In the end, I didn’t save anyone.

I chose to run—fleeing in search of a safe place for myself.

Part of me wondered if I was a coward…

But another part understood very well the terror that the Calamity Dragon brought.

[Title: Cruel Demon acquired — {Skill: Domination acquired} — Body Evolution available, Luck Points maxed]

“Huh… that voice again…”

I wandered aimlessly through a forest I didn’t recognize, though I couldn’t help but feel curious about what that mysterious voice said.

No—if I truly wanted to know, maybe I just needed to befriend the voice’s source.

I stopped walking and looked for a shaded spot when the clouds grew darker.

“Can you hear me?”

[Confirmed — Yes, I can hear you, Master.]

“So… what should I call you?”

[Confirmed — Master once named me Sage X.]

The moment it said that, I froze.

When had I ever given it that name?

Or… was there another “Master” besides me?

A small laugh escaped my lips—almost enough to make me look like a madman.

Not knowing what purpose I had left in life, I leaned against the cold wall of a cave, thinking—

I wish I knew why I’m even alive.

As my eyelids grew heavier, I faintly heard Sage X speak:

[Confirmed — Evolution activated. Constructing body: Lesser Demon. {Skill: Hibernation activated}]

“Loud… as always…”

I drifted into a sea of dreams.

And for a brief moment, I saw a horned figure with long black hair.

Wait—

I thought it was the God of Death…

but the face was blurry, yet strangely familiar.

[Confirmed — Evolution completed. Lesser Demon body acquired. {Skill: Fire Arrow “Flugal” obtained}, resistance to dark magic, and 20% damage reduction to elemental spells.]

“Hah… didn’t Sage X say hibernation…?”

Maybe I had been asleep for a long time.

But honestly—it didn’t feel that long.

---

I slowly opened my eyes.

The rough scrape of stone against my skin echoed clearly as I moved my arm.

“Scales…?”

For a moment, I thought I had gone insane.

But then I felt a weight on both sides of my head.

Wait—

I reached up to touch it.

Sure enough, my hair had grown a bit longer, and a pair of curved-patterned horns had emerged—almost resembling horse ears.

One word echoed in my mind, filled with confusion.

“Demon?”

I forced myself to stand.

Slowly but surely, sunlight reached my eyes again.

Even if only for a moment… I suddenly missed the fresh air terribly.

[Master — welcome back to the world of Eridus.]

“Right… I feel like I forgot something the moment I woke up…”

After enjoying the breeze in my new body for a while, I suddenly heard rustling from the bushes.

I thought it was just a rabbit—

But I was wrong.

A man stepped out, but not an ordinary one—

He had dragon wings and a long tail.

Wait…

No way.

If that was truly a Calamity Dragon n in human form—

What was I supposed to do!?

---