That time I got reincarnated as a female true dragon

Chapter 1: Embracing the Dragon Within

The world stretched out endlessly before Velriza. Clouds drifted like soft feathers beneath her wings as she flew over mountains that pierced the heavens and valleys carpeted with lush forests. The sun cast a golden glow over her azure scales, and she could feel the sheer vitality of her new form, an embodiment of ancient power and untamed freedom. Yet, beneath the thrill of being reborn as a True Dragon lay a profound realization — she had much to learn.

Discovery in Solitude: First Steps to Mastery

The first days of her new existence were spent in solitude, far from prying eyes. Velriza found a hidden valley surrounded by towering cliffs and dense forests, a place where she could learn and experiment without fear of destroying the world around her. It was a place untouched by time, where even the breeze seemed to whisper ancient secrets. Here, she would learn to wield the magicules that flowed through her and understand her powers.

As she settled into her new home, Velriza began with the basics: sensing and manipulating magicules. Magicules, she discovered, were the lifeblood of this world, the invisible threads that bound all existence. Every tree, every creature, even the rocks had their own faint glow of magicules. It was like seeing the world with a new sense — an awareness that went beyond sight and sound, a feeling in her core.

Velriza focused inward, drawing magicules from the air around her, feeling them flow into her like a river of energy. She found she could absorb magicules from her surroundings, allowing her to tap into the world's natural reserves. She felt a rush of vitality, a surge of strength that sent a shiver down her spine. She tried releasing the energy in small bursts, sending waves of force rippling through the air. The sensation was exhilarating, but she quickly realized it took concentration to control the output.

To refine her control, she practiced channeling magicules into her claws and wings. At first, the energy was wild and chaotic, crackling like a live wire. But with time, she learned to mold it, to shape it with her will. She could coat her claws in energy, making them glow with a fierce blue light, or create protective barriers of shimmering force. She felt her control improving day by day, her confidence growing as she began to understand the rhythm of this new power.

The Dance of Magic: Mastering [Astral Dominion]

Having grasped the basics, Velriza turned her attention to [Astral Dominion], a skill that seemed to encompass the manipulation of spiritual and magical forces. She decided to begin with [Magicule Manipulation], a sub-skill that felt like the most natural extension of her will.

Velriza focused on creating a simple orb of energy. She concentrated, gathering magicules into a small, bright sphere in front of her. The orb flickered erratically at first, but she quickly steadied her concentration. Slowly, the sphere grew in size and brightness, humming with raw energy. She tried changing its shape, molding it into a blade, then into a shield, feeling the resistance and flow of the magicules as she did so. It was like shaping clay with her mind.

She realized that magicules had their own kind of will — not sentient, but reactive, almost like water. Too much force, and they would scatter; too little, and they would resist. She practiced for hours, forming intricate shapes, testing the limits of her control. Her creations became more stable, more complex. She crafted glowing chains, delicate flowers, even a miniature replica of herself that danced in the air before dissipating with a puff of energy.

Velriza moved on to [Astral Projection]. This skill allowed her to separate her consciousness from her body, a daunting prospect at first. She closed her eyes and focused, feeling her awareness shift, becoming lighter, less anchored. Her spirit began to lift away, leaving her physical form behind. It was an eerie sensation — like being in two places at once. She could see her own body from above, a massive blue dragon lying still in the valley, while her spirit hovered like a wisp of smoke.