From high above the world seemed so peaceful. David's wings were spread wide and he glided forward with ease as he took advantage of the various air currents. He had been traveling for a few days straight, only stopping to eat or sleep. It had been good to let his body and mind rest but it also made his thoughts wander. He hoped his little sprawling clan was doing okay and when he returned there were not even more losses he would have to grapple with.

  In his old life he has lost people but it was never like this. This world was chaotic and brutal in comparison. Why was he even here? David sighed as the air buffeted against his face. One day he would have answers he hoped but for now he had to focus on surviving.

  The all too familiar plateau lingered in the distance as David approached. It was at a stark contrast to his previous visit as it was void of any activity. The once crowded mountain was now eerie quiet except for the howling of the strong winds whipping through the mountain passes around him. David landed with an audible thud and took his time to look around. His nostrils were constantly working now and had already told him that something was lurking nearby.

  The embodiment of what a dragon was to David’s sensibilities came crashing down in front of him. The titanic red dragon from before roared out as its massive size easily outclassed him. David had seen this beast once before standing next to the queen, and flinging disobedient little dragonkin off the mountain side. His dragon senses tingled wildly in alarm, and he knew he couldn’t take this dragon in a fight. Its muscularity had a familiarity about it that David guessed had to do with this dragon's traits, and he would bet his life on the fact this dragon was built for strength just like him.

  The massive red dragon leaned down and snarled heavily as it barred his thick teeth, “Come little pup. The queen is waiting… and I do not have patience for excuses.”

  David simply nodded his head and headed towards the motioned direction. The massive red dragon followed after him with thundering footsteps. Soon David discovered the entrance to a tunnel that headed downwards, and it was huge. The path spiraled downwards and despite the massive volume of space that he and even the red dragon walked through he felt trapped. The red dragon kept a measured pace behind him, enough where David knew he could not escape if things went wrong.

  David pressed down on his own anxiety, visualizing it as a ball that he squeezed tight, and kept marching forward. He walked for hours before he began to spot periodic kobolds popping their heads out of holes, or shuffling around carrying something on their little backs. He initially stopped in surprise but was given a rough shove by his trailing guard.

  “No stopping.” Snarled the colossal red dragon.

  David continued his march with a grunt and a nod. David knew it made no sense to be surprised since his kobolds had probably come from this very place to begin with. It was still odd though because these kobolds seemed more beastial, less cheerful, and far more… beaten down? Most were simply hauling wood, food, or other materials around. David didn’t see a single one armed or standing watch either.

  David turned towards the trailing red and was about to ask something but quickly closed his mouth and decided against it. The red was glaring at him the entire time and David was almost certain he saw him licking his dragon lips in anticipation as well. He sighed and kept marching and eventually they reached their destination.

  The massive tunnel opened up into an even larger chamber and at the center surrounded by hundreds of kobolds was Qazayss in all her horrifying glory. Her massive cluster of eyes immediately shifted towards the pair and her voice vibrated the air as she spoke.

  “Muansi'docar stand aside and Onyx shall approach.” Qazayss chirped out as she shifted her huge form on her stone bed. Her many limbs shifted, and her pairs of wings fluttered and repositioned as she gazed down at David as he approached. Kobolds filled this chamber, and most were covered in paint and other ceremonial clothing of a primal design. David noted five larger kobolds knelt down nearby the queen with their heads pressed down into the ground but otherwise they were completely motionless.

  “My Ambass has told me much about you, my Onyx. “ Purred the massive dragon queen. The possessiveness of her voice sent a massive chill down David’s body and his mind instantly went to Ambass’s words of warning.

  “Yes my queen… I am here as summoned.” David finally responded as he dipped his head low. His dragon senses were tingling and warning him of the immense danger before him, easily overshadowing the same feeling he was getting from the large red behind him.

  “Good. You know your place. Now I wish for a demonstration of your affinity…” The queen shifted her many eyes down to the five kobolds nearby, leaning down she pressed her muzzle up against the nearest. As the kobold shivered she moved in an instant and pushed the kobold over with a firm nudge of her head, and then closed her massive jaws around its lower half. The sound of bone, and flesh crumbling under the force of her jaws echoed in the large cavern. The kobold squealed in pain, as the other four remained completely motionless. David fought back the urge to gag as the rich smell of blood and meat hit his nostrils.

  Between her hearty chews she spoke, “Go on. Show me. Mmm…” Half of her eyes closed in a moment that David could only describe as enjoyment as she continued to snack on the lower half of the kobold. David slowly forced himself to his feet and walked closer, the queen’s bulk outmassing him far more than even the red dragon Muansi'docar. He slowed his breathing, and calmed himself as he pulled at his affinity and sent a strong glowing breath of Genomic Restoration down at the remains of the quickly dying kobold. The effects were immediate as the kobold’s gasps became stronger and its body slowly reknit itself before their very eyes.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Muansi’docar even shifted from his spot in the chamber in amazement as the massive queen began to laugh. As the kobold recovered it instantly resumed its place near its kin, and pressed its face down hard to the stone. David could only stare in horror at the display. The queen continued to laugh as she leaned back down and snatched the now healed, kneeling kobold in a flash and resumed her chewing.

  “Impressive my child. If nothing else you can keep some of my favorite snacks around for longer.” The queen purred in pleasure as she swallowed the remains of the kobold.

  David simply nodded, refusing to speak for fear of letting his true feelings escape his lips. He even, remarkably, kept his trumbles of anger in check as he stared up at the monstrous abomination that was Oazayss.

  “Muansi’docar do you understand now?” Oazayss continued as she shifted her many eyes to the front of the chamber and at the large red dragon.

  Muansi’docar dipped his massive frame in a bow, “Yes my queen. This little worm can keep us going till I bring you Nurdiangarh’s head.” The words escaped his lips with a venom to them, as he glared at David.

  Oazayss laughed once more and simply nodded her head, “Yes. You, Serth, Geloa, Onyx, and a few other dozen of your lesser brothers and sisters will be spearheading the assault. Ambass will focus on holding our lands. The clever little one has undertaken an ingenious little project that will ensure none of you are needed elsewhere.”

  They exchanged a few more words and then they both were promptly dismissed. David and Muansi’docar both began walking down another different tunnel leading away from the queen’s chamber. The audible crunch and smell of blood followed the pair out as the queen appeared to resume consuming her snacks for the day.

  The entire ordeal was downright frightening to David. His performance and achievements to this date were impressive but the queen or even his new trailing watchdog seemed like unclimbable mountains. His mind trailed off as they marched as he considered possibilities to counter these true titans in this world. His mind quickly focused on his new cancer affinity ability. It was utterly cruel and he wasn’t quite sure how fast it would work but it might be the answer he was looking for. He needed to experiment with it sooner than later.

  Before long their trek began to pivot upwards and they started to climb an incline heading towards the surface. Muansi’docar, as the queen had called him, was untalkative and downright cruel. If it weren’t for the fact that David could bite back his gut was telling him the large red wouldn’t hesitate to claw, bite, or push him along their path more often. After two solid days of travel with rest and sleep in between they finally stepped out into the fresh air of the mountains again. Muansi’docar informed him that they would wait and so David hunted the fresh fields nearby over the preceding days for both of them.

  He caught a variety of familiar prey and even discovered a few unique creatures. David mainly found Monitor Runners, Deer-boar, Cave Flyers and a surprising amount of Arboreal Tree Snappers. He received Coiled Legs again and promptly denied it, he was also given a few new choices that he struggled with. The first choice was interesting and new.

  Cave Flyer slain and trait available.

  Nighttime Supremacy - Night becomes like day. Your eyes develop to the point that they can rapidly shift between dark and light environments. Your brain adapts, twists, and grows to account for all the new information and the new rapid shifting in how to process information in dark and light environments. Your intelligence increases by 2.

  True night vision and more intelligence would be fantastic for certain dragons. Did Ambass have this trait by chance? The last trait he was offered was a difficult one to turn down.

  Arboreal Tree Snapper slain and trait available.

  Climbing Adaptation - Your claws become sharper than ever, your grip becomes strong enough to support your body, the padding on your limbs have increased friction, your claws become retractable and your limbs and digits all increase in length. Your strength increases by 2 as a result.

  David was so very tempted. The merit of retractable claws was a bit up in the air but the increased strength and the improved climbing ability would synergize with his other traits well. He knew where a patch of Tree Snappers was back near his lair if he ever wished to reacquire it. Ultimately David decided he couldn’t risk maxing out his traits this far into his mission. He did not know if he could push off his next evolution once he maxed out his traits since he did not attempt it the last two times for any extended length of time. Perhaps that is another question he could ask Ambass?

  Serth and Geloa appeared shortly after this and they were as intimidating as he had remembered. He didn’t get quite the same intensity of danger from them as he did from Muansi’docar but he still wasn’t going to risk anything. Serth and Muansi’docar squared off and sized eachother up, and based on Geloa’s rumbling sigh this was a normal occurrence. Despite the fact Muansi’docar outsized and outmassed Serth, the wyvern’s massive wings and sleek form had a hidden deadliness of its own. Geloa was impressive as well as he coiled around his massive wurm form, his lack of wings and limbs quite apparent now that he was completely freed from the ground.

  “Are you done having your pissing contest…?” Rumbled Geloa as his massive pool of affinity flared and soon bubbling magma erupted between the pair. Serth darted back in a flash and Muansi’docar proudly held his ground a split second longer than the wyvern.

  “Geloa! I will tear your guts out!” Roared Muansi’docar as he spread his massive wings wide and glared at Geloa.

  “No. The queen will have your head if you do. Let us focus on the task at hand and resolve this later…” Geloa snapped back with a hiss.

  “Oh we will resolve this later… maggot.” Huffed Muansi’docar as his head shifted to stare straight at David, “We are going to end this war and that welp is going to be the means for us to do it. “

  David couldn’t help but gulp as he stared up at the three massive full grown dragons as they turned to him. He recovered quickly, stood straight and cleared his throat, “Let me explain my affinity…”