"E-Eh!?"
"I beg you! Please let me pass this exam!" My cries echoed in the whole combat room.
All the tension and fighting intent has ceased to exist in the arena. It was replaced by an awkward silence that remained for more than five seconds. Yehanna Lancelot also lowered her katana and started to hear me out.
"W-What are you getting at? You know you're in the middle of the remedial exams, right?" Yehanna asked.
"I know!" I cried as I kept my head down. "That's why I'm begging you! My entire fate is now in your hands!"
"Fate?" Yehanna Lancelot sheathed her sword and crossed her arms, ready to absorb everything I say.
"I will be disowned by my family if I fail this remedial exam! After you beat me, I will be living down the streets homeless. My body and soul will wither away until I'm just a ragged cloth, waiting to die in some lonely back alley. I'm so pitiful!"
"H-Huh?!" Yehanna Lancelot exclaimed. "Listen, don't mix me up with your problems. My job here is to check if you pass or fail the remedial exam, not to check if there's a roof over your head!"
Yehanna Lancelot turned around and started to step away from me; a disgusting narcissist who swallowed up all my pride to maintain my status.
One, two, three steps. Her foot tapped the ground, smooth, slow, and cold. Then she talked again.
"If you're giving up, step out of the arena." Yehanna flipped her long hair.
"I'm not giving up!" I cried.
"Then stand up and fight!" Yehanna yelled.
"I won't fight either!"
"H-Huh!?" The lady Dragonoid exclaimed. "What is that!? What do you want me to do!? I don't have all day! I still need to choose a Dragon Sage worthy of my contract!"
"Please let me be your Dragon Sage!" I cried.
"Huh!?" Now the beautiful Dragonoid lady is a lot more confused.
"No one expects much from me. I am a weak, lazy, moronic freeloading shut-in who lives in my family's basement. I'm not good enough to become a Dragon Sage. I'm not even handsome... I know that much. But this façade of narcissism is the only armor I got!"
Tears started to flow from my eyes as I started to slam on the ground. Even so, I tried to express my true feelings of frustration of myself.
"The skill gap between us is like heaven and deep-sea bottom. No one has to tell me I have no chance of beating you. I already know that!"
"Mister Corasell, are you-"
"And yet, I still tried. I tried even if I have zero chance. I have to try because this is a do or die for me."
After that, I can no longer speak. My voice is already shaking that I'm muffling my own words. My aching lungs also did not help. I just cried, sniffed my snot over and over as I drown myself in eternal frustration.
"Raise your head." It was Yehanna's voice.
When I looked up, a soft hand warmed my wet cheek. Then I saw the most beautiful angel in my life. Her dark blue hair danced in the air. Her crimson ruby eyes sparkled with compassion, and her rosy cheeks gave out warmth.
"Fine. I will be accepting your Dragon Sage Contract." Yehanna smiled brighter than the sun.
"Huh?"
Yehanna Lancelot gently grabbed my hand that is wearing the Dragon Seal gloves and put them on her chest. I felt the softness of her skin and the beating of her heart. A magical circle materialized, and an electrifying jolt crawled on my bones.
White flowers started to bloom from the ground due to the overflow of mana in the air. A weak petal hurricane was formed around us.
"Miss Yehanna Lancelot..." I muttered. I still can't believe that she surrendered.
"I made a resolve to destroy all the examinees today for one reason: Dragon Sage aspirants are full of pride and arrogance. They think they own the world just because they are an aristocrat or a duke. They bully the weak and show off that they are strong just because people look upon them."
Yehanna sighed. Then she continued to explain while touching both of my cheeks.
"But you, on the other hand, is different. You decided to throw away your pride and admitted that your arrogance is just for show. You are fully aware of your abilities and limitations. Because of that, you defeated my resolve. You beat me~"
"T-Thank you, Miss Yehanna Lancelot!" I finally cried with happiness. I'm resisting my urge to hug her right now! She's my personal angel~
"BUT!" The beautiful girl raised her index finger. "Now you owe me one favor. I let you pass this exam and signed a Dragon Sage Contract, but it's not for free, okay!"
"W-What do you want? I'll do anything! Just don't ask for money!" I cried. "I'm completely broke!"
"It's not that, idiot!" She kissed her index finger and blushed. "It's a secret. I'll tell you when the time is right."
"Now I'm curious." I pouted.
"Ahahaha!" The angel jollily laughed.
Yehanna Lancelot took my hand and helped me stand up. Then, she took two steps backward and looked at me in the eyes.
"Now, let's do the final step of the Dragon Sage Ritual," Yehanna said. "Chant the spell to turn me into my Dragon Form."
"Right." I nodded.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I can still recall the chanting of unlocking the full power of a Dragonoid since it was always asked in the written entrance examination of this academy.
I spread out my hand pointing at my Dragonoid partner, Yehanna Lancelot. A red magical circle appeared that absorbed mana in the air. Lightning sparks formed around my body, while Yehanna Lancelot bathe in golden orbs surrounding her.
"From the fallen empire of the dragon queen to the sinful land of Old Alterra
Thy wishes crystalized for eternal liberation
As I stand upon the wake of the aftermath of the destruction
To the Gods, Kings, Heroes, and First Men
Let my prayer be heard and my blood form a path
And from my essence, give me the power to unleash your true shape
Heed my call! Come forth, from your desire and your own free will!
Release the seal in your heart and be resurrected!"
There was a blinding flash of light.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a mystical creature that has been seen as a god since ancient times.
It was a ten-meter-tall humanoid dragon that can stand on her own two feet. Her claws are like golden razor-sharp swords that could cut diamonds in half. Her skin is filled with white and blue armor. Its wings are made of levitating blue swords. Its arms wear clawed gauntlets made of adamantine. The tip of her tail is marked with a golden cross. And its tri-horned head is protected by a white cybernetic helmet.
When the dragon spread out her sword wings, a rainbow halo was created on her back.
This is Yehanna Lancelot's Dragon Form - a Cyber Angel Dragon.