Pov Ismael

When the gateway opened, I allowed myself to blink for the first time in a week. All of the trouble over basically the last decade was worth it just to see what I saw. Even if whatever is behind that gateway is truly a world for dragons or just a way to capture me. I can count on one hand the number of times something truly good has happened to me, but I’m willing to roll the dice on this one.

I was still quite mesmerized by this gateway as a whole, so already a few had walked through the gateway, including Rafe. It was unfortunate that he was so busy, and I wondered if I was ever going to see him again and that wonderful body of his.

I wondered if he ever caught me looking, but for some reason, I didn’t think so. Or if he did, that mind of his probably would have never guessed why I would look. It's unfortunate that I’m an old dragon. If all of this had happened a few thousand years ago, I could have had so much more fun.

Now I need to stop drawing this out. I walked forward and stepped into the gateway that took me so far away into a dungeon I’ve never been to. The others had relaxed their presences like they had come home and were currently inspecting their surroundings.

There didn’t seem to be any threat, but I could sense life all around me. Some of it was dungeon life, monsters fully made by the dungeon, but I could already sense real life as well. Most of it was young, but if I understand correctly, everything will eventually be like that. Nothing seemed to be attacking, but I could feel the presence of the dungeon itself getting stronger.

I spread out my senses as much as possible, yet I couldn’t feel the end of this world. "A world indeed." What a marvel this is. From what I understand, dungeons of this era could get bigger, but damn it, this dungeon wasn’t even platinum rank yet. What a true monster. If there was any dungeon that was going to reach the end of diamond rank, I was certain it was going to be this one.

When I focused back on myself, I noticed that some people were missing, but I didn’t care. I started transforming while flying upwards. This wasn’t an endless world—no world was—but I could once again just fly without having to worry that someone was going to spot me. It was so wonderful to feel free again.

I don’t know exactly how long I flew, but I climbed to the very top of this world and then started gliding. It was so large that it was magnificent. My brothers and sisters are going to enjoy this so much, especially when they grow old enough. This was everything I imagined and more. The dungeon’s presence was always surrounding me, but it wasn’t constant, sometimes it focused more on me, sometimes less.

I never truly was someone who liked to delve, but back in the last age, I did so a few times. In this age, I’ve never even visited a dungeon as it would have been too dangerous. But perhaps someday I could delve once again. It was time to show my gratitude to the dungeon. I weaved the spell I used for communication and targeted the presence I felt around me.

"Most wonderful job you have done. I couldn’t have hoped for better. You are a true visionary, and I thank you profusely. You have held up your part of the bargain, and I will hold mine. I will bring my brothers and sisters here, and I will protect you from any threat. Although I do hope you understand that even with me on your side, if the powers of this world come down on you, I will not be able to protect you. But I will die fighting beside you, I promise you that."

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There are times in life where you must stand even if you know you are going to lose. That was one of the only lessons I agreed with that my father tried to teach me. He didn’t think that I agreed with him—my title said as much—but that wasn’t true. I just choose very carefully whenever I do so.

"I am pleased you have enjoyed this world so much. The island in the Black Ocean is prepared to be sunk. The ship and everything else have been moved elsewhere. You can pick wherever you want to live, and I can make a gateway there so you can get access to the rest of the dungeon and more easily protect me if needed. There are also people waiting for you to finish bringing the dragons over so they can debrief you on everything important."

It was like I was talking to another person and not a dungeon. I’m pretty sure that us dragons could have never subjugated a species as strong as dungeons if every single one of them was as smart as this one. Even when they reached platinum rank, many had difficulty understanding and communicating with anyone else besides dungeons and, of course, their bonds.

“I’ve been flying for quite a while, but did Rafe become your bonded guardian? You waited quite long for that. Usually, dungeons complete the triangle of bonds when they are just entering gold rank.”

Did I just feel surprise from the dungeon? "You know about the bonds, but then why didn’t you say something?"

Only a few times in life have I enjoyed a human body more than a dragon one, but currently, I kind of wanted to scratch my hair in confusion.

"Do you not know what the Pixies did? I only just found out myself. They changed the outside bond to be simply a connection of a contract, and if I understand correctly, they kill any creature or monster that is a potential guardian bond." That news came as a surprise to me.

"Then why are they all complaining that their dungeons aren’t reaching the limit of this age? Those bonds are fundamental to dungeons and have been from the very beginning of your species. It would be like me plucking my eyes out and removing my tongue, and then being expected to reach the very pinnacle of this world. What laughable idiots. Or perhaps that's their plan? I haven’t considered this, but maybe they don’t want a new age to happen."

So much of the dungeon now focused on me that I felt a bit suffocated. How much presence did this dungeon have? Its core must be huge, and if there are more worlds like this, I could understand the need.

I took a deep breath in and felt the mana of this dungeon. Why could I not properly feel this dungeon’s mana? I could only get a proper sense of it inside this world. Was it the dungeon stone that somehow blocked my senses? I was going to ask the dungeon about this, but he communicated before I could.

“We don’t have an endless amount of time to bring the dragons here. I think you should get started.”

He was completely right, and I started to dive towards the gateway that led to the real world. Yet, what was a real world? A question I should ponder at a later date. The area around the gateway was basically empty with only a few left who were moving the devices the dragons were in that they captured so long ago. I will deal with them later.

I transformed into a human to easily get through the gate, as my real size couldn’t fit through it. Yet when I was on the other side, I immediately transformed back into my full size and started to rumble my chest, so I could communicate with every dragon in the black ocean without anyone else being able to notice. I also needed to use the darkness spell; otherwise, this wouldn’t work.

I could imagine them now raising their heads and looking towards this direction, not truly understanding what was going on. Then I infused my power into this form of communication. They must all be shaking now from fear, but I soothed their worries, letting them know I was there to protect them, not hurt them. Then I called them all towards me.

Many would have started flying immediately. The ones with eggs must be conflicted, but then they will take as many eggs as they could into their mouths and start to fly towards me as well. Of course, not every dragon will. The ones who were closer to platinum or especially stubborn won’t come.

I was not going to make them. There wasn’t time to find all the stubborn dragons, and in an unfortunate way, it was good that they didn’t want to come. That way, the powers of this world will get to argue amongst themselves whether they should end the dragons or try to increase our numbers once again.

No matter what they choose, it would take them time and resources, and that would take focus off of ETG. The more time he gets, the bigger the chance that my species has to endure this age.