[The dragon grimoire is looking for qualifications in you]
A voice that sounded very unfamiliar was heard by Ashoka.
[...!]
[Achivement
[The qualifications are met, deactivating the Grimoire defense mechanism]
The voice continued without minding the confused Ashoka.
[A contract has been successfully achieved with the Dragon Grimoire]
[You can now access the Status window]
"Contract is done, that's it?"
Ashoka questioned only wondering whom to ask the question.
Then he noticed something about the status.
"Status? is it like a system that all reincarnators receive?"
He wondered.
"Status window"
Ashoka had read too many novels not to know how to use the system in such scenarios.
And as if to prove his time reading those novels wasn't for waste, a blue panel appeared before him.
_______________
Name: Ashoka Maurya
Age: 06 (21+6)
Title: None
Mana Attribute: Shadow and dark
Trait: None
???
???
???
???
???
_______________
"Whoa..."
Ashoka was amazed by it.
A status window-like one that appeared in fantasy novels, he was very intrigued by it.
But as if to interrupt his joy another message popped up.
[The will of the Dragon Monarch, Drakorinith awakens due to your strong desire for power]
'Dragon Monarch?'
Ashoka read the message, swallowed hard, and looked around.
Now that he noticed it.
'There is nobody here…'
There was no one in his surroundings.
Although he was sitting in the middle of his chambers just a second ago, now he was somewhere completely different.
It was a dimension where there was nothing.
'No...there is someone here.'
It wasn't visible or audible, but a presence had appeared in the space where he was all alone.
It must have been from the message.
Flash.
A blue flame ignited before his eyes as he stayed vigilant.
From the fist-sized flame, a terrifying wave emerged, resembling the eminence of a volcanic eruption.
"...!!"
{Finally}
From inside the blue flame, a chilly voice sounded. It sent shivers down his spine. A madness that could explode at any moment was contained in the voice.
"What is this…?"
Ashoka had a considerable amount of knowledge due to his previous life and also due to studying the books in the 7th magic tower, but he had never heard nor seen a talking flame.
It took him a second more to realize that the blue flame was not a fire but the eyes of a certain being.
Ashoka's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness as he now could see the being in front of him.
"what the he....!"
The words got stuck in his mouth as he stumbled back, falling on his butt.
Heavy sweat started to pour down his face as he looked at what was present before his eyes.
-Gulp!
A huge figure towering more than 30 feet.
Scales that moved like they had life and shone like jewels.
Two wings that could cover the skies.
And an enormous body that could intimidate even the gods.
It was a dragon.
[The will of the Dragon Monarch, Drakorinith has responded to your call and has awoken from its long slumber]
The voice was heard once again.
{Your call has reached this monarch. Under the name of the Dragon Monarch, Drakorinith, I will grant you power. Offer your mind and body… Hmm?}
The blue flame that introduced himself as Drakorinith, dropped its jaws after looking him up and down.
{A child? Why is a child…? What are you?}
The dragon asked in confusion.
{Who are you? The emotion that reached me wasn't an emotion that a child still wet behind his ears could possess.}
Drakorinith's voice was low but contained turbulent feelings.
"A child?"
Ashoka frowned.
He might have felt it in his previous life, but he had never been infuriated in his current life.
'Hold on, previous life?'
When he thought about it, Ashoka wasn't really a child.
He had the experience of more than 25 years combining both of his lives.
He came to the realization that it could've been due to his reincarnation that the dragon sensed some specialty in him and awakened.
"Who are you, and why did you show up here?"
Ashoka decided to ask the dragon itself, although he was still terrified.
{You are the one who called this monarch}
"I called you?"
Ashoka questioned.
{You blazed it out, 'I will form the contract with the dragon if that's what it takes'. The advent of this monarch was to grant your wish}
"Ah…"
Ashoka remembered that he said something like that before inserting his mana.
'But a dragon really appeared.'
Was the Dragon really so free that it could come to greet anyone that want to form a contract with it?
Ashoka thought while not knowing what was present in front of him was nothing but a part of consciousness left by a dragon which has long been dead.
"Did you say you would grant me power?"
Ashoka asked mustering up the courage.
{Indeed.}
"What is the cost?"
Passionate flames ignited in Ashoka's eyes.
"Nothing is free in the world. From what you said earlier… Are you going to take my body and soul?"
{If you crave for power, it is only natural to offer your paltry mind and body, although I will only occupy half of your consciousness.}
"…"
Ashoka patiently looked at the dragon.
'Did this happen because I was reincarnated?'
If he had to guess, it must've been because he had reincarnated into this world that the dragon noticed something special within him.
Maybe that's why it wanted to take over his body.
"Power is meaningless if I can't wield it by myself."
Ashoka had decided to live this life with his own will not being controlled by anyone.
So, He couldn't accept somebody taking a part of his consciousness just to give him power.
"I have no need for power like that."
No matter how difficult it was, Ashoka would achieve it himself, not by relying on someone else.
The Dragon glared at him with eyes hidden inside the blue flame.
{You are hiding deep and dark resentment at the bottom of your heart.}
He smiled with his teeth.
{I don't care what happened to such a young child. This monarch has already decided, so you just have to offer your body.}
As anger burned up from the dragon's voice, the blue flame struck Ashoka.
"Kuh!"
Ashoka grabbed his chest, bending at the waist.
It was burning.
Not only his body, but his mind was also burning with a blaze.
{Think of your enemy and increase your anger. This monarch will kill him for you, even if he is a god.}
Ashoka's heart was pounding because of the Dragon's creepy voice. It felt as if a flaming spear pierced his heart.
And to add to the pain, the dragon was talking nonsense like killing his enemy and whatnot.
Just when Ashoka was finding it very hard to endure the burning flames, another message appeared in front of him.
[Your innate mana attributes are mutating]
---***---