###Elves, I grow TIRED of your stalling. Bring me the hyrajiian or face my wrath.###
Oops, my voice is getting quite loud. I knocked over a few elves when I yelled 'tired.'
...
Then again, they deserve it for infringing upon my majesty. I should not need to wait here while they stall!
Somehow, I feel yet another burst of power— my body visibly surging upward this time. Chronovoid sure does like his dragons being strong. He gives away his power so easily! He must be truly unfathomable.
I lower my head down to the city wall. My huge snout hovers over the guy I saw on the inscription. I breathe out on him and his group.
##Now.##
They all fall over this time. How big have I gotten? Sheesh.
I raise my enormous body up again.
They're trying to give me this guy instead of the hyrajiian. They claim he killed the hyrajiian. Should I accept this?
Wait, how do I conquer a city?
I think about the structure of the elves. They have the hyrajiian, then ministers, regional dictators, city heads, and finally local patriarchs.
Hmm.
What if I put my dragons as the city heads? After they figure out who would make a good elven leader, they can pass the job off. I don't need national rulers so long as I directly manage these people. I AM the national ruler.
More power flows in.
Hoh, again?
I look way down.
If this guy's become the hyrajiian, I can chop his head off. He's a nutcase who decided to fight fate for no reason. My god, I mean: he's fate. Nobody needs a ruler who fights when fate is telling you 'here, have peace and prosperity.'
Chop his head off? How would I... I could shrink, but what about showing off my draconic might? Perhaps I should repay their many abuses against my good dragons with similar treatment toward one of their evil.
I lean down over the wall again.
Huh? Why is my head over here?
#THUD#
I have to take a huge step back because I've grown so much in a few moments. I wasn't lined up with the wall anymore! My now-larger snout hovers over the increasingly diminutive elves. I flare my teeth at them, many of those teeth thicker than the wall all by themselves.
This feeling of absolute, undeniable power is incredible. It's good to be a dragon.
##Fine, I'll accept this man. Leave him here and go.##
I watch as the little things scramble away.
#THUD#
I take another step back, again needing to realign my maw. That was so fast! Then, I open my maw. My tongue rolls out and compresses the hyrajiian, before slipping him easily into my gullet.
*glllk*
I swallow. As he travels down my throat, I feel something is not quite right.
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
My neck is shredded apart internally.
My enormous body falls limply to the ground.
...
...
###CRA-THOOOOM###
Luckily, the bones of my skull and spine are far too hard to be damaged by these bombs, though this one did sever my spinal nerves. Similarly, said bombs can no longer penetrate my scales. Such an injury should heal up in no time.
I trust my god.
I see hundreds of small elves begin swarming around my enormous maw, which lays open without any way for me to close it. The muscles are gone along with the nerves. I can feel it heal—
Another bomb goes off inside my mouth.
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
What are they doing? I try to move my grand body, but I'm entirely unable.
Several are set off at once this time.
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
I can feel it now. They're trying to dig into my brain. They're going up the base of my spine, which is an easy way to get into most creatures' skulls. As it is mine. Agh! How do I get out of this?
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
One or two more and they'll be up there. I must—
I remember the size-altering inscription. I flood it with Mana while Willing myself to become smaller.
My body shrinks, shrinks, and shrinks more. Soon, the soldiers in my maw are all crammed together. The damage they've done causes my jaw to give way. They don't get crushed, instead they all fall out in a pile. I keep going until they're all forced from my maw. I'm the size of a normal elf, which is shameful, but this should give me time to heal.
"Toss 'em all!"
Toss?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
*thunk**thump**thud*
*thok**thunk**thod*
*klunp**fump*thok*
They dump a whole pile of the things on top of my body. My scales will handle it, but I can't close my maw!
Now what?! Ah!
I undo the inscription and try to return to my normal size. I don't make it all the way there, but the Mana bombs do mostly roll away from my maw.
#KRUMB-KRNCH-THRATH#
##KEWWWSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH##
I feel a burning sensation at the core of my neck. The remainder of the Mana bombs do nothing against my scales.
Curses, did they make it through?
I feel a burning sensation in my jaw.
Then, my back and chest.
Finally, to my great surprise, my sense of feeling comes back. Oh. The nerves were healing. That makes sense!
I lumber my huge body up once more. Has my healing become swifter due to my injuries?
My jaw, too, heals enough that I can close it without worry.
I slam my maw shut with an annoyed growl.
####CHUDD####
###RRRRRGGGGGG###
##You elves. Your petty ploy has failed. SINCE you have chosen violence, I shall respond in kind. If you do not submit to my rule properly, your entire guard and all of your officials shall be eaten by myself, personally. If they choose to blend with the common people... Hrr. I'll be forced to consider the people my enemy too, for they have decided to not sell you out. Bring all of your worst officials to the city gates. If you do not comply, this entire city will become my meal. You may let live any officials who are not evil. However, I will eat those I dislike.##
I stomp forward a bit for intimidation.
###THOOM###
###THOOM###
I then lean my huge body over the city. I use my tail to balance myself, so my head can almost reach the middle of the city without crushing anything. My bladed horns cast large shadows over the area like four huge swords.
Amazing, these buildings look so small!
##I'll remind you. My enemies, they do not live. Do not try to fool me again. You will not recieve another chance.##
I observe their actions.
My vision has thankfully improved substantially, otherwise I wouldn't see anything. It seems they did submit this time. Quite a few people and that hyrajiian are being carted out. I guess they used some sort of magic to trick me.
...
...
They bring these people to the city gates, throw them onto the ground, then flee back into the city.
...
...
All of this takes quite some time, and in that time— I've gotten even larger. Thus is my reward for my first conquest.
Hmm, I think I'll eat these elves again. I believe your silly bombs won't do much damage any longer. My flesh is too tough.
I walk backward again.
#THOOM#
#THOOM#
#THOOM#
I stick my tongue out.
*SPLUD*
Ah, my tongue crushed them. Oops.
I glance up and see a portal appear in the middle of the city. That must mean I got the right people this time.
I retract my tongue, close my maw, and raise my huge self into a standing position. My enormous body casts a shadow over the entire city.
That's right— tiny elves.
I can take your light.
Do not fight me.
You will lose.
##KOOOM##
I sit.
...
Time passes while I wait for my dragons to do their duties. They'll know what I want without my instruction. I should not be so prideful as to step in where I'm not needed.
...
...
...
[...]
"Congratulations on your first conquest! While you could've made better tactical decisions, the choices you made perfectly showed a dragon's sense of propriety. I'm excited to watch the remainder of your battles."
I glance around at the tiny trees below my immense form. I see that all submits to me without question, as is proper.
"I think those battles be a bit one-sided, my god."
"Is that a problem?"
"Not at all, my god. I brought in my dragons. They've started to take administrative control of the city and have since determined that the rightful hyrajiian was killed by the elf I ate. So, unless their ministers want to rebel against a city-sized dragon, I've surely conquered this country. Only one autonomous region didn't submit after hearing the news. They're sending a diplomat to examine the situation— to examine myself. I believe they'll submit."
"Wow, conquest of an entire planet! Your speed is second only to Dracosect's. You certainly do know how to fight for glory— your rewards are well-deserved."
I'm second to Dracosect? No wonder he's a Paragon.
"Is my mission complete?"
"Nope! I said dominate, didn't I? Military conquest is one part. Though, I suppose there is another way to phrase it which still involves conquering."
What in the world does that mean?
"Conquer their hearts and minds. Righteously."
[...]
I'm sitting in front of my city. The only one I likely must conquer via force. I know I'm too powerful to be denied.
Yet.
My tail is wrapped around myself so I don't cause harm. My legs are crossed, so I don't inflict damage.
It's not enough— is that right?
Sitting here peaceably isn't enough.
I realize the reality of my posture: I've gone back to my Halcyon days. I'm sitting quietly while waiting for the attack. I may have won militarily, but how hard would it be to attack this huge body through words?
Doubtlessly easier than with bombs.
Killing me by force is a fool's errand. Now. What if they rally their people and trick me into committing unjust acts? What if they turn me into the monster I appear to be; to the elves at least, even though I sit without baring my teeth?
I stand tall above the city again.
##THOOM##
#rummmmb#
I feel an influx of power as I do. Likely from the city, and interestingly, possibly my dragons as well. The sun goes through my legs, around my tail, and leaves the city lit by sunlight. I'm on the other side, now, so the setting sun should blanket them in shadow.
It doesn't; my normal gait leaves my immense feet on either side of the city, and so the sunlight passes through my legs unhindered. I'm THAT large. I'm awe-inspiring even to myself.
I lean over so my body intentionally fills the city's dimming evening sky. Or rather, my head.
image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/167.png]
I speak very quietly.
"People of Latisilan. I have liberated you from your evil rulers. You may think me vicious and calculating, or too powerful to oppose. The truth is— I yearn for my halcyon days. The better times I'd left behind. I did not want to fight you, much less harm your city."
I move my tail for a moment, but I'm quickly forced to shift it again. I blanketed the entire city under my shadow with nothing but my tail.
Really? I covered them so easily? Chronovoid is very generous to his dragons. Ah, generosity.
"You'll all be given the opportunity to elect a new leader. Your choices will be vetted by me, but ultimately, you'll be allowed to pick someone better than the evil that I forcibly removed. You should elect someone who makes you and your children happy. Safe. Proud. Pick someone who brings back your halcyon days."
I tilt my head slightly. Conquest.
"I conquered your city, because I can never have an opportunity to sit peacefully. I am a dragon. Had your leaders not attacked me, I'd absolutely still rail against your leaders' consistent injustices. I've decided I'll fight for better. I'll fight for peace. I'll fight for all of you— to grant you the chance to live freely and happily. In a way I never can as I am now personally responsible for you."
I think back to Chronovoid's speech.
"What I ask is simple. Don't fight unjust battles. Not only against dragons, but also against each other. Love your fellow elf. Please. Let go of your hate and misery. Choose to live freely, as only then may you live well. Live as freely as a dragon soars the clouds above your cities. Do this, and never again shall you fear mere shadows."
I turn around and walk away.
##THOOOM##
I'm forced to activate the size-changing inscription as I move. I feel the intensity of my transformation going way, way up. I'd crush the greater landscape if I didn't. My shadow flickers over the city for a moment as I walk.
##THOOOM##
It's just one city, but I can tell from the power pouring into my body: they'll spread my words.
It appears I've nailed my speech.
##THOOOM##
It helps that I've killed off the worst of the worst; of that there's little doubt! They were willing to toss away many of their leaders like trash when given the opportunity.
##THOOOM##
An opportunity only my raw power could afford them. My dragons will soon throw the criminal underworld in jail, too. I won't overlook them either.
##THOOOM##
Now? Now, it's a matter of perspective.
I stop and gaze down across the tiny landscape features.
From my perspective? This is all mine. From theirs, it doesn't matter what's mine. What matters how they'll live.
I think of my daughter.
I want to hug her.
My halcyon days may be gone, at least as a concept. But just for a moment. Just for a little while, between my conquests. Though I stand so tall amongst these little grass-like trees.
I want her to feel peace and happiness.
I spread my enormous wings wide.
I rise from the forest in flight.
Mommy's coming home, my cute little whelp.
I did this entirely.
...
...
For you.