The dragon looked down on me in disgust.
He sneered and growled as it lowered its massive head inches away from me. I closed my eyes and pulled myself into a ball.
Shit, is he gonna fucking eat me? Is this how he wants to take control?
"Boy, I did not bring you here to cower, stand." The command reverberated through my soul, shaking the existence beneath me.
I stood to my feet as fast as I could, careful to keep my head low. It was when I stared at my feet that I realized I was back in my old body.
But that's not important. Just do what he says and don't get killed. "I'm sorry sir, is there anything else I can do?"
The dragon's snout wrinkled and revealed rows of sharp teeth. "Such a pathetic display, I will burn that weakness out of you soon enough." He turned his attention towards the core that swirled before us.
"Look at the core, specifically the outermost ring." He gestured his snout toward the core.
My gaze focused on it. "I-I see it."
The dragon frowned. "Stop talking." He stepped towards the core. "Follow me, boy."
I dragged my feet and kept my head low. We stopped inches away from the first ring. The energy that radiated from it was immense.
"The seals are purposely imperfect. They were made to reduce energy flow so that this vessel could adapt to my power."
He glanced down at me.
"Touch the ring, boy. Absorb enough energy to coat your arm."
"Touch the ring?" I raised my head to ask. "H-how? It's moving."
The moment the words left my lips the first ring froze in place with a loud click.
"There." The dragon growled with impatience.
With a gulp, I slowly extended my hand. My hand hovered over the surface of the ring.
My fingers trembled with fear.
Fear of pain, fear of failure, fear of death…
"Fear is nothing but a weakness holding you back. Shed that fear, take charge for once in your pathetic existence, and grip onto power." The dragon leaned closer. "Aren't you tired of losing? Don't you want to know victory? This is how. Touch it."
I gripped the ring.
The shock was immediate. A tsunami of energy rushed up my arm and burned me down to the bone. "Ahhhhhhh!" I yanked my arm back and collapsed on my ass.
The dragon let out a huff as he closed his eyes. "Not a second… You couldn't last a second."
My arm throbbed as if it had been shoved in a deep fryer. I cradled it against my chest as I pushed myself away from both the core and the dragon.
"It-it burns." I whimpered.
The dragon didn't offer sympathy. "Since you're too weak to handle this power, you will meditate in its presence until you can."
I blinked.
The dragon turned away from the core and disappeared into the expanse.
"Hey wait! Wait, how do I get out of here!" My pleas fell on deaf ears. I was trapped in a mental prison with no escape.
— — —
The void was silent.
I didn't know how long I had been here, there didn't seem to be any passage of time. There wasn't much sound either. Just the hum of the core and the thump of my heart.
I sat with my legs crossed. "Stupid lizard," I muttered under my breath. "Stupid magic, stupid world, and this stupid situation."
I should've just died back then. Better for me to be erased from existence than face this torture. I looked down at my hands. Calloused from hours of gaming or groveling on the ground.
Funnily enough, I missed that world. At least then I could look up Kaneko's skirt when she stood over me. I grinned as I thought about it.
The way she looked at me, she must've known right? Eh whatever… not like I'll see her again.
My gaze drifted back to the first ring. I couldn't help but think about how video gamey it felt without a dragon breathing down my neck.
Speaking of games, I used to cheese the shit out of them. People like to get all pretentious about beating the game the normal way. But I refuse to work hard for the sake of success.
I raised an eyebrow.
Maybe I can cheese this situation too? Hm, what if instead of trying to take all the energy at once, I just expose myself to it little by little?
It might take longer, sure. But at least it won't hurt as much.
I stood to my feet with a grunt. I approached the ring. "All I need to do is touch it with the tip of my finger for a fraction of a second."
I extended my hand again. Heat radiated off the ring like I was standing in front of an oven.
"Just the tip," I whispered to myself. "A hit and run."
I thrust my finger forward.
Tsssst.
I yanked my hand back and shook it. I still felt the heat, no doubt about it. But it was immensely more tolerable than just gripping the ring.
This was good news. Let the cheese begin.
I reached out and touched the ring again. I struck like a viper. Just a tap and pull. Over and over. It was monotonous. It was boring.
But little by little, the sear of each touch dulled into a throbbing ache. And eventually I didn't feel anything at all.
I didn't know if it was because I increased my pain tolerance or if I burned my nerves. But either way, I was ready to grab the ring.
My hand thrust forward and gripped the ring. The energy surged up my arm just like before. But this time, instead of burning me, it was warm.
Like ramen broth.
Guess it also helped that the pain was more mental than physical. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had a hand left to test with.
"That was the most deplorable act I've ever witnessed." A familiar voice grumbled behind me. "You've spent the equivalent of hours doing that. And yet you smile with pride?"
The smug grin was whipped from my lips when I turned to see the dragon looming over me. A nervous chuckle escaped me. "M-My apologies… master."
The dragon sneered. "Despite your pitiful display you've managed to make progress. In times like these, results often trump the method."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Holding this mental space has drained me. We will return to the conscious world and begin again tomorrow." The dragon turned away as the void shattered.
When I opened my eyes I was greeted by the possessive gaze of my 'mother'. The captain from before. Her gaze was like looking into two deep, blue pools.
"Sleep well… Lafayette." She whispered.