Cassandra

Year 820 | Month 7 | Day 14

As it turns out, there were several things I didn’t consider when deciding on this plan of action. On deciding to hide underneath its nest. Where its eggs are.

For one, the very fact alone that it has eggs. Implying that either the drake can reproduce on its own without a partner, or that it has a partner. Not to mention that it has offspring on its way.

Then for two, the fact that I just moved those very eggs by moving the nest.

And from what I’ve learned dealing with Dad, a parent always knows when something is different with its children.

So mere moments later, the nest is pushed from above me, revealing me to the massive drake staring down straight at me.

The creature is over ten meters in length, with a wingspan of over twice that. It has glowing crimson eyes and deep crimson set on black scales.

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Name: N/A

Species: Wrathful Drake

Level: 59

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But something bothers me about the creature. Other than the fact that the monster at the end of Tier 6 is staring at me.

Actually, somethings. Not just one.

For one, it looks familiar. Like I’ve seen something like it just recently.

And for two?

It doesn’t look angry.

In fact, it looks… oddly familial.

The drake also looks way too large for what I remember from the tunnels it’s passed through. Along with the hole it passed through to get here. Implying it can probably alter its own size.

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For some reason though, I feel myself find it difficult to fear the creature. Even as it reaches down and picks me up with its claws.

Because it clearly doesn’t look like it’s going to harm me, no matter how strange that is.

But that comfort doesn’t last long.

Not after I notice one of the eggs missing from the nest, with some shell fragments on the shore and in the magma.

Wait a fucking second, did I accidentally knock one of its eggs out of the nest while moving it?!

I blink before any sort of panic can take hold though. Since the creature isn’t angry or attacking me.

Then it all finally clicks in my mind, making me glance down at my own body again. Following which I look at the drake’s body.

Oh.

That’s where I’ve seen it before.

My transformation was into a drake this time. One of the same species as this creature.

Does… this drake think I’m its baby…?

The drake makes a purring sound before placing me in the nest. Then it goes ahead and opens its mouth over the other half of the nest and vomits up some partially digested meat.

And just like that, it turns around and begins to leave the cavern.

All while I stare blankly at the creature’s fading silhouette within the magma.

Once the drake is completely gone, I look at the magma where the egg is. Noting that the only parts of the egg that are visible are some of the shell fragments. And even some of those are melting in the magma, leaving only a few on the surface.

Without any signs that the egg was destroyed in an unnatural way.

Well, damn.

I think I just accidentally saved myself.

Good thing drakes don’t seem to be an overly attentive species. Otherwise it probably would’ve noticed that I’m not actually its child.

I look back at the other eggs before looking down at my own probably-seven-meter-long self. Briefly wondering just how large these drakes hatch at for me to be mistaken for a newborn.

That thought doesn’t really make me feel very good though, so I try to squash it rather quickly.

Until I realize that I’ll be in a lot more danger down here if these other eggs hatch and there ends up being more drakes inside of this corrupted dungeon. Especially since those drakes will be let out into Hell when the corrupted dungeon breaks.

A small part of me makes me almost reach out to destroy the remaining three eggs, seeing as the drake will likely go crazy when it realizes I’m not its child anyways. Even if I’m far away. So I could deal with the other eggs now and save myself the trouble.

But part of me decides against it. To instead leave them be and let them hatch.

Because I won’t be the one dealing with them after they break out of the corrupted dungeon.

Those rebels will.

I try to smile, only for it to fail rather miserably considering my current visage.

Then I go ahead and head towards the hole, where I wait within for a few minutes in the hopes that the drake will leave. And the moment it does leave the hole on the other end, I sense its overwhelming presence gradually leaving its lair entirely.

So I continue through the hole and make my way back to its lair myself. Only to turn and go into the other hole when I arrive at its lair.

Because if I am to go to that altar at any point in time while in the corrupted dungeon, I have to do it now.

Before the drake realizes what I’ve done and goes berserk.

Fortunately for me, the second hole actually turns out to be shorter than the first. To the point that it’s only a bit longer than my aura could spread. And in just a few minutes, I find myself leaving the magma again.

At which point I am greeted by the sight of a large black and crimson altar standing at the center of a platform surrounded by magma just about a dozen or so meters in front of the hole I exited.

I can’t help but heave a sigh of relief at the sight. One confirming the altar.

Then I identify the thing and immediately freeze stiff at what I see.

Because it’s… rather shocking.

In a good way.