Ascent of a Dragon

Interlude from the surface. Through the eyes of a transmigrator.

A boy sits atop a stone ring, watching the gathering crowd of soldiers and adventurers below. His form remains transparent, unseen as light from the twin suns above pass straight through him. Invisibility was among the first spells the boy learned upon coming to this ruthless world of might and magic, far more perilous than the world he once called home.

People scramble in the plaza below, most preparing for the great speech, though some frantically searching for the missing boy. After all, he is the Hero. Star of today's show. Ever since coming to this world, the boy has been a remarkable talent, once in a century. Perhaps even once in a millennium. He had reached fifth circle within a year of his awakening, blowing away all previous records as if they were but a joke in comparison.

The boy reminisces at the sight below him. I was once like them wasn't I? Hurrying around from place to place, attending hunts and expeditions in search of glory and fame. And yet, now after having explored the continent, saved countless lives, and defeated the demon lord I find myself hollow, empty. Still searching for that thrill. A wide grin sprawls across the boy's face. Perhaps I haven't changed at all.

He closes his eyes, revelling in the wave of nostalgia at the memories flowing into him. His mind wanders, back to the first day he arrived in this world. The day he died, and was born anew.

"W-what? Where am I? What is this place? Where did my collection of cute Anime girl stickers go?" A boy stumbles, scrambling to stand up as he finds himself somewhere new, unfamiliar. He brushes away the strands of black hair stuck awkwardly to the folds of his eyelids, scanning his surroundings with his narrow, grey eyes. A world of white fills his sight, devoid of all features. An emptiness permeates the boy's heart at the vast void before him. How can such a place exist? Filled with so much... nothing. Yet all the same, something familiar strikes at the boy. A feeling that he's seen such a scene before. I swear if I'm about to meet God right now...

"Greetings child." A figure addresses him from behind, the sharp, synthetic voice crawling into his ears, filling this empty world with substance. He turns to face the voice. A tall, uncanny figure stands before him. Long locks of blonde hair float statically in the air. Flowing yet unmoving, as if waxed in place. Her skin covered in a smooth sheen, metallic even, yet her motions are fluid, organic, almost lifelike. Her chest rises and falls, more akin to inflating a balloon than the use of actual lungs, yet no air escapes her porcelain lips.

Any rational individual would be experiencing a primal terror, the urge of every fight-or-flight instinct begging them to flee, to hide, to do anything to get away from this creature playing human. Yet the boy remains transfixed. His grey eyes lock onto the vacant orbs peering back at him as a gentle hand robotically cups his cheek. He opens his mouth, perhaps to scream, perhaps to yell out for help, yet no sound escapes his lips. The gaze consumes him, eating away at his rationality. And she is beautiful.

"Fear not child. Though you have perished, your soul lies safely here, with me. Though my true name would be difficult for you to hear, many call me Sphilaria, goddess of rebirth." The boy steps back, pulling his eyes from their deadlocked gaze. "I... died? How?" The hellishly divine figure pauses for a moment, as if calculating the correct answer. Her lively eyes shimmer lifelessly. "You were struck by a vehicle. A truck, I believe." "I've been fucking Isekai'd haven't I?" "What?" "Nothing."

"Rest easy child. For while your life has reached its conclusion, I offer you the chance to begin it anew." The boy blushes, enamoured by the alluring abomination before him. "W-Why me?" Is all he can manage. Years of preparations, watching countless cringe Ani-sophisticated speculative documentaries, crumble away under the weight of Man's remarkable ability to think with the incorrect organ.

"And why not you, child?" Sphilaria twists, her long, flowing dress stretching and reshaping to conform to her unnatural, elegant posture. "In my eyes, you are the optimal choice for an Acrylon." The boy manages to arrest some of his mind back from his stupor, though his eyes still remain entranced by her form. "Acrylon? Me? What does that even mean? What... what would you have me do?" His eyes narrow, managing a sliver of suspicion under her vivid, empty gaze.

"To be my Acrylon is to be my arms and legs." Her arms splay in a life-like, false gesture. "To explore the world on my behalf, to do the things I cannot. To gain strength and someday reach the realm of the gods. Perhaps one day, even becoming my equal. How you go about this is of course, up to you, child. To assist you on your journey, I will even offer you a boon. Be it a power, or an artefact, any blessing within my power is yours to claim." Her words grate harshly like a smooth flowing river, soothing the boy's very essence. "You still haven't answered one question though." He states, taking in a deep breath to stay his nerves. "Why me? What is it that made you choose me out of the surely countless more worthy people. I'm just some random schmuck, with not a single redeeming quality to my name... I don't even have a proper job!"

Sphilaria's uncanny head rotates adorably. "Why you? I simply think you're cute." She announces matter-of-factly. The boy's mind turns pink. All rational thought abandons him as he simply gazes forward, enraptured by her form. His heart flutters at her words. If a tentacle just popped out of her tear duct to lick her eye? He wouldn't mind. And if said tentacle had a dozen eyes of its own? He wouldn't tell anyone. "I'll do it!" He announces. "And I know what I want for my boon!"

"That's quite the thoughtful expression you have there Auvic. Feeling nostalgic are we?" Lifting his head he meets the hollow eyes of a pale creature, a shallow imitation of a fairy resting adorably on his shoulder. "Haha, nonsense! I'm simply eager for this announcement to finally get under way. They still haven't told me what I've signed up for you know, but if even the royal family have shown up, it's gotta be good!"

"Of course, I know child. I've been with you the entire time." A shrill chuckle accompanies her soft voice. Auvic grins, letting out a chuckle of his own as he admires her beautiful, hideous form. "I'm still surprised, you know. When I asked for my boon to be you, I didn't expect you to actually follow through." The tiny Sphilaria lets out a shrill giggle, a beautiful harmony of dissonant sounds amalgamating together. "I too did not expect such a bold request. Truly, where does one even get the idea to ask a goddess to be their boon?" "I saw it in an Anime once." "You still haven't told me what 'Anime' actually is." "I-I'll get to it eventually."

The crowd below stirs, silence beginning to spread across the people as a tall, rugged figure claps his hands, drawing their attention. "Perhaps you should join them now? Your companions are showing quite the panic." "Nah! Hero's gotta make an entrance you know?" Auvic chuckles, giving his panicked group of comrades an unseen grin. "Looks like it's beginning."

"Attention warriors! Adventurers and explorers!" The rugged man's voice booms, resounding across the plaza, pulling all attention to him. "We invite each of you here today to attend a most important event! You have all been specially selected for your strengths! Your feats and your renown! You are the culmination of this country's greatest strengths! And today, your power is much in need! We bring all of you here today, powerful soldiers and renowned hunters, great mages and beloved royals! Today, we even bring you the great hero himself..."

Oh? This guy knows how to please. Almost makes me forgive him for speaking in exclamation mark. Auvic leaps off the ring, letting himself slam his feet to the ground, surrounding himself in a cloak of dust as he releases his invisibility. "Takatooooou!" The boy flicks his hair back, in that hair-style model way heroes always seem to do. Excited murmurs fill the crowd, words of endearment, of respect, and one particularly eager fangirl squealing his name at the top of her lungs until she faints. The only gazes not conforming are those of his four companions, who show a mix of knowing chuckles and frustrated pouts.

Auvic gives the grinning announcer a pat on the shoulder. "Good show friend. Now don't keep us waiting, we're all eager to hear of this great mission you've brought us here for!" He states with heroic flair as he skips over to his companions, annoyed and endeared by their chronically over the top leader. The white haired elf princess pinches his cheek, the well built goliath gives him a hearty slap on the back, the cloaked halfling leans against his leg, and the armoured spearman scoffs, hiding his grin.

"Well said hero! Indeed, no use beating around the bush anymore!" The announcer's face turns serious, raising his hand to gesture to the ring. "Behind me is a device capable of transporting people to another world!" The crowd shifts, whispers of curiosity and doubt filling the plaza. Feels like a bit of a genre shift, no? I'm pretty sure I've seen this movie too. "And the people of this other world have contacted us! They have initiated with us talks of trade, of cultural exchange, and have invited us to what they call their 'Reverence Festival!'"

"According to them, this festival is a old ritual dating back several millennia, involving the exploration of one of their greatest landmarks! An enormous labyrinth filled with dangerous beasts and old secrets! A reward is said to be offered to those who reach the deepest point, an offer of riches, of bounty from this strange new world!" The announcer slams his foot, straightening his spine and hammering his fist to his chest in salute.

"You, gathered here today, are our strength! Our power! Today, we shall make our way to these strange lands, attend their Reverence Festival, and claim this bounty for ourselves! Show these other worlders our might! Are you with me?!" The announcer's voice emanates in shock-waves, reflecting back with the invigorated roars of the crowd.

"Open the portal!" At his order, an archmage warps atop the ring, chanting in strange tongues as Mana bursts forth from him, absorbed greedily by the stone formation. Lights begin to pulse from twelve regularly spaced notches in sequence as the ring is lifted from the ground. The lights slowly blur together as the ring spins, green energy spilling out and spiralling to the centre. The energy coagulates, then bursts outward, forming an undulating sphere of green energy above the crowd. "Step forth brave adventurers! Enter the stable vortex and discover what treasures this new world holds for us!" I'm sure they even made a series out of this...

"Well child? Shall we head forth? I too am curious as to what new experiences this other plane has to offer." "Uaaah! Go away you fake goddess! I'm the one going by his side, not you!" "Shahaha, you three are so adorable together!" "Hmph, let's not linger. The crowd awaits." "Mmm? I guess we're going now..."

"Funfunfun, indeed! Let us go forth, to a new adventure!"