izana_king snippet

Life is unfair, and the knife lodged in my chest is just further proof of that.

Everything was going so well. I had just graduated college, secured a high-paying job at my dad's company, and was set to make around 850k a year. Life was perfect. Then, out of nowhere, some deranged hobo decided to stab me. No reason, no warning—just like that, everything I had was ripped away.

Now, as I lay on the cold ground, bleeding out, I can't help but think about how easy my life had been. I was privileged. Born into wealth, blessed with good luck, and smart enough to capitalize on it. My biggest concern was deciding what movie to watch on a Friday night. Money, food, shelter those were things other people worried about, not me.

I wasn't blind to my privilege, but I didn't feel guilty about it either. My family was part of the elite 1%, and we lived accordingly. If we wanted something, we got it. Simple as that. But now, as I stared at the blood pooling beneath me, it was painfully clear all the money in the world couldn't save me from dying like this.

Pathetic.

[At least you're self-aware.]

A voice echoed in my head, clear and calm. Was I hallucinating? I must be. I tried to focus, but my vision blurred as the knife was yanked free from my chest.

The pain was excruciating, and then, suddenly, it wasn't. Darkness enveloped me, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a pitch-black void. Lifting my head slowly, I saw a man sitting on an ornate throne. His features were obscured, but his intense purple eyes bored into me, vivid and unrelenting.

"Who… who are you?" I croaked, my voice weak but filled with curiosity and wariness. The man smiled calm, almost playful.

[I go by many names, but you can call me Zephyrus. I'll keep this simple: do you want to live? Do you want a second chance?]

The words hung in the air, almost too surreal to believe. I couldn't help but scoff. "What's the catch?" I asked. "No one does anything for free, especially someone who can bring people back to life."

Zephyrus leaned forward, his smirk widening.

[Aren't you sharp? You're right, there is a catch. You won't be going back to your old life. Instead, you'll be sent to a different world. I'll even throw in a little 'cheat' to make things interesting.]

I frowned, suspicion prickling at the back of my mind. "Why?" I asked. "What do you get out of this?"

He chuckled softly, the sound reverberating through the void.

[It's simple. I want entertainment. My job gets boring, and I like watching people stir things up. Cause chaos, build empires, get laid, fight wars do whatever you want. As long as you keep things interesting, I'll leave you alone. You'll have complete freedom.]

I mulled it over, my mind racing. This had to be some kind of elaborate hallucination, right? But what did I have to lose? I was already dead. If this was real, I'd get another shot at life. If it wasn't, well…

"Fine," I said finally. "I accept."

The moment the words left my mouth, my body was ripped apart. Pain shot through me as the void beneath my feet opened into a swirling abyss. My vision blurred, and I could barely make out Zephyrus's smirking face as his voice echoed one last time.

[Oh, I can't send you in that weak body. Let's fix you up a bit. And don't worry I've got a fun little backstory lined up for you in that world. Good luck, Artorius. Don't disappoint me.]

And just like that, I was gone.

- Artorius -

[System loading…]

[Background pre-selected…]

[Current Host: Artorius Pendragon]

In the pitch-black void, glowing text floated before me, vivid against the emptiness. Before I could process the strange sight, another pop-up appeared.

[History: Artorius Pendragon, second son of King Uther Pendragon of Camelot. Younger brother of Arthur Pendragon, heir to the throne, and Morgan, the eldest daughter of the king. From a young age, Artorius displayed extraordinary talent with the sword and possessed a rare ability long thought lost to the Pendragon bloodline—the power to communicate with and tame dragons.

Currently, Artorius has been granted a small castle and village by his father. As the second son, he has no claim to the throne and will inherit little upon his father's death.]

Before I could fully absorb the information, my surroundings shifted. My eyes snapped open, and I was no longer in the void. A wooden ceiling stretched above me, and I felt an unfamiliar weight pressing down on my chest and limbs.

I glanced down to find myself clad in sleek black armor. My body felt different—stronger, more energized. Peeling off parts of the armor, I stared at the muscles now adorning my frame. Just the feeling of this power was almost enough to justify whatever deal I'd made. Almost.

Skill Gained

[Gamers Mind]

Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows peaceful state of mind, Grants Immunity to psychological status effects.

Skill Gained

[Gamers Body]

Grants a body that allows for the user to live real life like a game. The user heels all injuries while sleeping. The user can also adapt much faster.

Skill Gained

[Observe (minor)]

Provides information on objects targeted

My mind quickly shifted to something else: the world I was in. Camelot? Pendragons? Britannia? Something clicked.

This is Nanatsu no Taizai.

The realization hit like a brick. It wasn't the exact world I remembered from the series—there were too many differences. This had to be some kind of alternate universe. Either way, it was far from the life I knew.

Shaking off my thoughts, I rose from the wooden chair in my room. The castle was simple but sturdy. As I made my way to the door, I noticed servants eyeing me nervously, their faces pale with fear. A memory surfaced one from the body's previous owner. Apparently, the original Artorius had a nasty reputation. One servant had asked too many questions and was publicly executed for it.

"Great," I muttered under my breath. "I've inherited the life of a tyrant."

Walking through the small village surrounding the castle, I noticed the wary glances from parents clutching their children close. Yeah, the old Artorius was definitely a piece of shit.

Eventually, I found myself outside the village, heading toward a cave nestled in the hills. My pace quickened as I neared the entrance, excitement bubbling up inside me.

Inside, I was greeted by the sight of my most prized companion. A massive blue dragon lay coiled within the shadows, its shimmering scales catching the faint light filtering into the cave. Its sharp, angular features and intense red eyes gave it a terrifying yet majestic presence.

"Hey, Rodrigo," I said with a grin. "Feel like going for a ride?"

The dragon let out a low rumble of approval, rising from its resting position. Its enormous wings stretched wide, nearly filling the cave, before folding back. As I approached, I felt a sudden headache spike through my skull.

[Monster Tamed: Rodrigo, Blue Dragon (Rank S)]

[Class Activated: Dragon Lord]

New perk

[Dragon union]

Your strength slowly increases overtime while riding your dragon. This is not a massive increase, but it is a small increase and overtime it could lead to a bigger increase.

New perk

[Dragon rider]

You have the ability to interact with dragons and you might be able to tame but be worn you can only make one dragon your dragon partner at a time.

New skill

[Fire immunity - Rank F]

You're immune to certain heats and a certain amount of flames however this does not count magical flames or heat.

[I figured you'd like being a Dragon Lord, so I made it your starting class. Don't worry you can change classes later. For now, just enjoy the perks.]

"That's… reassuring," I muttered. "But what's with this taming system?"

[It's simple. You can tame monsters or beasts after defeating them in battle. Once tamed, they'll consider you their master. You'll also be able to see their rank and quality.]

I smirked. That sounded incredibly useful.

With a satisfied nod, I mounted Rodrigo. The moment my hand touched his scales, I felt a rush of energy course through me. Whatever this system was, it was going to be fun to exploit.

"Alright, Rodrigo," I said, gripping the reins. "Let's see what this world has to offer."

With a powerful beat of his wings, Rodrigo launched us into the sky, and for the first time since my death, I felt alive.

 - Merlin -

Merlin's sharp eyes lingered on Arthur as he struggled to cast a fireball. The young Pendragon's frustration was almost amusing, his brows furrowed as he attempted to channel his considerable magical reserves. She could sense his potential, the vast power lying dormant beneath his inexperience. Arthur was her prized student for a reason his future was bright, if he could refine his abilities.

Yet, her attention wavered. A ripple of magic tugged at her senses, and she paused mid-thought. One of her wards had been triggered specifically one she had placed in the small, insignificant territory belonging to Arthur's younger brother, Artorius.

Her lips curved into a small smile. That was… unexpected.

The wards she had scattered across the kingdom were designed to detect magical threats, fluctuations, or anomalies. Artorius's territory had been unremarkable for so long that she had nearly forgotten the ward was even there. But now, she could sense it clearly his magic power had spiked, seemingly out of nowhere.

The increase wasn't subtle. It was abrupt, jarring even, and entirely illogical. Her curiosity piqued, Merlin turned her thoughts to the younger Pendragon.

Artorius had always been a disappointment in terms of magical potential. Despite being a dragon rider and carrying the latent traits of a dragon lord, his magic power had been pitifully low barely above that of a commoner. It had been a waste of such a rare lineage.

Even the dragons seemed to favor him for his unique connection to them, but she had dismissed him early on. A dragon lord with no magic reserves was little more than a knight with an oversized pet. Compared to Arthur, who brimmed with natural talent in both magic and swordsmanship, Artorius had never been worth her time.

Still, Merlin was nothing if not thorough. She had placed the ward in his territory on a whim, just in case. Potential, however dim, deserved at least a sliver of attention. And now, for the first time, Artorius had done something interesting.

"Curious," she murmured, her gaze distant as she considered this new development.

She wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. The increase in magic power seemed random, unearned, and defied any logical explanation. But power was power. If Artorius was finally stepping out of his brother's shadow, perhaps she had underestimated him.

Her mind briefly wandered to the greater questions at play. The twins Arthur and Artorius had always shared an unusual aura. Both carried the faint but unmistakable mark of Chaos. The Lady of the Lake, in her infuriatingly vague way, had hinted that one of them could serve as the host for Chaos's power. That knowledge had guided Merlin's choice to focus on Arthur, who had shown far more promise.

Arthur had everything she sought in a vessel boundless magical reserves, natural skill with the blade, and a personality suited to lead. Artorius, on the other hand, had been mediocre by comparison.

But now… now there was a glimmer of unpredictability.

Perhaps she would keep an eye on Artorius after all. The host of Chaos didn't need to be the strongest or the most obvious choice. The ritual would reveal the truth in time, regardless of who she favored.

Still, there was no rush. Artorius was no swordsman on par with Arthur, and his newfound magical spike, while intriguing, was not enough to eclipse his brother's potential.

Turning her focus back to Arthur, she watched as he finally succeeded in summoning a perfect fireball. Her smile widened as she clapped her hands together, proud of her student's progress.

For now, the matter of Artorius could wait. When the time came, she would handle him. Until then, her attention remained on the true heir to Camelot and, potentially, Chaos itself.

XxX

This is a remake of my first English story, dark dragon. Decided to give it a remake still don't know if I should cancel the original, but I felt like giving it a remake so here it is.

Character sheet

Name: Artorius

Race - Human

Alignment - Neutral

Mentor - None

Class: dragon lord

Items

[Unnamed high steel sword - Rank C]

This sword was made in the mountains of the north with high-quality steel

Skills list

[Swordsmanship - Rank A]

You're one of a kind and a very great swordsman able to match with the most powerful of your same skill in the world while using a sword, you gain a massive boost.

[Danger Sense - Rank D]

You have a six sense able to detect danger around you however you will need concentration to be able to sense most high-level danger.

[Martial Arts - Rank D]

You know more than the basics in hand-to-hand combat.

[Spearmanship - Rank C]

You are a very good spearman having grace skill in using a spear to kill your opponents you gain an increase while using a spear.

[Daggermanship - Rank C]

You are very good and using a knife/dagger you gain an increase while using a dagger.

[Iron Will - Rank C]

Will getting your ass kicked you can gain a passive strength free blow they give you no matter if it physical or magical.

System skills

[Observe (minor)]

Provides information on objects targeted

[Gamers Mind]

Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows peaceful state of mind, Grants Immunity to psychological status effects.

[Gamers Body]

Grants a body that allows for the user to live real life like a game. The user heels all injuries while sleeping. The user can also adapt much faster.

[Inventory]

A pocket dimension where the gamer can stash their (or other peoples) belongings.

[Tamer]

After defeating a monster or other mystical creature you can make them join your side either by force or persuasion.

[Skill upgrader] - level 1

Selecting a certain power, you can get a quest completing it that gives you an increase in your skill. It could be a simple increase in the power of the skill or taking one limitation and removing it.

[Looting]

Target a defeated enemy or a corpse and take there shit or take parts of his body and put them in your inventory or get loot.

Perk

[The friend of the Dragon]

Dragon and mythical creatures close to them usually like you however hostile dragons, or other creatures similar will still attack you regardless of this perk.

[The blood of the king]

Your blood contain ancient power is your job to find the answers to your blood???

Class skills

[Dragon union]

Your strength slowly increases overtime while writing your dragon this is not a massive increase, but it is a small increase and overtime it could lead to a bigger increase.

[Dragon rider]

You have the ability to interact with dragons and you might be able to tame but be worn you can only make one dragon your dragon partner at a time.

[Fire immunity - Rank F]

You're immune to certain heats and a certain amount of flames however this does not count magical flames or heat.