Zevi went home and greeted his wife, then placed the food on the table. The warm glow of the fire lit the small house as the smell of cooking slowly filled the air.
After setting everything down, he walked toward the cradle and gently carried Luna in his arms. The baby stirred softly, her tiny fingers curling as she rested against his chest.
Zevi began to hum a lullaby, rocking her gently, his deep voice calm and steady. Meanwhile, Alice stood by the fire, slicing vegetables with practiced hands.
"How was your day?" Alice asked without turning around.
"It was okay," Zevi replied. "We hunted a fire lizard in the woods, then we went to the lake to fish for lunch."
His voice trailed off for a moment before he continued.
"…Alex almost drowned under the water."
THUMP!
The knife stopped mid-motion and hit the wooden board. Alice froze. Slowly, she turned her head toward Zevi, her eyes sharp and filled with concern, silently demanding the truth.
Zevi sighed and adjusted Luna in his arms. "He said he saw a luminous light at the bottom of the lake. He tried to grab it… then he passed out."
Alice's grip tightened slightly. "How is he?"
"Fine, I guess," Zevi answered. "He didn't even linger on it. I checked his body carefully—nothing seems wrong."
But even as he said it, there was a faint unease hidden in his tone.
Back in the capital playground, the atmosphere was completely different. Children ran around freely, laughing and sparring under the open sky. Most of them were dragonborn, each carrying traits of different lineages.
Some had scales on parts of their skin, some had a single horn, and others even had tails swaying behind them.
These were Alex's playmates—David Blaze from the Fire Dragon lineage, Lucas Goldenvale from the Golden Dragon lineage, and Travis Aetherion from the Rainbow Dragon lineage.
"Hey Alex! Come fight me!"
David shouted, stepping forward with an excited grin. Fire Dragons were known to be short-tempered and reckless, always eager to fight.
"Hey, you knucklehead," Alex replied casually. "All you think about is fighting. I'm not in the mood."
"You coward human!" David snapped.
"Stop complaining, David," Draco said calmly. "You can't even win a single match against Alex, right?"
"HMPH! That's because I wasn't prepared!" David argued, crossing his arms.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" The other boys burst into laughter, clearly amused.
"Why are you laughing?!" David shouted. "All of you can't defeat him either!" he added, trying to protect his pride.
It was true. A dragonborn was naturally stronger than a human, even as children. Yet somehow, none of them could defeat Alex in a one-on-one fight.
Dragons respected strength, and that alone was the reason Alex could stand among them despite being human. There was something about him—something that didn't follow the logic of power.
"By the way, Alex," Draco said, stepping closer, "we're now at the age for the Awakening Ceremony."
Alex looked at him as Draco continued explaining. Awakening happened when a child turned five years old. There were two types—Talent Awakening, where a person gains a random ability based on their aptitude, and Bloodline Awakening, where one inherits the power of their ancestors.
Humans could also awaken a bloodline if they had powerful ancestry or traces of monster blood.
"You're strong, Alex. I think you'll awaken a powerful talent," Draco added.
"Hmp!" A cold voice cut in. "Humans are trash. I bet he'll get a trash awakening."
It was Beatrix Frosthorne from the Ice Dragon lineage. She looked at Alex with clear hostility. She had hated him ever since he humiliated her years ago, yet she could do nothing but insult him—because she couldn't beat him.
Alex smirked slightly.
"I have an idea. What if all of you fight me together?"
"…WHAT?!"
Their anger exploded instantly. They were dragons—the strongest warrior race—and yet a human was looking down on them.
David charged forward immediately, flames flickering around his fists, but Draco and Travis quickly held him back.
"Calm down," Draco said firmly. The group stepped aside, whispering and forming a plan. Moments later, they spread out and surrounded Alex.
The fight began in an instant. David rushed forward with a blazing punch, fire wrapping around his fist as he shouted,
"FLAME PUNCH!"
At the same time, Draco dashed from the side, aiming to corner Alex. Travis raised his hand and cast,
"EARTH SWAMP!"
The ground beneath Alex softened, trying to trap his feet before hardening again.
Then something strange happened.
Alex's vision slowed.
The flames flickered slower. The ground shifted slower. Even Draco's movement felt delayed. Inside his body, the chip activated.
The Gallium fused within him began working—analyzing, adapting, enhancing his body in real time.
Alex moved.
He stepped lightly, avoiding the swamp just before it hardened.
TACK!
He deflected David's flaming punch, redirecting its force. Then
THUD!
his kick landed cleanly on David's side, sending him backward.
Draco arrived next, throwing a fast punch, but Alex tilted his head slightly. The attack missed by inches.
Lucas joined in, his hands transforming into metallic claws as he lunged forward. Alex leaned back, dodging the slash by a hair.
TACK!
He struck Lucas' wrist, breaking his stance.
Travis unleashed another attack, summoning rocks and wind at the same time. The battlefield filled with flying debris and pressure.
But Alex moved through it all—dodging, weaving, slipping between attacks as if he could see everything before it happened.
Punches and kicks clashed rapidly.
FWOOM!
THUD!
TACK!
David and Draco attacked in sync, Lucas struck from behind, and Travis controlled the battlefield with elemental attacks. Five dragonlings against one human—it should have been impossible.
Yet Alex stood firm.
Calm.
Every movement felt natural. Every attack was predictable. The chip continuously enhanced his reflexes, strengthening his muscles and optimizing his movements in real time.
Then, in a swift sequence—
TACK!
THUD!
CRACK! Travis tried to cast again—but Alex was already in front of him.
THUMP!
He fell.
Silence followed.
All five dragonlings lay on the ground, defeated.
"ARRRGHHH! This is so frustrating!" David shouted. "Five against one and we still can't defeat him!"
"…Are we the dragon race," Lucas muttered, staring at the sky, "or is he?"
Alex stood there, breathing slowly.
Confused.
Because to him—
Everything felt too easy.
He looked at his hands, unaware that deep inside his body, something had already begun to evolve.