The river was his.
He had bled for it, slaughtered for it, ruled it until every fish scattered at his shadow. Yet victory tasted like ash. His scales were strong, his body scarred, but still he felt empty.
No new skills. No next step. No way forward.
He floated, silent, in waters he had already conquered. For the first time since clawing his way out of weakness, he wondered if he had reached his limit.
That was when the System spoke.
—
[Host stability: compromised]
[Directive required: new system branch unlocked]
The koi twitched. A new branch?
[Task System activated]
[Explanation: Host has entered stagnation. Path correction necessary.]
More words lit up, cold and merciless.
[Mechanics:]
Host may draw one task per life cycle.
Next chance only available upon Host's revival after death.
Failure to complete task will result in penalty.
The koi's fins froze. Penalty?
[Penalty severity: extreme. Options include skill erasure, stat reversal, or permanent level lock.]
His blood ran colder than the river. A single task per life — failure meant ruin.
[Draw task?]
The koi hesitated, his scales tingling with dread. But what choice did he have? Without forward motion, without growth, he would rot as a forgotten king of mud and minnows.
"…Draw."
—
The world inside his head filled with noise.
A tinny, maddening tune like a lucky draw wheel spun endlessly, dragging on until his nerves frayed. The koi clenched his jaw.
What kind of cursed joke is this?
The tune rattled on, rising to a shrill climax.
Then it stopped.
[Congratulations! Legendary Task unlocked!]
"…Legendary?" The koi's gills twitched.
[Legendary Task Assigned]
[Objective One: Form a bond with a Human Tamer.]
[Objective Two: Travel to the Second Highest Mountain: Emerald Peak. Location: Emerald Lake.]
[Bonus Objective: Slay the Emerald Dragon (Tier One). Defense noted as unparalleled.]
The koi's mind went blank.
"…You want me, a koi, to bond with a Tamer, climb a mountain, and kill a dragon with a body harder than steel?"
[Affirmative.]
His fins stiffened. He quickly called the System for clarification. "What tier was the White Dragon I killed by accident? And the Dark Fire Dragon Ian sacrificed everything to defeat?"
[White Dragon: Tier Two]
[Dark Fire Dragon: Tier Two]
The koi's blood turned to ice.
Two dragons that had nearly destroyed him… both Tier Two. And this task demanded he face a Tier One — a monster above them, with defenses that even blades and claws struggled to pierce.
"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "I nearly died a thousand times against Tier Two. And now you want me to fight Tier One?"
[Task difficulty: Legendary]
[Reward: survival-grade evolution guaranteed upon success.]
The koi's heart hammered. Survival-grade evolution — the next step beyond everything he had now. If he could reach it, he would finally stop being dead weight. Finally stop being the one dragging others down.
He clenched his teeth. This wasn't about revenge anymore. Not about memories. Just about power. He wanted to be strong. Strong enough that no Tamer who chose him would ever look down at him with disappointment. Strong enough that he would never be a burden.
"…Fine," he whispered. His voice was only bubbles, but the decision burned like iron. "I'll do it."
[Legendary Task accepted]
Chains of light seared across his mind. The mission was etched into him like a curse.
[Warning: Failure penalty extreme. Do not fail.]
The koi floated in the crimson shimmer of his Blood Scales. The task was absurd, hopeless. Yet it was also the only path left.
Form a bond. Reach Emerald Peak. Slay a Tier One dragon.
If this was what it took to keep moving, then so be it. He would take the impossible and turn it into proof.
Because the one thing he refused to be, more than weak, more than forgotten—
Was a burden.