Chapter one- The end

"Tap tap tap.

Casey shrunk into a ball and quivered as he heard a silent tapping noise in the midst of the dark and silent cave. The tapping that was very faint started to grow louder and louder. Casey thought he could even vaguely make out a hiss or growl sound masked under the tapping.

It had already been several hours since he was driven to crash onto this seemingly desolate planet. He had been hiding in this cave since the second he noticed it and was waiting for day to take a closer look into his current surroundings. But now he was afraid he may not make it to see the light of day.

Casey had been through an upside-down rollercoaster ride in the past week and was sitting at his wit's end. Casey is the timid and frail second young master of the Mao family His family is one of the top ten richest human families in the Sheal galactic system. His family heads the Muromao conglomerate, which focuses on the top-of-line mech, vehicles, and a wide variety of home smart products. His family has close ties with the military and is closely watched by many people in the interstellar. Typically Casey rarely leaves home due to his weak body, while many people know the huge conglomerate has two heirs many people don't even know what this second son looks like; they only know his age and name.

A week ago Casey snuck out by himself to attend his older brother's academy graduation and was attacked and kidnapped by a small group of star pirates on his way back home. Although Casey is a timid teenager he wasn't too worried about his life given his family and status. He assumed the pirates would demand a ransom; which his family would pay and after that he'd be sent back.

But fate was cruel to Casey, as he overheard the captain saying that once they reach the next port they would sell him off as a sex slave to a rich client. Once he heard that Casey started panicking and planning his escape.

Maybe because of his status as a pampered prince or because of his failing health the star pirates had a looser control over him. Which allowed him to steal an escape pod and run. Once in the escape pod, Casey simply told the AI to take him to the planet closest and to send a distress signal out to his father, Chester Mao at all costs.

As Casey finished inputting the commands his escape pod was quickly attacked by the star pirates in an attempt to stop him. A quantum ray laser cannon shot one of his wings straight off and he sped out of control. His pod flew straight into a meteor field, Casey kept praying in his mind that he'd make it through in one piece.

The star pirates stopped chasing as their ship was too large and inconvenient to weave through the field so they went to navigate around. Meanwhile, Casey was being tossed around as a rag doll as his small escape pod bumped and scraped against meteor after meteor. His body couldn't handle the constant beating and shaking and after a short time, he lost consciousness.

After who knows how long he was awakened by the emergency crash landing alarms that the ship was blaring across the center console. Casey could feel huge pressure as the escape pod crashed into a different gravity and after a few minutes he passed out and everything was dark again.

When Casey next opened his eyes he saw the seat he was in was surrounded by a light blue protective shield. He looked over himself and saw no injuries then glanced around and saw the rest of the escape pod about 400 feet away burning a bright fire in the dark environment.

He stood up and picked up the emergency rations bag stored under his chair and made his way to find shelter in the dark. Casey only had a SIM emergency glow stick to help navigate in the dark.

Feeling fatigued and worn out as he walked he wasn't being particularly vigilant or careful and tripped over a large rock; falling down a steep and jagged hill. As Casey rolled down the hill he got a deep gash on his leg and minor cuts and injuries all over the rest of his body.

He laid flat on the ground, panting heavily trying to adjust to the intense pain and discomfort he felt all over his body. When he slowly lifted his head and looked up he saw a large cave a couple of hundred feet ahead of him.

Forcing his weak body to stand he hobbled over to the cave. To be safe from animals or beasts he decided to walk in until he couldn't walk anymore. Then Casey sat against the cave wall and slid down, he took the ration bag and pulled out a tube of clear nutrients, and steeled his nerves before downing them.

Although a weak and timid person Casey had a strong will to survive and live a fulfilling life, so he forced himself to keep going.

After finishing the nutrients he took off his jacket and tried to cut it to make a dressing for his wounds. At this point in time, Casey's body had already been pushed to the max and he didn't have enough strength to rip the jacket.

So he simply decided the prioritize the gash on his leg that was still profusely bleeding; he used the sleeves and tied them as tight as he could on the leg wound.

Once this was done he laid against the wall to take a nap. A few hours later he was awoken by the faint tapping sound coming from the entrance of the cave. He sat dazedly and initially couldn't register the sound he heard.

Then as it got louder he stood up with a start. Although he didn't know what was coming but more than likely it wouldn't be anything good so he hobbled further into the cave. After walking another ten or so minutes he finally reached the end of the cave.

"Fuck", Casey silently cursed. In front of him was a large metallic silver-looking egg. The egg sat in a shallow dirt hole, it looked like it was covered in scales and was as tall as half a man. Although Casey couldn't recognize the species by looking at it, the size alone was deterrent enough.

"This must be that creature's nest, how big is the one coming if its egg is like this?". Casey gazed at the egg for a moment and slowly walked to the back corner of the cave and curled into a ball in despair.

"This is my end", he thought to himself. Tears welled up in his eyes as he sat and listened to the tapping and growling that was getting louder and closer. " I don't want to die by being eaten by a beast," Casey thought. He made a choice to fight to the end.

Casey stood and walked around to see if there were any sharp rocks, bones, or other objects he could use to fight for a chance to live. But sadly there was nothing lying around. Casey looked back at the egg and wondered if he could use it to threaten the incoming beast or possibly use it as a distraction.

He walked up to the egg and tried to pick it up, but he couldn't move it.

"Why is this thing so heavy???". Casey couldn't help gasping out. He tried to push the egg to no avail, he shoved it and even tried kicking it; ignoring his leg pain. Yet couldn't get it to budge even an inch.

He sat down panting for breath and resigned to hiding behind the egg to hide his presence. As he sat down he saw a small leather bag, he opened it and was stupefied when he saw gems and gold quietly lying inside.

Casey's eyes lit up as he dug through the treasure and saw a small jade knife. "I have a chance". So Casey calmed himself and slowed his breathing listening to the sounds in the cave. He threw his glow stick as far into the cave as possible so he could see what exactly he was up against.

Casey kept himself behind the egg and popped out his head staring fixedly towards the glow stick. The next moment his eyes shrunk in horror as he finally saw the source of the noise.

It was a high-level combatant of the Kali race. The Kali race was rated as a low intelligence race that survived almost entirely on instinct they are vicious and ferocious fighters that could eat anything so long as it was meat.

This race can be found on various low mineral stars; they are beasts that look somewhat like an ancient Earth lion.

Only they are built more like weapons, typically they grow to 8 feet tall, and their legs are similar to reptilian skin and are as solid as iron. Their legs are also sharp and pointed like swords, and their teeth are similar to sharks; multiple rows of razor-sharp canines.

With such a race, it's better to use a mech to fight with since their combat potential is extremely high. The Kali beast in front of Casey is at least 12 feet tall, has red eyes, and an additional Horn protruding its forehead.

These features prove it is higher-ranking than a normal Kali beast and its prowess and violent nature would be even more exaggerated.

"It's over, there's no point in even trying anymore". Casey silently wept at his unfortunate life, he leaned back against the egg and gripped the little knife tightly in his palm.

"In my next life I want a warm simple life with a loving family and good health" Casey slightly smiled and gave a derisive chuckle. With shaking hands Casey closed his eyes and slowly raised the knife to his neck; tears pouring down his face.

Then he slit his throat. As the warm sticky blood flowed and his consciousness faded he felt like a force was pulling his very soul away from him as he fell into darkness.

In the dark he dreamed of his life up until now. He first saw his beautiful mother smiling and talking gently while he sat on her lap. Then the scene changed to seeing her laying down in a white room with a pale face and tubes connected all over her body.

At the age of six, his mother passed away and he stayed next to her coffin sobbing asking his dad and brother "when mommy will wake up?". Neither answered as they turned and walked away leaving him alone to cry. Even now he still couldn't understand his father's and brother's attitudes toward him.

After that funeral, his father and brother avoided and hardly visited him until his health took a dive. He saw a white hospital room judging by the scene of his dad and brother in front of him Casey could vaguely recall that this was the time he first fainted and was brought in for testing; before finding out he had a rare autoimmune disease.

Casey had always been a bit weak, so originally his brother and father were too busy to visit him just because of his fainting. But after his father got the body report sent by his secretary he and his other son, Blake rushed to the hospital to get more information.

Casey's father felt guilty for not taking good care of the son his wife left him but he was too busy to manage him. As compensation, he arranged the best-advanced treatment and environment for Casey and sent him away to another planet to get the best possible care to save his life.

The scene moved forward to when he had just come out of his first surgery. He could feel the weakness in his body and the loneliness when he saw his family wasn't around. This occurred three more times before the doctors ruled him healthy enough to leave the hospital.

Casey's health was delicately balanced but small things such as overwork or getting a cold can easily cause his fragile body to collapse. So after he returned his father had him live a life at home with only servants to teach and keep him company.

Casey rarely got to actually spend time with his father Chester or his Brother Blake. His father would buy all the latest technology and toys to try to keep Casey occupied and happy. But as Casey watched these memories he felt more and more empty and lonely.

Then his memories slowly caught up to his brothers' graduation ceremony. He looked up at the strong and confident brother on stage. He heard the whispers of people around saying how smart, powerful, and amazing his brother was.

Many people were watching Blake with either envy, admiration, or desire. At that moment Casey felt unworthy and uncomfortable. He was born weak and lacking in health and spiritual power. Someone in his situation in another home would be considered a waste product and greatly looked down on or abandoned.

Luckily for Casey, he was born to such a wealthy family and had a kind and loving mother. But his brother wasn't as kind or thoughtful of him as his parents were but even so, he admired and loved his brother so he tried to push those feelings and negative thoughts away.

After the ceremony ended he walked over to Blake but was coldly pushed away by the other. Casey left the ceremony embarrassed and alone and then he was kidnapped and the memories stopped there.

Watching this now Casey felt depressed, he just wanted love and company; yet all he ever got after his mother passed was neglect, loneliness, and endless pain.

Casey's emotions slowly cooled and then he slowly tried to open his eyes but he only saw darkness. He tried to listen for noise but couldn't hear a thing.

"Am I already dead?".

Casey slowly reached out his hand and felt a hard object. He blinked his eyes hard but still saw nothing. He moved his hands around feeling the space he was in.

"Where on earth am I?"

Casey tapped on the walls around him and it made a hollow sound. He stopped and thought "maybe I can break through?".

So Casey gathered his strength and punched out his hand as hard as he could.

"CRACK"

After hearing that sound Casey punched again and again until he saw a sliver of green light. He punched the spot where the light shone and got his hand(?) through!

As more light poured in he realized a couple of things, first was that his hand wasn't a hand but rather a paw with sharp claws. Second, he noticed he was in an egg-shaped sort of sphere. Third, he saw the same green glow stick and cave in front of his eye as he looked out of the egg.

Seeing such a scene Casey desperately broke out of the shell to get a full look of his surroundings.

"Did I just come out of the big egg I saw earlier?" Casey looked around horrified. Then he thought of something and slowly walked behind the shell.

He looked down but rather than seeing his body he only saw his blood, bone shards, shredded clothes, and the leather bag of treasure. The blood was already completely dried and the beast was long gone.

Casey sat down dazed. He turned his head to look back over again at the bare bits left of his original body. Casey's eyes watered up a bit as he pieced together what had happened.

"What had happened to me?" "What am I now?" Casey raised his little claws and looked at them blankly. He didn't even know what race he was now.

Then Casey's stomach growled, he looked down then silently looked away before his eyes landed on the silver eggshell. The eggshell, looked like it was glowing and the little beast felt drawn to it.

He stared at it greedily before taking it in his claws and biting into it slowly. After the initial bite his pace for biting and chewing slowly picked up.

"Burpp".

With a belly full of nutrients the small dragon felt extremely drowsy, Casey looked around one last time, he curled into a ball, and his eyes slowly closed.

In his sleep this time because Casey had finished eating the eggshell he received the dragon's inheritance. Scenes of wonder and glory filled his dreams and he slept for two days before waking up again.

Casey slowly opened his eyes; his mind felt much clearer after receiving the inherited memories and he now knew what and "who" he was.