The Dragon Emperor of Another World: Awakening of a Legend

"Master, please... open your eyes." The urgent whisper cut through the darkness in Ethan's mind. He jolted awake with a gasp. Cool grass pressed against his back and an impossibly blue sky swam into focus above him. This isn't my dorm, he thought, heart hammering. Not a dream... not a game. A warm breeze carried the scent of wildflowers... far too vivid to be virtual.

Ethan blinked hard. A familiar woman knelt over him, silhouette rimmed in sunlight. Curved ebony horns swept back from her brow, and silver-white hair framed a face marked with obsidian scales. Concern shone in her crimson eyes. He knew this face.

"Celestia?" he croaked, voice cracking with dryness.

Relief flooded her features. "Thank the gods," Celestia breathed. She managed a wry smile, masking her worry with a touch of scold. "I was afraid you might never wake, Master." Her low, melodic voice was just as he remembered... regal and warm all at once. Hearing it here sent a surge of equal parts terror and comfort through him.

Ethan pushed himself up a bit, and the world tilted. Celestia’s claw-tipped hand pressed against his shoulder to steady him. The touch sent a jolt through him; he could feel the cool, smooth texture of her scaled skin and the gentle strength in her grip. It was surreal, too real.

He managed a shaky laugh. “I... must have dozed off.” It was a feeble attempt at humor and his mind was racing. Only moments ago, he’d been in his apartment with a VR headset on, defeating the final guardian after a three-day marathon to claim the Arcane Godslayer Gear. It felt like triumph then; now that victory was a distant blur, like someone else’s.

Celestia’s eyes softened. “Dozed off? You collapsed as soon as you grasped the artifact.” Her expression tightened. “One moment you were standing victorious in the Temple of Ascension, the next you were on the ground, unconscious. I... I feared I might lose you.”

Temple of Ascension… it was the final trial he’d overcome in the game to earn the Godslayer Gear. Now he stood here, breathing its ancient, magic-tinged air.

“It must have been the trial’s backlash,” he said, trying to match Celestia’s in-world logic. “The Arcane Godslayer Gear came with a price. Perhaps my body wasn’t ready for it.”

Celestia nodded gravely. “Your power surged so suddenly, I could hardly recognize your aura. It was as if a god’s mantle fell upon you... then you collapsed. I couldn’t wake you, so I carried you out here to safety.”

He realized she’d dragged him out of the temple with her slender strength that a feat that spoke to her unwavering loyalty. Warm gratitude welled up in him. This was the Celestia he knew: fiercely protective of her “treasure.”

He laid his hand over hers. “Thank you, Celestia. You always take care of me.” The words held more weight now than when he’d uttered them in the game.

Celestia’s cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced aside, a proud smile tugging at her lips. “Of course. It’s my duty as your guardian. And...” Her tone turned light and teasing. “I can’t very well have my master napping forever, can I?”

Ethan chuckled, tension melting from the air. The banter felt natural, grounding him. She’s real. This is all real. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying. He flexed his fingers and looked down at himself. He wore the Godslayer armor—midnight-blue steel plates etched with pulsating runes. Its weight pressed on his shoulders. The longsword slung across his back felt solid and comforting, a familiar friend in an unfamiliar reality.

He drew a deep breath and pinched his forearm through a gap in his gauntlet. The sharp sting confirmed this was no dream.

Right on cue, his stomach let out a low growl. Celestia’s worried expression lifted into a small smile. “Hungry? I have some food.”

She handed him a waterskin. “Here, drink.”

Ethan drank eagerly, water spilling down his chin. It was cool and pure—better than any he’d tasted.

“Not so fast,” Celestia chided. “You’ve been unconscious for a day and a night. No wonder you’re thirsty.”

“A full day...” Ethan lowered the flask, stunned. Had his body been comatose all this time? He pushed down a surge of panic and focused on the present.

Celestia passed him a strip of dried venison, and he chewed it gratefully. With each bite, strength crept back into his limbs. Ethan got to his feet and surveyed the landscape beyond the clearing.

Rolling green hills stretched toward a range of twin-peaked mountains. He recognized that skyline—this was the realm of Astrael. And by a distant lake, marble spires glinted in the sun: the fantasy wrold he’d only ever known through a screen, now within reach.

Excitement and fear warred inside him. This breathtaking yet perilous world was now his reality. No respawns, no logouts. Death here would be final. Ethan forced that thought away. He wasn’t alone—Celestia was with him, and that meant everything.

“We should get moving,” he said, surprised by the steadiness of his own voice. “Night will fall in a few hours, and I’d rather find shelter before then.”

Celestia nodded. “As you wish. The town isn’t far if we take the main road where we can rest. I will be at your side.”

Ethan met her eyes, determination welling inside him. He squeezed her hand, hoping that gesture said what words could not. He wasn’t alone in this.

With a final glance at the vine-covered temple ruins where one life had ended and another begun—Ethan Lockwood set off down the hill, Celestia Draconyx matching his stride. The sun was dipping low, painting the sky gold. Whatever challenges awaited them, he would face them head-on. He’d spent years chasing glory in a virtual realm; now he had something real to fight for.