Kaelen moved with purpose, leaving the chaos of Humblebrook Village behind him. While other players swarmed NPCs, forming desperate queues for every quest marker and haggling over rare materials, he saw a different path. The starter quests—collecting wolf pelts, delivering messages, gathering herbs—offered meager experience and copper coins. That was a game for them. He was playing a different game now, one where every choice mattered, and every step was a declaration: I will not be bound by fate again.
The weight of his inventory felt like redemption. Each item represented another strike against the destiny that had been forced upon him, another step away from hospital walls and fluorescent lights. He adjusted the leather strap of his bag, feeling the slight pull of his Bronze-tier armor, and savored the familiar hum of his equipped gear. Alone at last, Kaelen walked into a deserted stretch of plains where only the rustling of purple-leaved trees and the distant cries of unknown creatures disturbed the silence. The sky above was pale with early afternoon light, and the wind carried the scent of wild grass, the faint tang of ozone from distant storms, and a hint of something primal he hadn't smelled in real life. Finally… some peace.
And nobody tripping over me, he thought, smirking. Small victories.
"I'm actually going to do this," he whispered, voice low and steady, barely audible over the gentle rustle of the leaves. "I'm going to fight. Really fight."
With careful, deliberate movements, he opened his inventory. The Bronze-tier set—[Worn Bracers], [Worn Greaves], [Worn Helm], [Worn Legguards], and the prized [Worn Ring]—transformed his simple tunic into proper adventurer's gear.
Set bonuses were welcome, but Kaelen knew the true treasures awaited elsewhere. He opened the [Silver Armor Selection Chest], elegant renderings of available pieces filling the interface. Developer notes had hinted that necklace and cloak slots were rare, so he carefully selected a necklace.
The chest dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving behind a jade-green pendant that pulsed with gentle energy, warm and reassuring, as though it recognized his presence.
Next, the [Azure Tempest Outfit], cosmetic reward from the gold tier, replaced his tunic with flowing blue robes embroidered in silver patterns that shimmered in the light. Stats appeared alongside.
Finally, he drew the weapon. The [Frostbite Blade] appeared in a flash of pale blue light. Its hilt felt perfectly balanced, the blade forged from what seemed like frozen starlight. A chill ran up his arm—not unpleasant, but sharp and exhilarating.
Level requirements meant nothing to him. Focused, Kaelen activated [Miracle Engine] two times—once for the necklace, once for the sword. Restrictions dissolved like morning mist, leaving him with a thrill of pure, unfiltered power.
A level 1 character with stats belonging to someone five times his level. This trait isn't just broken, he murmured to himself. It's rewriting reality.
But Kaelen knew this was only preparation. His eyes fell on the most precious item: the [Dragon Egg]. Its glow seemed brighter here in the wilderness, reacting to the solitude. He withdrew it carefully, feeling a subtle warmth radiating through his gloves, a heartbeat vibrating faintly against his palms.
[Dragon Egg] (Unique, SSS-Rank)Description: An heir to the lineage of the Ancient Dragons.Bound to Player: Kaelen
Its opalescent shell shifted colors like a living prism, reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the leaves. He could feel a faint pulse from within, steady and deliberate. This isn't just an item. It's alive.
"Alive, and probably judging my life choices," he joked quietly in his mind.
Meanwhile, in the Void Between Realms…
The space between worlds was alive with swirling energies and fragments of forgotten realities. Two colossal beings observed the mortal plane, their immense forms filling the void with silent authority.
"Lord Aurelius," rumbled a younger dragon, bronze scales dull beside his master's radiant white-gold majesty. "Was it truly necessary to entrust your heir to… that mortal? Our bloodline is pure, stretching back to the First Dawn. To consort with humans…"
Aurelius shifted, each movement rippling through the very fabric of existence. "The Covenant binds us all, Karthas. When the system triggered the SSS-Rank event, the rules were clear. I had to offer the egg to the one who achieved it."
Silence filled the void, broken only by whispers of cosmic winds. Aurelius continued, amusement tinged with caution in his deep voice. "But the Covenant says nothing about the mortal's ability to keep it. It assumes they won't."
Karthas tilted his massive head, bronze eyes narrowing. "My Lord?"
"The grand announcement was not a blessing—it was a hunting call," Aurelius explained. "The egg glows like a beacon. Every greedy adventurer, every power-hungry guild, every ancient evil stirring in the deep places—they all know it exists. They all want it."
"Ah," Karthas understood. "A level 1 human, shining like a star amid predators."
"Precisely," Aurelius said, ancient eyes reflecting amusement and curiosity. "When he falls—and he will—the egg, unhatched and unbound by any true covenant, will return to me. Temporary storage with built-in retrieval."
Back on the plains…
Kaelen placed the egg on a flat stone, feeling the slight tremor as its energy pulsed through him. This was the moment of truth—not just for his character, but for his life itself.
"Hatch," he whispered, pouring all his hope into the word. "Please."
The system response was immediate:
System Alert: Please note, this [Dragon Egg] lacks the necessary conditions for incubation. You must gather:
[True Dragon's Blood] (SSS-Rare)
[Aureate Liquor] (SS-Rank)
[Ancient Spirit Herb] (SS-Rank)
[Stellar Core Pearl] (SS-Rank)
Impossible. Legend-tier items, perhaps nonexistent. The hope in his chest threatened to curdle into despair.
Then he remembered the doctor's face, the pen in his hand. Anger and determination ignited in him.
"No," he said aloud, voice firm. "I refuse."
System Alert: You have used your trait [Miracle Engine] (Unique, SSS-Rank) to ignore material requirements!
The egg glowed brighter, vibrations intensifying. Another message flashed:
System Alert: Pet/Companion System locked. Must reach Level 80 to unlock.
Level 80. The game was actively resisting him.
Kaelen's calm returned. Not today. Not ever. A faint smile curved his lips.
System Alert: You have used your trait [Miracle Engine] (Unique, SSS-Rank) to ignore system restrictions!System Alert: Incubation in progress…
White-gold cracks spread across the shell like lightning, pulsing with raw, ancient energy. The ground trembled beneath him.
One second. Two. Ten.
A sharp CRACK! echoed. A scaled head burst through the top of the shell. Eyes of molten gold blinked slowly, assessing the world. Clumsy but hungry, the creature began devouring its shell, delicate scales forming beneath its skin.
Kaelen stared. Small, vulnerable… but fiercely determined. Just like me.
"Mewl!" it squeaked.
System Notification: You have successfully incubated the [Dragon Egg] and obtained the ultra-rare pet: [Heir of the Ancient Dragon]! Form an [Equal Covenant]?
"Yes!"
A magnificent magic circle flared beneath them, golden light enveloping both. Ancient runes spun in the air, weaving a bond beyond ordinary rules. Kaelen felt something snap into place in his soul—a connection fragile as a spider's web yet strong as adamantium.
System Alert: You have successfully formed an [Equal Covenant] with the [Heir of the Ancient Dragon]! Luck +1!
The hatchling, now the size of a small cat, stumbled into the air, wings flapping unsteadily. It nudged Kaelen's cheek, instinctual trust shining in its eyes.
"We're in this together now, little one," Kaelen whispered.
The dragon purred, vibrating through him. In the void between worlds, Aurelius's triumphant smile vanished, replaced by stunned silence. The impossible had happened.
And Kaelen, for the first time since his diagnosis, felt truly alive.