After a hearty lunch of raw meat, I decided to think about how to use his horns with hooves. But I thought that it was better to just leave them in the cave. I'll use the deer skin later as paper when it dries.

I decided to start using my scales to make a couple of runes. Even without the use of dragon powers, it can be used for rune writing. It was the size of a child's hand. My scales were dark, it looks beautiful, I think for adventurers my body is like a treasure chest. And the more my body is intact the more they'll get. Heh, I would like to see these people, I have more confidence that the ones who could threaten me will be those who are way stronger than people.

Anyway, I was able to draw on the scale. I made 10 runes, 2 fire spells, 3 wind spells, 3 earth spells and the last 2 are light spells. After writing, I immediately realized one problem. Mana is incredibly slow to recover. I need to get off the island faster, but there is a problem. Not only do I not know the area near this island, but I also don't even know where this island is.

Although, I always can ask someone. A system, give me a map of the optimal route to the neutral continent.

"System: It's worth 10,000,000 contribution points."

That much? Hmm, after thinking about the situation, I decided to change the request a little. A system, give me a map of the way to the nearest continent.

"System: It's worth 3,000,000 contribution points."

Everything is also expensive, wait a minute, and what is the quality of the map?

"System: Since the owner did not specify, it was decided to show the price of the most detailed map."

So that's the reason. Then change the quality to a minimum.

"System: Accepted. It will cost 260,000 contribution points."

There is not enough money, I'm so lucky. Thankfully, I will just have to wait for the next month to get a “salary for work”. In the meantime, I have to stay here for a whole month. I'll probably spend this time hunting. When I was getting ready to go hunting, I heard the sound of rustling. A couple of snakes got out of the bush, looked at me, and...

"System: you have subdued 3 shadow snakes"

Oh, they seem to be part of the dragon lines too. I think I'll find a use for them.

…

Brenga Empire, Brengs City

Soldiers from the war finally arrived in the city. They were battered as if they had survived a serious battle. Of those 9,000 soldiers, only 400 returned. Most of the survivors were elite soldiers. They were happy to see their capital, everyone was happy except Andrew. He had a gloomy expression, Heron was standing next to him. He asked Heron quietly.

- Do you think there is more chance that I will be executed or that I will be fired and left to rot on the streets?

- Considering the situation, I think more of the first. -Since they are already near the city, he has no right to execute them, so Heron could safely speak without fear.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

- I see, I'll try to explain everything to His Majesty, maybe he knows what kind of creature it is.

- I'll look through all the ancient books, maybe I'll find something.

- I hope you will find it, otherwise I'll have a lot of problems.

While they were talking, they had already reached the gate. The guards checked them, and after confirming their identity, they were allowed into the city. They went straight to the center of the city, to the emperor's castle. Ordinary soldiers were allowed to go home, and elite soldiers were sent to barracks. The general and the magicians were given rooms, but Heron took all the magicians and went to the royal library. In the evening they returned and before Andrew could ask them what they had learned, the emperor called them.

They walked in silence until they reached the throne room. The emperor looks 40 years old, he has golden hair and a look full of superiority. He wasn't the best, but he wasn't the worst emperor either. He ruled the empire strictly and competently, and many respected him for it. But today he was in a terrible mood, not only that more than 25% of the country's armies died, but they also did not win the battle. The Alliance is already sending its army to support dragonoids. If the general does not give a decent explanation, he will execute him. His advisor was standing next to him, so he wasn't worried. Almost everyone has already forgotten the name of the adviser, so everyone calls him either an adviser or a military adviser.

-Andrew, how did you manage to lose the battle? There were more of you, you were better armed, but you lost.

-Your servant is sorry, we have fallen into their trap and more than half of our armies. And the remnants faced a terrible monster capable of flying, having superbly protective scales, capable of breathing magical flames. But worst of all, he is intelligent and used a lot of spells. We were able to escape only thanks to the fact that Heron sent him to the magic cursed island, if not for that, we would have been dead.

- Can such a creature even exist?

-Believe me, my lord, if I hadn't seen him in person, I wouldn't have believed in his existence. Geron recently went to the library to find out if we have any records about him.

-Heron.

- Yes, Your Majesty.

-Did you find out anything?

-I looked through all the records and all I found was his mention in the book about how, according to legend, dragonoids were born.

-And what did you find out?

-It was written there that in ancient times there was such a race, it was the time when we people were at the bottom. Then the continent was ruled by this race, they called themselves dragons. Some were able to transform and change their appearance. They ruled over many races as the king of all races. But at a certain period, all except their royal dynasties began to have weak descendants, some lost their arms and wings at birth and became the ancestors of snakes. Some lost their wings and became smaller, becoming the ancestors of lizards. Because of this, people began to panic, because their children became mindless animals. They tried to find a solution and tried to crossbreed themselves with other races. All races except humans did not have offspring. They have become one of the most powerful races due to the strength of their bloodline. Alas, because of the impurity of the blood, their dragon power is limited, and although they can have a child with a human, they reject it because the dragon blood in them will weaken, which they categorically do not want. And their king disappeared leaving one prophecy.

-What prophecy?

-The prophecy says: In the hour of need, where losing means the end of their race, the true king will come, the heir of the great empires, the power that will destroy the mountains, and protect our lands from our true enemies.

- And who are these enemies?

- Alas, it doesn't say who it is.

- If he is the heir, what should we do, Counselor?

- I don't have any ideas yet, sir. I recommend starting to prepare more weapons. The current number is only enough for 6,000 soldiers. It is better to prepare somewhere else for 10,000.

-Are you sure? It will cost our country a lot. We'll have to increase the number of slaves in the mines.

-I recommend in the cities near the mines to force them to serve time in work at the mine, even for the most minor offenses, and to provide work for the homeless there for a penny.

- Smart, but won't it reduce the number of crimes in cities?

- I don't think so, sir.

-Okay, I'll think about it later. You two are free.