Chapter 09:Dragon Race

Dragon Race

What do you imagine when you hear the term dragon race? A large and powerful body? Great magical strength and the ability to breathe fire? The power to master all kinds of magic? Or perhaps the only creature with intelligence equal to or greater than other races?

Everyone has their own perspective on how to describe the dragon race. In fact, it's rare for anyone to ever see this majestic yet mysterious creature. Dragons rarely leave their territorial domains, whether it's their personal nests scattered across the continent or the dragons' main territory, the Orion Mountains.

Almost every dragon has spent at least a century living in the Orion Mountains. Dragons are solitary creatures. After spending their childhood in the mountains for a century, they search for a lair and guard it alone for several more centuries.

There is an exception when the dragon king summons them to the Orion Mountains for a gathering. Dragons are at the top of the food chain and have no natural enemies, so they rarely hunt or spend time with other dragons.

This might seem a bit arrogant to other races, but dragons don't awaken their consciousness and intelligence merely for survival. While other races struggle to survive and are forced to think creatively, dragons face no such challenge. Blessed with immense physical strength, abundant magical energy, and the ability to conjure magical phenomena at will (draíocht), they are feared by all creatures in the world.

In the past, they ruled the entire continent, making them the strongest and most powerful creatures feared by all races. Even the angel race had to think thousands of times before challenging the dragons to war, resulting in them taking only defensive actions.

However, even the strongest creatures can grow bored. Eventually, they relinquished control over the world and returned to the Orion Mountains or their own territories, waiting for something to intrigue or entertain them. They even silently watched the war between angels and demons unfold across the continent.

Dragons can change their size and shape at will, as long as it doesn't exceed their original form—large, winged reptiles. They can even mimic the forms of other creatures, further showcasing their superiority. However, dragons prefer to transform into humanoid beings with two legs and two arms.

In their dragon form, they possess immense physical strength and strong defenses. They can breathe fire or other elements from their mouths. In battle, they use their sharp claws, teeth, or their hard tails, while their breath attacks are used for long-range or aerial strikes.

In humanoid form, dragons still retain great physical strength. However, they prefer to use weapons and draíocht while in this form. Most dragons, when gathered in the Orion Mountains, use their humanoid forms as it saves space.

Deep in the Orion Mountains lies a city built from the stone of the mountains. This city is located beneath the crater of one of the mountains in the range. The city's walls are beautifully carved, radiating grandeur. At the end of the road stands a magnificent red-black palace—Dragon Palace, the home of the dragon king.

The dragon king is the strongest of the strong among the dragons, deserving of the title "strongest creature in the world." However, not every dragon can become the king of the dragon race. To inherit the title, they must be stronger than the current king, a nearly impossible feat, especially given the sub-race of the dragon king's lineage, the Golden Dragon.

The dragon race is divided into several sub-races, each with its own elemental magic specialty. Although dragons can use all types of magic, their proficiency varies. For example, red dragons excel at fire and heat magic but struggle with other elements, while white dragons are proficient in ice and cold magic but weak in others. These sub-races also reflect the habitats they most prefer.

Golden Dragons are a sub-race adept at all forms of magic, making their combat abilities limitless and without weaknesses. Thus, they are known as the leaders of the dragon race.

•••

Dragon Palace, Orion Mountains

Inside the magnificent red-black palace, a girl sat with a bored expression.

She had golden hair and eyes with vertical pupils like those of a carnivorous animal. Though she looked like a 15-year-old girl, she was Sapphira De Goldra, daughter of the dragon king.

"Ugh, why do I have to wait here even after a hundred years?" she said, throwing herself onto a stone chair.

"I'm going to die of boredom here. I mean, all I can do is eat, sleep, or spar randomly with other dragons. Even the other dragons my age have started looking for their own territories, while I'm stuck here learning how to lead our race. Ugh, I've even started talking to myself."

'Hmm, how can I get permission to leave?' she thought, as if a light bulb had turned on above her head.

"Ah, that's it. I just need to find a good excuse to persuade Father to let me leave. Hahaha, I'm so smart," she said, running off quickly to find her father.

When she reached her father's study, Sapphira was certain he was inside.

'Okay, I just need to knock on the door,' she thought, steeling herself as she knocked on the door.

*Knock knock knock.*

"Come in," came a calm voice from inside, as if already knowing who was knocking. Hearing the voice, Sapphira couldn't help but feel nervous, remembering her father's stern nature.

The door opened, revealing a room with stone tables and chairs. Books bound in animal hides were neatly arranged on stone shelves carved into the walls.

Sitting in a large chair behind the table was a man who appeared to be in his thirties, with golden hair and eyes. He was Desmond De Goldra, the dragon king.

"What is it?" Desmond asked, looking puzzled at his daughter's presence.

"Isn't it about time I left the Orion Mountains to see the world, Father?" Sapphira asked cautiously.

Hearing her words, Desmond furrowed his brows and simply replied, "No," shaking his head.

"But I've endured intense training for the last hundred years since I hatched, and now it's time to gain experience in the outside world. Isn't it true that to become a good king, I need to learn from the vast world out there?" Sapphira didn't give up, trying to make a reasonable argument.

"Hmm..." Desmond thought for a moment, looking at his daughter's determined face.

"Very well, but make sure to bring a servant who will guard you during the journey. I will choose one for you. Now, go and rest," Desmond said at last.

Hearing her father's words, Sapphira couldn't hide her joy and began jumping up and down in excitement. Desmond smiled as he watched his daughter. Noticing her father's gaze, Sapphira's face turned red, and she stopped jumping.

"Ahem, thank you, Father," Sapphira said, her face still flushed with embarrassment as she quickly left her father's study.

"Huh, young people these days," Desmond sighed, shaking his head before returning to his work.