Forming into a new life was boring. Without sight, sound, or sensation, it left you with a lot of time to fill up.
His first thought was a name, since he had forgotten his previous one, and so after what felt like a century of sifting through some, he settled on "Redeem".
It felt unique, like something people would remember. And it felt like the sort of name reincarnated protagonists had, something to stand out from the crowd.
Seemingly in response to this choice, the presence of a voice invaded Redeems emptiness, calling his attention.
[Title: Redeem - Acquired]
Redeem couldn't do anything else but meet the presence with his own and respond to it.
Hello?
[... Loading Interface]
Redeem couldn't keep up with the direction of this thing, and was abruptly met with a large screen.
It was the only thing he could see, the only thing he'd ever seen in his new life actually. The text was blue and bold, looking like the familiar layout of an RPG game.
Redeem had played a few of those in his spare time, but the memories were faded and old. Curious, and left to face the literal only thing he could interact with, he thought about opening some of its options.
Instantly the screen responded, pulling up the more extended version of his stats.
Title: Redeem [?]: [Titles are names for monsters, they typically contain skills or achievements]
Growth Stage: UNKNOWN [?]: [Growth of a creature]
Dragon Class: Wind Dragon [?]: [A class for monsters is typically their type or species]
┍Threat Level: 0 [?]: [Each level gives you a threatening transformation]
│
┕[EXP Earned] (0/500) [?]: Unique - Information unavailable
┍Dragon Skills: [?] [Abilities acquired via experience & talent]
│
┕[Skill Branches] [?] [Skill categories split into branches]
[None]
Loot: [?]: [Riches are important]
[None]
Miscellaneous: [?] [Self explanatory]
[None]
Redeem inspected the block of shiny blue text twice over, and then let it close with a thought.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
It was clear to Redeem that his existence was alot more interesting than it seemed, or it would be once he finally got out of this stage.
But how long would that take?
[EGG ACQUIRED]
Oh.
Light flashed, light Redeem could actually see, and then he was reformed into what could only be described as a blue blob. Existing as a blob was preferable to his prior existence, and now at least he could see.
He could see like he was behind himself, watching things happen, but he could also feel the growth of said blob.
Around him was sunset colored jelly, all a mucus like consistency and surrounding him in a tight oval.
An egg. He was inside an egg.
Being an egg wasn't all bad, you got all the food you needed without feeling hungry, and you had the entrain of floating particles and the hum of the outside world grazing your shell.
Who was he fooling? Being an egg sucked!
Days and weeks of just transforming little by little, turning into something with scales and a tail, but still remaining a blue blob trapped in a shell!
[Limbs Acquired]
Redeem wanted to roll his eyes.
[Wings Acquired]
Oh brother...
[Claws Acquired]
Redeem wanted to use them to silence the system. He was stir crazy and fed up.
Be quiet... He thought bitterly
[Updates Turned Off]
Great...
At some point though, Redeems ' vision gradually became that of a baby dragon.
Integrating with a hatchling's body was slow and dull, but when your mind finally found the glue that wove you together with a new body, it got a bit more interesting.
When it came time for Redeem to stop counting the flecks of light behind his eyelids, he could actually move. He could flex a claw or a tail, and he couldn't help but enjoy the tail. It was good to feel again.
Time to get out.
Redeem lunged through the jelly goo and pressed his snout to the smooth internal surface of his egg. With the determination of a caged animal, Redeem shoved his nose forward against the surface.
The egg shifted, but nothing else came of the motion. Redeem didn't let this stop him, and this time used his tiny claws to rank the shell. The sensation was like trying cut through butter with your bare hands, and it wasn't getting him anywhere.
What was actually days felt like a few hours inside the egg. Endless wiggling and pecking and clawing until one day the shell cracked, then cracked again. Spurred on by the progress, Redeem shoved his way through the sticky membrane and shot out of the hole in the shell, flopping down against a cave floor.
Finally, the release from the egg was a breath of fresh air in Redeems lungs, literally.
Gasping and twitching, the small blue hatchling came to life. Redeem managed to lap the leftover goop from his scales, and then once he felt light enough, he stood up.
Quivering, Redeem stumbled forward, eyes adjusting to the dimness of the stone cave. Around him the dark keep of the cave had teeth, stretching down far above him and reminding him of jaws.
The exit to the cave was covered in brilliant sunlight, and just behind him was the continuation of the cave, covered in shadows and echoing with the sounds of crunching.
[10 Updates Accumulated!]
Redeem winced, startled and annoyed. "Can you shut up?!" He snarled.
[Updates about updates, turned off]
The sound of his own voice brought about shock, and quickly he looked down at his limbs. It was hard to grasp that he was actually a dragon, and he wanted to jump for joy.
It didn't matter if the goddess - whatever her name was, had tried to punish him with the weakest link, he was still a dragon!
A loud crack made him leap with fright instead of joy, and swivel his head toward the back of the cave.
Something in his body stilled, and an animal part of his brain gave him the suggestion of running.
Speaking of dragons, where was his family?
Redeem began walking toward the noise, creeping like a lizard across the ground.
Behind him his egg lay isolated in the middle of the cave. There had been no others, and no nest.
Where were his siblings at the very least? Even if dragons didn't parent, surely they had more than a single egg.
Redeem had heard noises too during his time behind the shell, so there must be others.
His hatchling eyes struggled momentarily to adjust to the dark. The cave was longer than he anticipated, and though he kept on, he seriously considered turning back.
Ahead the sounds of cracking and feasting grew louder, echoing off the walls. Redeem paused, suddenly taken off guard by a stench. What was that smell?
Redeem had never smelled anything like it. Of course his nose had never been this strong. Sniffing, Redeem continued on his path.
Step after step, the noises got louder and the smell changed texture. The stench was rough, gritty, like rust and metal mixed with smoke. Redeem felt the scent on the roof of his mouth, spurring him further on.
The next crack was loud enough to stop Redeem in his tracks, firmly deciding not to go any farther. But it was too late, he had already arrived.
Ahead of him lay the fallen body of a long blue dragon, and above them, feasting on them, was the towering scaled form of another dragon.