Primordial Dawn

A thunderclap shattered the mountaintop silence as ten Primordial dragons spawned into existence atop the towering, snow-capped peak. With their higher level of intelligence, each dragon immediately understood their existence to a basic degree- but the why eluded them.

Whether by design or accident, lightning struck the center of the mountaintop moments later, casting dazzling light across the landscape. From the heart of the storm, an eleventh Primordial dragon emerged. Their eyes locked onto her before they lifted their gazes toward the stormy skies.

+ (1) Divinity * 11

Believing it to be the will of their summoner, god, or father above, the dragons declared the eleventh primordial dragon their leader- the Primordial Dragon Queen.

Without yet a name, her scales like gems shimmered white with sapphire eyes and wings that spanned seventy-five meters and with a bodily length of twenty meters.

The other female dragons, adorned with gold and sapphire scales, seemed modest in comparison with fifty-meter wingspans and fifteen-meter-long bodies.

And the male dragons?

Thirty-meter wingspans and ten-meter-long bodies- more comparable to regular dragons than their Primordial female counterparts.

The females remained atop the mountain, spending their days conversing about the mysteries of their world, their existence, and their father above, occasionally soaring across the skies to explore the lands below. The males took up the roles of hunters and guards, circling the peak to protect their sanctuary.

At first, food was abundant- deer, wolves, wild boars- but their keen minds noticed the hastened decline of wildlife. The dragons' appetites were massive, especially among the females. It was clear that the surrounding wilderness could not sustain them forever.

They needed a new plan.

And they needed it soon.

The simplest solution they came up with was hunting aquatic life. The oceans, untouched for centuries, teemed with life. Massive whales and fish broke the surface, some large enough to feed multiple dragons.

It was settling though. They preferred red meat.

A secondary issue emerged as the males found, similar to the dwarves, they were unable to impress their female counterparts. Their bodies, their strength, even the beauty of their scales- everything felt inadequate when compared to the grandeur of the females.

Frustrated but determined, the males circled the mountain, their sharp eyes scanning for anything of value.

Their claws tore into the rocky surface, ripping out large, sparkling chunks embedded in the stone. When they returned to the peak, they began lining the outer edges of their lair with vibrant stones. Crimson rubies, sapphire shards, amethyst, gold veins- each reflecting the sunlight off the snowy peak like a beacon.

One male Primordial dragon in particular, with blackened scales that let him blend seamlessly into the night sky, was gaining the Primordial Dragon Queen's attention. His tale flicked enthusiastically side to side, spraying the other males with fragmented gemstones as he basked in his success.

His efforts had drawn the attention of the Queen who finally approached him, her sapphire eyes studying his collection with amused interest.

Typical of any in this situation, jealousy began to simmer with their tails violently impacting the dull grey stone behind them, taking care not to shatter what they had already gathered.

One red-scaled dragon, unable to tolerate the sight any longer, took off from the mountaintop in a desperate bid to find a jewel more magnificent than any the Blackened Dragon had offered, hoping to claim the Queen's favor for himself.

He circled the the mountain, weaving between the clouds letting out bursts of flames and guttural roars of frustration that echoed through the peak. His wings cut through the blackened mist, creating spirally trails of black smog and flames in his midst.

The Queen looked up at him from her perch, her sapphire eyes glimmering with intrigue as his roars of ambition challenged his rivals. His rival snorted dismissively, flicking a broken gemstone toward him with disrespect.

In a sudden burst of movement, the red-scaled dragon tucked his wings and dove through the clouds toward the base of the mountain at an incredible speed. A black mist engulfed him as he spiraled downward, creating a fireball-like effect that streaked across the sky.

His eyes locked onto a pure purple crystal resting atop a wooden structure, its vibrant hue and dazzling beauty reflecting in the fading light.

Baring his fangs with excitement that matched the heat of his dragon's breath, he thought, This unmatched crystal will surely win the Queen's heart!

But as his descent slowed, he noticed something unusual- the crystal rested atop logs that had been strung together with vines. His sharp eyes scanned the ground below as smaller creatures emerged from a nearby cave.

They carried odd tools made of dull, shaped stone, and some had vines tied to sticks of wood. Others wore strange leafy coverings strapped to their bodies.

Breaking his dive, the red dragon shifted his trajectory and drifted toward a nearby cliff before the creatures could spot him. They glanced up briefly, their eyes searching the sky where his shadow had passed, but they saw nothing.

From the cliff, the dragon watched. His initial desire to immediately claim the crystal and impress the Queen faded as curiosity took over. For days, he observed them. He discovered their tiny settlement, hidden within a forest near a winding river.

The more he watched, the greater his fascination grew. These creatures were more than prey- they were builders and crafters. They created structures of stone, intricate jewelry from crystals, and lavish decorations using simple sticks and wood. Each creation sparked intrigue, and the possibilities swirled within his mind.

Such a discovery would elevate him far above the others. He wasn't just after the Queen's heart anymore- he was after something far greater.

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"Ah, I'm catching the drift here," Atlas mused, chuckling lightheartedly at the unfolding drama. "Love creates opportunities, they work together to impress the women, get laid, happily ever after. Right?"

"Well..." Wisp began slowly, its gaze shifting downward. "Almost. Jealousy, love, ambition- you can imagine what that combination can cause."

Atlas paused and frowned, thinking back to the impressive black-scaled Primordial Dragon. Honestly, all of them were impressive, but that one stood out through raw effort and being the first to win the queen's favor. Ambition can have consequences though, and Wisp's foreshadowing left a little unhappy pit in Atlas's chest.

Still, his gaze drifted to the divinity points counter displayed in his CDIM and his brows furrowed.

"Why don't I have more divinity points?" Brushing his fingers against the glowing interface, swiping through the logs. "Shouldn't I have way more?"

"Your divinity was generated mostly from the original Primordial Dragons." Wisp replied matter-of-factly. "Without interference or guidance from you, this was all they could generate."

Atlas raised a brow, his fingers still scrolling through the data. "So, they just... didn't believe in me?"

"At first, they did." Wisp admitted. "When they spawned, some were easily convinced that you were their creator in one form or another. But over time, with a lack of evidence, that belief faded for many. As they lived and thrived without direct interference, doubt crept in. Future generations began to 'believe' only out of social obligation- so they wouldn't be social outcasts."

Atlas rubbed his temples, groaning. "So the belief has to be genuine."

Wisp nods.

"Essentially. Also, faith generates divinity depending on the creature. Lesser creatures require far more believers for a steady flow of divinity. Primordial Dragons are powerful. Weaver Atlas was lucky with how they spawned. Without them, you would be struggling."

Leaning back, Atlas exhaled slowly as he processed the information. "So I need to cultivate genuine belief for more divinity points. The more the merrier."

"Correct."

Wisp chirped. "Or you could find another way to inspire awe. But keep in mind, jealousy and ambition are powerful forces... they can either work for you or against you."

His eyes scanned the CDIM, breathing out again as his eyes rested on one statistic.

----------Believers: 5020---------

Common: 5000 ( +5 Divinity per Century, + 0.000005 Gene Points per Century)

Specials: 20 ( + 20 Divinity per Century, + 0.0000002 Primordial Points per Century, + 0.00000002 Gene Points per Century)

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"Ah...Thank you dragons...!" Atlas said in a hushed tone before returning to their lifespan. "I should do something about their lifespan in the future. They don't feel very 'Primordial' right now."

"It is advised that Weaver Atlas create different Primordial beings rather than strengthening one for war."

The flat statement causes Atlas to turn his head. They stare at each other, eyes locked in silence, before Atlas turns back to his screen to continue the replay.