When all hope seemed to be consumed by the Patriarch's flaming breath, a roar split the sky. The Firedrake Prince, whom I was believed to have slain, swooped down into the coliseum, his wings wide and aflame, his roar filled with accusations and burning determination. His unforeseen appearance rekindled the dwindling hope in my heart.

“I knew it!” The Patriarch screamed as he charged his nephew. With titanic force the Patriarch’s scaled snout smashed down on the Prince, pinning him to the ground. As his claws started to encircle the Prince, preparing for a final blow, a dark blur shot across the periphery of the arena. The Mini Golem, who had been forgotten in the commotion, had chosen its moment to defy all expectations. Using leverage and an unlikely strength, it latched onto the Patriarch's foreleg. With a forceful tug that no one could have anticipated from such a small creature, the dragon was momentarily off balance, flailing wildly.

Seizing this precious moment, I executed the rarest technique in my arsenal. The Tempest's Wrath. Drawing in power from the heavens, my weapon shimmered, a pulsating beacon in the dimness of the arena. Slamming it into the ground, a cataclysmic shockwave erupted. The ground buckled, sending shockwaves that threw up debris and dust. Amidst this chaos, the underbelly of the Patriarch lay exposed and vulnerable.

The Prince wasted no time. Ignoring his injuries, he thrust upwards, digging into the soft, vulnerable flesh of the beast. A fountain of golden ichor spewed forth, the Patriarch's enraged roar echoed fiercely.

Struggling to regain his footing on the crumbling arena floor, the dragon’s massive wings flapped, creating gale-force winds in an attempt to lift off, this allowed him to kick the prince away. But I managed to remain and I hacked repeatedly at his soft underbelly. The ichor continued to gush forth as the Patriarch began to lose steam. He slumped and died, a defeated titan amidst the ruins of his dominion.

Silence fell on the arena, broken only by the occasional clink of settling stone. The Mini Golem, its role undeniable in the day's victory, turned its deep, inscrutable gaze upon me. Recognition passed between us; a nod of mutual respect and gratitude. It wandered off into the dissipating smoke, no doubt returning to his owners, I owed them. I would not have been victorious without it.

As I watched the golem depart I considered my appearance. I was covered in the golden ichor from head to toe, I even had to spit out a little that had gotten in my mouth. One benefit to not wearing any armor now is I had one less piece of armor to clean. But still, I needed a shower. But more than that I needed to settle the Patriarch and the Prince. Cleaning myself would have to wait. Approaching the Patriarch’s colossal, now-stilled form, I was suddenly halted by a flash of fiery brilliance. The Firedrake Prince, resplendent and restored, stood in my path. A creature of grace, power, and now, undeniable authority. The balance of power had shifted, and the coliseum bore witness to a new era.

The Prince's voice resonated deep within the air, its rumble akin to the might of the dragon himself. "I appreciate your help today. I would not have won without you. But you cannot loot my uncle. As the new Patriarch, it is my right. It would be an affront to my people to let you desecrate his remains. The very land might rise in anger against such an act."

I felt my brows knit together, doubt seeping into my thoughts. Was he just trying to hoard all the riches for himself? As though sensing my skepticism, the dragon continued.

"In payment for your aid, I'll give you the scale you certainly desire," he said, every word dripping with command. "And to acknowledge your respect for our customs, I offer you a boon." His fiery gaze locked onto mine, filled with anticipation and challenge.

In the wake of our unlikely triumph, my mind raced with potential boons, each more tempting than the last. Would he share the arcane knowledge of dragons, revealing secrets guarded for ages? Might he grant access to his vast treasure, filled with magical weapons and artifacts?

Yet, as I considered my options, a bold, audacious idea formed. I knew I couldn't bring any living being from this zone back to the tournament, but objects were fair game. It was a gamble, but the idea's sheer audacity had my heart racing.

With newfound confidence, I voiced my desire. "I want an egg from the Patriarch's recent clutch."

The weight of my request seemed to halt time itself. I was asking for an heir to the former Patriarch, a potential key to his desperate bid for power.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The Prince's reaction was instant and intense. Fire seemed to ignite within him, his wings flaring in sheer outrage. Handing over a dragon egg to a human was more than just a simple affront, it was an act of blasphemy.

Yet, he had promised a boon.

With great reluctance, he presented me with the dragon egg, the embodiment of their race's legacy and might. As he handed it over, his gaze pierced through me, a fiery warning evident.

"I had intended to destroy this egg the moment you departed," he stated, every word heavy with meaning. "If the dragon inside is male, it's a threat to my rule. Its existence in this realm is something I won't tolerate. Know this: should you return with this hatchling, my vengeance will be quick and merciless. Within the hour, you'd be no more. This is a solemn vow."

With that threat, the Prince had me escorted out of his coliseum, he was done with me. I had helped him with his coup and now he wanted me gone. Probably so he could pretend he took on his uncle by himself. Such a pompous prick, I truly believed his cause was righteous but I did not like him.

After departing the heated atmosphere of the coliseum, I sought out the Blacksmith twins, Soot and Spark, at their forges. Their laughter reached me before I spotted them, their silhouettes illuminated by the forge's flames. Recalling their insistence on me acquiring the Mini Obsidian Golem, gratitude welled up in me and I immediately rushed to them to give my thanks.

Soot, eyes shining beneath his soot-covered face, chuckled at my excessive gratitude, "No problem, man. You seemed like good company. And besides, our little one gained some solid experience. He's even stronger now!"

“Yeah, if play our cards right we might be in for a change of circumstances.” Spark remarked excitedly.

“Oh yeah baby!” Soot exclaimed, “We might be outta this zone and into the real shit.”

“What do you mean?” I questioned.

“Oh don’t worry about us, it’s a good thing. Worry about you and getting home.” Soot remarked.

With that the twins erupted into jovial laughter, the sound as contagious as it was heartwarming. Their joy and humor lifted the weight from the recent battle from my shoulders, filling me with a lightness I hadn't felt in a while. "Ever heard of the swordsman who took up a job at the bakery?" Spark said, grinning from ear to ear. "Turns out, he kneaded the dough!" Soot's laughter rang out even louder, slapping his knee in delight. "You think our swords are sharp? Wait till you try his baguettes!" Their laughter and camaraderie provided the perfect antidote to the stress of battle, the perfect break I had been seeking. With a grateful heart, I said my goodbyes, ready to step away from the forge and its cheerful echoes. My next task was clear: I needed to fulfill Elyria the Bard's quest to extract the Lily before the trial zone became inaccessible. If I hustled, maybe there'd be a little downtime left before my exit.

However, just as the smithy door creaked signaling my exit, an idea struck me. Turning back to face Soot and Spark, I reached into my bag and unveiled the gleaming Lava Forged Shield. Its intricate designs shimmered, reflecting the smithy's gentle light.

Both Soot and Spark looked stunned, their faces a mix of awe and respect. "Whoa, that’s a serious sheild?" Soot managed to say, almost choking on his words. "You got this here?"

I nodded affirmatively.

Spark leaned in, admiringly tracing the exquisite patterns. "This is no ordinary craft," he whispered in admiration. "Created in the heart of a volcano and cooled to perfection. A shield of this kind is a rarity."

Taking a deep breath, I ventured, "Considering all the support you've given me, I thought I'd offer it to you at a discounted rate. How much do you think it's worth?"

The twins locked eyes, seemingly having an entire conversation without uttering a word. After a brief exchange, Soot answered, "To any random traveler? We’d probably offer like 2,500 credits. But for you? Given our... 'bromantic' partnership? Let's say 3,500. We mean it, we appreciate you."

I considered their offer. It seemed fair, and it felt right to share a piece of this adventure with them, given how instrumental they had been.

Soot and Spark looked at each other once more, an air of anticipation between them. "We might have some items that could fill out your armor set," Spark suggested, deep in thought.

Soot, always the enthusiastic one, chimed in, "Remember those scales we showed you some time ago? From the snake. We've been tinkering with them. They're incredibly lightweight but so durable." My curiosity grew. "Snake scales, you mentioned? I don’t remember any snake scales and I hate snakes, I’d remember something like that."

Spark shook his head and waved away my questions. "Doesn’t matter, we've made an armor set from them – a helm, gauntlets, and greaves. With the natural properties of the scales combined with your tattoo and boots, you'd be armored up quite impressively." I pondered over this for a moment. "Would you consider a trade? The shield for those armor pieces?" Soot and Spark shared a glance. After a brief pause, Spark said, "That shield is a rare item, but crafting the armor was no easy feat. What about the shield plus an additional 500 gold pieces for the complete set?"

Recognizing the immense value in what was being proposed, I readily agreed. "It's a deal." The twins, their faces splitting into broad grins, retreated to the back of their shop. They soon emerged, holding a magnificently crafted set of dragon scale armor. The pieces radiated an iridescent glow, bearing witness to the blacksmiths' expertise and the rarity of their components. Slipping into the armor, I felt its immense power coursing through me. Together with my tattoo and boots, I felt an unprecedented level of protection and agility. With a grateful nod towards Soot and Spark, I exited the smithy, mentally preparing for what lay ahead.