The forest was silent as Kai walked beneath the silver moonlight. He was still in his human form, the air cool against his skin, the warmth of the villagers' fire fading from memory.
It had been… peaceful.
Strange, awkward, but peaceful.
He hadn't expected kindness. Not from humans. Not when he was supposed to be a monster.
But the little girl's words kept echoing in his mind.
"You're nice. So I think you are."
He didn't know what it meant to be "nice," but somehow, it felt good.
He touched his chest where his heart beat faintly beneath human flesh.
Then—suddenly—the air shifted.
A gust of unnatural wind swept the leaves into a spiral. The moon seemed to dim. The forest fell still, as if the world held its breath.
And then—
"Kai."
The voice wasn't spoken aloud.
It struck his soul directly.
Before he could move, a blinding column of golden light exploded beneath him. His body rose into the air, limbs flailing, eyes wide—
[Warning: Spatial Interference Detected.][Human Form Deactivating.]
He didn't have time to scream before the world vanished.
When he opened his eyes, the world had changed again.
He was no longer in the forest.
He was back inside it—
The Tree of Life.
The colossal glowing roots surrounded him once more, pulsing with ancient power. The space inside the tree felt timeless—like no day or night passed here. Only eternity.
And then he saw it.
Descending from above, wings folded like blades of crystal, was the dragon from the beginning.
The Dragon God.
The very being who had awakened him in this world.
Massive, ageless, wreathed in divine energy that cracked the air with thunder.
Its eyes, glowing like twin suns, narrowed upon him.
Kai lowered his head instinctively, every instinct screaming to submit.
Then the voice came again, thunderous and final.
"What you did was dangerous."
Kai didn't move.
He couldn't.
He could barely breathe under that pressure.
The Dragon God's voice echoed through the roots of the tree.
"You are not ready to walk among mortals. You are still in your first stage of evolution. Vulnerable. Undisciplined. Reckless."
Kai managed a hoarse whisper. "I… I just wanted to learn."
"And in doing so, you revealed the presence of the Tree." The Dragon God's tone deepened. "They will search for it now. You have risked their corruption."
Kai's eyes widened.
The village.
The girl.
Could they be in danger?
He stepped forward, but the Dragon God's aura pressed down harder.
"You are not to interfere again—not until you evolve to a stronger stage. Until your control over your human form is stable."
Golden glyphs spiraled around Kai's body, glowing with warning.
[Restriction Applied – Shapeshift: Human Form Locked Until Evolution Rank B+]
[Duration: Unknown. Path Unlocked: Evolution of the Mind and Flesh.]
Kai's fists clenched. "Why can't I choose who I meet?"
The Dragon God's eyes flared.
"Because you do not understand what you are. Nor what the humans will do when they realize it."
The vision of soldiers burning the forest. Traps. Blades. Screams.
The Dragon God circled him slowly.
"A rare dragon appearing in human form is not a miracle to them—it is a weapon. A prize. A tool to be bound, dissected, or worse."
Kai felt his chest tighten.
"Not all of them are like that…"
"No," the Dragon God agreed. "But the ones who fear you will move first. And fear is the greatest threat of all."
Silence followed.
Then, the Dragon God raised one wing, and the tree shook with a deep rumble.
"You have potential, Kai. Perhaps more than any of my children before you. But potential without wisdom is destruction."
Kai stared up.
"I want to learn."
"Then evolve."
The world around them shimmered with light, as vines from the Tree of Life reached toward Kai's body.
"I will return you to the forest. You will hunt. Survive. Grow. And when the time comes…"
A rune appeared on Kai's chest, glowing faintly like a seal.
"You will return here on your own."
The Dragon God raised its head, and the roots surged with divine power.
"Now go. And remember: you are not alone. But neither are you safe."
In a flash of gold, the world twisted again.
Kai collapsed to the ground, back in his dragon form.
The forest was darker now, the sky overhead hidden by clouds.
He breathed heavily, chest rising and falling.
His human form… locked.
His freedom… gone.
But deep inside, something stirred.
[New Quest Added: Path of Evolution – Rank B+]Objective: Master Elemental Affinity. Defeat a Threat-Class Beast. Unlock Advanced Form.]
Kai rose to his feet slowly, wings spreading.
If he couldn't walk among humans yet…
Then he'd have to earn it.
Meanwhile, far across the land, deep inside the Moonlight Citadel, Princess Elira knelt beside the campfire where the strange boy had once sat.
Only the ashes remained.
Her knights searched the area, but found nothing.
"Are you certain it was him, Princess?" one of them asked.
She nodded slowly. "He spoke to the villagers. Ate with them. They said his eyes glowed."
A cold breeze passed through the trees.
Elira stood, brushing soot from her cloak.
"He's gone again. But not for long."
She looked into the sky where the moon was slowly being consumed by clouds.
"When we meet next… I'll be ready."
And this time, she thought…
I'll make sure he doesn't disappear again.