Kenji devoured its meal in a few mouthfuls and stood still in place. Its small, watchful red eyes remained focused on the door as the little dragon realized its tamer was in a trance-like state.

Yoichi's mind's eye saw hundreds of images scroll by quickly. No matter how hard the young warrior tried to stay focused on his next task, Shioko's face kept returning to the surface, burying his other thoughts.

Their kiss and the sweet words he'd exchanged with the archer before leaving Goldhaven had hit him deeply. Yoichi had no memories of his previous life, but deep inside, he knew he had never had such a strong bond with someone.

He did not question his memory and had no interest in knowing if a woman had ever entered his life in that way. The sensations he felt during those endless moments spent in Shioko's company were unforgettable.

Just the thought of seeing her again gave him butterflies in his stomach and the possibility that she could join him in his incredible adventure took his breath away.

Yoichi's hands moved slightly during the meditation and the fingertips of his thumbs touched his middle fingers, increasing his level of concentration.

The great power he had been given by Therion required a great awareness of his own ego. What did all the fights in which he had used Scorching Breath have in common? How could he control that skill even more effectively?

The Demon Pet System, after completing a quest, had granted him a power-up, enhancing Kenji's draconic skill without a reason. But what was he supposed to do to take full advantage of that power up?

Every time I fight, I let the anger flow through my veins. I never try to control it and let it turn into flame, Yoichi reasoned. I'm not sure how I do it, but I only have to think hard about that feeling to create the primordial flame in the center of my chest.

More anger, more flames, more physical strength. However, I didn't always fight like this. Before I discovered that I could create the draconic flame, I fought differently, always waiting for my enemy to make the first move.

If anger generates physical strength... is it possible that calmness generates magical force? The inexperienced tamer asked himself. Although he fought like an experienced warrior, he had only been in that world for a very short time and had never undergone the years of hard training that his fellow warriors had endured.

Associating the production of flame in his chest with the amount of rage circulating in his body, Yoichi came to a great realization: after producing massive amounts of draconic fire, his mind had to reach a state of stillness to wield that enormous power.

If he succeeded, besides transferring the flames from one point to another of his body, he would surely be able to better dose the power of his attacks, thus avoiding wasting energy.

*anf*anf* - Yoichi's meditation breaths became more and more intense until they turned into slight moans. As if trapped in a conscious dream, he focused on the warmth spreading through his rib cage and internal organs.

Suddenly, the tranquility of Kenji, who was surveying the interior of the cave, was interrupted by an unexpected event. Without activating his Oracle's draconic ability, Yoichi was surrounded by a thin spiral of fire.

A blazing trail made the air around him vibrate, whirling in an upward trajectory. Breath after breath, the young warrior was creating the primordial flame without Kenji's help!

What is this heat? I'm still meditating, yet I feel a strong heat around my arms and near my face, reflected the young warrior, still motionless with his eyes closed.

His lips quivered as if the border between the world created by his subconscious and reality was getting thinner and thinner. I can't believe it! I'm summoning the draconic flame! I'm managing to control it! He thought again, slowly realizing that he was enhancing his abilities with only the control of his mind.

The glow emanating from his body grew stronger and stronger, and the flames surrounding him gained strength as their light reflected in Kenji's ruby eyes. Unexpectedly, thin sparks erupted from the back of the little dragon, who waved its tail and tried to look to its back.

When Kenji's gaze reached the points charged with thermal energy, the sparks turned to fire and the usual flaming streak ran down its back, traveling to its tail and ending in a brilliant flame at its tip.

"Screek?!" Kenji gulped, unable to explain the strange phenomenon to itself. With the power of meditation, Yoichi had managed to control Therion's ancient power so much that it activated Kenji's skill without his control!

Sensing the profuse sweat on his forehead and no longer able to maintain his concentration, Yoichi opened his eyes. In front of him, the streak of fire enveloping his body had become intense and powerful and, at the same time, his Oracle had shared that power with him, benefiting from the same enhancement.

He perceived that he was holding his breath and, waking up from the trance, he began to breathe again, releasing the hot air accumulated in his lungs. In that same instant, the tongue of fire around him extinguished and the flames on Kenji's reptilian body disappeared into thin air, ending the enhancement.

"Screek! Screek!" Kenji cried again, approaching its tamer to let him aware of what had happened. The little dragon's cry brought Yoichi back to reality, spurring his gaze to fall toward the palms of his hands.

His soul and his Oracle's were closely connected, and just as Kenji could tap into the Dragon King's primal power, he too could summon the draconic flame, elevating his own spirit and letting his soul achieve inner peace.

Yoichi's and Kenji's eyes met and the two of them looked at each other intently for a few seconds, managing to peer into the depths of their souls.

At that exact moment, Yoichi realized that he was ready to face his next enemy.