While I wait for Krenocia I take a quick look around the hidden room, but it is empty. Just four walls, not even any furniture, I can't understand why this room is even here. The materials match the rest of the dungeon, so it wasn't built recently, just used by the shadow demons.

Maybe, originally, it was some sort of special cell, that is why it is at the back of the dungeon. That is the most sensible theory I can come up with, not that it really matters. Maybe later I will ask Zamart if he knows about it, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Krenocia says "Ash, you better head outside!"

"Why? What happened?"

Krenocia says "There is a large gate forming above the palace!"

"Crap, if the palace gets destroyed, Mercy is going to be pissed!"

As I run as fast I can, I can hear Krenocia slap her hand over her face. To be honest I was half expecting an achievement or title for having made a goddess facepalm. Oh well, this isn't a game after all, but it would have been entertaining!

"Can you tell where the gate is connected to?"

Krenocia says "I can't be sure but it seems to be the shadow plane."

"Then let's hope it is just a higher rank shadow demon, that I should be able to handle!"

Krenocia says "My sister and I are gathering our strength, if need be we will intervene."

"Alright, but let me take a shot at it first."

Krenocia says "As you wish, just don't do anything stupid!"

"You know me!"

Krenocia says "That's what I'm talking about!"

Laughing I burst out of the palace and turn to look up at the sky above. There is a huge tear in space floating in the sky and as I watch it keeps getting wider. I can see a few wisps of purple gas escaping from the tear so I am pretty sure it leads to the shadow plane.

"Is there any way we can stop it before it fully opens?"

Krenocia says "I'm afraid that is beyond your abilities. My sister and I might be able to, but if we fail then we won't have any strength left to fight."

"It's fine then. Let's just wait and see what comes out."

Krenocia says "Fine!"

After a few minutes of standing there watching, the tear finally stops getting bigger. Soon after it stops a huge reptilian head starts to emerge from the tear. As soon as I see that head I am fairly sure it is a dragon, it is too large to be a drake.

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As it comes through it forces the tear even wider so that its body can fit through. I was right, it is definitely a dragon, a shadow dragon to be precise. Now I am really hoping I don't have to fight it, I would much rather talk to it.

Shadow Dragon says "Are you the one who summoned me?"

"Nope, I already killed him."

Hearing that the dragon brings its head down, takes a look at me, and even sniffs me. Just then the baby comes out of the shadow pocket and sits on my shoulder. It actually growls at the dragon as if to either protect me or claim me.

At that the dragon backs away and as it does I can hear a very loud chuckle. The dragon then lifts its head and looks around at what is left of the city around us. I can also feel that the dragon is somehow searching the area with some other type of sense.

Shadow Dragon says "Not only did that idiot summon me into an already destroyed city but also into another dragon's territory!"

"Yeah, he certainly wasn't the brightest of bulbs. So I am hoping we can resolve this without fighting?"

Shadow Dragon says "If not, would you actually try to fight me?"

"Yes, although I'm fairly sure I would lose."

Shadow Dragon says "That is very brave of you! Since I am already in this realm, do you have something to offer me?"

"I know that shadow demons hate regular demons more than anything, are you the same?"

Shadow Dragon says "Yes, I do indeed hate them. Why?"

"Because, there are demons on this world. Wouldn't you much rather go after them than destroy an already destroyed city?"

Shadow Dragon says "Hm, an interesting offer! You are quite the cunning one, instead of fighting me you want to send me after your enemies!"

"Yes, I would prefer that to having to wake up the red dragon and his mate, who own this territory!"

Shadow Dragon says "Fair point. Since that little one has claimed you, you are basically kin. So it would be in very poor taste for me to bully you."

"Yes, it would! It's much better if we are friendly!"

Shadow Dragon says "However, I cannot go destroy your enemies for you. The way I was summoned here is only temporary, soon I will return to the shadow plane."

"Hm, that's too bad! Well, what else can I offer you? I'm sorry but as far as I know dragons don't need much."

Shadow Dragon says "That is true, the only reason I answered this call is because I was paid in shadow energy."

"Shadow energy? You mean like those crystals? I happen to have some here, it isn't much but please accept them!"

The dragon curiously holds out its hand and I toss all the beast crystals I have into it. Compared to the size of the dragon's hand the crystals make a pitifully small pile. Yet that doesn't seem to bother the dragon as he tosses them in his mouth and swallows.

Shadow Dragon says "For anyone else that would be insufficient, but for kin that is an acceptable tribute. Next time you are in the shadow plane, come find me, we can chat more!"

"I will definitely come visit you!"

Just like that the tear reopens, the dragon vanishes inside, and then the tear closes. As soon as it does my legs go limp with relief and I sit down hard. The baby nuzzles against my face so I reach up and pet him until my heartbeat returns to normal.

"See, Krenocia, I told you it would be fine!"

Krenocia says "You! You! You are impossible!"

Then I feel the connection between us get firmly broken, it seems she is a little upset. I should probably try to avoid calling on her for a while until she calms down. Now that I am calm I fly out of the city and return to the camp, where I find Mercy gathering all the beastmen.

"Mercy, what's all this?"

Mercy yells "Ash! You're alive!"

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"

Mercy says "The scouts said that a huge dragon appeared in the capital!"

"Oh, that. Yes, a dragon did appear but I talked it into leaving."

Zamart says "You what?!"

Mercy says "It's gone?"

"Yes, the dragon is gone. The king and all the shadow demons are dead. The war is over, you won!"