Going out

Jurra's pupils nearly popped from his eyes.

Bedchamber!?

He almost let out a full-blown, anime-protagonist-style spit take but clenched his jaw so hard his teeth creaked like a wooden floorboard under a titan's step.

His lips twitched. His fingers tensed.

A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead like a mountain climber unsure of his next foothold.

His face, however, remained stone cold.

"…Understood."

Play it cool, Jurra. You're the Jurassic Overlord. You have a title screen to prove it. You've stepped on enemy empires and roared at rival players. You once soloed an entire dungeon designed for guild parties back when you didn't have an Empire yet. You can handle a few Matriasaurs talking about the… bedchamber.

Still, his mind wouldn't shut up.

They don't mean what I think they mean, right? No, maybe they just want to talk. Talk in the bedchamber. Like strategy. Or like… nesting arrangements. Maybe it's a cozy room with pillows. Yeah. Dino spa. Matriarchal relaxation. Totally normal.

But he knew.

He knew what it meant.

In War of Warlocks: Metamorphosis Online, to trigger a matriarch egg-laying phase, the Indominator Rex transformation—Jurra's warlock metamorphosis -- had to step—yes, literally step—on the back of a willing Matriasaurs.

Like a rooster on a hen.

The unknown devs even animated it. And now…

Now these Matriasaurs, seven of them, were looking at him with their cheeks slightly red, eyes flickering, fidgeting like they were unsure whether to tackle him or serve him tea.

However, Jurra had something far more important in mind.

His voice remained steady as he responded, "That won't be necessary."

All seven blinked.

"We've only just arrived in this world. It's uncharted, potentially hostile, and unknown. Lowering our guard now would be irresponsible."

The shift was immediate. They straightened up, their bodies tensing in both surprise and admiration.

Jurra turned to walk away, cape rustling slightly behind him as he moved toward the entrance of his throne chamber. His voice was calm but firm, "You should all rest for now. I need to check the perimeter. And to see the strange thing about this barrier."

Sephina, the Spinosaurus Matriarch, gasped softly. "You're going to investigate?"

"Can we come with you, Supreme One?" asked the other six Matriasaurs in near-unison, like overly enthusiastic bodyguards.

Jurra paused and gave a single nod. "Yes. Stay close."

He stepped forward, body humming with a low, powerful rhythm. His every muscle felt dense and coiled with force, like he was wearing a beast's strength under human skin.

He was aware of how the Matriasaurs watched him, their eyes filled with reverence. But he didn't bask in it. His thoughts were running miles ahead.

This is real life now. Not a game.

That means anything can happen. If I was sent here, maybe other players were too.

Top players won't sit still—some might be hunting.

Some might be planning to rule. If I want to stay ahead, I need to move faster. Think sharper. Two steps ahead of everyone, just like always.

As they arrived at the edge of the Jurassic Dominion's central zone, Sephina began explaining.

And explaining.

And explaining.

"My Lord, after your slumber began, we followed your final command to construct the Seven Sanctums of Breeding and Power. However, on the fourteenth day, a foreign energy surged from beneath the earth.

"We attempted to trace its source, but the domain began closing in, forming an invisible wall around the territory's outer rim. Our spellcasters—Lady Tyranda, Lady Stegara, and Lady Brontala—attempted three incantation cycles, but the mana interference nullified each one.

"Lady Quetzina tried flight reconnaissance but was repelled mid-air. We attempted magical triangulation, frequency pulses, and even blood offerings to the core stone—but all failed. On the seventeenth day, we tried…"

Jurra nodded.

Then nodded again.

More nodding.

And more nodding.

His jaw clenched. How much did they test exactly? This felt like this isn't an experiment log—it's a research paper.

"…and as a last resort," Sephina finally said, "we all stood together and used our aura resonance to pass through but still couldn't make it. You appeared moments after."

"Mm." Jurra squinted at the edge of the domain.

Nothing. Just flat terrain, misty air, and a feeling like something was lurking just beyond touch. He tilted his head, analyzing. If this was a real game mechanic, what would I do?

Then he tried something simple.

He lifted his hand.

Sephina and the others leaned forward, curious.

And swoosh—

His hand passed through an invisible field.

"What?"

He stepped forward instinctively. And there was no resistance.

His body crossed the boundary.

He turned around.

The seven Matriasaurs stood, stunned.

"Supreme One?" Sephina blinked. "You crossed it?"

Jurra looked down at his hand. Then behind him.

"I… guess I did."

The barrier shimmered faintly, like a pond rippling under a single raindrop.

Sephina stared. "But… none of us could…"

"Try again," Jurra said, looking at her. "Maybe the domain was sealed until I woke up."

Hope blossomed across her face. The others gasped and whispered.

"Could it be?"

"Is that the condition?"

Sephina stepped forward. "Then I shall try first."

Her eyes shone with faith. Her claws dug softly into the ground. She inhaled slowly.

Jurra watched closely.

Her foot crossed the boundary.

Her shoulder followed.

Then—

WHUMPH!

An invisible force slammed her mid-step.

She was knocked back, though she quickly regained balance.

"What the—" Jurra's eyes narrowed.

Then—ding!

A small translucent game screen appeared in front of his eyes.

[Access Denied]

Barrier crossing requires payment.

Current Magic Crystals: 3

Required: 100.

Jurra's mouth dried.

Currency!? Magic crystals!?

He stared at the number again.

Three!? THREE!? That's it!? I used to have 667 before! I was the richest damn player in the game! I had more crystals than my guild's banker!

But now—locked away.

And worse yet…

Sephina stared at her hands. "I… couldn't cross."

Jurra exhaled, trying to hide the clenching in his gut.

This wasn't just a domain issue.

This was the system turning real.

But it's still just like the game whenever a player descends on the new game expansion.

They need magic crystals to move beyond the borders, and I only have three…

Then maybe, just maybe—

Nevermind, nothing is important but resources.

Jurra stared at Sephina for a long moment. Her eyes held frustration and a touch of confusion, but also unwavering belief.

He could see it clearly.

She wouldn't question him, not openly, not yet. She trusted in his judgment as the Supreme One. That's what they called him—Supreme One.

Funny how that used to just be a flashy title from a leaderboard.

Now it carried weight.

Without answering her, Jurra turned his head slowly, eyes drifting beyond the barrier, taking in the outside world for the first time since waking.

The terrain was surreal.

Thick mists clung to the earth like sleepy spirits, and long, twisted trees reached toward the sky like the bones of ancient beasts trying to crawl out from underground.

There were glowing patches of moss pulsing faintly across the bark, like veins of soft light trailing through the underbrush.

Wisps of raw, drifting strange energy that isn't mana that was curled like ghostly ribbons through the air—glimmering aether that shimmered when touched by moonlight, casting spectral reflections on the ground.

The atmosphere was heavy with unknown mystical pressure that is different from the usual arcane, the sort that told him this place wasn't some beginner zone.

It had rules. It was dangerous.

And then there was the sound—unsettlingly serene.

The distant hum of insects clicked and chirped in strange rhythms, alien melodies that echoed like ancient warnings from the forest's core.

However, there was not a single bird. No wings in the air. No flutter of feathers. Just silence overhead, as if the sky itself had banned the avian kind from flying above this realm.

Jurra's eyes narrowed.

Should I go out and check the surrounding area of my dominion?

It felt stupid to even consider it.

In the game, walking out without a party was basically asking for a respawn countdown. And this wasn't just War of Warlocks.

This was the expansion—Metamorphosis. A brand new zone.

Unknown mobs.

Unknown bosses.

Maybe even environmental hazards.

The devs had teased "dynamic ambient threats." That could mean weather storms that melted your armor or blood-hungry trees.

And worse—

Other players. If any others made it here… top players wouldn't just wait around. They'd hunt. Build empires. Exploit.

Jurra clenched his fists.

Suddenly, Sephina spoke from behind, "My Lord… forgive me, but… how did you pass through the barrier?"