not dead—at least not in any conventional sense.


    "You know of me." The voice sounded surprised, even impressed. "Most hosts require significant... persuasion before they even acknowledge my existence."


    "Fictional? How curious." The dragon''s voice had a rumbling quality, like distant thunder contained in my skull. "Your mind contains strange knowledge. I see memories of... watching this world? As entertainment?"


    "Speaking of which," Ddraig interrupted, his tone shifting to something more serious, "we have a more immediate problem."


    "Perceptive. No, this conversation should be impossible at this stage." Ddraig sounded almost amused. "But your soul is not what I expected. It''s as if two souls occupy this vessel simultaneously—yours and the original owner''s. Fused but distinct."


    "The sacred gear has adapted to your unique situation," Ddraig explained, and I could almost picture a massive dragon shrugging. "Your combined soul carries too much power, too much awareness for the standard form. Consider it... a mutation."


    "That," Ddraig said dryly, "is the sound of your body failing."


    "Your human form cannot sustain the fusion of souls within it. The strain is too great." For a mythical beast of destruction, Ddraig sounded remarkably matter-of-fact about my impending death. "Without intervention, you will die within weeks. Perhaps days."


    "There may be a way." Ddraig''s voice took on an almost contemplative tone. "In my long existence, I''ve had hosts face similar issues—though none quite like yours. The solution is... extreme."


    "Low. Perhaps thirty percent for the first transformation alone. Each subsequent change carries similar risk."


    "You die. The body fails. Both souls lost." Ddraig sounded almost sympathetic now. "I lose another host before they even accessed my power. Quite disappointing, really."


    "After millennia of imprisonment, one develops a certain... perspective," Ddraig replied, equally sarcastic. I hadn''t expected the apocalyptic dragon to have a sense of humor.


    "Not long, partner. Your body is already beginning to fail." Ddraig''s voice held no mockery now, just brutal honesty. "Hours, perhaps a day before damage becomes irreversible."


    "Brave words." Ddraig sounded approving. "Or foolish. Often the same thing."


    "Meaning you''ll scream until your vocal cords rupture, only for me to heal them so you can scream more." Ddraig''s brutal honesty was almost refreshing. "Three days of agony as your human heart dies and a dragon heart forms. Survival... uncertain."


    "If you survive, recovery. Adaptation. Learning to control a heart that pumps power as well as blood." The dragon almost sounded impressed by my lack of hesitation. "Then we plan the next transformation."


    "The original owner of this body was... not strategically minded," Ddraig admitted with what sounded like draconic embarrassment. "His thoughts were dominated by breasts and harem fantasies."


    "A worthy goal." Ddraig sounded genuinely impressed now. "Very well, Andrew Slayn. Let us begin your transformation. It starts with pain, and will likely end with pain, but between..."


    <hr>


    "Adequate," Ddraig agreed. "Though you should secure yourself. The pain may cause violent convulsions."


    "Focus on the amulet. It contains the connection point between your soul and mine. Through it, draconic energy will replace your heart''s human essence—gradually at first, then all at once."


    "Unavoidable. Necessary. Transformative." The dragon''s voice was solemn. "Are you certain, Andrew Slayn? Once begun, this process cannot be reversed."


    "You survived," Ddraig''s voice was the first thing I clearly registered as consciousness returned fully. "Impressive. Most would have broken."


    "Still mostly human," Ddraig replied, with what almost sounded like pride. "But your core is dragon now. The heart of a fire drake pumps power through your veins alongside blood."


    "I was being generous," the dragon admitted. "I''ve only seen three hosts survive this particular transformation before you. None were mere humans—one was a half-god, another a descendant of heroes."


    "A stubborn fool who simply refused to die."


    "Your recovery rate is remarkable," Ddraig observed. "The draconic heart accelerates healing. A day, perhaps two, before you regain full mobility. A week before you can access the first tier of power."


    "Your physical strength has doubled, perhaps tripled," Ddraig explained. "Your endurance, far more. Fire magic will come naturally to you now—an affinity born of your new heart. And you''ll find yourself... changed in other ways."


    "More aggressive. More instinctual. More... draconic." The ancient being sounded almost amused. "Dragons are creatures of power and instinct. You''ll feel it most strongly in battle or... other intense situations."


    "Physical transformation is more complex than you might think," Ddraig explained. "Your strength comes from the draconic energy flowing through your system, not merely muscle mass. Though as you use this power, your body will gradually adapt to channel it more efficiently. You''ll notice changes in time."


    "Not for at least a month maybe two," Ddraig warned. "Your body needs time to fully adapt. Rushing would kill you—and this time, I doubt even your stubbornness would save you."


    "The first visible sign," Ddraig commented, noticing my focus. "There will be others as we progress."


    "Indeed we do, partner," Ddraig agreed, his voice resonating through my new draconic heart. "The world won''t be prepared for what we become."


    "A valid concern," Ddraig acknowledged. "Yes, those sensitive to magical energies might detect something different about you. The Gremory girl and her Queen would certainly notice if you flared your power carelessly."


    "It''s possible, yes. Another skill to master." There was a hint of wariness in Ddraig''s tone. "But it will be challenging. Most hosts take months to develop such control."


    "Your determination is admirable, if perhaps foolish," Ddraig rumbled, but I detected a note of respect beneath the criticism. "We''ll begin tomorrow."


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Secondary adaptations," he replied, concern evident in his voice. "Your body is still reconfiguring to accommodate the draconic heart. It will happen sporadically for the next few weeks."


    <hr>


    "A medical cover story might serve our purposes," Ddraig commented internally. "Explaining both the episodes and your need for those breathing techniques."


    "A clever development," Ddraig commented as I focused on channeling small amounts of draconic energy through my fingertips, creating faint crimson trails in the darkened room. "Though human medicine will eventually become suspicious if you continue seeing specialists."


    "Perhaps. Your progress is remarkable for a new wielder, though far from complete." The dragon''s voice carried centuries of experience. "The next phase of training should focus on combat applications, now that basic energy control is developing."


    "Wise. Though you''ll need weapons to train with. This body lacks the muscle memory your original possessed."


    "The human female saw you during an adaptation episode," Ddraig reminded me. "The one with pink hair. She may become a complication."


    "Your endurance is approximately triple that of a normal human teenager," Ddraig confirmed. "Though nowhere near what it will become with further transformations."


    "Such techniques would prove effective against fallen angels," Ddraig observed. "Their overconfidence often leads to overcommitment in attacks."


    "Don''t fight it," Ddraig instructed, his voice cutting through the haze of pain. "This is different from previous adaptations. Your heart is attempting to channel power more efficiently."


    "Your first manifestation of external draconic energy," Ddraig explained, approval evident in his tone. "The ability to channel power through objects, enhancing their properties."


    "Your unique situation continues to create unexpected outcomes," the dragon replied. "The soul fusion and your conscious knowledge of combat applications are accelerating certain aspects of power development, while your human body limits others."


    You''re doing martial arts? Since when?"


    "Your control is adequate for initial interaction with devils," he assessed as I completed a particularly complex suppression exercise. "They will sense something unusual about you, but nothing that immediately suggests the Red Dragon Emperor."


    "Sufficient to handle low-to-mid tier fallen angels in one-on-one confrontations," he replied thoughtfully. "Though multiple opponents or higher-tier entities would still overwhelm you without further transformation."


    "A reasonable assessment," Ddraig agreed. "Though your foreknowledge remains your greatest advantage. Use it wisely."


    "An objective that would have seemed impossible for an ordinary human," Ddraig observed. "Yet within reach for what you''ve become."


    "Something new," the dragon replied thoughtfully. "Not fully human, not truly dragon. Not the original soul of this body, nor entirely the one who joined it. A unique existence forged through adversity and determination."


    "Indeed," Ddraig agreed. "The world believes you human. Let them maintain that illusion as long as possible."