When I opened my eyes I saw nothing, or maybe it was just dark. Because I definitely felt something, I was encased, all around me I could feel a sleek and hard surface, but my limbs felt weird, all six of them... wait, six limbs? What's going on, where am I? I... I died... there was a car accident, I felt a sharp pain through my whole body, and then, and then I woke up here.

I put those thoughts aside, I needed to figure out where I was, and what's with this weird feeling in my back. I pushed against the surface, and it was surprisingly brittle. It gave way easily and through the hole in it light poured inside of my confines, it blinded me for a second, but my eyes quickly adjusted, and I could see as I came pouring out of the egg shaped, egg... I was inside a fucking egg?! I looked around and found myself in some sort of massive cave, sprawling paths opened up and snaked away from all sides. I slowly pushed myself off the ground and finally took a look at myself.

I saw my hands, er, claws, small claws at the end of stubby arms, or maybe they were frontal legs, both covered in black scales. I felt like I gasped at that, but all I heard was a small wail. I looked back and saw a small little appendage coming from my rear, I had a tail?! And the things in my back were wings, I... I have wings! What? How? What the hell am I?!

Out of nowhere, as if prompted, a screen display appeared before my eyes. It was small and contained a simple phrase [Infantile Black Dragon]. Did this answer my earlier question, did it appear because of me?

As I questioned every moment of my life that led me to being inside of a giant dragon egg, the screen displayed a new message.

[Welcome Candidate]

[You have been selected to participate in the Monarch System]

[You, along several others, have been brought to the Realm of Ardial]

[This System is a guide to help you on your path to supremacy]

[Become the strongest, and become the ruler of Ardial]

Whaaaaaaaat? Er, I mean, is this some sort of... game? Like some kind of free for all brawl?

[Imprecise]

[The System requires one of the Candidates to become the strongest]

[However, violence is not required. Subjugation of your opponents is the only requirement]

Not required, uh? But I guess not everyone will try to be nice. And also, subjugation sounds so... violent. But it didn't deny it being like a game. Do I have stats? Abilities?

[Valeria]

[Infantile Black Dragon]

[Lvl. 0]

[HP: 2500/2500]

[MP: 250/250]

[Might: 100]

[Dexterity: 100]

[Constitution: 100]

[Mind: 100]

[Intellect: 100]

[No Abilities currently available]

Oh, so I guess the answer is yes. So, I'm level 0, uh? Is 100 in a stat low then? Hmm, I can guess what Might, Dexterity or even Constitution do, but what is Mind and Intellect? I don't feel any dumber, or smarter for that matter. Well, I guess if I was dumber I wouldn't realize I was dumber, because I would be, well, dumb. Anyway, don't suppose this 'System' is answering any of those questions?

...

...

...

Whatever, sure, leave me in the dark about this totally not crucial information or anything. Ok, I have to do something, first off, find out where I am, exactly, and hopefully, a way out. What do people do when they're lost in a vast cave system with multiple paths to go? I guess I should pick a direction and stick with it? Would the System know?

...

Sure, I'll do a great job of being the strongest stuck in a god damn cave.

Anyways, I started moving, it was weird at first, very weird, it didn't feel like walking on fours, even though that's exactly what I was doing. I walked for a few dozen minutes, but it felt like hours, everything looked the same, nothing was happening and I was starting to get bored to death. That's when I saw some light, actually, now that I think about it, there was no light source in the cavern, and given how deep I seemingly was, there wouldn't be any reaching so far down, but I could see perfectly, is that a perk of being a dragon or something? Anyways, I found some light, that has to mean an exit, right? I dashed in the direction of the light.

Once I crossed the cavern's threshold and took in the sky I was finally outside, out in the world, in the forest, in the middle of nowhere, and it was raining, strangely it didn't feel cold at all. I'm fairly sure it's day time, though it isn't easy to tell what time precisely it is with the rain and what not.

That's when I heard a grumble, I guess I should be getting hungry, if I never ate before in this life... wait, that was behind me, and it didn't quite sound like a stomach grumble... I slowly spinned my head around to see standing there, in front of the cave, a beast, twice my size and three times as bulky, some kind of bear, but it had glistening crystal eyes and a pair of crooked horns.

It roared, and the earth shook. My heart raced, and my logical self was screaming for me to run, telling me I should be terrified, but my heart wasn't beating fast because of fear, I was excited! That thing is terrifying, but why is that so exhilarating! I fully turned around and growled at it, my snarling barely hiding a smirk underneath.

The bear thing charged at me, and I felt my chest light up. A burning sensation took over my senses, but it wasn't painful, not even uncomfortable either, it felt good, like letting a good scream out. I opened my mouth, or I guess, it's a maw now, and blazing hot fire came pouring out, a blue streak of pure heat bashed against the bear monster's charged, bringing it to a halt, and soon after, the thing tumbled over, it's corpse was charred, almost no fur remained in it's carbonized skin. That... that felt so empowering, and I just blasted fire from my mouth, I guess I really am a dragon.

[You have defeated a Mystic Bear, Lvl. 5]

[Valeria has Leveled Up, 0 -> 1]

[Congratulations on your first Level Up]

[As a reward for this feat, you have gained an achievement]

[First Step to Greatness:

Gain an immediate bonus of 10% to all stats]

Oh, interesting? I guess achievements are permanent buffs then? cool. Wait, where does that put me in stats?

[Valeria]

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

[Infantile Black Dragon]

[Lvl. 1]

[HP: 3025/3025]

[MP: 251/302]

[Might: 121]

[Dexterity: 121]

[Constitution: 121]

[Mind: 121]

[Intellect: 121]

[No Abilities currently available]

Ok, that's more than 10%, I guess I gained some points for leveling up too then. And my HP and MP increased as well. I also spent some MP? Is it like mana or something, seems like my fire breath takes mana to use, I should use it sparingly too, I barely held it for a couple seconds and it took 51 points off of it. I also still don't have any abilities, well, I guess that does mean that some things just don't show up in there, afterall I did just scorch a bear monster thing to a crisp, so I have that at least.

Talking about the hulking pile of burnt meat on the ground, it does look appetizing... wait, what the hell am I saying? This lump of half crude half burnt flesh is appetizing?! Is this some sort of dragon instinct kind of bullshit? Oh, I don't want to have to eat that, but I am hungry. Oh... please, please, please, don't taste like how I always imagined a pile of coal would taste. I bit into it, and it was surprisingly okay. It doesn't taste good by any means, but the fact that I can, one, chew this thing like cream cheese and, two, I don't immediately regurgitate it with every bite do say something about my new physiology.

Well, I guess I have my first number one objective, find a way to eat real food again.

***

After my 'meal', if you could call it that, I started wandering the forest, during this time the rain seems to have subsided, and now I was standing in the middle of a clearing watching the clear blue sky. That brought my new pair of wings to my attention, could I fly? Why not give it a shot, now that the rain stopped.

And just like that, almost like an instinct, my wings were moving, they weren't difficult to control, certainly weird, but not difficult. They flapped around lifting me from the ground in instants, the foliage ruffling in the winds generated by its sheer force, and soon, I was in the sky, I could see the entire forest, as well as it's surroundings.

There was a mountain where the cave I came from was. I think that was the west, given the position of the sun, to the east there were some plains, to the south I could see more forest, and north seemed to connect with more mountains. My eyesight never felt better, I was very high up in the sky, but I could still see the details in most things on the ground, as well as what seemed to be a small dirt road leading further away, and although it didn't enter the forest, it came quite close to it.

There was also quite a large lake around southeast of here, separating the plains from the southernmost parts of the forest. It was quite massive, covering a few miles along the forest.

Well, I do want to see if I can communicate with people, but I also saw another interesting thing, some sort of small village deep into the forest towards the south, I could see little people in it, though they were green? Well, I guess if I am in a world with dragons, and weird bear monsters, I shouldn't be surprised by orcs or goblins.

I am curious as to the inhabitants of this world, but I should approach it carefully. I flew down closer to the village, and landed in a small clearing a few hundred meters from it. I'll try to find one of their hunters, or maybe some isolated gatherers, and see if I can communicate, if all else fails, I can run, or, er, fly.

I prowled about the premises, it was surprisingly natural, while keeping a keen eye for any green little guy. I was also trying not to look too intimidating, I couldn't tell for sure, but by comaring myself to what I could see around I was able to surmise my height, and it seems I'm almost 7' feet tall, and twice as long. So, I imagine I'm quite a bulky sight for a normal person, and, if dragons be dragons, I probably have quite the mean face, though I wasn't able to see it myself yet, maybe i could check it later with the lake and my reflection.

Anyway, back to the task at hand. Finding a little green guy.

***

It has been about an hour. I guess, I should've thought better about it, after all, it is a large forest, even if they hunt all around it, I might just not randomly find someone just bumbling around. Should I just visit the village then? Given how easily I dispatched that bear thing earlier today it should be an indicator that I'm quite strong, so even if it's the whole village trying to attack me, I could likely just skedaddle outta there, plus flying.

Well, worst comes to worst, I can, probably, just fly away, so heck it, let's roll. I approached the village carefully, trying to see or hear them before they saw or heard me. And well, heard them I did. In fact, they were being quite loud. There were guttural screams and battlecries, as well as a powerful roar. Seems like the green guys are in trouble! Maybe I could help, and that would do wonders to actually open up relations, well, If I can even communicate.

I took flight and zoomed towards the little village, from the air I could once again see the village, and what they were fighting, another one of those bear things, but this one was truly massive, at least half again as big as the other one, and it was thrashing their village, now that I was significantly closer I could also see the inhabitants better, as they fought for their home, they were small humanoids with green skin, that much I already knew, with pointed ears and sharp features, their eyes were sickly yellow with red or amber irises.

They were holding the bear colossus near their walls, but it doesn't seem like it will last. So I swooped in, blasting the back of the monster with molten blue flames, it screamed in agony as its skin burned, I landed beside it, and its attention was now on me. The little goblin-like people looked at me in awe and terror, I guess this should be a spectacle for them, I smirked. The bear monster was larger, meaner, and twice as scary as the other one, but if anything, I was just more excited. Was this what I always lacked in life?

The bear sent its massive paw crash landing in my direction, the thing was the size of a tree trunk, with a quick flap of my wings and a sleek jump to the side I avoided it, the ground cracked underneath the behemoth's weight. I lunged at the beast's over extended leg with claws and teeth, and mauled it. The monster howled in pain and sent me flying as it forcefully retreated its arm. I quickly recovered mid air, flew back over the beast, easily dodging another blow from the creature's other paw, and sent scorching fire back, straight to its head.

The monster was wavering, and in its stumble I saw an opening, then swooped straight at its thick neck, determined to put an end to the behemoth. I bit it's exposed throat and blood came pouring out, pushing the neck with my claws I ripped a piece off, and as the creature fell I slowly descended, landing near its head, as the creature howled its last breath.

[You have defeated a Titanic Mystic Bear, Lvl. 10]

[Valeria has Leveled Up, 1 -> 2]

[Congratulations on defeating a titan]

[As a reward for this feat, you have gained an achievement]

[Titan Killer:

Identify Ability now reveals weak points of enemies larger than you]

Oh, New level, yes! Though, Identify? What's that?

[Identify:

A low level ability that allows the user to scan creatures or objects for valuable information]

Uh... Thanks I guess.

"THE GREAT BEHEMOTH HAS BEEN DEFEATED!"

What the hell, why the scream, dude? Wait, I guess I did just kill the almost 15' feet tall bear that was attacking their village.

"A Dragon graces us with its presence. Oh, mighty beast, we thank you for your grand deed. Our lives are forever forfeited to thee!" Said one of them, as he approached me, and prostrated himself in front of me. He was short, but then again, they seemed to be all short, and looked older, and a bit gangly.

Other ones started hurriedly joining in behind him, prostrating themselves and singing me praises. Honestly, I could get used to this. Well, maybe less prostrating, that feels a bit off, but the praises are pretty nice.

Well, guess there's no better moment to see if I can talk. I opened my mouth and...

"aargh, aaahhg, urrghh" Well, shit. I guess I don't have human vocal cords anymore. How the fuck am I supposed to become a 'ruler', if I can't speak?!

[Congratulations on your first subjects]

Wait what?

[As a reward for gaining your first servants you have been given an ability]

[Sovereign's Tongue has been acquired]

The hell is that?! Show me my stats again!

[Valeria]

[Infantile Black Dragon]

[Lvl. 2]

[HP: 3325/3325]

[MP: 224/332]

[Subjects: 28

No bonuses granted]

[Might: 133]

[Dexterity: 133]

[Constitution: 133]

[Mind: 133]

[Intellect: 133]

[Sovereign's Tongue:

Allows telepathic communication with subjects of the Monarch]

Ooohhhh, I can communicate, damn, that's awfully convenient.

'Hello. My name is Valeria. I came to... uh... help?'

The goblin people stared at me in awe, their eyes filled with glimmering hope. Well, I guess that sparked a reaction, so it works.

'You may rise.'

They did as told, albeit nervously. The one in front, the old gangly goblin, which I assume is the leader of the village, bowed slightly to me, and said "We are ever grateful to you, great dragon, what is thy wish?"