Only I Awaken The Forbidden SSS-Rank Dragons

The battlefield was silent.

Aleron stood alone, molten metal cooling at his feet, thin wisps of steam curling upward and vanishing into the air.

"I… won?" The words slipped from his lips in disbelief. The fight had ended so abruptly that he struggled to comprehend what had just transpired.

Thinking back, his mind was still clouded with confusion.

He glanced around, taking in the destruction he and the woman had caused. Jagged cracks ran across the ground, and blackened patches marked where flames had once raged.

He studied his surroundings carefully, making sure there was no lingering threat.

Finding none, Aleron allowed himself a breath of relief.

His dragon senses confirmed it—there was nothing alive nearby besides himself.

'Hah.' He exhaled slowly, a long breath leaving his chest.

For the first time since the battle began, he could finally relax.

With no one around to witness, Aleron let his dragon form dissolve. Energy rippled through him, and the two dragons emerged from his body in a swirl of faint light, their presence filling the space. His figure shrank back to his human size.

He turned to look at them, gratitude flickering in his eyes. He didn't know what he would have done without them.

From the moment he had awakened in this world, Ashkar and Veldora had been at his side. The thought warmed his chest.

He reached out and ran his hands along their heads, rubbing gently.

His hand looked small against Ashkar's head. The dragon had grown so much in recent days that it was impossible to compare to when Aleron's palm could fully cover it, just as it did now with Veldora's.

'Everyone is growing so quickly… and becoming stronger.'

"Dad, we did it. All the danger is gone!" Ashkar's voice echoed in his mind, tinged with relief.

Aleron nodded. "Now is the time to rest. We have been fighting for so long; we should take a moment to recover."

As he spoke, his thoughts drifted to what lay ahead.

'First, I should leave here before the experts arrive. And then… there's that woman from the Genesis Coil.'

His jaw tightened at the thought. The Genesis Coil was not yet finished with him, and he would not be finished with them. His plan was clear—strengthen Veldora until she matched Ashkar's level, then head straight for that branch of the Genesis Coil and exact his revenge.

Ashkar lowered himself beside him, the warmth from his breath brushing against Aleron. "You did it, Dad."

Aleron released a slow breath, tension leaving his body. "We did it."

The battlefield was littered with smoldering craters, scorched earth, and drifting embers.

Ashkar brushed his snout lightly against Aleron's shoulder, saying more through the gesture than words could. They had faced death and survived, but the future still held shadows.

And Aleron knew that the moment one let themselves grow too comfortable was when the next battle arrived.

He turned and left the battlefield behind, the burnt earth shrinking in the distance as he walked. The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of smoke and ash.

His steps were calm and steady, blending in naturally with the flow of travelers heading toward the city.

No one yet knew he had eliminated all the guards from earlier.

From the corner of his eye, he caught snippets of conversation as merchants packed away goods for the night and soldiers made their rounds.

"Did you hear? The Silver Hunters are out hunting abominations again," a woman whispered to her companion, worry etched into her face.

"Aye. They say they take anyone capable. If you can slay beasts, they'll welcome you," the man replied, pulling his cloak tighter.

Aleron's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Silver Fang… hunting abominations.' He stored the name away in his mind without reacting outwardly.

It seemed this was one of the hunter organizations created to deal with abominations.

The more he thought about it, the more the idea made sense—joining them would allow him to steadily hunt abominations and quickly strengthen Veldora.

Once she was ready, he could make his move against the Genesis Coil.

Decision made, he continued walking until he slipped into a quiet side street. The narrow path opened into a modest courtyard surrounded by stone buildings.

The space was large enough to accommodate Ashkar and Veldora without drawing too much attention from the city guards.

His eyes landed on a small, unoccupied house at the edge of the courtyard. Its roof looked sturdy, the walls solid, and a low fence provided a degree of privacy.

Perfect.

Ashkar landed softly behind him, nostrils flaring, while Veldora's wings shifted restlessly. Aleron crouched, letting them both take in the surroundings before he approached the house.

The door resisted at first but eventually opened with a quiet groan. The inside was empty but functional, enough to serve their needs for now.

By the time he finished inspecting the interior, night had fallen. Lanterns lit the streets outside, their glow dancing across the cobblestones.

In the distance, the faint sounds of the faction at work reached his ears—metal clashing, voices shouting commands, the occasional roar of a summoned beast.

Stepping back into the courtyard, Aleron allowed the dragons to stretch.

'Tomorrow, we begin Veldora's training,' he thought, his focus already on the path toward the Silver Fang.

Fatigue pulled at his eyes, so he headed straight for his room. He lay down, drifting toward sleep.

Ashkar coiled himself in the corner, radiating warmth, while Veldora quietly flew over to Aleron's side and rested her head on him.

Feeling her presence, he reached up and rubbed her head gently before closing his eyes.

That night, Aleron dreamed.

He dreamed of freedom—pure, unrestrained freedom. In the dream, there were no enemies, no battles, no threats.

His strength was unmatched, and the world lay in peace.

It was a quiet dream. A peaceful dream.

Aleron tossed around on his bed wanting the dream to last forever.

Unfortunately, it didn't.

In the end it was merely a dream, an illusion…