avoid confusion during activation once all Heretic Seeds are obtained.]
=============
"Got it," Yun Che said with a small grin. "If I'm going to honor him, I'll do it properly."
He took a breath, speaking each word with solemn conviction — the way one might recite a divine oath.
"This skill will bear the name of the dragon I once admired.""System, rename it Leonidas. Activation phrase — 'Leonidas, come forth.'"
============
[Ding… Skill name successfully changed.]
['Dragon Transformation' has been renamed to 'Leonidas.']
[Activation phrase recorded.]
[Please state the names of the attributed forms.]
=============
"Right," he said, glancing at the seven luminous dragon models, each glowing in their respective hue. "Let's go with this."
He raised a hand, listing them one by one, his voice echoing with faint excitement.
"Fire Seed — Pyrus.""Water Seed — Aquos.""Earth Seed — Subterra.""Wind Seed — Ventus.""Lightning Seed — Blitz.""Light Seed — Haos.""Dark Seed — Darkus."
He smirked faintly, his gaze softening as he recalled the names.
"Heh, straight from the old game. A little tribute to where it all started. Even if no one in this world knows the name Leonidas, I'll carry it forward."
===========
[Ding… Form names saved.]
[Currently available form: Pyrus.]
[Other attributed forms will unlock upon acquiring additional Heretic Seeds.]
[Would the host like to perform the full activation chant?]
==========
Yun Che blinked and tilted his head.
"Wait, hold up—doesn't that transform me right now?"
===========
[Ding… System requires the activation phrase for saving.]
===========
"Ohhh," Yun Che said, nodding in understanding. "You just need me to say it, huh?"
He took a deep breath, puffing his chest out like a proud idiot about to record a victory speech.
"Alright then. Pyrus Leonidas, come forth!"
"How's that?"
==============
[Ding… Activation phrase detected.]
[Downloading data from Heretic Seed of Fire… Data received.]
[Initiating 'Pyrus Leonidas' Form.]
===============
Yun Che froze.
"Wait, what?! NO—no, no, no, no, NO! You said you needed the phrase for saving, not activating!"
[Activation phrase acquired. Initiating 'Pyrus Leonidas.']
===============
"DAMN YOU, SYSTEM!!! YOU TRICKED ME!!!"
His voice echoed across the inner world, immediately followed by a blinding flash of crimson energy that tore through the realm like a volcanic eruption.
The lake beneath him boiled into steam, the air rippled with unbearable heat, and a roar — deep, ancient, and divine — thundered across the sky.
Then… silence.
The inner world glowed red for a few moments before fading back into calm.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, Yun Che's body remained still — eyes closed, his breathing steady. The faint glow of dragon markings flickered across his skin like living fire.
Mio, unable to resist her curiosity, crept closer, crouching beside him. Her crimson eyes softened as she observed his peaceful expression.
"Danna-sama really does have a good-looking face," she murmured with a small smile. "Jasmine-san, how long have you known Danna-sama?"
Jasmine folded her arms, her gaze fixed on Yun Che's glowing form.
"Him? Around two years, I think. He helped me restore my soul in exchange for becoming his teacher. Never expected my disciple would turn out to be a Soul Reaper of all things."
Mio chuckled softly.
"Danna-sama really cares for you, doesn't he?"
Jasmine huffed, brushing her hair aside.
"Hmph, that annoying rascal? He only thinks about sleeping, fighting, and chasing trouble — usually involving women. Still…" she hesitated, her voice softening ever so slightly, "he's not like other men. He never makes a move. Always flirts with danger, never with people."
Mio smiled faintly, her tone wistful.
"Looks like Danna-sama is enjoying his new life more than most. I can't say the same for myself."
Her voice grew quieter, touched by sorrow.
"When I think back to my old life… there aren't any sweet memories. Just death. Killing or being killed. I don't even remember how many opponents I devoured. My existence was… empty."
Jasmine turned her head slightly, her crimson eyes softening.
"How was your life during the Era of the Gods?"
Mio's expression darkened, her gaze distant.
"I don't remember much. Back then, I was a monster — insane, mindless, driven only by hunger. Everything I did, every soul I consumed, it's all a blur. When I finally transformed into this human form… it was the first time I could think clearly. The first time I felt whole."
She clenched her hands over her chest.
"Even after learning cultivation, I began to wonder where my power came from. What I used to be. Why I even existed."
Jasmine listened in silence, her eyes narrowing in quiet understanding.
"I only know this," Mio continued, gazing at Yun Che's resting form. "Even with everything I've learned… I still don't understand what I truly am. All I know is—"
She smiled softly, wistfully.
"—I didn't even know how to fly until I met him."
Jasmine let out a quiet, knowing sigh as she glanced at Mio, who still knelt beside Yun Che's glowing form.
"Well," she began softly, "it seems you were fated to meet this rascal."
Her crimson eyes softened — just for a heartbeat — as she continued.
"He's surrounded by women, yet he's never mistreated a single one. Not once. When I first met him, I thought he'd be reckless, shameless… maybe even manipulative. But over the past two years, I've come to understand him better."
Mio tilted her head curiously.
"Understand him? How so?"
"He taught me something I'd long forgotten," Jasmine admitted, her voice carrying a faint hint of nostalgia. "The joy of cultivation."
Mio blinked.
"Joy… of cultivation?"
"Yes." Jasmine folded her arms, her tone turning lighter. "Most cultivators live their lives chained to ambition — desperate to grow stronger, desperate to surpass others. They push until they break. But him?"
She chuckled quietly, shaking her head.
"He doesn't cultivate out of obsession or fear. He cultivates because he enjoys it. Every battle, every challenge, every scrape with death — he treats them like an adventure. He finds fun in the fight itself."
She gazed at Yun Che's resting form, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"Most humans would flee from danger. But this idiot?""He runs toward it — grinning the whole way. It's reckless, infuriating… and somehow inspiring."
Mio smiled softly, her eyes glimmering with newfound admiration.
"Hnn… looks like I'll have to keep up with Danna-sama then."
Her tone shifted, a playful curiosity sneaking in.
"Wait—you said he has a lot of women on his side?"
Jasmine exhaled, shaking her head.
"You don't have to worry about that. He's not the kind of man who belongs to just one woman — but he's also not the kind who favors one above the rest. He treats all of them… equally."
Mio fell silent for a moment, a conflicted expression crossing her face before she sighed in mild disappointment.
"Muu… I was hoping to keep him to myself," she muttered. Then, after a pause, her lips curved into a small, accepting smile. "But if Jasmine-san says so, then it makes me feel better. Danna-sama did tell me once that he didn't want me to see myself as his servant. He said we were equals."
Her cheeks flushed faintly, a mix of gratitude and something softer warming her voice.
"Still… maybe I'll just have to try a little harder to win Danna-sama's attention."
Jasmine raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk crossing her face.
"You won't have to try that hard."
Mio blinked in surprise.
"Eh?"
Jasmine's tone softened as she looked at Yun Che again.
"He's a fool, but he's not that dumb."
A gentle silence settled between them — the glow of Yun Che's body pulsing steadily like a heartbeat. Both women sat quietly beside him, the weight of their words fading into the hum of divine energy filling the air.
The tower suddenly trembled — violently.
Mio stumbled forward, her hands clutching Jasmine's arm for balance as the entire realm quaked like a world on the verge of collapse.
"What in the world is happening right now?!" Jasmine shouted above the rumble, her crimson eyes narrowing.
The tremors subsided after a few seconds, the oppressive shaking fading into an eerie stillness. The air felt heavier, charged with something ancient… and fading.
Then Jasmine turned — her gaze locking onto the Azure Dragon, whose colossal form flickered faintly, its once-vibrant scales now dimming, its breaths shallow and labored.
"I… I don't think I can last much longer…" the dragon's voice rumbled, deep but weakened.
Jasmine's expression hardened.
"What do you—"
But the dragon's voice cut through her words, filled with calm acceptance.
"After giving my soul to him, I am surviving only on the last fragment of what remains. That final piece is what anchors this realm. Once it fades… so will this place."
Jasmine's eyes widened, the realization striking her like thunder.
"You—You mean this entire realm will collapse?!"
The Azure Dragon's great eyes dimmed as it slowly nodded.
"This dragon has already told you, child. I have lived long enough. I have fulfilled my final purpose — and found a successor worthy of carrying my will. There is nothing left for me in this world. My era… has ended."
Its voice, though faint, still carried the unshakable dignity of a god.
"But you… you, and the others who follow him — you shall forge a new one."
Jasmine's fists clenched at her sides, her tone rising in quiet frustration.
"You sacrificed your soul — your entire existence — for that idiot disciple of mine. Do you trust him that much?"
A faint chuckle rumbled from the dragon's throat — low, knowing, almost amused.
"Trust?" the dragon said softly. "No. This dragon does not trust his strength. I have placed my faith in his potential."
It lifted its head, its fading gaze turning toward the sky above the tower, as though looking far beyond this realm.
"You, Star God successor, would understand. Even gods can see destiny… but not his."
Jasmine blinked. "What do you mean?"
"He is a young soul reaper that should not exist," the Azure Dragon murmured. "A being born of countless worlds — a Soul Reaper wielding the powers of Quincy, Hollow, Phoenix, and now Dragon. He carries an unknown primordial essence — a power neither divine nor mortal, one even I cannot comprehend."
Jasmine's eyes trembled. "So you mean…"
"Yes," the dragon said simply, a small smile ghosting across its colossal face. "You know what this dragon means."
Mio, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up — her voice small but resolute.
"You mean… Danna-sama's destiny lies beyond this world?"
The dragon turned its gaze toward her — the deep, ancient eyes of a celestial meeting the gentle curiosity of a once-demonic being.
"Indeed," it said, with the quiet certainty of eternity itself. "That young Soul Reaper has no desire for power, no hunger for dominion. Most mortals — even celestial— cultivate for strength, for ambition, for control."
The dragon's voice grew fainter, but no less resolute.
"But he? He seeks joy in life itself. The simple freedom to live without chains, to fight for the thrill — not for greed. That purity… that unshackled heart… is why both this dragon and the phoenix entrusted everything to him."
The Azure Dragon lowered its head slightly, exhaling one final, rumbling breath that caused the entire realm to shimmer faintly — as though mourning its own master.
"From the moment he spared the Spider of Calamity," the dragon whispered, "I knew. His heart was free of malice… untouched by the poison of desire."
"And for that reason, he is the one who will break the boundaries of fate itself."
Jasmine stood still for a long moment, her crimson eyes reflecting the dying glow of the Azure Dragon. Everything the ancient god said made sense — painfully so.
Yun Che's potential truly was something beyond comprehension. Even she, a successor of a Star God, had to admit it now.
If the gods themselves had placed their hopes upon him, then she too would do the same. She had seen his recklessness, his foolishness… but also his heart.
He would one day walk into the Realm of the Gods — and when that day came, Jasmine was certain he would turn that realm upside down.
Yet deep within, a quiet storm brewed inside her.
What about me?
Her trust in Yun Che had grown, yes, but she could not ignore the shadow of her past. Vengeance — that cursed chain — still tied itself around her heart. Could she ever let it go? Could she truly live like him and Retsu?
Those two… they smiled despite their sins. Despite their bloodied paths, they were free.
They didn't deny the darkness in their souls — they accepted it.
They became it.
And in doing so, they found peace.
For the first time, Jasmine felt envy. Perhaps, just maybe… she could start over too.
Not as the Star Celestial.
Not as a broken soul clinging to hate.
But as herself — Jasmine, the girl who could finally look toward the future.
Maybe… I could start now, she thought, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile forming on her lips. Start as one of them.
Before that fragile thought could take root —
BOOM!
Another tremor rocked the tower. The entire realm shook again, far stronger than before. Jasmine snapped from her reflection instantly.
"Azure Dragon, hold on! You need to stabilize the realm! Yun Che isn't done yet!"
The ancient dragon's voice came strained but calm.
"I am maintaining it… but this quake does not come from the realm."
Mio turned, her instincts sharp. Her crimson eyes locked onto the source — Yun Che's body.
"Don't tell me it's Danna-sama?!"
Jasmine's gaze snapped toward him as well — just in time to see Yun Che's body convulsing. His fingers twitched. Then—
His eyes snapped open.
"It's about time you—" Jasmine began, but her words died in her throat.
A violent pulse of crimson energy exploded from his body, lighting the chamber in a blood-red glow. His Quincy uniform tore apart, fabric burning to ash before her eyes.
"Danna-sama?!" Mio screamed, trying to rush forward — but Jasmine grabbed her wrist, pulling her back sharply.
"Stay back, Mio!"
"But—"
"No buts! Whatever this is, if we interrupt him now, it could kill him — or us!"
Mio froze, torn between fear and trust, watching helplessly as her master's body became engulfed in a swirling storm of divine power.
The pulsing light around him intensified — and then—
SWOOOOSH!
A surge of red fire erupted from his form, shooting toward the ceiling like a geyser of molten flame. The temperature spiked instantly, forcing Jasmine and Mio to shield themselves with profound energy. Even the Azure Dragon, ancient as it was, had to avert its gaze from the sheer intensity.
"These flames…!" Jasmine gasped. "They're not the phoenix's fire!"
Indeed, they weren't.
The flames carried no warmth, no grace — only dominion.
A power older than gods, roaring through Yun Che's veins as if the heavens themselves had remembered an ancient fear.
Mio's voice trembled.
"Danna-sama… please…"
The firestorm coalesced into a vortex around Yun Che's body, spiraling faster and faster until the air itself screamed from the pressure.
Jasmine's expression hardened.
"This isn't his phoenix flame. It's something else… something new."
Her eyes narrowed as the fiery vortex cracked the floor beneath them.
"These flames… they feel like…"
The Azure Dragon lifted its fading head, eyes widening in recognition — and awe.
"That… that is no phoenix fire…" it murmured weakly. "That is Dragonfire. The birth of a True Dragon."
Jasmine's heart skipped.
"Dragonfire?! You mean—"
Before she could finish, the flames suddenly imploded inward, condensing into Yun Che's body. The tower grew silent once more — only the echo of the Azure Dragon's words remained.
Outside the mirror dimension, the world itself seemed to burn.
The tornado of flame that had swallowed Yun Che condensed into a blazing sphere, a sun born within the tower.
The fireball pulsed like a living heart — each thundering beat shaking the heavens themselves.
Dum!
Dum!!
Dum!!!
"Here he comes!!!" Jasmine shouted.
BOOOOM!!!
The colossal fireball detonated, its explosion lighting up the entire realm in a sea of scarlet and gold. Fire rained down like molten meteors, scorching the lands below the tower. The shockwave alone split the earth open, a roaring tide of flames spiraling upward like the birth cry of a god.
Mio reacted instantly — her instincts, honed from countless battles, taking control. She thrust her fist behind her, and the space itself shattered like glass. The fractured air rippled outward, forming a jagged gateway of pure distortion.
"Jasmine-san—!"
Without hesitation, Mio pulled Jasmine into the rift, then raised both hands. The shards of space sealed behind them like a mirror being reassembled, trapping them inside a cocoon of refracted light.
The Azure Dragon, high above, spread its mighty wings and soared upward through the flames. Even as the divine fire licked at its fading form, the dragon remained unmoved — its ancient eyes shimmering with pride.
"He did it," it whispered to itself. "He's truly awakening…"
When Jasmine opened her eyes again, she found herself surrounded by reflections.
They floated in the air like fragments of crystal — curved, gleaming, shimmering with otherworldly light.
Outside, through the transparent glass-like walls, she could see the tower consumed in crimson fire, yet not a single ember touched them.
"What in the world is this…?" Jasmine murmured, her tone laced with disbelief.
"The Mirror Dimension," came Mio's voice beside her.
Jasmine turned — the girl's expression calm, almost serene, the faint glow of spatial energy dancing across her fingertips.
"It's a dimension I used to escape whenever I faced a greater threat," Mio explained, her tone gentle but matter-of-fact. "Anything that happens out there can't reach us in here, and nothing inside can touch the outside. We can watch safely… but it's limited by the size I can maintain."
She looked up toward the chaotic inferno beyond the crystal veil.
"Back in the Era of the Gods, I could create vast mirror worlds — entire domains where I could travel unseen. Now, this small chamber is all I can make. It drains energy just to sustain."
Jasmine blinked, quietly impressed despite herself.
This must've been the spatial technique Yun Che had mentioned before — the one Mio used to observe the previous trials from afar.
"…" Jasmine exhaled, then asked, her tone soft but serious,
"Why did you save me?"
Mio looked at her, eyes clear as polished gems.
"Because Danna-sama trusts you, Jasmine-san."
Jasmine froze, surprised by the sincerity in the girl's voice.
Mio continued, her tone brightening slightly, though her cheeks flushed pink.
"Your bond with him… it's close enough that I felt jealous at first. But if Danna-sama trusts you that much, then I've decided to do the same."
She smiled — warm, genuine, disarmingly innocent.
"Besides, you're my first friend."
The simplicity of those words stunned Jasmine.
Her voice came softer, almost hesitant.
"What about Yun Che? You don't see him as a friend?"
Mio's expression shifted immediately — her smile turned bashful, her hands coming to her chest as her face reddened.
"Danna-sama is different," she said quietly, a shy laugh escaping her. "He's… my future husband. Someone very precious to me. Someone I'll dedicate my entire life to."
Jasmine blinked, utterly speechless.
This girl… really didn't hold back.
"…You're unbelievable," she muttered, rubbing her temple.
Still, despite herself, a small smile tugged at her lips. At least she's honest.
Outside the mirror dimension, the firestorm reached its zenith.
The crimson flames twisted upward, condensing into a shape — a colossal silhouette forming within the storm.
The heat was suffocating even through the barrier.
Mio and Jasmine could only watch, awe-struck, as the inferno took on the shape of something… alive.
"Jasmine-san… is Danna-sama going to be okay?" Mio asked, her voice trembling, eyes locked on the burning inferno before them.
Before Jasmine could answer, the swirling sea of flames began to part.
All three pairs of eyes turned toward the source — and what emerged from the explosion made even the heavens seem to hold their breath.
Jasmine's lips parted.
Her voice, barely a whisper, trembled with disbelief.
"Is that… a dragon?"
From within the collapsing fireball stepped a colossal silhouette, its every movement radiating divine dominance.
The creature stood multiple times the height of a man — a humanoid dragon, its body sculpted from living flame and crimson scales.
Thick, red armor-like scales covered its frame, the chest broad and powerful, tapering into a sleek, predatory waist. Its arms and legs were corded with muscle, yet perfectly proportioned for speed and power — a predator born of both heaven and earth.
Black scales lined its neck, chest, and abdomen, flowing down toward a tail that shimmered with molten gold at the tip — shaped like an arrowhead, forged for impalement.
Each arm ended in three golden claws, each leg tipped with three talons, gleaming like freshly sharpened blades. A single golden spur jutted behind each ankle, catching the light of the firestorm that still raged around it. Thin emerald linings glowed faintly along its limbs and neck — faint veins of power that pulsed like flowing energy.
From its back unfurled a pair of massive red-scaled wings, edged with gold, their wing-fingers shaped like sharpened sabers. The very air around them shimmered with heat distortion.
Its head was unlike any dragon Jasmine had seen before.
Two curved golden horns jutted backward, framing a larger, bladelike horn that pointed straight to the heavens. Flames leaked from its partially open jaws, outlining razor-sharp fangs and a snout shaped for destruction. From behind its head, elongated fins — like serrated crests — flared with every faint exhale, releasing trails of gold-tinged flame.
And then, its eyes opened.
Twin golden irises with burning red pupils glared down upon the world — the gaze of a beast that was neither divine nor mortal, but something far more primal.
For a moment, the dragon stood still — its arms loose, legs bent slightly — almost as if disoriented, lost between consciousness and instinct.
Jasmine's breath caught in her throat.
Even in the Realm of the Gods, she had never seen anything like this.
"A humanoid dragon…? But that's impossible."
She shook her head, unable to tear her gaze away.
"Even the dragon clans in the Divine Realm can't take such a form! Their transformations barely resemble true dragons — they can't even stand upright like this!"
Mio's eyes widened, tears glimmering in awe.
"Is that… Danna-sama?"
The Azure Dragon's spectral form flickered, its voice a mixture of shock and reverence.
"Impossible… This dragon only granted him the body, bloodline, marrow, and soul of my kind. Never have I seen a human manifest a complete transformation! Not even the gods of my era could achieve such a feat!"
Its voice deepened, trembling with ancient wonder.
"Humans cannot truly become dragons. Their bodies are too frail to contain the essence of a true god-beast. But this one… this boy…"
The Azure Dragon lowered its head slightly, its gaze locked on the fiery titan below.
"Heavens… what miracle am I witnessing?"
Indeed, the aura emanating from the crimson figure was unmistakable — it was the same as the soul the Azure Dragon had bestowed.
There was no question.
That dragon… was Yun Che.
A heavy silence filled the realm. The air itself seemed to bend beneath the dragon's presence.
Then — the creature's tail swayed once, the golden tip cutting through the fire. Slowly, the dragon lifted its head.
The flames around it surged upward in answer, forming a spiraling column that reached the sky.
The dragon's golden eyes snapped open fully — and it stood tall, towering over the battlefield.
For one fleeting instant, Jasmine could have sworn the world itself held its breath.
Then —
"ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"
The roar that followed shattered the skies.
A thunderous bellow of fire and divinity exploded from its maw, shaking the tower, the ground, and the very fabric of the realm. Waves of molten air erupted outward, incinerating everything in their path.
Even from the safety of the mirror dimension, Jasmine and Mio felt their knees weaken — not from heat, but from pure pressure.
The Pyrus Leonidas had awoken.