The dream deepened.
Maria stood in a quiet garden bathed in golden light. She was pregnant, one hand resting gently over her stomach while the other held a book. Her husband laughed nearby, spraying water across the plants as droplets shimmered in the air. It was peaceful. Warm. A future that had been stolen from her.
Martha dreamed of her family—voices around a dinner table, safety, belonging. A life untouched by war.
Amelia dreamed of teaching Xiver again, correcting his posture, scolding him for his attitude. She dreamed of returning to Sara and her mother, of home.
Three eggs. Three dreams. Three hearts trapped inside illusions.
And then there was Xiver.
I was still on the date.
Couples passed by us, fingers intertwined. My girlfriend hesitated before slowly reaching for my hand. Her cheeks turned red as she looked away.
"I-it's okay… isn't it?" she asked softly.
"N-no, not at all," I replied, my face heating up.
Why am I blushing? It's just a date. Just a date. Just a date.
Her hands were warm.
I was alive.
Back in reality.
I'll never hate being alive again.
"So what do you want to do?" she asked, smiling.
"I want to spend the rest of the day with you."
"Hehe… me too."
The words slipped out before I could stop them. "I… I love you."
She blinked in surprise. "Huh? Where did that come from all of a sudden? Hmm… I love you too, babe."
She squeezed my hand tighter.
That's when I noticed it.
The scar.
My scar.
The one from Amelia's training.
My heart stopped.
Her face began to melt.
Black liquid dripped from her eyes and mouth.
"Be… babe… what's wrooouuung…?"
A scream tore out of my lungs.
My eyes snapped open.
Warm liquid covered my body. Thick. Suffocating.
I pushed forward and the shell around me cracked. With one violent strike, I shattered the egg and fell onto the cold ground.
The Fate Dragon was gone.
I wiped the liquid from my eyes and felt it immediately—my physical power had grown. My mana felt denser, heavier.
Without hesitation, I smashed the other two eggs, breaking Amelia and Martha free. Their bodies fell out, unconscious.
"Wake up," I said coldly, shaking them.
Nothing.
A deep voice echoed behind me.
"I see you failed to wake them. No matter how hard you try… you will fail."
I turned slowly.
Maria stood there.
But she wasn't Maria anymore.
Scales crawled along her skin. One side of her face was draconic. Horns curved back from her head. Her eyes glowed faintly.
"Sad that we didn't talk much, isn't it?" I said calmly.
She smiled faintly. "Even if you were planning to restore Maria's soul… she died. I am what remains."
"I already lost one member," I replied. "I'm not losing the others."
"Poor child," she said softly. "Twelve years old… and already facing the fate prepared for you since the day you were born."
"You're right," I answered. My mana flared around me. "It's sad that a twelve-year-old has to face the fate planned for him since birth."
I stepped forward.
"TO RULE THE WORLD ."
She smirked. "Not bad, kid."
"I'll kill you. Then I'll save Amelia and Martha."
"It would be a good idea," she said.
She vanished.
And appeared directly in front of me.
Her fist pierced into my stomach.
I spat blood and was launched off the mountain.
Air magic activated instantly. I restored my balance mid-air, stabilizing my fall.
She dove after me.
Punch after punch rained down as we fell toward the Green Land. When we crashed into the ground, the impact shook the earth.
But my body was untouched.
She tilted her head. "Impressive."
I had coated my body with earth magic, turning my skin into hardened metal, while air magic softened the impact beneath me.
I rushed her.
She disappeared and reappeared behind me.
"How far can you go past your limits?" she whispered.
I froze for a split second.
"I don't think you have much mana left."
"I have enough to finish this," I replied.
From beneath my clothes, I pulled out a cheap sword.
She laughed lightly. "Is that supposed to scare me?"
"It's supposed to kill you."
I charged.
She blocked my strike easily. I followed with a sweeping kick. She blocked again and pulled an axe from her back. Metal clashed violently.
I burned her leg with fire magic. She countered instantly with water magic and struck me with a high kick that sent me flying.
She leapt forward, axe raised, aiming to split me in half.
I raised my sword to block—but she sent fire through my hand. The blade slipped from my grip.
I responded immediately, crushing the rocks hidden inside my clothes and blasting them outward. Dust and debris exploded into her face, blinding her.
Using water magic, I pulled the sword back into my hand and thrust toward her heart.
She dodged at the last second.
I landed a few meters away, breathing heavier now.
This is going to be a big problem.