Exactly!
That blond brat got away again.
Elise lifted her gaze to the edge of the arena. The spot where he’d stood was already empty.
Counting this time… fifth, wasn’t it?
Using his role as the team’s support as the perfect excuse, that blond brat always kept his distance.
Every battle, he’d just hang back casting spells or aiding teammates—then vanish the moment things turned sour.
He was the craftiest Chosen Hero Elise had ever seen. And thanks to him, she’d met and fallen for Naya.
She pressed down harder on the black-haired Chosen Hero writhing beneath her foot.
A pained groan escaped his lips.
In five years, Chosen Heroes bearing that strange energy numbered barely six. With this one? Seven. None showed anything like Naya’s condition.
Humans worthy of the title “Chosen Hero”? She’d slain hundreds.
Squads. Lone wolves. All failed.
No matter how many ants gathered, they were still ants—crushed with a pinch.
Invincibility was a lonely road.
Let’s see… Will your energy save you? Turn you into Dragonkin? Or try another escape trick?
Once, a Chosen Hero’s power erupted uncontrollably, twisting him into a mindless berserker. Breaking human limits, he nearly brushed the Dragon Sovereign’s tier. Elise held back, defensive, waiting until his energy burned out.
No trick would ever scratch her.
Yet she remained curious—this void-born power held infinite potential, shackled only by mortal flesh.
One minute. Two.
If he didn’t unleash his trump card soon, Bella’s meal would go cold.
Forget it.
Same old disappointment.
Claws pierced flesh.
A scream tore from his throat as specially prepared dragon blood flooded his veins.
She released him.
“Aaah!!!”
Zelan curled on the ground, rolling wildly. Every cell burned.
[System, what’s happening?! System, what’s wrong with me?]
[Host’s body undergoing transformation. Analyzing: genetic mutation… blood mutation… tissue mutation…]
Zelan heard nothing more.
His body swelled.
Pain peaked—then vanished.
From afar, Eliya and Naya watched, mouths slightly agape. Scales crept across the youth’s limbs—jet-black plates swallowing his skin. Limbs twisted into draconic claws. Demonic black wings burst from his back. His form swelled rapidly. The human boy became a towering black dragon.
“ROAR!!!”
The reborn Dragonkin youth lifted his head to the sky, unleashing a primal roar.
A crimson palm slapped hard against his skull.
Darkness took him.
Elise gazed at the unconscious giant, eyes glinting with excitement.
“Veltia, bring them down.”
At her command, she shifted back to human form.
Veltia spread her wings and leaped into the arena. Flanna carried Eliya and Naya gently downward.
The two violet dragons resumed humanoid shapes.
Eliya slipped free of Naya’s hand, skipping eagerly to Elise, who swept her into a hug.
“Mother! You were amazing!”
It wasn’t *exactly* like Mom’s “Chosen Hero vs. Evil Dragon” tale… but close enough.
The challenger came for the Dragon Sovereign—and became Dragonkin.
The three glanced at the slumbering black giant.
“How about it, Eliya? Next challenger—shall you take the field?”
“Yes!”
“No.”
Naya cut in before Eliya’s nod could settle.
Royal blood or not, Eliya was too young to face humanity’s strongest. And who knew if they had a System? With a System, risks multiplied. Minor foes? Fine. Chosen Heroes? Never.
“But Mom! He was so weak! Mother turned dragon, swiped twice—*thwack*—and he dropped! No magic needed!”
“I used it. You just didn’t see.”
“Huh?” Eliya tilted her head.
Elise stroked her pink hair, smiling faintly.
“Yes. Magic pinned him. But honestly? You’d handle these Chosen Heroes easily.”
Naya shot Elise a sharp glare—*Don’t make her a warmonger.*
Elise looked away, guilty. She *had* thought it.
Coddling Eliya for six years was absurd by Dragonkin standards. Hatchlings fought before shifting form. No parent spoiled their young like this.
Her Eliya? A greenhouse flower.
What must Chancellor Veltia think? Raising the future Dragon Sovereign to be a shut-in dragon?
Yet Veltia, behind Naya, simply smiled—unbothered by Elise’s slight henpeckedness.
“But he *was* weak! Mother, why’d he turn dragon? You didn’t spill blood for the curse!”
“Why spill blood?”
“Mom said dragon blood’s curse turns humans into Dragonkin! The old Chosen Hero stabbed the Dragon Sovereign—the blood touched him—and *poof*—a cute little dragonkin loli!”
Eliya stared at the black dragon, nearly house-sized.
Uh…
Where’s the loli?
*This* is a loli?
Elise chuckled.
“Naya… what stories *have* you been telling her?”
Naya sighed, shooting Eliya a weary look.
“Eliya, stories are just stories. Don’t take them literally.”
“But he *did* turn Dragonkin! Stories come from real life, right? ‘Art imitates life’—isn’t that true, Mom?”
Naya’s gaze drifted from Eliya to the sleeping dragon.
“Elise… why *did* he become Dragonkin?”
That was the real question.
Her tale *was* woven from past-life fragments. She never dreamed it would replay.
Elise nuzzled Eliya’s chubby cheek.
“Because… dragon blood was spilled.”
