What an annoying dwarf, the sheer gall of him to gaze upon her possessions, was he trying to steal them? What was he so pleased about it was her horn. Rue had to suppress the violent urge to curl up over her prize and hiss menacingly at the dwarf.
Chapter 38: Therapy
Lokgrod had seen many battles in his years outside this prison, both between young adventurers and grizzled veterans. He himself had fought through this labyrinth many times when he was low leveled, struggling to deal with even the weakest threats. The Deepstone Rabbits that were being so casually slaughtered had nearly overwhelmed him on numerous occasions. He had been level 23 on his first run of this place, in his desperation for strength and food he had hunted the beasts here. Many times had he crawled out of the bright caves covered in puncture and bite wounds, the metallic horns of the rabbits leaving his limbs and torso riddled with holes.
Now what he witnessed from a creature lower leveled than he had been. It was pure destruction. Rue had agitated a nest of the rabbit creatures having found a burrow. He knew from experience that there could be hundreds of them in there, many of them with higher evolutions and levels. He had prepared himself to save his new dragon but let the chain of events unfold.
She had started by breathing a thick orange flame down their hole, the flame seemed to readily flow down their warren and soon the burrow''s entrances erupted with small white rabbits. Many of them had blackened fur and all of them were angry. He had prepared to leap in and save the dragon when she danced for joy let out a deafening roar and dived towards the onrushing horde of fur. Many of the rabbits fell over shocked or even unconscious from the deafening roar. Those that had resisted leapt at the huge, scaled enemy.
He had expected the dragon to retaliate with a huge wave of fire, dealing huge damage and perhaps even giving her a chance. Instead, she met them with claws and teeth. Each swipe of a paw too fast for the fluffy creatures to dodge and pasting them against the floor and their fellows. Her jaws opened and shut like a steel vice, crunching and shearing a new rabbit with each repetition. The shaken and torn corpses flung to the wayside and a feral snarl on her maw. The flexibility of her neck and the balance provided by her tail and wings allowed her to snap with blinding speed at her new prey.
Those that avoided her claws tail and maw leaped at her flanks and hind legs, using their powerful jump to impale the dragon with their horns. Those that connected had their plans foiled. The dragon¡¯s scales were like armor, even the sharp and strong horns could not penetrate their protection. The rabbits bounced off the red scales, not even scratches left where the scales were thickest. The few that found a less armored hide merely left small scratches or puncture wounds that bled slow rivulets of blood. The small wounds not even a hindrance to the huge mass of slashing fury the was the dragon.
Lokgrod stood a few dozen meters away and watched as the huge scaled red dragon slaughtered her way through a horde of the creatures. The few higher evolution individuals that came out from the smoking burrow giving her no pause as they were beaten and crushed. The silver furred and metallic rabbits had tougher fur, enough to resist the slashing of her claws but they were pulped in either crushing jaws or squashed by the dragon¡¯s weight and strength.
Lokgrod was trying to imagine how easy this fight would have been if she used her fire. A single blast of the same fire from earlier could have cooked dozens of the rabbits. Why did she not use her flames?
It took her a total of 10 minutes to slash and crush all of the rabbits into a sea of bloody fur. They never retreated. He never understood the reason but the creatures in the labyrinth never fled. They were compelled to attack everything, even other monsters from the labyrinth. Lokgrod looked upon the field of battle, hundreds of rabbits had been slaughtered. His dragon now had many small wounds and even some larger wounds coating her body. Where hundreds of attacks had slowly chipped away at her defenses. Her belly was covered in cuts and some deeper puncture wounds while her sides and legs only had a few scales dislodged. Her maw and paws were covered in blood, even her raised wings were splashed with evidence of the terrible battle. The thunderous roar the sounded her victory made even his hair stand up on end. A mere level 20 beast now, what power would she grown to in the future?
As she bent down to examine one of the rabbit corpses and broke off its horn, he realized why she hadn¡¯t been using fire. She was harvesting materials. He remembered the horn she had deposited in the entrance to the labyrinth. Was there something special about the horns? They were partially metallic, probably maybe silver or some alloy of silver. If he had been trained in the ways of smithing like a true dwarf and not been stuck here, then perhaps he would have liked to collect and refine them. Even having a skill to identify metals would have been useful, but that would require training from a skilled smith. It pained him to deviate so much from his lineage, but survival had taken priority over such things.
What did the dragon plan to do with them though, refine them into pure silver? So, she would not have the knowledge or skills to do that. Just collect them or eat them perhaps. No, just collecting them was the most obvious answer. Well, dragons did like valuable metals so if they really were silver then she would want to have them. He would have to keep a journal of this young dragon¡¯s development, so little was known about true dragons¡¯ stages of development. Most were already hundreds of years old, with new dragons being quite rare. Perhaps he would become a dragon scholar, ha. He let out a wide grin as he watched the dragon''s almost worshipping face as it harvested the horns from the bloody battlefield. Every so often it would take a bit out of one of the more intact rabbits.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Rue collected yet another horn, licking it and using [Mineral Assay]. It had leveled up early into her sampling of the horns and now allowed her to tell the ratio of minerals composing the horn. She had decided to only keep the best. So, she was sorting them into high quality and low quality, ready for transport.
{Silver 22% + Organic 78%, Impure, Precious, Common}
Blegh, that was one of the worst, even before analyzing the horn she could tell it was low grade, her greed skill and natural senses not pulling at her to own the horn. She batted it aside with her paw, creating a small splash of bloody mud, and moved to the next corpse.
She felt a tingle of desire from this one, quite strong. She bit the horn and snapped it free from the rabbit licking it with anticipation.
{Silver 87% + Organic 13%, Impure, Precious, Common}
She let out a rumbling of approval and carried it over to her growing pile. It was the second-best sample she had found. The high-quality horns appeared to come from the rabbits that had silver fur. She had licked the fur as well and it did contain trace amounts of silver but not enough for her to bother with. Their horns however were all above 80%, making them very desirable. Perhaps there was a way to get the silver out of the horns, to make it pure. At the thought of pure silver, she felt a strong desire radiate from her chest. She would need to find out if that was possible.
Once she had collected the valuable horns and eaten her fill of rabbit, she curled up next to the small pile of silver horns and checked her status messages.
Ding! For Slaying [Silverstone Rabbit Lv16] x9 In Combat +1669xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [4] Levels Below Your Own [-4%] xp -67xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deepstone Rabbit Lv12] x8 In Combat +2461xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [8] Levels Below Your Own [-8%] xp -196xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deepstone Rabbit Lv11] x14 In Combat +2730xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [9] Levels Below Your Own [-9%] xp -248xp
Ding! For Slaying Foes [2+]Species Stages Below Your Own [-100%] xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deep Rabbit Lv10] x18 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deep Rabbit Lv9] x26 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deep Rabbit Lv8] x28 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deep Rabbit Lv7] x32In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Deep Rabbit Lv6] x34 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Horned Rabbit Lv5] x23 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Horned Rabbit Lv4] x56 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Horned Rabbit Lv3] x45 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Horned Rabbit Lv2] x23 In Combat +0xp
Ding! For Slaying [Horned Rabbit Lv1] x20 In Combat +0xp
Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounter +6349
Reached Level 25: 3015 XP lost from overflow
Ding! Level Up x5 ¡ [Stat Points] +25
Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Dragon - Juvenile] +40 {S10 V10 D10 I10}
Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Red Dragon - Juvenile] +40 {S25 V15 D0 I0}
She decided to invest her free points into strength, vitality, and dexterity. With her new skills and basic stat boots, intelligence would be fine. She needed to be able to stand tooth and nail against the dwarf as soon as possible.
Why she had not gained any experience from half of her kills was unfortunate but made sense to her. They were far too weak to be a real challenge. Only the larger and stronger beast had even been able to wound her, why would she get anything for killing those which posed no threat to her. Perhaps with her devourer of flame skill, she could still gain power, but it was far more satisfying to kill powerful creatures. That and they could give her precious objects. Rue looked to where her small pile of silver horns lay. She walked over to them and curled up around the pile, her form was far larger than the pile but where her scales touched silvery metal, she felt a pleasant warmth. It gave her a great sense of satisfaction basking in even these meager possessions. What would resting atop and a pile of pure Mithril, just as shiny as her precious door feel like?
Chapter 39: The Hoard
Rue awoke from her nap upon her new stockpile of silver horns well-rested. Many of her wounds shad fully closed and healed with only the deeper puncture wounds still sore. The dwarf was sitting a way off, a small square object and a thin piece of metal in his hands. He was scratching the square objects with the metal while occasionally glancing up at her. It was strange behaviour but if he was going to leave her alone then that was fine by her.
Her collection of shinnies would need to be moved to a more permanent location. She would have kept them down here in the labyrinth, but it felt too open and bright. Despite being underground she would much prefer one of the rooms she had investigated in the complex above. She would have chosen the room she had been confined to but had no desire to go near it again. Perhaps once she had eaten the dwarf, she could reclaim the room.
One of the small rooms near the mithril door perhaps would be a good start. She could keep an eye on the door, to make sure no one else took it and bask in its glory at the same time.
Rue stood up and stretched, making sure to work out the kinks and cramps from tucking her wings up. Once she felt limber she carefully started picking up the precious horns in her mouth. They were quite small compared to her huge jaws and with the dexterity provided by her flexible neck, she was able to fit 7 of her 25 horns in her maw. Some of them poked at her soft mouth tissues but she ignored them. It would be worth some discomfort to safely stash her hoard.
It was not a long journey to her new hoard room. Even with her slow pace to make sure she did not drop the precious cargo it took her only 10 minutes to get there. Deciding that she did not want a door to the room, remembering the thick and unbreakable door of her prison she entered the room and deposited her silver horns. She then faced the door and unleashed a torrent of fire, imbued with the will to turn wood to ash it bathed the door in writhing flames. The flames ate away at the wood with unnatural speed, weak magic flickering and fading as the door was turned to ash within a minute.
As rue looked away from the door to make sure her new hoard was okay, she heard footsteps in the corridor. Using her [Den Sense] she could tell from the powerful signature that it was her dwarven captor. As he came round the corner, he appeared carrying the rest of her hoard. A pain in her chest at seeing someone else touch her precious silver nearly caused her to attack him. She held back, reminding herself that now was not the time. When she enacted her retribution, she would increase her fury threefold for stealing her hoard.
It was then a great surprise as he walked over to her pile and added the horns he was carrying to her pile. She paused, looked over at him as he looked down at her.
¡°Ya want to purify the metal from these horns?¡±
Did she want to get the metal out of them? make them purer? Yes. Perhaps she could allow getting something out of the dwarf before she ate him.
¡°yes¡± her reply was short and to the point, it brought a slight tightening of his face but he made no comment, what did that mean? Rue felt over the bond for the flow of emotions he was sending and found a slight tinge of doubt, worry, and confusion but primarily curiosity. This emotion quickly swept aside the quiet voices of the other three and she crouched down next to her hoard.
Rue tensed at him coming so close to her pile but he did not go closer.
¡°Da horns contain high amounts of native silver with low amounts of bone. If ya heat da horns above the melting point for silver but below the temperature needed for da bone to fully disintegrate. It will allow the bone fragments to float to the surface of the liquid and dat can be removed.¡±
So she could make the silver purer by heating it with fire. Didn¡¯t things burn when she breathed fire at them? Was the dwarf tricking her into destroying her Hoard?
¡°Look, why don¡¯t ya test it with just one horn, yall see am right¡±
The dwarf then walked over to a corner of the room and using ¡°[Stone Shape]¡± to create a small pit in the stone floor.
¡°Place the horn in this pit, any of your choosing, and then start heating it, slowly¡±
Well if it was just one horn then perhaps it was worth it to try, just the thought of having some of that pure silver was tantalizing.
Rue carefully selected one of the less important horns.
{Silver 76% + Organic 24%, Impure, Precious, Common}
She walked over and placed it lovingly inside of the pit.
¡°Now stat with a low heat and watch as the metal will glow and soften¡±
Rue still skeptical but willing to try, for the prospect of a glorious horde, rumble and breathed a hot stream of fire into the pit. She imbued it with a little bit of her magic and intent. Melt the metal. The fire, while not as hot as the fire she used to fight quickly had the silver glowing an orange-red, losing much of its shine. Just as she was about to stop and swear vengeance upon the dwarf for making her destroy her precious horde the orange-red skin on the metal broke into flakes and a surface so silver and shiny it took her breath away revealed itself.
Small patches of the horn began to blacken even as the shiny rivulets of silver pooled together and ran down into the pit. All of a sudden the process seemed to gain momentum as the horn collapsed into the pool of molten metal and started to dissolve rapidly leaving blacking fragments and chips floating on the surface of the hot shiny liquid.
Mesmerized by its quality Rue ceased to breathe her fire and dipped a claw into the silvery liquid. The silver-coated the tip of her claw, solidifying rapidly to form a shiny coat on her claw tip. When she tapped it against the stone floor it came free from her talon and chimed pleasingly on the stone floor. When she brought her gaze back to the pool of silver it had cooled down considerably and a thin brown-black skin had formed on the liquid metal.
Rue breathed in and send a stream of fire to the metal, she made this one hotter, much hotter, and imbued it with her desire for silver, pure silver. Willing the flakes to incinerate all the black scummy flakes making her silver impure.
A jet of blue flames with a lime-colored tinge of mana hit the puddle of solidifying silver. The black flakes and dark skin quickly melting and then disintegrating or burning away from the high heat. The silver became brighter and hotter, the stone around the basin would blacken only to be stripped of the coating by the magical blue flames.
¡°Jesus, if that isn¡¯t a sigh to see. Spose it makes sense dragonfire¡¯s good for metals with dare obsession and all. S¡¯nother thing to see though¡±
Rue ignore the dwarf¡¯s revenant whispers as she cut off her flames and watched the metal cool. As it did a dirty layer recollected on the surface.
¡°Nah, you have either got to cool it fast or in an air-tight environment to prevent the coating of impurities. Usually, you would pour it into an ingot mold, give me a sec¡±
The dwarf moved out of the room and came back 5 minutes later with a metal box a foot long and a few inches wide.
¡°made this in my early years trapped here, though I could become a master smith, turns out there¡¯s not a lot of metal available in a library. Didn¡¯t know about the rabbits of course.¡±
The dwarf muttered [Stone Shape] and shaped a pillar out of the floor before making a bowl in the top. The pillar was only a foot off the ground and he placed the ingot mold at the base.
¡°Now when the metal is liquid we shape a spigot into da side and da silver will run down into this mold, solidify quickly with most of its side, not in contact with air. Give it a try¡±
Rue once again heated the lump of silver un till it was molten then the dwarf used [Stone Shape] and the silvery liquid left the dish and poured into the mold. There wasn¡¯t too much liquid and it only filled the bottom of the mold. The exposed surface lost some of its lusters but was still quite shiny. When the silver was freed from its mold the other sides however were beautiful.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Rue looked at the mirror-like surface and felt herself rumbling with joy, it was so shiny so precious. She leaned forward testing the metal. It was hot but not too hot. She licked the warm metal, using [Mineral Assay].
{Silver 99% Fine, Precious, Common}
It was nearly pure, so close but even being this close made it so bright and powerful in her senses.
Ding! Ability Evolution [Mineral Assay [3]] => [Mineral Assay [4]]
Mineral Assay [4]
Used to feel the composition of an object. This skill can identify the composition of [Minerals +%] in an object and their [Properties], [Value], and [Rarity]. Can be used to separate molten [Metals] from each other.
Rue supposed that skill would come in handy in the future, but it did not seem to help with organic substances such as the bone the silver was attached to. For now, she would use the dwarf process of separating the silver from most impurities, her fire would be enough for now.
¡°Now, more silver we make¡±
Rue hissed a few sibilant words towards the dwarf and sent her desire over the link they shared. The dwarf flinched at the pure desire and greed for the silver she sent over their link. Rue grinned her teeth at the dwarf scraping her claws against the stone in her anticipation of mountains of silver.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Lokgrod looked down at the ingots of silver they had made over the last few hours. He had ended up carrying more of the horns up from the labyrinth once the Rue had discovered they could be purified. The results were far superior to what he had been expecting. The dwarfs and processes he knew involved either other minerals and metals being used to extract the silver or impurities or highly advanced [Stone Shape] from a dwarf metal mage.
From what he could see the 7 Ingots of silver they had made were nearly pure. They would certainly be fine enough to sell on the market as solid silver. He would estimate each of the ingots being around 1kg of silver, it was certainly no dragon¡¯s hoard of wealth¡.he looked over to the room¡¯s corner where a red dragon lay curled up around the silver.
He decided to quietly exit the room of the sleeping dragon. He walked down the hallway towards his main living quarters and lay down on his bed. A small use of [Prestidigitation] and he and the bed were clean of any dirt and grime.
He thought back to the time he and Rue had spent making the silver bars, it was one of the few times he could feel emotions filtering through the familiar bond. Mostly greed, impatience, and other such emotions. It was strange, he remembered most familiar bonds with animals had a constant feed of emotions and feelings, and with this came an increase of strength in the bond. Eventually, they would be able to share their senses and communicate telepathically.
It was happening slowly or not at all with this bond, however. With dire wolves, a single hunting session and meal were enough to strengthen the bond for senses. Perhaps a complex creature such as a dragon, with there long lifespans would also take more time to mature. Well, no matter, they would have centuries to figure it out together. For now, he would watch and write notes on the young dragon¡¯s behaviour. He was perhaps one of the few if not first dwarfs to observe a dragon this young, and one collecting its hoard.
With the aid of his skills, the dragon was growing many times faster than she would have naturally and it was clear she had gained a few inches with the well-fed dies in the past few days. He would observe her growth over the following weeks to see if it slowed down at all.
He slipped under his covers and rolled over to get some sleep.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Rue awoke from her slumber as she felt something stir beneath her. She coiled and flexed her limbs and tail before looking at what had awoken her. She looked at her silver and felt something insider herself move, coil, and then relax.
Ding! +[ Collector]
Ding!Ability Evolution [Collector [1]] => [Dragons Hoard [2]]
Dragons Hoard [2]
A dragon¡¯s instinct to collect precious metals is powerful. Sleeping with [Precious] metals within your den will allow your [Mana] to seep and [Saturate] them. You can [Sense] metal that is saturated with your mana, this feeling gets stronger the [Closer] the [Object] is to you.
Well, that was certainly useful, it would prevent anyone from being able to steal her hoard, and if they did she might be able to track her precious metal down depending on how far away they were.
Rue considered trying to grow her hoard, she could kill more rabbits, now that all of them could be refined into silver. It would have even been tempting had they given her any XP for killing them. Devourer of flames could be the solution, but it would probably still not make killing them worth it. And she would need to level up to kill the dwarf, even at her new max cap of lv35 she did not know if that would be enough. She still couldn¡¯t tell what his level was so he had to be more than 30 levels higher than she was.
Rue left her silver hoard with a backward glance and promise to return and sleep with it some more before heading to the labyrinth. The dwarf had left to sleep, and she was unwatched for the moment. Now was her time to grow in power while unwatched.
When Rue reached the labyrinth she decided to test the new restricted on kill XP, by slaying a few rabbits. They were common beasts level 5 and less [Horned Rabbits], they contained so little to no silver in their horns she felt no need or desire to collect them. With the use of her flames, each rabbit yielded a 1-2xp from a kill. It would not work to just rely upon devourer of flames to kill and level up, she would need to find more powerful prey.
She decided to move further into the labyrinth.
As Rue stalked along the wide tunnels with grass-covered floors, she noticed a junction up ahead. The path split into multiple new tunnels much like the corridor outside in the main complex did. She was not afraid of losing her way, [Den Sense] would help her navigate back to her den/hoard room. Rue chose the left-most passage at random and padded through the lush grass. Many small animals such as mice, rabbits, and birds seemed to call these tunnels home. The birds she noticed seemed to hop about everywhere, never flying. They were also quite large for a bird, maybe they tasted good.
[Chicken Lv2]
Rue stalked up to the bird and it, upon seeing a half-ton of red dragon looking to eat it wisely decided to run. It let out a squark and flapped its wings to gain extra speed along the ground and it hopped away. It was no match for Rue¡¯s speed however and was quickly crunched and ended with a bite. It was not pleasant to eat, the feathers got everywhere and were left sticking to her scales with the chicken¡¯s blood. The meat inside was an interesting slightly bland flavor, the feathers just made it too easy, however. The next stream she went past, if there were any would be the only salvation from the feathers. She would have tried to burn them off, but being covered in burned feathers sounded worse than waiting for a body of water to appear.
Now covered in drying blood and feathers Rue made her way further down the passage. She passed another den full of rabbits but left them alone for now. If she found nothing worth her while further in then she would harvest the rabbits for their shiny horns.
After taking the left-most passage another few times and nearly an hour of walking the foliage began to change. The tunnel she was walking up began to grow wider and taller, the grass having more frequent bushes and even small trees sprouting out. The light sources in the tunnels seemed to appear less on the walls and more on the now high ceiling. The power of the magical lights grew, still managing to light the now foliage-dense tunnel floor.
After more travel, the now 40-meter wide tunnel was over 50 meters high until it suddenly gave way to a huge cavern. The small trees and bushes gave way to larger trees that created a proper canopy. Rue quickly used [Den Sense] to check if she were outside, but she needn¡¯t have bothered. Just looking up she could still make out the dark grey stone of the ceiling, now over a hundred meters above the floor. The lights that covered the ceiling were nearly as bright as the sun, huge globes of light radiating from the false sky. What her [Den Sense] did reveal was a dense group of individuals in the center of the cavern. The cavern itself was a few square miles of forest with some clearings. Deciding to investigate the group of monsters in the center of the cavern Rue navigated towards them.
As she got closer signs of the creatures became apparent. Felled trees and tramples pathways led towards what she assumed was their nest. As Rue crept up to the edge of the clearing they seemed to inhabit she gazed upon wooded and mud nests that the creature had built. The little green creature was swarming around, lots of small fires and objects were being worked around and carried. It was a hive of activity, she spotted nearly a hundred individuals roaming around and could sense more inside their nests.
[Goblin Lv6]
¡
[Goblin Lv9]
[Hob Goblin Lv10]
¡
[Hob Goblin Lv39]
Rue sat back and identified many of the individuals, they had a huge level variety with many of the smaller, probably young goblins being below level 10. Then there were the hulking masses of muscle nearly the size of a human that were all above level 25. They reminded her of humans, they carried objects that looked like smaller versions of human weapons.
She felt no danger for any one individual, confident that she could rip or burn them to pieces, but when she looked at the group as a collective the idea came to her that she could be overwhelmed. These were the first creatures she had found that were past level 25, ones that could help her grow strong enough to beat the dwarf. She would not just give up on that strength.
She would wait for some of them to leave the group and then ambush them. Soe of the special variants she had seen, perhaps it was best to avoid those. The goblin shaman and warlords had far more weaponry and were at the high end of the levels in the goblin camp. It would take longer, but she felt free in these tunnels, perhaps she could stay here for weeks and the dwarf wouldn''t be able to find her.
Rue retreated and patrolled around the camp, waiting for the unsuspecting goblins to fall into her maw.
Chapter 40: Pack Tactics
Rue observed the group of goblins as they walked about the forest gathering mushrooms and small plants, occasionally digging up some root vegetables as well. They had dedicated guards but they were not the special variants she had seen back at the camp, just high leveled [Hob Goblins]. They were escorting the smaller and lower leveled goblins. They had more of those pointed weapons that the humans used against her, they extended their reach far past where she could retaliate. If she was to defeat them, her fire would be a necessary tool. She would have to use it sparingly, however, for as much as her fire reserves had grown, it was not something she could use constantly.
She was currently making sure to stay several dozen meters away from the party at the minimum. Using the heavy undergrowth, bushes, and thick trees to stay hidden. She used her long and flexible neck to observe without showing her rapidly growing body.
Just as she was considering leaping out of the bushes to charge the group, one of the gatherers popped out of the bushes nearby. She had not seen them approach and as the goblin reached down to pick up an especially large white mushroom they glanced up at the bushes and froze. Rue met the goblin¡¯s gaze, not having enough time to retract her head and remain unseen. The goblin''s pupils dilated, and it began to open its mouth in a scream.
Rue burst from the bushed, ripping the small shrubs from the ground and leaving furrows as her claws dug into the soft loamy soil. Her jaws clamped down on the goblin''s shoulder and most of its torso, many of her fangs digging deep into flesh and muscle. The goblin let out a strangled wail, much quieter than a scream but audible to the other goblins nonetheless. Rue quickly raised a front paw to further disembowel the goblin fishing it, but the alarm had already been raised.
As she released the goblin letting it crumple to the ground an arrow came flying out of the woods from one of the hunters. Rue moved her head out of its path and the stone-tipped stick bounced off her chest scales with a thunk. It stung but would leave no lasting damage. Rue fully turned in the direction the arrow had come from and charged the bow-wielding goblin. It was a few dozen meters away in the less dense part of the woods and only managed to loose one further arrow at her. It went wide, disappearing into the dense undergrowth. Rue crashed into the goblin, her huge weight and the small frame of the goblin causing it to be be flung into a tree with an audible crack. Her jaws had missed in her frenzied charge and the goblin began wailing, clutching its leg and trying to crawl away from her. She bounded over to it and with a quick snap of her jaws crushed its neck, shaking to make sure it was dead.
While occupied with dispatching the goblin she felt a sharp pain low on her side as a long and sharp object penetrated the softer scales near her belly. She let out a snarl as she turned to see one of the larger goblins holding a spear, currently embedded in her side. Not wanting to turn to gore him and risk him holding onto the spear she released a gout of flame that bathed him head to toe. The goblin screamed and released the spear, rolling around on the floor as he tried to save himself from the flames. Rue reached carefully around with her head and gripped the spear, sliding it from her side. It had been driven in nearly a foot into her belly, it hurt a lot and blood flowed freely from her wound. It would stop soon but she had to be more aware of her surroundings when fighting groups like these.
It was that moment that more goblins came running to check on the screaming and roars, they came from the trees and bushes, and upon seeing her raised their weapons. With each goblin only being about four feet tall and the few hobs being the size of humans the huge four-meter-long dragon they found near a still burning corpse sent most of them running. 3 of the 4 smaller goblins turned tail, dropping their gathered food and running for the camp, the two hobgoblins and one small goblin stood there, terrified but not willing to back down. Rue broke the silent spell by rushing forward, targeting the smaller goblin first to remove him from the battle. Her jaws clamping down over his head and her fangs digging into his chest finished him in one bite. He was so small she could fit half his body in her mouth. The wet crunch and growl of satisfaction broke the other goblin out for their defensive stupor and they both split up to flank her two sides.
She turned to the one with the larger weapon, a huge, long spear, like the one she had just been stabbed with. As she began to turn to face him, the goblin danced to her rear, avoiding the snap of her jaws as his spear glowed a vivid purple. It blurred through the air and thunked into her hind leg, the scales slowing the progress of the spear before the purple aura flared and her scales parted before the blade. She felt the spear sink in, grating against her bone and she let out a roar of fury, no longer trying to be subtle.
The roar shook the air and made the goblin release his spear and curl up on the forest floor, hands clamped over his ears and blood running down his cheeks. Rue was about to finish him off when she felt another impact strike near her neck, from the other side of her body. The weapon failed to find purchase on her scales and slid off. She turned to see the other hobgoblin looking up at her with determination. It jabbed forwards towards her head with the spear, Rue swayed her head left to evade the blow and tried to bite back at her aggressor. He kept making measured jabs towards her face, with her vulnerable eyes, juts dangerous enough to keep her from making a solid attack towards him. The reach provided by the spear meant she would have to commit to a charge to get past it.
With her attention from the goblin to the front, she felt something take hold of the spear in her hind leg and viciously rip it from her flesh. She let out a snarl and reflexively turned to see the hobgoblin bleading from his ears but grinning and gripping onto a spear, it was coated in her blood. Rue let out a roar, not enhanced by her roar skill but as a challenge, the roar was followed by a torrent of flame that consumed the goblin whole. She kept up the torrent for a few seconds making sure he would be burned to a crisp. She felt another jab to her neck, this one catching in between the protection of a few scales and leaving a small gash on her neck.
This one was still alive, he was very irritating. Rue raised her neck high, using its flexibility and reach to keep it a few meters off of the ground, and flapped her wings, leaping at the same time she propelled herself towards the goblin. In the face of her huge bulk and momentum, he braced himself, pointing his spear towards her, with her front paws free she batted the spear aside in her charge, the goblin having sacrificed the maneuverability of his spear to brace it in the ground. She crashed down on him, gripping his right arm In her jaws she pressed him to the ground and ripped him to shreds. Her teeth and claws did not stop until there was little more than a bloody paste on the ground.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Rue¡¯s back leg gave a sudden ache as she placed more weight on it. The spear wound was deep, and her leaping attack had placed too much burden on it, ripping the wound wider. It was now leaking blood at a steady rate, but not life-threatening. Rue turned to look at the perpetrator, no longer on fire but burned and melted the goblin lay on the ground. Its spear was still aflame, having been discarded and the goblin had suffered horrific burns but was still breathing. It took wheezing gasps of air like every breath was pure agony. Rue stalked up to the fallen goblin and rested a paw on its chest. The goblin had no face, no eyes, but its head twitched as if to look in her direction. For causing her so much pain, a quick death was not deserved. Much like the dwarf¡¯s future demise, she would make it as painful as possible. Slowly she pressed down with her paw, restricting its breathing until it stopped twitching.
________________________________________________________________________________
Gagarex watched in nervous anticipation as a screaming goblin tore through the bushes, heading in his direction. Him being one of the few shamen standing this close to the edge of the camp, and therefore one of the most important goblins in the area it was only natural that he would come to him. The poor fool had probably discovered a stone wolf or maybe even a grey bear, terrifying for the small goblins but it would be a good hunt for the tribe.
¡°Monster¡huge¡dead¡±
Gagarex couldn¡¯t make heads nor tail of what the panting and the flustered goblin was saying.
¡°Calm yourself, show me some respect by speaking clearly¡± He admonished the young goblin, he couldn¡¯t be letting the young ones walk all over their betters.
The goblin took a large breath and straightened himself from his wheezing position.
¡°Sorry Shaman, some beast, huge, red, and scaly attacked our gathering party, it had some sort of roar skill and it was huge, at least five of me long.¡±
A huge red scaly beast, that was new. No such beast was recorded in the beast tablets, if the beast was confirmed they would have to inscribe a new tablet.
¡°Where are the other goblins in your party?¡±
¡°At least 2 dead that I saw, ripped to shreds, the party leaders stayed behind to face the beast, I don¡¯t know of their success¡±
Gagarex waived the goblin and he ran off back to his home, he was a simple gatherer and not built for fighting the beasts of the forest. Fodder was good in a fight, but wasting too many lives would weaken the tribe. Should this monster turn out to be a true threat he would have to rally the tribe¡¯s warriors to hunt the beast down, lest it keeps molesting their hunting and gathering parties. Before making a decision Gagarex walked back to his wooden hut.
From one of the small chests he kept on his desk he withdrew eight small wooden rods. The rods glimmered in the room¡¯s magical light, the mana crystal''s radiance glittering on the gem-inlaid sticks. These were some of his most precious equipment, handed down from master to apprentice for many generations. It was part of what made him special amongst the tribe.
Centering a large shallow wooden bowl on his table, Gagarex held the sticks lovingly in his small hands. He pulled mana from his center and let it flow into the sticks, The crystals began to emit their own faint light as the gems became saturated with mana.
¡°Oh, great God of the stone, show me and mine clan the consequences of our actions. What shall become of the tribe should fail to hunt the beast [Augury]¡± He murmured his question to the rods and let them fall into the wooden bowl, gentle as to not damage the rods. The mana inside the rods flared with his casting of the divination spell and the sticks fell in an unnatural tumble, some rolling up their fellows seemingly defying gravity and others falling far too slowly. Soon they came to rest in the bowl and he watched in worried anticipation as the mana turned to mist in the bowl, his heart sinking as the mist turned a vivid scarlet. The sign for Woe.
That was not good, it was likely that woe that powerful would mean the end of the tribe. This was not a battle to be fought lightly, if at all. Further readings this day would now be possibly unreliable. Whatever higher power or magic could see the ways of the world laid bare did not take kindly to being asked too many questions. The answer often still correct, but the more you asked the less reliable it became. If he had an apprentice, he could do a reading as well, but he had yet to take one. Just one of many regrets that he might never get to correct.
Well, the woe was so strong that he just had to take another reading despite the risks.
Collecting the rods once again he flooded them with his mana,
¡°Oh, stoic god of the stone, show me our path should we flee from this monster [Augury]¡± He kept it short in hopes of angering the higher power, less his questions be too many. Some of the mana shot from the rods as he let them fall and knocked some of his boxes and a plate to the floor. He furrowed his brows at the backlash, but the sticks still fell in their unnatural patterns. The fog rolled off the sticks, this time a mixture of crimson red and golden yellow. Both Weal and Woe.
He would not ask a third question, the choice was clear. They must flee and fight. He would argue to have the women and children along with the younger warriors and gatherers sent to one of the other caverns. The dangers were many, especially once leaving the well-tamed local forests and running deeper into the warren of caverns. The larger caverns were home to some truly powerful creatures.
Gagarex stowed his divining sticks and stood, with a deep breath he turned to his door, ready to face the tribe and try to convince them to send their families away.
He walked out of his hut, the wooden door swinging closed behind him to pure chaos. His musings and dark thought must have hidden the noise from him but when he listened the shouting of orders and clanging of weapons was thunderous. At the center of it all was the tribe¡¯s leader.
Even in his dark state Gagarex had to admire the chief.
[Hobgoblin Chieftain Lv40]
He was truly impressive. The goblin was only as large as a regular hobgoblin warlord, and it was true that many Chieftains in the past had huge builds nearly double his size. What was impressive about their current leader was not his personal strength but his leadership. Any war party or gathering group lead by him worked faster, longer, and harder than should have been possible. Being of the magically inclined nature of his own skillset Gagarex appreciated the torrent of mana flowing around his leader as he invigorated the clan¡¯s warriors with speeches of valor and courage.
The war leader must have taken the threat seriously, the goblin that had reported to him said there were other survivors as well. That they had assembled the war party without consulting him irked him a little. Usually he was consulted regularly on big decisions for the tribe. He set off walking toward the chieftain, he did not have good news. He knew not what was coming, and he knew not if they could face it. But he would try to recommend the best actions for the tribe and protect it to his last breath.
Update : 02/12/2024
Hello, fellow dragon enthusiasts!
It¡¯s me, PigLord¡ªelusive and rarely seen outside my natural habitat of dingy, poorly ventilated rooms.
I¡¯ve finally worked up the courage to make this post and step back into the light of the beloved Royal Road community.
First, I want to apologize for my long absence and lack of communication. Writing this story has always been a pleasure, but life began to creep in, consuming more and more of my time. When I first started writing, I was in university, and for lack of a better phrase, I had loads of spare time (sorry, Professors). That all came to an end after graduation. Less than a week later, I was thrust into a demanding and fast-paced workplace. I¡¯d come home, look at the clock at 8 PM, and tell myself to write a chapter. For a while, I succeeded, but you know what they say about burning the candle at both ends.
Long story short, I decided to take a day¡¯s break, which turned into a week, then a month... and now here we are.
It was guilt and denial that stopped me from sending any communications or updates. I couldn¡¯t bear to let anyone down, so I ignored the problem¡ªwhich, ironically, was an even bigger betrayal to all of you!Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
But now I find myself in a better mindset¡ªmore confident and, perhaps, more mature. With this renewed perspective and the encouragement of several DMs I¡¯ve received during my hiatus, I¡¯ve decided to release this update and share the chapters I¡¯ve kept in reserve on Patreon. To those of you who supported me there right up until the end, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The story isn¡¯t dead! My love of dragons endures, and I still aspire to claim the title of most dragony dragon story about REAL dragons on Royal Road!
Over the next few days, I¡¯ll release eight chapters, one of which has never left my Word document! (Let¡¯s hope I remember most of the plot points :P.) Once this rollout is complete, I plan to take a step back and review the story so far. It¡¯s definitely a bit rough, and I¡¯d like to edit it before fully diving back into writing more. I might also release some other works from my writing folder¡ªwho knows?
It¡¯s a pleasure to be back! Like wading into a lovely beach, I¡¯ll ease myself slowly into the water to avoid the cold. Everyone knows that¡¯s the best way to do it :P.
The first chapter will be released in about 10-15 minutes, just to give time for this to be seen before it is overtaken by a new chapter in the order.
Your aspiring dragon,
PigLord
P.S. If anyone knows any dragons I could have a chat with, that¡¯d make for great material ;D.
Chapter 41: Fate of Flame
Rue stood over the fallen corpses of the goblins she had killed. The small ones once again gave her no XP but one of the larger goblins had been level 25.
Ding! For Slaying [Goblin Lv25] In Combat +444xp
Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +444xp
It was not much but put her closer to her next level up and one step toward freedom. Well, not true freedom, but at least from the dwarf. She would start finding a way to remerge outside the Librarium after she had snacked on her bearded captor. Rue sat down near the bodies of her enemies and began tearing chunks of meat off their small skeletons. One of the bodies was too burned to taste very good so she ate one of the larger goblins. Overall, the meat was lean and tough, requiring her powerful jaws to shred the meat before swallowing. Most of the animals she had eaten before had much more fat and were far tenderer.
After her meal Rue turned her head to her thigh wound, it was healing quickly, with her vitality and regeneration skill speeding her natural recovery to unnatural rates. It would have been better to avoid the injury altogether but she struggled to fight multiple opponents that outclassed her in reach at the same time. She relied heavily on her tough scales and vitality to protect her from multiple opponents, but the one that had injured her had cut through her scales with some skill or magic. The one jabbing at her head had just been a distraction, threatening her vital eyes and neck to keep her attention away from the one trying to cripple her. She should have been more liberal with her fire. Had she quickly finished the one in front of her with fire first she could have beaten his reach and then divided her attention to melee with the other goblin, or simply cooked him as well.
Rue felt within herself, that she had not used too much fire, the one blast had been powerful, but she could repeat it a few dozen times, she had not needed to hold back so much. The new fire skill had increased her reserved by more than she had thought it would. Her mana reserves had also increased by a huge amount, her intelligence stat having been increased massively. That meant she could have used her flame aura to heat her surroundings, providing her a strength bonus and harming her enemies.
It was all well and good to be thinking of these plans post-battle, but when an enemy was in front of her, she felt an overwhelming desire to rend them with her claws. It would work for weak opponents like the rabbits, but for intelligent foes such as these goblins, capable of far reach and powerful strikes she needed to take them out as quickly as possible.
Rue decided to rest here for a while, snacking on her defeated enemies and resting. Her leg wound was nearly closed but still sore right down to the bone. It would take a few hours to heal yet. She curled up on the charred grass of the clearing and settled into a comfortable resting position, laying her head on one of her paws.
Rue didn¡¯t know how long she lay there resting, never falling asleep, as that would have been dangerous. The bushes had rustled a few times with some small red fluffy animals coming to investigate the bodies. A simple hiss in their direction had caused them to flee, allowing her to go back to resting. The rustle she heard now was probably the same. Raising her head, she turned to look in the direction of the agitating bush.
What started back at her was not a small orange furred animal but a green face, with small white teeth in its wide-open mouth. Rue identified the green creature.
[Hobgoblin Lv15]
As surprised as the goblin looked, he had not expected to find a 500-pound dragon sitting amongst the corpses of his comrades. He was sitting in a bush about a dozen meters from where she was lying and now pointing her head towards his position. She was about to get up and crush him in her jaws when her earlier thoughts came back to her. Give it your all, don¡¯t hold back with these creatures. So she opened her maw and loosed a torrent of flame at the offending bush and goblin hiding within. As the jet of flame shot towards the goblin, her vision was mostly obscured, but she could hear the bush and goblin catch fire with a whoosh, which was followed by a choking scream and flailing movement.
Rue got to her legs and padded over to the burning bush and trampled it, finding the cooked goblin dying in the center of the burned shrubbery. He was still breathing, the short burst of flames not enough to completely cook him, but he was unconscious and dying. Rye bent down with her neck and bit down on his neck, hearing a crunch, and after shaking it for a bit released the body to fall back to the charred earth.
Rue stretched her wings and tail; it had certainly been an easier fight than if she had engaged him in melee combat. Just as she was about to return to lazing in the clearing, she heard a shout. The meaning was undecipherable, but it had a note of panic and excitement that she understood. Perhaps it was time to vacate the clearing, even if there was undevoured food there. Her leg was still sore, but she could walk on it without too much difficulty. Just as she turned to look in the direction of shouting before heading off she saw a mass of lighter green moving through the green and brown of the forest.
It was a small mass of goblins moving in a tight group with a few small goblins leading the way. Another had entered her clearing and made a yell. They had spotted her, and this was no small hunting party, this was a nest''s response to being poked by a large predator. Rue looked at the large party as they charged her. It was not the whole nest she had seen, about 50 goblins were charging at her. They were good levels as well, a lot of above level 25 and a few even higher than that. If she could fight them, she would level multiple times.
It would be a difficult battle, even if she went in flames ablaze and took no chances with melee combat. They could have multiple goblins capable of harming her with skills. The group was now approaching fast, with more members of the short group spotting her and hollering. The large group of armed goblins began to charge in her direction, their tight formation looked a bit intimidating even to her. The shiny discs some of them held created a flashing wall of metal that was thundering through the underbrush toward her.
As she was preparing to meet their charge small arrows began peppering her. The smaller goblins had spread out into the forest in front of her and were losing arrows from behind trees and the occasional big rock. These small arrows were no more than a hindrance, the blunt objects bouncing off her hard scales. She only had to move her head to dodge a few arrows that would have come close to her face. Deciding that she should prepare, Rue started to inject higher volumes of mana into her [Flaming Aura] the slow trickly of mana she always delivered to it became a steady stream that began to heat the environment rapidly.
The grass close to her wilted and then blackened as a heatwave rolled outwards, the boost from all of her skills making the heat very cost-effective but it still placed a drain on her mana reserves. As the rolling wave of heat reached the first of the goblin scouts they recoiled and began to flee the effects, their skin turning a red tint on usually green flesh. Even the mighty trees that stood vigil around the clearing had their leaves wilted and moisture drawn from their bark. The humidity rapidly rose, the heat in the air turning the momentarily cool water vapor into scalding mists that quickly rose drawing in cool air from the surroundings. This was heated creating a wind-sucking air towards the dragon at the phenomenon¡¯s center. The center of the heat zone became unbearably hot, the grass and leaves caught fire once their water had been evaporated and left behind small piles of ash on the baked soil.
The oncoming goblin army struck the outer edge of the heat zone, their surefooted charge turning to a stumbling assault as many members felt the effects of the heat. The lower-leveled goblins were sweating and grunting before the heat, even 30 meters away. Some of the small goblins that had braved the charge stumbled, the goblins that had not fled close range, trying to shoot more arrows at her collapsed. If not dead many of them would be soon. At the center Rue stood, watching the goblin''s assault. Her aura was filtering the weak from the strong, those that remained unaffected by the high heat or could bear it were still stoically marching towards her, shoving the weak members aside to continue their march.
A few of the goblins were coated in different colored mana, that she could now see. It took the form of a cyan-blue coating that coated several individuals. Unlike many of the metal weapons-wielding goblins they held wooden sticks and wore no metal plating. Even as she watched these individuals came into contact with the aura of heat and stopped, more mana surged from within them covering them with more cyan mana, Small crystals of ice grew of some of their clothing, radiating cold and keeping the heat at bay. Others shimmered with cyan mana and the burden of the heat seemed to lessen for them, their muscles relaxing more and they continued their forward pace.
The heavily armed goblin at the front seemed less bothered by the heat, to begin with, they simply pushed forward, bearing the scalding air with grim determination. Rue felt her mana pool, in the 20 seconds, she had been channeling into her aura a good 5% of her mana pool had been used. She would also use mana to regenerate and augment her flaming breath but that was a small burden. She could afford to keep using her aura for a good few minutes yet.
The arrows that had been peppering her had faded to the occasional one, and with the strong convection current around her position they were becoming less accurate, the feathers of the shaft being caught in the current, their pitiful impacts were even weaker. She watched as the magic users of the goblin hoard stopped and began drawing forth various colors from the bodies and shaping them.
[Goblin Shaman Lv28...39]
They varied in level but were all very high. It took no more than a second for the first spells to come flying her way. She tried to dodge and leaped to the side, but nine small silvery-green bolts of magic followed her movements before slamming into her side. It was like being stuck by nine hammers; Rue stumbled to the side as she felt the small bolts explode on impact with her tough scales. They left her side bruised but thankfully not causing serious harm to her tough body. She was then hit by a follow-up of other spells, the pain distracting her from dodging them as well. One was a beam of heat and fire that burned hotter than her aura, the flames impacted her side and washed over her scales, leaving no marks or damage. They heated her surroundings even more, so she leached some heat from the area, replenishing some of her mana and allowing it to work towards her regeneration. Already the pain from the magic missiles was lessening.
As other spells hit she felt a plethora of effects wreak havoc on her body, red energy sapped her strength slightly even as cold icicles shattered against her scales. Small bolts of fire exploded ineffectually against her scales even as a small jolt of electricity hit her shoulder causing her limit to spasm in pain. For now, she ignored the spells being rained down upon her as the warriors came within her range. Perhaps they did not know about the capability of her fire, or simply thought they were more resilient than the goblin scout, they simply ran at her.
Rue would not waste this opportunity, summoning her will she flooded her fire gland with magic willing it to imbue her flames with death, burn her enemies from her path, and destroy her foes so she may gain power. In her mana sight, her flame organ grew bright with red and green mana, dumping a whole 50% of her mana into the attack she squeezed the fire from her maw. Opening her jaws wide, she let her fire come forth. With the roar of flames from her jaws, the cone of destruction augmented by magic flowed over the forest for over 25 meters towards the goblin horde, at its widest the cone of flame reached a terrifying 20 meters wide and engulfed the horde of goblins attacking her nearly completely. So fast were the flames that the goblin did not even move to dodge. The white-hot flames stilled the battlefield for all but the flames, the roaring of fire drowning out any screams as spells and arrows stopped hitting Rue. Anyone who looked at the flames would have been blinded by their white glow. The torrent of flames kept pouring from her maw, Rue injecting more and more of her liquid fire into the torrent, rapidly draining her reserves. She stopped only when she had a mere 10% of her fire left, she might need it for any survivors.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
As she closed her maw, teeth red hot and even her heat-resistant flesh tingling from the magic flames she watched the lake of flames subside. The breath had lasted for about 10 seconds of concentrated fire. The goblin horde had been decimated, those that had fled from the flames lay at its edges, red hot metal and burning cloth strapped to their flesh, cooking them even as the screaming reasserted itself over the roar of flames. Some of the goblins were still alive at the edges rolling on the ground and trying to put out their clothing, even as red mana seeped into them, killing them slowly. Most had simply been reduced to a black lump on the ground with wax-like metal rapidly solidifying on their bodies. Amongst this carnage, some of the spell casters¡¯ remains lay, distinguished by their lack of metal armor. Further to the side were a few untouched individuals, the magic caster that had sent the blue bolts at her, and another shaman, he held a ball of crackling lightning in his hand.
Rue let out a hiss towards the surviving members of a group, preparing to rush over to them and use the remainder of her fire to finish them off. It turned out things would not be so easy. From the ashes of the flame-charred forest rose a figure, its metal armor still glowing a faint cherry red, the sound of soldering flesh could be heard even over the distance between them. Even as Rue watched the figure rose to its impressive height, towering at nearly 2 meters it was larger than even the other hobgoblins by several inches.
[Goblin Chieftain Lv40]
He was tough, even as the hot environment and his armor became the oven that cooked him alive his skin was regaining its regular green color. The flesh and skin regrowing faster than the hot air was scalding it. The hot plates of metal on his body kept burning his newly regrown flesh but the goblin simply ignored it, getting to his feet fully he gripped the handle of a huge greatsword lying on the scorched earth. As he gripped the blade his flesh sizzled against to heated metal, he gripped it tighter hefting the blade before he raised it and gave a shout, mana filled his voice and Rue saw many of the fallen goblins gaining new strength. More pink mana rolled out from the warrior as it began to weave mana into his fellow goblins himself and even some sunk into her. She felt the pink mana stick to her scales, some of it seeping into her skin, she could not tell what purpose it had but she disliked the thought of being influenced by the mana.
Rue bared her teeth and prepared to face off against the attacks of fearsome foes.
Gagarex looked towards the section of devastated forest and burned goblins, his fellow clan-mates cut down in but a second, even his most powerful spells could not have wrought this destruction with such speed and power. Most of the tribes¡¯ warriors had been felled within a few seconds, only the fast or truly tough having survived. They had hoped to scare the beast away from the village with the huge mass of flesh and steel charging toward it but¡flame and death had been their price. He had quickly cast [Misty Step] to avoid the fire, which would have surely killed him, even with all his defensive spells active. The only other shaman that escaped had done so by merit of his truly impressive magical defenses.
[Resistance][Absorb Elements][Armour Of Agathys][Mage Armour][Shield]
It was his signature combination, defeating many opponents simply because they could not break his defenses. It had given him enough time to flee from the blaze before it drained his defenses. He stood next to him now, watching the younger shaman as he repaired his magic defenses. His defenses relied more upon avoidance and prevention than stopping an attack once it hit. Had he been closer, or had he had more warning he could have mitigated some of the power behind the beast¡¯s fire but standing at the back of the group he had little warning of the flaming death that would ensue.
[Red Dragon Lv25]
For a beast so powerful it was so low leveled, what had they stumbled across?
Now only he the Chief and his fellow shaman, Sorax remained as elite warriors, a few of the middling warriors and some higher leveled goblin warlords remained but the bulk of their fighting force had disintegrated. It was a heavy blow and reduced the numbers advantage they had once held. They would have to rely on the chief to occupy the dragon in melee while they peppered it with magic.
As the chief finished casting his buffs some of the doubt fled from his mind and he readied another set of magic missiles, the creature seemed to have no resistance tailored to pure magic.
¡°[Magic Missile]¡± he took the partially forms bolt and poured his mana into it, as he added more mana the bolt split into two bolts, he kept adding mana until he had created 9 missiles that hovered In the air. He added more mana to each of them making them fatter and more potent. Next to him, Sorax was preparing his spell barrage, a [Chromatic Orb] of lightning sitting above his palm, he was feeding the orb more energy as it greedily devoured the mana, small sparks of lightning grounding themselves off the goblin''s staff and magical defenses.
The plan was as chief charged the beast would unleased its barrage, the other warriors and warlords following the charge to distract the dragon. They would then swarm it in close combat overwhelming its ability to defend itself. The red-scaled creature did not sit idle and wait however, seeing that they intended to surround it the creature flared its huge wings and performed a feat of agility not expected of a creature its size, turning rapidly to the side and unleashing another jet of flames towards a small group of warriors trying to flank it. Now ready for an attack like this Gagarex pulled some of his mana through his mind, the magic turning a vivid gold and he altered the threads of fate. With a fraction of a second, the small thread of golden mana flashed away toward the red beast and slipped into its flame attack. Faster than he or anyone could think the golden thread of mana flickered, disrupting mana and altering the path¡¯s attack. Gagarex saw not how his talent accomplished what it did, all he saw was the creature flame sputter and lose cohesion, losing much of its magic as it washed over the goblins, burning some of their skin and hair, sending them roaring in pain but very much alive.
The beast looked at the creature for a split second as if surprised they were still rushing her way. It quickly recovered and sent the second gout of flame at the group, more intense than the first. Gagarex contemplated weakening it also but it would be his last such feat that day, the group had already divided to present less of a compact target. It was regrettable but he watched as a few of the warriors burned under the dragon¡¯s breath.
Then the rest of the warriors struck. The regular hobgoblins that had survived entered the dragon¡¯s immediate vicinity and collapsed. They writhed on the floor choking and clawing at their throats seemingly trying to breathe. The harder warriors took short painful breaths of what he quickly realized was superheated air.
¡°Use your spears¡±
The chief had roared his command as he engaged the beast in close combat the rest of the goblins backing off, many dropping hand axes and hammers to use their spears. This would allow them to reach through the dragon¡¯s aura skill somewhat. The creature ignored the huge chief for a moment as it roasted another pair of goblins preparing to attack its hindquarters with their skills. The two shamans chose this moment to launch their attacks simultaneously. Gagarex released his magical bolts guiding them with his mind to strike his opponent. The beast seemed to see them coming and ignored them, turning its thick scaly shoulders to take the attack. The magical bolts blasted into the creature¡¯s sides and it recoiled slightly as the magic detonated deforming its scales in a way that must have been painful. Where it had tanked his attacks it decided to intercept the lightning ball with a forelimb that swished out and slapped the lightning orb. It crackled and sparked as it grounded through the dragon¡¯s forelimb and into its other limb before reaching the ground. It did not seem to cause many injuries apart from pain, but it must have caused some internal damage.
With the distraction from blocking the spells a few of the warriors had stabbed its scaly hide with their spears, few managed to cause any sort of damage to its high vitality hardened scales but a few small cuts and missing scales bore witness to their efforts. The real damage came from the chief when he brought his huge, ash-covered sword down on the creature, being harassed by so many angels it was only able to partially avoid the blade, it still scraped and grated down the beast''s flank, leaving a shallow but jagged cut. The mighty warrior was rewarded for his efforts by a huge blast of concentrated flame to the face. He raised an arm to try and shield his head but the flames ate away at his flesh with alarming intensity.
Gagarex looked at the flames with his mana sight and saw the extent of their power. They were magically enhanced; the sheer quantity and quality of mana being used in the flame were astounding. They were engineered to suck the life from what they touched, fuelling the fire, making it burn hotter and stick to the flesh. It was devastating.
As the blast stopped the chief stumbled, his flesh burned away, bone revealed on his hand and skull. He had amazing regenerative skills but Gagarex was not sure even he could survive that. To buy him time to regenerate Gagarex used a quick [Misty Step] and he was casting one of his most powerful spells right in the creature''s field of view. He hoped it would switch targets to him, he could teleport away again, hopefully giving his chief enough time to heal.
He summoned his mana to him, even if the creature was partially resistant to flames this spell was hopefully powerful enough to overcome it. It would take him about 8% of his mana reserves to cast the basic spell, and filling it would double that cost. The creature looked over at him, watching as he gathered his mana, this was it, he needed to prepare to teleport away before the beast gave chase. The beast stalked forward and bit down on the chief¡¯s neck, he raised a hand in silent protest as the beast gnawed and chewed through the thick muscle. Many of the warriors threw caution to the wind and rushed in. The creature quickly released and moved its head again to bite one of them in the mid-section, lifting him clear of the ground before goring another with its claws.
Gagarex screamed the sound of hatred and warning, promising revenge. He pushed more mana faster into his spell.
¡°This is your doom¡±
Deciding he must take this shot to claim revenge and because this might be his last attack against the creature, he took his last sliver of golden mana, passing it through his mind before he willed it to make his attack strike true. The golden mana shot out in an instant spreading completely through his spell, the ball of fire hovering in his palm grew in intensity and a string of golden mana connected the ball to his target, the beast seemed to see it but made no move to flee.
¡°Damn you, beast, burn in the depths [Fireball]¡±
Gagarex sent the blazing ball of compressed fire mana hurtling toward the stock-still creature. It seemed to grin maliciously as the spell flew unerringly towards the creature. It connected with the dragon¡¯s side and the thunderclap inferno that sprung forth consumed everything within a 20-foot radius. The fire whirled and flowed inwards creating a perfect whirlwind of fire within its radius, all within being subjected to scorching fire and the detonation. It should have lasted longer, for a half dozen seconds, but after just one the blaze was diminishing. The fire and heat were diminishing as if being sucked inwards.
Gagarex in horror watched as the magic in the fire, and even the heat and fire itself were sucked in towards the center, soon revealing the dragon at the center, sitting unharmed and baring its teeth maliciously at him. He watched as the dragon sucked in the last of the heat and mana returning the temperature of the surrounding forest to a much more natural degree. It was a cool relief that he would get little time to enjoy.
Gagarex watched as Sorax charged into combat, his hands ablaze with lightning he sent a rippling pillar of lighting towards the creature, the attack missed, with the dragon having leaped and flapped its wings allowing the bolt to arc to a nearby tree instead of it. It then bounded towards one of the few opponents left, Sorax. It reached the shaman and began to batter at his defenses, paw swipes ripping with powerful muscles and small jets of flame so dense with magic they tore through the shaman¡¯s magical shields. In his desperation to help Gagarex sent bolt after bolt of magic missiles at the creature, it simply ignored him, making sure none hit its face by intercepting them with its wings or limbs. He could do nothing but watch as Sorax had his defenses shredded by the beast¡¯s onslaught.
The fight ended abruptly, the shaman¡¯s final layer of defense running dry of mana, his feeble attempts at close-range spell-slinging ceasing as well. The dragon looked down at the now rather small-looking goblin and with a satisfying crunch crushed his head between its jaws.
Gagarex felt numb as he watched his fellow shaman die, he met the beast¡¯s gaze and knew he would be next. He nearly accepted his fate, before his desire to live overwhelmed his despair.
[Misty Step] ¡
He did not stop casting the spell until he ran out of mana, now thousands of feet away, in an unknown section of the cavern, he collapsed.
Chapter 42: Realization
Rue watched as the other magic user fled, appearing and disappearing in quick succession, growing ever further away in her perception until she could no longer sense the bursts of mana from his teleportation. It was no matter¡ªshe had plenty of prey left here. Despite her flame reserves running low, she was nearly half full on mana. The huge blast of flame from the goblin shaman had doused her, allowing her to restock her dwindling supplies. Everything was so much easier with a liberal application of fire. Even now, as she stalked among the ashes, her aura claimed more victims, the low-vitality members of the group choking on the heated air.
Rue stalked among the ashes, ripping smoking flesh wherever she found it and incinerating the few metal-clad groups that dared to oppose her. With less than 10% of her fire reserves remaining, she overcharged it with magic, creating flames so saturated with power they resembled liquid mana set alight. The fire glowed in both her mundane and magical vision, stripping metal and flesh from bone before reducing even that to ash.
She could feel a devourer of flame drawing life and energy from her fallen foes, but she suppressed the flood of information pressing into her mind. She was reveling in the fire and destruction¡ªher gains could wait a few minutes. The only brief flash of regret was that this escapade would not grow her hoard. She would need to find another type of creature to hunt to expand her treasure trove. Rue licked her teeth at the thought of glittering silver and other precious metals she might uncover in this labyrinth.
She barely paid a small goblin any attention as it stumbled away from her, its breath quick and sharp, before collapsing under the oppressive heat that accompanied her prowling gait. Without breaking stride, she snapped her jaws around the goblin, taking a few mouthfuls to sate her small appetite¡ªshe had just been fully fed before this fight, after all.
Rue stood and briefly focused on her den sense, using it to scan her surroundings for any goblins she might have missed. She detected what seemed to be some cooked goblins in a few wilted bushes, but no living creatures were present in the immediate vicinity. It was the perfect time to assess how much she had grown from this battle. Her few scratches and still slightly sore leg would also have time to heal before she headed to their nest, where some high-leveled goblins would surely be guarding the young.
Rue curled up in the blackened circle of ground where she had fought most of the battle. The soil, enriched with cremated plant and animal matter, felt comforting beneath her. The soft surface cradled her scales, and the lingering warmth of the soil eased her tension.
Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Cheifden Lv40] In Combat +1126xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [15] Levels Above Your Own [+15%] xp +168xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Shaman/Warlord Lv37] x3 In Combat +2895xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [12] Levels Above Your Own [+12%] xp +347xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Shaman/Warlord Lv35] x2 In Combat +1728xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [10] Levels Above Your Own [+10%] xp +173xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Lv32] x5 In Combat +3615xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [7] Levels Above Your Own [+7%] xp +253xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Lv30] x7 In Combat +4452xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [5] Levels Above Your Own [+5%] xp +223xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Lv28] x9 In Combat +4995xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [3] Levels Above Your Own [+3%] xp +149xp
Ding! Devourer Of Flame +2392xp
Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +30392xp
Ding! Level Up x10 ¡ [Stat Points] +50
Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Dragon - Juvenile] +80 {S20 V20 D20 I20}
Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Red Dragon - Juvenile] +80 {S50 V30 D0 I0}
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Ding! [1/2]
Conditions Met For Species [Maturation] : Requires [8+ Meters]
& [Lv 35]
Ding! Ability Evolution Roar[1]
=> Roar[2]
Ding! Ability Evolution Dragon Breath[5] => Dragon Breath[6]
Ding! Ability Evolution Scaly Skin[2] => Scaly Skin[3]
Ding! Ability Evolution Regeneration[1]
=> Regeneration[2]
Ding! Ability Evolution Flaming Aura[1] => Flaming Aura [3]
Ding! Stat Points Assigned Str[+20] Vit[+20] Dex[+10] Int[+0]
Rue assigned her free stat points to her physical attributes; she needed the raw power to help her defeat the dwarf. With the bonuses from vitality boosting her flame storage, it would receive a significant increase from her stats. She could no longer level up her primary level, but now that it was maxed out again, she could continue to level her core and gain more skills and stats that way. It took far more XP to level up her core than her main level, but it was still possible. If she could earn a few extra skill points, she could further increase her [Dragon Breath], potentially making it strong enough to defeat the dwarf.
Roar[2]
You have learned to let out a mighty roar from your throat, you will find it easier to [Terrify] opponents and prey. Increased effectiveness against opponents below your level. When combined with fire causes [Trauma] and [Fear].
Identify [2]
Tells you the basic [Species] and [Level] of targets. Can appraise targets up to [40] Levels higher than you.
Dragon Breath[6]
Racial ability, allows expulsions of magically created [Butanol] from glands near the stomach. Storage of [Butanol] increases with vitality +[20%]/10 Vit. This can be ignited via [Fire Magic]. [Mana] can be used to increase [Volume] and [Temperature] of flames. Can grant flame [Magical] properties based on desire. Magic effects scales with intelligence +[20%]/10 Int.
Scaly Skin[3]
Your scales have reached the point where it can turn even the most fearsome weapons. You scales toughness increases by +[5%]/10 Vit. Your scales become highly resistant to [Fire] and [Nonmagical] attacks.
Regeneration[2]
Through combat and your naturally high healing, your [Body] and [Mana] have learned how to speed up your natural [Recovery]. Your wounds will heal faster and cleaner, you are more resistant to [Infection] and [Disease]. Natural [Recovery] is increased by [Vitality] +[10%]/10 Vit.
Flaming Aura[3]
You draw strength from fire, its flame of life nourishes you. You can absorb heat mana from your surroundings, or push mana into the surroundings to increase the [Temperature]. The mana you pull from heat will heal you. Increases resistance to heat and fire by [200%]. Radius [Int/10] Meter¡¯s control, environmental effects can extend past radius.
There were several significant improvements to the percentages and ranges of many of her skills. Many had received a straightforward power boost, while others now covered areas they hadn¡¯t before. For example, Scaly Skin now granted resistance to both fire and non-magical attacks. That would have been very useful in the battle she had just won, making many of the weaker opponents'' attacks useless. Rue looked toward her wounds and found them recovering quickly. Her increased regeneration skill was working overtime to heal her cuts and bruises. Though her side was still sore from the magic missiles and weapon strikes, it was regaining its normal sheen, and the swelling was visibly reducing. The more open wounds healed slower, but they would take less than an hour to close¡ªmana and flesh working together to knit her hardened muscles back together.
It was as she felt the last of the power from her attribute increases fade that she sensed a shift in the link to the dwarf. The steady emptiness of the connection suddenly boiled with emotions. At first, she felt confusion, then worry. He was searching for her¡ªhe had sensed her huge power boost, and it had unnerved him, if only slightly. He was coming, following the link to her location. It made sense that he could sense the link just as she could. Should she run, or let him catch up? It might not lead to a fight if she returned peacefully; she could pass off her leveling excursion as hunting. He was gaining on her fast. The hours of travel it had taken her, followed by the half-day of lazing and stalking deeper into the cavern, would be wiped away under the power of his gate in just a few hours.
Rue would need nearly an hour to recover both her body, fire, and mana. Her newly increased reserves of fire would take longer than usual to fill up, so she diverted some of her mana to speed up the process. She could feel the strain on the organ as the magic was forced through it, creating a slow trickle of highly flammable liquid. She would need to use much of her mana to recover, currently outpacing her mana regeneration with her aura, healing, and fire drawing from her pool.
Rue got up every few minutes to keep her belly full from the charred buffet surrounding her, the slightly burnt flesh filling her maw and fueling her recovery. The link to the dwarf grew stronger as he approached, managing to take the correct tunnel each time with the aid of the connection. Soon, she would have to choose¡ªfight or flee.
She felt the itching on her leg grow worse as the last scabs fell away, revealing new, untainted flesh and scales, lighter than the deep red of her surrounding scales. The scars would not lessen her battle prowess but would tell stories of the many foes she had faced and burned.
It was only a few hours after the battle when she felt the link surge¡ªhe was in the cavern and heading full speed toward her. Rue got to her feet and prepared to meet him. She stood tall, her long body now stretching to four and a half meters, her massive bulk thudding into the ground with every footfall. Her nostrils flared as the air shimmered, and she braced to face an unstoppable force.
Trees broke and birds fled as a thick dwarf plowed through the underbrush toward her. He slowed as he approached, heavy footfalls pacing toward her. He emerged from the bushes, encased in heavy plate metal, with a huge war hammer clenched in one hand. He rested the long hilt against the blackened soil, flexing his gauntleted grip on the shiny metallic shaft.
"You''ve been faking it, wee dragon." His tone was ominous as their eyes locked. His eyes glowed with a brief flash of blue mana, and they narrowed.
"You''ve been busy, I see. My years of solitude must''ve dampened my wit." The words were forced from his grating teeth as a look of sadness, anger, and disappointment warred across his face and the bond.
"None who have shackled my will shall stand before me." Rue funneled her words and meaning through the bond, ensuring the dwarf understood the sibilant draconic that was uttered from her jaws. His eyes narrowed further, and the grip on his war hammer tightened.
[Dwarf Lv85] She could now see his level, just at the far end of her newly leveled Identify skill. This was no longer a fight she could avoid; having a few more days to gain core levels would have been ideal. But still, she had grown in power since their last encounter, and she would face him holding nothing back.
Her mana was still refilling, nearing 85%, with her regeneration no longer draining it. Her fire reserves were full, her organ straining from the forced production but functional nonetheless. She steadily began drawing the heat from the surrounding 15 meters in every direction. She kept it subtle, feeling the debuff from the sub-25-degree temperature take effect, but her mana was rapidly refilling. The ground was full of heat, and she allowed some of it to seep back out, circulating into the air near her scales.
The dwarf gripped his hammer with both hands and vanished in a flash of purple mana.
Chapter 43: Dragon Rage
Lokgrod Redminer looked towards the dragon. He stood merely a dozen meters away, locking gazes with the beast. This was the end of any sway he once held over the creature¡ªif he ever truly had. She was more cunning than he had given the young dragon credit for. It was more than just a beast¡¯s cunning; she had looked towards her future, suppressing the rage and vengeance that now roiled through their bond until she believed she could defeat him.
He tightened his grip on his war hammer. The cold-forged steel pole and hammerhead felt too light in his powerful grasp. He was much less equipped than when he first entered the librarium; there were no master smiths or enchanters here to craft him new gear. He doubted the basic durability enchantments would withstand either his strength or the dragon¡¯s scales. Similarly, his plate armor would not hold up well in this fight, but his skills could enhance it enough to make it more useful than going without.
Through the bond linking him to the furious dragon, he sensed that he still held the advantage in raw attributes¡ªnot by much, but it was there. Most likely, this would be balanced by the beast¡¯s natural scales and bulk. The more muscle one had, the better the strength stat applied, and the tougher one¡¯s natural body, the more effective vitality became. It was a natural advantage for beasts and races with scales or other defensive traits. Luckily for him, the opposite was also true: the larger a creature, the more its size hampered dexterity and movement.
He continued watching the dragon as she inspected him, her eyes flicking to his hammer and scanning his armor. It was the cold that clued him in to look for spellcraft. As he had been staring at the dragon, considering his first move, the shimmering air around her had stilled, even misting in some places, as the surroundings seemed to rapidly drop in temperature.
He could see the heat being leached from the surroundings in a dozen-meter radius around the beast. The soil grew chilly before his eyes as the warmth flowed toward the dragon, undergoing some unknown process.
[Red Dragon Lv35]
She had gained 10 levels since he last saw her¡ªnot an extraordinary amount. That wasn¡¯t to say leveling up by 10 in less than a day wasn¡¯t impressive, but given the carnage of goblins strewn around the clearing, she should have leveled far more. From the sheer scale of destruction and the size of some of the corpses, it looked like she had wiped out half a village.
The only thing that could halt leveling progress was the presence of a beast core. Surely, such a young creature wouldn¡¯t possess one¡ªbeast cores were condensed only by truly powerful creatures, and even then, their formation depended heavily on the species. If she did have a beast core, it made her far more dangerous than her level suggested. The level of threat would depend on the core¡¯s size, though she was still young, so it was likely in the early stages of growth. Unfortunately, there was no way to determine its size without killing her and cutting the core from her flesh.
Abruptly, a shimmering coat of heat reappeared, enveloping the dragon¡¯s scales and keeping them heated far above the frigid surroundings. He realized he had to act now while the beast was distracted, seemingly pausing to consider something.
[Misty Step]
In a puff of purple conjuration mana, he vanished, reappearing a fraction of a second later to the side of the dragon, out of her line of sight. With both hands gripping his hammer, he swung downward just as the dragon¡¯s head began to turn, her sharp eyes locking onto him.
He activated his [Heavy Blow [6]] skill, feeling his muscles explode with power. His grip tightened as the hammer accelerated toward the earth, its weight and speed multiplied by the skill¡¯s effect.
The dragon, seeing the blow, couldn¡¯t move sideways fast enough to avoid it. He had appeared too quickly. Instead, she stepped back, causing the strike to miss its intended target¡ªthe vulnerable lower spine¡ªand hit her side instead. Her thick hide, armored scales, and small ridges of bone absorbed the brunt of the colossal hammer¡¯s impact.
Lokgrod felt the hammer¡¯s weight resist any attempt to alter its trajectory. Instead, he drove the 8-inch-wide hammerhead into her red-scaled flank. The heavy, forged steel struck with skill-enhanced force, bolstered by his immense strength stat. Scales and flesh ripped apart under the blow, and he felt a bone crack beneath his hammer before it slid, tearing and crushing down the dragon¡¯s side. The attack left shredded scales, a rugged scrape along her flank, and likely internal damage before embedding itself into the packed forest soil.
There was no howl of pain. As Lokgrod began to heave his hammer from the dirt, he glanced at his foe. Heat and flame greeted his gaze. The dragon had spared no breath for a roar; instead, a torrent of green-and-purple mana coalesced into a white-hot jet of fire that blasted his chest.
With a mighty tug, he wrenched his hammer free just as the flames engulfed him. His body was wreathed in fire as his non-magical resistance flared briefly before failing. The mana-infused flames tore at his armor and sought out gaps to scorch his flesh. Lokgrod endured the blaze for only a second before recasting [Misty Step], teleporting a dozen meters away, back to where he had started the fight.
His body burned from where the fire had penetrated his armor, which now radiated heat like an oven. The damage was alarming; such flames shouldn¡¯t have harmed him so severely in such a short time. His armor glowed faintly, still at a searing temperature, though it cooled quickly in the cold air.
He watched the dragon cease her magical attack as soon as he disappeared. Glancing at his hammer, he noted the damage: the once-flat steel head was now sloped by over 15 degrees, pitted and marred with scratches. His immense strength, combined with the dragon¡¯s resilience, had deformed the metal.
Though the dragon was undoubtedly in pain, the damage wasn¡¯t debilitating or life-threatening. No blood seeped from her torn scales and hide. The creature clearly had resistance to non-magical weapons. Even with a subpar weapon, the minimal damage caused by his primary attack skill was disappointing. He¡¯d have to use magic-based attacks to exploit his full potential.
The dragon turned toward him and growled, a deep, threatening bass rumble that caused the ash near her head to vibrate. The growl was followed by a roar so loud it forced him to step back, covering his ears. The sound vibrated through his armor, enhanced by a skill, and he felt the pressure gnawing at his resolve.
He refused to yield so easily. Lokgrod smashed his hammer into his chest plate, producing a metallic clang. The dragon bared her teeth, the air around her shimmering ominously.
He prepared to teleport into close combat, but the air around the dragon suddenly saturated with mana. Pure energy bled into the atmosphere, rapidly heating it. Within seconds, the temperature climbed past boiling, creating visible distortions around her. At the epicenter, the heat was even more intense, the 5-meter radius shimmering with searing power.
He felt air rushing toward the dragon, feeding the phenomenon, followed by a surge of superheated air blasting outward in a rolling wave. The wave washed over him, seeping through his armor and turning it into a furnace. His 272 Vitality helped him resist the worst of the burns, but the rising heat pressed relentlessly against his limits. Lokgrod realized he had to act quickly¡ªor risk being overwhelmed.
[Ray of Frost]
A beam of icy blue light shot from his palm, aimed at the dragon. The spell was intended to cool a spot on her heated hide, making it viable for teleportation. The beam struck her side but disappeared almost instantly, its chilling effect nullified by the intense heat radiating from her scales.
[Misty Step]
Lokgrod vanished in a flash of purple mana, reappearing at the spot where his Ray of Frost had landed. Hammer raised, he activated [Heavy Blow] again, but this time, the dragon was ready. As he materialized, her open maw greeted him, unleashing a torrent of dark blue flames infused with orange, necromantic mana.
Flames roared around his body, but he pushed through the pain, determined to strike the beast. His hammer came down, the forceful blow clipping her outstretched wing. The steel smashed into the soft membrane, tearing through it and driving it into the soil. The dragon yanked her wing free with a snarl, ceasing the deluge of flames as she leaped back with a powerful beat of her wings. The torn edge of the membrane fluttered as she retreated further.
Lokgrod prepared to pursue, but a searing, agonizing sensation stopped him. He glanced down and saw the flames still clinging to his armor. Blue fire, infused with necromantic mana, ate away at the steel and the flesh beneath it. The sickly orange energy drained vitality from his body, withering his skin and muscle. Patting at the flames proved futile.
Necromantic mana, while not inherently evil, had a unique property: it drained life from living tissue in ways no other school of magic could.
[Absorb Elements]
A thin film of mana spread across his skin, dampening the necromantic fire¡¯s effects. He poured more of his mana into the spell, increasing its potency. This was an inefficient strategy¡ªnearly ten times the mana cost for only triple the effect¡ªbut it was necessary. The flames were already eating away at him, and anything less would have been insufficient.
The empowered spell absorbed most of the necromantic energy, halting the worst of the damage, though faint remnants of the magic lingered in his body. The pain ebbed slightly as his vitality stabilized, but he knew he had to act quickly while he still had strength.
Lokgrod seized the opportunity to strike back, now bolstered by the energy stored in his Absorb Elements spell. He raised his hammer, swinging at an imaginary foe as he cast [Misty Step], teleporting mid-swing to appear next to the dragon¡¯s rear leg.
The hammer struck instantly, the necromantic energy stored in the spell discharging on impact. The dragon roared in fury as the blow landed on her red-scaled thigh. The force was tremendous; scales, blood, and sparks exploded from the impact as the hammer pulverized flesh against bone. The handle of his hammer bent under the strain, unable to withstand his strength combined with the dragon¡¯s unyielding bone.
The beast stumbled, letting out an enraged roar that echoed through the clearing. Lokgrod saw fire gathering in her throat and barely managed to teleport away with another [Misty Step] just as a wave of flame rushed toward him.
He reappeared in his previous position, and the mistake became immediately apparent. The brief reprieve from heat and flame ended abruptly as a raging inferno engulfed him. His elemental absorption spell had run its course, and now he faced the raw, unrelenting heat of white fire. This flame held no tricks, no necromantic energy¡ªjust pure, devastating heat.
He felt the searing blast penetrate his visor, burning his hair and melting his skin. For the first time in the battle, he raised a hand to shield his face, even as his gauntlet began to glow from the heat. Desperation clawed at him as he tried to activate [Misty Step], but his magic resisted¡ªthere was no clear target. In a last-ditch effort, he forced the spell to function, overriding its safety protocols with a desperate mental push: up.
The spell activated, and he materialized mid-air, halfway embedded in a tree branch. For a fleeting instant, flesh and wood occupied the same space, but his body¡ªhardened by years of combat and unnaturally dense muscle¡ªwon out. The branch disintegrated explosively, splinters and shards of wood flying in all directions, bouncing and smoking against his red-hot armor.
He opened his eyes against the pain, his burned eyelids protesting but obeying. Scanning his surroundings, he unleashed a rapid sequence of [Misty Step] casts, teleporting in quick succession to escape Rue¡¯s fiery onslaught. Each flash of purple mana took him further from the dragon¡¯s line of fire until he finally landed, panting and smoldering, in a cluster of bushes. His skin screamed in agony, every nerve alight with pain.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Breathing hard, he forced himself to focus. He needed defensive measures and healing immediately. His mana reserves had already dropped to 60% from the constant teleportation and spells, but survival took precedence.
[Cure Wounds]
He cast the spell six times in quick succession, watching as melted flesh knitted itself together, and his burned eyelids regained their function. The worst of the pain receded, and his necromantically wasted flesh regained its vitality. His breathing steadied as his health returned to near-perfect condition.
[Longstrider]
A surge of power flooded his legs, enhancing his speed and mobility¡ªessential for evading the dragon¡¯s attacks.
[Shield]
The shimmering barrier of force sprang to life around him. Maintaining it would drain his mana steadily, but the protection against the dragon¡¯s relentless flames was well worth the cost.
Now, it was time to prepare for offense. Lokgrod hadn''t relied on these spells in years, but necessity had brought them to the forefront. He moved quickly, knowing Rue was closing in.
[Enlarge]
He felt his body swell, muscles and armor expanding as his strength and mass multiplied. His feet sank several inches into the hardened forest floor, his immense bulk pressing down on the earth. While the spell reduced his agility, [Longstrider] and his teleportation abilities would compensate. His mana reserves dropped below half, but the trade-off was worth it.
Lokgrod roared a challenge, the sound reverberating through the forest as he thundered from the bushes. The dragon, now dwarfed by his massive form, froze for a moment before unleashing a torrent of her most potent flames yet.
The mana-laden firestorm surged toward him, the flames a kaleidoscope of colors¡ªblue and red, oversaturated with energy. His [Shield] caught the blast, and the magical aegis split the inferno, diverting it around him. The heat drew heavily on his mana reserves, but Lokgrod pushed forward, each massive step bringing him closer to the dragon.
Rue ceased her flames, realizing the attack was futile, and attempted to dodge. But her mangled hind leg hindered her, slowing her movements. Lokgrod seized the opportunity, swinging his hammer in a wide, horizontal arc.
[Heavy Blow]
The skill-powered strike, combined with his enormous strength and size, struck Rue''s side with devastating force. Her desperate attempt to use a wing as a shield failed; the fragile membrane crumpled against the hammer''s impact. Flesh, steel, and scale collided with a sickening crunch, and the dragon was flung through the air, tumbling over a half-dozen times before skidding to a halt.
Lokgrod withdrew his hammer, only to hear a groaning shriek from the steel. The weapon, bent and stressed from repeated blows, finally failed. The hammerhead detached and fell to the ground with a heavy thud, leaving him holding a crude iron shaft. He grimaced, gripping the improvised weapon tightly. It¡¯ll have to do.
With Rue momentarily downed, Lokgrod took a split second to cast a quick [Chromatic Orb: Lightning]. The low-tier spell wasn¡¯t augmented by any additional magic, but it was effective enough. A ripple of electricity arced across Rue''s scales, making her flinch.
He closed the remaining distance in a few strides, his towering form looming over the dragon. With the crude iron spear in hand, Lokgrod prepared to deliver the final, grisly blow.
_____________________________________________
Rue felt pain everywhere, her back left leg no longer responded to her commands and her left flank was an amalgamation of blood, bone and embedded scales. The lingering necromantic energy was still eating away at her lower flank making scales darken and fall from her hide. She turned her head to look at the dwarf just as a ball of crackling energy shot a bolt of lightning at her. The pain was barely noticeable over her pulped side but the lighting caused some of her muscles to spasm. She still had plenty of fire reserved in her flame gland, but her mana was running dangerously low and only a third of her maximum remained. She had been using mana to augment her breath, trying to kill the dwarf quickly but he was remarkably resilient. She frantically pulled mana from the air, letting the boiling temperature drop. She rapidly pushed mana into her regeneration skill making it heal her vital organs and left lung which had been severely damaged.
As the dwarf stood above her and raised its broken weapon to stab her she whipped her head in its direction and let loose an un-augmented blast of flame. She squeezed her flame gland for all it was worth and the sheer volume of the flames blinded the dwarf. It was a veritable tsunami of flame and heat that washed over the dwarf while she pushed and scraped her way to avoid a now blind jab with the hammer shaft. In this regard the dwarf¡¯s magical shield helped her, spreading the flames out into the sheet that was visually impenetrable. The iron handle of the hammer sunk a foot into the compact and burned soil instead of her flesh. She kept up the barrage of flame as she got to her feet. Her new flame reserves showing their worth, she still had plenty of juice remaining.
While she distracted and blinded the dwarf with her weak flames she was still pulling mana from the air, not letting the temperature drop to the point where it weakened her. It was clear the heat did not hurt the dwarf at the levels she could reasonably achieve. It maintained her reserves through the intense regeneration she was causing. Rue limped back a few steps and let her 20-second-long blast of flame fade to reveal a confused dwarf standing and looking at her standing form. Her deep breath and the tightening of his hand on his weapon signaled their reengagement.
He was using some kind of magic to make himself larger, now over twice the size he had been before, protected by magic and hitting harder than ever. It was a difficult situation and she decided to evade rather than fight. His lowered agility was noticeable and even with her dysfunctional leg and ruined side she was able to keep some distance from him by using the terrain. One of her wings had a huge hole in it from trying to protect her side but was still functional. She flapped her wings to correct balance and gain speed on the straight runs as she circled and dodged between trees. Every so often she would let loose a gout of flame, using no mana, just trying to whittle down his mana by buffeting his shield. Once it fell she would release all of her power in a single breath attack to try and bypass his defenses and cook him alive.
__________________________
Lokgrod was trying to hit the elusive dragon, his vision constantly blurred and obscured by flames as they rampaged through the now-burning forest. The flames constantly ate away at his shield, forcing him to expend extra mana to keep them from reaching his flesh. It was cheaper than healing the damage once it was done, however, so he persisted. The dragon was clearly buying time to regenerate. Its bloody side had stopped bleeding after a few minutes, and she was putting more and more weight on her damaged leg. She was getting faster, and he was running out of resources.
He was down to about 20% mana. Even then, he considered misty stepping in to try and get a free hit on the dragon, but she was moving around too much for him to calibrate an attack, especially such a costly one. His current weapon would not deliver a finishing blow; it was just a rod of steel, now unenchanted. With his skills, he would have to target weak points in her scales, though he wasn¡¯t sure if the handle would bend or penetrate the dragon¡¯s scales.
He had to feed yet another pulse of mana into his shield as a wave of dragon fire washed over him. It seemed absurd how much fire was coming from such a small creature. It had to be skill-based or augmented in some way to produce or store more liquid fire than should have biologically been possible. He applied another [Enlarge]¡ªhis third total application¡ªas he ticked into the start of his third minute. The spell only lasted for 1 minute, so he had to keep reapplying it. He was running on dregs of mana now. He would let this cast of [Enlarge] fade rather than reapply it.
He made an especially well-calculated thrust at the dragon and scored a hit on her right shoulder, but the steel rod, with its blunt tip, only deformed the tough scaly hide slightly before the now unenchanted metal bent at the tip. He switched to a club-like grip on the pole and, using the dragon¡¯s upset balance, scored a perfect strike right to the neck with the swinging stick of metal. He couldn¡¯t activate his skill because of the angle of attack, but the weight and his strength still caused the dragon¡¯s neck to bend, and a squawk of pain came from the dragon before it leaped back and darted off to his side, covered by a gout of flame that forced him to renew his shield.
He decided to attack in the lull after she landed and used her breath skill, delivering a quick jab and [Misty Step] to land an un-dodgeable thrust with the bent tip of the metal handle. He targeted her still-mangled side and found no scales or hide that could stop even the weakened metal. The pole pierced the dragon¡¯s flesh and sank deep. He felt it scrape between her ribs and enter the soft, fleshy organs behind. A pained yet weak roar came from Rue as she swiped at his arm while releasing more flames from her jaws. He felt the impact of her claws on his wrist, and it jarred the bar inside her flesh. Deciding it would do more harm stuck inside her than in his hand, he released the bar and jumped back. Another refresh of [Shield] repelled the fire sent in retaliation.
The four-foot-long bar of iron reverted to its original size after leaving his grasp, shrinking to half its previous length. It was still embedded over a foot deep inside the dragon¡¯s vitals. It was too far back on her body to deliver an instantly lethal blow, but it was debilitating¡ªpotentially fatal.
The dragon was wheezing, and small amounts of blood dripped from her now red-stained teeth, smoking and steaming every time she let loose a gout of flame. He just stood back and circled, watching as the weapon he left in her continued to do damage, dragging on the ground as she tried to face him.
Half a minute later, he felt the effect of [Enlarge] wear off, but with less than 10% of his mana left, he wasn¡¯t willing to waste it while not fully engaged in combat. The extra speed and agility his regular size offered¡ªalong with the still-active [Longstrider]¡ªwould be far more useful now. He didn¡¯t want to back off in case it gave the dragon enough space to remove the foreign object from her side.
If he waited for her to grow tired, he could teleport in and savagely twist the pole, hopefully causing enough damage that she could not heal from it¡ªmaybe even kill her outright.
______________________________
Rue breathed heavily, watching the dwarf hovering just out of effective distance for her flames. The metal rod in her side was agonizing, spearing her left lung. She could feel rivulets of blood being dragged up her throat by her labored breathing. This would be the deciding engagement of the fight, whether the dwarf attempted to finish her off by teleporting in or waited for her to die from her wounds. The latter would not currently happen; she still had 25% of her mana, and it could keep her alive and even heal the worst of her wounds if given time. He probably knew this and was waiting to be able to swiftly end her. She watched as he dropped his shield, either realizing he did not need it or wanting to conserve mana. Either way, it was good for her. He was most likely going to go for her weak side, the only place he could do real harm without a weapon or magic.
She made sure her head was in the correct position to fire her last-ditch attack if he appeared next to the handle in her side. He was smaller now, back to his regular size, and she would completely engulf him in flame. Slowly, she started to gather her mana and push it directly into her flame gland. She would not mix it while firing like she usually did; she would enhance all of her remaining fire with all her remaining mana. Mixing her mana and willing it to destroy, to burn, to make her flames so hot they melted the very air itself. Her mana took on a green tinge mixed with orange. She further willed the fire to find its way through the dwarf¡¯s armor and magical defenses, willing it to reach his flesh. Some of her mana took on a golden hue, the first time she had seen her mana in such a color as it seeped into her liquid fire. This color seemed to have the most profound effect, with small tendrils of golden mana lacing and organizing the other colors in her fire. The chaotic swirl of untamed mana became more organized, small geometric patterns emerged and dissolved at seemingly random intervals. It was ready.
Rue refocused on her surroundings and drew in the heat of the burning forest for mana, to fuel her regeneration and keep herself alive. The magic in her flame gland was hard to keep compressed. Fearing the dwarf would not act soon, she drew in a deep breath and focused through the pain. She collected some blood in her mouth and coughed it dramatically onto the forest floor.
The dwarf disappeared, a flash of mana, and he was nearly touching the metal in her side.
She released her flame. The potent cocktail of magics and fire exploded from her maw, heating her teeth and causing even her flame-resistant gums to blister ever so slightly. From her maw shot a condensed blast of golden-red dragon fire. The cylindrical column of fire impacted the dwarf¡¯s chest and melted the steel there, a flame so hot the air around it glowed and burned. The steel and flesh of the dwarf resisted, then failed as magic and fire ripped away at his body. Metal melted, flesh burned, and bone charred. The impact from the compressed flame and exploding air and metal blasted the dwarf away from Rue, changing the focal point as he spun to the ground. Metal melted and revealed flesh that blackened and vaporized beneath the flame¡¯s intensity. The dwarf smashed to the blackened forest floor where he slumped to the ground, burning, a desperate hand clawing at the soil and roots, trying to escape.
She took slow, steady steps towards the dwarf, finally reaching his head. It was charred and unrecognizable black, mouth moving, trying to say words from what must have been scorched lungs. She placed a claw on his back and gripped his head in her jaws. Her powerful head muscles gripped and started to squeeze. With a sickening crunch, his head broke beneath her jaws.
The flame¡¯s duration was short and cut out a split second later, leaving her with no fire and only a trickle of mana from her aura absorbing the heat of the burning forest. She focused on her side and felt blood gushing from the wound, the dwarf having gripped the pole, and the force of her blast having caused it to be ripped free. Ignoring the dwarf, she pulled as much heat as she could from the environment, many fires guttering in the cold, more going out as she channeled the mana into her regeneration.
It was a good skill, but it could not create flesh from mana. Muscle and fat were stripped from other parts of her body to try and fix the damage to her lung and the gaping hole in her side. More damage had been done by the object¡¯s exit than by the initial entry wound. Many organs had been scraped and cut by the exit of the pole, the bent end ripping the huge wound in her side.
Rue settled down and began the fight to repair some of the damage. She sucked mana from the environment and desperately focused the energy to try and seal her wounds, the dwarf lying somewhere forgotten.
Chapter 44: Spoils of War
Rue could feel her heart beating; the powerful organ was sustaining her very life yet also bringing her closer to death. The huge rent in her side continued to spew an alarming amount of lifeblood despite her regeneration and extraordinary vitality. The mana she was drawing from the environment soon began to run dry, the once-burning trees snuffed out by her aura. Fires spread, and she greedily absorbed their heat and power, funneling all her available mana into the wound in her lung and other bleeding organs.
She felt muscle and fat being consumed from the rest of her body, the material repurposed to replenish blood and seal the wound. Slowly, the wound was reduced to a size where the blood could clot¡ªa large, lumpy mass of scales, hide, and coagulated blood forming a blockage to prevent further loss. It took far too long for her to seal the wound. She hadn¡¯t noticed the passage of time; the light had not changed, and her focus had been too intense to track such things. She would need to feed to replenish the lost muscle and tissue consumed to make blood and complete other repairs, but she was too weak now. Moving might reopen the wound, so she lay there, resting and allowing her regeneration to slowly knit her back together.
Rue let her eyes close and allowed her body to do the work as she drifted off to sleep.
She dreamed then, reliving her battle with the dwarf over and over. Each time, he grew larger but did not stop. His form became so massive that she couldn¡¯t see his head as he smashed his enormous metal pole into her repeatedly. In her dreams, she also grew¡ªso large that their battle uprooted trees and shattered boulders, her massive claws rending great gouges in the earth until she stood once more over his smoldering remains. In her dreams, her scales bore only proud battle scars, not the rending wounds she had suffered in the real world.
One day, she would reach those heights, no matter what it would take.
She awoke from the strange images and memories in her sleep to a small tickling sensation on her side. Raising her neck, now feeling much better after some rest, she focused on the sensation. On one of her folded wing''s leathery surfaces lay a small, scaly creature. It was no longer than the length of her forepaw as it stretched out on her skin. It seemed to be basking in the warmth she provided.
[Crested Gecko Lv5]
Its little head lifted from rest as it seemed to sense her gaze. Tiny reptilian eyes focused on her before it opened its mouth and froze. It was so small; she must have looked like a mountain in comparison. Its body was covered in tiny scales, brown with flecks of green and black, perfectly camouflaged for what would have been a lush forest. Rue glanced around and noticed shrubs emerging from the ash of the forest floor. Already, small shoots and grasses were vying for dominance in the freshly cleared ground. The old husks of burned trees now supported vines and climbers that wound their way up the branches, ever striving to reach the glowing ceiling above. Birdsong had reclaimed the area, and the air buzzed with the sound of insects and other small creatures once more.
Rue lay still for a moment, but the calling of her stomach soon drove her to action. She reached out toward the lizard with her face. It was too high on her back to reach with a paw, so she gently nudged it until it scampered off. Rising from the ground, she stretched her muscles, the soreness of prolonged inactivity making itself known. She extended her wings and kneaded the ground with her claws.
She had lost weight¡ªa significant amount of her bulk was gone. Her muscles felt weaker, her body drained from the severe wounds and the massive blood loss. But she was alive, and she knew that some food would quickly restore her to prime physical condition.
As Rue moved, she could feel the subtle shifts in her abilities. Some of her skills had improved, as they should have after such a grueling battle. It had been the most perilous and powerful foe she had ever faced, and she had triumphed. She had cast down the dwarf with her flames, burning him to a crisp. A satisfied puff of smoke curled from her nostrils as she settled herself down again, ready to inspect her status.
Ding! For Slaying [Dwarf Lv85] In Combat +5538xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [50] Levels Above You Own [+50%] xp +2769xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe 2x Your level [+20%] xp +1107
Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +9414xp
Ding! [1/2]
Conditions Met For Species [Maturation] : Requires [8+ Meters]
& [Lv 35]
Ding! Core Level Up¡+1 [Core Point]
|
Core Level |
Core XP |
Core Points |
|
27 |
8710/14760 |
1 |
Her core level had increased, which was a good reward and she was over halfway to the next level. She decided to spend it on 10 stat points and dump them all into vitality. All of the good options for her core required far more points than she currently had available and the fight had left her feeling that more durability was never a bad thing.
Ding! Ability Evolution Dragon Breath [6] => Dragon Breath [7]
Ding! Ability Evolution Scaly Skin [3] => Scaly Skin [4]
Ding! Ability Evolution Regeneration [2] => Regeneration [3]
The most vital skill for the fight had all increased, including her most powerful skill - Dragon Breath, it was the only reason she was able to defeat such a tough foe.
Dragon Breath [7]
Racial ability allows expulsions of magically created [Butanol] from glands near the stomach. Storage of [Butanol] increases with vitality +[25%]/10 Vit. This can be ignited via [Fire Magic]. [Mana] can be used to increase [Volume] and [Temperature] of flames. Can grant flame [Magical] properties based on desire. Magic effects scales with intelligence +[25%]/10 Int.
Scaly Skin [4]
Your scales have reached the point where it can turn even the most fearsome weapons. You scales toughness increases by +[10%]/10 Vit. Your scales become highly resistant to [Fire] and [Nonmagical] attacks.
Regeneration [3]
Through combat and your naturally high healing, your [Body] and [Mana] have learned how to speed up your natural [Recovery]. Your wounds will heal faster and cleaner, you are more resistant to [Infection] and [Disease]. Natural [Recovery] is increased by [Vitality] +[15%]/10 Vit.
The improvements didn¡¯t fundamentally change her skills but added numerical bonuses. However, this didn¡¯t mean the changes weren¡¯t significant. The enhancements made her regeneration nearly 30% faster than before, and her scales were now nearly twice as tough to break. The bonuses were quite substantial, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much stronger they would become as her skill levels increased. If the progression continued at this pace, there might come a day when she could outright ignore most attacks.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
For now, though, Rue set aside thoughts of skill increases and focused on finding something delicious to eat¡ªpreferably something large, satisfying, and that would taste good cooked.
She extended her mundane and magical senses to scan an enormous area around her. By incorporating [Mana Sense] into her search, she discovered that all living creatures glowed faintly in her vision, standing out even among the trees, bushes, and occasional rocks.
Her first attempt at locating prey led her toward a goblin nest. Rue headed in that direction, largely ignoring the small fauna scurrying about beneath her notice. Such creatures might have sufficed when she was younger, but she was beyond such meager prey now. They could live beneath her notice.
Ding! +[Draconic Arrogance [1]]
Draconic Arrogance [1]
It is the strong that often become arrogant. A hallmark of most draconic breeds, you feel superior to those with less [Attributes] than yourself.
It was a currently useless skill, but at least it confirmed what she already knew¡ªshe was superior to most of the creatures in her vicinity. As Rue moved through the forest in search of a good meal and perhaps some additional levels, she observed the creatures she passed. She could feel how much weaker they were compared to her. When she came across the entrance to a rabbit warren under a sprawling oak tree, she sensed the small, white, fluffy creatures within. They were visible to her eyes, detectable through her mana sense and den sense, and now she could feel their power¡ªa weak flame compared to her raging inferno. It was as though she were walking with a new sense, one that layered itself seamlessly over her other perceptions. She was rapidly growing accustomed to having so many dimensions of awareness.
Her experimentation was cut short when she emerged from the dense forest, nearing the goblin hive. Despite her many senses, she could not detect the goblins. She supposed they must still be some distance away. Moving cautiously forward, she was surprised to find herself less than 40 meters from the settlement. The mud domes and small wooden huts were quiet¡ªtoo quiet. The place was not the bustling hive of activity she had expected. It was deserted.
Rue growled softly, padding forward at a steady pace to investigate. The smells here were old, the goblins having left many days ago, likely just before or after her previous battle. Her lip curled in frustration. This was not favorable. They had fled¡ªcowards! These were supposed to be her spoils.
With a growl of fury, Rue turned to one of the wooden huts and unleashed her flames. Fire roared from her maw, engulfing the fragile structure. Her claws tore through walls of mud and wood as she danced in the ashes, venting her anger. Burning wood crackled, mud baked in the intense heat, and small objects and clay vessels shattered explosively. When the settlement was reduced to smoldering ruins, Rue stood among the wreckage, spent. The last of her flames had been consumed in her impulsive destruction, leaving her weaker. Still, she felt no regret. They had wronged her. This was her territory. They had lived on her land, and therefore they belonged to her. She had devoured the warriors who had dared to resist, and she would have devoured the rest had they not fled.
Despite her diminished state, Rue reared onto her hind legs, spreading her wings wide, and let loose a deafening roar. The cavern trembled as the sound reverberated through the air, her [Roar] skill amplifying her fury. Let all creatures in the area know of her wrath.
With the goblins no longer an option for food, Rue shifted her focus to other prey. Lesser though they might be, they would serve their purpose as nourishment. Her mind turned back to the rabbits she had seen earlier¡ªthey had looked quite tasty. Deciding to retrace her steps, Rue loped quickly back into the dense forest, heading toward the warren beneath the great oak.
She arrived swiftly and spotted several rabbits nibbling in the grassy undergrowth. The last of her flames had been spent on the goblin nest, but she would not have wanted to burn the rabbits anyway. Their tender flesh would be better consumed raw. Creeping to the edge of the clearing, Rue used the dense undergrowth to conceal her sleek form. She honed her senses on her prey, selecting a target and preparing to strike.
[Rabbit lv3]
It wasn¡¯t even a horned variant like the ones she had encountered earlier in the labyrinth. This rabbit looked even weaker¡ªpractically harmless. Rue crept closer, silently closing the distance until she was less than 20 meters away. Then, with a powerful burst of speed, she bolted forward. Her wings flared, adding momentum as she surged across the open ground.
The rabbit noticed her just as she covered half the distance, but it was far too late. Before it could make it more than a few frantic hops toward the burrow, Rue¡¯s jaws closed around its fragile form. The creature was eviscerated in a single bite, its limp body bolted down whole, bones and all.
As she swallowed, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the monstrous rabbit variants she¡¯d been fed as a hatchling. Those had been large and satisfying, a far cry from this meager snack. Still, her ravenous body tore into the meal with ferocious hunger, and she could feel the nutrients being absorbed to fuel her recovery.
She was far from full, however, and much more rabbit hunting would be necessary. The others had bolted into their burrow, but Rue was patient. She would wait until they deemed it safe to come out again, then strike. Alternatively, once her flames had recovered, she could simply flush them out in one fiery burst. Either way, she would not go hungry for long.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, Rue lay lazily in the forest, basking in her renewed vitality. She had hunted and feasted on dozens of smaller creatures, steadily regaining her muscle mass and healing her lingering wounds. Thanks to her regeneration and the steady supply of succulent flesh, her body had fully recovered. She could feel her growth resuming, no longer stalled by injuries or lack of sustenance.
Her thoughts drifted to exploration. Earlier that day, she had discovered an exit from the cavern. It lay opposite the entrance she had used before and seemed to lead into another series of passages. Perhaps it would take her to a new cavern¡ªand with it, more tasty goblins.
As Rue exited the cavern, the familiar tunnels she had traversed for hours reentered her senses. The expansive freedom of the cavern was gone. Despite being dozens of meters in diameter, the tunnels now felt cramped. She longed for the open space of another cavern, if such a place existed. The glowing lights embedded in the walls and ceiling seemed intrusive, their brightness grating on her eyes. The terrain here was subdued compared to the forest. Trees were reduced to shrubs, and only bushes and grass flourished. The pervading wildlife consisted of small rodents, creatures far too insignificant to waste her time hunting¡ªfor either sustenance or experience.
The tunnel offered no side passages, instead winding in a continuous, serpentine path. It twisted and turned, frequently changing elevation with steep hills and gentle slopes. Occasionally, it would widen slightly, giving Rue fleeting hope of reaching a new cavern, only to constrict again to its usual size.
After wandering the passage for what felt like half a day, Rue came upon something unexpected: a goblin corpse. The body was riddled with small spears that pierced its flesh, the drying blood still glistening in the wounds. Curious, Rue sniffed at the goblin. She was hungry, having passed up the unworthy rodents earlier, and after determining the meat was safe, she began to feed.
Her sharp teeth tore into the juicy flesh, though the embedded spears proved an annoyance. When she attempted to remove them, they broke, their barbed tips embedded deep in the wounds. Still, they posed little obstacle to her powerful jaws, and she crushed wood, bone, and flesh alike. By the time she finished, all that remained was a scattering of blood and viscera. The goblin had not been as large as the warrior types she had previously fought and consumed, but it made for a satisfying meal nonetheless.
Continuing down the tunnel, Rue soon encountered another goblin corpse, this one lying next to a slightly larger goblin, nearly four feet tall. She ignored these remains for now, her hunger sated.
As she moved further along, the air became tinged with the metallic scent of blood. Soon, she came upon a pit filled with death. At the bottom lay a gruesome mess of wooden spikes, leaves, twigs, and impaled goblin bodies. Several goblins had fallen victim to the trap, their flesh torn and punctured. The scene was brutal, a clear indication that something was hunting these goblins. The trail of corpses suggested the predator was still active.
The discovery stirred mixed feelings within Rue. On one hand, she felt anger and disappointment that she hadn¡¯t been the one to kill them herself. On the other, the thought of confronting whatever was responsible excited her. With any luck, it would be a challenge¡ªsomething strong and worthwhile to fight.
__________________________________________
The pack leader peered through the bushes, his small eyes widening as he beheld a glorious expanse of red scales. Heat suffused his body, a powerful radiance emanating from the god-like creature before him. Despite the comforting warmth, he shivered, gripping his crude spear tightly. Leaning further out of the undergrowth, he dared to take in more of the divine presence.
The magnificent being was gazing at the pit, where the corpses of the vile goblin invaders lay impaled on wooden spikes. Those enemies had been vanquished by the tribe''s cunning, yet now the pack leader felt a tremor of unease. Was the god displeased?
His heart pounded as he debated his next move. No chances could be taken. If the deity before him was angry, their entire tribe might suffer. He swallowed hard, backing slowly into the cover of the bush. Preparations had to be made. The tribe needed to be ready. With resolve, he turned and darted away.
Chapter 45: Magic
Velora sat in her study room chair. It had been only days since the subjugation squad had chased the black dragon into the depths of the copper mines. Her skills had not grown from the battle, and she received no experience from the fight. She knew the dragon was still alive, yet everybody else seemed content with having chased it deeper into the earth.
Her mind flashed back to the hateful gaze of the black horror they had fought. It had been level 41 when they fought, and how it had reached such a level and size so quickly was a mystery to most of those she had questioned. Its dark skills and affinity may have played a significant part, however. The only further action that had been taken to deal with the creature was to eradicate the remaining ghouls and other corrupted prisoners in the dungeon. Most had been sent there to starve anyway, having committed crimes like rape or slavery. They would live for years down there, starving and growing weaker, before eventually succumbing to the dank caverns.
Velora may not have known the origins of the dragon¡¯s rapid increase in power. She was not a beast researcher and merely dabbled in any research not pertaining to magic. She made a note to herself to look into calling an expert on beast and dragon-related matters, maybe someone from the army? She had trained herself with mana control and various other spell-altering skills making her a formidable war mage and earning her many accolades in the magic community. Despite her low skill levels, her abilities were versatile and powerful, giving her control over spells not commonly seen among mages.
|
Race |
Level |
XP/Growth |
Stat Points |
|
Human |
72 |
4478/5338 [+1 /pd] |
0 |
|
Strength |
Vitality |
Dexterity |
Intelligence |
|
73 |
133 |
73 |
381 + 20 (401) |
|
Ability |
Effects |
|
Magic Caster [6] |
You can learn and cast spells up to Tier [6]. |
|
Mana Sight [3] |
You can see [Mana] as it flows around the world and within you. You can see the different [Schools] of magic and determine spell effects by sight. This skill is improved by [Intelligence]. Enhances vision by +[5%]/10 Int |
|
Mana Manipulation [3] |
Allows you to manipulate mana for the formation of [Spells] and other [Frameworks]. Speed of manipulation is greatly improved. |
|
Scholar [2] |
You can [Write] and [Read] very fast and have increased [Memory]. Increase learning speed of all written languages. |
|
Meta Magic [4] |
You desire for flexibility and power have led you to alter the framework of many spells. You find controlling the amount of [Mana] in a spell or framework significantly easier. You may exchange the [School] of magic in a spell or construct at will. |
|
Maximise Magic [2] |
You have learned to increase the amount of [Mana] in a spell making it more powerful while retaining most of its [Efficiency]. [Double] a spells mana cost and [Double] its effects. |
|
Multicast Magic [1] |
You have learned to cast the same spell in parallel. You can cast multiple instances of a spell simultaneously, based on concentration. |
|
Identify [3] |
Tells you the basic [Species] and [Level] of targets. Can appraise targets up to [50] Levels higher than you. |
She was especially proud of her [Maximise Magic] skill. It was well known that mages could add more mana to spells to make them stronger. This practice, called upcasting, elevated the mana cost of a spell as if it had been cast at a tier higher than its actual tier. The problem with upcasting was that the mana cost increase was not linear¡ªit more than tripled. For example, casting a tier-one spell with enough power to be a tier-two spell would make it more powerful but require over three times as much mana.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Upcasting spells of varying levels did increase their power, but the returns diminished. The higher you upcast a spell, the less efficient it becomes in terms of the power gained relative to the mana spent. In this regard, her [Maximise Magic] skill stood apart. It did not rely on upcasting; instead, it provided a flat increase in power to her spells without demanding disproportionately more mana. It was highly prized for this exact reason and not easy to aquire.
|
Spell Name |
Spell Tier |
|
Acid Splash, Fire Bolt, Light, Mage Hand, Ray of Frost, Mould Earth |
0 |
|
Absorb Elements, Burning Hands, Catapult, Chromatic Orb, Magic Missile, Mage Armor |
1 |
|
Arcane Lock, Calm Emotions, Flaming Sphere, Hold Person, Misty Step, Scorching Ray, Enlarge/Reduce |
2 |
|
Blink, Call Lightning, Counterspell, Fireball |
3 |
|
Aura Of Purity, Wall Of Fire, Greater Invisibility |
4 |
|
Far Step, Cone Of Cold |
5 |
|
6 |
The only part of her training that had suffered was her repertoire of memorized and practiced spells. Spending so much time perfecting her metamagic and other skills had left her with fewer spells ready for immediate use. She could cast almost any spell if she had the formula in front of her and enough time to cast it, but only the spells she had memorized and practiced would be useful in combat.
As she sat contemplating, there was a knock at her door. She dismissed the glowing scroll that represented her status and waved a hand toward the large wooden door. It stood a few meters in front of her heavy wooden desk, currently still littered with papers and other sundries.
With a simple use of [Mage Hand], the door swung inward, revealing a messenger girl. The petite, brown-haired girl, wearing the academy¡¯s student robes, paused for a moment as the door opened fully. The customary dark blue fabric of her robes became visible, and out of curiosity, Velora¡¯s eyes drifted to the girl¡¯s right sleeve, where two light-blue stripes of fabric had been sewn on. A certified second-tier mage.
The girl¡¯s eyes fell to Velora¡¯s shoulder, where her white research robes bore her rank insignia: three bands of silky green satin arranged decoratively on her right shoulder. The messenger girl hesitated briefly, processing the academy¡¯s perhaps overly complex rank color system, before hastily bowing.
¡°Magus, I have a message from¡¡±
She was interrupted by a sudden disturbance in the mana near the door. The girl took a nervous step back also having seen the dense ring of mana condensing before it widened into a hollow circle that began to fill with a sheet of dense purple fog. Velora let out a sigh and looked to the now partially obscured mage stood outside her door.
¡°Thank you Mage, I have the situation under control¡± The mage quickly nodded and did one last bow before turning and hurrying off down the corridor outside her room. Another use of [Mage Hand] and the door swung closed with a click.
She watched a hunched figure step out of the mist-filled portal in her study, the little old lady carried a long wooden staff, a large red gem set in a silvery metal bracket on the top, intricate wire and fittings securing it in a fancy cage.
¡°Regret not investing in vitality yet Master?¡± Velora waved towards a chair while speaking, her tone humorous.
The chair was heavy and the spectral hand she summoned trying to drag it made slow progress.
¡°Regret not having decent spells yet Apprentice?¡± The old woman raised her free hand and mumbled a spell ¡°[Animate Objects]¡± and the chair proceeded to walk free from Velora¡¯s mage hand and prance over to the old woman. It positioned itself for her to sit and made sure she was comfortable as she took a seat.
¡°It is about mastery, one spell can be made to fit many applications¡± her counterargument took on a defensive tone.
¡°Bahh, why not master many spells, your skills are powerful but you are slacking in your spell knowledge. You reached Tier 6 weeks ago, yet have you started studying to learn one, hmmm?¡±
Velora lowered her head, ¡°No master, I was distracted by problems in the city¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure such problems would have been solved much easier with a well-placed disintegrate¡± Velora groaned as this argument once again resurfaced.
¡°Disintegrate is not a spell that changes with school alignment, hence not affected by much of my meta magic. I would prefer to add an elemental spell to my repertoire.¡±
The two casters sat and looked at each other for a time before the old woman sighed. ¡°You are free to pick and choose your own spells now but I would beg for you to consider the spell, it is powerful for its level and your other skills would synergize well with the spell.¡±
Velora remained impassive, in reality, she was considering the spell, but she was reluctant to just admit her other choices had been worse. When initially questioned she had vehemently defended her obviously subpar choices. As she sat in contemplation the portal behind her master stopped spinning and petered out of existence.
The elder mage spoke again, clearly trying to change the topic in a lighter direction. ¡°I see you have been investing in vitality, you still have that lovely glow of youth¡±
She looked up to see the old woman staring at her wistfully. ¡°I know I told you not to put any points into stats other than intelligence, but I¡¯m glad you did, sometimes one needs to forge their own path.¡±
Velora smiled at the Magister, old and wise she was trying to cheer her up, in her own way. It was an unlikely pairing of master and apprentice, she had followed many of her teachings but had branched out into a very different skill path. The magister had focused on spell knowledge and mana capacity, trying to reach even more powerful tiers and have every more staying power. She had aimed for perfection, each spell she learned was trained and integrated with her skill to eke out every pint of mana for all it was worth.
[Human Lv92] Her master had not leveled in years, sticking to her research and teaching. From their spars she knew that her mana was practically inexhaustible by her own standards, she had never seen her master run out of mana during the course of training her. Even if she didn¡¯t agree with this method, she still admired the woman, breaking the very forefront of research and high-tier spells.
¡°So Velora, tell me this business with the city then, what see you on your travels?¡±
____________________
Noe awoke, half-submerged in what felt like water. He had been roused by the sensation of his minions being extinguished, one by one. The steady trickle of energy and power they had been feeding him grew thinner and thinner as they were eliminated by unknown forces. Finally, the supply from his corrupted minions dried up completely. Though he still drew power and nourishment from the dominated but uncorrupted humans, it was less than a quarter of his previous intake.
He lifted his head, grimacing at the pain radiating from his damaged body. His scales burned, and his mangled lower left half throbbed with every faint movement. His recovery was slow¡ªagonizingly so. The spell of that human mage had cut through his shadows and scales like nothing he had ever encountered before. The memory of the encounter filled him with dread. He could only hope she would not descend into the depths to find him.
Yet even as fear gripped him, anger simmered beneath the surface. He swore to himself that they would meet again. Next time, he would devour her mind, bend her to his will, and force her to reveal her secrets. She would aid him in exacting his revenge upon the humans. He would feast upon them, collect them, and grow so powerful that they would never dare challenge him again.
For now, though, he pushed mana into his scales, letting the black shadows of the cavern envelop and soothe his battered form.
Chapter 46: Industrious Offerings
Rue ripped into the carcass of another dead goblin, this one she had come across in the caverns alone, its throat cut and body pinned to the floor by wooden stakes. They had been pushed deep into the earth through their forearms and calves. This spread-eagled goblin was quite tasty and having it pinned down allowed her to savage its soft innards and succulent flesh. It was an evolved goblin but not one of the warriors, their flesh was tough but what her jaws shredded now was moist and tender with lots of fat, a perfect specimen for consumption.
Some small part of her wondered why it had been left out in the open for anything to feast upon but apart from a few tiny lizard creatures that she could feel with den sense no other creatures were nearby. Well, she was satisfied with the tasty food so with a low satisfied rumble and a snort to get some blood out of her nostrils she kept eating.
It was when she broke into its internal organs that she got a surprise and flinched back from the body.
Ding! For Slaying [Hobgoblin Lv14] In Assisted Combat +0xp
It hadn¡¯t been dead? But even as she had been tearing into its flesh, it hadn¡¯t moved. No, she must have killed something else. It had still been warm, but she¡¯d assumed that was simply due to freshness. Rue swiveled her head, scanning back the way she had come for another goblin. Perhaps she had stepped on one and it had died? Yet no matter how much she paced and searched, she could find no other corpse.
Well, it was certainly strange¡ªbut it had been tasty. Very tasty.
Rue returned to her meal, her senses on high alert, and resumed eating. The caverns were unnervingly quiet. There were no other creatures around, just a faint background hum of insects and plant life stirring in her awareness. The blood was beginning to thicken, and the muscles of her meal stiffened beneath her teeth. The once rich and vibrant flesh started to fade, losing some of the flavor that had so thrilled her.
As she considered abandoning the remains of her meal to continue her journey, a distant clamor echoed from the tunnel ahead. The sound of approaching creatures stirred her instincts.
Rue whipped her bloodied snout up, flaring her wings as a thrill shot through her spine at the thought of combat. Could this be the creature, or creatures, that had been killing the goblins? Or were these the goblins themselves, fleeing from some greater threat? Perhaps that greater threat would prove a worthy opponent, one capable of providing her with strength.
She extended her dense sense, sending her mind¡¯s eye rushing forward to meet the approaching presence. But for the first time, she encountered an invisible barrier. She pressed harder with her skill, but the obstruction remained unmoving, impenetrable. Her awareness barely reached the bend in the tunnel, a hundred meters ahead, leaving her blind to what lay beyond. Resolving to wait, Rue crouched low, her muscles tense with anticipation, ready to confront whatever emerged.
She didn¡¯t have to wait long. Her sharp eyes caught the movement of small, lizard-like creatures rounding the corner. As they came into view, their numerous eyes widened, and they quickened their pace. More and more appeared, pouring around the bend. Each one walked upright on two legs, clutching a small spear in clawed hands. Their long tails dragged behind them, swishing like tiny serpents.
The creatures¡¯ scales varied in color though greens and browns dominated, occasional flashes of red and black stood out. Some bore mottled patterns, individual scars, and shades that stood out to her as marks of battle prowess or meaningful events. The familiar distribution of colors stirred a vague sense of recognition, though the connection eluded her grasp.
Each small lizard was only two feet high and she dwarfed them, with her flexible neck she could easily achieve twice the height they could see, even the bulkier individuals were only two and a half feet tall.
She picked one of the scarlet kobolds heading a small group of green and brown and [Identified] it.
[Kobold Pack Leader: Red Lv8]
That was... low. She flicked her gaze to the other kobolds behind the pack leader.
[Kobold: Green Lv6]
[Kobold: Brown Lv9]
[Kobold: Green Lv3]
[Kobold: Green Lv4]
[Kobold: Green Lv4]
[Kobold: Brown Lv3]
It was a varied mix of colors, but their levels were pitifully low, even the horned rabbits she had slain were at a higher level than them, how had they persisted in such a harsh environment? Surely these creatures could not have been the ones to kill the goblins. That was her line of thinking until she noticed that they were still coming around the corner, squad after squad each led by a pack leader. The leaders usually being the rarer colored variants. When dozens of groups had emerged from the tunnel a small group of black and red kobolds came around the corner. The block of ten red kobolds stood far taller than other members of the army, they guarded a small group of black-scaled kobolds.
[Kobold Warlord: Red Lv21]
[Kobold Warlord: Red Lv24]
¡
[Kobold Mage: Black Lv23]
[Kobold Advisor: Black Lv26]
She identified some of the group before her gaze was drawn to a large creature moving behind them. No, it was not a creature, but a huge sleigh, for the kobold throne dragged atop it. It was made of a dark metal engraved and furnished with weapons and other combat-focused imagery. The huge throne was carried atop a team of over a dozen brown-scaled kobolds. The creature that sat atop the throne was large but not as huge as some of the red kobolds she had seen, but it had the calculated grace of the black variants as well. Its deep blue scales created a shimmering pattern with the magical light from the ceiling. Rue could see many scars and missing scales on its cunning face, its reptilian eyes darting around with noticeable intelligence.
[Kobold King: Blue Lv33]
This was their leader and following to the side of the throne were more packs of kobolds, these ones brown but with bulky builds, they drew the throse along, draging it over the ground.
If this was their attempt to clear her from these tunnels it would be rebuffed, despite their numbers in the hundreds they would quickly fall before her fire and claws. Rue raised her wings and gripped the ground with her claws preparing to leap off and begin her slaughter when she paused. The king kobold had raised his hand and the huge procession of kobolds creased to advance and parted into two columns before lining up in neat columns and facing her.
The king dismounted and was flanked immediately by the group of high-level black and red kobolds. They formed two lines on either of his flanks and he walked up the path between the army of kobolds, their ranks filling the whole width of the considerably large tunnel.
Rue walked forward, lowering her wings, and met the procession at the head of the army, now no more than 10 meters separating the king and her. She looked into his blue-scaled face and saw his slitted and slightly dilated pupils looking back.
¡°Ohhsss my highnesss, this ones humbly greets and welcomes you. Thanksss youss for accepting ourss tributes¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The sibilant and low voice of the kobold surprised her, she could understand him perfectly, and unlike with speech she had experienced before it contained understandable emotions and inflections. He was speaking draconic, her language, the one passed down from dragon to dragon through her skill.
He was speaking with extreme deference and gratitude and he followed his words with a bow that placed his scaly snout on the ground in complete submission. Like a tidal wave, the entire army of hundreds of kobolds adopted identical postures. All of the swords, spears and other weapons were laid flat on the ground in a show of deference.
Tribute, so she had killed that goblin¡these creatures had left it there paralyzed and helpless as an offering to her. Rue mulled this thought over in her mind and found that it did in fact appeal a great deal to her. As pleasant as it was hunting for her own food, and the thrill of killing she felt her very being resonate with the actions of these creatures. It was as if her blood recognized theirs, much like with fellow dragons but this dynamic felt different.
Rue felt for her draconic heritage skill and queried it for tributes and offerings. It came up with surprising information, upon finding an offering to be acceptable and feeling the beings worthy, many dragons would grant them a boon. It was quite traditional according to her skill and many dragons accepted regular offerings for the right to live in their territory. She considered this and the thought of regular meals of this quality delivered to her... well, she had just conquered this new territory, and having some servants was the next logical step.
Deciding that she felt the delicious meal was indeed worthy of a boon, the impressive display of supplication had put her in a generous mood.
¡°Kingss Of Kobaldss, yours offering wass most tasssty, speekss of a boon and I sshallsss grant itss¡±
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King Kaliorax kept his snout firmly on the ground and his eyes lowered just to observe the claws of the divine presence. It was not every waking that a literal god would grace you with their presence. The majestic being had even agreed to grant him a boon just as the lore keepers had said. Now came the difficult task of requesting a being of such power to allow them to serve her. Such an aura of power radiated from her that he was sure she lacked no servants.
He spoke for every kobold when they looked upon her gleaming form and felt their blood boil with passion and reverence.
¡°I thankss you your highnesss, I would begs your generosssity to come to out ssstronghold and claim our territoryss as your own, so that we may sssserve you¡±
_______________________________________________
Rue heard the request and felt her instincts and draconic knowledge skill slide over the suggestion. It was
very agreeable. yet It did not feel right to accept such a request as part of a boon. Rue brushed the instincts aside and decided that if the lands were good and she found a place to settle she would reward the kobold by re-asking her question and perhaps granting him a proper boon.
¡°Very well, king of koboldss. I sshall accompany you to yourss domain, lead the way¡± She let her voice echo with gravelly tones as she felt it fit the occasion.
The kobold king seemed to approve as he perked up and made a signal to his attendants. They also raised from the floor and in short order, the whole army was once again standing before they turned to face inwards. All of the kobolds then took a knee creating a passage of homage that the king and his guard led her up. Once they were halfway he remounted his throne and the whole army formed a cordon around her, fierce admiration showing in their eyes as the procession, now including her went back the way they came.
It was a long and silent walk back to the kobold territory; Rue could hear the rank-and-file kobolds chattering and caught them taking sneaking glimpses of her frequently. The kobolds nearest her seemed to bask in the warmth and power her presence provided. She pumped a small trickle of mana into her aura to increase the temperature by about 10 degrees. The kobolds seemed to relax and bask in the warmth. She saw the pack leaders creating orderly rotations that would allow all the members to spend some time in her presence.
After observing the kobolds for a while, she turned her attention to the entrance of a new cavern looming ahead. Kobolds at the front of the army rushed forward and began marking the sides of pitfalls, rock slides, and other traps whose exact nature she could not determine. The rest of the army advanced cautiously, avoiding these hazards, and moved into the cavernous entrance where two stone towers and a wall stood guard.
The wall stretched over 30 meters to cover the tunnel entrance before it began to widen. For the kobolds, it was an imposing fortification, standing 7 meters high and constructed from solid stone blocks over 3 meters thick. It was formidable enough to withstand attacks from most creatures Rue had encountered.
Atop the wall, more than a hundred kobold archers, slingers, and rock throwers stood ready, alongside mages wielding orbs and staffs, making it a truly hellish obstacle. The wall was also adorned with racks of spears, indicating that the kobolds were prepared for melee combat as well as ranged attacks.
For her, it would have been a simple matter to jump over or onto the wall. With the aid of a few flaps of her wings, it was entirely possible. The spears and projectiles would likely do little more than annoy her, but for many other beasts, they would be reduced to battering at the solid stone in a futile attempt to breach the gate, all while the towers and wall rained fire and metal upon them.
Something glinted with a metallic sheen atop the 13-meter gate towers, but Rue couldn¡¯t see it clearly from her angle.
With her sharp senses, she heard the kobolds on the walls cheering and gazing in her direction. She had to admit, the reverence and worship were satisfying. It filled a part of her she hadn¡¯t realized was empty, stroking her ego in a most delightful manner.
Draconic Arrogance [1] -> Draconic Arrogance [2]
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Draconic Arrogance [2] |
It is the strong that often become arrogant. A hallmark of most draconic breeds, you feel superior to those with less [Attributes] than yourself. Your feeling of superiority causes you to take less notice of inferior beings. |
She snorted at the skill increase it was no consequence that she should take notice of those lesser than her. She looked around at the myriad kobolds and didn''t notice any difference.
The rest of the army halted and once again formed a walkway for her to approach the wall. At first, she saw no opening, and for part of her approach, she thought a jump and climb might be necessary. However, when she was only 20 meters from the wall, she noticed mana flickering atop it as two black-scaled kobolds appeared to invoke some form of magic.
The stone arch at the center of the wall became more pronounced as the blocks within it tipped, rotated, and interlocked in a spinning, coordinated pattern. The transformation revealed a massive gate, easily large enough to accommodate Rue and a dozen kobolds walking abreast. The displaced stone blocks seemed to redistribute into the archway on either side of the new entrance, a display of magical coordination that Rue recognized as truly impressive.
The king and his entourage formed a protective detail around her as they walked through the stone arch. Inside, the area was filled with support structures and defensive buildings clearly designed to aid in repelling attacks on the wall.
Stone buildings emitted a strange but enticing food smell, and brown and green kobolds bustled about, carrying supplies. The ringing of metal and the general clamor of activity ground to a halt as she stepped through the arch. Many kobolds dropped to their knees, prostrating themselves, as she was led down a cobblestone road that wound deeper into the gargantuan cavern.
This cavern was larger than the goblin cavern she had seen before. Its walls soared upward, climbing hundreds of meters toward the mist-shrouded ceiling. The faint light sources from that great height were dimmed and distorted by the vapors drifting through the upper reaches. The cavern as a whole was dominated by stone, with less light and a heavier, more enclosed atmosphere.
She couldn¡¯t see the far side of the cavern, but ahead, toward the center, stood a tree line. The trees here were different, taller and thinner with darker needles, interspersed with massive rocky outcrops and boulders scattered throughout the forest. Leaving behind the buildings and homes clustered near the wall, they entered the forest along a well-maintained kobold path, free of overgrown foliage and evidence of the forest¡¯s careful taming.
Less than an hour into their journey, Rue¡¯s sharp ears picked up the sound of metal striking stone and the rumble of collapsing rock. Soon they came upon a large clearing where a mining operation was in full swing. Wooden and metal carts emerged from the ground on iron tracks, loaded with heaps of black rock. Teams of up to ten kobolds pulled the empty carts back into the mine, while the full ones were dumped into an ever-growing pile of dark, glistening stone.
The sight intrigued Rue. She had never seen creatures construct such elaborate infrastructure. Studying the black rocks briefly, she found her draconic greed strangely unprovoked. It was of no concern to her now, though she made a mental note to return and use [Mineral Assay] later to satisfy her curiosity.
Continuing along the cobbled road, they occasionally passed wagons pulled by kobold teams. The drivers respectfully steered their wagons off the path to make way for the procession.
The road began to curve leftward, and the forest thinned. Emerging from the tree line, Rue caught sight of the largest settlement she had ever seen. Surrounded by towering walls and turrets, the city was a hive of activity. Thousands of kobolds scurried about, carrying goods, shopping, and working in the bustling town center.
From their vantage point atop a hill, the view was breathtaking. The king gestured for her to continue, and they passed a massive tower on the hill before descending the cobbled road toward the city¡¯s entrance gate. Already, crowds of kobolds were beginning to gather, their eyes filled with awe and reverence.
Chapter 47: Insidious Operation
¡°My Lord, I have news¡± Prince Rostislav turned his snout to look at the messenger, a lowly green. He stared at the kobold until she spoke.
¡°A dragon had been spotted on the coal side tunnel, pursuing goblins. The king has assembled a war party to greet the divine dragon, they left 2 days ago.¡± He could practically feel the anticipation in her voice as the green practically sung the beast¡¯s praises.
A scale-cursed dragon¡ just what he needed. Rostislav had to steel his will to stop imagining its lustrous scales and infinite wisdom. He would not become some doe-eyed female caught in a powerful warrior¡¯s gaze. He had ambitions. And how bloody long did it take for him to even get word? They sent a runner, not even a message spell. Something this important deserved a mage¡¯s attention, surely. Those old fools, playing against him in such a critical moment.
Rostislav looked out over the ramparts. They guarded the iron side tunnels, completely in the opposite direction of the city where the king and dragon would meet. His tail started to swish on the floor in his agitation. He raised a red-scaled, bracer-clad arm to gesture the messenger away without looking in her direction. She was cute, but he would not stoop to a green.
He dragged his free left arm¡¯s claws against the parapet while tightening his grip on Hide Piercer, his beloved spear. His plans to slowly throttle the other sectors with a lack of good-quality iron ore would still hold. Over the last few years, he had already feigned a decrease in production while outfitting his own forces with better and better equipment. His mages were suffering from a lack of magic metals, and he had his suspicions as to why¡ªbut a mage could only do so much against a fully equipped regiment.
¡°Well, let glory be gained or my scales be powdered.¡± With a final scrape to the worked stone, leaving deep grooves, he turned and addressed his packs. He would have to play on his kobold heartstrings; telling them the truth in this situation would have him lose support. He would inform his top commanders and promise them high rewards for following him. He would not let the otehr factions monopolise a divine dragon.
¡°Pack leaders, warlords, and mages, the king had made a grave error. In his old age, he has gained the word of a dragon approaching, benevolent to our territory. In his folly, he has plans to trap the dragon and steal its power. I will not allow him to mar the
divinity of such a blessed creature. We mobilize now for he will surely try to enact his devilish plans. Husssssssaaaasss¡± he gave a hissing cheer which his packs returned before everybody on the walls and floor began draining from the defenses.
He would take everyone with him, save for the few non-combatants left behind in the village. It would leave the wall defenses undermanned, but unless something mobile or truly dangerous came, the walls would hold. Many of the pack leaders and evolved kobolds could see through his spew of lies, but they had either been paid in advance to follow him or silenced by good sense. They would either follow him or be cast aside by tooth and claw.
In less than an hour, close to 3,000 kobolds of various levels and quality marched down the packed dirt path leading towards the kobold city. From his place atop a throne of iron, the prince surveyed his steel legions as they advanced on his rightful land to claim his birthright.
______________________________________
Rue investigated her potential new home. After passing through the city, they had approached the cavern walls and entered a cave along the side. She felt a warm, comforting sensation envelop her as she crossed the threshold. The entrance was not massive, only about half a dozen meters wide, but still plenty big enough for her current size. The roof was supported by smooth stone columns, evidently shaped by magic, as evidenced by the small residue of mana left in the stone.
The space opened up after they had traveled a few dozen meters. Rue could feel and see mana coursing through the walls, seemingly following thin channels in the stone. The natural density of mana in the cave was also higher, with most of the stone infused with small traces of elemental energy. It felt pleasant¡ªperhaps even a suitable location for a den, especially given the bad memories that marred the dwarven stronghold. Though the stronghold had more space¡ and the satisfaction of having bested its previous occupant was tempting. She would think more on it, prehaps even lead her new kobold minions in creating somethign more to her likeing.
____________________________
King Kaliorax was accompanying the dragon but had taken a back seat, letting her explore on her own initiative while remaining close enough to answer any requests. He made sure to keep his guards and entourage outside so as not to encroach on what he hoped would become the dragon¡¯s new lair.
He watched as the mighty red dragon sniffed and tasted the air. It was thick with magic, something the lore keepers had told him would be of great value to the dragon. This mine was an old, tapped-out gold mine; thin seams not worth extracting had pulled mana from the environment, causing it to accumulate naturally to a higher degree.
Hopefully, they could convince the dragon to settle here permanently. It would increase the power of the kobold nation exponentially. Generations to come would speak of him as the bringer of divinity. He would secure the kobolds¡¯ future for hundreds of years. Yes, they would have to give regular tribute, as was only proper, but the divine dragon would also protect them, perhaps even assist them in taking new territory in the more dangerous sections of the labyrinth.
¡°¡°Sire, the gift has been prepared¡±¡± An aid whispered to him via a message spell. While the connection was still open he asked for them to bring it in.
They watched as a small wooden cart laden with gold was pulled by one of his guards into the lair. It was followed by another, then another. Each cart that passed contained glinting gold in many different forms. Drawn by single kobolds they were used to transport heavier items far more conveniently. They kept coming until six had passed, organized and comprised of only his most trusted that would be allowed to enter. He had personally organized it with advice from his lore keepers and advisors before he had even gone to meet the dragon.
Yet another convoy of carts entered, this one pulled by his mage entourage. These carts were filled with silver bars and coins. Soon enough, his red warriors returned to continue bringing in the hoard.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Kaliorax walked into the chamber of the dragon¡¯s lair and saw the dragon gazing at the gold and silver with infatuation. Her tongue darted in and out, tasting the air and the scent of the metals.
¡°Great One, a welcome gift from our city, we will also providess the labor to carry your previousss hoard over to this location if you will it, sso please accept our humble request to sstay.¡± He followed this speech with a genuflection onto the ground.
There was a pregnant pause, then he heard her reply with a voice thrumming with power.
¡°Very well, king of koboldsss. I shall accept these giftss and reside here for now. This is a tribute worthy of a true boon, sstep forward¡±
He approached the dragon with reverence, he could only suspect, not even daring to hope that the lore masters recordings would be true.
The dragon raised one impossibly sharp claw, bringing it to her own flesh on her other foreleg. With what appeared to be some significant effort she worked her way under one of the larger scales there and pierced her flesh. Nothing happened and the dragon frowned before pressing harder until a rivulet of blood worked its way free. He felt a shift if the dragons magic, his rudimentary senses not understanding the true complexities. She then lifted her forelimb to his head high and spoke.
¡°Drinks¡ become mine¡±
His heart surged and had his eyes been capable of crying like mammals he would have shed tears of joy. Reverently he opened his jaws and let a few drops of the potent blood touch his tongue, he felt the magic work into him and wholeheartedly accepted it.
Ding! Patron Gained [Ruebrum Ignasia]
Ding! +[Pact Magic]
Pact Magic [1]
Your Patrons power flows through you granting you power. Your form is empowered, and you may draw on a fraction of your patron''s power.
Kaliorax felt the blood go down his throat, so hot it burned even as it began to fill him with a searing warmth and power. It spread from his stomach, seeping into every corner of his body. He felt so much more powerful, every muscle and scale infused with a tiny fraction of the great being¡¯s essence. From his lore masters¡¯ teachings, he knew this would be a permanent increase to his Attributes and was not the full extent of the pact. He could also feel a distant but readily accessible source of magic. Though he had access to only a fraction of what the dragon wielded, he knew he would be able to draw on it to cast great and powerful spells.
¡°Thankss you great one I shalls humbly serve you, grow your hoard and expand your empire¡±
¡°Good good, I look forward to it. Now, I wish to be alone with my hoard¡±
Kaliorax bowed and hurriedly left the room, taking all of his stunned and awed guards with him, now that they had finished unloading all of the gold. He glanced at the piles of gold and silver in the room and briefly thought that he would have liked to see the great one basking on the pile but knew he could not stay and disobey the great one''s wish to be left alone for now.
It was with both anticipation and mild regret that he left the cavern, away from basking in the warmth and majesty of their new god and back into a world of politics and scheming. Kaliorax forced himself out and once around the corner, he had one of his most favored guards and a skilled advisor stand guard by the entrance to prevent curious and bold kobolds from any unwanted intrusion. They could also contact him should the dragon have any requests that would need to be fulfilled.
His thoughts turned to food. He could feel his body calling out and craving sustenance; he would need it to fuel the coming changes to his body.
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Rue looked at the piles of gold and silver. First, she gathered all the silver into a huge pile. The pile was over 5 meters across and nearly two meters deep, with several large bars of silver sticking out and rolled to the edge. Just to make sure, Rue leaned into the pile and singled out a huge bar of silver, nearly half a meter long and over 30 cm thick. She licked the metal and activated [Mineral Assay].
{Silver 98.00% Fine, Precious, Common}
This was slightly less pure than the bars she had originally created, which, when compared to the veritable mountain before her, seemed insignificant but would have to be rectified at some point. She would have to retrieve her other horde, small as it may be compared to this one; every coin was important to her.
She walked over to the pile and stepped onto it, coins cascading around her claws as her front legs sank into the flowing coins. She let out a huff of contentment and lay down, curling around the crest of the mountain to test its quality. It felt divine¡ªwarm and comforting. But it could not hold her for long before she was drawn to the pile of gold.
Rue stalked over to the mound and licked a cresting gold coin.
{Gold 99.0% Fine, Precious, Rare}
A little bit purer than the silver, top quality indeed. Rue pressed her snout into the pile of gold, feeling the metal press against her scales. It was a truly magnificent moment, her first encounter with this metal even better than silver. She had discovered no better sensation than gold pressing against her scales.
Ding! Ability Evolution Draconic Greed[1] => Draconic Greed[2]
That was not a surprise, with the increase in her wealth and her first look at gold she had an even greater desire to own more of the metals. She needed more, to own a mountain of gold and silver that she could submerge herself in.
Draconic Greed [2]
Awakened when a dragon first sees a truly valuable metal and their thoughts turn to acquiring such objects. A hallmark of all draconic breeds you [Lust] after precious metals such as [Platinum], [Mithril], [Silver] and [Gold]. Precious metals in your presence take in your mana faster, and can be felt up to [Int]*5 meters away.
Well, at least the skill did something now. Before, all it did was increase her desire for the metals; now it would allow her to make sure no one stole her precious hoard. But enough contemplating. Rue eyed a spot right next to her silver pile and pulled the pile of gold over. It was only a pile that reached a meter in height, mostly coins and small bars, but it would be where she rested her head. The tinkling and ringing of coins spilling onto the stone floor was musical as she readjusted the piles, making them flatter and more suitable for a resting spot. The chiming of gold hitting gold and silver was mesmerizing as the magical torchlight flickered on the flowing metal.
The metal sparked like a magical carpet, and her eyes dilated as she let out a deep rumble of pleasure. Barely holding herself back, she walked onto the pile and lay down, shifting and rubbing to work her way down slightly, getting as much contact with the metals as possible as her mana flowed from her and into the pile. It would take a while for every coin to be marked by her, but she was long overdue for a nap. She raised the temperature of the cavern to a comfortable shimmer and then rested her head nestled inside the pile of gold before closing her eyes. With an involuntary rumbling still terminating from deep within her chest, she fell asleep.
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The King of the Kobolds sat atop his throne in the palace, one of the largest buildings in the city. The tall walls and high ceilings were carved with the best artwork the kobold stone shapers had created through the centuries. Each king had worked on the palace to make it a wonder for the ages.
He sat atop his throne, surrounded by females and allies, but it was not happiness he felt. He stared into a glowing crystal ball, one of his mages channeling a divination spell. In the milky quartz orb, he saw a terrible vision. An army marched, each second bringing them ever closer. The dull sheen of wrought iron armor and polished scales pushed forward in a relentless march of scale and steel.
Chapter 48: Take to the Sky
For the average kobold in the kingdom, life revolved around following the will of the pack leader: gathering, crafting, or mining to support themselves and their families under the direction of the kobold king. The kingdom and its surroundings had been thrown into turmoil with the arrival of a living god, a true dragon. The deity had agreed to take residence in their kingdom. It was an event not seen in living memory, known only through bedtime stories and the shaman¡¯s teachings, passed down to children through generations.
The common kobold still knew what this meant. For their entire lives, every day was spent under the constant threat of other races and creatures in the mountains. Orcs, goblins, ogres, and oozes were persistent dangers that had repeatedly tried to raid and pillage kobold settlements, gone were the days of kobolds living or even venturing far beyond their main cave stronghold. Their survival depended on cooperation and a strong pack mentality, using traps, walls, and numbers, they avoided or deterred what threats they could. When that failed, they overwhelmed their enemies with sheer numbers. The forest, narrow entrances and defensive emplacements meant they had long entered a stalemate, rarely sending more than the occasional hunting or intelligence-gathering party beyond the walls.
All kobolds felt a deep connection to dragons. The mere mention or thought of such beings ignited a fiery power in their blood, accompanied by a profound sense of awe. For the kobolds of the kingdom, alerted by town criers and messages, the news of the dragon god¡¯s presence had elevated their spirits and changed their outlook. Many were thankful to live in a generation where such a dream had become a reality. Mothers and fathers of small litters rejoiced that their children would grow up in a time presided over by a dragon. Having a dragon god changed everything for them, changing their passive perspective into a lust of battle and conquest, given strength and motivation from such a figurehead of power and charisma. The kobolds knew such a creature would never settle for merely owning part of the cave system, they were proud, fierce and powerful magical creatures. Instead, the dragon would lead and use them as tools in its arsenal to conquer the entire mountain.
The kingdom was thrown into overdrive. They worked harder, driven by the knowledge of the dragon¡¯s presence, some out of a desire to serve and find purpose, others out of sheer respect and adoration. They would not allow anything to take their god from them and fully embraced the mental shift that would befall their kingdom.
They would surge in their thousands, bearing teeth, claws, armour and spears with the willingness to sacrifice themselves to protect their ruler and god and bring an age of dominance to their empire. Across the capital and surrounding outposts and settlements, a wildfire of fervour and worship spread, uniting the kingdom in devotion to their dragon deity.
Across the kingdom, mines were producing tonnes of ore, pulling coal, iron, copper, and precious metals from the depths. Not all of these resources would be used to defend the kingdom and its people. In the more distant regions, iron and steel were forged into weapons of war and packed into supply trains for the great army soon to bear down on the capital. The prince rode with his soldiers, dragged along on a great wagon of iron and steel. He marched on the capitol intent on claiming his rightful place.
Even as the king rallied and raised troops to confront the growing threat, he prepared for the enemy¡¯s arrival at his walls. He expected a siege but remained hopeful that his new god and master would lend her power to turn the tide of battle in their favor.
The king hated that it had come to this, but understood the necessity of cutting the rot from the kingdom now, while he held the love of his people and the favour of the god. He flexed his muscles, feeling the surge of power from his bond with his master. Even as he planned his strategies, he ripped meat from the cooked drumstick of some creature to fuel his ongoing transformation, determined to complete it in the precious few days remaining before the battle.
________________________________________
None of this mattered to Rue as she stood on a stone platform under the awestruck gazes and cheers of the crowd. She basked in the warmth of their adoration, such a unique feeling compared to the fearful and respectful gazes she usually received and enjoyed. Rue was rapidly warming up to the small lizards¡ªthey lavished her with gold and silver, worshipped her, and hung on her every word.
Even now, small groups of kobolds were allowed to step forward and present her with coins and trinkets, which would later be added to her hoard. She found it adorable when she learned that kobolds shared a similar instinct to hoard precious metals, just like dragons. It seemed only proper that any subjects of hers should have hoards of their own, though hers would, of course, always be larger.
The king had suggested that she be presented to the people for worship, and she had eagerly agreed. Naturally, she would want to show off her magnificence. All of her new subjects should have the opportunity to bask in her presence. She flared her wings and sat back on her hind legs, raising her head proudly as she looked out over her followers.
She was especially looking forward to what would come at the end of the ceremony. The king had promised a feast with cooked and prepared meats, where she would be seated at the place of honour. For now, the ceremony continued with much of the same adoration and offerings. It concluded with a small procession through the city, ensuring even those who had not left their homes could see her and be encouraged. She was told this would provide the people with a sense of safety and purpose, especially given the troubled times ahead.
Rue grinned, her razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the artificial light. She had been informed of an army marching toward the city¡ªa rival kobold faction bent on razing the capital and killing her followers. The king and his retinue had managed to delay the news from reaching potentially troublesome parties for a day or two, giving her time to settle into her new, albeit temporary, residence. Now, however, the army was mere hours away, six or less, and this display and feast were as much for the morale of the soldiers as they were for the common people.
It hadn¡¯t escaped her notice that the procession had passed along all the city¡¯s walls, with hundreds of adoring soldiers cheering for her. Toward the end of the display they had left the central square and toured the outer street that lined the inside of the city''s wall. Flanked by honour guards and ceremonial kobolds she was brought to show her magnificence to the soldiers. She felt a thrill of excitement at the cheering warriors. Soon, she would see whether her new followers were truly worthy of her leadership in battle, they would fight and bleed to show their worthiness.
Her thoughts turned towards the battle, focusing on her own preparations.
Rue was no longer as naive as she had once been. She had learned from her many mistakes, and this time, she would make careful preparations. She would fill her mana and flame reserves to their maximum capacity and prepare a little surprise for the approaching army.
As the tour and feast drew to a close, Rue was led to the newly constructed entrance of her den. She paused, anticipation buzzing through her.
Turing to her guard she spoke, ¡°I wish to take a small trip outside the city, lead me there.¡±
¡°As you wish, great one,¡± the red kobold, leader of the pack that guarded her, said. The leader conferred for a moment with his advisors and a messenger and then bowed before leading her down a new path. The messenger was sent to inform the king of the updated plan, and soon she was passing through one of the gates, being guided to an open clearing as she had requested. It was long overdue. With her growth and ever-increasing stats, it had been far too long since she had tested her wings.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
The cave system was certainly high enough for flight. She wouldn¡¯t be soaring as high as the birds she had seen outside, but that mattered little, for she would be in the air. The thought sent a thrill through her blood. Dragons were meant to fly, after all.
Taking her position in the centre of the clearing, she gestured for her entourage to step back. They obeyed immediately, retreating a dozen paces and standing at attention, their eyes fixed reverently on her. She unfolded her red, leathery wings and stretched them wide.
With an experimental downward stroke, her wings caught the air. Grass, dust, and debris were swept outward by the force of the gust. For a brief moment, she felt the pressure on her feet lessen before the flap ended, and she was once again grounded. She grinned, her teeth gleaming, and raised her wings for a proper attempt.
This time, driven by instinct or sheer anticipation, she pushed off with her legs just as her wings came down in a powerful stroke. Her claws left the ground, and she surged upward. Her wings strained as they forced her higher, unused flight muscles burning as they worked for the first time in far too long.
She hung in the air for a heartbeat before raising her wings for another mighty stroke. This time, she didn¡¯t just rise, she flew. Pushing herself forward and upward, she felt the effort ease as she gained speed. Once she had momentum, it was far easier to stay aloft, using her speed and only occasional flaps to remain airborne.
She circled the clearing, then ventured further, flying over the area surrounding the city. Her exceptional vision allowed her to see the kobolds below, cheering from the walls. They raised their spears and cried out war cries as she passed overhead, their devotion and admiration fuelling her exhilaration.
After ten minutes of flight, Rue began to feel the fatigue in her wings from constant flapping and decided it was time to land back in the clearing. As she approached, she used a series of controlled flaps to reduce her speed, bracing against the air and aiming for her intended landing zone.
Unfortunately, her approach wasn¡¯t perfect. She misjudged her momentum, overshooting the clearing and heading directly toward a tall tree. Rue quickly assessed the situation, realizing that trying to swerve or abruptly change direction could lead to her impacting the tree with one of her wings. They were far less durable than the mass of muscles and scales that protected her body and she feared even her regeneration might not work properly for a truly grievous injury to them. Instead, she decided to bleed off as much speed as possible by flaring her wings and bracing her limbs to take the impact instead.
With a solid thump and a grunt, Rue collided with the tree. Fortunately, her hardened, reinforced body absorbed the worst of the blow, while the tree bore the brunt of her momentum. At first, the sturdy trunk resisted, bending slightly under her weight, with only a few strips of bark torn away by her claws.
But then came the crack. The tree''s roots gave way under the strain, and the massive trunk began to tilt. Rue leapt clear just in time, landing in the dirt as the tree toppled in slow motion.
The crashing fall was spectacular. Branches snapped, and the ground shuddered beneath her as the tree finally slammed down with a thunderous thump.
It wasn¡¯t the most efficient way to fell a tree. Fire would have been her preferred method if it had been necessary, but there was something deeply satisfying about the raw power of the collision. While it wasn¡¯t quite as thrilling as felling a large opponent in battle, the result was still impressive.
Rue shook her front paws, working out the slight numbness from the impact. Her natural regeneration was already at work, soothing strained muscles and ligaments. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that, had the tree not been in the way, her landing would have been flawless. Flying had been surprisingly easy for her; with stats finally capable of lifting her own body weight, the act had felt almost natural.
Ding! +[Fly]
Fly [1]
Use your wings to take to the skies and soar above the clouds. Decreases stamina drain when flying.
That was a simple skill, but perhaps it would help her sustain flight for longer in the future. Rue hoped flying would significantly cut down on travel time. Though, in the tunnels, where many ceilings were too low for effective flight, it might be less useful. Still, this experiment reminded her of the real reason for testing her wings so soon: the upcoming battle and her experiences from previous hunts.
No longer would she have to rely solely on sneaking up on prey from bushes, as enjoyable as that had been. Now she had far deadlier options. She would need to practice landing, of course, but the potential was exhilarating. From the skies, she could strike with devastating force¡ªcrushing prey beneath her weight, or unleashing torrents of fire from above. Flight gave her a distinct advantage, rendering her less vulnerable to being surrounded by overwhelming numbers. Instead of engaging in close quarters, she could rain destruction from the skies, then dive down to finish off any survivors.
A low rumble started in her chest as she imagined how differently her past battles might have played out. Victories would have been even more decisive, and her losses perhaps avoided entirely. With her newfound flight, the enhanced power of her body, and the ferocity of her flames. There was no doubt in her kind that she would crush all threats that dared to stand before her.
The rumbling continued, a quiet yet potent sound of satisfaction and anticipation, all the way back to her den. Her loyal followers escorted her, keeping vigilant as she returned to the sanctuary of her hoard. Once there, she curled up atop her treasures, commanding her minions to wake her when it was time for battle.
It wouldn¡¯t be long now, she hoped. Rue felt a thrill pass through her at the thought of impending bloodshed and death. She closed her eyes, with a faint grin, as she eagerly awaited the chaos.
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Jasper stood, panting, over the monster¡¯s corpse, its thick, scaly hide battered and bleeding from his blade. His own armour was scraped and scratched with a few dents, but overall, it was much more intact. He raised his sword, and the rest of his party cheered.
It had been several months since he was dispatched as part of the army to investigate and subjugate the increased beast activity detected in the eastern part of the kingdom. There, he had discovered what he knew to be a threat to the kingdom itself, though the leadership refused to acknowledge it. He had submitted personal reports of the dragon to his superiors and requested a subjugation force be sent, but due to unrest in the capital, no reinforcements were available at the time. What idiocy. He had travelled to the capital, but he was too low on the army''s radar to meet with anyone higher in rank and was merely given the same response from those he met. Realizing this, he had left, unwilling to give the beast time to grow stronger.
Jasper and his men searched high and low for it, slaying many beasts and losing even more men along the way. The untamed wilds of the eastern mountains were ferocious, but he refused to give up.
Though he knew he was doing good, removing monsters and even levelling up twice in such a short time, the red dragon remained elusive, with no further sightings. The closest they had gotten was from a small mountain village that reported a huge, scaled, fire-breathing lizard stealing livestock. His heart had soared, the description matched perfectly and even its behaviour was the same. This was the prey they had been searching for all this time. But when they arrived, with only his core team of four men remaining. All they found was a fire drake, little more than a closely related cousin of dragons, and far weaker.
A worthy opponent, but not the beast they had hoped to find. He tried to keep morale high as they butchered the creature, sawing off great sheets of scaled hide and removing meat from the bones.
It had been weeks since he had last contacted the army; they had deserted in all but official capacity. His men had followed him, many to their last breath, each sharing his vision of bringing low the beast that had taken their friends and comrades to their end. They all believed in his dream; the safety of the kingdom and an end to villages, and even cities, living in fear of what lay beyond their walls.
It was with this new purpose and the monsters they fought that Jasper unlocked a new skill.
Monster Slayer [1]
You have sought out and slain monsters, from great earth bears to lesser dragons and fire drakes. Your sword is keen and your instincts sharp. You can sense monsters more powerful than you from [Intelligence] * 5 meters away. Double XP from slaying monsters¡¯ higher level than you.
Still in its infancy, this newly unlocked skill would need development, but it shared his purpose and his will. Jasper could already feel the skill¡¯s potential; it had helped them home in on the fire drake¡¯s den, even in the rocky landscape, from hundreds of meters away. No longer would he be caught unprepared by a powerful opponent or left stumbling and looking for tracks.
He looked toward his men. They were no longer kitted out with military discipline but instead wore whatever they could buy or trade for to replace their gear. They looked less like soldiers every day, yet their strength only grew. Soon, they would no longer need help from the capital. They would be powerful enough to hunt down any monster. They would rid the world of these creatures¡ªno more would they burn and slaughter. Nothing would stand in his way.
Ding! +[Slayer¡¯s Will]
Chapter 49: Flames of Ruin
¡°Great one, the time has come.¡±
Rue stirred at the voice, the jingle and clink of shifting coins ringing pleasantly in her ears. She lifted her head from the pile of gold and searched for the source of the disturbance. At first, it was an unfamiliar creature, but she could feel a forged connection with it. She realised it was the kobold she had blessed.
He stood far taller and prouder than before; over a foot taller and more human-sized than kobold-sized. His red scales gleamed in the low light, catching her attention as they appeared not dissimilar to her own. His muscles bulged, and his scaly hide stretched tight by enlarged muscle, shifting and rippling beneath his scales as he adjusted his position to kneel before her.
She approved of the changes; they made him look far less weak and feeble. If it cost her nothing, she would have granted this power to several elite kobolds to guard her hoard and herself while she slept. But she could feel the tiny portion of her power linked to the king. It amounted to just a percentage or two of her total mana, barely significant, yet too much to bestow similar pacts on a whim.
Rue stretched, pressing herself into her hoard, basking in its warmth before rising to stand. She gazed down at the king, lost in thought.
¡°King of koboldss, is the time for battle upon usss?¡±
¡°Yes, great one, the army is moving to surround the capitol as we speak.¡±
¡°Very well, I shall attend and observe for mysself.¡±
The king led her to the entrance, and together they walked through the carved and ornate gateway to her mana-rich cave. Rue did not remember the entrance being this elaborate, but she decided she liked the carvings and the small statues of dragons that had been etched into the stone. The surrounding area was also different, having been cleared of much of the old equipment and buildings, leaving space for barracks and defences manned by large, well-equipped kobolds.
Rue and the king, accompanied by a sizable escort, moved through the entrance and into the city proper. It was a hive of activity: workers pulled small carts laden with spears, arrows, building materials, and food through the bustling streets. She was led to one of the high towers along the walls, and she barely managed to fit through the entrance and up the stairs. If the tower had not been designed to allow two kobolds carrying bulky weapons and armour to pass on the stairs, she would not have been able to make it.
When they reached the tower''s summit, they gazed down from above, and Rue got her first look at the enemy they would soon face.
Still marching slowly out of the forest were steel legions. Unlike the king¡¯s regular forces¡ªwho were clad in little more than the occasional helmet, chainmail, or other light armour¡ªthe enemy troops were all clad in plate armour, marching in perfect, uniform columns. The king¡¯s elite forces had comparable protection, but the attackers had an obvious advantage in both numbers and equipment.
The king grimaced and tightened his grip on the ramparts, his new, powerful body leaving scratches on the stone.
¡°They have been preparing this for a long time, the traitorous snakes; falling iron production my ass¡¡±
The army moved slowly, barely at a sedate walking pace, as they emerged from the forest and set up camp about a mile from the city. For hours, Rue and the king''s entourage watched as more soldiers filed out of the woods to assist in building the war camp. They watched as the invading army erected tents and crude wooden huts. Fires were kindled, and meals were prepared as the enemy set in for a long siege, Rue caught faint smells of cooking meat coming from the enemy encampment.
Rue observed the king and his retinue as they prepared the defences and deliberated over strategy. Messages were sent, and he consulted with even more advisors, most of whom counselled caution and advocated for holding out in a prolonged siege. Sallying forth, they warned, would only end in disaster.
¡°Damn it all! I know, I know! Of course, they have better soldiers when they control one of the most active entrances to manage and patrol. Why do you think the royal faction¡¯s power has been declining for years now? Stop telling me what I already know and start offering solutions!¡±
The king¡¯s outburst made his staff flinch and scramble like startled prey animals.
Rue gave a huff from where she was sitting. A large joint of meat had been prepared for her, and she tore off a chunk of spiced flesh. Cooked and seasoned meat was a unique experience for her. She had always enjoyed the texture of raw meat and often eaten pieces burned or charred by her own fire, but this was something else entirely. The texture was still tender and moist, yet enhanced by a sweet and spicy flavour from the seasonings. She savoured it far more than her usual meals. Instead of ripping and swallowing large chunks straight from the bone, she used her razor-sharp teeth to slice off smaller bites and savour the flavour.
In the background, the discussion on strategy grew more heated. It all seemed rather pointless to her. Not that she was against strategy, but they seemed to be merely going around in circles.
From what they had uncovered, only the elite troops posed any real challenge for her, with levels ranging from 20 to 30 at most. Individually, they were far weaker than the dwarf she had slain, but she knew from experience that proper teamwork among weaker foes could still cause significant problems.
She bent her head to rip off another chunk of meat, savouring its flavour.
She mused over her options. Should she thin their ranks now? Or would it be better to conserve her fire and energy for the elite troops? She was glad to have the time to consider her choices. Charging directly into the massive army was what her instincts urged her to do, and once she might have followed them blindly. But not now. Now, she would plan.
Finishing her meal, Rue stood and placed her front paws on the ramparts of the wall, gazing out over the camp. The enemy forces were still setting up, their elite guard having arrived only recently. The elites were clustered together, working to establish what appeared to be a command tent.
Something deep within her stirred as her gaze locked onto the formation. It looked like a herd¡ªseparated, distracted, and vulnerable. A low growl rumbled from her jaws, drawing the attention of the king and his entourage. They fell silent, turning to stare at her.
¡°What is your will, great one?¡±
¡°I will perform a raid, I shall be back¡¡±
She heard excited whispers and movement behind her as she turned back to the wall.
With a powerful push, she raised her wings and leapt off the ramparts, pulling with her front legs and then pushing with her hind legs to launch into the air. It was far easier than taking off from the ground¡ªthe height allowed her to flap her wings freely without fear of them contacting the ground, letting her climb faster. She began to gather speed, shooting toward the rank-and-file kobolds in the enemy forces.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A loud call rang out from the enemy camp, and the army kicked into motion. A unit broke off from the elite section, moving to intercept her. Rue grinned as she climbed higher, her wings beating a steady rhythm against the wind.
She was fast. Within a minute of flight, she was soaring near the enemy. At a height of just 30 meters, she was flying low enough for the enemy to retaliate with arrows and spells. She kept her magical and mundane senses sharp, searching for powerful attacks, and avoided flying in a straight line. Most arrows missed her, however the sheer volume meant she was still struck several times. The arrows ricocheted off her scales; mundane and fired from weak bows, they didn¡¯t even scratch her tough hide.
One arrow came close to her face, but she simply angled her head, letting it glance harmlessly off her scales. A few arrows found the membranes of her wings, though most bounced off the durable hide. She felt no pain but noticed a few small holes. Air pressure from her wingbeats would worsen the damage, so she glided momentarily, focusing magic into her regeneration to seal the wounds. Her wing material may not have been as durable as her scaly flesh but it was tough and healed quickly with focused regeneration, making the mana expenditure well worth it. As she healed, she ascended higher to reduce the impact and accuracy of enemy fire.
A few kobolds responded with spells; glowing projectiles of force, wind, and fire. The force and wind spells she dodged, unwilling to risk them tearing large holes her regeneration might not fix quickly enough. Being grounded in the centre of the enemy camp would be disastrous.
Spotting the heart of the camp as the perfect place to attack, she dived lower. A fire blast rolled over her scales, but she absorbed the heat, converting it to mana.
Gathering her magic, she took a deep breath.
As she descended, more arrows and spells struck her, but her folded wings protected her body, deflecting the attacks with her armoured hide. At 20 meters from the ground, she pulled out of her dive. At this range, more arrows were hitting her but she focused through the barrage and closed the distance, then she unleashed her cone of fire, it obliterated a huge swath of the enemy army, flames flowing like liquid from her jaws. The fire from her breath flowed effortlessly down and into the camp, aided by gravity and her momentum, splashing and flowing far easier than when she breathed fire horizontally.
The flames were mostly mundane, their volume and spread amplified by magic to conserve her flame reserves. They rolled outward from the impact point as she dragged an extended line of fiery destruction through the centre of the camp. She continued until her lungs emptied, then ascended.
Below, screams and howls echoed as kobolds scrambled to escape the flames. A burning scar 20 meters wide and over 200 meters long marred the camp. Few kobolds still fired at her, too preoccupied with extinguishing fires, saving their clanmates, salvaging supplies or trying to stop themselves from burning. Several tents had caught fire, and scattered groups frantically tried to contain the spread. Smouldering lumps of flesh and metal littered the burning camp from victims who succumbed to the flames.
Rue¡¯s long neck craned as she watched the chaos while circling above, keeping her speed high to make herself a harder target. She spotted the elite squad pushing through the edge of the destruction. One black-scaled kobold stood out, gathering a large amount of mana, far more than the feeble attacks she had seen so far, an amount that concerned her slightly, she had not expected lower-level opponents to be capable of such feats.
The spell completed, and a lance of frost shot toward her. It lost power over the hundred-meter distance but still struck her body, a sharp pain followed by numbing cold that seeped into her flesh. Rue roared in rage, focusing her magic to heat her body to blistering temperatures. The cold lingered, refusing to be burned away. As she lost focus momentarily another shining projectile was launched from the group, slower but it homed in on her to a degree. Her attempt to evade it failed and the force construct made contact with one of the small rib bones in her left wing. She heard and felt a snap as the small bone broke. Now every time she beat her wings the bone ground against itself and she was treated to a dose of pain. Though annoying she was glad the projectile had missed her main wing bones, she doubted they would have broken as easily as the ribbing. Still, the attack had been dangerous and she looked towards the elite group, narrowing her gaze and giving them her full attention.
She narrowly dodged another powerful ice projectile, feeling the cold even from 10 meters away as it raced past her. The cold in her chest was starting to fade but unlike most other wounds it still hurt even if her regeneration was telling her flesh was intact, the cold sapping the strength of her muscles.
She prepared to turn toward the caster and their group but reconsidered. These were powerful opponents, capable and probably specialised in ranged combat and using spells that could hurt her. It galled her to be forced to retreat from an inferior enemy but she resisted her urges to meet them in battle. With annoyance and the cold pain still in her chest, she roared and turned her attention back to the camp. As she flew over the scrambling kobolds, she released another torrent of flames, raking another fiery wound through the enemy camp.
More magical projectiles flew from the elite group, but Rue¡¯s flight path now took her away from them. She was struck by one more frost ray, her now heated body preventing some of the damage but still the cold bit deep and she felt the muscle that had been struck slowing and faltering.
Rue considered another pass, but the elite group had reached a central position and were now on guard, ready to strike at any angle of approach. She dodged the long-range sniping attempts, looking for an opening, but the pain from the ice spells made her reconsider. Though seemingly healed some factor of the spell had lingering effects. She roared once more and turned back toward the city; this would be a prolonged engagement.
Her descent was slower and more deliberate this time, partially from a pride standpoint and partially because she was still feeling the cold where she was struck. Ensuring a relatively controlled landing, she skidded to a halt with claws raking across the stone but maintained her balance. She grinned in satisfaction at the landing.
Inspecting her body for damage, she found herself fully healed but with lingering effects from the cold spell. Even her heat aura didn''t make the effect go away and she decided that all she could really do was monitor the effect. She lowered the mana supply to her aura skill, no longer needing the heightened temperature and unwilling to waste resources, she let it smoulder, keeping the worst of the lingering chill at bay. The attack had been minimal in cost, but its effects were visible even from the city; a burning, chaotic camp in ruins.
Rue grinned as she surveyed the destruction. A part of her was disappointed, she would have loved to stay and fight in the flames, testing herself against the stronger kobolds. The feeling lingered, souring her mood. She gave a huff and absentmindedly scraped her claws against the stone, wishing it was soft flesh and bone rather than unyielding stone. Her tail lashed in further agitation as she watched the blazing fires. With great effort, she turned her head away from the glorious chaos, her tail drooping as the excitement drained from her. It was all part of her plan, she would get many more opportunities for battle and should not to be disappointed, instead, she should think of the future battles yet to come. This mollified her somewhat, but still, her disappointment and battle lust lingered.
To distract herself, she turned her thoughts to whether she had gained anything from the chaos she had wrought.
Ding! For Slaying [Kobold Lv18] In Combat +233xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [17] Levels Below You Own [-17%] xp -40xp
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Ding! For Slaying [Kobold Lv12] In Combat +107xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe [23] Levels Below You Own [-23%] xp -25xp
Ding! For Slaying a Foe 2x Under Your Level [-20%] xp -21xp
Ding! Devourer Of Flame +56xp
Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +3714xp
The kills ranged in levels from the high teens to barely above level 10, but the sheer quantity made up for the lack of quality. It was a decent chunk of experience toward her next core level, bringing her closer to even greater power. However, it would still be some time before she could level up again.
Her next maturation was limited by her size; she would need to grow to well over twice her current dimensions. Frustratingly, her growth seemed to slow as she became larger, making progress feel incremental. With a thought, she brought up the conditions required for her next stage.
Ding! [1/2] Conditions Met For Species [Maturation] : Requires [8+ Meters] & [Lv 35]
At least her core seemed to have no limit to its growth, or at least none she had encountered yet. While it was far more costly to level than her racial advancement, it didn¡¯t diminish the benefits she gained from defeating lower-level opponents, unlike raising her primary level.
She grinned. The enemy army was shaping up to be a vast repository of experience, one she would gladly harvest.