Yoo thought about his father. Fighting in deadly missions. Pushing toward Platinum rank. Risking death to become strong enough to protect Yoo.
If Dad's risking his life, I should risk mine. Fair trade.
"I'll do it."
Seo-yeon gasped. Han smiled.
"Excellent. But not here. Core absorption is... messy. Requires privacy. And supervision—don't want you dying alone." Han stood. "Come back tonight. Midnight. I'll have proper space prepared. Bring friend if you want witness. Or come alone if you prefer to die without audience."
He handed Yoo a token. "Shows you how to find me after dark. Don't lose it. And don't tell academy staff. They'll confiscate core and punish us both."
Han vanished. Not walked away. Just... vanished. Space where he'd been rippled briefly, then nothing.
"Spatial manipulation detected. Teleportation equivalent. Power level required: Platinum minimum. Possibly higher. Subject 'Han' is significantly more dangerous than presented appearance."
I just made a deal with something wearing human skin.
Seo-yeon grabbed Yoo's arm. "You're insane! That core could kill you! You're six months old!"
"Physically two years old. Mentally twenty-nine. And I know what I'm doing."
She stared. "Twenty-nine? You're claiming to be reincarnated?"
Might as well tell her. She's going to find out eventually.
"Yes. Past life. Died. Got pulled back. Long story."
Seo-yeon processed this for exactly five seconds. Then: "That's the coolest thing I've ever heard. I'm definitely coming tonight. You're not dying without witnesses."
Despite everything, Yoo smiled. "Thanks. I think."
That Evening
Ji-hye put Yoo to bed at 8 PM, as usual. He pretended to sleep.
At 11:30 PM, he activated Extras World. Pulled his consciousness—and this time, his physical body—into the pocket dimension.
Inside, he'd prepared. Practiced this maneuver dozens of times. Could now teleport his entire body into and out of Extras World within three seconds.
He reappeared outside the nursery building. Shadows concealed him.
Seo-yeon was already waiting. "How did you—you just appeared!"
"Spatial ability. Come on. We don't have much time."
Han's token guided them through maze-like passages. Into sections of the academy Yoo hadn't seen. Older. Darker.
Eventually: an abandoned warehouse.
Inside, Han waited. The space was prepared—ritual circle drawn in luminescent paint, medical equipment salvaged from somewhere, emergency healing supplies.
"You came. Good. Means you're serious." Han gestured to the circle. "Sit center. Remove shirt. This will hurt significantly."
Yoo complied. His two-year-old body looked fragile against the circle's geometry.
Seo-yeon stood at the edge, nervous. "If he dies, I'm telling everyone."
"If he dies, I'll help you."
Han produced the red core. It pulsed like a second heart. "Last chance to back out."
Yoo thought of his father. Of the impossible odds. Of the cosmic game grinding humanity to dust.
To survive, I need power. Power requires risk.
"Do it."
Han placed the core against Yoo's chest. It sank in—not through flesh, but through something deeper. Into his soul-space where Gi resided.
Pain erupted.
Not physical pain. Existential pain. Like his entire being was burning and freezing simultaneously.
The Dragon-series energy was violent. Predatory. It wanted to dominate, not merge. Wanted to replace Yoo's essence with dragon nature.
No. You don't consume me. I consume you.
He pushed back with everything—his reincarnated soul's strange resilience, Akasha's analytical optimization, his desperate will.
The energy thrashed. His body convulsed. Blood leaked from his nose, ears.
Seo-yeon screamed. "He's dying!"
"Not yet," Han said calmly. "Watch. This is the interesting part."
Because something else activated.
Adaptive Evolution.
The skill Yoo had gained during the entity battle—the ability to integrate monster traits permanently.
It recognized the Dragon-series energy. And began incorporating it.
Not replacing Yoo's humanity with dragon nature. Merging them. Creating hybrid.
His cells restructured. Bones hardened with trace minerals that shouldn't exist in human skeletons. Muscles gained density. Energy pathways expanded.
And deep in his genetic code, something awakened. Dragon lineage—not pure, but fragment. Enough to matter.
The pain crested. Peaked. Then—
Snap.
Everything clicked into place.
Yoo gasped. Opened eyes that glowed faintly gold and silver.
"It worked," he whispered.
"Affirmative," Akasha confirmed. "Core absorption: successful. Rank advancement: Bronze rank 7. Physical capabilities increased 340%. Energy capacity expanded. New trait acquired: Minor Dragon Physiology—enhanced strength, durability, energy affinity. Warning: trait is permanent. Host biology no longer fully human."
What percentage human am I now?
"Approximately 91%. Acceptable threshold."
Yoo stood. Felt the difference immediately. Stronger. Faster. His senses sharper.
He looked at Han. "I survived."
"So you did. Congratulations. You now owe me one favor. I'll collect someday." Han's smile was unsettling. "But I'm patient. Might be months. Might be years. I'll find you when time comes."
He vanished again.
Seo-yeon rushed over. "You're okay! You're glowing a little but okay!" She paused. "Wait. You smell different. Like... smoke and lightning?"
Dragon essence. Altering my scent.
"I'm fine. Better than fine." Yoo tested his new strength. Punched the air experimentally. Felt power beyond what his body should contain. "This changes things."
"You're Bronze 7 now? After one core?" Seo-yeon's eyes were huge. "That should've taken months!"
"I'm good at shortcuts." Yoo headed for the exit. "Come on. We need to get back before someone notices."
They snuck through shadows. Made it back to their respective rooms. No alarms. No discovery.
Yoo collapsed in his bed, exhausted despite new strength.
I did it. First major power gain. One step closer to being strong enough.
But as he drifted to sleep, he thought about Han's parting words.
One favor. Unspecified. Owed to something pretending to be human.
This might come back to haunt me.
"Probability: 89%," Akasha agreed. "However, immediate benefit outweighs long-term risk. Host is now Bronze 7. Combat capabilities significantly enhanced. Survival odds improved."
Worth it then.
I hope.
The Next Morning
Routine examination. Doctor scanned Yoo, frowned.
"Your readings are different. Energy signature increased dramatically. Did something happen?"
Yoo shrugged. "Core Surge effects still manifesting?"
"Maybe. But this looks like... like you absorbed a core. You're reading Bronze 7 now. Yesterday you were unranked."
The doctor made notes. Suspicious but not accusatory. "I'll inform Instructor Kang. She'll want to examine you personally."
Great.
But when Min-ji arrived, her expression wasn't angry. It was intrigued.
"Bronze 7. Overnight advancement. Either you're naturally manifesting rank growth—which is impossible—or you acquired and absorbed a core without permission." She studied him. "Which is it?"
Yoo considered lying. Decided partial truth was safer.
"Found a trader. He offered a core. I took it."
"A trader in the academy? Interesting." Min-ji's eyes narrowed. "Describe him."
Yoo did. Left out the spatial manipulation and weird energy signature. Just described appearance.
"I don't know anyone matching that description. And I know everyone in this academy." She tapped her fingers thoughtfully. "You made contact with an external entity. One operating covertly within our walls. That's... concerning."
"Will I be punished?"
"Probably should be. But—" Min-ji smiled slightly "—you survived core absorption that should've killed you. And you're now Bronze 7. Which makes you more valuable. So no. No punishment. But in future? Inform me before accepting mysterious gifts from mysterious traders."
"Understood."
She left. But Yoo saw her expression. She wasn't worried about punishment.
She was worried about Han.
Good. She should be.
Three Days Later
Communication from Reaper's squad finally arrived.
Jae-sung was alive. Platinum 41. Mission successful but costly—half the squad dead.
He'd be returning in two months. Early release because the squad was too depleted to continue.
Yoo read the message three times.
Alive. Platinum rank. Coming home.
Relief flooded him so intensely he nearly cried.
Dad made it. He's going to survive.
"Probability of host father completing remaining two months: 94%. Acceptable odds."
Two more months. I can wait two more months.
He had work to do anyway. Training. Growing. Preparing for when his father returned.
So he trained harder. Pushed his new Bronze 7 capabilities. Sparred with Seo-yeon daily—she was Bronze 4 now, close match.
Expanded Extras World to fifty-three cubic meters. Practiced Bind until the energy threads could restrain objects up to twenty kilograms.
And waited.
For his father to return.
For the next phase of his impossible life to begin.
Two months, Dad. Just two more months.
Then we figure out how to survive this cosmic nightmare together.