Erd advanced cautiously through the forest, his breathing barely audible. He had just defeated several monsters and was still testing the limits of his new abilities. But what lay before him was beyond anything he could have imagined.
A dragon.
Its massive body, covered in scales as dark as night, reflected the light of the moon piercing through the foliage. Its golden eyes were fixed on him, filled with an almost human intelligence.
There was a heavy silence.
Erd wasn't stupid. This dragon was no mere monster. It was a living, conscious entity, and surely far more powerful than anything he had faced before.
Taking a deep breath, he activated his skill:
**- Analysis! **
But an error immediately appeared in his mind.
> Error: target too powerful to analyse.
His eyes widened. This was the first time Analyse had failed.
The dragon squinted.
- A human with such a magical presence... Interesting.
His voice echoed in Erd's mind. A telepathic communication.
Before Erd could reply, the dragon flapped its wings violently and rose into the air.
- Let's see if you deserve to exist in my presence!
With a single flap, he unleashed a devastating gust of wind.
- Tyrant's Storm!
The wind lashed the forest with unprecedented power. Erd rolled to the side at the last second. Behind him, the trees were literally split in two. A canyon opened up in the vegetation, bearing witness to the dragon's raw power.
"One move and he's levelled the forest... I'm completely overwhelmed."
But Erd didn't have the luxury of hesitation. He reached out and concentrated his mana.
- Piercing flames!
A volley of flaming projectiles shot towards the dragon. The explosions lit up the night sky, but when the smoke cleared, Erd realised the extent of the problem.
The dragon was unharmed. Its scales had absorbed everything.
- Pathetic.
With a flap of its wings, it swooped down on Erd. Erd drew his wooden sword and struck with all his might.
- Fast blade!
The blow slammed into the dragon's spine... and his sword exploded into a thousand pieces.
Erd felt despair rising. He was unarmed. And the dragon wasn't going to let him rest.
With a roar, he prepared an even more dangerous attack.
- Breath of Destruction!
Energy concentrated in his throat. Erd felt his heart race.
If he took this, he would die.
The dragon opened its mouth.
- It was too late.
But Erd smiled.
- Did he?
Suddenly, the dragon froze.
All around him, dozens of invisible threads shone in the moonlight.
- It couldn't be...
Erd sat up slowly, panting.
- It can be done. Thanks to the skills of the spiders I analysed earlier.
He closed his hand again.
- Mana Bonds!
The threads tightened violently. The dragon tried to struggle, but the harder he fought, the deeper they dug in.
- What kind of sorcery is this?
His body was trapped in an invisible net, slowly draining his energy.
Erd wiped his brow.
"I've done it. But..."
The dragon wasn't finished yet.
An unhealthy gleam built up in his throat.
- Do you think you've won?
The ground began to tremble. Erd felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
- No... Are you going to throw it anyway?
The dragon opened its jaws and a deafening howl ripped through the air.
- Apocalyptic howl!
A violet shockwave exploded from its mouth.
But Erd wasn't looking at the dragon.
He was looking at the horizon.
Over there, miles away, a city.
The dragon's attack was about to hit it.
- No, it wasn't!
He reacted instinctively.
He held out his hands, summoned up all his mana and shouted:
- Barrier of Nothingness!
A huge translucent barrier appeared in front of the dragon's breath. The shockwave struck the protection violently, causing a titanic explosion.
The pressure was unbearable.
Erd felt his body burning from the inside out. His barrier was weakening.
- Hold on... Hold on!
The dragon's breath intensified. Cracks appeared in the barrier.
Erd gritted his teeth.
- Erd gritted his teeth. You won't get through!
He gave it everything he had.
And the barrier held.
The apocalyptic howl was contained.
The ground collapsed around him.
Then, silence.
The dragon panted. Erd, sweating, looked at his opponent, still immobilised.
He raised his hand.
The threads tightened even more, blocking the dragon's every move.
- It's all over," he said.
He created a spear of mana and pointed it at the creature's heart.
The dragon closed its eyes.
- Do it.
But before Erd strikes...
- Wait.
His tone had changed. No pride. No rage.
Only resignation.
- Spare me, human. I admit defeat.
Erd kept his spear raised.
- Why should I let you live?
The dragon bowed his head.
- I swear absolute loyalty. My existence is yours. My power is yours.
Erd pondered.
A dragon under his command... An immeasurable force.
He lowered the spear.
- Prove it.
The dragon knelt down, as best he could despite the wires.
- My name is Dune, Ancestral Dragon. I hereby become your servant.
A powerful magic circle formed between them.
Erd felt an invisible link being forged.
He had won.
The most powerful of the monsters had just bent the knee before him.
He exhaled deeply.
- Very good, Dune. Stand up.
The dragon obeyed.
Erd knew one thing:
His adventure had just taken on a whole new dimension.