Reincarnated With The Degenerate System-Chapter 233: Unexpected Reward

The countdown reached zero, and my vision slowly began to fade to black.

But this time, it wasn’t instant like the previous simulations. This time, there was a moment—a single moment where Shadow remained visible.

She was crying.

Her massive dragon form trembled in the sky, tears streaming down her scaled face as if she could actually see the separation happening.

Her mouth opened, but the sound didn’t reach me anymore. The world was becoming distant, muffled, like being pulled underwater.

I reached for her instinctively, my hand stretching out even though I knew it was futile.

Then—

I was jolted back.

My eyes snapped open, and I gasped for air . My body was drenched in cold sweat, my heart hammering against my ribs so hard it hurt.

I looked around frantically, trying to orient myself.

I was in my safe room. My real room.

My hands were shaking.

I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand, nearly dropping it twice before I managed to check the time.

Seven hours.

I had only been gone for seven hours.

Seven hours in the real world. Seven years in that other place.

"I..." My voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper. The cold sweat continued to trickle down my back, soaking through my shirt. My breathing was ragged, uneven.

Was what I experienced actually real? Or had it truly been just a simulation?

"System," I said, my voice steadier now but still laced with uncertainty. "What was that? Are you sure that was just a simulation?"

[Affirmative.]

The response was immediate, But something about it felt wrong. The certainty was too absolute, too quick. Like it was trying to convince me rather than inform me.

I clenched my fists. "You’re lying."

[Host’s emotional state detected as unstable. Recommend rest and recovery before—]

Just as I was about to demand more answers, something appeared in my vision.

A card.

It floated there, semi-transparent and glowing with a soft golden light. The edges shimmered with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as I looked at them.

My reward.

Despite everything, despite the turmoil raging inside me, I felt a pull toward it. I reached out slowly, my hand trembling slightly, and the moment my fingers made contact—

Blinding light exploded outward.

I had to squeeze my eyes shut against the brilliance, raising my other arm to shield my face.

The light felt warm, washing over me in waves. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, it faded.

When I opened my eyes again, an egg was on the floor.

My eyes widened, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

It was the same egg. The exact same one that Shadow had hatched from.

Black as midnight with a golden sheen that caught the light, making it look like someone had poured liquid starlight over obsidian.

I reached out with both hands, cradling the egg carefully. It was warm to the touch, and I could feel something inside it.

’No way,’ I whispered. ’This can’t be...’

[Royal Dragon’s Egg detected.]

[Host would you like to accelerate the growth of this egg using Monster Cores?]

That option wasn’t available before, but it was a time saver.

Moving quickly, I set the egg on the bed with care, then rushed to the corner where my supplies were kept.

Several containers sat stacked there. Each one held monster cores. Most were low grade.

Originally, these had been gathered to enhance breathing exercises. The concentrated energy they released into the air made cultivation more efficient, helped absorb energy faster and with greater purity.

The moment the first core came close, it began to glow.

Light seeped from the egg’s surface, and the core in my hand started to dissolve, its energy flowing like liquid.

I fed it another. Then another. One by one, I watched the cores disappear, their energy absorbed completely.

The egg grew warmer. The heartbeat inside grew stronger.

Then—

Crack.

A hairline fracture appeared on the surface.

Crack. Crack.

More fractures spread across the shell, golden light spilling through the gaps. The room filled with a soft humming sound, like distant singing.

Then the egg shattered.

Pieces of shell fell away as I watched. They broke down into motes of light, then rushed straight into my chest. The energy sank into my heart, and a magic circle began to form.

The first circle locked into place with ease. It was a feat that had taken three months the last time. This time, it happened in seconds. The change did not stop there.

A second circle followed, then a third. The flow ended only after the third circle settled.

"No fucking way." I touched my chest. Three years. That was how long it had taken to create that many when I was in Arden’s body.

Before the excitement could fully sink in, my gaze dropped to the floor. . And there, sitting in the center of it all, was a tiny dragon.

It was no bigger than my palm. Black scales , each one perfect and iridescent. Green eyes blinked open and looked directly at me.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then the little dragon spread its wings—delicate, membranous things that seemed too fragile to ever carry it through the sky—and gave them an experimental flap.

It stumbled slightly, unused to its own body, but righted itself quickly. Then it turned those green eyes back to me, and I felt it

The soul link.

It snapped into place like a key turning in a lock, instant and absolute. I felt her—and yes, it was definitely a her—emotions flooding through the connection. Curiosity. Recognition. Joy.

And something else.

Memory.

Fragmented, incomplete, but there. Glimpses of sky battles and naval warfare. Echoes of a voice calling out "Father."

This was Shadow.

’You’ve got to be kidding me,’ I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

The little dragon chirped at me, a sound somewhere between a bird and a cat. She took an unsteady step forward, then another, making her way across the bed toward me.

When she reached my hand, she pressed her small head against my palm, and I felt a wave of warmth through our link.

Father.

The word didn’t come in sound but in feeling, in pure understanding transmitted directly to my mind.

My throat tightened. "Yeah," I said softly. "Yeah, I’m here."

She climbed onto my hand, her tiny claws surprisingly gentle, and curled up in my palm, her tail wrapping around my wrist.

I stared at her, this creature that shouldn’t exist, and felt something break open inside my chest.

Honestly, I had always thought I would get a child first, given the number of women I slept with. To think that I would end up as the father of a dragon.

A laugh escaped—short, slightly bitter, but genuine. "Of all the things to bring back from that world..."

Shadow looked up at the sound, her small head tilting with curiosity. Through the soul link came a pulse of innocent confusion, wondering what was funny.

"Nothing, little one," the murmur came softly, one finger gently stroking along her snout. "Just thinking about how life never goes the way you expect."

.

.

.

.

.

"Guild Master? What is that cute little thing?" Rhea pointed at my shoulder.

"She’s my little daughter." I smiled.

Monster pets did exist in this world, but their prices were so high that only the wealthy could afford them. Most people never even saw one in person, let alone owned something as exotic as a dragon—even if they didn’t know that’s what she actually was.

Shadow shifted on the shoulder, her small wings spreading slightly as she took in all the attention.

Through the soul link came a burst of curiosity mixed with excitement. New people. Interesting smells. Different voices.

"Oh my god, she’s adorable!" Sora practically squealed, stepping closer with her hands clasped together. "Guild Master, can I... can I pet her?"

"Me too!" Lian chimed in, already reaching out before pulling back, remembering her manners. "Please? I’ve never seen anything like her before!"

"Please, Guild Master?" Rhea added her voice to the chorus, hands pressed together in a pleading gesture. "Just for a moment?"

The instinct to reject came immediately. Shadow was not a toy. She was family, a companion, something precious that shouldn’t be passed around like some cute accessory.

But she was leaning forward on the shoulder, her small body practically vibrating with eagerness. She wanted this. Wanted the attention, the affection, the new experiences.

"Shadow?" The question came quietly, meant only for her.

She chirped enthusiastically and actually launched herself off the shoulder, gliding—still somewhat clumsily—toward Rhea’s outstretched hands.

Rhea caught her with a delighted gasp, cradling the small dragon carefully. "Oh, she’s so warm! And her scales are so smooth!"

They both have fire attribute, so that might have been the reason.

Shadow immediately started nuzzling against Rhea’s hands, then, without any hesitation whatsoever, she climbed up and nestled directly into the chest area, making herself comfortable in the soft space between her breasts.

The soul link transmitted pure contentment. Warm. Soft. Nice.

"Oh my..." Rhea’s face turned bright red, but she was smiling, one hand gently stroking Shadow’s back.

"My turn, my turn!" Sora reached out eagerly.

Shadow, clearly enjoying herself, allowed the transfer. And immediately, she did the exact same thing—climbing up and settling into the generous bosom with a satisfied purr.

"She’s purring!" she giggled, her own face flushing. "Guild Master, she’s so sweet!"

Shadow made her way from girl to girl, and every single time, without fail, she found the exact same spot to nestle into

Like father, like daughter indeed.