The scent of the forest was damp, filled with the freshness of morning. Issei walked steadily. His steps left marks on the soft ground, and his eyes scanned the surroundings with care. Ever since he arrived in this world, something about his instincts had sharpened. The trees, the wind, even the distant sounds of small animals… everything seemed more vivid.
He knew where to go: the cave where Veldora Tempest, the Storm Dragon, was sealed. Not by coincidence, but because he felt a calling. The draconic aura within him, the Boosted Gear, seemed to pulse with direction. As if his soul knew the way before his feet ever walked it.
Hours had passed since he left the open field where he had awakened. During that time, he tried to feel his new abilities. They still seemed to be stabilizing within him. The forest had grown dense. Sunlight rarely pierced the treetops. The silence was deep, broken only by twigs snapping beneath his feet.
Then something moved.
A scratch on the trunk to his left. Quick. Low.
He turned his head and saw a pair of yellow eyes staring at him in the dark.
A wolf. No larger than a common dog, but with sharp fangs and a hungry glare.
The animal growled and lunged.
Issei dodged to the side, almost by reflex. His muscles acted on their own. He spun his body, grabbed a nearby stone, and threw it with force. The impact struck the beast's snout, making it recoil with a sharp yelp.
"Not bad…" he muttered. "But I can't fight with rocks forever."
That's when it happened.
A metallic sound echoed in his mind.
[Skill Activated: Sharp Mind – Instant Learning]
[Danger Analysis: Activated]
[Adaptive Growth System Installed]
Issei's eyes burned with the glow of newly imprinted information in his mind. The awakened skill, Sharp Mind – Instant Learning, was beyond anything he had ever experienced. It was as if every cell in his body craved knowledge, absorbing everything with impossible clarity.
He stopped. Eyes wide.
"What…?"
[Welcome, User Issei Hyoudou]
[Basic Status Unlocked]
[Skill Acquired: Instinctive Combat (Lv. 1)]
Issei blinked. Once, twice. The interface didn't vanish. He looked around. Nothing had changed—except that.
"A system? No… it feels… different."
The interface he saw wasn't an external system, but an internal manifestation — a reflection of his soul trying to align with new flows of mana and comprehension. As if it were a support tool generated by his own mind to process information more efficiently.
At that moment, taking advantage of his distraction, the wolf tried another attack. Issei moved as if he had trained for it for years. He dodged, swept the animal's flank with a side kick, and fell onto it with his knee driven into its back. A dull thud. The wolf didn't get up.
[Instinctive Combat raised to Lv. 2]
He stepped back, breathing deeply.
"So this is it… I learn while I fight. I wonder if there's a status window too?"
As if on cue, it appeared:
[Name]: Issei Hyoudou
[Species]: Human (Altered)
[Title]: Interplanar Traveler (inactive), Reincarnator, Current Red Dragon Emperor, Closet Pervert.
[Body Condition]: Healthy
[Development Abilities]:
[Instinctive Combat (Lv. 2)]
[Unique Skills]:
[Transcendent Body: The body evolves beyond mortal limits, instantly adapting to any condition and overcoming any type of damage. Virtually infinite potential.
Evolutionary Regeneration.
Observations:"Unbreakable body: strong enough to sleep 12 hours straight."]
[Sharp Mind – Instant Learning: Takes the user's mind to a state of extreme clarity and perception. Allows analysis, comprehension, and near-instant assimilation of concepts, techniques, magic, and energy structures.
Direct or indirect exposure to the specific subject.
Observations:"Alright, you learned it, but don't expect it to be useful later."]
[Essence of Mana: The purest form of mastery over magical energy. The user becomes the very embodiment of Mana.
Mana can be used as a substitute for stamina or vitality.
Observations:"Careful: users of this skill tend to develop an egocentric energy supremacy."]
[Supreme Skills]:
[Supreme Conceptual Skill (Inactive): Interplanar Travel – Stabilization: Capable of traveling between worlds.
Observations:"Every universe has its own bills. Good luck."]
Issei's eyelids trembled.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! This skill is too good! HAHAHAHAHA!"
In the background, he could hear Ddraig's booming laughter.
"It must be because of this part — 'direct or indirect exposure to the specific subject' — that I can see my status like this. My subconscious must've figured this was the most familiar way to show it," he muttered, sighing.
"Probably," Ddraig replied. "Just keep moving forward."
"But from what I can tell, these skills are insanely powerful…" he said, impressed.
He was excited to explore more of his abilities, but he knew it was better to wait until he was somewhere safer. Returning to his world… that was the goal.
He kept moving forward.
The forest gave way to rocky terrain. Moss covered much of the stone, and a nearby stream ran, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the partially visible sky.
Issei crouched, washed his face, and drank. No metallic taste or impurities.
[Analysis Activated: Drinkable water. Temperature: 14°C. Neutral pH.]
"Thanks… I guess."
He walked for two more hours. During that time, he faced minor monsters: a tusked boar, three kobolds with makeshift spears, and even a bird that spat sticky bubbles. None were truly threatening, but each battle refined his reflexes. His movements grew sharper, his eyes read enemies naturally.
Instinctive Combat was now Level 5.
"This world is really dangerous…" he said, wiping blood from his shoulder after defeating the last kobold.
[New Skill Acquired: Pattern Reading – Lv. 1]
[Allows anticipation of enemy movements based on posture and breathing.]
"Alright."
During this time, he confirmed that his physical strength was insane. He walked for hours without tiring. His Sharp Mind – Instant Learning ability worked as he understood it: Instinctive Combat leveled up as he comprehended fighting styles, positions, force, footwork… the better his understanding, the higher the level.
"Why can't it be literal? When you read 'Instant Learning,' you think you'll learn everything instantly," he sighed.
"…Don't be ungrateful," Ddraig sounded offended. "Do you know how much that ability's going to help you? Wait until you start learning spells."
"Hahahahahaha! A guy can dream, can't he?"
During that time, he fought a lot.
By late afternoon, he arrived at an area where the ground became darker and drier. Fewer trees, more rocks. He knew — he was getting close to the cave.
But something blocked the way.
A giant centipede. Not massive, but something was off about it. Its six red eyes glowed. It growled, as if it saw him as an easy prey.
"Careful, partner. I can feel it—this one's strong," Ddraig warned.
"Relax. I'm way stronger now. But you're right… time to try something new."
Issei took position. This time, there was no room for jokes.
The centipede charged.
Issei dodged the first strike and countered with a kick to the side of its head, but the enemy didn't fall. It returned like a bull, ramming into the boy's chest, sending him flying into a tree.
Pain exploded in his ribs.
But he smiled.
"So you're stronger. Good."
The world slowed down. Issei could see the centipede's muscles shift before attacking. Pattern Reading kicked in. He dodged a horizontal strike, spun behind the creature, and landed two solid punches at the base of its skull.
[Instinctive Combat (Lv. 6)]
[Pattern Reading (Lv. 3)]
The creature staggered, but didn't fall. A high-pitched screech came from its throat, and its body began to vibrate menacingly.
Issei stepped back, raising his right hand. He remembered what he had felt when he first touched this world's mana. The vibration, the heat… fire.
"Time to test this."
Focusing energy into his palm, he shaped mana instinctively, guided by Essence of Mana.
A small flame appeared in his hand.
"Elemental Magic: Fire — Activated"
"Nothing impressive, but… let's see if it works."
With a swift gesture, he launched the flame at the centipede. The fire exploded on the creature's exoskeleton with a loud crack, scorching part of its shell and making it recoil with a shriek.
It twisted in pain… and soon collapsed, burned.
Issei raised his hand again, a new flame forming more easily now.
"Ah… I get how it works. This is gonna be fun."
[Fire Magic (Lv. 1)]
For a moment, the sky opened. A golden ray of light pierced the clouds, shining down on the valley.
And he knew.
"It's close."
He stood up, gazing at the cave entrance just ahead. An ancient, dense, and benevolent aura flowed from within. It wasn't malevolent, but protected with reverence.
"Veldora… I'm coming."