59 - Conflict & Resolution!
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PART 1 – Dragons!
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The news spread quickly. The purge of criminal factions in Jomorka marked the end of the Black Market.
This took everyone by surprise, as well as angering many nobles and merchants.
Jomorka had become an important place for crime because of the events. Many dirty deals were being made. The amount of profits that were being made was astonishing.
Nobody anticipated that the Black Market would collapse so quickly, resulting in a significant financial loss.
The reason they rarely engage in the black market in their cities is due to the outrageous bribes they pay to the city's mayor or the nobles who govern it. After all, it is very useful to attract clients and allies who prefer to resolve matters secretly.
In response to this anticipated event, which garnered the attention of the entire continent, various activities such as Black Market auctions and criminal agreements took place.
Skarla only indirectly harmed hundreds of nobles across the continent. This is why people refrain from destroying the black market, as they are uncertain about the identities of those conducting business there.
You can end up angering an entire nation by doing this.
But in the end, Skarla did it!
The Imperial Family was informed about the discovery, torture, and arrests of numerous spies from other countries.
The common people, who are not aware of the complexity behind all these actions, only saw Skarla in a better light. She put an end to a massive scheme of corruption and criminality, thereby enhancing the security of both the people and the empire.
Her reputation with the common people, which was already good, only increased.
...
"A dragon egg?" - Letiphia frowned as she looked at the magic bag, analyzing the spells cast.
To avoid tracking a dragon, there are spells of stealth, incubation, antimagic, and several others.
"Where the hell did you find this?" - Letiphia was speechless, because it's not like she was going to find a dragon egg in a random cave.
"One of the pedophiles. I found that bastard in bed with some children and threw him in prison. I took the opportunity to look at his belongings; they had a peculiar energy. I discovered the bag and investigated its interior with my senses." - Skarla scratched her chin as she looked at the bag, wondering what she should do.
"We can't keep this. Dragons, besides being extremely territorial, have an extreme affection for their children until they reach adulthood. Surely their parents are looking for them." - Letiphia had some fear in her tone.
Dragons. An ancient race that predates the Elves themselves. They have been in all of the world's eras, ruled it for many ages, and today they are only a remnant of their glorious past.
But they are still dragons, beings that rule above all and everyone purely because they were born. They possess bodies of incredible strength, scales impervious to magic, and a [Dragon Heart] brimming with an unfathomably vast magical power.
Dragons' powerful and infamous hearts are named after their race. It is more than just a heart; it is a "Dragon Heart"!
A dragon that reaches adulthood at 100 years old tends to be between levels 11~20. Dragons that reach 300 years old and become "Great Dragons" are Legendary beings.
Dragons that surpass Level 30 are referred to as Elder Dragons.
A dragon that reaches level 41 is automatically named Ancient Dragon and can become a Dragon King if the throne is unoccupied or defeats the previous one.
But one thing to know is that regardless of the dragon's level, it is impossible to match them unless one possesses unique skills. But to hunt an adult dragon of level 11-20, a group of 4-12 individuals of the same level would be required and still have a chance of failing.
"I don't understand how someone could be foolish and greedy enough to bring such a disaster to the nation." - Viper growled.
"Man's ambition has no limit." - Skarla laughed, knowing this very well.
"I'll ask some contacts about the presence of recent dragons to see if their parents have already gone mad. Ask the culprit where their lair was, so we can resolve this as peacefully as possible. But I believe a few thousand will die." - Letiphia frowned.
"I don't think that will be necessary." - Skarla had her arms crossed. - "I believe he's already in the city. There's an individual who constantly escapes my senses but who has an energy similar to that of coins."
When she heard this, Letiphia shuddered. - "There's a dragon in my city?!"
"Don't worry, I'm here." - Skarla laughed as she stroked Letiphia's head.
"Skarla, I know you're powerful, and you faced a legendary demon possessed by a demigod and won. But we're talking about dragons, which are true calamities. It takes 2 or more Legends to kill a Legendary Dragon."
"Why do you think it's a legendary dragon?" - Skarla was curious.
"Because only legendary dragons are willing to have offspring. It's like an unspoken rule within their race. You need to have strength to procreate and protect your bloodline. Not to mention that a dragon that hasn't lived for at least 500 years would hardly be willing to procreate. Dragons live for millennia, and under 300 years old, they're still very young." - Letiphia crossed her arms.
"Understandable. But my current strength doesn't compare to what it was a few months ago, my love. I have my Dantian now. If I were to face the legendary demon possessed by Sueika, I would only need 5 attacks to win." - Skarla smiled confidently.
"As for a dragon. Considering that I don't use Magic but rather Martial Arts, I think I'm literally a natural enemy to them. There's no way their scales can resist my blows that cause internal damage." - Skarla wouldn't give up her trust for the sake of some ancient and powerful race that are literal rulers.
"You want to face a dragon, right?" - Viper frowned.
"Of course." - Skarla smiled.
"When did you start having this desire for fights?" - Letiphia clenched her teeth, veins popping out of her jaw.
"Don't tense up, my dear. But to answer your question. My strength is constantly increasing, but I've also stagnated because of the internal wounds I received from the fight against Sueika. There are several other factors, but if I want to get stronger without fully relying on leveling, I need to push myself to the limits."
"Haha~ amazing. Using a dragon to challenge yourself, who in this world would be crazy enough to utter such words?" - Letiphia laughed mockingly, but she was proud because she understands even more the greatness of the woman she loves.
[Test of Fate – D20 = 20]
In the middle of the trio's conversation, the bag in the middle of them began to move, an action that startled everyone present.
"Oh no!" - Letiphia shuddered, knowing that the situation only got worse.
Viper had a livid expression, and Skarla went ahead without worry.
She advanced her hand towards the protections, destroying them in a matter of moments, and then opened the bag. Inside was a white egg with several symbols and dark spots.
"Ah! FUCK!" - Letiphia couldn't hold back and screamed. - "A damn black dragon! Hell!"
Skarla gazed at the egg, while Viper drew Letiphia aside and stood behind her. The reason?
The eggshell broke, and the egg seemed to pulse with whatever was inside trying to get out. Finally, a crack formed, causing a significant portion of the egg to spill out. Then a dark claw tore the protection, and slowly a head rose, breaking more of its egg and exposing the majestic creature inside.
A beautiful creature the size of a German Shepherd. Its entire body is covered in shiny black scales, with emerald green eyes focused on Skarla.
Curiosity was in its gaze, slowly moving and making the large bag swing, about to fall, but Skarla held it.
The creature came out of its egg, taking its first steps and reaching Skarla. Standing in front of her, the creature gathered more strength in its paws and used them to climb up Skarla, leaning its body and gazing directly into her eyes.
["Mommy!"]
A childish voice was transmitted through magic throughout the place, it even hurt Viper and Letiphia's ears, but Skarla was fine.
'Another child for me to take care of. Soon I'll open a daycare center with the ease with which I attract children...' - Skarla thought and laughed, stroking the head of the adorable creature that began to rub itself against her and lick her, dirtying her with the sticky liquid of the egg.
["Mommy, hungry!"]
...
Outside the city, in a nearby village, we can find a beautiful woman with long black hair and dark skin observing the surroundings. The people of the village surrendered to her.
"So these people went to Jomorka City, right?"
"Yes. A group led by a nobleman." - An old lady said with her head down.
The dark-haired woman growled as she looked in the direction of the city. - "So they had a wagon. In that wagon were they carrying many valuable objects, which included a bag bigger than a calf?"
"Yes."
"Did you say anything while you were here? If you hide anything from me, I'll turn everyone here into dust!" - She looked at all the surrendered villagers.
"My lady, we only prepared the accommodations for the nobleman and his entourage. We didn't do anything else, I promise." - The old woman spoke.
"What about you? Didn't you hear anything? Like the word dragon being uttered by them?" - Her eyes released a powerful, intimidating wave.
Everyone frozen in terror. When she thought she couldn't do anything else, she abruptly turned her head. - "NO!" - She roared furiously and jumped into the sky, immediately transforming.
Everyone in the village became even more terrified, to the point that some fainted.
The dragon's eyes were full of fury and confusion. - 'He shouldn't be born now! There are only 2 months left! Bastards! What have you done to my child?!'
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PART 2 – Dragon Mother!
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Skarla was quite curious about the dragon child. The energy stored in his body, along with his exhalation, intrigued Skarla. She noticed that it must be the equivalent of 20~30 years of internal energy.
He has just been born and already has so much energy. It is not known whether he could have more since he has no control, which caused the energy in his body to constantly leak.
Letiphia had brought something that a dragon would eat, that is, meat! The baby ate without issue because, as a ruling race, he has been strong since birth, with sharp teeth and a strong jaw.
From an early age, he has been able to digest most foods. He has a rapid metabolism.
The little one, who was already able to speak at birth, feasted on the meat, preferring roasted to raw. The seasonings were not suitable for his taste, as they were too strong.
When Skarla tried to get away from him, he stopped eating and followed her. It is instinctive for baby dragons to not separate from their mothers unless the mother orders them to.
Skarla did not mind being followed.
She took care of her business and interacted with the scaly cutie. She probed its body, observing that the small dragon appeared at ease with the energy encroaching upon it.
["Mommy, how do you do it? It's nice."] - He was amused, his eyes full of curiosity.
'Heavens, how can something so perfect exist?' - Skarla was truly amazed by the energy circulation of the little one's body. Its natural ability to absorb energy is similar to its cultivation technique, but since birth, its entire body has adapted to act on it.
Naturally, it is something instinctive. They accumulate everything in their hearts. It is purely the mana of the world cultivated as Internal Energy. Skarla noticed this immediately.
'I understand why a Dragon Heart is so coveted. In addition to massive vitality, it absorbs centuries of Magical Energy, being cultivated as Internal Energy. The benefits it brings to those who consume it will be immense.' - Skarla studied the documents that described bathing in dragon blood and eating its heart.
But in the midst of her thoughts and ideas, petting this adorable thing and thinking about what to do, Skarla felt aggression approaching.
Frowning, she said. - "Stay here and obey the two." - She pointed at Viper and Letiphia, who hardly left her side.
["Okay!"] - The adorable dragon jumped, looking at the two women who had a strong scent of his mother.
"Has she arrived?" - Letiphia asked.
"Yes!" - Skarla replied and shot up into the sky.
…
In Jomorka, everything was peaceful and festive like the previous days. While everyone was preparing for the main event, others were apprehending those involved in the Black Market and various crimes.
Among the common people, there were exceptional individuals with heightened senses. These same people noticed that there was something abnormal in the air, and others knew of the impending danger.
Suddenly the bells began to ring—a specific alarm that many knew and never wanted to hear.
"DRAGON!" - More elders roared in terror.
All the troops in the city were in preparation mode. Adventurers and mercenaries mobilized; the churches also mobilized.
And on the horizon, a massive black shadow approached, bringing hatred and destruction. In contrast, a slender figure flew in front of the city walls.
Several individuals hiding their identities and strength watched this woman flying in the sky, feeling that they were being watched and knew by whom.
ROAR!!!
A thunderous roar reverberated, the entire environment trembled, and Skarla in the sky smiled.
[Willpower Test – D20+17+8 = 39(14)]
This roar held a massive wave of energy. She could see that it had an intimidating effect. To do something like that, she herself would spend 50~60 years of Internal Energy, since it is enveloping the entire city and several other kilometers.
'No. Not even I could do something like that.' - Skarla thought she didn't see herself having the capacity to spread her intimidation across such a gigantic area.
"STOP!" - Skarla roared, enveloping her voice with energy, amplifying it, and causing a sound wave attack focused forward.
[Attack Test (Charisma) – D20+17 = 23(17)]
Unfazed, the dragon advanced even faster, prompting Skarla to intercept it to prevent it from getting too close.
"Dragon, calm down! I understand the reason for your anger and why you are here. The culprits of invading your lair are detained, and your child is safe in my hands!" - Skarla shouted, trying to persuade her.
[Persuasion Test (Charisma) – D20+17+6 = 27(4)]
(Author: I prayed for a critical error; unfortunately, it didn't come.)
At her words, the dragon approaching in fury stopped and flew in front of Skarla, flapping its wings and looking at her intensely.
There is a beautiful and majestic black dragon with scales as dark as night, accompanied by several crystals on its back in a bluish hue.
[Image] → (Ignore the size issue, it's not that absurd.)
["Do you have my son?"]
"Yes!"
["What did they do to him? Why was he born earlier than expected?"] - Murderous intent shone in his eyes full of malice and hatred.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I had just found your egg in the possession of some criminals and took it to my home. The egg hatched a few hours ago."
[Persuasion Test (Charisma) – D20+17+6 = 26(3)]
The dragon's eyes narrowed, its sharp teeth showing. - ["Do you want me to believe that my son was born 2 months earlier than expected?"]
"If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do about it. What do you think about going into human form and we talk? I'll take you to your cub and to the people responsible for taking him. I don't want unnecessary trouble." - Skarla stood, arms crossed, and looked into her eyes.
Boom!
The dragon landed on the ground, an explosion reverberating as she brought her enormous face closer to Skarla.
The two stared at each other for a while. - ["Humph!"] - A snort reverberated, and the majestic dragon shrank.
Skarla landed on the ground and observed the brunette beauty with long black hair. She was naked, exposing a very beautiful and admirable body. But soon she was covered in clothes.
"Take me to my son!" - Her tone was rude, full of anger.
'I thought black dragons were savages who loved massacre. I'm surprised.' - Skarla thought as she guided her to the city.
…
The alert had diminished, but everyone knew that a Black Dragon was in the city. For everyone's safety, the surroundings of the city lord's mansion were evacuated.
And in that same mansion, the duo arrived.
"What's your name?" - Skarla looked at the dragon woman.
"What do you need to know for?" - She growled.
"Would you prefer me to call you you?" - Skarla rolled her eyes, and the dragon snorted. - "Gorija."
'Gorija?' - Skarla found it familiar.
[Memory Test (Intelligence) – D20+17 = 36(19)]
'Godzilla!' - She remembered, knowing that it was pronounced in Japanese. - "I'm Skarla, in case you want to know."
"I don't want to!" - Gorija snorted, paying attention to only one direction, something approaching.
Then, with servants opening a large door, three figures approached. As soon as she saw a happy and bouncing figure in the middle of the figures, Gorija smiled.
["MOMMY!"] - The little dragon cried out happily as he advanced, Gorija smiling as he advanced, but the little dragon ignored her and jumped at Skarla, who inadvertently held him.
Gorija froze with her arms open; popping sounds came from her fingers; veins appeared all over her body; and her face became inhuman. She glared hideously at Skarla; the ambient mana trembled and seemed about to erupt.
"What does this mean?" - Gorija's voice sounded in a deeper and wilder tone, with sharp teeth appearing and a bluish vapor escaping from her body and mouth.
Unaffected by her anger, Skarla looked at the little one and spoke. - "He's probably confused; he was born a few hours ago, and I was the first one he saw."
"Do you think I'm stupid? He's a dragon, and dragons inherit memories and knowledge from our ancestors and relatives. What have you done? How dare you modify my son's memories?" - She advanced towards Skarla, who grabbed her hand with fingers transformed into black claws and sharper than metal.
BOOM!!
With their palms colliding, a powerful explosion resounded; the floor and walls cracked. Gorija was surprised to have been stopped, but her fury only increased.
"Don't do anything foolish. I know you're upset with everything that's happening; there are many misunderstandings and situations that we both don't understand. I'm also a mother, and I would hate not to be recognized by my children, so I know you're very sad too. But understand that your child only ended up in my hands; if we want to understand his situation, we need to know from the mouths of the guilty. Attacking me or forcing me to fight will not result in anything good for either of us." - Skarla said coldly, exhaling her pressure while still holding the young dragon.
[Intimidation Test (Charisma) – D20+17+8 = 37(12)]
Gorija shivered, her instincts warning her that the woman in front of her was extremely dangerous.
The little dragon between them watched Gorija, who gave him a unique and familiar feeling, but feeling the tension in the air, he automatically understood that Skarla was suppressing Gorija.
He soon understood something, smiling and giving Gorija a smug look. - ["Mommy is stronger than daddy!"]
Skarla looked at the little one; Gorija shivered and focused her attention on him too.
Gorija, against her will, pulled her hand back, her body returning to normal. - ["Daddy?"] - Asked the little dragon, looking at Gorija.
["No, mommy. You have two mothers, and I am stronger; now jump on, mommy."] - Skarla used her transmission to speak into the little one's head, who looked at her, then at Gorija.
"I'm your-"
["Mommy!"] - The little dragon screamed and jumped at Gorija, who received him, then hugged him tenderly.
…
The fact that the little dragon called her mommy made all of Gorija's anger subside. She didn't let him leave her embrace, and in a room, sitting on the couch, she listened to the general situation.
She talked about the previous day's purge and how she discovered the egg. She said that today, when she was with her wives, discussing what to do about the egg and how to contact her before damage was done, the baby hatched and called Skarla mommy as soon as it saw her.
"That doesn't make any sense. My son has no brain damage, and I see that the inheritance was successfully acquired. He shouldn't, like some kind of wild animal, recognize a human as his mother."
"But that's what happened. My wives are here to confirm that that's exactly what happened." - Skarla pointed to Letiphia and Viper behind her.
Letiphia went ahead. - "She is right, Mrs. Gorija. I have personally studied your race extensively and understand how the birth and death of your dragons works. I was also surprised and confused by this nonsensical situation. Dragons are intelligent from birth, having the ability to understand their surroundings in an instant, knowing who their relatives are and who are not. That is why there are no Dragon Tamers, as it is impossible to tame a dragon, as they are not irrational beasts or individuals that can be manipulated."
Skarla scratched her chin, reflecting on the words. She had not researched much about dragons and everything she knew, it was Letiphia who told her.
"The nobleman has arrived." - Skarla looked in one direction, and the door opened. A blond man was abruptly pulled out by guards, along with another dozen individuals.
"You barbarian! Do you know who I am? Let me go now and-" - The blond man screamed but choked as soon as he saw a dragon cub and a black-haired woman who, as soon as she saw him, had her eyes change to the fierce ones of a dragon.
"This pathetic bastard invaded my lair." - Gorija growled, not believing it.
"Yes. The egg was in his possession." - Skarla nodded, and Gorija, separating from her son, advanced on the noble.
[Reaction Test (Dexterity) – D20+17+6 = 24(1)]
Skarla advanced abruptly, wanting to stop her, fearing she would kill him. Gorija was faster, and her tail collided with Skarla, which delayed her from arriving before her.
Gorija grabbed the noble by the neck, lifted him up, and, with her other hand, grabbed the bastard's arm and ripped it off with one grip.
AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
The nobleman roared in pain, soon foaming at the mouth due to shock. Skarla quickly acted, pushing her and grabbing her arm. - "LET GO! We need information, not for you to kill him!"
"FUCK YOU! I ask for your soul!" - Gorija growled ferociously, but Skarla stopped her and grabbed her arm, applying strength.
[Strength Test – D20+17 = 32(15)]
Gorija growled as the scales that appeared on her arm broke. Skarla is extraordinarily strong and is about to break her arm. - "Let go!"
"Will you protect this bastard?" - Gorija growled ferociously.
"I don't care about this bastard's life; if it weren't for the laws, I would have already killed this pedophile son of a bitch. But the laws don't matter because of you; if you want to take his life, so be it, but do it later."
[Persuasion Test – D20+17+6 = 40(17)]
Growling, Gorija finally accepted and let go, immediately rubbing her sore arm that healed in seconds, but the pain persisted, warning her to be careful with Skarla.
…
The noble, who was sweating coldly and wearing a terrified look, was kneeling, followed closely by his equally terrified subordinates.
"Don't blame anyone but yourself for being foolish enough to invade and steal an egg from a dragon's lair. Now, noble boy, what did you do with the egg?" - Skarla sat down, and the cub came to her, leaving Gorija's side.
"What?" - The noble asked tremblingly.
"This child was born 2 months earlier than expected. He went so far as to mistake me, a human, for his mother, just because I was the first thing he saw. So how about telling me what they did with the egg?" - Skarla narrowed her eyes, and Gorija, already enraged, had her claws piercing the flesh of her own arm.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" - He looked at Gorija in terror. - "I just took the egg and kept it; I swear I didn't do anything else!"
Skarla gave him a cold look, then said. - "You understand that you brought a calamity to the empire, right? You understand that you stole a dragon's offspring, stole its lair, and then took all of that to a place where a wedding and tournament event will take place that encompasses the entire continent. We're talking about the presence of countless influential and talented figures, not to mention nobles from all over the world." - Skarla rubbed her temples.
"You not only put the lives of countless innocents in danger, but you almost killed thousands of people important to the future of this continent." - At Skarla's words, the nobleman turned pale. - "Then you understand that no matter what you or your father say, nothing will save you. She is a dragon, and you stole her and kidnapped her child; she has every justification and reason to kill you. Know that I will not put my hand to save you, and I do not want to."
"Now accept your fate and tell the truth. The same goes for you. The sooner you tell what you did to the child, the less painful your death will be, and… she is a Black Dragon, the most violent and cruel of the dragons, able to torture your souls even after death." - Skarla smiled, even though she had her doubts about who Gojira really is.
"Seriously, I did nothing but kidnap your child!" - The nobleman screamed in terror. - "Please don't kill me. My father will pay for this…"
Skarla ignored his words, sighed, and looked at the others who were saying the same. - "If that's what you want, then let's prolong your suffering. Take them to prison." - Skarla waved her hand.
"What will you do with them?" - Gojira growled.
"I'll gather information. I'll know if what they say is true or not. When I'm done with them, I'll leave the rest to you." - Skarla sighed as she asked for some extra clothes to be prepared.
"I want to see what will be done." - Gojira had a cruel look. - "I don't trust the torture methods of humans."
"I don't see any problems, but you won't take a child with us." - Skarla looked at the puppy lying on the couch. Gojira growled and agreed.
…
Gojira soon regretted what he had said before. Skarla's torture was more cruel and heinous than anything he had ever seen or done before. She used electricity to alter the minds of his victims.
And everything was spilled. The nobleman knew nothing, but one of his allies did. A wizard from the Torwin Kingdom claimed to be a spy, tasked with uncovering secrets, facilitating trade with the Kingdom, and potentially causing harm to the Empire.
Amid his many travels, he ended up becoming the subject of a marquis family. He trained and befriended the marquis' son, and in the process, he discovered Gojira's lair through information from other spies.
He planted the idea of plundering the lair in the minds of the Marquis and his son, his intention being to cause chaos in the region. He exploited the fact that the barbarians from the north had inflicted severe harm across the empire, which was gradually recuperating from the demons' damage.
The empire is in a very fragile state, with the people believing that there is a curse or that their leaders have gone against the gods, which has strengthened the religion in the empire.
If a Black Dragon were to attack the Empire during this fragile period due to a noble's greed, the people's hatred towards the nobles would intensify, thereby enabling the religion to expand its influence within the empire. Consequently, the neighboring nations would be able to fight back and reclaim many territories they once held.
However, the wizard did not expect that in addition to Gojira being away, she would have an unprotected egg. All he had to do was get past the traps and get the egg. That alone would enrage the dragon, but more was required.
There would always be a way for the empire to lessen its damage, placing all the blame on the marquis, annihilating his family, and compensating the dragon for the kidnapping. But what if the newly born dragon developed a mental defect as a result of the kidnapping?
What if the mother dragon discovered that there were signs of brainwashing in an attempt to domesticate her cub? What would she do upon discovery?
The empire would undoubtedly face a second wave of wrath that jewels and gold could not placate.
…
Gojira, who had heard all this, was shaking with hatred. Her hatred was so great that it manifested itself even while standing still. The air vibrated, becoming suffocating; the ground beneath her feet cracked, cracks spreading across the walls.
Skarla cannot even imagine the hatred Gojira feels. They tried to use her and her unborn son for political purposes.
"They are yours. I don't care what you do with them. As for your son, I will use my techniques to understand the extent of the damage, and I will ask for help from a friend who must know a lot about this type of magic." - Skarla touched the enraged Gojira's shoulder. - "Don't destroy the place; it will be annoying to fix it."
"We have been deceived! This traitor manipulated us!" - A few individuals who had not yet experienced torture let out a terrified scream.
Skarla shot him a look and pointed at Gojira. - "She is the one you must persuade, not that she is listening now."
(Autor: Don't feel sad about the lack of struggle. Remember that to have a child, it takes two.)
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PART 3 – Diagnosis & Persuasion!
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They left Skarla with the adorable, innocent cub. Mentally activating a mark on her soul, she came into contact with a rather annoying person.
["Hi, honey, what do you need?"] - Sueika's cheerful voice sounded in her mind.
'I find it hard to believe that you don't know. As a Succubus, you must understand brainwashing, right?' - Skarla asked mentally.
["I know a little… Is it for this delicious child? A Retarded Dragon, when was the last time I saw one of those?"] - Sueika sounded in an amused tone.
'I don't have time for games.' - Skarla frowned.
["Okay, party pooper. Touch your forehead to his; I'll use that to take a look. Don't refuse the unpleasant sensation."]
'Don't do anything to the child; I'm protected by the contract; the child isn't.' - Skarla's eyes shone with aggression.
["Uwo! Calm down, my love; what do you think I am? I would never touch a child; I don't like lizards, much less retards."] - Sueika laughed mockingly.
Skarla obeyed the request and experienced an unpleasant and painful sensation through the mark, as if a hand was inside her brain. The adorable cub didn't understand the touching of foreheads, but he liked it and looked at Skarla curiously.
Sueika started to do her things; the cub felt discomfort, but being his mother, he didn't care and endured it, showing that he is a strong boy!
It didn't take long for the sensation to end.
["An impartial brainwashing. Normally, the goal of this spell is to fry the dragons' brains during incubation. It is most effective before the 12th month; after that, the damage is not so great. If done correctly, his intellect would be no better than that of a wyvern."]
["Since everything happened after the 12th month, the inheritance was inherited, and the dragon had ways to protect itself, even if instinctively. A continuous confusion spell was used, preventing the hatchling from waking up, to improve the effectiveness of the brainwashing."]
["I see that he was born 2 months early. Something made him wake up and instinctively hatch from the egg. I believe this is your doing."]
'Mine? What do you mean?' - Skarla raised an eyebrow.
["Dragons are naturally close to the nature of the world they are born into. It wouldn't be strange to say that dragons are the world's favorite children. Their Martial Arts aim to connect with nature and reach absurd levels. Practically how dragons act naturally. Probably his inspection of what was inside woke the sleeping and confused hatchling, instinctively using all his strength to fight the brainwashing and confusion. He managed to escape from the prison that was his egg, but he probably received a heavy blow from the spells in the backpack, and as a result, as you can see, his mana is leaking very easily."]
After hearing this, Skarla scratched her chin, stroking the little one's head as he rested it on her thigh. - 'So what do I do to heal him?'
["Nothing. He's a dragon. Just help him control his mana, and the rest will naturally fix itself. As I said, if it were before the 12th month, it would probably have been irreversible. If the process had been completed, it would have taken 30 to 40 years for the cub to recover with proper care, but since he was born 2 months premature, the damage won't be great."]
'So if we leave him alone, he will naturally recover?'
["Yes. He's a dragon; there's nothing to worry about."]
...
Gojira came back, sat down, and looked at Skarla and his son. - "Did you talk to your friend?"
"Yes. She informed me what happened to your son." - Skarla began to say everything that was said; Gojira used dragon magic to detect lies, and nothing that was said was a lie.
"How confident are you in this friend?"
"She is a demigoddess with little reason to deceive me. I don't believe she would provoke me, understanding how I am with children." - Skarla was calm as she caressed the little one.
"So I just need to teach my son to control his leaking mana, and little by little he will recover?" - Gojira narrowed her eyes.
"I believe so. I also checked your son's mind, and everything is healthy. What must be preventing his brain from being 100% active is the lack of control of his mana and perhaps other factors that I am unaware of. The mind is something complex to interfere with and heal; we can only trust in time."
Gojira growled. - "But if you wish, I can take care of your son while you attend to your duties."
"What do you mean?" - Gojira frowned.
"You are a Black Dragon, your son was attacked because of politics and conflict between two nations. It is more than fair to take revenge, and I will not stop you. I can even ask them to bring details about the marquisate and the names the wizard said."
Gojira gazed at his cub, who was comfortably nestled in Skarla's lap. - "I need to teach him."
"I can do that. My techniques and skills are almost identical to those of your dragons, so I can teach your son how to control his energy. But I also have an interesting proposal for you." - Skarla smiled.
"… what proposal?" - Gojira ignored the first point.
"What do you think about a war between the two nations?"
"War?" - Gojira was surprised, Viper, and Letiphia too.
"What do you want with that, Skarla?" - Letiphia clenched her fists.
"The Torwin Kingdom tried to bring a calamity upon the Empire, even after we suffered 2 calamities in a row. We are talking about 3 catastrophic attacks in less than 1 year. They need a heavy punishment for what they did."
"Without knowing that we can use this to our advantage. To divert the attention of the nobles and the imperial family from the mountains, so that we can conquer the mountains without unnecessary interference."
"But start a war at our own whim?" - Viper clenched her fists.
"War is imminent. Emperor Lucius is a very ambitious man and certainly wants to conquer more than his father and grandfather. If we give him the justification to attack Torwin and, of course, an unexpected ally." - Skarla pointed to Gojira. - "I believe he will like us even more."
"And why would I accept that?" - Gojira had a vicious look, knowing that Skarla wants to use her.
"That wizard who was at most level 12. He was so confident that he would cause mental damage to his son. That means he had the experience to have so much confidence. If the Torwin Kingdom has such a technique, it means that they have already performed it in the past on other dragons, and there is a chance that they have enslaved dragons somewhere in their kingdom."
Gojira was surprised by this statement, where she said. - "And how will I know if the Empire does not have the same?"
Skarla pointed to Letiphia. - "She is a sorceress who is getting closer to Legendary Level every day. She is intelligent and one of the best experts in arcane and dark magic in the empire, if not the best. Even so, she did not detect the brainwashing spell, even now she does not know where the spell is." - She pointed to the table where the bag was.
Without answering, Gojira stood up and went to the table. She picked up the bag and looked at it; in a few seconds she was surprised, frowning. - "Indeed. This is magic that was made exclusively for dragons. In fact… there are signs of Dragon Magic."
"Dragon Magic? Isn't it only dragons who can use its magic?" - Letiphia was surprised.
"Dragons and those who inherit dragon blood. But that wizard didn't have dragon blood; how did he use it?" - Gojira was even more confused. - "I shouldn't have destroyed his soul…" - Her tone was regretful.
"I need to investigate this. But tell me, why should I help you?" - Gojira narrowed her eyes.
Skarla gazed directly into her eyes, smiled, and spoke. - "If it weren't for me, your son would only have a chance to recover in 30~40 years. If it weren't for me, you would have attacked the empire, and I would have killed you!"
Gojira growled.
["Strong mommy!"] - The cub laughed as he licked Skarla, who smiled at the little one.
"Don't make things unnecessarily difficult, Gojira. You'll get revenge, and you'll have my support. Help me, and we will be able to find out what other dragons are involved in all this, and… from what my memories and experiences indicate, if a dragon is behind this, he will not be weaker than you; he may even be stronger." - Skarla smiled. - "Then having allies is the best."
[Persuasion Test (Charisma) – D20+17+6 = 34(11)]
Gojira grated his teeth and crossed his arms. - "Very well. Explain to me in more detail what you want me to do. Also explain to me what these mountains are that you say you are going to conquer."
Skarla smiled.