The massive Dark Dragon stood between me and the cub, its onyx scales glinting faintly in the dim, oppressive mana-charged air. Its violet eyes burned with an ancient, calculating intensity, weighing me as if deciding whether I was a threat or a nuisance. The tension was so thick I could feel it press against my skin.
I took a deep breath, my mind racing for a plan. A fully grown Dark Dragon wasn't something I had prepared for—not physically, not mentally. This was no ordinary dungeon beast. This was a guardian, likely tasked with testing or protecting the cub from anyone who dared approach.
The cub, meanwhile, growled softly, its gaze darting between me and its guardian. There was no malice in its eyes, only curiosity and a spark of intelligence. I had no doubt it could sense my intentions.
"Alright, Arax," I thought, "you've gotten yourself into this. Now get out alive. Preferably with the cub."
---
The guardian let out a low rumble, a sound that reverberated through the ground and my bones. It wasn't attacking, not yet. It was watching, waiting. I had a sinking feeling that any reckless move on my part would be my last.
I raised my hands slowly, palms open. "I'm not here to harm you," I said, my voice steady despite the pressure bearing down on me.
The guardian tilted its head slightly, as if considering my words, but its stance didn't relax.
"Alright, you want a test? Let's do this."
With that, I summoned a small orb of mana in my hand—a harmless light spell. The orb floated upward, illuminating the clearing in a soft glow.
The guardian's eyes narrowed, and without warning, it unleashed a torrent of black flames.
"Mana Barrier!"
The flames crashed against my barrier, the force of the attack pushing me back several feet. My boots skidded against the charred ground as I fought to hold my ground. The barrier cracked under the strain, and I was forced to dissipate it before it shattered entirely.
"Guess talking's out of the question," I muttered, wiping the sweat from my brow.
The guardian roared, the sound deafening. It charged, the ground trembling beneath its massive weight. I had only seconds to react.
"Wind Step!"
My body moved in a blur as I activated the spell, narrowly avoiding the dragon's massive claws. They struck the ground where I'd been standing, leaving deep gouges in the earth.
I didn't have time to marvel at the destruction. The dragon was relentless, swinging its tail toward me with incredible speed.
"Earth Shield!"
A wall of rock erupted from the ground, taking the brunt of the impact. But the sheer force of the strike shattered the shield like glass, sending shards of rock flying in all directions.
I gritted my teeth, summoning a Lightning Sphere in my hand.
"Let's see how you like this!"
I hurled the sphere at the dragon, the crackling energy streaking through the air. It struck the guardian's shoulder, exploding in a burst of light and electricity.
The dragon roared in pain, but the wound was superficial. Its scales were tougher than I'd anticipated.
"Great," I muttered. "This is going to take a while."
---
The battle raged on, the clearing becoming a battlefield of destruction. I unleashed everything I had—Flame Lances, Frost Spikes, Wind Blades—but the guardian countered with terrifying efficiency. Its black flames scorched the earth, and its claws tore through my barriers like paper.
I was beginning to tire mentally. The dragon, on the other hand, seemed almost unphased.
"Think, Arax. You're not going to win this with brute force."
I glanced at the cub. It was watching the fight intently, its violet eyes glimmering with something akin to admiration.
"The cub… That's the key."
The guardian wasn't fighting to kill me. It was testing me, ensuring I was worthy of approaching the cub. If I could prove myself, there was a chance it would relent.
---
I took a deep breath, centering myself. "Alright, time to try something different."
I lowered my weapons, standing tall despite the sweat dripping down my face.
"I don't want to fight you anymore," I said, my voice firm. "I came here to form a bond with the cub, not to harm it. If that means earning your respect, then so be it."
The guardian paused, its massive form looming over me. For a moment, there was only silence, broken only by the crackling of lingering flames.
Then it growled—a low, guttural sound that sent chills down my spine.
It wasn't done yet.
---
The guardian reared back, its wings unfurling to their full span. The sheer size of them blocked out what little light filtered into the clearing. Dark energy swirled around it, the oppressive mana becoming almost unbearable.
"Seriously?" I muttered, bracing myself.
The dragon unleashed a massive wave of black flames, the attack far stronger than anything it had used before.
I summoned every ounce of mana I could use and channeling it into a barrier reinforced with wind and earth magic.
"Double Barrier!"
The flames crashed against the barrier, the force of the attack threatening to break it apart. I clenched my fists, pouring more mana into the shield. The heat was intense, sweat pouring down my face as I struggled to hold on.
Finally, the flames subsided, leaving the clearing scorched and smoldering.
The guardian growled again, its gaze fixed on me.
"Is that all you've got?" I asked, panting heavily but refusing to back down.
To my surprise, the guardian didn't attack again. Instead, it lowered its massive head, its violet eyes locked onto mine.
---
The cub stepped forward, its movements cautious but curious. It let out a soft growl, tilting its head as it studied me.
I knelt down, extending a hand toward it. "Hey there," I said gently. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The cub hesitated for a moment before taking a step closer. Its scales shimmered in the dim light, and I could feel the raw potential emanating from it.
As it sniffed my hand, I felt a surge of mana flow between us—a connection beginning to form.
But before I could seal the bond, the guardian let out a deafening roar.
The ground beneath me trembled, and I turned to see the runes on the altar flaring to life. Dark energy began to swirl around the clearing, forming a massive vortex.
"What now?" I muttered, standing up and summoning my remaining mana.
The guardian stepped back, its eyes filled with something I hadn't expected: fear.
Whatever was happening, it was beyond even the guardian's control.
The cub let out a frightened cry, pressing itself against my leg. I placed a reassuring hand on its head, my eyes fixed on the swirling vortex.
"Alright," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos around me. "Let's see what you've got."
"Hmm.... You Are WORTHY" An extremely ancient voice arose. It felt sudden and even more it felt it was coming from everywhere.
I took the cub quickly on my way out i saw the cub giving It's last goodbyes to what i presume is It's parent, i give it a bow knowing it went easy on me as an adult dark dragon easily could kill a trancendent.
With my final thoughts on to feed this little guy some premium goods and find a soul contract i left the Dungeon.
Moments after Arax Left...
The adult dragon now was speaking to another draganoid Being. This one being much more ancient.
"Great Elder was it right to let go of the young one?" Said the Female Adult Dragon
"I sense great potential and power in him, his future one that even i cannot predict. However the boy has a glorious future that i can tell and the young one will definitely grow greatly under his care Elara so you have to worry no more" Said the Elder Dragon.
The Female dragon Elara replied "If that is what you elder than i shall believe it" Elara replied with an excited smile.