For the first time since arriving in this strange and dangerous world, Henry felt… comfortable. Peaceful. Life, as chaotic as it had been for so long, suddenly slowed to a halt. He lay stretched out in his trailer, his body resting atop a makeshift couch of blankets and pillows. His newly draconic physique hadn't just given him strength—it had also imbued him with an odd sense of invincibility. Nothing could touch him anymore, or at least, that's what it felt like.
The days passed lazily. Henry indulged in whatever small luxuries he could. With no immediate threat looming over him, he decided to treat himself for the first time since… well, ever. He watched the shows he'd downloaded on his laptop before arriving here—mostly isekai anime, a genre that now hit uncomfortably close to home. He found himself laughing at the characters' predicaments, shaking his head as he muttered things like, "You call 'that' a monster? Hah, I've seen scarier things in my dreams."
Between episodes, he absentmindedly tested the limits of his new body. He flexed his claws experimentally, marveling at how sharp they were, and practiced controlling his mana, creating tiny flickers of energy that danced across his fingertips. It felt effortless, as if magic itself was an extension of his will. But for now, he didn't push himself. "Why bother?" he thought. He was safe, strong, and had all the time in the world. Why rush anything?
By the fourth day, Henry's routine of lazing around began to wear thin. As much as he enjoyed his new laid-back lifestyle, something gnawed at the back of his mind—a restless curiosity that refused to be silenced. It bubbled up as he watched yet another isekai anime, this one featuring a protagonist who used their Earthly knowledge to recreate advanced magic and technology in a fantasy world. Henry paused the episode, staring blankly at the screen as the idea took root in his mind. "Wait a minute…" he muttered, leaning back in thought.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much potential he had been wasting. He had all his memories from Earth—every science lesson, every random tidbit of knowledge he'd picked up from books, movies, and YouTube videos. Even if it wasn't much, it was something. He also had something no other human on Earth could claim: the powers of a full-blooded dragon. His mana reserves were immeasurable, his understanding of magic instinctive and constantly growing. What was stopping him from blending the two worlds? From mastering what he knew and taking it further?
Henry grinned, a flicker of excitement sparking in his chest. The thought of creating the magic he had seen in movies and anime—reality-bending spells, complex elemental attacks, maybe even his own version of a hyper-advanced magical fortress—was exhilarating. "I could do this," he said aloud, his voice filled with determination. "I mean, why not? I have all the tools I need. It's not like anyone's going to stop me."
Henry sprang into action, his lazy demeanor vanishing in an instant. He started by organizing his thoughts, using the blank journal he'd brought along to jot down ideas. The first few pages were a chaotic mess of half-formed plans: 'Build a better base. Reinforce the trailer. Study mana flow. Test fire magic. Build a mana-powered generator?!'
It didn't take long for him to settle on his priorities. First, he needed to establish a proper base of operations. The trailer was nice, but it wasn't exactly dragon-proof, nor was it suitable for the kind of experiments he had in mind. He envisioned a hybrid structure—a mix of modern engineering from Earth and the fantastical elements of this world. Something that could withstand even the strongest monsters while being equipped with everything he needed to tinker and learn.
Next, he turned his attention to equipment. His old gear was laughably inadequate now; he didn't even need weapons at this point, given the strength of his claws and the durability of his scales. But the idea of forging his own tools and armor intrigued him, especially if he could incorporate magic into their design. "A sword that absorbs mana? Armor that adapts to different environments? Why not?"
Finally, Henry wanted to explore magic itself. Though his draconic instincts gave him a natural understanding of mana, he was still a novice when it came to refining spells. He wondered if he could replicate the iconic magic he had seen in fiction—spells that bent reality, elemental powers amplified to absurd levels, maybe even time manipulation. The possibilities were endless.
Henry decided to start small. He stood in the open field near his cave, the air humming with mana. Closing his eyes, he focused on the flow of energy within him, picturing it as a river coursing through his veins. With a deep breath, he extended his hand and willed the mana to take shape. A flicker of flame appeared, small and timid at first, before blossoming into a roaring fireball. The heat radiated against his skin, but it didn't burn. It obeyed him completely.
He grinned. "Okay, that was easy. Let's take it up a notch." This time, he visualized the fireball splitting into multiple orbs, each one spinning in perfect synchronization. It happened almost instantly, the orbs dancing around him like miniature suns. Henry couldn't help but laugh, the thrill of creation surging through him. "This is… insane. I can literally do anything."
The experiments continued late into the night. Henry practiced manipulating different elements, summoning barriers, and even attempting to create a basic healing spell. Every success fueled his excitement, every failure pushing him to try harder. By the time he finally collapsed back into his trailer, his mind was bursting with ideas for what to try next.
Despite his newfound excitement, Henry couldn't ignore the lingering thoughts about Kaldaryn's inheritance. What did it truly mean to be the heir of a dragon who once stood among the greatest of his kind? The weight of that legacy pressed on him as he stared at the stars outside his trailer, his excitement mingling with uncertainty.
"I could leave this place," he muttered to himself. "I don't have to stay here anymore. Nothing can stop me now." But even as he said the words, he felt a pang of hesitation. The forest that had once been his prison now felt like a training ground, a place where he could hone his skills before facing the unknown dangers of the wider world.
One thing was certain: Henry's life had changed forever. The lazy days of simply surviving were over. Now, with the power of a dragon and the knowledge of a human, he was ready to build something extraordinary.
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