POV Minions:
A small crowd of people stood in the middle of the square, their eyes and mouths widely opened as they were turned up towards the sky. They couldn’t even move, a terrifying force weighing upon their shoulders. Even the air itself felt thick and hot as if they stood at the bottom of an ocean of magma.
“Is this our boss?”
“He is so huge…”
Their eyes were glued on the massive wyrm covered in smoke high in the sky. His body was huge, covered in thick armour with sharp and rough edges. A purple light glowed in the cracks within it.
They already considered their boss to be nearly undefeatable for their levels, but now they felt like they were looking at some endgame boss that they shouldn’t even get to contact with at their current level.
Their boss spoke at them in the familiar cold voice that carried the explosiveness of volcanoes in every syllable, “My minions, the despicable human kingdom trampled once more over my territory! But this time, I have had enough of it. This time, it is a war! This time there will be no playing around with it.”
Excitement flared up within everyone’s hearts after hearing the word: war. At first, they feared defeat, but it was different after seeing how their boss had changed. They felt that they would be the winning side.
“Lol, imagine the faces of these noobs simping for the kingdom when the boss shows up above their cities and turns them into cinders.”
The aura radiating out of the dragon intensified, causing all the players to immediately quiet as the dragon’s cold voice boomed.
“Go and infiltrate the kingdom. Go and cause chaos from behind their lines. Attack their officials and set fire to their stockpiles. Ambush their patrols! Go and cause them as much damage as possible!”
Their eyes twinkled, hearing the dream-like quest. To their ears, it sounded like go and have some fun.
The dragon’s voice turned stern, “But avoid too much collateral damage to their economic structure, as it will soon end in my hands!”
The last words calmed down the flames in their hearts.
“From now on, you will be operatives of my infiltration corps! Earn merits, and you will be rewarded. Prove your mettle in the battle, and I will allow you to join the glorious ranks of my wyvern knights.”
This was the last straw, and all of the players immediately exploded in fanaticism, everyone already imagining themselves riding a wyrm while wearing a fabulous black amour like the kobolds.
POV Vesuvius:
The dragon grinned at the leaving immortals feeling like they had solved one of his biggest problems, ‘This should take care of my lack of operatives capable of working within human nations.’
He flapped his wings, the mighty wind rising around him as he slowly descended back towards his resting spot on the plain outside of the city.
He quietly sighed, the air escaping out of his lungs and sending ripples through the grasslands, ‘So much work to do. I just took a nap, and now I am again drowned in work.’𝚘𝓥𝐥xt.𝐜𝔬𝑚
Vesuvius focused with a magical circuit flaring up within his mind, opening a channel into the distance. He felt a barrier before him, he could tear through it, but he decided to knock instead.
Soon the doors opened, inviting him in.
A stream of thoughts, sounding like a young woman, entered his mind, “Your High… Majesty, I am so glad that you have woken up! I was working hard in your absence. I have successfully converted multiple nobles to our cause.”
“Yes, I know, and you will be rewarded for your efforts. Once I conquer the kingdom, your territories will be expanded. But now send me some knights that are loyal to you. I wish to create a new higher caste of warriors.”
“Of course, your highness! I will personally dispatch five of them! They are all loyal to me and, by extension, to you.”
Vesuvius nodded inwardly, ‘This one is a jackpot. She is more than capable.’
He cut off the connection and focused on the other stuff that needed his attention. He once again looked at the evolutions for his scales. He had a lot of time to think about them and finally decided.
‘That improved mana shielding is great, but I feel like I can replicate its effects with magic as I already have its base in the form of the mana reinforcement. I also saw shields used by the wyrm and the angel. On the other hand, the composite scales would be impossible to replicate and have immense defensive potential.’
Ding!
//
Chargeable Manareinforced Runic Noble Dragon Scales (LV 20) —> Manareinforced Composite Noble Dragon Scales (LV 20)
//
‘Now is the time to return to my experiments. I left them for a long time.’
POV The Transmigrated Man:
The man walked down the street, his back hurting after the day of hard work in the hot summer. His steps were surprisingly energic and eager as his target was getting closer and closer. He could already smell the beer and alcohol in the air.
Then someone called, “Do you need help?”
He ignored it, walking towards the building emitting that alluring, intoxicating aroma.
However, more voices shouted from behind him.
“Hey, mysterious man, can you tell us your story!”
“Hey, sir, have you heard any interesting rumours recently?”
He finally couldn’t hold back and angrily turned back, only to freeze in shock.
A group of creepily dressed, hooded and masked people in black followed him. He couldn’t tell who or what they were as their faces were hidden.
He immediately speeded up, distancing himself from the weird group.
‘What the hell? From where these crazies appeared.’
“Wow, look at him. He is so mysterious!”
“Damn, he is covered in dirt. I bet he was digging out corpses for rituals or burying evidence!”
He speeded up his steps, the group in black still following him. Their steps were getting closer and closer towards him, sending shivers down his back.
‘Really? I have survived getting strained in the freezing winter, kidnapping and siege. Yet now I am going to get murdered by some psychos? Is this the legendary protagonist trouble magnet?”
Suddenly a large horned kobold in a cape appeared from behind the corner. The man immediately turned towards him, feeling like he was his saviour.
The kobold looked straight at him, their eyes connecting, “His Majesty wishes to speak with you. Follow me!”
The image of the terrifying monsters in the sky flashed before his eyes, and his face immediately turned pale, ‘Damn, from mud into a puddle.’
“Ohh, I told you he is someone interesting. He just got summoned by the big boss!”
Sometime later:
The man kneeled on the ground facing a thick cloud of smoke. He couldn’t see what was inside, but there was no need as he already knew it. Just that knowledge and the hot air caused sweat to pour down his body, making his clothes so wet that he looked like he just came from rain.
“Interesting, you are the only human in my city. You have fought and worked alongside my minions. Luckily for you, I am generous and will give you an opportunity of your life.”
He breathed quietly in relief, his intuition telling him he would not get eaten. His eyes even slightly flashed in anticipation,
“Be happy, human. You will be the first of your kind to undergo the ritual. You will gain eternal youth and power beyond your species. You will ascend from your lowly existence and become something greater.”
The words sounded sweet to home, but he had a bad feeling, ‘At first, these masked people following me and this too good sounding offer?’
“W-wait, your Majesty! I am sure they are some better candidates. I am weak and cowardly!”
Suddenly another, a much softer and gentler yet loud voice came from behind him, “No, you are wrong! You are perfect! I have been ogling you for a long time. You are a human that proved to be with us, and simultaneously, you are expendable! You are simply perfect! I just waited as I thought his Majesty would like to see it with his own eyes.”
He turned around only to freeze when a pair of heterochromatic eyes looked straight at him. A small elf was standing right behind him. A terrifying smile on her cute face sent shivers down his back.
Something was disturbing about her making his face turn in horror.
The girl noticed that and waved her hands as if to calm him down even though her words sent even more, chills down his spine, “Don’t worry, I am sure that we already fixed all of the problems with exploding.”
POV Vesuvius:
The dragon shook his head, feeling too busy, ‘The eggs should have hatched. And also the wyrm should be done with their transformation.’
He flapped his wings and shot towards the sky before flying towards the horizon, his eyes glowing in anticipation of the results.