Chapter 1: One day, I became a hatchling.
The spear embedded in my heart shattered my soul.
At the same time, an excruciating headache, as if my head was about to split, overwhelmed me.
The pain tearing through my body from within made my brows furrow involuntarily.
The red pupils narrowed sharply, like a predator's, and the bridge of his nose, crumpled and distorted, revealed sharp fangs as the black dragon growled fiercely.
The scent of blood spread thickly from his labored breath.
Spitting out congealed blood, the dragon writhed in agony.
Though he hadn't done anything particularly beneficial, the dragon, Imugi, had never done anything to incur the hatred of humans.
He never imagined that someone would come to reveal such intense murderous intent.
[Youā¦ bastardā¦ What the hell.]
Trying to ask what the person was doing, he opened his mouth, but thick, dark red blood gushed out.
Seeing the blood, the man laughed.
The man's face, burned black by the curse Imugi had placed on him, was charred, and the one unscathed eye was bloodshot, grinning wickedly.
He looked more like a demon than a human.
'Can someone who can laugh in such a situation truly be human?'
Chilled to the bone, Imugi's scales bristled.
Because the man had attacked like a mad dog, ignoring his own injuries and trying to kill him, Imugi's body was also battered and bruised. The man's right arm was torn, and his left side exposed white ribs.
It was a dogfight where neither could claim the upper hand.
His feet and thighs, blackened and rotting, were a sight to behold.
The man's movements, still attacking despite his injuries, were terrifying.
'Even if he looks like he's about to die, I'll be the first to go.'
Imugi ground his teeth in frustration and roared.
[What the hell! What did you have such a grudge aboutā¦!]
Seeing the man, drenched in blood, holding the spear, Imugi sensed his impending death.
Rage surged in his heart.
In just one year, he could have become a dragon.
Before ascending to become a dragon, he had lived for 999 years as a spirit.
Who would have thought that Imugi, who had lived for so long, would be killed by a mere human?
He had lived quietly, not causing significant harm to the flow of cause and effect, and had resided on a remote island that was not even on the map, where no one would come looking for him.
But a madman had entered the island and plunged a spear into Imugi's heart, a weapon capable of killing him.
Thus, Imugi, who was just one year away from ascending, was ultimately killed.
[Coughā¦! Grunt. Damnā¦]
Injured blood trickled down the corners of Imugi's mouth. Blood gushed from his torn flesh.
He felt the life draining from him, accompanied by a chill.
Despite the thick, continuous flow of Imugi's killing intent, the man's aura remained menacing.
He seemed to want to burn away all of Imugi's life, no matter the cost.
'Damn! Is this really the end? Am I going to die like this?'
Frustration and anger welled up in his chest.
Imugi, already considered ominous, had never been someone who would be revered.
A life where no one would seek his presence.
Imugi had lived without mingling with them or drawing attention.
He knew how humans viewed him but never felt the need to change it.
After all, they weren't neighbors, and as long as he didn't interfere, it didn't matter.
A malevolent being that harms humans.
A being who ascends after a thousand years of cultivation.
Whatever the world said, it was just the imagination of those who had never truly seen him.
He had never felt the need to resist or be swayed by such preconceptions, so he naturally didn't care.
After all, there were few who could truly see Imugi for who he was.
Dying like this in their preconceived notions.
'What good are these thoughts now?'
Imugi let out a bitter laugh.
[What do you gain from this?]
Even if the man took Imugi's corpse, the body of a spirit, he would die here too.
In the end, it would be a mutual destruction.
The man, with a glazed look, gazed into the distance.
"I merely repaid a debt of gratitude."
His words, mixed with labored breath, sounded like he was vomiting his insides.
The man, with his hair turned white from exertion, stood facing Imugi.
What shone in his eyes was a purer, stronger belief.
Before Imugi could ask who, he lost consciousness.
The pain from his shattered heart and soul was excruciating.
With the sound of his body breaking apart, a sensation of being torn to pieces enveloped Imugi's entire body.
Eventually, the explosion that erupted from Imugi's body swallowed the entire island and erased its existence from the world.
It was impossible to gauge how much time had passed.
For a while, he was in a strange state where he could not move his body at will, but his consciousness remained.
In a place where he couldn't even open his eyes, he heard the sound of liquid gurgling.
And the heartbeat began to beat softly again.
Imugi focused on the sound.
The pulsating sound of life.
He stopped trying to move and felt the heartbeat.
The fact that his life hadn't ended was somewhat moving.
He mustered his strength and tried to move his hands and feet slightly.
Just feeling it was astonishing.
Straining with all his might, he gradually twisted and wriggled his stone-like body.
How long did he move his body?
His toes touched a solid wall.
His fingertips and tail tip also touched walls.
The heart, which had been beating softly, began to beat roughly with anger.
'How dare you! How dare you lock up a divine creature!'
Imugi, trembling with deep anger, struck the wall with his hand.
He thought it would break easily.
The one who could split the earth with a tail flick was now blocked by a mere wall, causing his hand to ache.
'Those wretches, they've weakened my power!'
He kicked the wall in frustration.
Trapped inside the wall, he did everything he could to break it.
A crack appeared in the wall, and a faint light seeped through.
'! I can get out. Just a little more!'
He extended his arm to the crack, pressed his palm against it, and focused.
'This is my only chance.'
His body, where he couldn't feel his dantian, required him to gather all his remaining energy for this one attempt.
He drew as much energy as he could to his limit.
The broken wall fragments and liquid burst outward.
He felt a sense of accomplishment at having created a passage to the outside.
Staggering from the exertion of using his inner energy, he clutched the broken wall and panted.
'I can't just sit here. I don't know when those who confined me will come.'
He clenched his fists and took deep breaths, gathering strength in his trembling legs.
Fresh air filled his lungs through his nose and mouth.
From where the sap flowed down his waist, he inhaled the energy in the dry air.
With the energy returning, he splashed through the water and emerged from the wall.
As soon as he emerged from the egg, his strength drained, and he couldn't hold up.
In the end, he walked on all fours.