The sky within the world of consciousness slowly turned bright as Issei's eyes opened.
"Yaaawn…"
Issei slowly rose from his spot in that artificial meadow, stretching his body as if waking from an overly long afternoon nap.
"How long was I asleep?" he muttered.
A deep voice answered from behind the trees.
"Three days. And your training time is less than two months."
Ddraig, the giant red dragon, reappeared, yawning lazily.
Issei snapped his fingers. Instantly, the atmosphere shifted from night to morning. A bright blue sky and the scent of grass that somehow felt soothing.
Issei looked at the sky and said, "This training… is it killing me?"
"No," Ddraig replied flatly. "This time it's not about offense, but defense. You need something that can resist both magical and physical attacks."
Issei tilted his head, suspicious. "What is it?"
"Dragon Scales."
Issei froze immediately.
Then, slowly… he closed his eyes. And like being trapped in a nightmare, he imagined his body covered in scales, his eyes glowing like a monster, and his expression—resembling a dungeon boss.
His body shivered.
"Ugh, I'm imagining a villain cosplay… That's not something I'd call cool…"
Ddraig let out a long sigh, his voice heavy. "Why do you always think of weird things? They're just scales, not a Halloween costume."
"But I'll end up looking like an antagonist!" Issei protested. "If these grow permanently, I'll get expelled from school. Besides, I don't want to look like a monster!"
"...Someone who wants to become a Dragon but rejects the dragon's form." Ddraig hissed softly.
Issei shouted, "WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS, OI!"
"Next, before the Dragon Eyes, of course... Horns, Wings, Tail. Everything will grow in due time."
Issei immediately dropped to the ground, lying on his back.
"...NOOOOO!! IS THERE NO OTHER OPTION!? I CAN STILL ACCEPT JUST THE DRAGON EYES!"
"This is for your own good," Ddraig said firmly. "Dragon Scales are the manifestation of resistance, immunity, and the stability of dragon energy. Without them, your body will explode when you boost above 512x."
Issei trembled, then held his neck.
"Where do the scales grow?"
"Neck and shoulders. Vital points supporting dragon power. Don't worry, they won't be permanent—as long as you can control them."
"What if I fail?" Issei asked in a small voice.
"If you hesitate… the scales could shatter, or fail to grow at all. Remember, scales aren't armor... they're a declaration of existence. I am a Dragon, and I will not be destroyed."
"…But you were defeated by the three factions," Issei muttered quietly.
"…"
Silence fell.
Ddraig stared at Issei like he wanted to roast him alive.
"Now I really do want to kill you."
"What!? But that's a historical fact!" Issei quickly protested.
"Shut up or I'll end your training right now."
Issei snorted, then raised both hands.
"Alright, alright! I surrender. Here comes the pain again, just like the last time I passed out."
Ddraig raised his claw. Spiritual fire blazed from the tip of the dragon's talon.
"A true dragon… grows from pain."
BOOM—the claw touched Issei's body.
Instantly, Issei jolted as if hit by a million volts of electricity. His body convulsed like being tasered.
"AAAAHHHH WHY DOES THIS FEEL LIKE A STUN GUN!!!" he screamed.
"That's the initial effect," Ddraig said casually, laying his body down again.
A few minutes later, the spasms stopped. Issei slowly got up, panting.
His body trembled. On his shoulders and neck, transparent crystal scales began to form, slowly turning into glossy white like ice.
"Ugh… ITCHY. Why is this so itchy! It's like ants crawling under my skin!"
"Your only options are itch or pain," Ddraig replied.
Issei frantically scratched his shoulder. "I CHOOSE ITCHY, but this is torture!"
But suddenly Ddraig growled. "Don't lose focus! Concentrate! If you lose focus, the scales will fail to grow and shatter!"
Issei forced himself to stop scratching, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
He began channeling magic throughout his body, stabilizing his energy and focusing it on the areas where the scales were forming.
Suddenly—ZRAAANGGGG—the crystal scales turned glowing red like dragon ruby.
Ddraig's eyes widened.
"Hooo... it worked right away? I thought it'd take a day or two."
Issei slowly opened his eyes.
"The itch is gone… but… I'm so tired."
The red scales disappeared, evaporating like mist. Issei's body returned to normal.
"Good thing they're not permanent… Otherwise I'd be mistaken for a final boss in an RPG or… a severe chuunibyou."
He then laid face-down in the grass.
A gentle breeze brushed his face, soothing. His gaze turned to the peaceful artificial sky above.
"Ddraig…"
"Hm?"
"After this… how bad will it get?"
Ddraig smiled faintly. He straightened his body, his glowing dragon eyes staring straight ahead.
"After this… comes the core of all our training."
Issei lazily opened one eye.
"What is it…?"
And Ddraig answered, with a heavy tone…
"Dragon Authority."