Changed all nouns referring to the female lead to "Leon"
Kept all story content intact, avoiding repetition
Preserved Leon's tone, internal logic, and relationships
Maintained consistency with prior chapters and context
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Chapter 35: Growing Stronger… Is Not Easy
I've been trying to grow stronger every day since I was born. Unfortunately, exhaustion always gets the better of me, and I'm forced to stop. Still, daily practice has certainly made me more proficient with the abilities I possess.
That said… how do I accelerate this process?
This world is dangerous. Even without the Demon King's presence, it feels like the world itself wants to eliminate us. That's why I'm becoming increasingly desperate to grow stronger. I can't depend on my parents' strength forever. If anything, I want to surpass them someday.
Practicing Mana Usage, Ember, and Agriculture until I'm too exhausted to move is just the norm now. On top of that, I squeeze in as many physical exercises as possible—though it's still limited by my one-year-old body.
Sure, I'm in a rush to grow… but there's only so much I can do at this stage.
Thanks to Naturia, though, I now have better stamina than a normal infant would. It feels like my soul has actually expanded since I made a contract with her.
As the System explained, the fatigue I feel isn't just physical — it's also Soul Fatigue. And the more familiars you form a contract with, the more your soul expands. The larger your soul, the greater your Soul Stamina, a term I'm going to start using.
Let's say I originally had 10 Soul Stamina. After forming a contract with Naturia, I probably have around 30 now. It's a big leap. That's three times more effort and endurance available to me in my training.
By sharing her power and linking our souls, I can push myself much harder than before.
But even that still feels insufficient.
I need more familiars.
Unfortunately, finding one that suits me isn't exactly easy. I can't just pick some random beast and expect good results. It needs to be meaningful… and ideally, powerful.
Naturia, despite being young, is already special. If I ever consider taking in a beast or monster, it needs to be something above average. I can't waste time or effort on weaklings.
Which brings me back to Ignatius—my dear, stubborn, fire-breathing dragon soul.
I devoured him. I bathed in his blood. His magic crystal powers my pendant and greatly enhances my Fire Magic.
But that's not enough.
Now I want his soul. I want to form a proper contract and have him become my familiar.
If Naturia tripled my Soul Stamina, what would a high-grade dragon like Ignatius offer?
If my current Soul Stamina is 30… could it go to 100? Maybe more?
It's speculative, but I believe the boost would be tremendous.
The problem?
He hates me.
Still unwilling to aid me.
Still screaming every night.
Every time I visit his Soul Scape through astral projection, he hurls flames and insults at me.
But that's fine. I'm patient.
And persistent.
If he won't be reasoned with, I'll just have to break him.
If it takes a punch to his astral gut, a kick to his metaphorical jaw, and a few mental fireballs to the face, so be it.
Spiritual forms feel pain too — I can use that.
Of course, he's an ancient dragon. It won't be easy. But even he must have a breaking point.
Putting him aside for now… After I finally woke up from that dreadful curse spell, my parents had me rest inside the Amazon Tribe's guest tent.
They stayed with me through the day, even during meals. And when Nepheline and Shade visited with Aquarina, we all shared a hearty dinner together.
That was the first time I got to truly experience Amazonian cuisine—and it was fantastic.
Their food had flavors I'd never imagined before. Sweet and spicy sauces, grilled and salted fish with crisp skins, colorful seed-filled breads… everything was both exotic and delicious.
They also had these things called tortillas, which were like flat, thin bread made of corn flour. They could be wrapped around grilled meat and vegetables, then covered in sauce and eaten like a pouch of flavor.
Absolutely brilliant.
Even little Aquarina was munching on her tortilla happily.
One fruit, in particular, caught my attention — a creamy green one with a black, rough peel. They called it avocado.
After grinding it and mixing it with tomato, lime, and spices, they made a dip that paired perfectly with meat wraps.
I devoured it.
Everyone looked a bit stunned at how much I ate.
Even Aquarina's parents were baffled.
Apparently, my appetite had grown since I ate the dragon.
According to my parents, eating Ignatius — a mythical being — boosted my metabolism.
Even as a baby, I could eat more than most adults. On top of that, spicy food didn't bother me at all. No stomachache, no issues. I was like a little iron-bellied furnace.
When my parents told Shade and Nepheline that I had eaten dragon meat and bathed in its blood, their surprised expressions finally made sense.
Aquarina had yet to undergo her own "boosting ritual," but my parents had stored plenty of dragon meat and blood in a dimensional storage bag, preserved perfectly.
So yeah… I guess she'll have her turn soon.
For now, she was still innocently eating her tortilla, oblivious to the feast of power waiting for her.
…She's really cute when she eats.
But anyway, back to training.
With the realization of how little time there is to waste, and how fragile life can be — especially after that vision of death and despair — I've redoubled my determination.
I must grow stronger.
Even if I'm only one year old.
Even if it hurts.
Even if I fall over a hundred times.
Because I won't let anyone I love die.
Not ever again.
No matter how strong the enemy is — a demon, a god, a spirit, a curse — I'll rise to match them.
One spell, one step, one soul-bond at a time.
This is my path.
This is my will.
And if Ignatius doesn't like it?
Well… he better get used to it.
Because I'm not backing down.
Not ever.
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