This Dragon Has Awoken

When I came too, it wasn't the thundering lightning in the sky nor the feeling of divinity. It was the dark you would see in the deep part of a cave, the scent of dampness, and the sounds of insects crawling about.

Not close, no insect would be foolish enough to linger around a slumbering dragon, much less two dragons.

I was back at the cave, in the world of summons. The lack of overwhelming power was a strong indicator.

The gigantic cave, which had ample space, now seemed small and suffocating. My head almost reached the top, and I had to duck to avoid the ceiling. The jagged edges of the cave threatened to scrape me, but thankfully, I wasn't that big.

The darkness wasn't unfamiliar, and now I had grown used to waking up in dark places. A yawn escaped my lips as I closed and opened my eyes as they adjusted to the dark.

Soon, I began to see in the cave.

I wanted to stretch my stiff muscles, but in this cave, it meant a collapse; it was even a wonder that my sister and I slept in the same space.

My eyes looked at my snoring sister, and a warm smile unraveled itself on my face. Her red scales shimmered in the dim cave, the only source of light being the glistening metallic scales that glinted on her body.

Steam left her nose as she loudly snored, the pebbles hovering slightly, and the cave trembling.

I wondered if she went to the same void I did when I slept. "Isn't she adorable?" I mused loudly to the fairy on my shoulder.

Fairy?

Now that I think about it

My hand absentmindedly made its way towards my chin.

She wasn't there when I got summoned, that damned bastard distracted me, I hadn't even noticed the missing fairy.

Maybe because I felt her faintly, I deemed she was near me, when she absolutely wasn't, but as her creator, I knew she was in the overworld, just not with me.

How could I forget? I prayed she was alright.

Who does a god pray to?

I shook my head, the arrogant nature of a dragon shifting my thoughts.

The little fairy was fine, or else I would have felt something.

How odd, yet it wasn't even the oddest thing.

Regardless, seeing Diana, safely ensnared in the circle, made the heavy weight leave my chest. There was no way something crafted with dragon magic would fail. Perhaps that was my only solace. The little fairy and Diana were safe.

Maybe I should be the god of optimism.

I restrained from clicking my tongue.

Speaking about godhood, I could feel a distinct lack of it. Or rather, a closeness that isn't quite there yet.

I was carried by that void I was in; otherwise, Diana would have died.

The thought didn't exactly make me smile, no, it rather soured my mood. Once again, I was reminded how powerless mortals were.

Yet even though I wasn't a god currently, I still felt a small inkling of it, a connection to the sky.

The ability to manipulate faith also remained, but I wasn't currently getting any.

As if on cue.

[Congratulations! You have evolved!]

[You are now a proud member of the Sky Dragons.]

[However, as you are a special entity with different skin, you are Unique.]

[Excess experience detected]

[You have leveled up x5]

[Congratulations! You have completed your quest!]

[Subjugated the three peaks!]

[You have unlocked a Monarch's Aura]

[Lesser Creatures will respect your sovereignty]

[Monarchs Aura Detected]

An oppressive feeling enveloped my body, and a thin aura surrounded me. I could feel my horns curving slightly.

[Race Adjusted]

[You have become a Dragon King!]

[You are now a Sky Dragon King]

I rolled my shoulders as best I could in the small environment. Power was cramped in my newly formed muscles; it didn't compare to being a god, but I felt strong, at least stronger than before.

Now I wouldn't struggle if faced with an adversary, like the false Mir. 

A stifling sensation entered my throat, and the need to roar suddenly overcame me. Had I spent too much time with that mutt?

Swallowing it, I started to wonder about the text. Even as a false god, the text felt distant, and that was strange.

How can something be stronger than a god?

Well, a dragon is anyway.

The idle thoughts didn't last, as I felt stirring near me.

Saving as much time before she awoke, I summoned the page with my data.

'Status Window'

[Name: Bahamut]

[Level. 15]

[XP 0/5000

[Growth Stage: Youth]

[Levels to Next Stage 85]

[Race: Sky Dragon King]

[Role: Deity]

[Divinity: 50]

[Skills]

[Sp.10]

[Party]

[Quest]

[Rewards]

[Stats]

[Factions]

[Church]

Almost whistling loudly, I held myself back not to wake her.

Fifteen is a bigger number than three; surely that meant good things. Yet it wasn't all good; my eyes widened at the sight of the number required for the next growth. Eighty-five was a bit steep.

Then again, as the apex race, it made sense that an adult was one hundred, but if that was only the number for an adult, I shuddered at the number for an Elder.

A new subsection caught my eye: a church. From the little I gathered in that strange void, a church was essential for a god born from faith.

My sister and I wouldn't need it. We were born gods, who simply haven't ascended yet. What did that mean? I didn't know.

More importantly, that old man called me Bahamut, and this Tlaloc character, who the hell was he?

At first, I thought they were merely spouting nonsense, but that old man said my name. Was I really Tlaloc?

My head started to throb; I wasn't some reincarnation.

Right?

My name was... And I was a small-time bounty hunter.

Huh?

My name was ______.

My breath increased, and the scent of sulfur filled the cave. 

My name? What was my name? I was _______. I was a small-time bounty hunter.

I was a—what was my name?

Name. Name. Name. Name. Name. 

My head started to burn.

Ah, my sister is so cute, those blue scales of hers started to glow, I sure hoped she didn't grow another head.

When I was a child, the bishop told me stories of a seven-headed dragon that led the apocalypse.

He'd gather up all the children, his white and gold cassock outfit, and sit us around a table. His lowered glasses looked fondly at us, and he'd turn the page slowly, and start talking about different mythological stories.

Perhaps her five heads jogged my memory. I hoped she wouldn't take that route.

No, I wouldn't let her.

As the older brother, that was my duty.

I nodded to myself and puffed out my chest.

Half in mind to stroke my sister's head, I extended my hand.

[Brother?] Her cute voice squeaked out, or rather slithered out. A frown came undone on my dragon lips. I missed her squeaky voice, now it sounded less squeaky and more regal.

I pulled back my hand.

She rubbed her eyelids, her golden eyes shining brightly, as she yawned and stretched. Her being smaller than me, it was possible in the small cave.

[I just had the weirdest dream, Brother, there were these silly little ants, sacrificing animals to me]

Uh oh, that can't be good. if I weren't crazy, didn't that sound like worship?

Her lips curved ever so gently, tiny bits of her dragon teeth poking out.

[Isn't that so bizarre?] She asked with a tilted head. The crown on her head was a bit more pronounced, and she gave off a feeling similar to the aura that wrapped around me earlier.

[Is that so? And what did you do?]

She got up like a cat and spoke.

[Well, what does one do when they see ants?]

Tiamat rolled her eyes, as if it were the most natural thing.

I couldn't help but recoil. If my dream was real, which everything pointed at it being so, then hers was most likely too.

Perhaps noticing my look, she spoke again with a twinkle in her eye.

[A jest brother, I still remember your drivel about treating lesser species better.] Her words rolled off her tongue, pride evident in her voice.

She puffed up her chest and looked up as if to receive praise.

I shook my head, and stroked her head, and she nuzzled into my hand. Her rough scales, somehow, felt soft in my hands as I stroked the medium-sized lizard.

This was life. I mused.

[So, then what did you actually do?] I asked, half worried.

[Why so curious brother, it's just a dream] She stopped my hand, and looked at me with a curious gaze.

[But if you must know, I blessed the bugs, and they built a city in my honor. They talked too much, so I couldn't quite remember what.]

I nodded [Well done.] I continued to praise and pet her.

She shrugged her shoulders and reveled in the praise.