Within the depths of Leo's consciousness, where thought and spirit teetered on the edge of collapse, he clung desperately to both ends of existence—life and death. His grip trembled, bloodless knuckles wrapped around invisible threads. If he let go now, everything would vanish.
He would die.
"Why do you continue to struggle?"
The voice echoed from the abyss, calm, ancient, and hauntingly familiar. Leo turned his head slowly toward its source. From the shifting darkness emerged the silhouette of a colossal dragon, ethereal in presence, yet grounded in solemn majesty. Its crimson eyes blazed like molten rubies—an impossible hue spoken of only in the forgotten pages of historical texts.
"You..." Leo's voice was raspy, hollow. Recognition flashed in his dimming eyes. "You're the dragon I met before... I remember you now. It's really you!"
The dragon observed him in silence, its gaze unreadable. After a beat, it repeated the same question, tone unchanging.
"If you just let go... you will finally rest. And the hatred of that boy will fade."
Leo looked down. His fingers trembled as he continued to cling to his tethered consciousness, his soul quivering in limbo. The weight of life bore down upon him like a mountain, yet he refused to release his grip.
"As if I could just let go..." he whispered, voice fueled by a flicker of defiance. "I won't. Not until I prove to this damn world that unity is possible."
He clenched his teeth.
"So what if that young ogre hated me? He had every right to! Treated like a tool—like nothing but muscle and bone to be worked to death. No one gave him a chance to discover his purpose, his potential. That's not just wrong—it's against everything I stand for!"
The dragon scoffed, a low rumble that shook the surreal plane around them. With deliberate grace, it sat down, curling its massive tail around its legs as its burning gaze bore into Leo's dying form.
"Unfortunately," it said, "you will never again live as you once did. That life is gone."
The dragon raised a claw, and with a flick of its talon, the world around them shimmered. A vision appeared—a scene from the waking world, viewed from an outsider's gaze. Leo's body, now unconscious, twitched with unnatural spasms. His eyes, open and glowing faintly, bore the unmistakable mark of something not entirely human.
"You now possess our eyes," the dragon continued, "the eyes of a dragon. And your body... it has changed. Your blood has become something... more—an amalgam of every known species of the monster race."
Leo's eyes widened in disbelief. "What do you mean? How is that even possible?"
"Just as I said," the dragon replied. "You carry within you the essence of monsters—their blood, their instincts... and our vision. Our eyes are dangerous, Leo. To mortals, they are a curse, not a gift. That is why we vanished from the world. These eyes... they sow discord, awaken fear, and bring chaos."
The dragon's tone darkened.
"The man you saw here—the one who fell—did not die by the strength of your hands. He died the moment you opened those eyes."
Leo's breath caught. Guilt crashed into him like a wave. "Then... what should I do now?"
The dragon tilted its head, as if surprised by the calmness of Leo's question. It narrowed its blazing eyes and finally answered.
"If you still intend to walk the path of unity... then accept who you are. Become the epitome of monsters—the bridge between what is feared and what is misunderstood."
Its body began to fade, shimmering like mist in the morning sun. Leo reached forward, desperation clinging to his voice.
"Wait! Where are you going? Don't disappear—please!"
Before vanishing completely, the dragon extended one clawed hand and gently touched Leo's chest. A surge of warmth flooded his soul, reconnecting the severed thread of life.
---
Leo gasped awake.
His eyes flared briefly—deep crimson slits veiled behind cloth. Around him, the remaining enemies writhed in agony. Their bodies convulsed, distorted, as if breaking apart from the inside. One by one, they fell—cold, lifeless.
Leo stood, breath ragged. In silence, he walked to the young ogre's corpse, cradled the still body in his arms, and began to dig a grave with his bare hands. His fingers bled, earth caked under his nails, but he continued until the hole was deep enough. Gently, he placed the boy within, covered him, and offered a final silent prayer.
Without another word, Leo returned to the academy.
He entered his dormitory and began packing what little he had, movements automatic. Just as he was securing the last of his belongings, the door creaked open. In a panic, Leo yanked the blindfold over his eyes again and threw himself onto the bed.
Soft knocking followed.
"Leo? Are you still asleep?"
It was Lena's voice. Warm. Familiar. Comforting.
Leo's breath caught. He wasn't ready. Not for this.
But he couldn't lie to her—not completely.
Still blindfolded, he opened the door. Lena stepped in, concern evident in her expression.
"Leo? What's with the blindfold?"
Without a word, Leo shut the door behind her, locked it, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Leo, talk to me. What's going on? Why are you covering your eyes?"
He let the silence sit between them for several heartbeats before finally breaking it.
"Do you remember the dragon I used to tell you about when we were kids?"
She blinked. "Of course. The one from your dreams?"
Leo nodded. "It wasn't just a dream."
"...What are you saying?"
"I'm leaving, Lena. I've decided. I'm going to cross the Abyssal Forest."
She froze.
"You're joking, right? That place is off-limits—suicidal even. The professor said dragons are just myths, like the aetherians the Church keeps talking about."
Leo looked down. "I'm serious. I'm leaving tonight."
Lena's grip on his shoulders tightened, then slowly fell away. She saw the certainty in his posture—knew there was no changing his mind.
"When I find the answers I'm searching for... I'll tell you everything."
She stared at him for a moment longer, then silently walked out.
Leo turned away.
"I'm sorry, Lena... but I can't involve you in this one."
Moments later, the door creaked open again. Lena re-entered, holding a book in her hand. She placed it gently on his lap.
"Huh? What's this?"
"A Water Tome. Use it. It'll help you survive out there."
Leo ran his fingers across the cover and smiled faintly. "Thanks."
---
Night descended. With his pack secured and blindfold tight, Leo slipped out the window, retracing the same secret path he once took to follow the young ogre. Escaping the academy grounds, he hailed a carriage and made the long journey home.
By dawn, he stood once more before the towering trees of the Abyssal Forest.
He stepped in.
Removing his blindfold, Leo blinked as his draconic eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness. His vision pierced through the foliage, revealing shapes and movements unseen by ordinary sight.
With every step, he felt his new body adapting—stronger, sharper, attuned to every breath of wind and whisper of life.
He opened the Water Tome.
"Water Bolt."
The moisture in the air obeyed. A sphere formed and shot forward, crashing into a tree trunk and leaving behind a shallow crater.
Not enough. But it was a start.
He inhaled deeply, centering himself, channeling mana of differing attributes into his hands. The raw energies clashed violently—but he focused, harmonized them. Through sheer will, he forged something new. A current unlike any other.
"The power to unite," he whispered, "just like I did... with my life and death."
And with that, Leo ventured deeper into the unknown.
A monster. A bridge. A spark of unity.