When I opened my eyes the first thing I felt was stabbing pain in my head, it felt like someone was slashing my brain from various ankles, it took some time for the pain to go away.
I looked at my surroundings, it was dark…..or is it?
I can't tell because I can see very clearly but my mind is telling me it's dark but if it is dark how can I see clearly?
Well, whatever I can deal with later now the most important thing is that I am inside a cave. Why am I inside a cave? Not only that I feel something different in my body like my height has decreased dramatically and it's very hard to stand up on two feet.
To find the answer I only have to look down, I no longer have a human body. Instead, I had a grey-scaled body. Instead of a pair of arms and legs, I had four legs and I felt a leg behind me which I am guessing is my tail..... And I am very small, a size of a small cat
I am not a human huh, might be a lucid dream
I tried to stand up, but my legs were wobbly. There was not enough strength in my legs to carry the weight of my body, so I fell and it hurt...hurt?
Wait!? Why am I feeling pain in a dream? The only logical explanation is that it's not a dream, and if it is not a dream then what it is.
Many scenarios went through my mind, but most of them didn't make sense. Among those one particular scenario made a lot of sense.
Hahaha....this is not funny,
Don't tell me I got reincarnated?
What the hell?
Dammit why me? I am not even a Japanese citizen, much less a NEET.
Fuck my life
"Auuiii"
*******
It only took me some moments to calm down, that is a skill of mine but we speak about that later. Now the important thing is that I got reincarnated as a Non-human protagonist nonetheless.
What am I? You ask
Well, I think I am a dragon.
Cool right?, I guessed it, kind of elongated nose and mouth like a dinosaur with a pair of curved horns on either side, their size is small but big for a dragon of my size, I had another horn growing from the centre of my forehead, this one is a little larger than the ones in the side. My field of vision does not cover my back, it's the same as when I was human albeit a little wider, so I am guessing I have eyes in front, not on the side.
My body was covered with grey scales and my underbelly also had scales but this one is much smaller and looks weaker, I have four legs covered in scales and equipped with razor-sharp claws and my tail also was covered with the same scale but at the edge a little sharp curved exoskeleton that looked file blade.
And most importantly…..wings, I have wings. I didn't notice it earlier due to sticking closer to my body like a membrane.
(Reference art is same as the cover, but I will drop it here for make it easier)
Man, that's so cool, can I flap it?
Yes!...yes I can flap it!, it was just like swinging an arm but no matter how hard I flap I didn't raise from the ground
"Auuuiiiii " I stopped tampering after realising it was no use. but I think I am a dragon or something related to a dragon I guess. I can't make sure cause I have only heard about dragons in stories and the only visualisation I have of a dragon was from television.
[You are indeed a dragon]
"AUUUIII... AUUUIIIII"
That was my shrieking, I was surprised but hey if a voice suddenly called out in the dark you will cry too.
But even though that was only for a few moments, I gripped my emotions in my clutches and regained my calm. I turned towards my assailant and screeched like an angry cat, showing my sharp teeth.
Okay the screeching part was not me
I mean it was me but it was the dragon me.
How do I know? I don't….. I just don't see how my human side can screech like that. Even if I can….. I won't admit it so let's leave it at that.
[I understand] the floating ball answered.
Yes, it was a white floating ball, there was a semi-circular pattern which was in black colour that looked awfully like a monitor and in the black monitor there was a pair of blue dots.
"A high-tech robot?"
[My form was designed to be convenient for the Guardian candidate, and heavily influenced by the path taken by your world]
"Path?"
[Path, the way one walks. It is like a never-ending road you have to travel as an individual, as well as a civilization collectively but at some point, the road will break into multiple roads, and every path is equally hard to travel, as well as equally beneficial. Which path you want to take is up to you but once you walk on that path you don't get a retry.....The path your world choose was science] the floating ball answered in its robotic androgynous voice
"Okay, what the hell? You can read my mind?"
[After all I said that's what you are worried about?]
"Well it's not like I am not interested in other things you said but hey answer me"
[No I cannot read your mind unless it's a question or something you want me to hear, there are several restrictions for me even if I am your handler]
"Okay, things are getting more confusing, a handler? And can you tell me what the hell is happening to me]
[Yes, you just got rescued by the Will of the One, and it has chosen you as the next Guardian candidate and brought you here for nurturing ]
"Aui?"
Suddenly the Robot raised its head and looked behind me [your first opponent is coming]
I followed its eyes only to find out that my first opponent is a frog, quite big for one. Its skin had light blue colour with green stripes and kinda had an exotic look.
"Auuiii Aui Auiiiiii" (wait I have to fight that thing? Why?)
Abruptly the frog opened its mouth and its tongue lashed out like a whip. I had already seen it opening its mouth and there was still a distance between us, so I had enough time to jump back enough to escape from the attack.
[To survive of course]