Kai lay on the grassy hill behind Anna's cottage, watching the clouds drift across the sky. A year. It had already been a whole year since he arrived in this world.
Back then, he could barely speak the language. It wasn't English, but something more melodic and ancient. Thanks to Anna's constant lessons, though, he could now speak fluently. He'd even learned how to read and write, picked up geography, basic math, and history. Most of all, he'd learned how this world worked—its rules, its magic, its dangers.
Still, his thoughts often drifted back to Ignarax.
Like the other Dragon Slayers, Kai was allowed to visit his dragon mentor during their breaks. And in one of those fleeting reunions, he had finally asked something that had always gnawed at him.
Flashback – Deep in the Cavern of Ash
Kai: "Ignarax… how were you able to use magma without blowing yourself up? It's fire and earth mixed, right? Shouldn't that be unstable?"
Ignarax (grinning): "You really think I'd let my own flames kill me, brat? Like I told you back then—I didn't just teach you magic. I transferred my magic vessel into yours. What I gave you wasn't just fire or earth. It was magma. A whole, complete element on its own."
He tapped a claw against Kai's chest, right over his heart.
Ignarax: "Your body didn't just learn to cast magic—it became a vessel for Magma Dragon Slayer magic. That's why you can manipulate fire or earth separately if needed. But it's not the same as having fire or earth magic. You're shaping what's already within the magma."
Kai: "Then… could someone learn multiple magic types like that? Like... other Dragon Slayer magics?"
Ignarax (frown deepening): "To some extent, yes. If you're exposed to a new magic type long enough, your vessel might adapt. But it's dangerous. At first, it'll mess with your system—you might faint, suffer backlash, or worse. Only with years of training could it become second nature."
He narrowed his eyes at Kai.
Ignarax: "But if you're asking me whether you should try learning another Dragon Slayer magic—don't. It's suicide unless your vessel can handle it. If it can't, your whole body could rupture from the inside."
Kai looked down, thoughtful.
Ignarax (smirking): "Besides, what's the damn point? Magma Dragon Slayer magic is the pinnacle of destruction. Why would you want anything else?
Kai(Thinking) :I only ever considered trying Sky Dragon enhancements, but I realized I was better off learning buff-type magic than cramming another Slayer type into my vessel."
Kai chuckled softly, remembering those words.
He had spent a lot of time with Ignarax during those short vacations. They both knew they wouldn't get many more.
One night, while sitting beside a lava stream, he had asked a question he never thought Ignarax would answer.
Kai: "Who's stronger… you or Igneel?"
Ignarax had been quiet for a moment.
Ignarax: "Tch… Igneel."
That answer had stunned him. The proud Ignarax, admitting someone else was stronger?
Ignarax: "He's older. More experienced. He'd probably win. Barely. If we fought, he might kill me first... but I'd melt half his body doing it. He'd die three days later, tops."
He chuckled darkly.
Ignarax: "Don't get me wrong, brat. I may not be called a Dragon King, but it's not because I'm weak. I'm just the last of my kind. No other magma dragons exist. Hard to be king when you are the last of your kind."
Another time, Kai had shared his frustration.
Kai: "Can Dragon Slayers even defeat dragons? My Roar looks like a campfire compared to yours. I'll never catch up…"
Ignarax's roar of laughter echoed through the chamber.
Ignarax: "You're comparing your baby flames to me? Idiot. You're a fledgling. Every dragon starts small. Even I was weak once. But yes, humans can slay dragons. That's what changed everything."
He grew serious.
Ignarax: "When we first gave humans our magic, we thought they'd use it to defend themselves. But their vessels adapted… and then they started winning. At first, it was shocking. Eventually, we learned the truth—overuse of Dragon Slayer magic turns humans into dragons."
Kai (quietly): "Like Irene Belserion…"
Ignarax: "Exactly. Surprised you know that name. I met the dragon that taught her. We fought. I won. Let her go. She'd been sent to conquer my territory. I told her if anyone else came, I'd turn kingdoms into ash. She believed me."
Ignarax looked into the lava, pensive.
Ignarax: "I wasn't keen on humans learning Slayer magic. I stayed neutral—didn't support them, didn't attack them either. Training you… was a whim. Your vessel was large, stronger than most dragonlings. I figured, if I had to pass on my magic, you were the one."
Kai: "You didn't want to join the Eclipse Gate plan?"
Ignarax: "Hell no. Igneel convinced me. Just like he convinced me to kill our father."
Kai: "...WHAT?"
Ignarax (smirking): "Didn't I tell you? Our father was the Fire Dragon King before Igneel. An alpha. Strong, cruel, did whatever he wanted. I was born from one of his whims. When he went mad with power, Igneel and I had to kill him. Igneel took the crown afterward."
He stood tall then, towering and proud.
Ignarax: "Most children surpass their parents. I hope you surpass me. Otherwise, training you would be a damn waste."
Kai's eyes burned. His throat tightened.
Kai (softly): "Thanks… father."
Ignarax blinked. For once, he didn't have a snarky reply.
Then he barked out a laugh.
Ignarax: "So quit whining with your 'what ifs.' You'll surpass me when the time comes. For now, you're still young. A fledgling. Of course your Roar is weak. Mine was too, back then. Just keep fighting. Keep growing. The older you get, the stronger your magic will become."
Kai smiled, blinking away the mist in his eyes.
He remembered Ignarax's last words that day:
"Acnologia was once human too. Bathed in dragon blood. Ate dragons. His vessel adapted. He became something more. There's even a sea dragon now—Titanus—who was once a human that ate the ocean's dragon. Went full dragonification. You don't need to worry, though. Igneel found a way to stop it. I'll be using the same method on you."
Back in the present, Kai stood and took a breath. He looked down at his hands. Lava sparked across his knuckles.
He clenched his fist.
Kai (quietly): "Execution Fang still needs work."
He turned toward the training grounds.
Kai: "Alright, father. Watch me now."