Snow-white seagulls flew across the blue sky in groups. The waves, swept up by the sea breeze, beat tirelessly against the beach.
"Unknown seas, unknown islands," Loya panted, sighing as he sat weakly on the beach.
Earlier, Loya had run around the island, exhausting himself, only to conclude that if this wasn't some elaborate prank, he had genuinely crossed over into another world.
The half-buried instant noodle cup at his feet was proof.
Loya was a small-time clerk, fresh out of school, working hard daily. For the rare May Day holiday, he had bought bread, instant noodles, and soda to enjoy a night gaming with his friends. But just as he reached for his computer's power button, he blacked out.
When he regained consciousness, he was standing on a golden sandy beach, holding a cup of instant noodles. The air, fresh and salty, was nothing like the hot, cramped room filled with the mixed smells of sweat, foot odor, smoke, and instant noodles.
Loya was stunned. The sudden shift in scenery left his mind blank until he dropped the instant noodles, and the hot water scalded his foot, snapping him back to reality.
Fear and anxiety gripped him, prompting him to run around the island, hoping to find people who could explain what was happening. But to his disappointment, the island was truly uninhabited and even smaller than the housing complex he lived in. Beyond his line of sight lay nothing but the endless blue sea.
Sitting on the scorching sand, Loya shifted uncomfortably before standing up and stumbling over to the shade of a coconut tree on the beach's edge.
"Have I really crossed over?" he wondered aloud, looking at his broken white flip-flops.
He wasn't sure where he was, but given the typical tropes of time travel, it was definitely not Earth. The familiar people, places, and memories were all behind him now.
He suddenly became frustrated, "Is this some kind of joke? I was supposed to be grinding today for a 25-hour dungeon run! I'm not even getting paid until tomorrow… And I haven't even had dinner yet…"
At the mention of dinner, Loya's stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't eaten. Looking up at a coconut hanging from the tree, he swallowed with determination.
"I'm not going to starve to death!"
He didn't know if there were any wild animals on the island, so he abandoned the idea of exploring further. Instead, he took off his T-shirt and stretched it out, checking its length against the height of the coconuts. Not enough.
After a quick look around, he decided to take off his trousers, keeping on only his boxers. This tree-climbing method he'd seen on TV used a belt to create friction around the trunk.
"Here goes nothing!"
He kicked off his remaining flip-flop, jumped, and pulled on the pants, wedging himself midair.
"Okay, so what's next? Move my belt up with one hand?" He hesitated, realizing he might fall if he miscalculated.
He took a deep breath, clamped his thighs around the trunk, and tried to inch the belt upwards.
Rip!
The jeans, already worn, split from the seam. He lost his grip and stumbled back but managed to grab the tree before he hit the ground.
He quickly slipped back down and rubbed his sore legs. As he put on his torn jeans, he noticed a few pebbles nearby and had an idea.
"Maybe if I just knock the coconuts down…"
Taking aim, he threw a stone at a cluster of coconuts. One dislodged and fell, and he caught it instinctively.
"This…is a coconut?"
He looked up at the tree, confirming that his throw had indeed knocked one down. But more surprising than his aim was his apparent strength—stronger than he remembered. Was it due to some new power?
Ignoring the strangeness, he cracked open the coconut and drank its refreshing water. But the liquid didn't fill his stomach, so he dug his fingers into the coconut meat and took a bite.
"This feels too easy…is it the coconut or my new strength?"
Ignoring the oddness, he continued to eat. Soon, he'd devoured a dozen coconuts, then leaned back, feeling finally satisfied.
It was only then that he started to reflect on the changes in his body. During his earlier run around the island, he'd felt an unusual endurance—running several kilometers without tiring. No way would he have been capable of that back home.
"Could this be the golden finger for a time traveler?" he muttered, remembering countless web novels where protagonists received "golden fingers"—powers or artifacts.
At that moment, a blue panel appeared in front of him. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and stared in disbelief.
"Is this…my golden finger?"
With newfound excitement, he inspected the panel. The words at the top read, "Ice. Dragon. Slayer. Magic!"
"Ice Dragon Slayer… That doesn't even exist in Fairy Tail!" Loya's eyes widened.
In the manga, Fairy Tail, Dragon Slayer magic was a rare and ancient magic. There had never been an Ice Dragon Slayer; no such character had existed, not even among the most powerful wizards.
"Dragon Slayers have the physique of dragons and can replenish their strength by consuming materials with similar attributes to their magic. They also use dragon power to enhance their defenses. But Ice Dragon Slayer? Not even God Serena had that."
Looking at the interface, he inspected a skill tree on the right side, reminiscent of classic RPG talent trees, and tapped on the first icon.
Dragon Power: 1/100% - Boosts Dragon Slayer magic power, but at 30% or higher, the body begins to transform.
His stomach turned at the description. Dragon Slayer magic had a dark side, leading to transformation into an actual dragon with repeated use, as mentioned by Irene Belserion in Fairy Tail. He didn't want to consider that outcome.
A few more icons extended from Dragon Power, each detailing abilities such as Dragon's Body, Roar of the Ice Dragon, Ice Dragon's Iron Fist, and more, all offensive techniques typical of Dragon Slayer magic.
The skill "Dragon's Body" hinted at enhanced physical abilities, which explained his newfound strength and endurance. With excitement, he tapped the icon that said "Upgradeable," causing blue energy to surround him, etching markings onto his wrists.
After the upgrade was complete, Loya checked his new stats.
Name: Christopher Loya (world autocorrect)
Energy Stage: First Tier, Zero Layer
Mana: 550/550
Mana Recovery Rate: 50/s
With each upgrade, he grew stronger. But his rumbling stomach reminded him that this power might be tied to food or energy.
He grinned, "Guess it's time to hunt. Coconuts are great, but a Dragon Slayer deserves meat!"