Night fell differently after you survived a dragon.
The Academy lights burned brighter, patrols doubled, and the air itself felt tense—like the world was holding its breath, waiting to see if Kael Ashborne would make it to morning.
Kael didn't know any of that.
He sat cross-legged on the roof, back against the stone railing, staring at the stars while chewing on a slightly stale bread roll Iris had smuggled him.
"…I swear this tastes worse every day," he muttered.
The Proto-Form rested beside him, its body coiled in a compact shape that almost—almost—resembled a small drake curled around itself. Not wings. Not horns. Just hints. Suggestions.
It pulsed faintly, warmth steady and calm.
"You're getting heavier," Kael said. "You know that?"
The Proto-Form rumbled softly.
The System chimed.
[Proto-Form mass increased by 4%.]
[Structural density improving.]
[Current evolution pressure: stable.]
Kael sighed in relief. "Good. No surprise transformations tonight."
The stars shimmered above.
Kael didn't notice the shadow moving along the adjacent rooftop.
It started with intent.
Cold. Focused. Sharp.
The Proto-Form reacted instantly.
Its body stiffened, heat flaring beneath its scales.
Kael felt it a heartbeat later—a sudden chill crawling up his spine.
"…System?" he whispered.
[Threat detected.]
[Hostile intent confirmed.]
[Estimated lethality: high.]
Kael rolled sideways just as something sliced through the space where his head had been.
Stone exploded.
"WHAT THE—?!"
A figure landed lightly on the rooftop, cloak fluttering in the wind. Tall. Lean. Masked.
Behind them, another shape emerged.
Then another.
Kael scrambled to his feet, heart pounding.
"…Of course," he breathed. "Assassins. Because why not."
The first attacker tilted their head. "Target is awake."
"Unfortunate," another voice replied calmly.
The Proto-Form slid forward, placing itself between Kael and the intruders.
The System blared.
[Combat engagement initiated.]
[Synchronization rate temporarily increased to 15%.]
Kael swallowed hard.
"I didn't even finish my snack," he muttered.
The first attacker moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A blade flashed, humming with enchantments designed specifically to pierce beast defenses.
The Proto-Form surged upward, body flattening and hardening in an instant.
CLANG.
Sparks flew as the blade struck scales—and bounced.
The attacker froze.
"…That's impossible."
Kael didn't waste the moment.
"NOW!" he shouted, though he wasn't entirely sure what he was commanding.
The Proto-Form lunged—not to kill, not to bite—but to push.
It slammed into the attacker with raw, overwhelming force, sending them skidding across the rooftop.
Kael stared.
"…Did we just body-check an assassin?"
The System chimed.
[Proto-Form ability unlocked: Draconic Bulk (Passive).]
[Effect: Mass and impact scale with threat level.]
Kael's grin turned feral.
"Oh. I like that."
"Enough."
The calm voice cut through the chaos.
From the shadows stepped a young man Kael recognized instantly.
Silver hair. Noble crest embroidered in black and gold. Sharp eyes filled not with rage—but calculation.
"Lucien Viremont," Kael muttered. "Of course it's you."
Lucien smiled politely. "You remember me. I'm flattered."
Lucien was a second-year. Sponsored. Exceptionally talented.
And one of the nobles from earlier.
"You sent assassins after a first-year?" Kael asked. "That's… wow. Subtle."
Lucien shrugged. "You destabilize the hierarchy."
Kael laughed. "You nobles really need new lines."
Lucien's gaze flicked to the Proto-Form. "That thing should not exist."
The System screamed.
[Dragon-line hostility detected.]
[Bloodline resonance conflicting.]
Lucien's smile tightened.
"…It reacts to me."
Kael's stomach dropped. "You're dragon-adjacent."
Lucien inclined his head slightly. "Dormant. Diluted. But yes."
The assassins recovered, spreading out.
Kael clenched his fists.
"System," he whispered, "odds?"
[Survival probability: 41%.]
[Recommendation: escape.]
Kael snorted. "Figures."
Lucien raised his hand.
The assassins moved in unison.
Kael tripped.
Not strategically.
Not tactically.
He just tripped over his own cloak.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS—?!"
A blade missed his throat by inches.
The Proto-Form slammed into the attacker again, knocking them clean off the roof.
"…Thank you," Kael panted. "I owe you snacks forever."
It rumbled approvingly.
Another attacker leapt—only to be intercepted mid-air by a blast of water.
"BACK. OFF."
Luna landed gracefully on the rooftop, eyes glowing faintly blue, her skin traced with shimmering scale-patterns like living armor.
Behind her, Iris burst out laughing while hurling fireballs indiscriminately.
"I KNEW something fun would happen!"
Nyx appeared silently behind Lucien, spider-beast materializing beside her with lethal elegance.
Lucien clicked his tongue. "Annoying."
The System chimed.
[Allied reinforcements detected.]
[Survival probability increased to 89%.]
Kael exhaled shakily. "You couldn't have come earlier?"
Luna didn't look at him. "You were handling yourself."
"…That's a generous interpretation."
Lucien stepped back, eyes cold.
"This changes nothing," he said. "You can't hide forever."
Kael met his gaze.
"I'm not hiding," Kael said quietly. "I'm climbing."
The Proto-Form roared.
Not loud.
But enough.
The assassins retreated instantly.
Lucien lingered a moment longer, eyes flicking to the Proto-Form with something dangerously close to fear.
"…We'll meet again," he said.
Then he vanished into the night.
Silence fell.
Kael collapsed onto the rooftop, laughing breathlessly.
"…I hate nobles."
Iris flopped down beside him. "Same."
Luna studied the Proto-Form carefully. "It protected you instinctively."
Nyx nodded. "And chose restraint."
The System chimed one final time.
[Major hostile encounter survived.]
[Proto-Form combat data recorded.]
[New designation available.]
Kael blinked. "…Designation?"
[Proto-Form may now be named.]
Kael stared at his summon.
It looked back at him.
"…Yeah," he said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. "You deserve one."
The stars above shimmered brighter.
And far, far away, something ancient stirred—alert now.