John found himself in what resembled a classroom set beside the crystal tower. Around him, the other pupils were small dragons, each the size of a horse, gathered in their draconic forms and clustered together as young children do. At the front stood an adult dragon in a humanoid shape: long black hair cascading over pale skin, eyes burning red with ancient intelligence.

  The adult addressed the group with a voice that was both commanding and reassuring. "You are about to enter a different world," he explained. "In that realm, your draconic form will be sealed, so you must take your biped form."

  A low tide of protest stirred among the small dragons, their voices subdued as children in a classroom, uneasy but not unruly. John quickly realized that, for the very young, shifting into their humanoid shape was anything but easy—many of them hung back uncertainly, glancing at their claws and scaled bodies as if reluctant to let go of their true forms.

  This lesson challenged the young dragons far more than it did John, who watched and listened as new rules and mysteries unfolded in the shadow of the crystal tower.

  As the instructor did not continue to speak immediately, John looked around the rather special classroom again, realizing instantly that ordinary furniture would be useless for the class gathered before him. The environment was tailored for four-legged dragons. Instead of chairs or tables, the room was filled with wide, nest-like platforms, woven from enchanted branches and cushioned with layers of soft moss and shimmering mineral flakes. Some dragons sprawled lazily across these nests, others balanced on sturdy elevated shelves shaped from polished stone, their claws comfortably gripping the carved edges.

  Along the curving walls, glowing crystal globes hung from branching mounts, providing a gentle magical illumination that changed colors with the teacher's commands. There were no desks; instead, tablets made from thin slabs of slate were set into the stone floor, inscribed with ancient runes. Each pupil could write directly onto the stone using their claws or tiny magic sparks, with faint lines appearing and fading at will.

  In the center, a wide circular stage was raised slightly, surrounded by short steps and a flowing moat of glistening water—perhaps for the occasional aquatic dragon pupil or just as a refreshing feature. The space was open and flexible, allowing the young dragons to shift, lounge, or stand as their instincts demanded. Against one wall, intricate trees with golden leaves grew upward and outward, their boughs supporting playful flights and gentle climbing during breaks, blending seamlessly with the classroom’s mystical, natural design.

  John marveled at the imaginative and harmonious setting, built for both comfort and learning in a way that no human classroom could ever match.

  The instructor, observing the returned silence of his pupils as they absorbed his words, continued with a measured tone: "Inside the parallel world, you will be able to train without fear of dying. If you die, you will simply wake up again in the real world. But be warned—though it may not be your end, the experience can still be brutal."

  The instructor continued, his voice steady and clear. "The parallel world has a special system. The one we all know is active there, but with additional elements not found in the real world. One key feature is the shelter system. You will need to find a good spot and build a shelter for yourself, which you can then level up and enhance."

  A curious student in dragon form raised a question, "What do we need to shelter from?"

  The instructor replied, "Many things. Extreme weather conditions, monsters, and various calamities that you might face during your training and adventures."

  The instructor then continued, "But this is not the only feature. There is also the pet system. You will need to raise a pet that exists only inside the parallel world—there is no way to bring it into the real world. At the beginning, that pet will be weaker than you, but it will grow very quickly, and soon it will help you fight monsters stronger than yourself."

  He paused, then added, "You are all young and below level 50, and you cannot remain in the parallel world beyond level 50. However, your pet, being native to that world, can surpass level 50 and keep growing."

  The instructor then continued, "But not all pets have the same level cap. You will need to choose wisely. Some pets can reach higher levels but grow much slower. In general, pets with higher level caps are stronger than those with lower caps at the same level, but they require much more experience points to level up."

  The instructor explained further, "Some pets can also evolve after reaching their level cap. When this happens, they reset back to level 1, but each level they gain afterward makes them stronger than before. Additionally, they will be able to reach even higher level caps. Pets are ranked by letters from A to F, with A being the strongest, and F the weakest."

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  A student, curious, asked, "Can we have more than one pet?" The instructor responded, "It is not simple. To capture a second pet, you will need a special artifact. This leads to another important point: when you first enter the parallel world, you receive two items—one to establish your shelter and one to choose your first pet. From there, you can train on open fields or enter the dungeon inside the parallel world."

  He continued, "The dungeon is divided into several floors. As you progress deeper, you can find treasures. Some rare items may allow you to capture a second pet, but the most important items found in the dungeon are those that enhance your draconic form in the real world, dictating your future for centuries to come. Those are your true goals. Items that capture pets only work inside the parallel world and you will leave that world behind soon enough."

  The instructor continued, "There is also another important point. While you are in the parallel world, time will not pass in the real world, so for someone staying outside, it will look like you never left. But inside that world, you will be subject to a time limit of 30 days. So try to make the best of them. Remember, if you reach level 50, you will be kicked out; if you die, you will be kicked out; and after 30 days, you will be kicked out. However, if you wish, you can exit willingly and reenter later. For example, if you exit after 10 days, when you go back in, your timer will be set to 20 days."

  A student raised a question, "So there is no way to train there for more than 30 days in our whole life?"

  The instructor replied firmly, "Exactly, so use that time wisely."

  A student raised a concerned voice, "But why is no one speaking about this parallel world? I was told I should enter today, but I would have liked to prepare, to discuss strategies with my brothers and parents. Why all the secrecy?"

  The instructor looked at the dragon-child and replied, "Young dragon, as soon as you learn the rules of the parallel world, the countdown starts. You already consumed almost half an hour of your 30 days."

  A sense of urgency swept over the classroom, they were losing time.

  Then John spoke up, "Excuse me. But if one can enter and exit willingly, I understood the timer would stop. So couldn’t we just enter, exit immediately, and then strategize?"

  The instructor laughed warmly, "Ah, a very smart one. I am a bit ashamed that a human and not a dragon asked that question... But it is not that simple. You can exit willingly, yes, but you need a special artifact for this. If you find one, then that is superb—you can exit and then think about how to best use the time you have left. But many die trying to get such an artifact, and even more don’t risk it and just see their 30 days elapse."

  The instructor continued, "I have explained the rules to you. I recommend that you don't overestimate yourself. Choose a pet of low potential but rapid growth because you only have 30 days. Try to find a good shelter spot but don't spend more than a day on that. Then take around 10 days to train your pet in the open fields and only then move on to the dungeon. Pace yourself. Try not to get kicked out through premature death, but aim to reach the deeper floors of the dungeon that you can still manage."

  The instructor opened a large, ancient door and said, "It is time, follow me." A procession began to form: one walking humanoid dragon led the way, followed by several little flying dragons and a single walking human child trailing behind. They moved steadily toward the base of the massive crystal tower.

  Upon arrival, the instructor commanded, "Touch the tower—but land first, otherwise, your body will fall while your mind is away."

  John carefully sat down in front of the tower, leaning his back against the cool surface while placing both hands upon it. As his touch connected with the crystal, his vision began to blur, the world around him fading into a swirling haze.

  A system voice echoed clearly within John's mind: "Welcome to Eternia." Immediately, he saw his familiar status screen materialize, and a surge of strength flooded back into his body, the binding of the collar was not active in this world. Alongside the screen, system notifications appeared rapidly:

  Confused, John tried to make sense of the broken timer message. Did it mean he would be kicked out immediately? Or would he somehow have more time to train within this mysterious realm? The uncertainty wrapped around him like a shadow, leaving him unsettled as the world shifted beneath his senses.

  John found himself alone on a narrow dirt road that wound through golden wheat fields swaying gently in the breeze. Far off in the distance, a quaint village came into view, its layout and appearance reminding him of Cloudroot, the familiar place from his past. Just as he began to soak in the peaceful surroundings, two objects materialized in his hands, one in each.

  These objects were uniquely shaped—each resembled two slender, curved, non sharpened blades joined at a central point, forming a symmetrical, balanced object. They were instinctively grabbed by each of his palms, while the artifacts radiated a faint magical glow.

  Above one tool, glowing text hovered: "Shelter Summoner." The other bore an equally magical label: "Pet Storage." These items, both practical and mystical, marked the beginning of his new journey and responsibilities in this parallel world.

  John's gaze shifted beyond the village where majestic mountains rose. The sight stirred memories deep within him—they bore a striking resemblance to the Bluecrag Mountains, a range he had known well in his past adventures. The connection was both comforting and stirring, reminding him of the vast world still waiting to be explored beyond the calm fields and quaint homes.

  John pondered to himself, "But how come I landed here? Did this parallel world just adapt itself to the one who entered it? It's strange." The thought lingered in his mind, hinting at the mysterious and potentially flexible nature of this realm, likely reshaping itself to fit the needs or memories of those within it. This ever-shifting quality added another layer of intrigue and uncertainty to his journey ahead.

  John wondered how he might find the entrance to a dungeon in this place. If this was truly like Cloudroot, he knew there was no dungeon there. Yet he resolved to proceed, deciding to walk in the direction of the village, hoping to uncover clues or guidance that would lead him deeper into the mysteries of this parallel world.