A Week Passed.
Time passed differently in this new world.
Yuki couldn't track the days precisely, but the rhythms of the world around him gave him clues.
He counted the tremors in the ground, the echoes of wind against rock, and the shifts in temperature.
And more importantly, he listened. Always listened to bickering of small girl who always kept him company.
She was his only companion in the darkness.
Although, there was another one: the ever-reliable chime of the system.
[ Congratulations! You have learned a new language: Human Speech ]
The message had appeared almost a 3 days ago—or what he thought was a week. It brought a strange comfort, like leveling up in the game of life.
He had learned an entire language without speaking a word. Not through magic or osmosis. but through hearing the chatterbox girl.
Using [Shell Sense], he could vaguely make out his surroundings. There was a jungle nearby, and not far off, a small hut where sunlight streamed in warmly through a window.
"Eggy, I'm feeding you so much sunlight, so why aren't you hatching yet?" the girl's voice echoed, tinged with grumpiness as she placed the egg gently on her lap.
She let out a sigh and leaned closer, whispering softly, "Father, Mother... they're all gone now. You're all I have left. Will you be my new family?"
Her small eyes shimmered with hope and expectations.
But the egg gave no reply. Only a faint vibration like a pulse of life from within, hinting it might hatch at any moment.
"What kind of egg are you?" she murmured. "A wild hen? A dog, maybe? Or could it be… a snake?"
Her expression suddenly shifted immediately. He face turned pale with fear and panic.
"Oh no… Did I just foolishly pick up a snake egg and bring it home? Did I just sign my own death sentence?! I'm dead. I'm so dead!"
Clatter, clatter!
Suddenly, the white egg began to shake.
The girl's panicked muttering stopped at once. Her face slowly changed—from fear, to awe, to wonder.
With pounding hear and breathless anticipation, she watched as the egg began to crack.
At first, a small head popped out.
A white and glistening head, with sharp ridges on top. Then came a smooth neck, followed by a round, bloated little belly, and finally—
The girl's eyes widened as she took in the creature's final form after it devoured the eggshells.
After eating the eggshell, it evolved magically. It had grown shimmering white scales and its head morphed into angular shape.
Her face screamed in disbelief.
"Huh… Whaaaat?!"
She stumbled backward, landing on her small butt, staring in stunned silence at the tiny dragon like creature before her.
No. Not dragon-like.
It was a dragon.
A real one.
The girl continued to stare, wide eyed.
On the other hand:
As soon as Yuki finished consuming his eggshell, glowing notifications flashed before his eyes.
[ Congratulations, Host! You have leveled up. Current Level: 2 ]
[ Strength +3, Agility +2, Defense +3 ]
[ Mana +10 ]
[ You Have Unlocked a Species Trait: Frost Scales ]
[ You Have Unlocked a Species Skill: Frost Breath (F) ]
[ Frost Breath: Capable of freezing everything it touches ]
With the notification, shimmering snow-white scales began to grow across his body, covering his bloated belly, small back, and stubby paws.
He looked like a tiny Ice Dragon.
A descendant of the Mythical Apex Predators.
She had read about them in old books. Heard the stories of creatures who once ruled the skies and mountains during the Ancient Age.
At that time, Dragons were said to be beings of terrifying mana and unimaginable power, capable of reducing entire cities to ash with a single breath.
But this one… this one looked kind of cute.
Its snow-white scales shimmered like frost under sunlight. Its tiny wings, still too small to fly, were folded neatly against its back. It blinked up at her with wide, curious blue eyes, letting out a tiny sneeze that released a puff of cold mist into the air.
"Wow, it's a baby dragon! And it's so cute!"
The girl's heart melted at the sight of the tiny creature. Whatever fear she had vanished in an instant.
Without hesitation, she scooped the small dragon into her arms. Its scales were cool against her skin, sending a soft chill through her hands. In the sweltering heat of summer, its presence felt like a gift.
"Ehehehe… From today onward, you'll be my new pet," she said cheerfully, nuzzling the dragon close to her chest. "I'll call you Yuki. Yuki as in 'Happiness in Snow.'"
She giggled, her voice light and full of affection.
Yuki blinked, stunned. It couldn't be a coincidence. That name… It was the same one he had in his past life.
Still, there were more pressing matters to worry about.
"Ahem. Little girl, I am not anyone's pet. I am a mighty Dragon, if I must remind you."
He tried to say it with the dignity his kind demanded, but to her ears, it came out as a series of high-pitched screeches.
"Did you say something, Yuki?" she asked, tilting her head. "Oh, you must like the name, huh? Aw, who's a good boy?"
She cooed, gently tickling his belly.
"Eh, hey, little girl. I am—ha… hahahaha…"
Despite his thick hide and scales, the tickling got to him. He tried to resist, but giggles slipped out before he could stop them.
Defeated for now, he sighed inwardly.
"Aiyah, forget it… For now, I'll stay with her and learn about this world. Besides, this girl seems too pitiful to be living alone in the jungle like this."
His sharp eyes scanned the trees around them. Something felt off about this place. He had been reborn, yes, but something told him this wasn't just an ordinary world. A creature like him didn't just appear by chance.
Without a word, he focused inward and summoned his status screen. Lines of glowing text shimmered before his eyes.
If there were other magical beings in this world, he needed to be ready.