Thankfully nothing else happened although I heard a few more woops throughout the night. The next few days passed by quickly with me and Diana mostly just relaxing by the pond, eating fish when we got hungry and just enjoying life.

It was nice not to be in life and death situations everyday. And the eggs continued to grow, with me guarding them the entire time. The only thing that annoyed was that I still wasn't making any money!

It almost felt like there was a hole in my heart. No money, nothing. Not even a few pelts or skulls. Not a single item of value, just piles of fish bones. I suppose my children were worth their weight in gold but selling my own kids seemed like a bad idea.

I’m a dragon goddamnit! Give me money! I grumbled to myself as I rolled onto my back. While it had been nice to relax for a few days I was kinda bored. Fighting rat’s was gross but I did enjoy killing them.

I also want to keep leveling up, hopefully evolving again if I’m able to. That human spooked me, I need to be able to fight against someone like that. But that could wait until the eggs have hatched. No reason to risk them. I had spent the last few days expanding the tunnel and it stayed remarkably stable.

The hole was now able to fit me and leave enough room for almost a dozen more eggs. Not that I plan on having twelve eggs at once. Although it seems like I’ll be laying four every week.

I still had no idea how I got impregnated. But I’m sure it was the system's fault. I rolled back onto my stomach and sighed. After I took a deep breath and drank in the heavenly scent of the mud and water.

I’m sure I would have thought it was disgusting before but now it just smelled like home. I like this new life. I didn’t have money but that would come with time. I had a family, and I was a dragon. What could be better?

I looked around, quickly checking for any threats before going back to observing my surroundings. Diana was still playing in the pond although by now she just floated around, enjoying the cool water.

As I was about to take a nap I heard a sharp crack behind me. I quickly turned and sprinted over to the eggs. Almost all of them had small cracks running through them but the largest egg was already split in half. I gently used my tail to scoop out the small skink and instantly knew it was a boy.

I smiled warmly and placed the young skink down as it stared up at me. He was almost the same size as Diana which was strange as she had been growing since she was born. I had been growing steadily as well but less than Diana.

I looked down at the child and said . “Alright, your name is Arthur!” The little one nodded and said. “Thank you my queen!” I nodded and patted him on the head before turning back to his siblings. How did they just pop out the egg knowing how to talk? I shrugged and turned towards the others.

This world was just plain weird. I scooped out the remaining three and quickly named them. Weirdly they were all males. Oh well, it didn’t really matter that much. I named them Jack, Linus and Felix. All of my old friends' names from my old world.

Felix and Jack immediately started wrestling but Linus just kinda stood next to my leg. Seemingly unwilling to leave my side. Diana zipped inside, dripping all over the mud as she greeted her new siblings.

I felt overwhelmed at everything going on but also just downright happy. I quickly herded all of my newest kids into the corner and said. “Alright everyone, I understand you’re excited and I love you all but we need to set some ground rules.”

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They all stood and stared at me, Jack’s tail still wrapped around Felix’s throat. I frowned at that but pushed it aside. “First things first, you are not allowed to leave this cave unless I’m with you. Got it? Also we share food, no bullying others and stealing the food.” I racked my brain for anything else but honestly that was it. No reason to limit them too much.

With that done I turned to Diana and said. “Now, I’ve been sitting around for far too long, I’m gonna go scout around and see what the rat’s are up to. Make sure none of them leave and if something attacks try to protect them.”

Diana nodded and said. “Of course my queen, thank you for trusting me.” I nodded and walked away, covering most of the entrance with dirt. I’d been getting restless lately but finally! I can kill some of those damn rats.

It’s been too long since I tasted their blood. Holy shit what was that? When did I start saying stuff like that? Keep it positive, uh. “Huh I still need a name. Should I just choose one or should I just keep going without one. Eh, I’ll just wait until I remember.”

I started walking towards the boulder, planning on patrolling the majority of our surroundings before letting the younglings out of the cave. I made it to the boulder without any trouble but the second I got to the boulder that horrible chattering sound started.

I grunted and shook my legs out one by one. Flexing my tail and biting the air a few times as I awaited their attack. God this was gonna feel good. It would help feed us as well, no reason to waste a good meal.

I began stomping one of my front legs in anticipation. Trying to make myself look bigger as the rats began streaming out of a crack in the boulder. They looked smaller than normal and I didn’t see any scars on them.

The first one ran at me so I just turned away and slammed my tail into the side of it’s head. I yelled. “Die you underprivileged peasant! Face the might of Money!” The rat was sent flying as I turned around again and sprinted towards the nearest rat.

They seemed to hesitate as they slowed their charge but it was too late. I was almost double this rat’s size and I was much higher level. I sprinted right past the leading rat, biting one of its hindlegs before tackling the one behind it.

I lashed my tail around, feeling it hit something while I bit whatever piece of flesh was in front of my jaws. I bit off the rat’s entire arm, swallowing it before hopping away. The lead rat was still moving but seemed sluggish. So I turned around and held my tail up as high as it could go. Then I brought it down like a hammer, right on the lead rat’s head.

I felt something crumple under my tail and when I turned around the entire rat’s head was gone. I couldn’t stop smiling but I forgot that there were still three left. One jumped onto my back and began ripping into me.

I rolled around on the ground, crushing the rat but letting the others begin to attack my poor stomach. One of the rat’s managed to tear a large chunk of my stomach out and I could feel blood begin to pour out.

You’re trying to make me poor huh? Then die. I rolled onto my feet and slapped one of the rat’s with my tail. It fell to the ground and I quickly tore off most of its throat. I then turned to the last one and saw that it was trying to run.

Fortunately for me the rat was the one with three legs and he wasn’t used to it yet. He wouldn’t get the chance to learn how to live with three legs as I grabbed it with my tail and dragged the sole remaining threat towards me. I stomped on its head until it died as I finally looked at my notifications.

You have killed a level 1 Giant Rat.

You have killed a level 1 Giant Rat.

You have killed a level 2 Giant Rat.

You have killed a level 1 Giant Rat.

You have leveled up. You are now a level 14 mud skink Queen

Yes! A level! It’s been so long. Soon, very soon I’ll evolve again. Actually I don’t know when I’ll evolve again but I mean, it’s gotta be soon right? Alright, now I just need to get these corpses home. I looked at the now blood soaked area and said. “Well shit” This might take a while.