A young man died by lightning strike, leaving his miserable life behind in the modern world. Loneliness, debt, and broken dreams vanished in an instant when a blinding flash swallowed him whole.
Then came silence.
When he next opened his eyes, it wasn't as a man. The world was vast. Trees soared into the sky like living mountains, their ancient roots pulsing with spiritual energy. His body felt alien—covered in soft azure scales, four limbs short and clawed, with a long sinuous tail curled around him.
His senses were sharper. He could feel the wind press against each scale, hear the heartbeat of insects beneath the earth.
> [System Binding Complete. Welcome, Host. Species: Eastern Azure Dragon Hatchling. Objective: Ascend to Dragon God.]
Before he could panic, a memory that wasn't his own surged within him—claws rending mountains, roars parting clouds, an endless sky trembling before a divine presence. It wasn't just rebirth. It was ascension.
High above the forest canopy, a shadow stirred. A massive, serpent-like dragon coiled through the heavens. Its eyes—deep, sorrowful, and fierce—gazed down at the tiny hatchling. Without a word, the great dragon dropped a glowing jade pendant onto the moss beside him.
> "Grow strong, my son. The world isn't ready for you yet…"
The pendant pulsed the moment he touched it. Ancient runes lit up.
> [Item Detected: Dragon God's Legacy Jade]
[Accessing Level 1…]
Unlocked: Dragon Claw Technique, Qi Condensation Manual, Beast Tongue Comprehension]
Knowledge flowed into his mind like a raging river—stances, muscle control, qi pathways, breathing cycles. In the middle of the savage Ten-Thousand Beast Forest, the once-lost soul of a human stood reborn.
No longer a miserable man.
Now, a dragon.
And his roar—small, crackling, but proud—echoed across the trees.