Chapter 64: Dragons, Wyverns, and Their Kin

(Idmon POV)

Idmon and his group arrived in the hidden cave.

Idmon: "Who do you think hid the dragons? Do you guys have any idea?"

Bon: "I think it's an undead? If they lived for that long,.

The Searcher: "I think it's someone related to the dragons."

Idmon: "What do you mean?"

The Searcher: "You see, my skill, , told me that not all dragons are born dragons."

Idmon: "(t)Why? Is it possible to evolve into one? That's one hell of a power-up."

The Searcher: "Wonderful, isn't it!? Their race is called the Dragonkin."

Idmon: "(t) I see. And their strength?"

The Searcher: "About on par with a Paladin Captain."

6th or 7th tier, huh?

Idmon: "(t) Anyway, let's go. Bon, use your magic to break the barrier."

Bon: "As you wish, Milord."

Bon used his new spell to create a force wave out of negative energies, and he used it to smash the barrier.

The barrier was taken down quickly. It must be a barrier meant to hide something and not keep someone out.

Bon: "Wooh."

Idmon: "Well done."

Right after the barrier was down, Lina arrived.

Lina: "Lord Idmon! I'm here, ready to fight!"

Idmon: "Good. Let's go!"

Everyone: "Yes!"

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After walking for an hour, they have reached an area where the dragons reside.

The place had a huge lake and plenty of space for a couple of dragons.

It's not just dragons residing here, though.

Blue Wyverns, and also

The Searcher: "Lizardmen!?"

Indeed, there were lizardmen. You can see them swimming around in the lake and feeding the dragons with fish.

The dragons have green skin and fearsome teeth. They also seem to possess acid breath attacks since I can see some of them dripping in their mouths.

There's only one thing that's bothering me.

Idmon: "(t) The dragons don't have wings? And they're smaller than I thought."

The Searcher: "I told you only the young dragons survived. This part of their lives is where they need to gain levels first before getting their wings."

Idmon: "(t) So, that's when they become proper dragons? When they evolve and have wings."

The Searcher: "They're plenty powerful now but are considered to be 5th to 6th tier only."

Just like a Dread Knight Captain.

???: "Hey!"

Oops, here they come now.

Nine green-skinned lizardmen went to greet us. A brown lizardman leads them.

It's a good thing; there are only four of us (me, Bon, Lina, and The Searcher).

We can convince them that we're not here to attack.

Brown Lizardman: "Get out of here, undead."

He looks angry—the same with his comrades.

The rest of his group drew their axes and shields.

Idmon: "(t) Please calm down. We're here to talk."

Brown Lizardman: "Huh!? Telepathy! This guy is high-level undead! Surround him!"

Their group surrounded us and is now moving to attack.

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The Searcher: "Hey, hey, hey! We're not here to attack you!"

Nearby dragons are getting agitated now, and you could hear some of them groaning.

Bon: "Lord, do we fight back, or should we run?"

They're closing in now. If we fight the Lizardmen, then we need to fight all the dragons in this area too.

That's not ideal. Damn it!

A wall of ice blocked the advance of the Lizardmen.

Lina: "Stop! Are you barbarians that attack anyone, you see? Let us speak to your leader, or my next spell will freeze the lake."

Oh. Good job, Lina.

Lizardman Soldier: "Not the lake!"

Lizardman Soldier 2: "Karhago, let's stop first. We can't lose the great lake."

Brown Lizardman (Karhago): "No, they are trespassers! They need to die."

??? "Stay your hand, fool!"

A brown lizardman elder comes out of nowhere.

It had a long beard and spoke with a woman's voice.

Lizardman Elder: "Can't you see, they are the ones?"

Karhago: "But, Elder Gat. They are undead! Surely they are not the ones from our prophecy."

Elder Gat: "The ones who discover this hidden cave shall be the leaders who will guide us to a glorious path."

The Elder hit him with a stick.

Karhago: "Oof!"

Elder Gat: "It did not mention what race they are. Fate itself has guided this undead to our cave. You can see they are not feral, right?"

Karhago: "Yeah, you are right, Elder."

Idmon: "Nice to meet you, Elder Gat."

Elder Gat: "Telepathy. Interesting."

She said that and beckoned us to follow her. The rest of the lizardmen were still on guard.

Elder Gat: "You have come. We have tended to this place and taken care of the dragons our entire lives."

Idmon: "(t) You said that it was a prophecy? Who gave it to you?"

Elder Gat: "A powerful mage of old gave it to us. He looked human, but he has forgotten that part of him. You could only see magic from the person, nothing more."

A powerful mage? He must be from an era of a different Skeleton King.

Elder Gat: "He led the dragons to fight with the undead hordes of old. However, his human allies betrayed him and wanted to use the dragons for their gain."

Bon: "I assume he didn't accept?"

Elder Gat: "He didn't. They waged a blood war, and many dragons died."

We had already walked past the dragons in the lake and were inside a hallway leading to another area.

Elder Gat: "Ancient dragons and elder dragons, all of them fell. The only reason their eggs survived was because of this cave."

Idmon: "(t)I see."

I can't believe it. How could they betray the mage? He did everything for them, and what they gave him was death.

Idmon: "So, where was he buried?"

Elder Gat: "His last fight was against the human heroes, and he fell. Nobody knows where."

Idmon: "That's unfortunate."

Elder Gat: "Ha! Do you want to make him undead? Even if you find his body, it will not work."

Well, it was a good try.

Idmon: "By the way, where are you taking us?"

Elder Gat: "To the Lizard King, of course. He will judge if you are worthy of leading the dragons."

Idmon: "(t) Lead? That's too much. I'd hope we could be allies, but to be your leader is a bit hasty, isn't it?"

Elder Gat: "Oh, it's not easy for us. And it won't be any easier for you."

I did not understand what he meant by that. But I could only regret that I did not prepare myself for what would happen next.

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(Idmon POV)

We have reached the throne room of the Lizard King.

It was huge.

Weapons, armor, gems, and gold coins are all over the room.

Its decoration and everything were astonishing, but the most attention-grabbing of all

The Searcher: "A dragon! An Elder Dragon!"

A white dragon with wings is resting beside the throne where a gold-skinned lizardman sits.

Elder Gat: "Shiro is not an Elder Dragon yet, just an adult one. He evolved wings earlier than others. Most of the dragons turn red first in their first evolution; then their next evolution will give them wings."

The Searcher: "Amazing. This is fantastic news! Lord Idmon, then there is still a chance for us to get a powerful dragon."

Idmon: "That is, if we pass the test."

The white dragon Shiro roared, and the Lizardman King stood up.

Lizardman King: "Welcome to our home. Are you the leader of your group?"

He pointed at me.

Idmon: "(t) Yes."

Lizardman King: "Hah! You speak the old way."

He cast a spell under his breath.

Lizardman King: "(t) There, that's better."

What did he mean by the old way? Is it so special to use when communicating?

Lizardman King: "(t) It seems that you are confused. Let me tell you why was the way of communicating back then."

An attendant brought him a pouch containing some powder, and he threw it on the ground.

I could sense magic coming from him, and he manipulated the powder, and a magical smoke arose.

Visions from ages ago appeared in the smoke. Dragons and dragonkin (humanoid dragons) are talking in the background.

However, it was not the usual talk. Because whenever one of the dragons spoke, the earth would shake or lightning would strike the ground.

Lizardman King: "(t) Dragons are so powerful that whenever they speak, something disastrous will happen. Scholars and elders said their language itself is a dangerous book of spells."

Idmon: "(t) I see. That's why the dragons in storybooks are depicted in such a terrifying way."

Lizardman King: "Even the stories about them are underwhelming compared to the destruction they wrought upon this world."

The next vision presented the dragonkin and dragons fighting it out with spells and their brute force. The environment, of course, is turned into a barren wasteland because of it.

Lizardman King: "(t) The good thing is that when they finished fighting, Dragonkin would be the victors. They restored peace and ruled the dragons in isolation."

Idmon: "(t) I know this is from an age long forgotten, so how did you know about this?"

The searcher told me that in his records, nobody knew about these dragons or anything related to their existence. Not even artifacts or ancient writings.

Lizardman King: "(t) The one who gave me this is the same person who gave me the power to become the Lizardman King. He is the mage."

Idmon: "(t) Mage? As in, the one who gave you the dragons to take care of?"

Lizardman King: "(t) Yes. He is so secretive about things that he never even told us his name. He only gave me a brief explanation of the history behind dragons and a little bit of his."

Idmon: "(t) Do you mean he's-"

Lizardman King: "(t) A Dragonkin."

I can't even give a proper reply or reaction to that. It's because the dragonkin are so strong, and no information about them is known.

They could be stronger than the 10th-tier monsters and kings we have right now.

Lizardman King: "That is why I accepted his offer to take care of the dragons. Our clan was not a very powerful Lizardman clan, but after I became a Lizardman King class, I dominated every duel and became chief of all the Lizardman tribes."

A gift from the powerful mage, huh?

Idmon: "(t) You evolved into this because he gave you power? Is that even possible?"

Lizardman King: "(t) It is. Now you have the opportunity to experience the same. If you pass the test."

Everyone is tense right now. Bon and the others have their predictions on what the test will be.

I guess that the test will involve fighting Shiro, the white dragon, and surviving.

Fighting the Lizardman King did not cross my mind because I knew I wouldn't win. His aura and magical powers are so strong that others with weak willpower might have fainted.

Idmon: "(t) What is the test?"

Lizardman King: "(t) You have to convince Shiro that you are the one."

Idmon: "(t) That's it? No fighting? Thank you for that."

Shiro: "RAAAAAWRRRR!"

Shiro roared again.

Lizardman King: "(t) I did not say you wouldn't be fighting her. If she thinks that you have to beat her first before she accepts you, then you have to fight."

So, I guess it's not that easy then.

I walked up to Shiro, then talked to her via .

Idmon: "(t) Hello there, great Shiro."

RAWRRRRRR!!!

A roar, even louder than before, greeted me when I approached her.

I stood there, unfazed. Good thing I'm undead, or else I'd be shaking and sweating nonstop from anxiety.

Shiro: "(t) Good, if you ran away, I would have gobbled you up, and this test was over."

A feminine and cold voice talked to me in my mind. It must be Shiro who is responding with telepathy.

Shiro: "Then let's get started, shall we?"

Idmon: "(t) Start with what?"

She started to breathe in a lot of air. It must be a dragon-breath attack.

Idmon: "(t) So we are fighting!?"

Which part of this is convincing her?

The duel between the two started, and the Lizardman King officiated the battle.

I mean, there is not much to officiate when, after a fight, I am reduced to bone powder.