"Would you like something to eat?"
"W-What?"
"Hmm, you're quite excited, aren't you?" said the massive dragon after snapping its fingers. I felt all the stress in my body vanish in an instant.
"You should feel better now. Judging by your body, you don't seem to have many options."
SNAP
The dragon snapped its fingers again, and before me appeared a baby bottle filled with milk, looking like the most magnificent treasure in the world.
"Who are you, and how can you create things out of nothing? More importantly, how do you know about my past life?"
"You're quite the curious little one, aren't you? But take it slow. First, answer the questions I asked you, and then, if I feel like it, I might answer yours."
To be honest, I didn't like taking orders from someone I didn't know, nor did I trust them. But there wasn't much I could do. I was face-to-face with a being who could kill me with just a thought. Judging by how politely it asked, it didn't seem hostile. So, I slowly nodded my head in agreement.
"First, how were you reborn?"
"That's a question I'm curious about myself. I was betrayed, killed, and thought it was all over. But then, I opened my eyes again."
"Are you happy?"
"Yes. Who could say no to a second chance?"
"Then, what is your purpose in this life? Don't think you'll get a third chance when a second is already more than enough. Do you have a plan?"
"For now, my only goal is to grow stronger. If there's one thing I learned in my previous life, it's that the strong are always right and can do whatever they want. That's why, first and foremost, I will gain enough strength to achieve the freedom to do what I desire. I will become so powerful that no one can harm me or my family, and no one will be able to stand in my way. First, I'll take my revenge and free myself from my old burdens, and then I'll take over Urtian, the one who caused all this."
"Those are some nice dreams. But what makes you think you can accomplish them? Urtian isn't as small as you imagine, little one. In Urtian's special regions, there are creatures you can't even fathom. The strongest being you know is but a pebble compared to them. These aren't foes you can defeat with such simple dreams," the dragon said in a half-serious tone.
"Are they stronger than you?" I asked, and the dragon's face twisted into a grin that barely qualified as a smile, revealing all its teeth."My questions aren't over yet, little one. Wait your turn."
I ground my teeth but ultimately relented.
"This path isn't as easy as you think, little one. As you move forward, you'll have to make choices—choices where both outcomes are equally terrible. Sometimes, you'll have to let go of your loved ones. Other times, you'll find yourself forced to embrace your enemies. When the whole world is trying to stop you, you won't have many options or much time. Will you survive such a situation? Let's say you manage to reach their level—what will you do when nothing of your former self remains? Destroy the world? Take out your rage on the weak? When you achieve the power you desire, you'll find yourself alone at the top, wishing you could go back. But by then, you won't have that chance."
For some reason, the last sentences came out weaker, and its eyes seemed half-closed as if reminiscing about the past. It didn't appear to be speaking idly but rather recounting its own experiences, which somewhat answered my earlier question.
"Perhaps you've misunderstood me. For me, there's no turning back. I'll simply move forward, building this path with the ones I love. If anyone dares to take them from me, I'll make an example of them by leashing them with their intestines and parading them in the streets. My old regrets are more than enough. I'll do whatever it takes. If they give me two choices, I'll create a third. If they offer none, I'll destroy them and carve my own path. These aren't just empty boasts. In my previous life, I saw plenty of arrogant people, and none of them met a good end. I know the value of what I have.
"With human adaptability and the boundless potential of dragons, those stronger than me will crumble beneath me before they can even react. The pride of the strong doesn't change. When they see a dangerous insect, they don't bother to kill it, believing it beneath their notice. The bigger it grows before it falls, the more satisfaction they derive. I'll use that to my advantage and strike before they even realize what's coming. Along the way, I'll elevate my family and the army I'll rebuild to the pinnacle, giving them the most wonderful life this world has to offer.
"No matter who stands in my way or who tries to drag me down—I WILL NEVER STOP!"
I got a little too excited at the end and momentarily forgot who I was talking to. The dragon towering over me softened its gaze. Strangely, I could feel its emotions—there was a mix of sadness, melancholy, and pity, but above all, there was excitement, curiosity, and affection. That last feeling puzzled me. What had I done to earn its affection?
"When I look at you, I see a reflection of my younger self. The words of someone who says they'll do whatever it takes as they step into a world they don't yet understand, carried by their boundless enthusiasm. But there's a difference. I entered the world of the strong out of necessity. I only wanted to survive and cling to life a little longer. You, however, are not only diving into this world willingly but also aiming for far greater goals than mine. But even that won't be enough," it said with a faint smirk before touching the baby bottle in front of me.
"That's why you should let your grandmother help you. While I can't make you the strongest directly, I can give you small gifts to assist you on your journey."
The baby bottle in front of me began to glow suddenly, and the power radiating from the milk inside grew exponentially.
"I was initially going to give you small gifts, but honestly, your potential and ambitions impressed me—especially the perfect harmony between your human and dragon natures."
"You don't seem all that surprised," the dragon noted, noticing my lack of reaction to the feature that had once made me question the very nature of the world. This puzzled me.
"I can definitely say you have an extraordinary ability, but during my long life, I've seen things you couldn't even imagine. Each of them was more powerful than the last."
"Are they that strong?" I asked, unease creeping into my voice. The idea of beings that could overshadow my ability was terrifying.
"You don't need to be that afraid. Your ability surpasses all of them in one specific way—your nearly limitless potential combined with your rapid growth."
"As you already know, everything in the universe exists in balance. Beings with incredibly high potential often perish before they reach even half of their path. Those with rapid growth eventually hit a bottleneck and stagnate. But you've broken this balance.
"The powerful beings I spoke of are millions of years old. Yet, if given the chance, you could reach their level in just thousands of years. With my help, even faster."
"Impressive. But you're wrong about one thing."
"Hmm? And what might that be?"
"I won't need thousands of years to grow. I'll catch up to them much, much faster."
"Hahaha! The more I talk to you, the more entertained I am! Very well, let's see if you can back up those words. I can't wait to see it! Now drink that milk and show me the journey you can't escape from, even if you wanted to!"
Before I could react, the floating bottle darted into my mouth. Do you know I'm still a baby?! Be gentle!
Before I could voice my complaints, the milk began flowing down my throat, and I tasted the most exquisite flavor I'd ever known. Suddenly, my soul felt like it was on fire. At first, I panicked, but my instincts screamed with joy, and I decided to let it flow.
Then, I felt a claw on my forehead. Moments later, I entered the most agonizing experience of my life.
"I've given you three gifts to aid you on your journey. First, your soul. While it will sustain damage from the sudden burst of power, when you reopen your eyes, it will leave behind its former self, helping you fully unlock and utilize your potential."
"One last thing, little dragon: never rush to gain power. Complete your evolution only when you feel the time is right. The deeper your foundation, the sturdier and stronger the structure you build upon it will be. If you move forward without solidifying your base, even the slightest blow could cause a collapse—and that's something neither of us wants."
I barely managed to comprehend her final words through the pain, but I etched them into the deepest corners of my mind. Advice from someone so powerful couldn't be ignored. As my eyes began to close, I spoke internally, knowing she would hear.
"Thank you, Grandmother."
"You're welcome, little one. Let's meet again when the time is right. Farewell for now."
A faint smile formed on my lips. It seemed I had gained a new family member. Although, I still didn't even know her name. Wait—I didn't know her name?!
"Hey! I didn't get to ask you anything! You tricked me!!!"
"Hahaha, too late now. Maybe I'll answer next time, if I feel like it."
For some reason, I felt like this was going to happen again. But I couldn't dwell on it too much—mostly because I couldn't. The pain was overwhelming, and before long, I passed out.
This unconsciousness soon turned into a prolonged slumber that would shake the entire royal family to its core…