First Enemies
One of the adventurers, an arrogant young man with a short sword hanging from his belt, approached slightly. He took a step forward, his boots clinking metal on the stone floor.
«We are adventurers in search of riches and challenges. We heard about the ruins here and... »
He paused, staring at the Dragon King suspiciously, his hands slightly trembling.
Dragon King :«Who are you to claim this place as your territory?»
The dragon king let out a deep laugh that seemed to growl in his throat, chilling the young man. Grrrrr.
Dragon King : « I am the dragon king reincarnated, master of these lands. You are here under my watch, and it depends only on me whether you will come out alive. »
The adventurers exchanged uncertain glances. Another vampire-looking man leaned over to his comrade and whispered a few words, shhh. The young woman in the group, an elf armed with a bow, also seemed hesitant. The Dragon King sensed their hesitation and decided to exert a little more pressure.
Dragon King : «You want riches? Follow me. If you can prove your worth, maybe you'll get what you're looking for. »
Intrigued but suspicious, the adventurers were consented. Under the watchful eye of Trôk and his goblins, they followed the Dragon King to the ruins of the fortress. The gobelins footsteps echoed heavily behind them, thud thud, as the adventurers advanced more cautiously.
The Dragon king guided them to a partially restored room where ancient inscriptions were drawn on the walls. The adventurers watched the symbols with fascination, their eyes opening wide at every detail, sshh.
Dragon King : «These are the runes of the dragons, they hold magical secrets and knowledge beyond your comprehension. If you are able to decipher even one of these runes, I will consider you worthy to serve my kingdom.»
The adventurers looked at each other, surprised and intimidated. The arrogant young man was displeased. He made a thud as he smashed his foot against the ground, thud.
«We are not here to serve you. We are free adventurers, not slaves! »
The Dragon King stared at the man with an icy stare, his golden pupils shining with a menacing glow.
Dragon King : «Freedom is a privilege in my kingdom. And only those who are worthy of it can claim to keep it. Refuse my offer, and you will leave this place empty-handed. Accept it, and you could get much more than fleeting riches. »
The young elf, interested in the prospect of the dragon king, asked a question: «If we accept, what exactly does that entail?»
Dragon King : «Your loyalty, dedication, and skill in the service of a reborn kingdom. I'll teach you secrets that even the mightiest mages don't know, and give you access to weapons and powers you won't find anywhere else. »
The trio remained silent for a moment, each analyzing their options. The promise of such knowledge was impossible to refuse, and they quickly realized that this was a unique opportunity.
Finally, the young elf nodded: «I accept. Show us how to decipher these runes. »
The Dragon King replied with a satisfied smile:« Very good.» He approached a particular rune, tracing the symbol with his fingertips. Swish.
A faint yellow glow lit up the wall, fssh, and he turned to the adventurers: «Watch carefully. This rune means 'Power' in the dragon language. »
The adventurers bent down to analyze every detail of the symbol, their eyes scrutinizing intensely. Gradually, they began to understand the complexity of the ancient language. Ssshh...
The Dragon King taught them several basic symbols, explaining their meaning and use. The adventurers listened with great fascination, captivated by this forgotten knowledge. When the lesson ended, they all had a new sparkle in their eyes.
Dragon King: «Now, if you are really determined to stay, prove your worth to me by applying what you have learned.»
Thud! The Dragon King's hand hit the ground as he chose a rune etched into the stone floor.
Dragon King: «Activate it and show me that you are ready to serve a kingdom that will not shrink from any obstacle.»
The young elf knelt down, her breathing steady. She delicately drew the symbol with her fingertips, her voice softly muttering the incantation. Fwoosh! A bright glow erupted, casting golden light into the room.
The Dragon King's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Dragon King: «Impressive. You have a natural affinity for draconic magic. What's your name, archer?»
The young elf raised her head with a slight smile.
Lyara: «My name is Lyara. I'm a Magician Elf .»
Dragon King: «Lyara, you've just proven your worth. Now you have a choice: continue your life as a worthless adventurer or join a kingdom destined to conquer this world.»
Lyara exchanged a confused look with her two companions. The young man with the sword hesitated, his hand twitching on the hilt. His nature, darker and more secretive, had not escaped the Dragon King's notice.
The Dragon King slowly turned his gaze to the swordsman, his golden eyes narrowing like daggers. Grrrr… A low rumble vibrated through the room, shaking the air.
Dragon King: «You, the man with the sword... You are not who you say you are. A black, ancient aura surrounds your being. Tell me, are you a demon?»
Carlos remained silent for a moment, his knuckles tightening around his blade. Clink! The faint sound of his sword scraping against its scabbard broke the tension. Lyara and their other companion—a vampire—exchanged a worried look.
Carlos: «That's true, but I'm not like the other demons. I don't appreciate their blind cruelty or their pathetic plots. That doesn't mean I love you, Dragon King.»
The Dragon King approached, each step thudding heavily on the ground, a deep rumble echoing from his chest.
Dragon King: «Dragons and demons have hated each other for millennia. If I grant you a place at my side, what does your loyalty guarantee me?»
Carlos raised his head, his crimson eyes defiant.
Carlos: «Nothing. But know this: I have nothing to do with your ancestral quarrels. I only want one thing: power. If you can give me some, then maybe I'll stay.»
The Dragon King chuckled, a deep, resonant sound like rolling thunder.
Dragon King: «Power, Carlos, is given only to the worthy. Prove to me that you are, and you will have much more than you hope for.»
The vampire companion, silent until now, stepped forward, his footsteps clicking against the stone floor.
Darius: «Your offer is intriguing, Dragon Lord. If you can truly restore a kingdom, then I'm willing to take a chance. My name is Darius, former duke of a lost vampiric empire.»
The Dragon King turned to Darius, his scales shifting with a faint metallic hiss. He inclined his head slightly, satisfied.
Finally, he turned back to Lyara.
Dragon King: «And you, archer? Do you have the strength to follow me, or do you prefer to remain in the shadow of oblivion?»
Lyara lowered her eyes for a moment. Shh... The soft sound of her breath filled the silence. At last, she raised her head with a determined smile.
Lyara: «I'm ready. Teach me all you know, and I will prove my worth.»
The Dragon King gave a sharp, approving nod.
Dragon King: «Good. You are the first servants of a kingdom that will rise above the rest.»
The adventurers, awed by the Dragon King's charisma and power, bowed their heads in respect. Whump! Their knees hit the floor as they knelt. A new era was opening for them, and they knew it.
The Dragon King turned to Trôk, who was watching the scene with both suspicion and admiration.
Dragon King: «Trôk, prepare quarters for our guests. They will now be part of our army in the making.»
Clang! Trôk's armor shifted as he bowed his head.
Trôk: «Yes, my king.»
While Trôk led the adventurers to their new rooms, the Dragon King remained alone for a moment. The chamber was silent, save for the faint crackle of a torch on the wall. His golden eyes traced the ancient carvings on the stone, his thoughts heavy.
Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his mind like a resonant hum:
[Master, these adventurers could be valuable allies, but be careful not to put too much trust in them. Their loyalty must still be tested, especially the demon Carlos. Dragons and demons have never gotten along since the dawn of time. They have always harbored hatred towards each other.]
The Dragon King replied inwardly, his voice sharp and unwavering:
Dragon King: «I know that. They are only tools for the moment. But each tool has its use.»
Thud! His tail struck the stone floor, sending a small tremor through the room.
Thus began a new era, one in which the Dragon King would cast his shadow over these lands by etching his name into history.
The next few days passed in a flurry of activity. The Dragon King took charge of training his new subjects. Swish! Arrows cut through the air as Lyara perfected her aim under his watchful eye. Crack! The earth split as Carlos unleashed his growing demonic power. Boom! Darius's spells ignited the training ground, his control over ancient vampiric magic becoming sharper.
Under the Dragon King's tutelage, they improved at a surprising speed, each mastering different aspects of ancient magic. But they were not the only ones to notice this transformation.
Whispers traveled through the region like the rustling of leaves in the wind. Rumors of a reborn dragon kingdom reached even the ears of powerful dark lords.
One night, while the Dragon King meditated in his private chamber, the low hum of the system's voice broke through his stillness:
[Alert, Master. Hostile forces are approaching. Three enemy groups have been detected at a distance of five kilometers. Their combined strength far exceeds that of your current subjects. They seem to have become aware of your presence and are trying to eliminate you.]
The Dragon King opened his eyes slowly. Hiss! The sound of his sharp breath echoed in the quiet room. He let the information settle, his expression calm but focused.
The alert was no surprise. A reborn kingdom, even if tiny and hidden like his, did not go unnoticed for long. This world of demons, wizards, and other mysterious creatures was not used to such a rise in power without suffering the consequences. His enemies were inevitable.
Dragon King: «System, what is the strength of these enemies?»
The system's voice was steady, analytical:
[The first group is made up of minor demons, weak but numerous, estimated at about a hundred units. Skrrr… The second group is led by a high-level magician, accompanied by fifteen subordinates. Clink! Finally, the third group includes elite soldiers, some of whom possess powerful artifacts. Their numbers are small, but their power is significant.]
The Dragon King stood, his claws scraping against the stone floor as his tail swept behind him. His golden eyes glowed fiercely in the dim light.
Dragon King: «Interesting. Let them come.»
Boom! The sound of his command reverberated through the chamber, signaling the beginning of the inevitable confrontation.
Dragon King: «Alright, I'll take care of that.»
The Dragon King rose, and whoom! an aura of indescribable power enveloped him, causing the stones beneath his feet to tremble crk-crk-crk! He was no longer merely a reincarnated being; he had become an entity whose strength was unmatched in this world.
He had never before met an enemy who had truly challenged him. But today would be different. Turning to the adventurers gathered around the strategy table, his deep voice echoed like distant thunder:
Dragon King: «We have unwanted visitors. Clang! Get ready to fight.»
Lyara, who had remained quiet until now, quickly stood up. Scrrr! Her chair scraped against the floor as she spoke urgently:
Lyara: «What are our options, my king?»
The Dragon King's gaze swept over them, assessing their potential. Tap, tap, tap. His claws tapped lightly against the stone table as he spoke.
Dragon King: «You will defend the fortress. The goblins will protect the outside. As for me, I will meet these forces personally.»
The impulsive young man leaned forward thud! as his fists hit the table.
Carlos: «But we can help you! Let us accompany you.»
The Dragon King shook his head, a low chuckle rumbling hmmph deep within his chest, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Dragon King: «You're not ready.»
He activated a symbol in the center of the room. Vrrrmmm! It began to glow, illuminating the chamber in a radiant green light.
Dragon King: «The power I am going to unleash is beyond what you can bear. For now, stay here and defend this fortress.»
Turning to Trôk, he gave his final instruction:
Dragon King: «Make sure everything is ready for the siege. I'm taking the lead.»
Trôk nodded sharply, the clink of his armor resonating as he moved to carry out the order.
Whoosh! The wind howled outside as the Dragon King strode toward the fortress's border. The first shadows of the enemies loomed on the horizon. The distant clang-clang of armored footsteps and the shnk of weapons being drawn reached his ears as he stopped, his lips curling into a smile.