"Huh?" Max muttered in shock as he stared at the notification floating in front of his eyes. His heartbeat was still racing from the aftermath of the evolution, and he could feel a tingling sensation spreading across his body.
"Open." He ordered, his voice slightly hoarse from the lingering effects of the transformation.
{Dragon Abilities: one added}
"Huh? Fire ability?" Max muttered in surprise as he clicked on the tab, his eyes widening as the words slowly sank in. The sheer possibility of controlling fire made a shiver run down his spine.
{Description: As a Draconic Scion, host is able to control the fire element. He can resist any flame-related attacks, and now command fire as a true dragon blood should.}
{Two fire skills added}
{Fireball (first stage): This skill would allow host to cast a fireball towards his foe. Each fireball has the strength to cause a searing burn on opponent but won’t kill them as attack isn’t strong enough yet.}
{Fire wall: This skill would allow host to cast a wall of flames to block any attack headed his way. This is a sort of defense that can block any attack as long as it isn’t overwhelmingly strong. Skill can also disintegrate any low-level attack sent host’s way. Note! Skill can only be used thrice a day.}
"Alright. That’s a lot to take in." Max mumbled beneath his breath as he stared at the system screen floating in his view. "I’m really blown away. All these for just evolving? I’m shocked."
"That’s not really absurd. Earlier, your body was too weak to handle things like these. But as you evolved, the system decided to give you a bit of dragon powers. So the more you evolve," Pix explained patiently.
"The more dragon powers I would get." Max muttered back as he stroked his chin thoughtfully, feeling the faint heat radiating from his new scales.
"That’s right. So grow stronger, evolve, level up more, and soon no one would be able to stand in your path." Pix declared, and Max couldn’t help but smile more, a newfound confidence settling in his chest.
"Now, I just have to figure out how to hide these." Max said, eyes scanning his scaly body, when he suddenly remembered something.
His hands crept to his hair, pulling out a strand.
"Huh? So... I’m no longer in my Draconic form. Which means I’m now Max, not Damian." He muttered, staring at the gray strand of hair between his fingers, the reality sinking in.
"Isn’t there a much more pressing issue than your appearance?" Pix asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Max quickly turned his gaze around the room.
"What do y... wait a moment! This isn’t my house. Where am I? I remember passing out on the streets earlier." Max shouted, panic creeping into his voice as he glanced around frantically.
Though the house he was in was shabby, old, and weather-beaten, much like all the homes in the slum, it was definitely not where he had lived all these days.
"That’s because you are in my house." A feminine voice called out as someone walked into the room.
Her black eyes stared directly at the sitting Max. He quickly shot out of the small bed in shock as he instantly recognized the woman.
"You? You were the one w..."
"Who drenched you one time, yeah." The woman chuckled softly, stepping forward, her blonde hair fluttering slightly as though catching the light in the room. "The name is Kelly." She extended her hand toward him confidently.
"Max." Max replied, shaking her soft, smooth hand, but his eyes immediately widened again as they fell on his scaly hands.
He withdrew it instinctively, attempting to hide the scales, but this only made Kelly laugh softly.
"You forgetting something? I took you in, so I already saw all these. I’m just shocked that you can change your appearance so seamlessly."
"Huh?" Max said, raising an eyebrow as he tried to process her words, a mixture of relief and confusion spreading through him.
"Oh right! You were unconscious." Kelly almost facepalmed herself, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"I was there watching how you fought against those gangs and that... that thing before you fell into agony. Before anybody could see anything, I noticed that your fingers were changing shape and color.
I didn’t know exactly how, but it looked as if you were shedding because you were suddenly reverting to another color and form. It happened slowly, so others didn’t notice. Your transformation was subtle at first, but it was definitely there."
"Then?" Max raised an eyebrow, his curiosity mixing with lingering exhaustion.
"I offered to take you home, claiming to know you. Some men helped carry and bring you here, where I administered a few basic first aid measures, but it looks like your body handled the rest.
You healed incredibly fast, far faster than a normal human would." Kelly explained, and Max let out a long, tired sigh as he sank back onto the bed.
"Who else knows?" He asked cautiously.
"No one. That’s because I live alone, so... don’t worry. I won’t tell anybody anything." Kelly promised, her gaze steady. Max simply shook his head, a hint of relief passing through him.
’If she brought me here, treated me, and ensured nobody saw me , it means I can trust her... at least a bit.
But as far as I know, humans rarely help others without expecting some sort of price. She kept a secret as huge as this, so the cost would probably be equally high,’ Max thought, eyeing Kelly warily.
"So Max... you are a hybrid?" Kelly asked, her tone calm but curious. Max blinked in confusion.
"Hybrid?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
"You don’t even know what you are? You are the same as the gang leader you fought. A hybrid," Kelly clarified.
’Nope. Me and that demon are way different. But what exactly is a hybrid?’ Max thought, scratching the back of his head.
As if reading his mind, Kelly began to explain. "Hybrids are humans who have been infused with beast DNA. They take the form of the beasts they are infused with. They can transform and use parts of the beast’s powers. They completely transcend normal human capabilities."
"Huh?" Max muttered, confusion clouding his face. ’Wait! Does that mean I’m not special? I’m a hybrid too?’
"How dense can you be?" Pix scolded inwardly, frustration evident in his mental voice. "You are a dragon. Yes! Not originally born a dragon, but you were chosen by him... chosen and granted Draconic powers. That makes you a dragon. Dragons aren’t beasts, so don’t confuse yourself with these hybrids."
"But to my knowledge, there are only a handful of real and powerful hybrids," Kelly continued. "They are at the top of the world, and they are called kings."
"Kings?" Max repeated, raising an eyebrow as the weight of the information began to hit him. His head reeled from trying to process so much at once.
’Okay! That checks out. This isn’t the world I came from originally. It’s totally different, yet somehow feels similar. So... where have I been transmigrated to?’ Max thought to himself as the final realization slowly settled in, chilling and exhilarating him at the same time.