"Have you finally finished that magic yet...?"
"It's almost complete. But Lina has started showing signs of Dragonification. She's growing fangs, her nails are sharper and longer than normal, and her body is slowly changing into that of a dragon. Scales have started to sprout from her face, arms, legs, chest, back, tail, wings, neck, and ears. But I still don't understand why… Does the magic need an ingredient to work properly?"
"I don't see what the problem is..."
***
"Ektosh, let's get a move on—oh, wait. Hold on a second."
Kamish's body began to change before their eyes. His clothes vanished, revealing bare skin that rapidly transformed. Fiery red scales began forming across his face, arms, and feet—soon covering every inch of him. His hands morphed into claws. His hair spiked upward. His skin grew thick and reptilian. His voice deepened into a raspy hiss.
His body expanded outward—his humanoid form replaced by something far more monstrous. A dragon began to take shape before them.
Long, knife-like talons shredded nearby trees with ease. His wings stretched wide, casting massive shadows across the field. His tail thickened. His torso widened. Two muscular arms grew from where his shoulders had once been. His head fully transformed—four majestic horns now crowned his skull like a regal crown.
Kamish now towered over trees and houses alike.
What's this feeling...? I sense kinship from Ektosh... Is he... a dragon? Or part dragon?
"Hey, are you a dragon?"
Kamish didn't really care—but curiosity got the better of him.
"Ah, so you're a dragon."
Ektosh gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, ready for sudden movement—but Kamish remained still, only curiosity in his gaze.
"Are you a dragon?" Kamish repeated.
"I'm what you pure-blooded ones call a half-breed. When a human and a dragon have children, they become half-breeds. I used to have horns, but I was forced to cut them off. I also lost my wings. I'm not sure how long ago that was... maybe one or two centuries ago?"
"Wait—you've been alive for two hundred years? So, do half-breeds age differently than humans?"
Interesting... If that's true, what would happen if a mage with Dragon Slayer Magic fully transformed into a dragon? Would their children be half-breeds... or full dragons? From what I remember, Ignia—Igneel's son—had a half-breed child or two... but the mother was never introduced. Interesting...
Kamish swung his claws around as he thought.
Swoosh—
A massive wave of fire erupted, seemingly triggered by his thoughts. A pillar of flame burst from Kamish's hand and shot upward into the sky. The fire didn't burn the trees or houses—it simply rose, like a signal to the world.
BOOM!!!
The explosion echoed across the grasslands.
Ektosh, sensing danger, immediately surrounded himself in mana. A blackish-red mist poured out from his body, cloaking him in a veil of red—thick and corrupted, like tainted blood. The mist consumed his mana.
Everything it touched began to rot—grass, trees, even the ground beneath him decayed. The area around Ektosh darkened into a corrupted wasteland. It resembled a [Blight Veil], a toxic mist that corroded all it touched.
Swoosh—
The flames latched onto the Blight Veil, trying to burn through it. Fire danced across the outer layer, burning small holes that refilled with ash. Eventually, a hole large enough for a person to enter appeared. A cave of darkness now stood, strangely illuminated by unseen light.
"...Ah, sorry about that. I got too absorbed in my thoughts and accidentally let my mana run wild," Kamish said.
"It's alright. I should've been paying attention too."
Is this guy a pushover...?
"..."
So, I have a new friend... and he's a pushover? He's not even asking for compensation...
"Hey, what magic do you use?"
Ektosh raised his arm. A black-red glow pulsed out, corrosive energy seeping into the air. Even the air itself turned toxic.
Kamish grinned.
"You're in luck. I'll teach you a magic from the future—one no one in this era knows. The genius who'll create it... is my friend."
Kamish puffed his chest out with pride.
"Dragon Slayer Magic!"
"Dragon Slayer Magic?"
Ektosh tilted his head. He'd never heard of it.
"A magic designed to kill dragons. It allows the user to embody a dragon's traits—their lungs, their strength, their existence."
"How does it work?"
"Well... I can't give you the best version—only the first. First-generation Dragon Slayer Magic is taught directly by a dragon. But since I can't enter your soul or body—I don't have a secret art for that—I'll just tell you this: the more you use it, the more it turns you into a dragon."
"The more you kill... the more you become like me."
"It's ironic. You must kill dragons to become one."
"Will I become like you? A dragon?"
"Maybe."
"I don't know how half-breeds react to Dragon Slayer Magic. But most likely the same. One day, you'll feel powerful—unstoppable. Then the scales will come. The fangs. The claws... the wings. Until finally, you become a dragon."
"I'll learn it."
"Very well,"
"I will grant you Dragon Slayer Magic... but only under one condition."
He raised three claws, each glowing crimson.
A system notification appeared:
[Pact of Blight]
[Breaking this pact will result in consequences.]
[Designated Individual: Ektosh]
[Pact Maker: Kamish]
Kamish carved the rules with his claws.
"You will obey these three rules. This is my decree. Break them... and you forfeit everything."
Rule Number One:
Thou shall not attack, harm, or become involved with the individuals known as Zeref Dragneel, Natsu Dragneel, E.N.D., or Irene Belserion.
"If you meet them by accident or unknowingly interact with them, this rule may be ignored. But if you're aware—and act against them—you break the pact."
Rule Number Two:Thou shall not teach.
"You are forbidden from passing on the Dragon Slayer Magic I taught you—for thirty years. Teach anything else, but not this. Not until the original creator reveals it. After thirty years, you're free to teach it to anyone."
Rule Number Three:Do not participate in the War of the Dragons unless I take a side.
"You may help here and there—but don't pledge loyalty to either side. Stay neutral… unless I personally intervene."
[The Pact Maker must assign a reward: a magic, skill, or racial trait. Once granted, it becomes fact. If this is impossible, the Pact Maker will be punished.]
[Pact Reward: Dragon Slayer Magic, First Generation
]Side Effects:
[Unknown]
[Dragonification]
"This is the pact. Accept it... and the path of the Dragon Slayer will be yours."
Suddenly, a blue translucent screen appeared in front of Ektosh with one simple question:
[Do you accept the Pact of Blight?]
[Y / N]
[Click Y for Yes]
[Click N for No]
"Wait... what is this screen? Is this your magic?"
"....."
When could my system do that...? It was never visible before...
"I guess you could say that."
"So why show me this?"
"I wanted to see how far I could go without breaking any of our rules. So that when we finally face off... you wouldn't hesitate to fight."
"That's a pretty bold move—especially showing it to an enemy."
"The last thing I want is to make enemies out of people who might be useful later."
Ektosh had no choice. He clicked Y and pressed Enter.
[Thank you for accepting the pact!]
[Your name has been added to the list of those allowed to receive the power granted by ???.][You will be temporarily allowed access to the territory of ???.]
[You are temporarily designated as a Guardian of ???.]
[In the territory of ???, all First-Generation Dragon Slayer Magic will be 10x easier to learn until you reach Basic Mastery.]
More and more messages popped up in front of Kamish, while Ektosh's eyes began to glaze over.
'So now that the pact is accepted, let's proceed.'
'Now that you've learned about Dragon Slayer Magic... allow me to begin.'
ROAR!!!
Kamish let out a devastating roar that echoed across the grasslands.
Fire erupted in all directions, engulfing everything within twenty meters. The ground decayed, scorched into ash. It felt as if the sun itself had descended onto the battlefield.
The heat was unbearable—even for someone like Ektosh. Sweat poured down his face. His skin began to smolder. He ripped off his coat, but the fabric was already melting into puddles.
He looked around—nothing remained but blackened ash. Trees were burnt to cinders. Plants were gone. The entire landscape had been reduced to fire and ruin.
"Now... Swallow it."
"...."