Among the three-headed dragon Kidora, Dalang—the one who occasionally stared at the ceiling as if contemplating the meaning of life—was clearly the smartest and most calculating. On the surface, he seemed obedient and well-behaved, but in truth, he harbored numerous ulterior motives and was often the mastermind behind the antics of the other two.
Erlang, with a temper as explosive as a firecracker, was straightforward and somewhat naive. As a result, he was frequently used as a tool by Dalang, becoming the first to stick his head out and get into trouble. Despite his loyal intentions, he was often dragged into mischief he didn't fully understand.
And then there was Sanlang, affectionately called Kevin, who was still contentedly gnawing on the hilt of a sword as if it were a delicious bone. Kevin was simply... adorable. Gentle, innocent, and always blissfully unaware, he somehow always ended up taking the blame for everything. No matter what happened, responsibility magically fell on him in the end.
Rayder gently patted Kevin's soft-scaled head, pushing him aside with a chuckle before dismounting from Kidora's broad, flat back. He stretched his stiff neck and turned his gaze toward the two sleeping dragons nestled in the lair—Yim, the black dragon, and Aegon, the red one. Both were curled up, their deep breathing slow and peaceful. They looked unusually relaxed for creatures of such immense power.
Not wanting to disturb their rest, Rayder silently walked over and opened the system interface:
---
[Black Dragon Yim (+)]
Age: 191 (191–220)
Length: 130 meters
Wingspan: 370 meters
Status: Good
[Red Dragon Aegon (+)]
Age: 211 (211–220)
Length: 150 meters
Wingspan: 430 meters
Status: Old
---
Satisfied, Rayder closed the system panel with a wave. Reflecting on the events of the previous night, he realized how reckless the mission had been. They'd ventured into the unknown without fully understanding the danger of the black fog or those grotesque flesh-creatures. And yet, by some miracle, they survived.
Both dragons had sustained injuries, and Aegon had aged even further due to the curse. Yet, their conditions hadn't worsened; in fact, the hunts they undertook during their escape had yielded a considerable number of evolution points. Still… the risk had been far too high.
Rayder stared out at the golden morning light creeping into the lair. Two unresolved questions weighed heavily on his mind.
The first was the nature of that damned curse.
He strongly suspected it was divine in origin. The black fog was simply too unnatural. During the day, it seemed as harmless as a summer breeze. But by night, it transformed—deadly, aware, and commanding those horrific flesh monsters and sandworms like an army. The phenomenon was terrifying.
Rayder had already searched nearly every corner of Fire Peak during the day. Apart from the rich sulfuric heat that filled the land, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But the fact that the fog and those abominations had refused to approach Fire Peak during the night… That, more than anything, suggested that this place held a secret.
That was the second issue: Fire Peak itself.
Why was it the only safe haven in a land cursed by night?
A theory was slowly taking shape in Rayder's mind.
He needed to investigate Fire Peak again—and thoroughly this time. No more relying on surface-level observation. He needed to dig deep, starting with this volcano, and search it inch by inch.
Rayder turned back to Kidora. Kevin had just finished chewing the metal hilt and was now yawning adorably, clearly satisfied with his "meal." Rayder signaled for him to follow. With at least one dragon by his side, the loneliness and anxiety of exploring the unknown felt more manageable.
Although the volcanic fortress had long since crumbled into ruins, Rayder couldn't help but admire its remnants. Even now, the sheer scale of the structure was breathtaking. To think that the Dragon King ancestors had once dared to tame this living volcano, converting it into a fortress of fire and stone—what ambition! Though only fragments remained, the foundation spoke volumes about the majesty it once held.
Rayder exhaled slowly. It was time to dig.
This time, he wouldn't just observe. He would excavate.
He brought Kidora with him—mainly Kevin, who seemed unusually enthusiastic about digging—and began systematically clearing the ruins.
Though only about half a year old, Kidora had reached the juvenile stage thanks to Rayder's generous feedings of metal and meat. The dragon's physique was powerful, its strength awe-inspiring. When it dug through rocks and rubble with its claws, it was as if slicing through soft tofu. Even when Rayder asked it to lift boulders weighing several hundred kilograms, Kidora did so without complaint, moving back and forth like a living construction machine.
Rayder himself worked alongside his dragon. He used a hatchet to meticulously clean out the gaps between rocks and sifted through the dust and dirt. For hours they worked under the blazing sun, their clothes and scales slick with sweat and soot.
Finally, near the base of a collapsed tower, they unearthed several half-buried boxes.
Rayder pried them open one by one.
The first few contained golden dragons—not of the finest quality, but numerous enough to be valuable. He stored them in the system space without hesitation.
Then, in the last box, he found several dragon eggs of varying sizes and colors. Excitement surged through him. He immediately scanned them using the system.
Some of the eggs were cracked, but a faint spark of life remained within. Without a second thought, he placed those into the pet space, hoping to attempt hatching them later.
As for the eggs that had completely petrified, he collected them as well. Even if they could no longer hatch, they could be valuable for research—or serve as unique decorations. Dragon eggs, after all, were priceless rarities.
Apart from that, most of what they uncovered consisted of rusted metal, decayed relics, and broken weapons. The majority of it became food for Kidora—especially Kevin—whose appetite for metal seemed endless.
Only a few weapons retained any value. After cleaning them carefully, Rayder stored them in his system space as backup armaments.
Thus began a new routine.
Over the following days, Rayder's life became a loop of digging and hunting. He scavenged ruins by day and rested in the dragon's lair by night. With Kidora by his side, he explored every corner of the Fire Peak's ancient fortress.
He dug beneath the crumbled stone, chipped away at overgrown walls, and pried open hidden chambers.
Kevin, especially, took great joy in the work. His innocent excitement whenever they unearthed something shiny never failed to bring a smile to Rayder's face.
With determination, Rayder dug through every inch of the ruins—down to the very foundations of the old fortress. He even ventured into nearby peaks, hoping to find anything tied to the strange power that kept the black fog at bay.
Their perseverance paid off.
They uncovered ancient relics, faded scrolls, collapsed tunnels, and forgotten rooms sealed away for centuries.
There were crates of gold, mounds of forgotten treasures, and weapons both ruined and preserved. Some rooms held preserved documents, the writing barely legible after all these years. Others had collapsed altars, their symbols long worn away by time.
Among the most exciting discoveries was a partially buried stone platform marked with Valyrian glyphs. Though Rayder couldn't decipher them fully, he sensed their significance. They pulsed faintly with a warmth that was unlike anything natural.
Even Kidora, normally indifferent to stone, paused near the platform and tilted its heads in confusion—as if it, too, could feel something… calling.
---
As the sun set behind the smoking ridges of Fire Peak, Rayder stood atop the ruins, wind whipping through his soot-covered clothes.
The digging was far from over.
But one thing had become clear.
This land held secrets—ancient, powerful secrets that were not yet ready to die.
And he, Rayder, along with Kidora, would be the one to uncover them.
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