In the village of dragons, a moss-covered giant dragon slowly opened its eyes. Its body, akin to a rock, was enveloped in vegetation, blending seamlessly into the mountainous landscape. Upon closer inspection, one would notice its gray and white eyes, a clear sign of blindness. As the dragon shook off the dust, revealing its 100-foot silver body, it dwarfed even the adult dragons nearby. A distinctive feature was its bushy beard and, unlike the typical bat-like wings of its kin, its wings were adorned with white feathers.
Its awakening sent ripples of oppressive energy throughout the Dragon Land, stirring the other giant dragons from their slumber. A 70-foot black dragon, with golden horns and the stature of a Romanian ceratopsian, approached. This elder, tasked with guarding the dragon's homeland, had never seen the ancient dragon awaken in its 150 years of vigil.
"Sage, what has stirred you from your slumber?" the black dragon inquired, its posture humble before the ancient being that had lived for millennia.
The sage's lifeless eyes were fixed on the Valley of Never Breathing, where the echoes of a dragon's roar, though immature, carried an unusual potency. "I heard... the voice of the young king," it responded, its voice laden with the weight of ages, stirring the dust and pebbles around it.
"Young King?!" The black dragon's eyes widened in shock. The Valley of Never Breathing was steeped in legends of a king to whom dragons pledged their allegiance, tearing asunder all in their path. This valley, created by the first king, an ancient dragon of legend, was encircled by walls made from the king's bones, and the dragons' home was built from his horns. The emergence of a young king, a dragon with the potential to ascend to such a revered status, had not occurred in a thousand years. The sage had entered a deep slumber due to this absence, making the news of a potential young king profoundly shocking. This was a momentous occasion, one that would be etched in history.
Meanwhile, after John had snapped off the horn of a red dragon, he returned to his cave with a look of disdain for the other dragons, who dared not meet his gaze. Victorious, he safeguarded the dragon horns he had collected, treasures no dragon dared covet.
The following day marked the beginning of the test. John observed many dragons flying towards Dragonland and decided to follow. As he neared the Dragon's Village, he noticed a decrease in the wind elements, causing some dragons to lose control and plummet. "Has the test begun?" John mused, stabilizing himself and gliding forward.
Among the dragons struggling with the ordeal, John noticed three Romanian female dragons and chose to keep his distance, understanding that this test was for each dragon to face alone. The closer he got to Dragonland, the more intense the pressure became, until he could no longer fly and found himself among other grounded dragons, including a burly Welsh green dragon and a Romanian horned dragon.
The Welsh Green Dragon focused solely on moving forward, paying no heed to John. The Romanian horned dragon, however, regarded John with fear, mindful of his prowess demonstrated in the previous day's confrontation. Opting not to provoke John, it proceeded towards the village.
John observed the two dragons, noting their size compared to those outside the village. Suddenly, he felt a shadow loom over him, followed by an intense burning sensation from above. Swiftly, he dodged to the side, ready to face whatever challenge awaited him in the Dragon's Village. In a frantic rush, the dragon's fiery breath scorched the earth, transforming the brown terrain into a smoldering crater. Another dragon descended, a Black Dragon from the Heshidia Islands, measuring approximately 40 feet in length. Known for its hostility, this fire dragon launched an attack upon sight. John, unaccustomed to such aggression, countered swiftly. His claws lunged at the Black Dragon, which, despite its smaller size, continuously unleashed torrents of flame. John adeptly dodged these attacks, closing in on the Black Dragon and ripping through its armor with a single, powerful swipe of his claw. The Black Dragon howled in agony as its fiery breath engulfed John. However, thanks to his ability to absorb fire, John remained unscathed, feeling his strength rejuvenated instead.
After breaking through the flames, John slammed the Black Dragon's head into the ground. Despite being a fire dragon, the massive impact dazed it momentarily. The Black Dragon, smaller and more agile, retaliated with a swift flick of its spiked tail. John, quick to react, charged his breath and unleashed a fiery blast that set the Black Dragon ablaze. The dark green tail, like a meteor hammer, crashed into the Black Dragon's head, silencing its screams. The Black Dragon collapsed, its body still aflame. "It seems not all dragons are friendly," John remarked, his expression stoic.
Having defeated the Black Dragon, John found himself slightly delayed. The path to the Land of Dragons was singular, and only those without true names were compelled to ascend. This ascent was a trial, the pressure intensifying with each step, crushing the flesh beneath their scales. The Black Dragon had targeted John, recognizing him as a formidable opponent. The quest for a true name was not just a test of strength but also a battle for power. With fewer dragons reaching the summit, the power bestowed by a true name would be greater. Thus, many dragons perished along the way, unwilling to share their might with others.
Accelerating his pace, John continued his ascent. The Welsh Green Dragon, intent on not harming others, climbed earnestly. The Romanian Horned Dragon eyed the Welsh Green with hostility but remained rational, understanding that the combined strength of three dragons was sufficient. This rationality persisted until more dragons arrived, and chaos ensued.
The battle among the titans had begun. The Romanian Horned Dragon roared as a Peruvian Vipertooth emerged, its small stature granting it unmatched agility. Even fire dragons had to beware of its venomous fangs. The Romanian Horned Dragon attempted to fend it off, but the Vipertooth's speed was too great. Its poisoned fangs sank into the Romanian's wing, prompting a swift retaliation. The Romanian's horns impaled the Vipertooth, bringing it to the ground before incinerating it with a breath of fire.
The Romanian's eyes turned a blood-red, poisoned by the Vipertooth. In a frenzied state, it charged at John, who was nearing the Land of Dragons. Without hesitation, John increased his speed and rammed into the Romanian with the horns on his head. His claws, now as sharp as blades, sliced through the Romanian's neck. Witnessing this, another dragon lunged at John, igniting his primal instincts. With a roar, John opened his mouth and unleashed a powerful blast of dragon's breath. Breathing fiercely into the dragon's mouth, John knew that even a fire dragon would succumb to such extreme temperatures from within. The fire dragon's body glowed an ominous red before it exploded, the gruesome act fully awakening John's primal ferocity. His wings, previously bitten by the Ukrainian Ironbelly, now served as weapons as he swung them with all his might, slamming the dragon and its wings to the ground. The Ukrainian Ironbelly crashed heavily onto the earth, and with a swift, decisive bite to its neck, John ended its life. Raising his head to the sky, he unleashed a roar that echoed his untamed spirit, shouting, "Who else dares challenge me?" Panic and the sheer force of his presence radiated outwards, instilling terror even among the mighty dragons. They halted their advance, fear evident in their eyes, none daring to come closer to John.
As the intensity in John's gaze began to wane, he turned his attention towards the Dragon's Land, paying no heed to the other dragons. A Welsh Green Dragon, in its haste to escape John's notice, scurried away. However, John's speed was unmatched, his form enhanced by the blessing of Vientiane, allowing him to navigate the terrain with ease. He quickly caught up with the Welsh Green Dragon, which, in its fright, spewed flames from its nostrils and halted, too scared to move further.
John couldn't help but feel bemused. He had expected the Welsh Green Dragon to be a formidable opponent, yet it was nothing but timid. "Really now?" he thought, slightly disappointed. Nevertheless, he decided to take advantage of the situation. After covering some more distance, John finally arrived at the Dragon's Land.
Lifting his gaze, he was met with the sight of a Romanian Longhorn. For a moment, he mistook it for one he had encountered earlier, but a closer look revealed his error. The elder dragon regarded John with a peculiar expression, clearly taken aback. It had never seen a dragon quite like John, who did not fit into any known dragon species.
The scene was a testament to John's unique presence among dragons, a being who defied the norms and instilled fear and awe in equal measure. His journey through the Dragon's Land was not just a physical one, but a declaration of his strength and a challenge to the established order among dragons.
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If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge