Coughing, Ezra’s eyelids part ways ever so slowly, revealing an unfamiliar ceiling.

Ezra stirred awake, his body heavy but oddly invigorated.

His first sensation was a subtle hum of energy coursing through him—a steady pulse.

It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was present, vibrating with a strange resonance.

The soft hum of the integration chamber fills the air as the operators meticulously remove the restraints and tubes from his limbs.

Their practiced hands move with precision, though their faces betray a mixture of awe and caution.

The transformation had been unprecedented—his success undeniable, but the extent of his adaptation left questions unspoken in the minds of those present.

Ezra stretched slowly, testing the limits of his body.

The ache in his muscles was palpable, but beneath it was an invigorating sensation, a surging power he could barely contain.

He slowly sits up, his limbs protesting slightly from the strain of the recent ordeal, though his sharp mind immediately began analyzing the sensations.

The lead operator addresses him with a formal tone.

"Mr. Sylvester, how are you feeling? Any discomfort or lingering pain?"

Ezra shook his head, his gaze sharp as he flexed his fingers, examining the faint shimmer of skin, which had now hardened significantly more than before, with a light red skin tone that is fast receding, returning the skin to its original colour.

The most visible reminder of his newly integrated bloodline is a fairly sized crimson scale embedded on his chest, mirroring the position of his heart.

Ezra taps the scale, "Hmm"

"Is anything the problem?" the lead operator asks.

"No" Ezra shakes his head.

Other than that, the next visible thing is his hair, which had turned red in light of his new bloodline, matching his eye colour.

Ezra flexes his fingers, examining the faint shimmer of his now reddened nails.

"I feel... lighter, yet more grounded" he speaks, his voice thoughtful.

"It’s hard to put into words. My body feels...better? ...Optimized? Yes that seems more accurate, but not drastically improved"

The lead operator exchanges a glance with his team and nods.

"That is a promising sign. The integration process has been remarkably successful. Your vitals are stable, and the transformation has synchronized well with your physiology"

Ezra nodded absently, his attention shifting inward.

He hadn’t needed to test anything to know it—his body had changed.

The integration of the Draconis bloodline had completed.

But contrary to the awe-inspiring tales he’d heard about bloodline awakenings in the past, there was no surge of overwhelming power, no dramatic transformation.

His muscles weren’t bursting with strength, nor had his senses sharpened to supernatural levels.

Instead, the changes were subtle, deeper.

He felt... optimized.

Ever since his spar with Kovar during the introduction ceremony, Ezra had noticed a peculiar phenomenon.

With each advancement, the gap between his energy reserves and those of others shrank.

What once felt like an insurmountable advantage, began to dwindle.

Zydrax had told him this was caused by the <Galaxy’s Champion> title’s natural decline as his own strength grew beyond the title’s threshold.

Now, standing here, Ezra realized something extraordinary had happened.

The integration had restored that gap—and perhaps even expanded it.

"You’re awake sooner than expected" Kovar broke the silence.

"How long was I asleep?"

"A bit over seven hours. You’re a deep sleep"

Ezra lets out subtle laughter in response.

He stood by the observation glass, his gaze sharp and calculating.

"Impressive. How do you feel?"

"Different" Ezra admitted, rolling his shoulders. "Not much stronger, exactly, but... I can tell my body’s different"

Kovar nods, placing his palm on the scale on Ezra’s chest.

"That’s to be expected. The red dragon race specializes in energy containment. For most, it manifests as a secondary organ for storing mana. But in your case..." He paused, his smirk widening.

"It seems your physiology has taken a different route of evolution. Compression, perhaps? Your cells themselves appear to hold more energy. Fascinating"

Ezra didn’t need Kovar’s words to confirm that part.

He could feel it—the sheer density of energy coursing through him.

Where once his reserves had felt like a vast lake, they now felt like an ocean compressed into a lake’s confines.

"I don’t know if fascinating is the word I’d use," Ezra replied with a wry smile. "It’s... unsettling. I don’t know how to control it yet."

"Which is why we’re here" Kovar said, stepping forward.

"The council can wait. Right now, you need to get a handle on these changes. And there’s no better way to do that than in combat"

"Right now?!..."

"While this is a joyous occasion, you need to acclimate to the changes in your body quickly. The assessment guardians could arrive tomorrow, and I can’t let you go into that unprepared. So

so hurry and get dressed"

Kovar’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"Besides, you’ve been evolving steadily, but this is your first true leap forward. Understanding your limits now could make all the difference"

Nodding, Ezra swings off the table at once.

At this, he notices his senses had been enhanced as well, being able to take in more details of the room without conscious thought—the faint whir of machinery, the subdued murmurs from the operators.

This newfound awareness feels slightly overwhelming but also exhilarating.

Thankfully, it didn’t Ezra much to acclimatize to such a change.

Getting dressed, they head out on Kovar’s spacecraft to a familiar training ground, planet Venasar.

Both men preferred peace and quiet to the bustling arena filled with spectators, which is what would form if they decided to train within the clan grounds.

The drill is clear, Kovar intended to spar with Ezra and bring his body control even if not up to peak at least a decent level.

—----------

Setting the stage, Ezra takes out Skyfall while Kovar takes out a lengthy sword from his space ring.

On cue...

"Start"

The moment the signal was given, Kovar lunged forward, his speed blinding.

Ezra barely had time to react, instinctively raising his arm to block the incoming strike.

The impact reverberated through his body, resulting in a frown.

"Aren’t you a mage?" Ezra wonders incredulously.

"Is there a reason mages can’t use swords?"

Instead of faltering, Ezra stabilizes himself, turning Skyfall into the twin swords form to allow for a quick counter of his own.

Their movements were a blur as they exchanged blows, Kovar’s strength and experience evident in every precise strike.

In the aftermath of a ten second confrontation, Ezra is forced to widen the distance.

The counter never came, he had only been able to parry Kovar’s attacks.

He had been beaten, but Ezra is no slouch, so he didn’t spot too many injuries.

What surprised him most was how he had easily been able to adapt to deflect Kovar’s attack.

His reflexes were sharper, his movements more erratic yet precise.

KANG!

The spar resumed without warning.

Kovar surged forward, his blade slicing through the air with precision.

Ezra barely managed to sidestep, the tip of the weapon grazing his sleeve.

He countered with a burst of energy, a concentrated blast aimed at Kovar’s midsection.

The elder deflected it with ease, his movements fluid and effortless.

"Sloppy," Kovar remarked. "Your output is unfocused. Condense it."

Ezra gritted his teeth, trying again.

This time, he channeled his energy inward, compressing it further before releasing a narrow beam.

The attack was faster, sharper, and Kovar had to twist his body to avoid it.

Ezra’s frustration mounts as Kovar closes the distance once more.

The elder’s strikes are relentless, forcing Ezra to rely on defensive maneuvers.

Each clash sends vibrations through his body, reminding him of the power difference between them.

But something was different now.

Each time he deflected an attack or dodged a strike, Ezra could feel himself adapting in real time, molding himself continuously.

Right now, his body was learning in real time, augmenting itself for combat so naturally it was eerie.

But Ezra is simply exhilarated, allowing his instincts to take over.

He channels his energy into his limbs, enhancing his speed and strength.

With a burst of movement, he closes the gap between them, launching a series of rapid strikes.

Kovar blocks most of them, but a few slips through, grazing his armor.

He raises an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Now we’re getting somewhere"

The fight continues, each exchange pushing Ezra further.

He began experimenting with his newfound energy reserves, testing how much he could compress into his attacks without losing control.

The results are astonishing.

Attacks that once drained his mental energy now felt effortless, but as a result, his stamina was going down faster than before.

Kovar, however, is not to be underestimated.

Sensing Ezra’s growing confidence, he ramped up his own attacks, forcing the younger fighter to dig even deeper.

The elder’s blade danced through the air, a blur of silver that seemed impossible to predict.

Ezra relied on instinct, weaving through the onslaught with movements that felt almost natural.

His body was responding faster than his mind could process, each motion precise and efficient.

By the time the spar ended, both fighters were breathing heavily.

This is not strange, as while Kovar could use a sword masterfully, he was still a mage and so his physical capabilities could only be a cut above Ezra’s.

Kovar lowers his blade, a satisfied smile on his face. "I would’ve told you to take it slow" he says. "But you ended up exceeding my expectations"

"You’re not bad yourself," Ezra replies while gasping.

Kovar chuckles, his usual slyness returning.

"Good. Confidence suits you. Just make sure you temper it with caution. Even the strongest foundations can crumble if not maintained"

All of a sudden, he lets off shallow laughter. "Tell me. What rank are you now?"

"Third step" Ezra replies in between breaths before slowly collapsing to one knee, sweat dripping down his face.

Kovar laughs even harder at this response. "No matter how much I think about it, your abilities far exceed your supposed rank! Hahaha! Those guardians are in for a surprise!"

After catching their breaths, Kovar advises Ezra to head somewhere else and thoroughly rest his body so as to shed whatever fatigue remained from the bloodline integration process as he would take care of any complaints from the elders.

Heeding his words, Ezra heads to the elders quarters upon returning back to the clan and gets himself a mean nap.

Well deserved in his opinion.

::::::::::

Awaking twelve hours later, Ezra is summoned as the clan leader had arranged an elders meeting in the main hall.

And of course, Kovar had come to guide him to the venue.

As they stepped into the corridor, Kovar’s demeanor shifted.

His usual smirk softened into something resembling genuine respect.

"You’ve proven yourself today, Sylvester. Remember this moment—it’s the foundation of your future here"

Ezra glanced at him, his sharp eyes reflecting an intensity that hadn’t been there before.

...Only for him to suddenly burst into chuckles, killing all the tension.

"I am quite certain that you are already aware of this. But I don’t really care about any of this, not the clan and not the elders"

Lightly nodding with an expression that said he thought as much, Kovar shrugs.

"That’s fine. Just don’t forget the debt you owe me"

To this, Ezra could only shake his head in dismay, but he couldn’t say it wasn’t nice to talk to someone who isn’t stiff and rigid with notions.

The walk to the main hall was short, but upon entering, Ezra could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on him, the gazes of the clan’s most powerful members awaiting his arrival.

As the doors to the hall swung open, the gathered elders and leaders turned their attention to him.

Their expressions ranged from skepticism to cautious optimism, but none could deny the aura Ezra exuded now.

His transformation had not just been physical—it had elevated his presence, making him impossible to ignore.

Asadon rose from his seat, his commanding presence filling the room.

"Sylvester" he intoned, his voice echoing. "You stand before us as a full member of the Red Dragon Clan. Today marks the beginning of your journey, one that will shape not only your destiny but the future of the clan"

Ezra lowers his head like a butler, not arrogant but not very subservient either.

"It is an honour" he curtly responds.

The room buzzed with murmurs, but one thing lay clear—Ezra had crossed a threshold, and there was no turning back.