Dragon Heart
Lucius Dragnik had just turned nineteen. He was an exorcist who had abandoned his past self, once seated on the glorious golden throne, to become the sole human serving the great Kalia Rune. Even if labeled a boy emperor, no one in the eastern continent of Kalia Rune would dare utter such a thing. Those who walked the path of exorcism were duty-bound to forsake their past—that was the teaching of the great Kalia Rune, a glimpse into their intent to forge uncompromising adversaries against demons.
Yet abandoning one's past did not mean erasing the inner self. What Lucius had offered up was the "self" who sat upon the emperor's throne. Thus, he had not sacrificed the proof of his draconic lineage as a descendant of dragons. That proof was the Dragon Heart.
The dragon's heart, unnoticed even by him. The young dragon shed its limiter mid-journey, unleashing its full potential.
"...Faster than expected. You've shed your shell."
"...."
"But if you don't regain your senses, that's where it ends. Lucius! Look at me with those eyes. Raise your sword against the enemy before you!"
"...Rosmerta."
"You must move yourself to claim that power as your own. Don't leave it to your inner self. You didn't strike hard enough to lose your mind! Stop whining!"
What bullshit, Lucius thought sincerely. He knew this training was to awaken the Dragon Heart, but he hadn't expected it to nearly burst his actual heart.
Unconsciously, Lucius issued a command. The sacred sword Rosmerta reacted to the dragon's power. Empowered by its master's mutation—the one it had chosen as owner—it began to mutate in tandem. The red dragon's veins transformed Rosmerta into a pureblood sword.
The erosive power usable only in draconic form. That was how the dragonkin survived. They infused their weapons—their chosen extensions—with their draconic essence for enhancement. Simultaneously, they channeled draconic might into their bodies for battle. Thus, they endured, earned human acclaim, and proclaimed themselves emperors. So was born the Dragnik imperial lineage.
Instinct took over. Like one of the few remaining dragons, the unconscious Lucius charged the foe before him—ferociously.
Lessons ingrained by Uba when his mind was whole. In Lucius's eyes, Uba registered as a threatening enemy. As apex predators ruling over all life, dragons ignored even the intimidation of great warriors.
The sword spun in a whirlwind. Even a brief twirl birthed tornadoes in all directions. Wings and tail, crimson armor and reverse scales. Uba clicked his tongue at the sight, indistinguishable from demon or man.
He retracted the spinning blade and propelled himself forward on the gale.
"That's it!"
Move the Dragon Heart like that. Keep it pounding. Convert the heat into your power, prod the reverse scales, and roar in fury. Create a tornado with a single motion. That is the essence of a dragon.
Dragonkin, descendants of dragons. Draw forth ultimate power from your unconscious state. Once reason returns, that power will be yours.
Uba grinned widely, almost to his ears, then charged at Lucius, whose Dragon Heart thrummed wildly. Beast clashed with warrior. Bloodsword met rock-hard fist.
Crack... The sword glanced off slightly. Whether intentional or not, it was uncanny battle sense. A bit more deviation, and it might have grazed Uba's shoulder.
"Control that power. Don't get devoured!"
"...."
Uba swung his massive arm, smacking Lucius away. Demonic clouds bloomed in rapid succession, forming perfect circles. Lucius soared high into the sky!
Agonizing pain wracked his abdomen. The reverse scales quivered. Nausea surged. The unconscious Lucius knew what this was. Prodding the reverse scales ignited the dragon's primal rage, flooding from deep within. Scorching heat welled up from below, red energy rising to his throat.
And then...
Kuoooooom—!
Demons, crushed by his pressure, slunk away. From the skies, much came into view—landscapes unseen amid the sword-and-fist frenzy with Uba. Corpses of demons swept across the ruined earth. A faint, predatory smile curled Lucius's lips. The visage of the apex predator after the hunt.
Fit for the dragonkin, rulers of the food chain.
Even struck head-on by the fire breath, Uba could laugh.
"Nice and toasty!"
His muscles suffered no burns. Why? Endless training!
After Rian Rose's death, regretting his failure to protect them, Uba discarded his weapons. Weapons were useless. Lea and Mio always called him a muscle-headed idiot with nothing but meat in his skull. He embraced it. Became a true fool who knew only muscle.
Thus, the physique honed over eons withstood a dragon's breath. Heroes must resist such flames to safeguard humanity!
"Harder!"
No need to prod the reverse scales lightly. Rage eroded reason but shattered restraint. In that gap, Lucius's true self could awaken.
The form of the unconscious Lucius vanished. Blinking, Uba found him right before him—predator twisted in fury, licking its chops.
"Heh heh..."
Boom! Lucius's right arm, pinning Uba's face, evoked a dragon's claw. Wings propelled blinding speed, slamming the ground repeatedly. Craters pockmarked the earth like a bombing run. This zone's map needed redrawing—again.
Uba charged. The ground quaked.
Thud! Thud! Each step an earthquake. Savage muscular waves battered Lucius.
Lucius blocked effortlessly—speeds he once couldn't touch, now met with calm poise. The dragon's crimson hide scored Uba's knuckles.
And simultaneously—
Smack!
"...Guh."
Counter. As Uba's fist connected, Lucius accelerated to near-sonic speeds, slamming down with horn-sprouted head. A red lump bloomed on Uba's gleaming bald pate.
"Excellent!"
"Rosmerta."
A low murmur. Crimson-and-white sword strikes resumed.
My heart burns hot. My head spins madly. My body won't move. I struggle, but something pins me down, making it impossible. That something stares at me—no, half of me is that thing.
Crimson hide-clad dragonkin. Half-man, half-beast, it glows in the darkness.
"Who are you?!"
"Who else? It's you."
A gray dragon wreathed in red aura. Lucius Dragnik beheld Lucius Dragnik—or rather, his Dragon Heart. The heart, cloaked in draconic hide, materialized.
"Stay put. I'll handle the threat."
"That's no threat! It's training to awaken the Dragon Heart!"
"You think I don't know that? But you still busted my heart."
"If you're my Dragon Heart, you'd know. Uba shattered it to let you emerge."
"Not my problem?"
One half moves, the other responds. Grotesque, yet Lucius voiced his will.
"Tch, don't be childish. You're my heart—my property."
"Without me, you die."
"The heart beats without you."
Thus...
"...You!"
"Give me my body."
Squelch! Lucius plunged his right hand—dragon-formed—into his left chest. No deep breath. No fear. He simply knew this would claim it.
Uba's face flashed. Was there reason to pierce his own heart? Uba knew. Draconification was underway. He waited for the Dragon Heart's awakening, then struck the final blow.
Lucius wasn't fool enough to miss his master's hint. Pierce the heart when consciousness fades. Establish dominance, imprint the true master.
"Kuhuhu... You're insane."
"This body moving now is the mad one."
"Don't think it'll end like this."
"It ends. You're my heart. No more rampages."
Reason: The Dragon Heart knew. As Lucius's other self, bearing the ancient dragon's savage nature—that was dragonkin.
"To save Cain and aid Rowen, I must claim you."
"I'll move for that! How can you not see I'm helping?!"
"Because it's 'you,' not 'me.'"
Lucius clenched the Dragon Heart. Pain surged, yet no terror of death. Normally, targeting the heart brings mortal dread. Its absence meant he saw it as 'other,' not 'self.
"See? You're the body's ruler."
"...You'll regret this."
"I'll grind you enough not to. Rest easy."
"...Lucius!"
"Shut up."
Crunch! He crushed the Dragon Heart. Truly, Lucius dominated it.
Thump thump thump! Crimson flames mended it.
...His eyes opened.
Uba laid the suddenly collapsed Lucius on a log. Praying his disciple wasn't fool enough to miss the hint. Worry gnawed inwardly.
"Wake up, boy! You're not meant to end here!"
No response. Heart beats strong—scorching flames churned within. Draconified body reverted to human. Rosmerta from bloodsword to pure white.
Uba lacked healing, but could boost focus. Not a incantation.
Smack! Not an incantation, he repeated.
Smack! Thwack!
"Wake up! If you don't, it's like I killed you!"
Lucius lay still. Bruises bloomed. Still unconscious? His mid-battle collapse worried Uba.
"Did I hit too hard...? Sorry, boy. No more mushrooms in your food, as promised! I'll do laundry! Clean diligently!"
Damn. No more words...
"Argh! Just—sorry! So wake up!"
The muscle-brained fool fretted over Lucius—whom he'd battered himself—begging him not to die. Laughable, especially smacking cheeks to rouse him. Lucius's neck stretched unnaturally; cervical vertebrae likely shattered.
A millennium ago, Rian, Abel, Lea, and Mio called Uba an idiot for reasons like this.
"Nngh..."
"Boy! Awake?!"
A groan escaped Lucius's lips. Eyes cracked open. Pupils perfected into draconic slits, golden irises sharper. Mythic imperial heir.
"...Uba?"
"Awake, boy!"
"Ugh... My neck feels off...!"
"Er... Um..."
"Uba? No strength... Has control not...? Apologies. Dragon Heart mastery incomplete, it seems."
"...Yeah. Boy."
"Pardon?"
Uba slammed his head into the dirt. Glossy bald scalp smeared red—blood-like? Imagination?
"Lift your head!"
"Sorry!"
"...You mean shattering my heart? That's fine. Dragon Hea—"
"...No! Not that! Don't—guilt weighs heavier! Doing it on purpose?!"
"What nonsense...?"
Lucius nearly asked Then why? but Uba's next words froze him.
"My huge grip snapped your neck! Sorry!"
"...Pardon?"
"You wouldn't wake after five hours, so I slapped. Neck shattered!"
"...What..."
Lucius touched his neck. Cheeks burned. Volcanic heat.
"...Hah. Butchering your disciple's neck like meat. Fitting for a master."
"...Sorry. But praise: your cheeks slap nicely!"
"That's not praise; it's 'pummeling.'"
"...What eating?"
Lucius quit talking. More would shatter mind, not neck.
"Lift your head. Don't worsen the damage."
"...Pummeling?"
"Oh, disciple. Relieved master grasped the word. Fix my neck, please."
"Wait! I'll fix it!"
Uba beamed, gripped Lucius's neck—
Crack!
"...!!!"
—and twisted bones into place. But he overlooked: muscle expert, bone ignoramus. Limbs twist back somehow; necks? Seven vertebrae. Twisting doesn't realign.
"...Not this."
"W-Wait..."
"This?"
"...Gahk!"
"Yes! There! Rejoice, boy. Bones restored!"
Grind. Restored? Lucius swallowed agony.
Blub blub. Something rose, spilling from his mouth.
"This?!"
Foam. Sudden fainting induced it. Lucius foamed, collapsing with gurgles.
"Boy! Boy?!"
Thus, Lucius lay motionless amid the battlefield till Mio arrived, position confirmed.