The dragon's roar split the air like a blade.
Windows shattered. Loose stones leapt from the ground. Kael felt the sound more than he heard it—deep in his chest, vibrating against his ribs, rattling his teeth. His legs locked for half a second, instinct screaming at him to run.
Everyone else did.
Students scattered in every direction, shouting, swearing, calling their beasts back or urging them forward in blind panic. The Academy's walls were too far. The city ruins offered cover—but only if the dragon didn't decide to burn everything down.
Kael didn't move.
Not because he was brave.
Because his legs wouldn't listen.
The dragon was enormous. Bigger than anything Kael had ever imagined. Black scales layered like forged armor, veins glowing faintly red beneath them as if molten fire flowed inside its body. Its wings stretched wide, tearing dust and debris into spirals as they folded slowly against its back.
Its eyes—ancient, intelligent, and utterly uninterested in mercy—swept across the plaza.
Kael swallowed.
"…System," he whispered. "Please tell me this is a simulation."
["Negative."]
["This entity is a confirmed external Dragon-Class Beast."]
["Probability of survival if engaged directly: 3.2%."]
Kael let out a weak laugh.
"Wow. You didn't even sugarcoat it."
Beside him, the Proto-Form blob trembled. Not violently—not in panic—but in a low, constant vibration, like something straining against its own limits. The faint scales on its surface hardened, catching the light.
Kael noticed.
"…Hey," he murmured, crouching slightly. "You feel that too, don't you?"
The dragon inhaled.
The heat alone was unbearable. The air warped. Stone beneath Kael's feet cracked.
Cassian shouted from somewhere to the left, "DEFENSIVE FORMATION! FALL BACK—NOW!"
Too late.
The dragon exhaled.
Not fire.
Pressure.
A shockwave blasted across the plaza, slamming Kael off his feet like he weighed nothing. He tumbled hard, vision spinning, ears ringing. Something wrapped around him instinctively—soft, then firm.
The Proto-Form.
It expanded, stretching around Kael's body like a crude cocoon just as debris rained down. Stone smashed against it. Metal shards bounced away. Kael felt the impact—but muted, dampened.
They survived.
Barely.
Kael gasped for breath as the pressure eased. The blob retracted slightly, still shielding him.
"…Good job," he rasped. "Really… good job."
The System chimed again, calm and merciless.
["Extreme survival condition confirmed."]
["Proto-Form adaptation accelerating."]
["Synchronization rate increased to 12%."]
Kael's eyes widened.
"Twelve… percent? Already?"
The dragon lowered its head.
It had noticed them.
Kael felt the weight of that attention like gravity increasing tenfold. His instincts screamed again—run, hide, beg, do anything—but another emotion burned hotter beneath the fear.
Anger.
Not at the dragon.
At himself.
I'm weak.
I'm always the one running.
Always surviving by accident.
His hands clenched into fists.
"…No," Kael whispered. "Not this time."
The Proto-Form shifted, sensing him. Its surface tightened, scales forming more clearly now—still uneven, still incomplete, but undeniably real.
Kael took a shaky step forward.
"Hey," he called out, voice cracking. "Big lizard."
Cassian's voice cut through the chaos. "ASHBORNE! ARE YOU INSANE?!"
Probably.
The dragon's head tilted slightly, smoke curling from its nostrils.
The System spoke again.
["Tamer intent detected."]
["Synchronization attempt available."]
["Warning: failure may result in immediate death."]
Kael laughed—short, breathless, almost hysterical.
"System," he muttered, "you're really bad at motivation speeches."
He dropped to one knee, placing his hand against the Proto-Form.
"Listen to me," he whispered, not caring who heard. "I don't need you to win. I don't need you to fight it. I just need you to survive."
The Proto-Form pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Something clicked.
[ "Synchronization successful."]
["Proto-Form: Emergency Adaptive Mode unlocked."]
The blob surged forward—not attacking, not charging—but expanding outward into a wide, flattened barrier between Kael and the dragon.
The dragon exhaled fire this time.
A torrent of black-red flame poured forward, swallowing the barrier whole.
Kael screamed.
The heat was unbearable. His vision blurred. His skin burned.
Then—
It stopped.
The Proto-Form didn't melt.
It didn't burn.
It changed.
The outer layer hardened instantly, scales interlocking and blackening as they absorbed the heat. The inner layer stayed soft, flexible, protecting Kael from the worst of it.
The flames dissipated.
Smoke cleared.
Kael was still alive.
So was his summon.
The plaza went silent.
Luna stared from behind a collapsed wall, eyes wide. Iris forgot to throw her fire. Even Cassian stood frozen, disbelief written across his face.
The dragon recoiled slightly.
Not in fear.
In surprise.
Kael coughed, dragging in air, laughing weakly.
"…Did we just… block dragon fire?"
The System answered, almost clinically.
["Proto-Form adaptation successful."]
["Heat resistance acquired: Minor."]
["Evolution progress increased."]
["Current status: Proto-Form (Draconic Affinity Detected)."]
Kael's heart slammed against his ribs.
"Draconic… affinity?"
The dragon roared again, this time furious.
It took a step forward.
The ground cracked.
Kael stood, legs shaking but steady.
"…We're not done," he whispered.
The Proto-Form shifted again, forming a thicker shield, edges sharpening slightly—not blades, not weapons, just harder, denser shapes.
Kael felt it.
The connection.
Not commands.
Understanding.
Survive together.
Cassian finally snapped out of it. "ALL STUDENTS—WITHDRAW! NOW!"
Academy alarms began to sound in the distance.
The dragon hesitated.
More figures appeared on the horizon—professors, high-rank tamers, flying mounts cutting through the sky.
The dragon snorted, smoke curling upward, eyes lingering on Kael one last time.
Then it leapt.
Wings spread wide, it soared into the sky, vanishing beyond the ruined city.
Silence returned.
Kael collapsed to the ground, laughing and panting at the same time.
"…I lived," he gasped. "I actually lived."
The Proto-Form shrank back to its usual size, wobbling weakly before flopping beside him.
Kael gently poked it.
"You okay?"
It gurgled faintly.
"Yeah," he breathed. "Me too."
The System chimed one final time.
> "Life-threatening encounter survived."
"Major experience gained."
"Evolution threshold approaching."
"Warning: future dragon encounters will trigger stronger resonance."
Kael stared at the sky where the dragon had vanished.
His hands trembled—not from fear anymore.
From excitement.
"…So," he whispered, a dangerous smile tugging at his lips, "you noticed us."
Luna approached slowly, studying both Kael and the Proto-Form like they were something entirely new.
"…What are you?" she asked quietly.
Kael laughed, exhausted, terrified, exhilarated all at once.
"I have no idea," he said. "But I think the world's about to find out."
Far above, beyond sight, the dragon circled once—then turned its head back toward the Academy.
And remembered.