"Exactly what is going on here!!" A young dragon, trampling over the rubble-strewn ground, blinked its shimmering eyes in terror. The vast emptiness around filled Zephyr's heart with panic mixed with a curious sense of something else.
Gazing at the shattered stones and shaking off dust from his body, Zephyr fell into a brief... contemplation. These fragments did resemble eggshells, but what kind of oviparous creature hatches from stone? Some sort of great sage?
No, no, the bigger question was why he ended up here, inside a petrified egg. Was this some form of reincarnation?
Feeling an itch on his back, Zephyr wriggled slightly, revealing wings of dark rock stretching out fully behind him. Looking down at his hands now turned into claws, he pulled one wing forward to examine it: jet black, covered in fine scales that matched perfectly with the color of the petrified eggshell.
A dragon?
The young dragon lay sprawled on the ground, staring intently at the sky where the sun was beginning to rise, feeling oddly calm about the situation. Things had happened; might as well accept them for now.
Sleep first. If it’s a dream, wake up soon. If not, then face reality.
Waking up to a setting sun, Zephyr looked at his still-not-human hands and accepted his transformation. Feeling a slight hunger, he realized it made sense for a newly hatched hatchling to be hungry. Moreover, who were those irresponsible parents who left him in such a desolate place?
His gaze drifted towards the fragments on the ground – remnants of his own shell. Staring at these petrified pieces, a growing urge to eat overwhelmed him.
Well, if it sparked appetite, maybe even stone could be food.
The sound of crunching echoed through the night...
"Stay alert, that treacherous dragon is nearby!" warned a middle-aged man clad in mercenary gear and carrying a large sword, cautiously scanning their surroundings.
"Huh, Uncle Sand, there's no need to be so tense, right? That dragon hasn't hurt anyone so far," said a young man accompanying him, appearing more relaxed than Sand, whose body showed signs of long-term training. Apart from other guards, several young nobles also accompanied them, similarly carefree.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Seeing these aristocratic youngsters' lax attitude, Sand felt helpless. How could he lead such teammates? True, the dragon hadn’t harmed anyone yet, which gradually emboldened some youths.
Especially for these noble offspring, encountering a dragon would provide ample material for boasting among peers.
However, the information these nobles received seemed incomplete. While the guild had posted a bounty, although the dragon hadn’t injured anyone, it had been stealing!
Typically, young dragons had their mothers’ protection, and unless they actively attacked someone, people tended to overlook minor mischief. Dragons, being apex predators, meant that while there were dragon slayers, many more became victims.
Thus, a mischievous yet harmless young dragon was allowed some leeway. As for theft? Consider it the price of admission to a zoo, offering a reality check to the daring youths.
Moreover, years of mercenary work had honed Sand's instincts, sensing eerie surveillance upon entering Tot Mountain's neighboring forest. Powerful creatures had already set their sights on them; not even insects stirred nearby. The threat was clear!
Even a juvenile dragon exuded the aura of a top predator... known as draconic pressure!
Regardless, coming here, Sand had prepared for potential losses, leaving valuables behind, with his most valuable possession being his large sword. Considering the reward, losing the sword was acceptable.
Just as his vigilance waned, a vine snare shot out from the woods, hoisting him up.
"A cunning, thieving dragon has appeared!" Unlike Sand's predicament, the young nobles seemed excited.
These fools... Mouth agape, Sand hung suspended. Did they mistake this for anything less than provocation? Insulting the dragon openly could easily draw its mother’s wrath. Were they eager to die?
A massive black shadow pushed aside trees, advancing with predatory dominance. Bright dragon eyes fixed on the speechless young nobles; two girls succumbed to the pressure, collapsing to the ground. Enhanced dragon vision allowed Zephyr to notice faint wet marks on their light armor.
Hanging upside down, Sand's pupils contracted, astonished by the suspected black dragon. Compared to two months ago, the young dragon had grown significantly, nearly rivaling adolescent dragons. Could dragons grow so fast!?
"Foolish humans!!" It felt fitting to start like this.
"..."
"U-uncle Sand, is that dragon language?" One trembling girl among three who remained standing sought help from Sand, hanging above.
Sand shook his head. He was just a regular mercenary, unaware of dragon language. Regardless, understanding wasn't possible. Dragons only spoke after leaving infancy, right? Was this truly a young dragon?
"You... Never mind." With a claw, he flicked a guard’s sword away, pointed at the ground, grabbed a girl by her collar, lifting her amidst screams, and with another claw, stripped her of valuables. Speaking incomprehensible words, "This is robbery time..."