《Dragon Of Eternity: Reincarnated As A Dragon With System》 Chapter 1: Death And Reincarnation Chapter 1: Death And Reincarnation Warmth surrounded him¡ªa stifling, unbearable heat that pressed against his entire body. He couldn¡¯t breathe. The tight space closed in on him, choking, suffocating. His limbs twitched, struggling to move, but the walls pressed back, smooth and unyielding. What is this?The thought barely formed in his mind, panic drowning out everything else. He pushed harder, desperate to escape the crushing weight. His efforts met resistance, the hard surface refusing to give. The walls were too small, too confining. He twisted and strained, muscles screaming in protest. I need to get out. I can¡¯t¡­ breathe¡­ With a burst of frantic energy, he slammed against the barrier. A sharp sound rang out, cutting through the suffocating silence. Crack. He froze, his heart¡ªor what felt like a heart¡ªhammering in his chest. For a moment, the panic receded, replaced by raw confusion. What just happened? Another push, and the barrier splintered further. Pieces crumbled around him, and a sliver of light pierced through the oppressive darkness. Encouraged, he struck again, harder this time. The surface shattered. Cool air rushed in, sharp and overwhelming after the suffocating heat. He tumbled forward, collapsing onto a rough, uneven surface. Gasping for breath, he blinked, his vision blurred by the sudden light. All around him lay fragments of something pale and smooth, scattered like shards of glass. An egg. The realization sent a jolt through him. He stared at the broken pieces, his mind spinning. Why was I inside an egg? His gaze shifted downward¡ªto himself. His limbs felt strange, heavier than they should be. They glinted faintly in the light, as though covered in scales. What am I? As the panic subsided, fragments of memory began to surface in his mind, like pieces of a puzzle slowly falling into place. Wait¡­ I wasn¡¯t¡­ always like this, was I? He closed his eyes¡ªor, at least, he thought he did¡ªand the image of a tired man slumped over a desk came to mind. Papers piled high, a blinking cursor on a screen, and the faint hum of an ancient office air conditioner. Oh no¡­ He remembered it now. His life before this¡­ whatever this was. The endless days of sitting in a cubicle, staring at spreadsheets, answering emails, and pretending to laugh at his boss¡¯s awful jokes. God, I hated those jokes. Nine to five, Monday to Friday, with the occasional unpaid overtime. That was his existence. Well, except for Fridays¡ªFridays were pizza days, and if you got there early enough, you could snag a slice with extra cheese. Man, I miss pizza. Then, the memory shifted. He recalled the streetlights flashing by, the rumble of the bus as it carried him home, his earbuds playing the same overplayed pop songs he never bothered to update. It had been a normal day. Or so he¡¯d thought. Until it wasn¡¯t. The truck. His eyes¡ªor whatever he had now¡ªsnapped open. He could still see it: the blinding headlights, the screech of tires, the loud honk that screamed, ¡°Get out of the way, you idiot!¡±Stolen story; please report. But he hadn¡¯t gotten out of the way. Seriously? I got taken out by a truck? How unoriginal can you get? It was almost laughable. Years of mind-numbing work, saving up for a vacation he never took, and dreaming of a life more exciting than spreadsheets¡­ only to get reincarnated like some cheap isekai protagonist. Wait. Is that what this is? Reincarnation? He looked down at himself again, taking in the glinting scales and clawed limbs. His tail twitched involuntarily, sending a small rock skittering across the ground. So, I¡¯m some kind of lizard now¡ªa dragon, I guess? Not exactly what I had in mind. I mean, being human again would¡¯ve been nice¡ªmaybe a prince or even a regular old commoner¡ªbut a dragon? Well¡­ it could¡¯ve been worse. At least I¡¯m not a slime. Or, God forbid, a goblin. The thought almost made him chuckle¡ªif dragons could chuckle. But as the reality of his situation began to settle in, a new question emerged, one that loomed over him like the shadow of a very large truck. What the hell am I supposed to do now? As he grappled with the absurdity of his new form, a faint, metallic sound cut through his thoughts. Ding. The noise echoed in his mind, sharp and foreign, sending a strange shiver down his spine. Before he could process it, words¡ªno, glowing symbols¡ªmaterialized in the air before him, their light shimmering faintly against the jagged walls of his surroundings. [Player Synchronization Complete. Attempt #93,556.] He froze, his mind struggling to wrap around the information. ¡°Wait, what? Ninety-three thousand what?¡± he muttered¡ªor tried to. His voice came out as a strange growl, startling even himself. The words shifted. [Initializing System Access¡­ Player: Synchronizing Memory Logs¡­ Complete. Congratulations! You are now bound to the Predator System]. More words appeared, scrolling faster than he could follow. Terms like ¡°previous failures,¡± ¡°memory resets,¡± and ¡°system activation delay¡± flashed briefly before vanishing. ¡°What¡­ the hell is going on?¡± As if in answer, the system responded. [Explanation: Host has experienced 93,555 fatal resets. Cause of death: Predation, starvation, environmental hazards.] The words hung there, stark and unfeeling. ¡°Wait. Fatal resets?¡± The realization struck him like a punch to the gut¡ªor the tail. ¡°You mean I¡¯ve died? Ninety-three thousand times?!¡± [Affirmative.] He staggered back¡ªor tried to, his still-uncoordinated limbs fumbling beneath him. His tail thumped awkwardly against the ground. I¡¯ve died that many times?He tried to piece it together. The loops, the resets, the suffocating darkness of the egg¡­ He hadn¡¯t just been born today. He¡¯d been born and reborn¡ªagain and again. ¡°But¡­ why didn¡¯t I remember any of this before?¡± [Memory retention was disabled until successful synchronization with the system. Without memory, progress was nullified after each reset. Furthermore, you did not have the ''Copy'' skill to make a copy of your memories and experiences.] The pieces began to fall into place. Every death, every failure, every loop¡ªit all reset him back to the beginning, erasing everything he¡¯d learned. He hadn¡¯t just been hatching today; he¡¯d been hatching for what felt like an eternity, stuck in a cruel cycle. ¡°But why now? Why synchronize me after all this time?¡± [System Activation: Host survived initial hatching phase for the first time. Synchronization threshold met.] For the first time. He stared at the words, his scaled body still trembling. ¡°So¡­ I finally broke out of the egg without dying?¡± [Correct. Previous causes of death include crushing by predators, suffocation due to egg shell thickness, and improper nutrition upon hatching.] He couldn¡¯t believe what he was reading¡ªor seeing. ¡°You mean I¡¯ve been eaten, crushed, and starved over ninety thousand times?!¡± The system didn¡¯t respond, though the silence spoke volumes. His claws twitched, his body coiling as frustration surged within him. ¡°This¡­ this is insane. You couldn¡¯t have synchronized earlier? Maybe after the first hundred times?¡± [System Synchronization is dependent on host survival. Delayed activation ensures the system is not prematurely disabled by fatal resets.] He groaned¡ªor growled, the sound echoing off the rocky walls. ¡°Right. Of course. Makes total sense,¡± he muttered sarcastically. But beneath the sarcasm, a strange sense of relief began to settle in. He wasn¡¯t stuck in an endless loop anymore. With the system, he could finally move forward. ¡°So¡­ what now? You gonna give me missions?¡± The system responded immediately. [Beginner Quest Initiated: Survive for 24 Hours. Reward: Memory Retention and Basic Survival Instinct Package.] A timer appeared in the corner of his vision, ticking down from 24:00:00. He blinked. ¡°Wait, what happens if I fail this quest?¡± He vaguely remembered the few times he¡¯d played games or read manga. Upon failure, there would be some heavy penalty, me that¡¯s what he was worried about. [On Failure: Reset.] The casual bluntness of the answer made him shudder. ¡°Right. No pressure then,¡± he muttered, glancing nervously at his surroundings. The shattered remains of his egg lay scattered across the rocky ground, and the faint echoes of distant growls and screeches reached his ears. For the first time, he truly understood his situation. He wasn¡¯t just a hatchling¡ªhe was a very vulnerable hatchling, stuck in a world that had already killed him over ninety thousand times. But not this time. With the system on his side, he finally had a chance to fight back¡ªor at least, survive long enough to figure out what the hell he was supposed to do. Chapter 2: Cause Of Death鈥擯redation Chapter 2: Cause Of Death¡ªPredation The ground beneath him felt rough and cold, the jagged stones pressing into his underbelly. His limbs¡ªthick, short, and awkward¡ªtwitched as he tried to push himself upright. Why am I so¡­ heavy? He rolled onto his side, his thick tail swinging behind him and almost throwing him off balance. He struggled, claws scraping against the dirt, until he finally managed to lift his upper body. His breathing was heavy, ragged, each motion feeling like he was carrying an entire truckload of bricks on his back. Okay. Legs next. The hind legs were thick, powerful, but unwieldy. With a grunt of effort, he braced his claws into the dirt and pushed himself upright. He wobbled for a moment before finding his footing, his tail swaying behind him to keep him balanced. There. Not so bad¡­ I think. He took a step forward, only for his claws to sink into the soft earth, nearly sending him sprawling. His massive feet left deep impressions in the ground as he stumbled forward, trying to adjust to the weight of his body. As he moved, a flicker of realization passed through his mind. This is¡­ familiar. Too familiar. A faint memory surfaced: running, falling, snapping jaws behind him. The sound of something crunching¡ªhis bones, maybe? He shook his head, trying to focus. The system chimed, breaking his thoughts. [System Alert] Detected: Previous Cause of Death #14,229¡ªPredation. The sound made his body freeze instinctively. He glanced around, every nerve in his body screaming to find the source of the danger. The tall grasses ahead rustled, and he saw it¡ªa sleek predator, low to the ground and watching him with piercing yellow eyes. Its skin was dark and leathery, blending into the rocky terrain, and its sharp claws scraped against the earth as it moved. The system chimed again. [System Update] Target: Lesser Clawstalker. Recommended Action: Flee. Survival Rate: 3%. He swallowed¡ªor tried to. His throat felt dry as the creature began to circle him, its muscles coiled and ready to pounce. "Three percent?! That''s it?" he growled, his deep voice rumbling in his throat. His tail twitched, and he stumbled back a step, his claws dragging across the dirt. The Clawstalker moved closer, its sharp teeth glinting in the faint light. He didn''t need the system to tell him what would happen if he stayed here. The predator''s growl deepened, a low, guttural sound that sent shivers through his oversized body. Instinct screamed at him to run, so he did¡ªwell, he tried.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. As he turned, his tail swung too far, smacking into a rock and throwing him off balance. He stumbled, his legs flailing wildly beneath him. For a moment, he teetered on the edge of falling flat on his face. Okay, no big deal. Just a small¡ªwhoa! His claws caught on a root, and he toppled forward, landing face-first in the dirt with a loud thud. Smooth. Real smooth. Scrambling back to his feet, he pushed off with all the strength his stubby legs could muster, his claws gouging the ground as he ran¡ªor waddled, really. His steps were clumsy and uneven, each one a monumental effort as his massive tail dragged behind him. Why can''t I run like a proper ¡­dinosaur?! Behind him, the Clawstalker let out a bone-chilling roar. Its footsteps thundered closer, each one a reminding him of just how slow he was. The system chimed in again, almost mockingly. [System Update] Current Survival Rate: 2%. "Two percent?!" he bellowed, his voice rising in a panicked roar. "Are you kidding me?!" The ground shook beneath him as the predator closed the gap. He barely had time to glance over his shoulder before he saw it¡ªa blur of claws and teeth lunging through the air. It hit him with the force of a speeding truck. The impact hit like a freight train, sending him sprawling, his massive body crashing into the dirt with a sickening thud. Sharp claws sank into his side, tearing through his scales like paper, and the pain exploded across his body. He let out a guttural scream, the sound raw and desperate, as searing agony ripped through him. The Clawstalker''s teeth sank deep into his flank, ripping through muscle and sinew with horrifying ease. He could feel the jagged teeth scraping against bone, pulling chunks of his flesh free. His legs kicked and thrashed wildly, but his short, stubby limbs could barely reach the predator, much less stop it. The growling didn''t stop. It was relentless¡ªdeep, guttural, vibrating through his chest, almost in sync with the tearing of his body. Blood¡ªhis blood¡ªspattered onto the ground in heavy, pulsing streams, pooling beneath him. The metallic scent of it filled the air, nauseating and sharp. He tried to fight, claws flailing weakly at the creature that was ripping him apart, but every movement was agony. The pain was too much, too overwhelming. His vision blurred, dark spots swimming before his eyes, and his screams turned hoarse, choking off in a ragged breath. No, no, no! Not again! I can''t¡­ I don''t want to¡­ The system chimed one last time. [System Alert] Fatal Damage Detected. Reset Imminent. The growling and the pain faded into a deafening silence. Darkness crept into the edges of his vision, swallowing everything as his body went limp. The last thing he saw was the Clawstalker looming over him¡ªa sleek, terrifying predator with sinewy muscles rippling beneath its dark, leathery skin. Its yellow eyes glowed with cold, predatory focus, and its maw, lined with jagged, bloodstained teeth, opened wide. The creature''s long, serrated claws gleamed as they plunged deeper into his chest, a final, brutal end to his struggle. Darkness swallowed him whole. For a moment, there was nothing. No pain, no sound, no sense of time or space. Just an empty void that stretched endlessly. Then¡ªlight. His eyes snapped open, and he sucked in a sharp breath, his claws twitching against the ground. The warmth of the sunlit rocks beneath him felt jarringly familiar. He blinked, disoriented, and looked around. The jagged terrain, the shattered pieces of his egg scattered nearby¡ªit was the exact same spot where he''d hatched not long ago. "What¡­?" His deep, guttural voice rumbled softly as confusion gave way to realization. The system chimed. [System Alert] Checkpoint Reached: Synchronization Complete. He stared blankly at the glowing words hovering before him, the memory of his death still vivid in his mind. The Clawstalker, the pain, the blood¡­ all of it was real. And now, he was back where he started. "Is this¡­ the reset?" His voice trembled slightly, a mix of disbelief and dread. He looked down at his body, completely intact, no wounds or blood in sight. It was as if the encounter had never happened. But it had. The faint sound of distant growls reached his ears, and his heart sank. He was back, but so was everything else¡ªthe dangers, the predators, and the brutal fight for survival. His claws scraped against the ground as he forced himself upright. This time, though, he wasn''t entirely the same. He remembered the Clawstalker, its speed, its ferocity. He remembered how it had killed him. And he wasn''t about to let it happen again. This time, he would do something¡­ something that a human would do, probably - use his intelligence. [System Alert] Detected: Previous Cause of Death #93,556¡ªPredation. Chapter 3: Death Again Chapter 3: Death Again His claws scraped against the ground as he forced himself upright, the faint growls in the distance sending a chill down his spine. The jagged remains of his egg were still scattered around him, and the rocky terrain stretched out, unchanged from before. But this time, he wasn''t the same. He could still feel the Clawstalker''s claws raking through his flesh, the metallic tang of his blood pooling on the ground. The image of its glowing yellow eyes and the serrated teeth ripping into him was burned into his mind. He clenched his claws, his body trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. "This time," he muttered, his voice a low growl, "I''ll do things differently." The faint growls in the distance grew louder, echoing off the rocky terrain. His heart¡ªor whatever passed for it now¡ªthumped heavily in his chest. If the system functions how it should normally do, then¡­ "Show me the Clawstalker''s profile." The system chimed, its glowing text appearing before him. [Target Profile Identified] Name: Clawstalker Level: 4 Skills: ¡ú Stealth Predator: Conceals presence in tall grass and rocky terrain. ¡ú Ambush Strike: Increases attack speed and damage during surprise attacks. ¡ú Piercing Claws: Ignores weaker defensive scales. His claws twitched as he read the glowing text. "Level four?" he muttered, his deep voice trembling slightly. "What the hell am I, then?" The system''s text shifted. [Player Profile] Name: Unnamed Hatchling Level: 1 Passive Skills: ¡ú Rewind: Resets to the most recent checkpoint upon death. ¡ú Copy: Retains all new memories and skills learned before death and carries them into the reset. Active Skills: ¡ú None Acquired He blinked at the glowing text, his claws freezing mid-motion. "So that''s it. That''s how I''m still alive." His mind flashed back to the Clawstalker''s glowing eyes, its claws tearing through him, the unbearable pain, and then¡ªdarkness. "It''s not a second chance," he muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "It''s the same chance, over and over again."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The growling grew louder, cutting through his thoughts like a blade. He had no time to dwell on the implications of his newfound abilities. His claws scraped against the dirt as he crouched low, scanning the rocky outcrops and patches of tall grass ahead. It''s faster. Stronger. And it''s got the element of surprise. But he had something it didn''t: a second chance¡ªor, more accurately, a thousand chances if needed. He shuffled awkwardly toward a nearby rock, keeping low to the ground. His thick tail dragged behind him, leaving a trail in the dirt, but he had no other option. He needed to stay hidden. The growling stopped. His heart pounded as he pressed himself against the rock, straining to hear any movement. The silence was deafening, every muscle in his body tense. Then, a faint rustle of grass to his left. His mind raced. It''s circling. Looking for an opening. He spotted a loose rock nearby, half-buried in the dirt. Awkwardly, he picked it up with his claws, its weight almost too much for his uncoordinated limbs. With a grunt, he hurled it toward a patch of tall grass on his right. The rock landed with a soft thud, rustling the blades as it rolled. The silence broke. A blur of movement shot toward the grass, the Clawstalker pouncing where the sound had come from. He didn''t wait to see if the predator had figured out his ruse. He bolted toward the next rock outcrop, his heavy legs pounding against the dirt. Each step felt clumsy and slow, but he pushed forward, adrenaline surging through him. He reached the rocks just as the Clawstalker turned, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto him. It let out a furious roar, crouching low as it prepared to strike again. He pressed his back against the rocky surface, breathing heavily. "Come on," he muttered to himself. "Think. What would a human do?" Just this much took a lot of time, he failed to think of anything. The Clawstalker pounced faster than he could react. Its claws tore into his back, slamming him to the ground with bone-crushing force. He let out a guttural scream, his legs kicking uselessly beneath him as pain erupted across his spine. He tried to move, to crawl away, but the weight of the predator pinned him in place. Its claws raked down his sides, shredding his scales and leaving long, bloody gashes. His screams grew hoarse as the Clawstalker''s teeth sank into his belly, ripping through muscle and flesh. The pain was excruciating, his body convulsing as the predator pulled back, dragging his entrails with it. His intestines spilled onto the ground in a grotesque mess, glistening in the dim light. The Clawstalker growled, its jaws snapping shut around the mass of organs as it tore them free. Blood gushed from his open wounds, pooling around him in thick, dark streams. He tried to move, to fight, but his limbs wouldn''t respond. He was trapped, helpless, forced to endure every second of the predator''s feast. His vision blurred, but the pain remained sharp and unrelenting, every nerve screaming in agony. I''m dying¡­ again. The Clawstalker''s growls echoed in his ears as it buried its teeth deeper into his body, pulling and tearing at whatever remained. Darkness crept into the edges of his vision, but the pain lingered, sharp and vivid, until the very end. Rewind- Light- His eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as if he were still gasping for air. The warmth of the sunlit ground pressed against him, and the jagged remains of his egg were scattered around him once more. He trembled, his claws scraping weakly against the dirt. The memory of his death was fresh and searing, the phantom pain of torn flesh and spilled guts leaving him breathless. This was the second time. And thanks to his memories, it was now deeply etched into him. The system chimed. [System Alert] Detected: Previous Cause of Death #93,557¡ªPredation. He stared at the glowing text, his body trembling with a mixture of terror and exhaustion. I need to survive¡­ need to run¡­ I¡­ His mind was in shambles, thoughts scattered, his will hanging by a thread. The pain of his previous death was etched into every fiber of his being. Just thinking about the Clawstalker made him gulp down chunks of saliva, his body trembling uncontrollably. He knew the truth. He was just a level 1 dragon hatchling¡ªweak, slow, and unskilled. Against the towering level 4 Clawstalker, he didn''t stand a chance. It had already found and killed him every time, no matter how fast he tried to flee. Running wouldn''t save him. The thought of dying again, of being torn apart and consumed, filled him with despair. But despair gave way to something else¡ªrage. The fear in his chest twisted into anger, a burning determination that coursed through his veins. His claws dug into the dirt, his trembling replaced with a clenched resolve. "Run?" he growled, his voice low and venomous. "No." His claws tightened into fists, his teeth grinding as the words escaped him like a vow. "I need to kill it." His glowing eyes narrowed, his tail swaying as fury overtook his fear. "I will kill it!"