“Lady Olga! Please escape quickly! Black City has been breached, and those humans have already broken in!”
The crisp sound of gold coins and gems colliding exploded abruptly in the deathly silent bedchamber, followed by a dull crack of an eggshell breaking.
The pile of treasures stacked in the corner seemed to suffer a small landslide.
Several large rubies rolled to the ground, revealing a dragon egg hidden beneath.
A claw covered in moist, metallic-colored scales suddenly pierced through the thick shell.
Dark red fluid splattered onto the ornate carpet as the hatchling struggled.
“What is that?!”
A low shout filled with biting killing intent rang out instantly.
Chloe, the half-blood knight clad in form-fitting light armor, shielded the Queen almost the moment the sound appeared.
Her sharp sword was already unsheathed, its tip pointing directly at the wriggling pile of treasure.
There was no warmth in her eyes, which blended human and elven features.
Her body was as tense as a fully drawn bow, ready to cut down anything that might threaten the person behind her.
The small creature, radiating a metallic cold gleam, crawled clumsily out of the eggshell.
Its dark iron scales reflected a cold halo under the dim candlelight.
Although the leathery wings on its back were not yet fully unfurled, the prototype of a sky overlord was already visible.
It shook its head and let out a low, hoarse cry that echoed through the empty room.
“Is that… a dragon?”
Olga Discordia, who had been organizing her scrolls, stopped her movements.
She slowly turned around, her signature long black hair swaying gently.
A flicker of surprise crossed her stunningly beautiful face, but it was quickly replaced by the scrutinizing gaze of a ruler.
She didn’t show fear or affection like an ordinary woman; instead, she narrowed her long, slender phoenix eyes, her gaze scraping over the small body like a blade.
“Your Majesty, please step back!”
Chloe didn’t look back, her voice still tense, her knuckles white as she gripped her sword.
“In this chaos, this thing’s appearance is too suspicious. It might be a trick by those mercenaries… or a trap from the enemy. Let me kill it.”
After speaking, the knight took a step forward, a faint light glowing on her blade, clearly intending to kill it in one strike.
“Wait, Chloe.”
Olga’s lazy yet magnetic voice stopped the knight’s movement.
She reached out a slender, honey-colored hand and rested it on Chloe’s shoulder armor, patting it gently.
Then, she walked past the guard with elegant steps, heading straight for the pile of treasure.
“Your Majesty! It’s too dangerous!”
Chloe wanted to stop her urgently, but under the Queen’s majestic sidelong glance, she had to withdraw her steps.
She could only watch the hatchling more vigilantly, her sword tip never wavering from the target’s neck.
Olga stood a few steps away from the hatchling, looking down from above with a cold curve at the corner of her mouth.
She could feel the vast, not yet fully awakened magic power contained within this creature.
“A dragon among monsters… Hmph, for such a rare high-ranking monster to be hiding in my treasury to hatch.”
Olga tilted her chin slightly, a hint of arrogance showing in her eyes.
“Though it’s just a cub, the life force of the dragon race is extremely tenacious. Compared to those filthy humans and lowly orcs, this fellow is qualified to become my servant.”
At this moment, the sounds of battle outside seemed closer, and the dull impacts made the floor of the bedchamber tremble slightly.
“Time is running out, Your Majesty,” Chloe reminded through gritted teeth, her eyes glancing anxiously out the window.
Olga ignored the knight’s urging.
Instead, she suddenly reached out her hand, a cluster of eerie dark purple light condensing in her palm.
It was the prelude to the Domination Sorcery she took pride in.
“Is this fate? At the moment Black City falls, heaven sends a blade for me to take revenge on the filthy humans.” Fire of ambition flickered in the Queen’s deep eyes as she looked at the hatchling on the ground, as if looking at a handy weapon.
“Take it, Chloe. This little thing is more useful alive than dead. If it dares to resist… it won’t be too late to kill it then.”
The knight was stunned for a moment, then she sheathed her sword.
Although doubt remained in her eyes, her body faithfully executed the order.
She stepped forward quickly, roughly grabbed the hatchling by the scruff of its neck, and lifted it up like a kitten, completely unconcerned about the dripping fluid staining her gauntlets.
“As you command, my Queen.” Chloe stared coldly at the creature in her hand and warned in a low voice, “Don’t try anything funny, monster. If you dare to harm even a single hair on Her Majesty’s head, I will skin you alive with my own hands.”
Meanwhile, the hatchling let out a sigh in its mind.
[A dragon, I’ve really become a dragon.]
The hatchling was originally a human who had been mysteriously sent to a place called the main god space one day.
Then, the Main God issued a mission to him as a newcomer.
A dynamic map appeared in the center of the screen; it was the world map of “Black Beast”.
To the north of the map, a fortress marked as “Black City” was billowing thick smoke, a symbol of its recent fall.
On the other side of the map, the brilliant points of light representing the Seven Shields Alliance were still shining, completely unaware that the fangs in the shadows had already bared.
Following that, the mission panel popped up with detailed information.
It wasn’t just simple text, but was accompanied by a fleeting holographic image—the cold and cunning eyes of the mercenary leader Walter, and the unyielding yet desperate figure of the Dark Elf Queen Olga amidst the flames.
[Main Mission: Restoration in the Darkness]
World Background: The mercenary group “Black Dog” has just breached the Dark Elf stronghold “Black City”.
Queen Olga Discordia and her subordinates have temporarily escaped or been captured (depending on the player’s entry point), but defeat is certain.
Olga wrote letters to her kin in her northern homeland, hoping they would come to her rescue.
However, her kin believe Olga has been defiled and have long since abandoned her.
Without intervention, what awaits her is a white hell worse than death.
The mercenary group still outwardly professes loyalty to the Seven Shields Alliance, but in reality, they are about to launch that famous betrayal and hunt.
Mission Objective: Assist the Dark Elf Queen Olga Discordia in rebuilding her regime and protect her under the dual pincer attack of the Seven Shields Alliance and the mercenary group.
Victory Condition: Possess an independent, recognized city, and ensure Olga survives and establishes her ruling position.
Failure Penalty: Obliteration.
Fog of Intelligence: Internal politics within the Seven Shields Alliance are complex; players must distinguish allies from enemies on their own, with no system prompts.
Tactical Suppression: Mercenary leader Walter possesses extremely high tactical AI.
He will actively set traps, use poison, sow discord, and even exploit the player’s psychological weaknesses based on the situation.
True Damage: There is no HP protection mechanism in this world.
Severed limbs and organ destruction are permanent injuries unless high-level healing magic is used.
[Special Benefits/Mechanics]
Racial Recasting (One-time opportunity)
Given the extremely high mortality rate for newcomers, Reincarnators are allowed one physical reincarnation in this world, retaining their consciousness and skills.
Optional List:
Human (Noble/Commoner): No racial bonuses, but easy to infiltrate the Seven Shields Alliance, suitable for political maneuvering.
Orc/Demon: Enhanced physique, easily ostracized by humans, suitable for joining mercenary groups or wilderness survival.
Half-blood Dark Elf: Agility bonus, easier to gain Olga’s trust, low racial status.
Dragon (Hatchling/Sub-dragon): Extremely high growth potential and physical resistance, initial combat power S-rank, but will immediately become a hunting target for BOSS-level forces across the map (High risk, high reward).
Auxiliary System: [Bloodline Proliferation · Many Children, Many Blessings]
In this cruel world, individual strength is meager.
Every time you mate with a key female character in this world (such as Olga, Chloe, Prim, etc.) or a high-potential female and sire offspring, you will be rewarded with high exchange points, attribute points, or special bloodline skills based on the mother’s quality and the offspring’s potential.
Note: This system is the core means to quickly supplement combat power and establish loyal forces, rather than mere entertainment.
“Please choose your reincarnation race.”
At that time, he decisively chose the Dragon race and reincarnated into his current form.
[Let’s look at the stats first.]
Name: None
Gender: Male (Hatchling)
Personality: Politically sensitive, rational and steady
Status: Being held (in Chloe’s hand), covered in fluid, weak (just born)
Size: Length 0.5m, shoulder height 0.4m.
HP: 150/150 (Dragon Hatchling modifier)
Stamina: 50/50
Mana: 80/80
Strength: 10 (High base for young dragons)
Agility: 6 (Clumsy hatchling)
Endurance: 12 (Newly formed dragon scales)
Intelligence: 4 (Human soul)
Perception: 5 (Dragon intuition)
Bloodline: Dragon (Ferro-Dragon) (S-rank potential, larval stage)
Traits:
[Iron Dragon Scales: Extremely high physical resistance]
Extremely high physical resistance; ordinary swords find it difficult to break through the defense.
[Devouring Growth: Can evolve by consuming metals/minerals]
Core talent.
By consuming metals, minerals, and magical items, they can be directly converted into attribute points or evolution energy.
Skills:
[Dragon Fear (Passive/Weak)]
Passive.
Triggers a fear check against lower-tier creatures, causing them to stiffen, suffer a drop in all attributes, or flee.
[Ore Vein Perception]
Can sense metal veins or magical ores in the surrounding environment.
[Bite Lv1]
Active.
Bite the opponent with teeth.
Equipment: [None]
Items: [None]
Slaves: None
Exchange Points: 100
System Supplement: For humans, except for Intelligence which is 4, other initial values are 2.
HP, Mana, and Stamina are all 20.
The tiny body was held in mid-air by those tense, sharp claws, but he no longer felt any humiliation or discomfort.
The slimy sensation that had just been on his scales had already been evaporated by the scorching fire in his chest.
The newly born Ferro-Dragon felt as if he were soaked in surging lava.
An unprecedented sense of power was awakening from deep within his limbs and bones, washing through every joint and inch of his skeleton like a volcanic eruption.
[Is this… the power of a dragon? This is the existence I once craved but could never reach.]
The hatchling suddenly opened its newborn mouth, not because of Chloe’s strength, but in an involuntary low growl—a mix of an infant’s cry and ancient majesty.
In the depths of those pitch-black vertical pupils that had just adjusted to the light, there was no longer the rational thinking inherent to humans; instead, it was replaced by pure, instinctive euphoria and trembling.
It was the soul of a natural-born conqueror and ruler, excited at the sight of his future kingdom.
The bloodline memories of the dragon race, passed down for eons, began to surge, and the instincts buried deep in his soul and flesh were completely awakened.
At this moment, he was no longer a student discussing theories in a political science classroom, but a dragon through and through.
A creature destined to stand above all things.
That blood-inherited pride and desire for dominance broke through all the shackles of his former human thinking in an almost primitive and crude manner.
Everything before him—this crumbling castle, the panicked humans and dark elves—seemed as fragile as clay sculptures.
What was only an unreachable fantasy in human form was now a reality within his grasp.
He could easily tear them apart, devour them, and make them submit.
And he could also, more brilliantly, make them willingly kneel at his feet.
Using force, language, trade, favors, threats, and intimidation, he would build an eternal empire with violence and wisdom.
The small but increasingly full dragon heart beat like a war drum, each beat striking an ancient echo: conquer, control, expand!
Those powerful beings that only existed in artistic works would also become his hunting targets.
But at this moment, what surged in his heart was ambition for this entire multiverse.
Build an empire!
[A vast territory encompassing countless worlds! Not a fragile and ridiculous nation like humans, not a kingdom content with a corner like elves, but an eternal kingdom forged by the supreme dragon race, by me—the iron hatchling, the future Steel Dragon Emperor, with absolute force and wisdom. In this kingdom, all lowly races will worship the glory of the dragon. Their blood, labor, and wisdom will all contribute to the grand vision of the empire.]
[I will make the world beneath my feet, this area called “Black City”, and even the entire “Black Beast” plane, the foundation for my future ten-thousand-foot tower. Step by step, I will spread my iron-blooded will beyond all existing dimensional barriers.]
In just an instant, his human past was thrown to the back of his mind.
A sharp light flashed in his dark red dragon eyes.
The hatchling’s curled hind limbs suddenly kicked off Chloe’s arm armor.
Using that moment of explosive power, its slippery and hard body slipped through the knight’s fingers like a loach.
“Ugh!”
Chloe let out a muffled groan, clearly not expecting this newborn cub to have such monstrous strength.
Before she could reach out to grab it again, the dark iron figure had already plunged headlong into the nearby mountain of dazzling treasures.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the hatchling opened its maw filled with fine, sharp fangs and began a frantic sweep of everything before it.
Several fist-sized sapphires were swallowed whole, followed by a string of pure gold necklaces—treasures offered as tribute by human kings long ago, now sucked into its belly like noodles.
Every chew was accompanied by the crisp sound of twisting metal and shattering gems.
The hatchling’s throat pulsed continuously as those priceless treasures were converted into energy within its body at a rate visible to the naked eye.
The Devour and Grow trait was now operating at full capacity.
The hatchling could clearly see its attributes rapidly increasing on its status panel.
HP: 160/160 (+10 Devour Trace Growth)
Stamina: 55/55 (+5 Feeding Recovery)
Mana: 85/85 (+5 Magic Absorption)
Strength: 11 (+1 Devour Metal Reinforcement)
Endurance: 13 (+1 Devour Gem Dragon Scale Reinforcement)
“This greedy beast! That belongs to Her Majesty…”
Watching this magical beast devour her Queen’s treasures, Chloe’s brow furrowed.
She instinctively moved to draw her sword to stop this sacrilege, but the Queen behind her let out a soft chuckle.
“Let it be, Chloe.”
Olga waved her hand languidly, her narrow phoenix eyes watching the gluttonous hatchling.
There wasn’t a hint of regret for the loss of wealth in her gaze; instead, it held a trace of amusement.
“This city will soon be reduced to ashes anyway. Better to feed a future combat asset than to leave these lifeless objects for those lowly mercenaries. It seems this little fellow knows exactly what it needs.”
“Furthermore, it seems to be growing at an extreme speed.”
“But…” Before Chloe could finish, a violent roar suddenly exploded.
BOOM—!!!
The obsidian gates, carved with exquisite magic patterns, shattered under a massive impact.
Countless fragments and dust swept into the bedchamber like a storm.
Heavy rubble flew in all directions as several fully armed figures charged through the dust, their armor stained with blood.
“Found her! It’s that bitch Queen!”
“The boss said, first come, first served for her ass!”
Leading them was a burly mercenary with a face full of scars, holding a giant axe that was still dripping blood, his eyes flashing with lewdness and greed.
Behind him, more mercenaries swarmed in like hyenas smelling blood, instantly blocking the exit.