The dragon egg pulsed with a faint glow, its surface a mix of crimson and obsidian scales.It wasn't just big—it radiated power.I felt it in my bones.Rhia stared at it, wide-eyed. "Leon… this is—"I nodded, keeping my voice low. "A dragon egg. And the kobolds were protecting it."Which meant…The Alpha wasn't just their leader.It was their guardian.
A Hidden Threat
I moved closer, my system activating automatically.[??? - Dragon Egg][Status: Dormant][Condition: Stable][Hatching Requirement: ???]I frowned. No levels. No clear information.Just one thing stood out—"Dormant."That meant it wasn't ready to hatch yet.But it could be.If the kobolds were protecting it, that meant someone else wanted it.A chilling thought crept into my mind."What if the Alpha isn't the biggest threat here?" I muttered.Rhia tensed. "You think… someone else is coming for this?"Before I could answer—A low growl echoed from deeper inside the cave.We weren't alone.The Real Guardian
A pair of golden eyes glowed in the darkness.The ground shook as something massive moved.Then, stepping into the dim light of the cavern—A kobold unlike any we had seen before.It stood taller than the Alpha, its body covered in obsidian-black scales with glowing red veins. Its claws were longer, sharper, and its eyes weren't the dull yellow of a normal kobold.They were draconic.[Draconic Kobold Warden - Lv. ???][Strength: ???] [Endurance: ???] [Abilities: ???]I felt cold.This thing wasn't just a kobold.It was part dragon.And it was looking right at me.A Dangerous Gamble
The Warden didn't attack immediately.It watched us. Studied us.I forced myself to stand tall. Running wasn't an option. Fighting it head-on? Even worse.I needed to be smart."Leon," Rhia whispered, gripping her spear tightly. "What do we do?"I had two choices:Distract the Warden and escape with the egg.Try to negotiate and learn why they're protecting it.
Both were dangerous.But I knew one thing—this egg was the key to something much bigger.And I wasn't leaving without answers.