The night sky over Astralis burned crimson as the last bells of alarm echoed across the city.
Rayzen didn't look back.
His boots splashed through the rain-soaked mud as he vanished into the forest beyond the academy walls. The Shadow Hatchling clung to his shoulder, its molten eyes scanning every flicker of movement.
Each breath tore through his chest like broken glass.
His body still hadn't recovered from the bond. Every few minutes, his veins would flare with gold light — the dragon's essence trying to fuse deeper into his soul.
[System Warning: Synchronization level unstable — 9%. Overload risk increasing.]
"Yeah, I noticed," Rayzen muttered through gritted teeth. "You could try fixing that, maybe?"
The voice of Kael'Thyrax slithered into his mind like smoke.
"Fix? You seek mercy from the one who devours stars? You amuse me, little mortal."
"Then amuse yourself quietly," he snapped. "Unless you're planning to help me not die tonight."
The dragon chuckled darkly, a rumble that made the trees tremble.
"Survive this night, and I might consider it."
The Wildlands
The forest soon gave way to open plains — the border of the Outer Wildlands, a forbidden zone where mana storms tore through the sky and beasts ruled without masters.
Rayzen stopped at the edge, panting.
The Wildlands were a death sentence to most tamers. Their signals couldn't reach inside, and mana distortions devoured weaker beasts whole.
But he had no choice.
Behind him were soldiers, spelltrackers, and the entire might of Astralis Academy. Ahead of him — chaos.
"Looks like hell," he whispered.
The Shadow Hatchling let out a low growl, its wings spreading slightly. It could feel the raw mana in the air — thick, ancient, alive.
Rayzen took a step forward, and the world shifted.
The ground rippled beneath his feet. Trees twisted unnaturally, their branches moving as if breathing. The sky shimmered with colors that didn't exist in the normal world — violet storms, golden lightning veins.
[Entering Zone: Outer Wildlands — Rank Unknown]
[System Adaptation Activated]
Instantly, the air around him became heavier. His shadow lengthened, stretching far beyond his body. The dragon mark on his arm pulsed once — then settled into a calm glow.
"My kind once ruled here," Kael'Thyrax murmured. "This land remembers power… and it fears me still."
"Then maybe that fear will keep me alive," Rayzen muttered.
The Beasts Stir
The deeper he went, the quieter it became.
No insects. No birds. Just silence and distant thunder.
The hatchling tensed, letting out a faint hiss.
A moment later, the ground to Rayzen's left exploded — a blur of scales and claws lunged from the undergrowth. A Mana Panther, its body flickering between solid and spectral, pounced straight for his throat.
Rayzen reacted on instinct.
He raised his hand, and the mark on his arm flared.
"Draconic Resonance—Flame Veil!"
A wave of black fire erupted around him, swallowing the beast mid-leap. The forest filled with a deep, resonant roar — not his own, but the echo of Kael'Thyrax through him.
When the flames cleared, the panther lay motionless, its eyes wide with fear even in death.
Rayzen fell to his knees, gasping.
His body shook from the energy drain.
[Beast Core Detected: Tier-3. Absorb?]
He hesitated. "Absorb… what happens if I do?"
"You grow stronger. Or you burn."
"Your body decides which."
"...Great."
He clenched his fist. "Do it."
The core floated from the beast's chest — a glowing orb of blue light — and dissolved into Rayzen's hand. A searing pain tore through him, like fire crawling beneath his skin. He screamed, the dragon mark on his arm spreading up to his shoulder.
[Mana Core Absorbed. Strength +12. Draconic Sync +3%. New Skill Fragment Detected.]
He collapsed against a tree, trembling, sweat pouring down his face.
The Shadow Hatchling nudged his cheek softly, letting out a small chirp.
"Yeah…" Rayzen groaned weakly. "Still alive. Barely."
Campfire and Memory
Night deepened. The storm above quieted into a dim drizzle.
Rayzen found a hollow under a broken cliff and built a small fire with mana sparks. The hatchling curled beside him, occasionally snapping at fireflies that glowed with golden light.
For the first time since the bond, Rayzen had time to think.
"What happens now?" he whispered. "The academy's probably labeled me a heretic. The Empire will send hunters soon."
"They will come," the dragon replied, its tone colder now. "They will come to chain you, to dissect you, to worship me through your corpse."
"Comforting," Rayzen muttered. "You're full of hope."
"I am full of truth."
Silence stretched between them for a moment. Then the dragon's voice softened.
"You cannot run forever, mortal. You must claim power faster than they can find you. The Wildlands hide ancient hearts— remnants of my kin. Awaken them, and you awaken yourself."
Rayzen looked up. "You mean… other dragons?"
"Fragments. Shells. Their bones still hum with the memory of flight. Seek them."
He stared into the fire, lost in thought.
The idea terrified him. But it also pulled him — the same way gravity pulls a falling star.
"Then that's what I'll do," he said quietly. "If I have to walk through hell to earn this power… then so be it."
The Hunter Arrives
But hell was already walking toward him.
Far beyond the cliffs, a shadow drifted through the trees — silent, patient, wearing the cloak of a Royal Hunter. A crystal sigil glowed faintly on his palm, tracking the remnants of Rayzen's mana trail.
The man's voice was calm as he whispered into his communicator, "Target confirmed. Rayzen Kairn. He's alive — and carrying a Class-0 signature. Possibly connected to Kael'Thyrax."
A voice crackled back through static.
"Class-0? That's impossible. Eliminate him immediately."
"As you command."
The hunter drew a slender blade that shimmered with silver runes. Each rune pulsed once — locking onto Rayzen's heartbeat across the valley.
Ambush
Rayzen didn't sense it at first. The Wildlands were thick with noise — mana winds, shifting shadows, faint whispers of beasts. But the hatchling suddenly stood up, hissing at the darkness.
"Something's wrong," he murmured.
The air grew colder. His breath turned white. Then—
a blade flashed.
Rayzen barely dodged in time. The weapon sliced through his sleeve, carving a line of light through the stone behind him. Sparks of silver mana scattered like snowflakes.
A figure stepped from the shadows — tall, armored in black trimmed with crimson. His eyes glowed faintly under his hood.
"Rayzen Kairn," the hunter said softly. "By decree of the Imperial Council, your existence is a threat to the balance of this world."
"Balance?" Rayzen spat. "You mean the empire's leash."
The hunter raised his blade. "Then let me show you what balance looks like."
He vanished.
Literally — one second he was there, the next, the air itself folded.
[Warning: Spatial Distortion Detected.]
Rayzen spun, eyes searching—too late. The hunter reappeared behind him, slashing downward.
The hatchling leapt between them, unleashing a burst of black fire that collided with the blade mid-swing. The explosion lit the night sky.
Rayzen stumbled back, raising his arm instinctively. "Flame Veil!"
The barrier formed — barely — just enough to block the next strike.
Kael'Thyrax's voice thundered through him:
"Pathetic! You wield a god's heart and cower like prey! Fight, or die!"
Something in Rayzen snapped.
He clenched his teeth, slammed his hand into the ground — and the dragon mark flared across his whole body.
Black fire roared outward, carving a massive circle around them.
[Skill Unlocked: Draconic Surge – Level 1]
The hunter's cloak tore in the blast. His expression flickered — the first sign of surprise. "You shouldn't have that power!"
"Neither should I be alive," Rayzen growled, eyes blazing. "But here we are."
He charged.
Their weapons collided — sword against claw, mana against flame. Each impact shook the trees.
Finally, Rayzen roared — the sound fused with Kael'Thyrax's echo. A spectral dragon burst from his back, striking the hunter with a wave of searing energy.
The man flew across the clearing, slamming into a boulder. Smoke rose from his armor.
But when the dust settled, he was… smiling.
"Interesting," the hunter whispered. "You really are his vessel."
Before Rayzen could answer, the man vanished again—this time leaving behind a single glowing mark in the air.
[Tracking Sigil Deployed.]
[Subject Location Logged.]
Rayzen's eyes widened. "No—!"
The sigil pulsed once, then exploded into a column of light shooting toward the sky.
Anyone with mana sensitivity for miles would have seen it.
The dragon's voice rumbled with fury.
"Fool! They will all come now."
Rayzen clenched his fists. His chest heaved, the mark burning with power. "Then let them come."