[Location: Wolvendom – Deep Forest]
[Time: 09:00 AM – The Next Morning]
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of ancient trees. I lay curled up on a patch of moss, my tail twitching instinctively. For a moment, I expected to wake up in my bed, waiting for Akari to jump on me to wake me up for school.
Then I opened my silver eyes and saw a giant blue wolf sniffing my ear.
"Wake," Razor said, poking my scaly flank with a finger. "Hunt. Hungry."
I groaned—a low rumble in my chest—and stretched. My spine popped satisfyingly. Being a dragon had its perks; I felt incredibly energized.
"Morning, Razor," I projected via telepathy. "What's on the menu?"
"Meat," Razor replied simply. "And... Boreas wants see you."
My scales stiffened. Boreas. Andrius. The Wolf of the North. One of the Four Winds of Mondstadt. If there was anyone who would kick me out of this forest (or kill me), it was him.
"Great," I muttered. "Meeting the landlord on day two."
[Location: Lupus Boreas Arena]
The arena was colder than the rest of the forest. A thick mist clung to the ground, swirling around the massive spirit sword in the center.
A gust of freezing wind blew past us, coalescing into a giant, phantom wolf. Ice formed on the ground where he stepped. Andrius towered over me. I was the size of a regular wolf; he was the size of a house.
"An outsider," Andrius's voice boomed, not in my head, but in the air itself. "And a dragon, no less. Your scent... is not of Dvalin's brood. Nor of the Vishaps beneath the earth."
I stepped forward, shielding Razor slightly with my wing. "I am Raiden. I mean no harm to your pack."
Andrius narrowed his glowing blue eyes. "Intent is proven in combat. Survive, hatchling."
He didn't wait. He swiped a massive claw, sending a wave of Cryo energy rushing toward me.
[Great Sage]
"No kidding!"
I used [Spatial Manipulation]—the skill I stole from the Rifthound. I didn't teleport far, just a blink to the left, barely dodging the ice wave. My flank stung from the cold air alone.
I lunged, aiming for his leg, not to hurt him but to show I could bite back. Andrius sidestepped faster than his size should allow and slammed his tail into me.
BAM!
I went flying, crashing into a stone pillar. [Dragon Scales] and [Steel Strength] took the brunt of the impact, but it still knocked the wind out of me.
"Not bad," Andrius rumbled. "You have the shell of a dragon, but you fight like a cornered rat."
I shook off the dizziness. He was right. I was fighting like a scared human. I needed to use my tools.
"Sage! Give me a solution!"
[Great Sage]
I roared. It wasn't just a noise; it was a projection of pure will. [Dragon's Haki].
The air vibrated. The weaker wolves watching from the sidelines whined and backed away. Even Andrius paused for a fraction of a second.
In that moment, I opened my mouth. [Predator].
I didn't try to eat him. I ate the fog. I sucked in the Cryo-infused mist surrounding him.
[System Message]
Blue frost coated my scales. I felt lighter. I dashed forward, moving twice as fast as before, and stopped my claws just inches from Andrius's throat.
Silence filled the arena.
Andrius let out a huff of cold air that sounded like a laugh. "Resourceful. You feast on the elements themselves. Very well. You may stay, Raiden. But do not bring the corrupt storm into my woods."
[Location: Starfell Lake – Outskirts of Mondstadt]
[Time: Three Days Later]
Life with Razor was simple. We hunted boars. I ate slimes.
I had been busy grinding.
- I ate a Pyro Slime. gained [Fireball] and [Thermal Fluctuation Resistance].
- I ate a Hydro Slime. gained [Water Cannon].
- I ate a Mitachurl's Shield. My [Dragon Scales] hardened, turning a darker, metallic shade.
But something was bothering me. Razor was covered in scars. Some were old, but some were fresh cuts from thorns or mishaps during hunting.
"Razor, come here," I said, nudging him while we rested by the lake.
"Hm?" He looked up, chewing on a piece of roasted meat (I cooked it with Fireball).
I activated [Lust].
It wasn't sexual. It was the desire to nurture. A warm, golden light gathered in my mouth. I leaned in and licked a nasty gash on his arm.
[Unique Skill: Lust – Kiss of Love]
The effect was instant. The wound glowed and stitched itself together. Razor's eyes widened. He looked at his arm, then at me.
"Warm..." Razor whispered. "Pain... gone. Magic?"
"Something like that," I said, feeling satisfied. "Big brothers look out for their family, right?"
"Brother..." Razor tested the word. He grinned, a rare, genuine smile. "Raiden... brother."
BOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the ground, coming from the direction of the Whispering Woods. Birds scattered into the sky. Smoke billowed up in a mushroom cloud.
Razor jumped up, grabbing his sword. "Danger?"
I squinted. That wasn't a monster explosion. It smelled like... gunpowder? And burnt fish?
"Stay here, Razor," I said, my curiosity piqued. "I'll check it out."
I spread my wings. I couldn't fly properly yet—I was too heavy—but I could glide and boost myself with wind magic. I took off, dashing through the trees toward the smoke.
When I arrived at the lake, the scene was chaotic. Dead fish were floating everywhere, belly up. The water was steaming.
And standing in the middle of the destruction was a very small, very red child.
She had a red cap, a backpack way too big for her, and she was holding a round, cute-looking bomb.
"Oh no..." the girl squeaked, looking at the fish. "Master Jean is going to be so mad! I blasted too many!"
Klee. The Spark Knight.
She looked around in panic, then her red eyes locked onto me. I was perched on a rock, looking down at her. A black dragon with glowing blue veins and silver eyes.
Most kids would scream.
Klee's face lit up like the sun.
"WOAAAAH!" She ran toward me instead of away. "It's a lizard! A big, cool, spiky lizard! Did you see the fish go boom?"
I blinked. "Uh... yes?"
She stopped, gasping. "YOU CAN TALK?! Are you a Dodoco? No, you're scaly. Are you a Dragon? Are you here to help me hide the fish?"
This kid... she had zero survival instincts. And she was adorable.
I hopped down from the rock. She was tiny. I was significantly bigger than her.
"I am Raiden," I said, puffing out my chest. "And if you leave those fish there, the tall lady in blue will definitely find out."
Klee looked terrified. "Nooo! Solitary Confinement is scary! Help me, Mr. Dragon!"
I sighed. Here I go again.
"Great Sage, do we have storage space?"
[Great Sage]
"Alright, kid," I said, opening my mouth. [Predator].
A vortex formed, sucking all the dead fish (and the water around them) into my stomach instantly. The lake looked pristine again, albeit with less water.
Klee clapped her hands, jumping up and down. "So cool! You're like a vacuum cleaner! Can you eat bombs too?"
"Let's not test that," I said hastily.
"Klee!" A stern voice echoed from the path.
Klee froze. "It's Master Jean!" She looked at me with pleading eyes. "Hide me!"
I didn't have time to think. I grabbed the back of her backpack with my teeth (gently) and tossed her onto my back.
"Hold on!"
I channeled [Wind Magic] into my legs and bolted into the forest, carrying the Spark Knight away from the Acting Grand Master.
"YAAAY! GO DRAGON GO!" Klee cheered, holding onto my horns.
I was a reincarnated soul, a Dragon, and a possessor of a Deadly Sin skill. And now, I was apparently the getaway driver for a kindergartner terrorist.
This world is going to be fun.