When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on a grassy terrain. As I looked up, my jaw nearly hit the ground—I saw three moons: one red, one blue, and one grey, glowing faintly in the sky.Where was I? And what happened?My name is Craig Luis, a 21-year-old anime and manga enthusiast. My last memory was of trying to buy popsicles... then getting stabbed. Now, somehow, I've woken up in a completely unknown world.That aside, my body feels perfectly fine, almost like new. Could it be? I've been reincarnated?Following a pathway lit by strange, luminous lights swirling in the air, I reached the end of the trail and was struck by the breathtaking sight of a massive silver lake ahead of me. It wasn't an ordinary lake—it shimmered like molten metal, radiating an almost magical beauty.Compelled, I rushed toward it. When I reached the lake's edge, I leaned over to look at my reflection. A black-haired man with deep-set eyes and a sharp nose stared back at me."Well, my face isn't too bad," I murmured to myself, momentarily forgetting my confusion. But I quickly shook it off and asked aloud, "Where am I? Is this some kind of magical world?"Suddenly, a deep voice behind me boomed, "Oi, lowly human."I whipped around to see an enormous creature gleaming like black steel, its scales rippling like the surface of water. A dragon."G-g-gah! A DRAGON?!" I stammered, frozen in shock.The dragon's golden eyes narrowed, glowing with an intimidating brilliance. "Hmph, a lowly human reaching the Silver Lake? Interesting..."A talking dragon?! My mind struggled to process the situation."Calm yourself, human," it said, though its tone held little patience.My heart pounded. "You can talk! You're freaking talking!""Of course I can. Now, answer me: What are you doing here?" The dragon's gaze grew sharper, and the yellow of its eyes darkened to red. "Or... are you one of those who've come to hunt me?"My body froze as terror overtook me. "N-no! You've got it all wrong! I-I didn't even know you were here!" I stammered, my words tumbling out in a rush.The dragon seemed to study me for a moment before his eyes shifted back to their golden hue. "Hmph. My mistake," he said, though the sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable."No, no! You don't need to apologize. I'm the one at fault for wandering into your territory," I replied, bowing my head in earnest."Very well," the dragon muttered before turning his gaze toward the three moons above. "Beautiful, aren't they?"My heart finally started to slow down as the tension eased. "Y-yeah, they are, Mr. Dragon..."The dragon grinned. "Hah! 'Mr. Dragon'? You amuse me, human.""What is this place?" I asked, finding the courage to speak again."This is Norkiya," the dragon began. "You're standing at the Silver Lake, the resting place for dying monsters. Consider yourself lucky I found you. Otherwise...""Otherwise?" I echoed, my voice trembling.His gaze locked with mine, and his voice turned serious. "Otherwise, you would've been devoured by other monsters."The implications sent shivers down my spine. "W-why are you here?" I asked hesitantly.He shifted into a more relaxed position, his massive body curling slightly as if preparing for rest. "Stop calling me 'Mr. Dragon.' I have a name. I am Fraener, one of the strongest dragons in Norkiya."Hearing this, my jaw dropped. "Wait, what?! You mean dragons there are other dragons out there aside from you?! And knowing that you can talk, I believe every creature on this planet can do that as well, right?! That's... insane!"Fraener chuckled. "Heh..You're not used to this, are you? Well, welcome to Norkiya, the world of monsters. Here, every being can speak thanks to Magicore Sense.""Magicore Sense?" I asked, tilting my head.He nodded, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "Yes. It's a gift from the magicores—the foundation of life here. It enhances our senses, allowing us to hear, taste, smell, touch, and see in ways you can't imagine.""What are these magicores?" I asked, pointing at the luminous lights swirling in the air."These lights," he continued, "are magicores. They're everywhere, and every living being depends on them. But beware: too many magicores can destroy you. Every creature in Norkiya has a growth limiter. Exceed it, and you'll explode from within.""What?! That's horrifying!" I exclaimed. "Isn't there a way to remove the limiter?"Fraener laughed, his voice deep and booming. "A bold idea, human! But no, there's no way to remove it. Not permanently, at least.""What about humans? Are they affected as well?" I askFraener's expression darkened slightly. "Yes. Humans were the weakest race in Norkiya. Their limiters were so low that they couldn't control the magicores within them. It's been centuries since I've seen a human.""So... am I the only human in Norkiya right now?""It seems so," Fraener said."But my father once spoke of a human. Not an ordinary one—this human was said to be unstoppable, even holding a Dragon Soul. Her partner.""Dragon Soul?" I asked.Fraener's gaze softened as he explained. "It's the essence of a dragon, passed to a chosen being. It grants immense power, even altering the recipient's growth limiter."Before I could process his words, Fraener suddenly stood, his eyes burning red. "Come here, now!""What's happening?!" I ran to him as an overwhelming pressure filled the air.Fraener gritted his teeth. "A demon... one of the oldest. He's coming, and he's strong. Stay hidden and don't say a word!"The pressure grew heavier, almost suffocating, and then—BOOM! The ground shook violently as a massive figure landed before us, creating a crater.When the dust settled, I saw him: a black-haired demon with glowing gold-red eyes, sharp horns, and bat-like wings."Greetings," the demon said, his voice calm yet menacing.Fraener stepped forward, baring his fangs. "What is your business here, demon?"The demon smirked, his gaze sliding toward me. "I sensed a peculiar aura... and I must say, I'm intrigued."Fraener's claws dug into the earth as he growled, "Leave. Now."The demon's smirk widened as his eyes locked onto me. "Ah... such hostility. Don't you agree, human?"