Natsuo stood alone on the scorched battlements of the ruined castle, his face
emotionless as the wind howled around him. His eyes scanned the sky, but
there was no solace in the darkness. For two days, he had been trying to open a
portal back to his own dimension, but every time he tried, nothing but a flicker
of energy appeared before it fizzled out.
Luci floated lazily beside him, her usual playfulness dampened by the tension in
the air. "Still no luck, huh?" she asked, her voice tinged with impatience. "It's
been two days, Natsuo. Are we just going to keep doing this until you collapse
from exhaustion?"
Natsuo didn't answer immediately. His brow furrowed as he raised his hand,
summoning the faint glow of the yellow orb—the power of copying abilities. He
could feel it surging within him, but his ability to create portals was still too
weak. Every attempt felt like it was slipping through his fingers, just out of
reach.
Again, he tried. His fingers cut through the air, tracing intricate symbols in the
space before him. Sparks of energy formed in front of his hand, swirling into the
shape of a portal. For a brief moment, it appeared—glowing, pulsating—but
just as quickly, it flickered and vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.
"Damn it," Natsuo muttered under his breath, his frustration barely contained.
Luci sighed dramatically, twirling in mid-air. "Maybe you should take a break,
you know? Get some rest, regain your energy. This whole 'portal thing' isn't
really working out, is it?"
Natsuo remained silent. He clenched his fists, feeling the power of multiplication
thrumming through him. He had the ability to multiply anything by a trillion,
yet he hadn't considered the possibility of using it on his own abilities. The
thought struck him suddenly, like a bolt of lightning.
The solution had been in front of him all along.
His eyes narrowed as the realization set in. Multiply the ability. If he could
multiply his portal power by an enormous factor, perhaps that would give him
the strength to open the kind of portal he needed. His fingers twitched slightly,
feeling the urge to test this theory.
Luci noticed the change in his expression. "What's going on in that twisted
little brain of yours now?"
Natsuo stood up straighter, his gaze sharpening as he summoned the red orb—
the power of multiplication. He held it in his hand, feeling its weight, its raw
potential. He had used this ability before to multiply objects, attacks, even his
physical strength. But now he was going to push it further.
"I'm going to multiply my portal ability," he said, his voice firm and resolute.
"By a billion."
Luci blinked, surprised. "A billion? That's… excessive, even for you."
Natsuo's lips curled into a faint smile. "No other choice."
With that, he focused all his energy into the orb. The air around him crackled
with power as the red glow intensified, pulsating like a heartbeat. His mind was
focused solely on one task—enhancing his ability to open portals. Slowly, the
energy began to build, flowing from the orb into his body, filling every fiber of
his being with raw, unrestrained power.
Luci watched in awe as Natsuo's aura grew stronger, more intense. The very air
around them seemed to warp and bend under the pressure of his power. It was
like standing in the eye of a storm—calm yet brimming with untold energy.
Natsuo raised his hand once again, cutting through the air with precision. This
time, the portal did not fizzle out. A massive tear in the fabric of reality opened
before him, its edges crackling with dark energy. The portal grew larger, wider,
until it towered over them both.
A wave of cold air rushed out from the portal, carrying with it the scent of
ancient magic, of something otherworldly. The temperature dropped instantly,
and frost began to form on the stones around them. Luci shivered, her eye wide
with unease.
"Natsuo… I don't like this," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "This… this
isn't your home."
Natsuo stared into the swirling abyss of the portal, his expression unreadable.
He could feel it, the immense power that lay beyond. But Luci was right—this
wasn't his dimension. It wasn't where Minami and Kazuki were. But he didn't
care.
"No," Natsuo said, his voice calm and steady. "It's not home. But it's home to
something far more valuable."
Luci floated closer, her curiosity mixed with a tinge of fear. "What do you
mean?"
Natsuo stepped forward, closer to the portal, feeling the icy wind biting at
his skin. "This world is filled with power—ancient, untapped magic. Dragons,
magical beasts, and who knows what else. If I'm going to stand a chance against
the forces that threaten Minami and Kazuki, I need that power."
Luci's eye narrowed, her usual sarcasm replaced by genuine concern. "And you
think you can just stroll in there and take it?"
Natsuo's smirk returned. "I don't just think I can. I know I can."
Without another word, Natsuo stepped through the portal, disappearing into
the swirling void. Luci hesitated for a moment before following him, her usual
playful demeanor subdued by the unknown danger they were about to face.
—————————————————————————————————————
The world they emerged into was nothing like the kingdom Natsuo had left
behind. The sky was a deep, stormy gray, filled with swirling clouds that crackled with lightning. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks
shrouded in mist. The ground beneath their feet was rocky and uneven, covered in patches of snow and ice.
But it was the air that stood out the most. It was thick with magic—an ancient,
primal energy that made Natsuo's skin tingle. He could feel it coursing through
the land, like the heartbeat of the world itself.
Luci floated beside him, her eye darting around nervously. "Okay, so… what
now? We just… ask nicely for all this power?"
Natsuo ignored her, his mind already working. He could sense the presence
of powerful beings nearby—dragons, magical beasts, creatures that possessed
unimaginable strength. But there was one presence that stood out among the
rest.
The Dragon King.
Using his newfound knowledge, Natsuo pinpointed the Dragon King's location.
He was deep within the heart of the mountains, surrounded by his kin. But that didn't matter. Natsuo had no intention of negotiating. He had come here
for power, and he would take it by force if necessary.
Luci sighed as she realized what Natsuo was planning. "Of course… you're going
to fight the Dragon King, aren't you?"
Natsuo's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'm going to do more than that.
I'm going to defeat him and take his power."
————————————————————
The journey through the mountains was treacherous. The freezing wind cut
through Natsuo like a blade, and the path was lined with jagged rocks and
steep cliffs. But none of it mattered. His mind was focused on one thing:
reaching the Dragon King.
After hours of climbing, Natsuo finally stood before the entrance to the Dragon
King's lair—a massive cave carved into the side of the mountain. The air here
was even thicker with magic, almost suffocating in its intensity.
Luci hovered nervously beside him. "You sure about this? I mean, dragons
aren't exactly known for their hospitality."
Natsuo smirked. "I don't need their hospitality. I just need their power."
With that, he stepped into the cave.
The inside of the lair was enormous, its walls lined with ancient runes that
glowed faintly in the dim light. At the far end of the cave, a massive figure
stirred—a dragon larger than any other creature Natsuo had ever seen, its scales a deep, shimmering black. Its eyes, glowing with an otherworldly light, fixed on Natsuo as he approached.
The Dragon King rose to his full height, towering over Natsuo. His voice echoed
through the cave, deep and menacing. "Who dares enter my domain?"
Natsuo didn't flinch. He met the Dragon King's gaze with unwavering resolve.
"I'm not here to talk. I'm here to take your power."
The Dragon King let out a low growl, his massive wings unfurling as the air
around him crackled with magic. "You are bold, human. But foolish. No mortal can defeat me."
Natsuo's smirk widened. "We'll see about that."
————————————————————
The battle began with a ferocity that shook the very core of the earth beneath Natsuo's feet. Before him loomed the colossal figure of the Dragon King, a creature of legend whose power was feared across realms. Its eyes gleamed with fiery malice, and as it opened its jaws, the heat from its breath alone caused the air to ripple and distort.
Suddenly, with a deafening roar, a torrent of flame erupted from the Dragon King's mouth. The blaze rushed toward Natsuo like a tidal wave of molten fire, searing everything in its path. Reacting on instinct, Natsuo raised his hand and activated his newfound powers. With a flash of blue light, he copied the dragon's ability, conjuring an ethereal shield of flame that swallowed the inferno whole, dispersing the heat harmlessly around him.
But the Dragon King wasn't done. With blinding speed for a creature its size, it leaped into the air, its massive wings sending gusts of wind so strong they ripped the trees from their roots. The cave trembled, stalactites breaking loose from the ceiling, crashing down like missiles aimed at Natsuo.
Natsuo moved just as quickly, using his copied agility from a Magic Knight to dodge the falling debris. His eyes locked on the Dragon King, calculating every possible move. His red eye glowed brighter, symbolizing his multiplying ability.
With a guttural roar, the Dragon King slashed down with its colossal claws, each swipe capable of cutting through steel. Natsuo didn't hesitate. In an instant, he multiplied the force of his sword swing by a trillion. As their weapons clashed—his sword against the dragon's claws—shockwaves rippled outward, causing the very air around them to hum with power. Sparks flew, rocks shattered, and the ground beneath them cracked from the sheer intensity of the clash.
The Dragon King recoiled slightly, surprised by the strength of this human. Its eyes narrowed in fury. It swiped again, this time releasing a powerful gust of wind infused with magical energy. The wind blades howled as they tore toward Natsuo, shredding everything in their path. But Natsuo was ready.
Summoning the knowledge he had absorbed, Natsuo copied the wind magic of the dragon and multiplied it a trillion times over. He thrust his hand forward, sending a storm of razor-sharp wind blades back at the Dragon King. The magical gusts collided in midair, exploding with a deafening crack that echoed throughout the cave. The walls trembled, and cracks snaked across the ground, threatening to give way at any moment.
In a blur of motion, Natsuo charged forward, using his knowledge and agility to get in close. The Dragon King lashed out with its tail, a whip-like strike that could crush mountains. Natsuo dodged by mere inches, feeling the gust of air rush past him as the tail crashed into the rock behind him, turning it to dust.
Now was his chance. With a surge of adrenaline, Natsuo copied the Dragon King's fire magic, his right eye glowing even brighter. Blue, red, and yellow energy swirled around him, and he raised his hand, releasing a colossal ball of fire. But he wasn't finished—he multiplied the attack, turning a single fireball into a storm of a trillion fiery explosions. The blazing inferno rushed toward the Dragon King, engulfing the mighty creature in a storm of flame and destruction.
The dragon let out a furious roar, thrashing wildly, but the force of Natsuo's multiplied attack was overwhelming. The very air ignited as the flames tore through the cave, the heat so intense it turned the stone to molten lava. The Dragon King staggered, its once-majestic wings now singed and tattered.
But Natsuo wasn't done. He could sense the Dragon King's power waning, and he pressed the advantage. Drawing on the Dragon King's own abilities, Natsuo gathered a swirling vortex of elemental energy—fire, wind, earth, and lightning—copied from the creature itself. The orb of power pulsed in his hands, glowing with raw, untamed magic.
With a final, thunderous shout, Natsuo hurled the orb straight at the Dragon King. The ball of energy exploded on impact, sending shockwaves through the entire cave. The Dragon King let out a guttural roar of pain as the energy ripped through its body, the sheer force of the attack bringing the mighty beast to its knees.
Breathing heavily, Natsuo stood over the fallen Dragon King, his chest heaving with exertion. The dragon's once-terrifying presence was reduced to a defeated, broken form. It let out one last growl, but the fight had left its eyes.
Without hesitation, Natsuo placed his hand on the Dragon King's forehead. He could feel the immense power radiating from the creature, pulsing beneath his fingertips. Slowly, he absorbed the Dragon King's essence, its power flowing into him like a rushing river. The strength was intoxicating, surging through his veins, filling him with a newfound energy that threatened to overwhelm him.
Natsuo's body trembled, his muscles twitching as the power took hold. His eye glowed brighter, the colors of the orbs swirling around him intensifying. He could feel the dragon's ancient power becoming his own—its fire, its might, its wisdom. He had won.
Luci floated beside him, her bat wings fluttering in the heated air, her one eye wide with awe. "You… you actually did it. You've defeated the Dragon King."
Natsuo's smirk was cold, calculated. "Of course I did."
With the Dragon King's power coursing through him, Natsuo turned away from the fallen creature. The once-fiery ruins of the castle behind him flickered in the distance, the air still heavy with magic and smoke. He faced the portal, its swirling vortex beckoning him back to his world. He knew this was just the beginning.
As he stepped toward the portal, his mind raced. Minami was still out there, somewhere, waiting to be rescued. His family was still in danger, held captive by the Demon Lord. And now, with the Dragon King's power added to his arsenal, Natsuo was stronger than ever before. His journey was far from over, but one thing was certain—he would stop at nothing to protect those he cared about, no matter the cost.