Chapter 1 — Awakening in the Dark
Warmth.
That was the first thing I felt.
A deep, comforting heat wrapped around me, like being submerged in a cozy blanket. Except… the blanket was hard.
> Wait. Why does it feel like I'm inside a rock?
I tried to move, but my arms—no, whatever I had—barely twitched. My body felt strange, heavy, and oddly compact.
And that's when it hit me.
The last thing I remembered… was a child. A little boy frozen in the middle of a crosswalk, and a truck—
...yeah.
A faint sigh escaped me. Or maybe it didn't. Hard to tell without lungs.
"So, I died," I muttered—or at least thought. "Guess that's that. Could've been worse. At least the kid's probably fine."
> [Initializing Soul Synchronization…]
[Reincarnation Complete.]
[Species: Dragon (Hatchling)]
[Unique Skill Acquired: Draconic Wisdom]
[Unique Skill Acquired: Soul Devour]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed directly in my mind. I blinked—well, metaphorically.
"...What?"
> [Greetings. I am your assistance module: Draconic Wisdom.]
[My purpose is to support your survival and information processing.]
"An assistance module? You mean… like an AI?"
> [Affirmative.]
Okay, so I died saving a kid… and got reincarnated into a fantasy world with an AI in my head.
…That's either heaven, or a very detailed hallucination.
"Alright, system-thing," I said, trying to sound calm. "Where am I?"
> [Analyzing environment…]
[You are currently inside a draconic egg located within the Primordial Forest.]
[External mana density: Extremely High.]
Primordial Forest, huh? Sounds fancy.
But if this is my new life… might as well make the most of it.
"Okay. Step one, get out of the egg."
I tried flexing my limbs. They felt oddly powerful yet clumsy, like a body I hadn't used before. After a few awkward pushes and a solid crack, light seeped through the shell. Another push—then another—and I burst out, collapsing onto something cold and rough.
The world outside was breathtaking.
Massive trees glowing faintly with mana surrounded the cave, roots snaking through stone, dripping with faint blue light. The air shimmered like fog made of energy.
> [Congratulations. You have successfully hatched.]
"Yeah, thanks," I muttered, shaking off bits of eggshell. "So… I'm really a dragon, huh?"
I looked down at myself. Tiny claws, faint silver scales, a tail.
…Okay, I might've looked more like a lizard with baby wings, but I'll take it.
"Hey, Draconic Wisdom, can you show me my status?"
> [Affirmative.]
[Displaying Status:]
Name: ——— (Unnamed)
Race: Dragon (Hatchling)
Title: Reincarnated Being
Skills:
– Unique Skill: Draconic Wisdom
– Unique Skill: Soul Devour
– Basic Skill: Mana Perception
– Basic Skill: Scale Defense
Condition: Stable
Mana Density: Extremely High
Nice. Very RPG-like. But wait—Soul Devour?
"What's that one do?"
> [Unique Skill: Soul Devour]
Description: Allows absorption of energy, essence, and skills from external sources. Passive activation possible.
"Passive activation…?"
> [Correct. Ambient energy is currently being absorbed.]
"Wait, what—"
> [Warning. Mana absorption exceeding hatchling capacity.]
[Evolutionary influence detected.]
"Eh?! Already!?"
> [Sub-type Mutation Triggered.]
[Congratulations. You are now on the Abyssal Destruction Path.]
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN DESTRUCTION PATH?!"
The voice didn't answer immediately.
Instead, a faint black mist rose from my scales. The ground beneath me cracked slightly.
> [Do not panic. The change is… mostly stable.]
"'Mostly'?!"
I stared at my tiny claws, now glowing faintly with dark energy.
"I literally just hatched! How am I already on a destruction path!?"
> [High environmental mana and passive Soul Devour absorption caused an unintended mutation.]
Unintended, my tail. This was cosmic-level bad luck.
I sighed deeply, tail flicking in defeat.
"…Great. First day alive, and I've already become a baby apocalypse."
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> [Title Acquired: The Hatchling of Calamity]
"...You've got to be kidding me."
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💠 End of Chapter 1 — Awakening in the Dark 💠
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