CHAPTER 6

Logging back into the game I sat at one of the trees around the entrance of the mountain range where I appeared .slowly eating an apple I packed when I was on the human continent as the player inventory allowed inanimate objects like armor and weapons only to be stored there any other thing had to be carried manually.

Before coming back online I had checked the game forum only to see that there were a lot of comments about the first dragon hunt that was to happen in the elf continent since the start of the game.

According to information players posted the green dragon being hunted ravaged the villages around the same mountain range I now stood before so it was most likely that the expedition of players would cross paths with me if I stuck to the main paths.

Equipping one of the numerous orc swords in my inventory I made my way into the mountain range as I wanted to avoid meeting other players.

The time for the hunt had reached and the small army marched out the city gates with a lot of fan fare as the citizens of the city threw flowers on the paved road before we passed their houses.

Some of the priests of the elf goddess Freya even blessed us as we left increasing the power of the spells we cast and also increasing our strength as a gift, though I can’t wait to see their faces when we come back defeated I think to myself as I ride my horse leading the march.

The journey to the mountains that the dragon used as a lair was five days because of the carriages carrying provisions for feed the soldiers that came on the hunt.

As we got closer to the mountains signs of dragon attack were seen more frequently with the occasional scorched farm land and when we got to a day’s march from the mountain we moved past whole villages that were burnt to the ground.

At the foot of the first mountain I addressed the army “soldiers today we hunt a being that is strong”. some of the people hearing this nod their heads in affirmation, continuing my speech I say ”but with our combined strength even a dragon will tremble before us, in these mountains hides a dragon that has attacked us with any reason so we must show other dragons that we will not sit back will they destroy our homes and kill our families” .

By now the tension in the army can be felt by someone that is not even a warrior”who is with me “I yell at the end of my short speech inspiring a loud yell from the army. The yell was so loud that even the ground seemed to tremble.

With that scouts were sent to each of the nearby mountains to climb and see if there was any cave on the mountain. After two days, sixteen mountains five of which had empty caves we final found one where at the entrance of the cave the loud breathing of a dragon could be heard. Making sure we entered quietly fifty members of my guild made our way into the cave with the dragon sleeping at the end of the cave.

The plan was to get close to the dragon before it woke and bombard that was until when someone kicked a small piece of stone and it struck the wall of the cave with a loud thud.

Grooowl, the dragon had awakened and seeing intruders it let out a loud roar that put our yell at the beginning of the hunt to shame. Standing on its four limbs the dragons head almost touched the ceiling of the twelve meter from the ground.

“wow that’s a big dragon” blue man said beside me as arrows and spells began to fly at the dragon.hmm if only they knew this is a child according to dragon standards I think as I blast the dragon with a intense burst of fire from my staff .Retaliating to our attack the dragon made an audible intake of breath, “mages cast a shield on everyone” I yell as I notice the incoming dragon flame.

The burst of flame from the dragon washed over the shield spell and in some places the spell cracked .hiding in the shield for what seemed like hours but was actually forty seconds we waited until the fire died down to reveal a severely blackened cave.

Even the temperature of the cave had increased drastically making it uncomfortable for those in armor whom felt like they were been cooked alive in their armor. Suddenly the dragon charged at us as it ran to the mouth of the cave and jumped of the small cliff there.

”hurry don’t let the beast get away” I yell as we make our way outside where the rest of the army has engaged the dragon with arrows and spells as it began flying around the area. “Knights and sword men try climbing up the mountain and jumping onto the dragons back” Dave yells as he shoots an ice spike that fails to pierce the scales of the dragon.

So far the fight has been a one sided fight with the dragon descending to pluck soldiers and tossing them after flying to a large height.

With Dave’s suggestion the dragon is now hindered by the three that managed to get a foot hold on its back that was until it rolled while flying dislodging any passenger.

The roaring of other dragons alerted us to the eleven specks in the sky that were coming towards the battlefield at an alarming speed. “More dragons incoming” a knight yells as he picks the bow and quiver of arrows left beside the broken body of an archer and begins shooting the dragons once they get into range even though it’s useless.

Seeing the extra dragons the thousand or so adventures that tagged along to watch the fight begin hurling spells at the dragons as they in turn release jets of fire at their attackers, with this the area has truly become a battle field in every sense as there a spells arrows and even bodies flying all over the place.

The noise is becoming too much I mutter as the fight between the elves and the dragon begins.

Climbing a small mountain far enough to see the fight but not close enough to be noticed by the combatants I watch as the dragon decimates the elven army in minutes.

“Attack the eyes you fools, there are no scales on its eyes are they” I say as I watch spell after spell hit the scales of the dragon and have little to no effect on the beast. Seems the players tagging along will get their chance with the dragon sooner than later I think as a group of red dragons join the fight attacking the elves and the green dragon also. “Now why will dragons attack each other” I whisper.

“Because the dragon is breaking the truce between the two races” a voice says behind me .unsheathing my sword I spin around while crouching only to see the knight from my sea voyage standing behind me watching the fight with a dull expression on his face.

“Don’t worry when I come for you I won’t sneak on you besides my name is Gabriel” he says. “How do you know the dragon is been controlled and isn’t just mad or has been tamed by a player” I reply with my hand still on the pommel of my sword. “You are a mage warrior, send a small amount of mana to your eyes and look at the dragon” Gabriel says to me.

Doing as he says I see a small part of the fore head of the green dragon glowing with a black light and a string moves form the ball of light into the trees around the battle field. “That string will lead to the person controlling the dragon, tamed dragons have a white light and wild dragons don’t have glowing foreheads” my fellow spectator says.

Three minutes later when the elves remain about two hundred from the combined amount of players that tagged along and the receivers of the quest Gabriel announces “I found the controller until we meet again” as he begins running down the mountain with a speed I will need lighting armor to reach. Shrugging my shoulders I use lightning armor heading over to the battle field to do what I do best, killing things.

Within seconds I have reached the battle field and head for the elves first punching my fist into the chest elf I reach. Pulling my fist I release the players heart and watch it fall to the ground as the entire combatants focus on me “ stop fighting the dragons want to capture the green dragon and kill it “ I yell as I dive into the midst of already weakened players hacking off arms with the swords still in their grips.

At least they can reattach the hands I cut I think as I make sure I don’t kill anyone. “the human is in league with the dragons and they have come to conquer our homes” a mage with a staff that has a large crystal at the top of it yells increasing the urge of the elves to attack me “filthy human”, “humans are not even fit to rule themselves”.

Different yells come from the npcs as they turn their attacks form the dragons to me.” This is why I hate meeting players in this game “I mutter as I start killing the elves near me.”Grav pull” I whisper as I pull a knight towards me and spear him with my sword ending his life instantly.”Grav push” I say again pushing everyone in a two meter radius around me into the air.

Using wind magic I discovered that I could push or pull different objects to me depending on the amount of mana I poured into the spell and so I created my first spells Grav push and Grav pull both wind based spells. With the elves been occupied the other dragons subdue the green dragon quickly with numbers and I finish up the elves as few of them run away from my onslaught.

Walking to the dragons I watch as the light on the dragons head goes out guess Gabriel has killed the one controlling the green dragon I conclude.

”human you have helped us rescue our brother for this the dragon king will like to see you” the largest dragon says to me as the other dragons use their claws and pick up the green dragon as it is too weak to fly on its own.

With me not being in a hurry to find the elf twins for my guild I reply”I will be honored to meet the Great dragon king, but I can’t fly like you and don’t think I can keep with the speed at which you fly”. Nodding its large head the dragon says “climb on my back and hold onto the scales there we will fly there now” as it lay on the ground making it easier to get to its spine where I sit.

“To the nests we go “the dragon carrying me says to the other dragons as they all lift off and head into the sunset.

The flight took three hours with the dragons stopping for ten minutes to drink from a river we passed by. Even with the smaller dragon being carried the landscape still went by at a speed that would be hard to match by players and monsters alike. The more we went the more dragons we passed, green red and even a blue dragon all flew by us some of them sounding greeting to the lead dragon whose name I found was Salazar .

Approaching a large valley filled with dragons the first trace of fear begins to manifest in my mind. One dragon youth I can fight but with the hundreds of dragons flying and on the ground I doubt even if the top ten players could fight their way out of this place if the dragons turn hostile.”I can fear you fear and it disgusts me” a black dragon flying by Dave sneers at me. “Silence Thorn, the king wants to meet him leave him be” Salazar says to the black dragon.

” he might be your king but he isn’t mine” Thorn retorts as he flies away when Dave lands by the mouth of a cave. “go inside he is waiting” Dave says as his group of dragons take to the skies again.”Won’t you be coming with me” I ask. “No I am not need to defend the king from a human of your strength.” Salazar replies as he walks away from me.

Gathering whatever little courage I have left I move into the cave that has black walls most likely from dragon fire, beginning to think the cave is empty as I can’t see anything even after sending mana to my eyes checking if there is an illusion spell in the cave until a voice says “so you are the one that helped free my kin”.

With that statement the cave lights up, looking at the source of the light I see a golden dragon resting upon a heap of treasure. The light seems to be emanating from the scales of the dragon bowing my head I address the dragon “I was only doing what was right noble dragon king”.

shifting a claw the size of my body the dragon pushes some of the treasure it sits upon closer to me saying “come closer and take your reward for the help you have given to my brethren” .remembering stories about dragons and their love for precious things I shake my head “I must refuse I did what I did without hoping for a reward more so seeing you is reward enough” I say not moving an inch closer to the being.

Slowly the dragon lifts from the bed of treasure and tilts its head towards me “a human that refuses gold, what a rare sight tell me why did you kill the elves that time” the dragon asks.”I don’t think dragons should be tame, if they decide to accompany a person on their own then that is different” I say hopping I haven’t offended this king. “You are certainly strange I will gift you with something most haven’t seen in millennia” the dragon says as Salazar enters the cave.

Stopping in front of me Dave opens his mouth to reveal an orb the size of a fist, shinning a slight green. “What is this” I ask as I can feel raw mana coming from the orb similar to the type the dragons emit form their body. “This is the essence of a dragon or as you humans say its soul” the dragon king says.

”I the fiftieth dragon king Igneel of the first continent hereby gift you with this dragon essence” the king says out loud. With that said Salazar drops the orb into my awaiting hands and the orb begins to glow brighter as it dissolves into my hand making my palms feel like they are being held across a large flame.

When the burning sensation stops I look at my hands to see a faint trace of the pattern of dragon scales.”I accept you as one of us with this all monster with reptilian ancestry can become companions so if a dragon asks for help you are expected to comply” Igneel says as I look for the physical changes that have happened to my body. “You should leave here until you are summoned again” a voice says in my head.

Looking around I see Igneel is focused on me “how did you do that” I ask. “the gift and curse of been king” Igneel replies .without another word he rests on his bed and is soon asleep “I will take you to the border lands” Dave says as he walks out of the cave.

When I reach outside the fresh air seems like a blessing from heaven after staying in a cave with a carnivorous animal. “From where did the elundari come from” I ask. “Dragons are not meant to be tame the dragon we brought back died soon after we got here and the orb belongs to him” Dave answers as he lays down for me to mount his back. As we fly through clouds I open the player menu to check my stats.

Name: Michael

Race: Human

Level: 75

Title: most wanted, friend of dragons.

Mana: 5000

Strength: 480

Speed: 280

Agility: 250

Stamina: 300

Luck: 20

Respect: for humans;-300 with elves; - 70 with dragons; 30

Buffs: friend of dragon grants the following, dragon fear can paralyze weaker opponents for three seconds. Dragon scale hardens skin; dragon rage increases abilities by 5% for a minute.

Intelligence: 240

Con firming the level and stat increase the title and new stat for respect with races startles me a little. Thinking about it dragons are usually preying on other races in the game and the other races in turn hunt dragons so helping a dragon increases respect with dragons but reduces respect with other races .

”We have arrived” the voice of Dave jolts me from my thinking. Landing carefully on a plain field with I hop down from his back” is there any advice you can give me” I ask. “For now avoid phoenixes we have a truce with them though it is shaky but elves and sea serpents will attack you the more you stronger the essence in you grows” Dave responds.

Nodding at his advice I say to him” thank you for helping me”. “No need after all you are a friend to all dragons” Dave says as he takes to the skies turning into a small speck as he flies farther away until he disappears. Well time to look for the recruits I mutter as I begin walking in a random direction.

Back at the elven city news of the expedition‘s defeat spread by the people that followed to watch the hunt was making waves. Most players were shocked that Zero whom they thought was a player had left a dead body for days something only npcs do.

In a hall voices were being raised “a dragon attacked our villages and when we try to defend other dragons come to its defense” an old elf yells out in a voice that is surprisingly loud for someone of his age. “This clearly means war” a female elf beside him also yells. A young elf wearing silver armor bangs the handle of his spear against the ground causing the noise in the hall to reduce drastically.

“the people that went to watch the hunt report a human saying that the dragon was been controlled and also the red dragons that appeared first fought with the green dragon before leaving with its beaten down body” the man in armor says.

“Commander John the fact that the human also killed most of the soldiers and children of the goddess shouldn’t be over looked” an old woman says as she stands up with a staff emitting power supporting her frame.

“Lady Esther you are right but we attacked the human first” John replies. “So what do you want us to do, a human and dragon combination have killed our people but you defend them” the old man from before yells.

”Elder Ernest we don’t know who he is and without the backing of the other elven kingdoms we can’t have guaranteed victory against the dragons”John says with a sigh.”I Elder Ramon also agree with commander John” an old female elf wearing armor made of dragon scales says “the closest kingdom to us is dealing with that necromancer problem they have so I suggest we hunt this human ourselves while gathering a punitive force to at least revenge our peoples death” Ramon finishes .

knowing that the elves with their long life span are stubborn in changing their ways and consider themselves the superior race John shakes his head saying” all those in favor of hunting this human and gathering forces either mercenaries or help from our alliances raise your hand”.

More than half of the elves in the hall raise their hand in response to the statement.”Elder Ramon we will leave the matters of the hunt in your hands while we send out a force to help Rosenheim deal with the necromancer” John says dismissing the meeting.

Sitting at the back of the hall I think to myself as I walk with my colleagues “truly the time for peace is about to end maybe I can revive Him this time”.