Ragnar lay sprawled across his bed. He tossed a baseball into the air, catching it with ease, and in a matter of seconds, he transformed it into a tennis ball, sending it soaring back into the air with a flick of his wrist.
His mind buzzed with the possibilities of transfiguration, a way to hone his shapeshifting abilities through a series of controlled transfigurations.
As Ragnar caught the tennis ball, changing it into a pingpong ball, his thoughts drifted towards more advanced spells, specifically human transfiguration. 'Maybe that will allow me to turn my hands into metal, from Adamantium and Vibranium,' he imagined, his eyes gleaming with excitement. After all, it didn't hurt to dream.
[Golden Dragon]: @Beast Tamer do you have any books about human transfiguration? Like changing your own body parts?
[Beast Tamer]: I don't know, I'll ask my grandma later but are you planning to change your body parts into something else? That's very dangerous!
[Beast Tamer]: Professor McGonagall said Transfiguration is not a joke!
Luna's brow furrowed, a thoughtful crease appearing between her eyes. Though she doubt Ragnar's plans, she quickly picked up a quill and began to craft a letter to her grandmother. Ultimately, she always wanted to help her friends.
[Golden Dragon]: Don't worry about me. My innate ability is based on shapeshifting, transfiguration just helps me.
[Viking Champion]: Are you going to practice again? Aren't you going to complete some missions?
Astrid perched precariously on the edge of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the bustling scene below. Vikings, their faces grim yet determined, scrambled to prepare their boats and weapons.
It was a new day, a day of reckoning, a day where they would fight to free the dragons, a day where that will decide if Dragons and Vikings can really live in peace.
For Astrid, it also meant completing her mission requirements, but with Ragnar not doing any missions, the Chat Group System Upgrade wouldn't happen.
"What do you want?" Astrid asked without turning around. She could already hear Hiccup and Toothless scuffling behind her.
"Don't push me, bud..." Hiccup grunted in distress as Toothless nudged him with his head, a huge smile on his face and his tongue lolling out. He was clearly enjoying his predicament.
"Okay, okay..." Hiccup pushed Toothless's head down, fixing up his clothes. "Hey, Astrid, what are you doing here?" He said awkwardly, but smoothly at the same time.
Toothless sat up straight, tilting his head looking at them with curiosity.
Astrid rolled her eyes, before pushing off the cliff, she slid down the rocks, her bare hands found something to hold onto the uneven surface. With a final leap, she landed perfectly on the ground.
Astrid looked up at the cliff with a soft smile before shook her head, walking towards the boat.
"Ah, and there she goes!" Hiccup sighed, not even a bit worried she would be injured, knowing how tough Astrid was. The sad part was that he still hadn't managed to have a real conversation with her.
Hiccup covered his face with his hand, slightly embarrassed, before hearing a strange sound of laughter. He turned his head and saw Toothless making a mocking sound. "Laugh, laugh, let's see what you would do when you like another dragon."
[Golden Dragon]: Missions?...I think I'm going to study my innate ability more clearly first.
Ragnar wasn't in a hurry as before. He had two missions he could finish after he was done practicing, completing his requirements. He knew Luna wouldn't be able to finish any missions this year until she requested more information.
When Ragnar caught the pingpong ball, his fingers instinctively molding it into a smooth, clear glass sphere. He set it gently on the table beside his bed, as exhaustion settled over him, a heavy weight that pressed down on his shoulders.
Everything that had happened, the near-death experience, the pain, the realization of his true nature, had taken a heavy toll. He desperately needed rest.
"Hmm?" Ragnar's eyes narrowed as Sona mentioned him in the chat group. 'Is that the Sacred Gear she's interested in?' he wondered.
[Shitori Sona]: @Golden Dragon It's fine if you don't complete your requirements since we still have time to prepare.
[Shitori Sona]: But can I ask for another piece of information? Where is the wielder of Annihilation Maker?
Ragnar pondered for a moment, trying to recall the details of Annihilation Maker's wielder. He sighed. He couldn't remember anything except the name and the faction he belonged to.
[Golden Dragon]: I don't know too much, but his name is Leonardo, and he's part of the Hero Faction.
'Hero Faction.' Sona drummed her fingers on her desk, closing her eyes. She recalled the information about the team of humans with Sacred Gears.
A blue magic circle spread through her room, and with a flash, her sister appeared.
"Tan~Tan~Magical Girl is here~" Serafall struck a victory pose, winking at Sona. She smiled proudly, waving a small bag in her hand. "Mou~ So-tan, look what I brought you."
"It's not much, it's still 20 Phenex Tears," Serafall said, placing the bag on the desk. She hadn't blackmailed Sirzechs too much since their families were allies.
"Onee-Sama, do you have any information about the Hero Faction?" Sona asked expectantly, taking the bag carefully. Although 20 Phenex Tears weren't worth as much as a Longinus, they were still a life-saving item.
"Did your friend tell you that the wielder of Annihilation Maker was part of that faction?" Serafall asked with curiosity, tapping her lips thoughtfully. "Hmm, I don't, but I could ask Ajuka and Sirzechs after I go back." She then looked at Sona with a teasing smile. "So, what does your friend want now?"
Sona, who was placing the Phenex Tears in a cabinet, stopped moving. It had slipped her mind that Ragnar always asked for something in exchange for information.
[Shitori Sona]: @Golden Dragon what do you want in exchange?
Ragnar yawned, opening his eyes. He already knew what he wanted to exchange, and it was connected to his future plans.
[Golden Dragon]: I need a favor from your sister in the future. I need her help to hold back some people. It's going to be easy for your sister.
[Golden Dragon]: You can ask @Heir of Body Sect for more information.
After saying everything he needed to, Ragnar closed the chat group. He pulled the pillow over his head, burying himself in its softness a desperate attempt to block out any noise because for now he simply needed to rest.
[Heir of Body Sect]: Me?
[Heir of Body Sect]: Oh! I remember. He wants to absorb a Soul Ring.
Sona frowned, she glanced at her sister, while she wanted to help Ragnar, she knew it wasn't her decision to make. "He wants to hold someone back in the future,"
Serafall's eyes flashed with interest. She smirked, covering her mouth with her magical wand. "Mou~ your friend is going to do something big, don't you think?" she asked teasingly.
"Yes, he probably is," Sona said weakly, sitting back in her seat. Asking a Satan to move was like announcing whatever he was planning. He really needed help.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
"Great Protector! I've come to bargain!" Ragnar shouted, his voice echoing across the lake. It was almost as if he was facing a formidable enemy, like Strange.
The Great Protector rose gracefully from the water, her eyes fixed on Ragnar, a quiet observer waiting for him to speak. Her mind, however, wandered to the memory of two humans brought by Jiayi who had visited her the previous night, their voices still echoing in her ears.
Mostly it was the woman who had spoken, her words laced with determination, while the male kept pulling the woman away.
'Do you think because you're the same you can do everything you want with him?'
'Next time he gets hurt, I'll take back my son and we're going to leave this place.'
'What do you mean we can leave but he can't?'
'Do I look like I'm asking your opinion? If we leave, Ragnar would come with us, or do you think just because you're the same he'll stay here?'
The Great Protector couldn't help but be amused at first. It was the first time a human had dared threaten her. When she asked the woman where she found the strength to face her, Sicilia, the woman answered her while looking at her straight in the eyes.
'A mother's anger will never die down until she knows her son was okay.'
'It's my fault. I shouldn't have forced you to jump,' The Great Protector stated, gazing at Ragnar with a mix of emotions. She was happy for him, for finding a family that could accept him in this world, for he was still so young. Yet, a faint undercurrent of disappointment rippled through her.
He had been raised as a human, his upbringing a stark contrast to the rigorous training that shaped a true Makluan.
Otherwise The Great Protector could have taught him so much more, had he been steeped in the ancient traditions and honed by the trials of his kind.
The Great Protector's eyes shone with a calculating gleam. Pride wouldn't allow her to easily admit her mistake, but she wanted to keep Ragnar in Ta Lo.
The humans were right, he would choose to leave with them. But if he stayed, she could influence him, little by little, turning him into the best Makluan that existed.
"I want to–What? Did I hear you right?" Ragnar looked at The Great Protector with surprise and confusion. He scratched his ear with his pinky finger and put his hand over his ear. "Can you repeat that again?" he asked cheekily.
'I might be wrong, child,' The Great Protector's voice rumbled with ancient wisdom, her gaze unwavering as she addressed him. 'But remember this, if your ability is really Evolution, only by getting hurt can you get the best results.'
Ragnar lowered his hand, a playful grin spreading across his face. He chuckled softly, his eyes meeting the Great Protector's with a newfound understanding. "I know if I want to improve, I need to get hurt," he admitted, "But I think we can tone it down a little, wouldn't you agree?"
A night of reflection had been enough for Ragnar to grasp the full scope of his ability. Evolution, he realized, could be a potent force if he wielded it wisely. But such power demanded effort.
It meant pushing his body to its limits, forcing it to adapt and grow. And that meant embracing pain, enduring it again and again, because only through such trials could he truly reach his full potential.
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A/N: What kind of Soul Ring is Ragnar is planning to get? Find out in the next episode of Dragon ball...
Luna: Grandma! My friend needs a black magic book!
Astrid: I'm too young for this!
Sona: What a troublesome Dragon.
Ragnar: Masochist Dragon Activate!
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