Grimoire: Draconic armor!

As the mysterious energy began to enter Alan's body his vision became filled with darkness and he instantly lost consciousness and swayed unsteadily where he stood before subsequently falling.

However, before his body could hit the solid ground Akane instantly appeared right next to him and embraced his body in a soft tender hug. However, her beautiful face was stern at this moment as she was connected to him spiritually, she could sense something abnormal was happening to him. Despite seeming perfectly fine on the outside something was happening within his body. More specifically within his soul.

An unknown energy was gradually making its way inside every corner of Alan's body, as Akane held Alan closely her expression became more serious as she observed the unknown energy.

If the unfamiliar energy was harmful then she was prepared to do everything she could to get rid of it, but if the energy wasn't harmful then she would just observe the situation for the time being.

"No matter what I can't allow anything to happen to him." She mumbled. She was almost certain what was happening had something to do with that unfamiliar technique hidden within the black book.

Although she didn't know why her instinct was so drawn towards the seemingly ordinary looking book that would normally go unnoticed by the eyes among so many others, she didn't feel it was a bad thing, if anything it was good.

"I hope you will get something good from this." Strands of her soft white hair flowed smoothly down her shoulders as she whispers softly into his ears.

Meanwhile, Inside Alan's body a strange energy was spreading throughout his soul, changing its structure and strengthening it further.

The energy was fused with his heart which thump in gentle rhythm.

As the unknown energy made its way towards every corner of his soul the black sphere inside his body pulsed violently as it rejected the unknown energy making its way towards it.

It was as if the unknown entity sleeping within rejected all kind of energy that approached its domain. Nothing could get passed its area of influence. However, as the unknown energy continued persistently the vast soul space began to tremble as though something was about to awake.

Rumble!...

Soon, two glowing amethysts like eyes gradually opened up amidst the darkness, devouring the unknown energy that was trying to get through.

As it devoured the energy its slightly weakened eyes glowed brighter as the energy strengthen and nourish it further. After absorbing the unknown energy for some time those pair of amethyst like eyes which shone amidst the endless darkness gradually lost their glow and slowly closed.

Meanwhile, as Alan's soul was gradually assimilating with the unknown energy his consciousness wondered aimlessly.

He didn't know how much time had passed. Sometimes it felt like only a second, sometimes it felt like a minute, sometimes it felt like a day, sometimes it felt like an entire month. He didn't even know if an entire year had passed.

Soon, he saw a vision. Standing on top the highest summit of a large mountain was a violet dragon. The dragon had deep violet draconic eyes that showed great wisdom and perseverance.

ROOOAR!

A loud bestial roar shook the skies as the dragon raised its head upwards.

With a single flap of its giant wings a strong storm of wind was generated as the trees in the area swayed and oscillates fiercely.

Within the sky, the violet dragon lunged towards an unknown figure with who hovered thousands of meters above ground. It was a beautiful woman with long red hair and golden eyes.

...

Soon, Alan's brow twitches as he gradually opened up his eyes. "M-Master, are you okay?" Akane called out to him in a soothing voice. She had already prepared her spiritual energy to heal him in the off chance something abnormal had happened to his body.

"... Yeah, I'm fine." He responded, his face grimacing as he held his head from a slight headache he was feeling. "Wh-What happened to you? You suddenly fainted." Akane's voice was laced with curiosity. She could sense that something had change within him.

But she didn't quite understand what exactly it was that had changed. Alan got to his feet once the mild headache he felt had lessened and looked at his hand with visible confusion on his face.

Soon, his seemingly normal human hands were covered with dragon scales that caused his hand to harden.

"Eh, how did you do that?" Akane asked, her eyes widening in a show of surprised. "I... I don't know, I just knew I could do it somehow." He replied, unsure himself.

Violet draconic scales covered the outer layer of his skin in protective armor. Alan observed the draconic scales and couldn't help but remember that scene he saw before waking up.

These scales were similar to the ones he saw on that violet dragon. "Hm, the technique from that black book... Could this be related to that technique?" Akane pondered to herself.

However, her murmur seemed to have reach Alan's ear as his memories instantly went back to the book he had in his hand.

He was almost certain that book was the cause of this technique. He glanced around the surroundings for the book that was in his hands before he lost consciousness, "That's right, the book! Where is the book!?" He exclaimed, as his eyes wondered around.

Feeling a slender finger poking his right shoulder gently Alan turned his gaze towards Akane. "If you are looking for that mysterious black book, I suggest you give up. After you collapse that book turned into specks of light and assimilated with you're physical body." She explained.

Honestly, she was even more confused than he was. She didn't understand why the book had disappeared and went inside his soul however, her bright blue pupils shone as she said. "I don't think this is something we should worry about anyway. Instead, we should see what this technique is capable of, don't you think?"

Since they didn't understand anything at the moment it would be more productive to see what this technique was capable of. After sighing as though to dispel all his doubts Alan nodded his head and went towards the exit.

Although he wanted to find other techniques his mind wasn't in the best condition to continue at the moment. Akane returned to her spirit form as she went inside Alan's soul.

She didn't know why but something felt different about this place. She had been here her entire life, but she never felt so suppressed as she was now.

'The residual energy seem to be fusing with his spiritual energy.' Her sapphire like eyes shone faintly as she observed his soul.

She was so focused on the subtle changes to his soul that she had failed to notice the sphere of darkness that would be normally conspicuous to the eyes had expanded and increased in size after coming in contact with that unknown energy.

Alan opened the door with a soft creak and stepped outside. A familiar face greeted him as he left. It was the elder of the dragon clan that he had met before stepping inside the room.

"Young master, did anything catch your eye?" The elder inquired, curiously. He didn't see anything resembling a book in Alan's hand. Alan showed a faint smile as he said, "No, unfortunately I have yet to find anything of interest."

"Oh, is that so?" He cocked his head dubiously. "By the way, do you by any chance know of any books that could assimilate with someone's body?" Alan asked to change the subject. Hearing his question, the elder furrowed his brow.

"A book capable of assimilating with an individual's body?" He hummed as he searched his memories. Alan wasn't in any hurry, he waited patiently for a response. "... Now that I think of it. I once heard some stories of special books called grimoire which hold great power." He said once he had searched through his memories.

"Grimoire." Alan frowned. He narrowed his emerald, green eyes as the name seem to ring a bell in his forgotten memories. 'Ah, right I believe Monica had once said something about it to me before. Lady Udea also had one of those, didn't she.' He thought to himself.

"Thank you for the information, I shall excuse myself now." Alan bowed his head and turned on his heels and left.

[Grimoire... That's an unusual find.] Akane's voice resounded within his head.

"Yeah, I'm surprised something like that was actually within the dragon clan. Grimoire were magical books which held special technique, something like this should be a national treasure, I wonder why it was just left lying around?"

[Perhaps someone left it there and forgot?] Her voice held traces of doubt as she said that.

"Would someone had forgotten something so precious?" Alan sighed as he thought about it more before ultimately shaking his head, giving up.

"It's useless to think about it now." He said as he went towards the garden of the dragon clan.

Once he had arrived Alan used his spiritual energy to expand his senses within an area of a hundred meters.

It was impossible for anything within that area to go unnoticed by him. Seeing that it was safe Akane Materialize into her physical form. Alan used the technique he had learnt from the grimoire and dragon scales appeared on his skin.

"Akane attack me with everything you have!" He said, distancing himself from Akane. "... Are you sure?" She asked, seeking clarification. "Yeah, it's fine just do it already."

"..." Akane hesitated for awhile before giving up, "Fine, but I hope you won't get angry at me if I end up hurting you." She said as a pair of red wings appeared from her back. Akane waved her hand, creating a slash of blood that was sent towards Alan.

Seeing that he hardens his expression as he used his newly learnt technique to strengthen his physical body.

BOOOOM!

The slash of blood collided with his defenseless body and sent him flying backwards.

Bang!

Alan's face grimaced as he crashed against a tree. Akane flapped her wings and went towards Alan who had just got to his feet. "Are you, okay?" She inquired.

Alan dust himself off as he gazes at his palm in surprised. "I didn't sustain any injuries?" His voice was laced with both confusion and astonishment to this revelation.

Akane had used quite a lot of power behind that blood slash, but Alan had not taken a single scratch. Aside from the force that knocked him back he was completely unharmed.

"Amazing, this technique actually gives you the resilient of a dragon." Akane's bright blue eyes lit up as she exclaimed in both surprised and joy. "This is perfect, a good defense is exactly what we needed!" She said, a faint smile tugged at her lips.

However, contrary to Akane's excitement Alan's brow was furrowed into a slight frown. Noticing that Akane tilted her head. "What's wrong, is the technique not to your liking?" She asked as she gaze deeply at his face.

"That's not it... This technique just reminds me of the dragon emperor. If I recall correctly that man also had the ability to partially or totally changed his form into that of a dragon. It's not just him but the phoenix empress as well." This technique was almost if not very similar to those two.

'Those guys did they also find grimoire and mastered those techniques as well?' Alan had always thought they were the real deal with how prideful they were but, what if they were just humans with the technique to change forms.

"Even if they have there is no point thinking about that right now, is there?" Akane placed her hands at her hips as she said in a cheerful tone.

"Instead, we should just train and practice until we master this technique. Soon, we will raid the flashing sword clan, who knows what kind of secret techniques they are hiding."

Hearing that a faint smile appeared on Alan's face as he shook his head, "Right, let's master this technique in preparation for our assault on the flashing sword clan."