Chapter 18
As we approached the chief of the kobold clan, I took a moment to fully absorb the sight. The tribe was at least a thousand strong, a remarkable number for a kobold clan. Surrounding the chief were eleven winged kobolds, each standing out from the rest, likely his advisors, mages, or elite warriors. Their blue scales glimmered in the fading sunlight, signaling their allegiance to the Blue Dragon lineage. Along with them were several magical creatures—beasts of burden and war alongside animals I could only think of as food, all bound in service to the tribe.
One of the most imposing creatures was what appeared to be a cross between a rhinoceros and a tortoise. It stood at 4.5 meters tall, its massive body covered in rock-like armor that blended perfectly with the landscape. They had three of these beasts, and each was laden with heavy supplies.
I silently cast my **Inspect** spell on one of the creatures, eager to learn more about it.
> **Inspect:**
> **Name:** None
> **Species:** Ironhide Behemoth
> **Sex:** Male
> **Creature Level:** 5
It was impressive, although I realized that I only managed to retrieve that information because the creature wasn’t particularly intelligent. If it had been more sentient, such as a human or another dragon, I wouldn’t have been able to access that data so easily.
Satisfied, I turned my attention to the kobold chieftain. His blue scales were the perfect indicator that this was indeed a Blue High Kobold Tribe. Without hesitation, I used **Inspect** on him.
> **Inspect:**
> **Name:** Azark Stormclaw
> **Species:** Blue High Kobold
> **Sex:** Male
> **Creature Level:** 8
> **Spell Caster Level:** 4
> **Main Affinity:** Lightning
> **Secondary Affinity:** Ground
> **Minor Affinity:** Water, Air
> **Skills:** Trap Making, Animal Care, Magic, Leadership
I was surprised by how strong he was he must have let me see some of his info. Azark Stormclaw bowed deeply, along with the rest of his clan. Even though I expected deference from kobolds, it was still odd to see such submission in action. The idea of servitude was deeply ingrained in their memories, but getting used to it myself would take time.
“Greetings, Your Majesty. What can I and my clan do for you?” Azark asked, his voice calm and respectful.
I returned his bow with a nod and thought of some questions. "I would like a few things. First, if you have any spellbooks, I wish to borrow them. I’m especially interested in learning more magic. And secondly, could you explain what this 'Spell Caster Level' is? It’s not something I have in my memories."
Azark smiled, clearly delighted to be of service. “Yes, Your Majesty. We possess several spellbooks, mostly on lightning magic, but there are a few on the other elements as well. As for the spell caster tier system, it is a means by which wizards and mages of lesser races gauge their magical capabilities. Essentially, a spell caster’s tier is always half of their creature level. For example, a wizard at level 10 would be able to cast Tier 5 spells. The reason Your Majesty is unfamiliar with this system is because dragons, in their magnificence, are not bound by such limitations.”
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I nodded thoughtfully. That made sense. Dragons, after all, were creatures of immense power—beings whose magic was intertwined with their very essence. Other beings, such as kobolds, needed more structured systems to quantify their abilities. Still, understanding how it worked for them gave me insight into how other races used magic.
Another question formed in my mind. "What about soldiers and knights who aren’t mages? How do they level up in the creature tier?"
“That’s simple, Your Majesty,” Azark said. “They use a type of magic called **Reinforcement Magic**. It’s a basic form of magic that almost everyone can learn the basics of. By using it, they enhance their physical abilities—strength, speed, endurance, and so on. The reason Your Majesty doesn’t know about this is because dragons instinctively use reinforcement magic from the day they hatch. For dragons, it is second nature, not something that requires conscious thought.”
Ah, so that explained it. Knights and warriors who weren’t born with a natural gift for magic could still enhance themselves through the most rudimentary form of magic. While mages were rarer and more powerful overall, reinforcement magic allowed even non-magical fighters to compete at higher levels.
I filed that information away for later use. "Thank you for the explanation, Azark."
“It is my honor to serve, Your Majesty,” he said with a bow.
With that, he gestured for some of the kobolds to bring forth the tribe's collection of spellbooks. As I sifted through them, it became clear that most of the books were dedicated to lightning magic. That didn’t surprise me, given the blue kobold’s natural affinity for the element. There were also a few books on ground, water, and air magic, but what really caught my attention was a book on **Basic Fire Magic**. Curious, I asked to borrow it, and Azark immediately obliged.
As he handed me the book, Azark spoke again, “Would Your Majesty like a tour of the tribe’s resources and animals?”
I agreed, curious to see what other magical creatures they possessed. The Ironhide Behemoths had already piqued my interest, and I wanted to know what else the kobolds had managed to tame. Azark led me through the tribe’s camp, explaining the various roles of different kobolds along the way. Some were builders, others specialized in magic or warfare, and a few were animal handlers.
As we walked, Azark pointed out another magical beast—one I hadn’t noticed earlier. It was a **Stormfang Raptor**, a sleek, fast-moving creature with lightning crackling across its scales. It was built for speed and ferocity, a natural predator in stormy environments. The kobolds used them for scouting and fast attacks.
Finally, we came upon a small herd of **Thunderbeasts**—large, muscular creatures covered in fur, with small horns that emitted low-level static electricity. They were used primarily as beasts of burden, able to carry heavy loads across vast distances while generating their own electrical charge, which the kobolds could harness for spells and tools.
The variety of creatures at the kobolds’ disposal impressed me. They were more resourceful than I had initially expected, capable of taming and controlling magical beasts that could prove useful in both battle and daily life.
As the tour concluded, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of excitement. The addition of this kobold tribe to the clan was going to be a great advantage. Not only were they skilled and loyal, but their magical knowledge, spellbooks, and beasts would undoubtedly help me in my quest to master every element.
As I returned to my cave with the borrowed spellbook on fire magic, I felt a new sense of determination. There was much to learn, and I wouldn’t stop until I had unlocked the full potential of every element.