That day started simple.
Mom had carried me outside for some fresh air. I just wanted to see the world. The sky was a clear blue, the wind felt crisp against my face, and everything smelled like springtime and earth.
Then a shadow fell over us.
And I realized, with creeping dread, that the peaceful morning was about to become a nightmare.
We looked up.
There it was.
A monster.
A hulking, airborne beast—thirty meters long, covered head to tail in blood-red scales that shimmered like polished metal. It didn't have wings like a bird, but two massive limbs stretched from its back, crackling with power. Its six burning eyes locked onto us, and I swear I felt my soul scream in terror. A black horn jutted from its snout. Its claws looked sharp enough to rip through stone. And the aura—gods, the mana it released—it was suffocating.
I froze.
My vision blurred. My heart raced like a war drum in my ears.
"A… a dragon…?"
Was I hallucinating?
No. Mom's sudden tension confirmed it. Her arms held me tightly as her own mana surged outward in response.
"A red dragon?! Leon, hold on!"
In an instant, she activated her Domain of Holy Light, shielding me with a warmth unlike anything I'd ever felt. It was like sunlight given form—pure, divine, and immensely powerful. I clung to that feeling and willed myself not to pass out.
The wind roared as the dragon descended, its wings stirring gales strong enough to tear flowers from their roots.
"RROOOOOAAARRRR!"
The dragon's roar shook the air like thunder. I could barely keep my eyes open. I had never felt this kind of overwhelming presence in my life—not even back when I faced down entire bands of armed raiders.
And then… it spoke.
"WHERE IS THE LEGENDARY HERO? I HAVE COME TO FIGHT HIM!"
Wait. What?
This thing came looking for someone?
My father, standing in the distance in his farmer pants and bare chest, tilted his head.
"Oh, that must be me—"
"YOU UNCIVILIZED LIZARD!" Mom cut in before he could finish, her fury blazing. "YOU DARE MAKE MY LITTLE BOY ALMOST FAINT? HOLY ARROW!"
I barely saw her move.
One moment she stood beside me, the next—a glowing 20-meter arrow of pure divine light appeared above her, whistling through the air faster than my eye could follow.
CLAAAASSSH!
The arrow struck the dragon's chest, exploding in a burst of white fire.
BOOOOOM!!!
The shockwave knocked dust, petals, and loose grass into the air. The dragon shrieked as it dropped from the sky, its body slamming into the fields with a bone-rattling crash.
A smoking crater appeared on its chest. Blood gushed like a river. Scales shattered like glass.
My jaw dropped.
Mom just took down a dragon with a single spell.
Dad, calmly strolling over, gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of my wife."
"Finish it off," she muttered with a deadly edge.
Dad flinched slightly. I swear I saw him shiver.
Still, he stepped forward, the lazy glint in his eyes vanishing. In its place… was something primal.
His body erupted with flames.
No—this wasn't ordinary fire. This was domain-level magic. A wave of infernal energy surged out of him, coating everything in a burning haze of red and orange. Even the air shimmered like it was bending under the pressure.
His hair ignited. His muscles swelled. His eyes gleamed with searing intensity.
The aura of a predator.
The dragon grunted and pulled itself back up, glaring through the steam and blood.
"Such power… That arrow pierced my anti-magic scales…!"
"That was your only warning," Father said, voice cold and measured. "Leave. Or be our dinner."
...Okay, I wasn't sure if he was joking.
But the dragon wasn't laughing.
Instead, he started chuckling.
Then laughing. Loud and wild.
"Yes! This is what I've searched for all my life! A challenge worthy of my blood!" he roared. "I am Ignatius Dragafier, fourth son of the Dragon King! Come, Hero! Let us clash as warriors!"
So this was no random beast. This was a royal dragon.
And he still wanted to fight after taking a hole to the chest.
A sharp tension filled the air. Dad raised one hand, and from it, a titanic sword of flame materialized. It wasn't a sword so much as a five-meter slab of molten metal shaped like a cleaver.
And it shone. Brilliant and furious. I couldn't look at it directly.
"Watch closely, Leon," Mom whispered, lips curling into a proud smile. "This is your father's true strength."
Dad stretched his arms, rolled his neck, and grinned.
"It's been a while since I had a real warm-up. I might be a bit rusty."
Then he leapt.
The sky screamed.
Flames burst into the air as father and dragon collided mid-flight.
CLASH!
Shockwaves shattered clouds. The wind cracked like whips.
CLASH! BOOM! SLAAASH!
It was like watching a god battle a force of nature. I couldn't see them anymore—only flashes of light, blasts of fire, and the sound of air being torn apart. The sky turned red, stained by fire. Trees in the distance swayed violently. The river steamed.
Then… silence.
And then…
SLAAAAASSSHHH!!!
A final cut. A clean, terrifyingly surgical sound.
The sky cleared.
The dragon's head fell from the heavens, crashing into the meadow below. Blood sprayed like rain. Its massive body slumped beside it.
Father descended slowly, that flaming slab-sword resting over his shoulder.
"Phew," he said. "That was a good workout. Let's make dragon steak for dinner—bet Leon will love it!"
…I couldn't believe it.
My father just soloed a royal dragon. And made it look like he was just taking out the trash.
"Papa… strong…" I muttered in disbelief.
"Right?" Mom giggled. "That's why I picked him."
Wait—that's why she married him?!
So in this world, power really is everything.
Strength means survival.
Mom flew over to Dad in a flash of light, still holding me. She kissed him proudly.
"Well done! I'll butcher the heart for Leon while it's fresh."
"Good idea!" Dad laughed.
Wait.
Hold on.
You're feeding me dragon heart?!
How is this my life?!
---
Reflections
As I stared at the ruined field and the smoldering corpse of a being I used to think only existed in myths, reality finally started sinking in.
This world isn't safe.
Even in a peaceful grassland, disaster can literally fall from the sky.
But I also realized something else…
My parents are monsters.
And I mean that in the most loving, awe-struck way possible.
They're heroes. Legends. Retired gods of war playing house in the countryside. And I… am their son.
A kid with a broken system, frozen stats, and a future filled with training montages.
But after seeing that battle…
I know one thing for sure.
If I work hard enough—if I train every day, build my strength, and master my mana—
Then maybe… just maybe…
I'll be able to stand beside them one day.
And when that day comes, I'll be strong enough to protect them the way they've protected me.
---