I found out that I needed to eat a piece of the dragon's body before me to awaken my magical power.
It worked differently for every race. Humans awakened theirs naturally upon reaching a certain age, but for us foxes, we had to consume magical energy. It could be anything, but the stronger the energy, the faster our awakening.
And now, I sat before a fireplace, roasting a chunk of dragon meat—on the verge of awakening.
At least it smelled better than it looked.
Holding the skewer with the sizzling meat, I glanced to my right. Red sat eagerly beside me, her eyes sparkling and her tail flickering with a red flame.
Foxfire—a signature ability of foxes. A mystical flame shaped like a fox's tail, glowing white with a bluish hue. Its color could be different for each fox.
This world thrived on magic. Magical energy was the core behind all magic and skills.
The basic elements were fire, earth, water, and wind. But there were rarer, unique types too—magic that defied the laws of nature.
That's everything I'd learned from the Beginner's Guide—bestowed by that strange voice.
I also learned from Red that summoning her before my awakening had cost me a few years of my life.
But apparently, that wasn't a big deal. According to her, I was practically half-immortal. I wouldn't age, nor would I die of old age—because I was a deity. One of the highest-ranking beings in this world.
That memory took me back to when I first arrived.
The Legacies. We were required to choose one, and I could only select from Japanese mythology. Maybe it was because I was Japanese myself. If that was the case, there were probably others like me here.
Amaterasu, Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Raijin, Fujin, Izanagi, Izanami...
All gods of Japanese myth.
From the Legacy Skills I received, it was clear my abilities were modeled after Inari's legends. That meant the others had skills based on their chosen gods as well.
And then there was Norse and Greek mythology—
Thor, Odin, Medusa, and so on.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. If an all-out war broke out between those wielding godlike powers, this world wouldn't stand a chance.
Beings who could command death, summon lightning, and control the seas…
I could see why Inari was the last choice left. In gaming terms, Inari was a supporter class meant to help others. And that was crystal clear as I only have one attack skill.
But… since I was the one who chose her myth, everything changed. And I don't mean to sound arrogant—
My Soul Class, Swordmaster, allowed me to copy any sword technique I saw. With the skill {Technique Creation}, I could refine those techniques and even invent new ones from scratch.
It was as if this skill was made for a genius like me.
I grinned, thinking about all the techniques I couldn't perfect in my old life... especially 'that' technique. The one I poured my soul into.
But first, focus—awakening my magic came before swordplay.
The meat had cooled. Time to eat.
I opened my mouth, pausing as I caught Red's nervous gaze. She sat adorably still, worried.
And then—I bit into it. I chewed. And chewed. It tasted... like nothing, but the texture was oddly difficult. Soft yet tough.
After minutes of chewing, I swallowed.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
"Arghhh!!!"
"Master!"
Red's voice cracked with concern as she rushed over.
My heartbeat raced. My body burned. It felt like my very soul was being rewritten.
Then a violent burst of magical energy erupted from me—strong enough to blow Red back.
But it wasn't over. My body cracked. Again and again.
Every fiber of me transformed, and just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, the energy rushed back into me—like being pulled by a vacuum.
I exhaled. The pain vanished. Slowly, I stood.
When I looked at Red, she stared wide-eyed, mouth agape.
"M-Master… look behind you."
I turned.
Thirteen.
I now had thirteen white fox tails flowing behind me.
That wasn't all. My vision had sharpened. My body felt lighter—stronger.
"Red… do I look any different?"
She stepped forward and nodded.
"Master looks prettier. And… taller."
"That all?"
She nodded again.
I wasn't that tall in my past life, so I didn't mind. But something felt different. Deep inside, I felt calm… like even if the world ended, I'd simply watch.
Oh—right.
"{Foxfire}"
A pure white flame manifested before me. I only had to think, and it appeared.
"So this… is magic? Or is it a skill?"
Red looked at me, eyes sparkling in awe.
With a thought, I dismissed the flame. Then a new thought crossed my mind—and I grinned.
Sword techniques.
Now that my magical energy was awakened, I could finally test my skill, {Technique Creation}.
But… where could I get a sword?
Maybe I could make one.
If I used {Instant Blacksmithing}, I could forge a weapon with the right materials. But where would I find something strong enough for that technique?
In my past life, I bought a real katana. My parents warned me—it was dangerous.
But I didn't listen.
I attempted my ultimate sword technique. The sword shattered before it could even swing.
Why?
Because the blade couldn't handle it. It lacked the strength to withstand the pressure of my vision.
I needed something stronger than steel. Maybe… diamonds?
I turned to Red.
"Diamonds. Do you know where I can get some?"
Red nodded before answering.
"If Master needs diamonds, my elder sister can create them. Her ability allows her to form precious stones from magical energy."
"So… I just need to summon her. What's her name?"
Red tilted her head.
"When we're summoned, we forget the names of other guardians."
That complicated things.
If I used {Fox Summoning}, it would summon a random fox—not necessarily the one who could create minerals.
Still… I could try. Maybe I'd get lucky.
With that thought, I activated:
{Fox Summoning}
A glowing circle appeared beneath me, runes swirling. Light formed above it—gradually taking the shape of a small fox.
Then a voice echoed in my mind, graceful and poised:
'Call my name, my master.'
A name flashed into my mind. I spoke it aloud.
"Blue."
The light cracked like an eggshell and shattered.
Before me stood a beautiful, four-tailed white fox with piercing blue eyes. It opened its mouth.
"My master. What can this lowly servant do for you today?"
Unlike Red, her voice was elegant—refined. And by the picth she was definitely female.
"Can you create minerals?"
"No, bu—"
Before she could finish, Red pounced toward her.
"Sister!"
But just as she reached her, Blue vanished for a second and reappeared in the same spot. Red stumbled to the ground.
"Sister…"
Blue ignored her, sparing only a glance. I did too, though for a different reason—I was deep in thought.
So this wasn't the one…
And I didn't have enough energy to summon another.
Summoning used about 50% of my magical energy. Keeping a fox in the real world cost another 30%.
I couldn't summon another right away.
As I rubbed my chin, thinking of alternatives, something caught my eye.
My arm—no, the dragon's body.
"My master? Is something wrong?"
Blue asked, as Red stared at me curiously.
I didn't answer. My gaze was fixed on the dragon.
An idea formed.
A stupid idea.
But… very much possible.
I smirked.
Menacingly.