Floating in a sea of darkness for what felt like an eternity, Aron slowly opened his eyes to a blinding light hovering proximate to his face. Before he could gather his thoughts, the light engulfed him, swallowing him whole.

…

In an unknown place, atop a towering peak, a vast volcanic crater dominated the landscape. The crater sprawled out like a gaping maw.

One might presume that within this crater lay a barren wasteland, devoid of life and incapable of sustaining any form of existence. However, contrary to assumptions, the interior of this crater held a surprising secret. Instead of a desolate expanse of rock and ash, there existed a thriving ecosystem teeming with life.

Lush vegetation clung to the rocky walls, their vibrant hues contrasting sharply with the dark volcanic rock. Waterfalls cascaded down the sheer cliffs, their crystalline waters carving intricate patterns into the landscape as they flowed into a beautiful blue lake nestled at the crater's center.

The lake shimmered like a jewel in the sunlight, its surface rippling gently in the mountain breeze. Fish darted through its clear waters, their scales glinting silver as they danced beneath the surface.

Amidst this natural beauty stood a humble wooden cabin, nestled against the edge of the lake. Its weathered exterior spoke of years spent in harmony with nature, providing a peaceful retreat for those seeking solace in the midst of the wilderness.

However, one thing stood out of place, or several, actually.

Just a little further to the left from the lake and the cabin was a vast flat green field, devoid of anything except small grass—No animals, trees, or rocks.

The field was off somehow, an anomaly in the midst of the thriving ecosystem, a stark contrast to the vibrant surroundings. But what truly made this field stand out were the hundreds of weapons impaling across its surface.

Swords, spears, axes, bows, and shields. Among them were even stranger weapons, with circular blades, metal claws, and other mysterious shapes. Each weapon seemed to tell a story, adding an eerie air to the otherwise serene landscape.

THRUM! THRUM!

In the heart of this field stood a pale man with black hair. The man was vigorously swinging vertically a massive Bone-crafted Greatsword.

The Greatsword itself was a colossal weapon, three times the size of the man who brandished it. Its immense length stretched nearly ten meters, while its width measured two meters across.

Upon closer inspection, one would discern that the bone used to create this Greatsword was not ordinary. It appeared to be a single, massive bone, likely taken from some enormous creature—perhaps a rib, arm, or leg. The surface of the bone bore intricate patterns, hinting at its origins and the battles it might have witnessed.

Despite its imposing size, the man wielded the Greatsword with surprising ease, each swing demonstrating not only his physical strength but also his skill in handling such a formidable weapon. With each movement, the air seemed to tremble, and the ground beneath his feet echoed with the force of his strikes.

Swing after swing, the man persisted for hours without respite.

Suddenly, the sky darkened, compelling the man to halt and cast his gaze skyward. Upon beholding the obstruction to the sunlight, he grinned, dropping the massive greatsword as he caught his breath.

The man was Aron. He appeared younger than his present self. His topless form revealed a less muscular frame compared to his current physique, and his skin bore fewer scars, notably missing the large one that stretched from his right shoulder to his left abdomen.

Despite his youthful appearance, there was a sense of raw power and determination in his movements, indicating that even in the past, Aron possessed formidable strength and skill.

Rumble! Rumble!

The terrain beneath him quaked, and an immense pressure descended upon the place. Aron remained unaffected, fixating his gaze on the shadow descending from above.

ROAAAAR!

With a thunderous roar, a colossal red dragon descended from the obscured heavens, its massive wingspan casting a shadow over the entire field. Its scales gleamed crimson in the dim light, reflecting the fiery aura that surrounded it. Eyes glowing with an intense inner flame.

Alighting on the edge of the crater, the red dragon fixed its gaze upon Aron as he slowly made his way down. As the dragon prepared to set its right forelimb upon the flat land, its colossal form suddenly glowed with an intense crimson light, momentarily blinking Aron.

Step. Step.

"Aaahh!...it's nice to stretch my wings once in a while"

Stretching his neck and arms, a man emerged from the crimson glow instead of the enormous red dragon which could barely fit inside the crater.

"OH! Hello brother, I came for a visit," the man exclaimed, waving at Aron with a wide smile

He was tall with pale skin and blazing orange eyes. His long red hair flowed smoothly down to his waist, adding to his striking appearance. Clad in a scarlet silk robe embellished with ebony and ivory accents along its periphery, his attire exuded an aura of regal refinement.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

WHOOSHH!

"Oh, shit, not again," the man's smile died instantly when he saw a giant bone greatsword hurtling toward him.

With little time to react, the man tapped into one of his abilities. His form shattered, transforming into a fiery crimson mist, evading the impending strike.

Materializing a little to the left, the man shouted at Aron, "HEY! Are you trying to kill me, brother?"

"Tsk" Aron turned to the side, clicking his tongue.

"Hey! Don't click your tongue at me, sir!"

Aron slowly faced him, arching an eyebrow. "HOO! Are you looking for a fight?"

With a casual gesture, a hundred greatswords of varied designs and dimensions levitated from the ground, hovering behind Aron, awaiting his command to strike.

A drop of sweat fell from the man's forehead upon witnessing the hundreds of swords aimed in his direction, prompting him to kneel swiftly, begging.

"Please Brother, I'm sorry I didn't visit you for a long time, forgive me."

"It's a good thing that you recognize your mistake; this makes the punishment more meaningful," Aron flashed a sadistic grin, signaling for his greatswords to strike.

"Please brother, I brought you a GIFT!" the man exclaimed, desperation evident in his voice as he attempted to appease Aron.

"I don't care; now die."

'Dammit! I was hoping to use this later as leverage to convince him, but now I have no choice.'

A fissure in the atmosphere manifested close to the man, from which he swiftly retrieved an object.

"Here Brother….Hiiii!" the man exclaimed, presenting the object to Aron.

Instantaneously, the greatswords halted mid-air, inches from his face. He blinked and found Aron crouching next to him, gazing at the thing he just pulled.

"Hmm… what's this?" Aron inquired.

"Eh?…Cough…T-This is the latest innovation of the dwarves, The Crossbow."

What lay in his hands was a very simple early version of a wooden crossbow.

"A Crossbow?...I like the name"

"Yes, and what I have here is the first prototype, I thought this would make a good gift for you" The man swayed the crossbow left and right, up and down, and when he saw that Aron was following it with his eyes, he inwardly smirked.

'Great, he's taken the bait… phew, that was close.'

"Sooo?..." the man flashed an innocent smile, shaking the crossbow before Aron's gaze "…Do you forgive me now?"

"For the time being," Aron snatched the weapon from his grasp, scrutinizing it and murmuring observations regarding the Crossbow.

The man rose, wiping dust and adjusting his silk robe, he waited patiently until Aron concluded his examination of the crossbow.

"Tell me why you are here. I know you didn't come here because you miss me," Aron stated, setting the crossbow aside.

"Ouch! Your words inflict injury to my heart Brother, I missed you, and that handsome face of yours… Not fair why didn't I have a face like yours; that would made things with the ladies much easier."

"..." Aron regarded him with a blank stare; truthfully, the man possessed attractiveness by mortal standards, yet by dragon standards, he paled in comparison to Aron.

"Easy with the ladies, eh? I lost count of how many nephews I have,"

The man crossed his arms, averting his gaze. "Oh please, at least I'm not single and virgin like you—"

BONKE!

"Ouch…don't hit my head!"

BONKE! BONKE!

"Alright I'm sorry for calling you a virgin"

BONKE!

"YAA! MY HEAD!"

"Good, this would teach you some manners; now tell me why are you here before I hit you again," Aron spoke firmly while preparing his fist for another strike.

"Okay. Okay!..." The man raised two fingers, speaking, "I came for two reasons: first, our sisters are requesting your presence to discuss the possibility of getting involved in the war."

"NOO!" Aron exclaimed, causing the very earth to tremble. "My order was CLEAR! Dragons shall refrain from participating in this war."

His Brother sighed, rubbing the sore spot on his head from Aron's playful but firm blows. "Yes, I know, but they insisted on discussing it with you personally…"

"...Since you didn't want to rule, and I am unsuited for such a role, all the responsibility fell on the two of them."

Aron's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "I will not involve myself or my kin in mortal affairs."

"But why? Brother, We are dragons; nothing can defeat us."

Aron didn't reply; instead, he simply turned around and grabbed a broken sword. "The moment you presume invincibility is the moment of your downfall; never underestimate even an ant."

The man nodded in understanding. "I'll convey your message to them."

Aron's gaze turned sharp. "And the second thing?"

This time, the man's grin widened; he clapped a hand upon Aron's shoulder. "Brother, the celestials seek an alliance."

"Oh! Those arrogant punks finally realized their weakness, but why are you happy about it?"

"Hehehe~ the alliance that they are looking for is eternal, And what better means to ensure that?"

Aron rubbed his chin, thinking. "No idea, how?" he gave up.

The man facepalmed. "This is why you shall remain a virgin for life."

"WHAT?!"

"Marriage, Brother, and guess who's the lucky man?"

Aron felt a chill down his spine when he saw the sly smile on his brother's face.

"No! Absolutely not," he declared.

"Oh, come now, brother, this is your sole opportunity to secure a spouse."

"Never! I need no wife; the path of a warrior is a solitary one," Aron spoke, lifting his chin defiantly and placing a fist upon his chest.

"Stop trying to look cool," the man leaned in, whispering temptation in Aron's ear, "She's gorgeous, with long golden hair and eyes; she even possesses wings, six of them so you two could go and fly high above the clouds."

Aron's expression softened for a moment as he imagined the description his brother painted. A dragon and a six-winged woman, soaring through the skies together. It was a tempting thought, but he quickly shook his head, banishing the idea.

"If she's gorgeous as you portray, why do you not wed her and spare me the trouble?"

The man shook his head. "Oh, dear Brother. I am not the first and the most powerful dragon in the world; plus, my wives would kill me in my sleep if I took another one."

"Noo! Do I have to?" Aron was about to break into tears; it was only in times like this, when he was unprovoked, that his true nature surfaced—the loving and caring sibling.

His brother chuckled at Aron's reaction, a mischievous glint in his orange eyes. "Yes, brother, it is time for you to wed and have kids; our sisters are dying to see your children."

Aron sighed in defeat, "Alright, I'll come with you, but only to see my prospective bride; if I smell something shady, I'll burn everything to the ground, understood?"

His brother nodded eagerly, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Of course, brother! You won't regret it, I promise. Now remember, the meeting shall convene next week; this would give us time to work on this," he said, gesturing at Aron.

"Now excuse me, I must go and deliver your approval to our sisters."

The man brought his fingers close to Aron's nose and spoke with a serious tone.

"Remember #@é$&ù," his voice distorted momentarily. "You must not entertain any thoughts of running away; got it?"

Aron nodded. "I know #à&é'@. I shall remain here; do not forget to extend my regards to our sisters and the clan."

With a nod, Aron's brother transformed into a crimson mist, ascending above the crater before assuming the form of a dragon, spreading his wings wide as he soared through the air.

Aron watched him depart, exhaling deeply. "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to regret this decision?"