The screen had been black for who knows how long. The roars of dragons from the final battle still echoed in Kai's eardrums, mixing with the whirring hum of his gaming PC. It was a comfortable chaos, typical of an intense night of gaming. But then, everything went abruptly silent. Kai's eyes shot open. He should have been leaning back in his comfy gaming chair, not engulfed by a thick, warm, and damp darkness like this.
The suffocating sensation was overwhelming, as if he was trapped in a giant cocoon. He tried to move, but his limbs seemed to refuse his commands. Instead, a strange heaviness pressed down on his entire body. Panicked, Kai used all his might to struggle. A crisp "crack" echoed, and then a faint, flickering light filtered through a small fissure.
What in the world is this?!
The cracks spread rapidly, like a spiderweb. The sound of the shell breaking grew louder and louder, until a final, resounding "POP!" Kai suddenly plummeted, the terrifying feeling of falling lasting only a split second before his nascent body hit a damp, sticky surface. A chilling draft swept over him, making him shiver.
The space around him was still murky, but he could sense the smell of damp earth, decaying moss, and a strange, pungent odor he'd never encountered in Aethel. The most horrifying realization was the sensation on his skin: rough, tough, no longer the familiar human skin. And a heavy... tail gently wagging behind him.
A blue light suddenly flared, displaying sharp text directly before his eyes:
[Dragon Transformation System Activated!]
[Welcome to Aethel, Otherworlder Kai!]
[You have been reborn as: Primordial Dragon Egg – Hatched!]
Kai felt like he'd been struck by lightning. Reborn? Dragon Egg? Aethel? This... this is the world name from "Divine Dragon Epoch"! No way! He tried to move his feet, or rather, his tiny, undeveloped claws, and immediately stumbled.
[You are currently in Dragon Whelp form.]
[HP: 10/10] [MP: 0/0] [Strength: 1] [Defense: 5] [Speed: 0.5 (Crawling speed)]
[Skills: None]
[Experience Points: 0/100]
The familiar game interface now displayed his pathetic condition. Kai was aghast as the horrifying truth sank in: He wasn't dreaming, nor was he playing a game. He had truly been thrust into the world of "Divine Dragon Epoch," in the weakest, most vulnerable form imaginable.
A faint rustle came from the darkness. The primal instinct of a predator suddenly stirred within his dragon whelp body, making him tremble. A pair of crimson eyes gleamed, followed by a dark, stunted but incredibly ferocious shadow advancing towards him.
[Monster: Stone Rat Level 2]
[HP: 30/30]
Kai gulped. Just a rat! But it's a Stone Rat, Level 2! And it has 30 HP, while I only have 10! Despair welled up. A tiny, insignificant creature like that could easily finish off the "future Dragon Emperor" of Aethel right here, right now!
The Stone Rat growled, baring its razor-sharp teeth, and lunged straight at him.
[Urgent Quest: Survive!]
[Reward: 10 experience points]
Damn it! 10 experience points for my life?! Kai scrambled backward, his clumsy dragon whelp body tumbling awkwardly. A critical strike narrowly missed his tail.
[-1 HP]
[HP: 9/10]
A searing pain spread. Kai couldn't believe it. Death was truly imminent. There was no "reset" button, no "load game." This was reality.
In that terrifying moment, a thought flashed through his mind. System! There has to be a way! Kai focused all his will on the status panel. A small notification flickered.
[You can use 0 MP to activate passive skill: 'Keen Senses' (Level 1)]
Keen Senses! Activate!
A small surge of energy coursed through his frail body. Though still weak, his hearing and smell became incredibly sharp. He could distinctly hear the rat's pounding heartbeat, smell its foul odor, and sense the shift in the air as it prepared to attack.
This time, Kai tried his best, channeling his meager strength into his undeveloped legs to roll to one side. The Stone Rat's lunge only grazed him, not landing a direct hit. Still, there was a small, stinging scratch.
[-1 HP]
[HP: 8/10]
The Stone Rat snarled in frustration, preparing for the finishing blow. Kai looked up desperately, a weak cry escaping his throat, the pathetic sound of a dragon just born.
Just then, a dazzling system notification appeared, bringing a glimmer of fragile hope:
[You have uttered the first cry of a dragon whelp. Received special reward: Skill 'Indomitable Will'.]
[Skill 'Indomitable Will' (Passive) has been added!]
[Indomitable Will (Level 1): When HP is below 30%, increases endurance by 10% and reduces damage taken by 5%.]
A skill! Though only passive, it was all Kai had at this moment. His blood seemed to boil. A fierce will to survive blazed in the dragon whelp's eyes.
The Stone Rat had lunged. But this time, the young dragon Kai didn't just retreat. He poured all his remaining strength, preparing for his first battle, a life-or-death struggle to prove his existence in this harsh world of Aethel.