It had been a few years, and I was now fifteen years old.
I trained regularly, sparring with Ruby and her older sister Yang.
They were my only real friends, but I was satisfied.
Ruby was terrifying with a scythe.
Yang was terrifying with her fists.
Qrow was terrifying when he was sober.
Honestly, everyone in my life was terrifying.
I should probably examine that later.
Status.
— [Status] Name: Raoul Kurokaze Race: Dragon-blooded Human Classification: Former NPC / Stabilizing Fictional Existence Current World: Remnant Home World: Draconic Deus — Frozen Insertion Method: Local Identity Fabrication Current Role: Orphan of Patch / Huntsman Candidate Age: 15 — Existence Density: 0.11% Soul Integrity: 14.80% Narrative Weight: Noticeable Primary Objective: Avoid Erasure Secondary Objective: Define Your Own Fate Current Cursed Objective: Gain the requisite level of Strength.
— [Goal] Initial Intermediate-Class Combatant [Current World Equivalent] Beacon-Qualified Student Current Progress: 94% — Attributes: Str: 18 Int: 12 Wis: 11 Dex: 15 Luk: 99 Aura Capacity: Developing Aura Control: Functional / Unrefined Spiritual Stability: Improving Draconic Resonance: Active — Titles: [Karma Magnet] – Host is more likely to encounter beings, events, and opportunities carrying significant narrative consequence.
– Warning: Luck does not distinguish between fortune and catastrophe.
[I Make My Own Fate] – Acquired by rejecting the theft of another existence’s narrative path.
– Host’s fate is no longer entirely shallow, but remains undefined.
– Warning: Undefined fate must be shaped through action.
[Dragon’s Benefactor] – Acquired after preserving and stabilizing a fragmentary draconic soul.
– Dragon-blooded creatures are more likely to view Host favorably.
– Warning: Favorability does not guarantee safety.
[Official Disciple of Ryozanpaku] – Host has been recognized as a disciple by the masters of Ryozanpaku.
– Effect: Host’s growth through physical training is improved.
– Warning: Ryozanpaku training methods may qualify as attempted murder in several jurisdictions.
[Orphan of Patch] – Host has been inserted into Remnant with a fabricated local identity.
– Effect: Local residents recognize Host as a child of Patch.
– Warning: Emotional bonds formed under fabricated identity remain emotionally real.
— Sacred Gear: [Unwritten Boosted Gear] — DORMANT Origin: Abandoned alternative reality.
Core: Juvenile Dragon Soul.
Status: Inactive / Undefined / Awaiting Definition.
Current Functions: None.
Potential Functions: Boosting, draconic conversion, power amplification, spiritual reinforcement.
Warning: Power without fate must be defined by action.
System Note: As Host becomes more real, so too does the Juvenile Dragon Soul.
— Core: [Draconic Mana Core] Status: Stable Mana Circulation: Crude / Functional Draconic Integration: Complete Dragon Blood Evolution: 1% Current Effect: Host’s body continually strengthens itself through draconic adaptation.
Warning: Draconic traits may influence instincts, aura expression, and spiritual pressure.
— Aura: [Aura] — UNLOCKED Source: Manifestation of the soul.
Aura Color: Steel Grey Anomalous Secondary Expression: Red-Gold Draconic Smoke Status: Active Control: Beginner-Intermediate Current Applications: Defense, physical reinforcement, impact mitigation, combat endurance.
Warning: Aura pattern contains non-human soul resonance.
System Note: Host’s Aura is influenced by Dragon-blooded Human physiology and Juvenile Dragon Soul integration.
— Semblance: [Unknown] — UNAWAKENED Status: Dormant Reason: Identity instability.
System Analysis: Host’s soul expression has not yet crystallized into a stable personal law.
Warning: Forcing manifestation is not recommended.
— Weapon: [Plain Scythe] Type: Long-hafted melee weapon.
Status: Training Weapon / Primary Combat Style Proficiency: Intermediate Foundation Current Style: Defensive Scythe Control Applications: Distance control, sweeping attacks, hooks, trips, guards, monster suppression.
System Note: Host lacks the mechanical absurdity common to Remnant weaponry.
Host Note: Ruby called that boring.
System Note: Ruby is not wrong.
— Skills: [Algorithmic Thinking] – Think in systems.
Recognize patterns, structures, and processes more easily.
– Current Application: Combat pattern recognition, Aura observation, weapon-form analysis.
[Fleet Footwork] – Avoid getting hit.
– Current Application: Huntsman-style movement correction.
[Basic Onmyōdō] – Repel evil.
Purify corruption.
Establish order.
– Current Application: Dormant due to world-law incompatibility.
– Note: May resume full function upon return to Draconic Deus.
[Basic Martial Arts] – You can kind of fight.
– Current Application: Ryozanpaku foundation training integrated with Huntsman movement.
[Talisman Crafting] – Your talismans look like a toddler drew them, but they work.
– Current Best Result: Weak Yang Ward.
– Quality: Terrible.
– Durability: Six minutes.
– Current Application: Limited due to lack of proper materials and world-law interference.
[Basic Mana Circulation] – Circulate internal energy without immediately exploding.
– Current Application: Stabilizing Draconic Mana Core.
– Note: Suppressed by Remnant world laws.
[Combat Awareness] – Notice when you are about to die slightly earlier.
– Current Application: Grimm engagement survival.
[Pain Tolerance] – Keep moving while injured.
– Current Application: Huntsman training, Aura break recovery, Yang sparring survival.
[Basic Scythe Combat] – Swing the sharp farming tool without removing your own limbs.
– Current Application: Grimm combat and sparring with Ruby.
[Aura Reinforcement] – Use Aura to reinforce the body and survive impacts.
– Current Application: Basic defensive combat.
[Grimm Combat Experience] – Host has survived repeated engagements against Grimm.
– Current Application: Lethal force against non-human hostile entities.
[Huntsman Candidate Training] – Basic preparation for Beacon Academy standards.
– Current Application: Weapon handling, field awareness, Aura control, survival drills.
[Occult Caution] – Recognize that magic systems have consequences.
– Current Application: Do not trust world laws simply because the System called the world low-power.
— Bonds: [Koneko Toujou] — Minor Bond Status: Stabilized.
Effect: Host is more strongly recognized by Koneko Toujou.
Warning: Bonds create recognition.
Recognition creates consequence.
[Ryozanpaku Dojo] — Faction Link Status: Official Disciple.
Effect: Host has been accepted by the masters of Ryozanpaku.
Warning: Training may worsen upon return.
[Hayato Fūrinji] — Major Bond Forming Status: Stabilizing.
Effect: Host is recognized as a disciple and young dragon under observation.
Warning: Major Bonds carry major consequences.
[Miu Fūrinji] — Minor Bond Status: Stabilized.
Effect: Host is recognized as a fellow disciple and friend.
[Ddraig Y Goch] — Favorable Recognition Status: Acknowledged.
Effect: Welsh Dragon views Host with cautious favor due to draconic soul preservation.
[Nascent Dragon Soul] — Life-Bonded Partner Current Status: Juvenile Dragon Soul.
Effect: Host’s soul and draconic essence are permanently linked.
Warning: Damage to soul, core, or draconic essence may affect both parties.
[Ruby Rose] — Major Bond Forming Status: Bestest Pal / Training Partner.
Effect: Host is strongly recognized by Ruby Rose.
Warning: Ruby Rose’s optimism is highly contagious and difficult to resist.
[Yang Xiao Long] — Minor Bond Status: Sparring Partner / Older Sister Adjacent.
Effect: Host has been repeatedly punched into personal growth.
Warning: Do not insult Ruby in Yang’s presence.
[Qrow Branwen] — Mentor Bond Status: Stabilized.
Effect: Host is recognized as a student by Qrow Branwen.
Warning: Mentorship may include alcoholism, terrible advice, and surprisingly effective combat instruction.
[Taiyang Xiao Long] — Guardian Link Status: Recognized.
Effect: Host is considered part of Patch’s local support structure.
Warning: Dad lectures may occur.
[????] — Karmic Thread Status: Unresolved.
Effect: Unknown.
— Inventory: [World Narrative Hopping Ticket] — ACTIVE / CURSED Status: In use.
Current Destination: Remnant Home Narrative: Frozen Subjective Time Dilation: Active Return Condition: Gain the requisite level of Strength.
Warning: Cursed rewards grant what Host wants, not necessarily what Host needs.
— Current Warnings: – Host’s Home Narrative remains frozen.
– Host has formed emotionally significant bonds in narrative.
– Return may occur without warning once objective is fulfilled.
– Semblance remains unawakened.
– Aura expression is visibly anomalous.
– Dragon Blood evolution may attract attention from sensitive beings.
– Host is emotionally attached to Remnant.
— System Recommendation: Continue training.
Stabilize Aura control.
Refine scythe fundamentals.
Avoid comparing yourself to Ruby Rose’s weapon engineering.
Prepare emotionally for return.
— I stared at the last warning.
Prepare emotionally for return?
Absolutely not.
We were not unpacking that today.