The space that had been a plaza half hour ago no longer retained its original geometry. The rocky mountain face was blown away, reduced to gravel. The ground was scorched black, and in places, the intense heat had fused the sand into patches of slick, glass that crackled as it cooled. Snap. Hiss.
The heatwave from the red dragon’s breath raged on, turning the air into a shimmering mirage. It was hard to breathe; every inhale tasted of ash.
Naz stood directly in front of the dragon. His left arm hung limp at his side, the sleeve torn away, soaked in blood that dripped rhythmically onto the blackened stone. Drip. Drip. But he was laughing, a dry, ragged sound, scraped from the bottom of his lungs.
“Hey, hey! It’s just getting started, lizard!”
“Big words for someone covered in wounds!”
“You’re barely standing yourself!”
Their shadows stretched long and distorted across the burnt earth. It was a moment of perfect, fragile equilibrium—a stalemate where the next move would likely kill them both.
“Both of you, that is enough!” The voice didn't come from the air. It shook the space like a peal of thunder rolling directly inside the skull. The tectonic plates of the atmosphere shifted. Instantly, the wind died. The swirling dust froze in mid-air. The heat evaporated, replaced by a sudden, absolute chill.
An instant later, reality tore open. Not the blue, geometric light of Yu’s [Bind.] This was older. Darker. Black light seeped into the air like ink dropped into clear water. It swirled, expanding, opening an oval frame that seemed to lead into an abyss.From within that darkness, a single man stepped out. His sandals made no sound on the scorched earth.
“…Master…” Roa gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, her eyes widening in a mix of awe and terror.
“Master…” The red dragon had just been roaring with the fury of a volcano—instantly lowered its massive head. It scraped its chin against the ground in a display of absolute submission.
The man began to walk slowly. He wore simple, rough-spun robes, but his skin told a different story. From his shoulders, creeping up his neck and down his back, pitch-black scales emerged. They didn't reflect the sunlight, absorbed it. Deep within his eyes, a golden light pulsed.
“Hm…Agama. Just because your Senior Disciple is watching… isn't this a bit excessive?” His voice was low. It sounded like heavy stones grinding together deep underwater. It was gentle, yes, but it carried an authority that made the air feel heavy to breathe.
The red dragon—Agama— looked away.
“Human… but parts of him look like a dragon… What is he?” Hanara muttered, trembling as she hid behind Roa.
“Nice to meet you, Hanara Meek-Toa. This is a form called Dragonkin.” The man—the Master—turned around. His gaze swept over her.
“I'm sure you have many things to ask and say. But standing in this wreckage is poor manners. Come inside. You are welcome here.” His golden eyes shone softly, seeing through her fear.
“Welcome to the Dragon's Nest.” The Master's fingertips slowly traced a circle in the air. The ring of black light shimmered again, widening the path in space. It hummed with a low, resonant frequency.
“Hmph. Can't be helped in front of the Master.” At those words, Agama gave a slight, sulky growl, steam venting from his nostrils.
“Hey, shitty dragon.” Naz grinned, wiping a smear of blood from his chin with the back of his hand.
“What is it, small fry Human?”
“Your name's Agama, right? Can you turn into a Dragonkin too? Or are you stuck as a giant lizard?”
“It is a trivial matter.” Agama's massive body began to glow. It was blinding—a supernova contained within a silhouette. CRACK. The sound of bones shifting and mass condensing echoed like a gunshot.
In the next moment, the outline of the giant dragon collapsed, condensing into the figure of a tall man. He stood six and a half feet tall, his crimson hair swaying like flames in a wind that wasn't blowing.
“Not bad,” Naz laughed, swaying slightly on his feet. “Let's go again later in that state. Fists only! No breath attacks!”
“Fists…? Don't make me laugh! If I hit you with this body, half your torso will be vaporized, insect.” Agama’s eyes burned with the same vertical slits. Even in human form, the predatory intensity of his gaze made the skin prickle.
“Jeez, let's go already! I’ve had enough testosterone for one day! I want tea!” Behind their dangerous banter, Hanara put her hands on her hips and shouted, her voice cracking with stress.
Roa smiled wryly, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. Naz shrugged.
As everyone proceeded into the black light, the edge of the door quietly closed behind them, sealing away the scorched battlefield like a book being shut.
Thus—the storm-like battle came to an abrupt end.
?
At Rize’s Town.
The transition was violent. There was no tunnel of light. Just a sudden POP of air pressure, like an elevator dropping ten floors in a second. Yu and his parents stumbled, finding themselves standing on cobblestones. The sensory overload was instant. The chemical smell of Japan exhaust and rain vanished. Replaced by the thick, earthy scent of woodsmoke, roasting meat, unwashed animals, and exotic spices. An otherworldly wind, cleaner and sharper than anything on Earth, caressed their cheeks.
They stood in the middle of a bustling street. Stone buildings with heavy timber frames rose on either side, their windows shuttered with wood, not glass. Robed figures argued over the price of strange, blue fruits. A lizardman carried a crate of tools past them, his tail sweeping the dust. A massive ox-like creature pulled a cart, its hooves clattering loudly on the stones.
“So… the destination of the first trip my son took us on… was another world.” That was his father's first comment. He stood there in his gray business suit, holding a travel bag, staring blankly at the lizardman's retreating back. His tone was joking—a defense mechanism—but deep in his eyes, his brain was frantically trying to process the impossible. The resolution was too high. The smell was too pungent.
“You're the one who said ‘let's go,’ Darling! Don’t freeze up now. You’re embarrassing us.” Yu's mother immediately pinched his father's arm. Hard.
“Just ahead. Follow me. And stick close. You know?” Yu shrugged, adjusting his backpack. He felt a strange mix of pride and anxiety.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
The three of them walked through the stone-built town.
“Oh my, look at that! Those pastries are blue! Is it blueberry? Or some kind of magic fruit?” His mother's eyes sparkled as they passed a bakery stall. The sweet smell of yeast and honey wafted through the air.
“No, but seriously… the level of detail is terrifying. It feels like a theme park, but… inversely. It’s too real. Look at the grime in the cracks of the stones. Look at the mud on that man’s boots.” His father kept looking around, his eyes darting nervously.
“Oh, stop it, Darling. It's rude to stare like a tourist. Act natural.” In just a short time, Yu’s mother seemed to adapt.
“No, you're doing it too, Mom! You haven't blinked in a minute!” Yu shouted.
The conversation between parents and son was comical—a slice of modern Japan dropped into a medieval fantasy. Passing merchants walked by with smiles on their faces, amused by the strange clothes of these odd travelers.
Yu exhaled a small breath, walking forward while gazing at the nostalgic scenery. It felt good to be back, felt right.
“Kaya-san!” Just then, a familiar woman appeared in the corner of his vision.
“Yu!? Where have you been! Rize hasn't come back yet! I was worried sick!” Across the street, Kaya, holding shopping bags full of leafy vegetables, turned around. Her eyes went wide.
“It's okay! I've already found Rize! She's in Avlas!” Yu ran up to her.
“Avlas…? Where's that?” Kaya didn’t know where Avlas.
“Uh… well… I'm going to bring Rize here right now. So could you take care of those two over there for a bit?”
“I don't mind, but who are they? Adventurers?” Kaya blinked rapidly, looking past Yu to the middle-aged couple standing awkwardly in the street.
“My parents.” Yu said.
“Eh!?” Kaya’s jaw dropped. “You mean… from the other world!? What does that mean!? How!?”
“I wanted them to meet Rize and the others… Consider it a family visit.” Yu smiled apologetically.
“Ahh… I get it! Fine! I’ll handle it! We'll be at the usual diner! Don’t take too long, or I’m ordering the expensive wine on your tab!” Kaya pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply.
“Mom, Dad! This is Kaya-san. She's Rize's roommate and friend. Go with her!” Yu turned back to his parents. His parents bowed a little nervously.
“N-nice to meet you.” Kaya smiled familiarly, switching to her ‘customer service’ mode, and waved. “Let’s go to diner, I’ll get you some tea!”
“Be right back!” As soon as Yu spoke, blue light ran beneath his feet. ZOOM. The air pressure dropped. The wind swirled violently. In the next instant, Yu's figure vanished into thin air, leaving a vacuum that pulled at their clothes.
“Ha!? No way!? Yu disappeared!?” His father stared blankly into the empty space where his son had been a second ago.
“Oh Darling… that child didn't explain anything! I'm sorry, Kaya-san. For dragging you into this mess.” Yu’s mother shook her head in panic.
“…Let's just go to the diner for now. We can talk there. A lot. I have about a hundred questions too.” Kaya laughed, hoisting her bags.
?
At Avlas Clinic. The clinic shone gently in the golden afternoon light. Outside, the smell of drying herbs mixed with the sterile scent of alcohol. Yu pushed the door open.
“Your parents are here… in this world!? Why so suddenly!?” Rize's voice jumped an octave. It was a sound mixed with surprise, agitation, and somewhere deep down… sheer panic.
“I'm happy, you know? I really am! But I need mental preparation! And a bath! And maybe a new dress!” She looked down at her clothes.
Overlapping her frantic voice, the sound of sheets rustling was heard. On the bed, Claval sat up.
“I'm going. It would be rude to your father and mother not to greet them. I can't just stay in bed while they are guests in our world.” Even through the bandages wrapped around her torso, the shine in her eyes was sharp. It was the eyes of a warrior preparing for a decisive battle.
“Claval!? Don't push yourself! You’re still healing!” Yu rushed over in a panic, holding out his hands to stop her.
“I'm not pushing myself. I diverted magical power to recovery. If I don't fight monsters, I'll be fine. Meeting your parents is… a different kind of battlefield. One I intend to win.” Claval smiled quietly. It was a smile of absolute resolve.
“Right… we need to talk about that part too… as a ‘family’…” Rize bit her lip, showing a complicated expression. She understood. Behind Claval's words, there was her own resolve as a ‘woman’.
“What part?” Yu tilted his head.
“I'll tell you later, Yu. Much later. Now take us there.” Rize smiled brightly to cover it up. Her voice had a nostalgic warmth. Yu nodded. He held out his hands. Blue light gathered in his palms. Space began to twist, obeying his command. Particles of light danced up, swaying the hair of the three. A small storm whirled inside the clinic, lifting papers from the desk.
“[Bind.]” In its center, Yu muttered low.
Instantly, the world inverted. Gravity flipped. The figures of Rize and Claval were wrapped in light. The sky of Avlas returned to silence, leaving only a streak of azure flash fading into the afternoon.
?
At The Dragon’s Nest.
Beyond the door of black light was a grand mansion that seemed to have been carved directly out of a living cave. The walls shone like smooth obsidian, reflecting the inhabitants like dark mirrors. Glowing crystals hung from the ceiling like stalactites, casting a soft, golden light that banished the gloom. This was a corner of the “Dragon's Nest”—the sanctuary where dragons had lived for ages, hidden from the eyes of men.
In the hall at the back. Surrounding a large table made of ancient, fossilized wood, the Master, Roa, Hanara, and Naz sat facing each other. The drifting air carried a strange stillness, and somewhere, a nostalgic warmth. It smelled of old books, stone dust, and green tea.
“I know that my sworn friend has passed away. We lost a man who was too good to lose.” The Master spoke quietly, holding a delicate cup in his clawed hand. The porcelain looked fragile against his black scales.
“…It was a magnificent end.” At those words, Roa nodded slightly, her eyes downcast.
“Is that so. He was a strange one. The dish he made called ‘Ramen’… it was extremely delicious… Salty, fatty, warm.” He narrowed his eyes as if looking into the bottom of his memories, savoring a taste from decades ago. Then he exhaled softly.
“Well, fine.” Then, he looked straight at Roa. His gaze sharpened, turning into beams of golden light. “My disciple, Roa Sephi-Nort. Inheritor of the Dragon's Law.”
“Yes.” Roa straightened her posture quietly. The air around her tightened.
“Under the promise with my late sworn friend, I forgive all violations of the law. Use that power to its fullest. Do not hold back.” The Master smiled faintly.
“Eh?” Roa blinked, surprised.
“Even if you use the power of the dragon, the dragonification of your body will not progress. We—the Dragonkin—will take on that ‘price’ in another form.” The Master continued.
“Is that… alright?” Roa asked.
“Hmph. That existence, Time Patrol, is the law of the planet itself. Then to oppose it, the law of the dragon would also be necessary. It is a fair trade.” The Master answered.
Roa looked down and bit her lip quietly. In the depths of her chest, the scene she saw in the battle with the Returnee revived.
“A human who uses the dragon's law”—she knew the end. She had feared becoming a dragon. But now, she was being offered a loophole, a grace.
Eventually, Roa looked up. She turned to Hanara sitting next to her. Roa’s expression was filled with determination. Suddenly, Roa placed her hand on Hanara's lower abdomen.
“Wait, Roa!? What are you doing!?” Hanara jumped, her face turning red.
“[Glory Holy] -Regeneration-!” Roa’s fingertips glowed faintly. A soft, warm golden light—the color of morning sun.
In an instant, Hanara's entire body was wrapped in the light. It wasn't just surface healing. Hanara gasped. She felt a warmth spreading deep inside her pelvis—a warmth she hadn't felt in years. Of organs that had been lost being rewritten by dragon’s law. In the next moment, the color returned to Hanara’s cheeks—a healthy flush. The cold ache she had carried inside her, the knowledge that she was "broken" as a woman, vanished.
“Dragon's law is a power that affects even the cost. It can rewrite the cost of the past. So—” Roa said.
“No way… really…! You fixed… everything?” Hanara’s eyes widened large. Her hands flew to her stomach. She felt… whole.
“Hahaha! A good use of it! Excellent! That is what power is for!” The Master laughed heartily, slapping his knee.
“…Thank you very much.” Roa quietly lowered her hand and looked at the Master.
“Now, go home. The decisive battle is near. Prepare yourselves.” The Master stood up and looked at the three in turn. A moment of silence. And then, he said with a slow, gentle smile.
“Let us all become happy, shall we not?” His voice echoed on the ceiling of the cave, shaking the ancient stone monuments sleeping in the dragon's nest. It was a blessing from the old world to the new.
In the outside world, the gears of fate were already beginning to move again.
Ask. The archive might answer back.
What to Expect:
- Sci-fi mystery
- Character-driven plot
- Slow-burn investigation
- Brothers on opposite sides
- Cool powers!
- Optional meta layers
- Multi-POV cast
- Emotional gut punches & sarcasm
Start now with these artifacts.
[Lev’s Note]: I didn’t go looking for trouble, but the universe disagreed with me. Twice.
And so did my sister. She deliberately ignored my good sense, ran headlong into the WRONG questions, and found the answers someone had buried for centuries:
Enigma.
The shadow behind every missing person, burned record, and altered history.
The reason no one leaves this planet.
That document above? Evidence of Enigma.
The tabloid next to it? Evidence the universe hates me. A failure of journalism.
If you want to understand how I—a completely ordinary public figure who should not be in tabloids—ended up connected to alien archaeology…
Start solving the mystery for yourself.