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Dawn came late over the Thunder Fortress. Storm clouds still clung to the jagged peaks surrounding Artorius's seat of power, curling like the coils of some titanic slumbering wyrm. But today, even the storms seemed to still themselves, watching, waiting, sensing the shift in the air.
The army of Artorius was preparing to move. The wyverns circled overhead in a disciplined spiral, their wings cutting through the charged air with sharp, booming cracks. Below, the courtyard teemed with life: drakes in polished armor, dragonkin sharpening spears, engineers tightening the final bolts on siege engines that gleamed with fresh-forged metal. The atmosphere was electric, humming with anticipation.
Artorius stood atop the highest balcony of the fortress, Raijin's old perch, his wings unfurled behind him, the lightning of the biome's storm reflecting along the crystal harness on his chest. Before him stretched the full might of the force he had built. One thousand four hundred warriors. Fourteen hundred lives pledged to his banner. Fourteen hundred blades, wings, fangs, and spells awaiting his command.
Ouroboros rested coiled around the balcony's railing, golden eyes narrowing with silent calculation. "You've built quite the force," the serpent murmured.
Artorius didn't look away from the army. "And today, it breaks upon the Dewdrop Meadows." Below, commands boomed through the courtyard as unit leaders did final inspections. A war-machine made of scales, steel, and will. And at its center Artorius.
His three noble dragons landed beside him on the platform with heavy thuds: the Black Dread, the Thunder Dragon, and the Water Lindwurm. Behind them came the elder-blooded dragons and champion blooded dragons. He turned to them. "Begin the march."
The massive storm-forged gates of the Thunder Fortress groaned and split open, revealing the winding path down the mountain. Lightning sizzled across the sky as the first units departed. The heavy infantry marched in disciplined formation. The scouts darted ahead like silent shadows. The rangers followed the flanks, blending into the terrain. Above them, the flying archers and noble dragons soared into the storm.
Artorius descended from the balcony, landing in front of his soldiers. The cheer that rose shook the mountains. "DRAGON-LORD! DRAGON-LORD! ARTORIUS! ARTORIUS!" With Ouroboros coiled upon his shoulder, he raised his lance. Lightning crackled along its length.
"Today we claim the Dewdrop Meadows," he shouted. "Lady Shiun thinks her sight protects her. She believes she sees our every step. But visions matter little against soldiers who strike faster than prophecy." Roars and cheers erupted. "We march! Onward!" And the army surged forward.
The path into the Meadows was unlike any other biome Artorius had conquered. The storm fields slowly gave way to gentle rain. The air warmed, smelling of fresh grass, damp earth, and flowers that glowed faintly with golden dew. Mist rose from the ground in curling tendrils, forming soft shapes that danced and shimmered. Not natural mist. Illusion-mist.
All around, the world shimmered. Great stalks of flowers taller than towers swayed in a nonexistent breeze, their petals rippling like silk curtains. Tiny motes of light drifted through the air pollen, glowing faintly, drifting like a slow, eternal snowfall. It was beautiful.
Image: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6333255723549336/
The ground-level scouts fanned out. High above, dragon fliers monitored from the sky. Kelthar, the Water Lindwurm flew beside Artorius, serpentine body weaving through low clouds. "Lady Shiun's magic is subtle," Kelthar murmured. "Where the White Lady wields cold, Lady Shiun wields vision. She fights through foresight and deception."
"And she will expect us," Artorius said.
"Expect us? She likely sees us now, through dew, through mist, through a thousand eyes."
Artorius gave a thin smile. "Then let her watch. It won't matter."
Behind them, the Black Dread snorted. "Break her illusions. Break her walls. Break her spine. That is enough strategy."
Thunder Dragon landed beside them, wings crackling. "We must move cautiously. Her forces will not meet us in a direct clash, not yet. Expect ambushes. Prophetic traps." Artorius nodded.
Hours later, as evening thickened, the mist grew unnaturally dense. Artorius raised a fist. The army halted. Silence. Even the wind held its breath. Then soft, femininely melodic voices whispered through the mist. Dozens. Hundreds. "Turn back, Dragon-Lord. These lands belong to Lady Shiun. You walk into death. You walk into the dream of one who already knows your ending."
The Black Dread snarled. "Show yourselves, cowards!"
Thunder rolled overhead as Raijin shot a bolt into the mist, it coiled, twisted and then erupted.
Dew Serpents burst forth: long, sinuous dragons formed of liquid gold and shimmering water, armed with razor teeth and magical venom that induced hallucinations. Behind them raced Mystic monks, humanoid serpent-warriors wielding curved crescent-blades. Above, Mirage Wyverns flickered in and out of visibility, striking from blind angles.
The first clash was brutal. But Artorius was ready. "Infantry, shields! Rangers, shoot them down! Archers take the skies!" The battlefield exploded into motion.
The first clash with the meadows residents had barely ended when the mists thickened again, folding, billowing, breathing like a living thing. The air cooled, the grass shimmered beneath a lattice of refracted moonlight, and the entire meadow seemed to pulse in rhythm with some unseen heart.
Artorius stood in the center of the fading battlefield, chest harness splattered with golden dew-blood. The slain serpents had dissolved into puddles of shimmering water that reflected the sky like broken mirrors.
The infantry tightened formation. The flying archers regrouped overhead. The noble dragons hovered in tense spirals above the clouds. A whisper drifted across the winds. "She sees you."
Ouroboros coiled more tightly around Artorius's shoulder. "She is playing mind games with you!"
"I know," Artorius replied, shouting to his men, "Ignore it. We will burn her out of her hiding hole." He thrust his spear into the ground. From the weapon's haft radiated flames that rippled outward. The reflections shattered. The illusions screamed.
Days passed, but the fight did not relent. Artorius stood at the head of his army, his eyes burning with unyielding determination. The Dewdrop Meadows had begun to reveal its full, maddening nature, a beauty that was as perilous as it was beguiling. The illusions wrapped around his forces like an endless fog, seductive in their calm, disorienting in their persistence.
Every step through the meadows was a battle against more than just Lady Shiun's forces; it was a battle against the very land itself. The golden dew, which glistened so beautifully upon the grass, was poison to those who dared touch it. Soldiers had to tread carefully, for the very earth beneath their boots seemed to shimmer with deceptive allure, pulling their focus away from the reality around them. The flowers, too, were not mere flora; they whispered promises and sweet lies, each petal more dangerous than a hundred blades.
The Thunder Dragon above guided the forces, their lightning piercing through the clouds, illuminating the battlefield with sudden bursts of white-hot brilliance. But every time the Wyverns were struck, more seemed to appear from the ethereal folds of mist, seemingly summoned from the land itself.
As they traveled deeper, the terrain began to change. The grass grew taller, thicker, as if the very earth was bending to Shiun's will, distorting reality with every passing step. The sky, too, had become strange, the golden light never fully dimming, but flickering, as if the sun itself were uncertain of its place in the sky. The air grew thick, oppressive, like a dream that stretched too long, its edges fraying with madness.
Kelthar growled, his voice laced with frustration. "The deeper we go, the stronger it becomes."
"We are getting closer," Ouroboros commented. "She is getting more and more desperate to hold us back."
"Yes, we keep on going no matter what," Artorius commanded, his resolve never wavered. They pressed on, their bodies weary but their spirits indomitable. Hours turned into days. The dreamscapes of endless meadows, unbroken hills merged with his fatigue, until Artorius began to feel as though they had crossed the same terrain over and over.
His soldiers began to murmur about the ground itself shifting beneath them, but each time they raised a concern, the terrain would confirm their fears, an arching tree would appear in a place they had already passed, or the same boulder would resurface again and again. It was as though they were moving in circles.
However they finally were upon the trial of the Golden Imugi as the first faint glimmer of the Veilpetal Sanctum appeared on the horizon like a palace of woven glass and silver, floating on the horizon, bathed in a soft, golden light. It wasn't large, but its ethereal presence filled the air with a quiet, almost unnerving power.
"I told you," Artorius murmured, his lips curling into a smile of grim satisfaction. "She cannot hide forever."
The air seemed to stir around them, and suddenly a terrible silence fell. The mist lifted, if only for a moment, and before them stood a massive veil of golden light, the entrance to Veilpetal Sanctum itself.
From the horizon, Lady Shiun's golden fortress appeared, a palace of translucent crystal and blooming vines, floating upon a sea of dew. Its towers curved like petals opening to the dawn, its walls alive with moving visions. The palace of Veilpetal Sanctum: her heart, her dream, her domain. And now, it burned.
Artorius' armies charged as catapults hurled explosive projectiles through the veils of mist. The palace's protective wards shimmered, collapsing in ripples of light. The ground split as dragon warriors poured from the base of the sanctum, their scales glowing like sunlight through amber.
The battle for the Veilpetal Sanctum had begun. The air, thick with golden mist, crackled with energy as Artorius's forces stormed forward. His army was relentless, their every step driven by the promise of victory.
"Her defenses are formidable," Raijin growled, his voice low and filled with frustration. "It will take more than lightning to break through."
Artorius's eyes narrowed. He knew the Sanctum was more than just a fortress, it was a reflection of Lady Shiun herself. A manifestation of her power, her mind. To breach it, they would need to break the very foundation of her power.
"Infantry! Forward!" Artorius bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Archers, keep firing! We will not stop until the walls fall! Keep up the pressure!"
Then turning to the Black Dread and Thunder Dragon, "It looks like it's just her alone, I don't see any other aid coming for her. The two of you are more than enough to break through!"
"We will get it done," the Black Dread grinned savagely. The thunder dragon also nodded his head and they both stepped forward. With a gesture, the Black Dread begin to run down black meteors upon the sanctum and the thunder dragon shot down large bolts of thunder.
With their combined effort along with his artillery and archers, the outer walls begin to crumble. "Now! Through the breach!" Artorius shouted. With a roar, his army surged forward.
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To the east, the Hollow Marshes quaked beneath the weight of an old power rising from the shadows. The ground, soaked with eternal darkness, trembled with the arrival of a new threat, the Oblivion Dragon. His scales were as black as the deepest void, his eyes burning with hunger for revenge.
The air itself seemed to darken around him as he soared above the marshes, leaving destruction in his wake. Behind him were his forces, a dark vile legion who were frantically loyal to him.
But this invasion was not left unchallenged. To the north, rising from the frozen depths of the Glacial Labyrinths, came the White Lady's half-brother, a towering figure of icy power and relentless cruelty. Cloaked in armor of glimmering frost, he was a terror of winter, a being forged from the frozen heart of the world.
He was a force to be reckoned with, but against the Oblivion Dragon, even his strength was tested. Standing beside him was Ravagan the Crimson Drakonar and Vorthul the Shadow Hydra.
"You are fools to stand against me," the Oblivion Dragon's voice rumbled.
The Lord of the Glacial Labyrinths raised his sword high, his voice cutting through the rising storm. "Why don't old worms like you just do us all a favor and die off."
Screaming in rage, the Oblivion Dragon attacked with a single sweep of his blade, a wall of ice surged forward, meeting the dragon's fiery breath in a clash of opposing elements.
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The Veilpetal Sanctum lay in ruins, its once-glowing walls now nothing more than shattered glass and splintered crystal, the golden mist dissipating into the air like a dying dream. Artorius stood at the heart of it, his chest rising and falling with the rhythm of battle, eyes cold and unyielding. His army, battered but unbroken, had pushed forward, decimating every last vestige of Lady Shiun's forces.
For the bloodbath he and his forces engaged in he even got a level for all the enemies he slew that stood in his path. Congratulations! You have leveled up. Race: [True-Blood DragonMen] → Lv. 18
In the center of the Sanctum, at the very heart of her power, stood Lady Shiun, her ethereal form flickering like a candle in the wind. She was surrounded by the remnants of her dreams: the golden dew that had once shimmered like a kingdom of light.
Artorius's steps echoed through the empty halls as he approached her. The battle had ended. The enemy forces had been shattered. And now only Lady Shiun remained. She stood tall, her golden eyes no longer filled with the unshakable confidence.
Grabbing hold of his lance, something seemed to turn their attention to this scene to watch it unfold. Fine, translucent strands of pale gold and soft silver unfurled across the Sanctum. Not made of light, not quite visible but perceptible, like the after-image of lightning behind closed eyes.They wove through the air in impossible geometries, wrapping gently around everything.
And behind them, a shadow formed in the tapestry of possibility. the hint of an outline so enormous it dwarfed mountains: A serpentine silhouette braided from countless strands of fate, each feather a quill of future paths, each scale a mirror of potential, each movement rewriting probability.
Artorius hesitated and held back on piercing the antlered dragon in front of him as she trembled, not from fear, but from reverence. "Mother…" she whispered. "She… watches."
[The Destiny Imugi sees great potential in you!]
He watched as a single silver strand formed between him and Shiun then the presence vanished leaving them alone. The golden imugi was the first to speak, "What does my mother see in you?" she muttered.
Artorius was surprised when he heard her mention that eas her mom and that could only mean one thing.
[High Noble Destiny Dragonling — Level 25]
There was a weariness in her eyes now, "You… you why will you not go down," Lady Shiun said, her voice almost wistful, as if she were speaking to herself more than to Artorius. "How do you keep on going? I tried to take you down. Again and again. I knew your strength, your resilience. Yet, each time I thought you would falter, you only became stronger."
"I see now, so you were behind things in the shadows. Trying to put a stop to our rise? I did have the feeling that someone was pulling strings," Ouroboros put two and two together.
"What do you mean?" Artorius asked, looking between the two of them.
"Well let's just say you have a big fan," Ouroboros chuckled. "Why doesn't she explain!"
Lady Shiun's lips curled into a faint smile, one tinged with a mix of admiration and resignation. "I watched you from the very beginning all the way back when you overthrew the Silver Dragon. Your actions caused a ripple in the tapestry of fate. I watched you overcome every obstacle, defeat every enemy. You refused to be stopped, no matter the cost."
Artorius didn't know what to say, this was definitely a stalker. Ouroboros seemed to sense his thoughts and spoke for him, "Well it's over now. It looks like the White Lady has abandoned you, Shiun. So you have two options: either you die or you join us?"
The golden imugi was silent for a long while, Artorius wasn't happy she had been working behind him this whole time to oppose him but if he could use her talent to his benefit then it would be a great boon.
Sighing she bowed her head, "I will join you. I have seen your power and more than that your will and ambition. And I... I admire that about you. You are the storm that cannot be weathered." Her gaze softened slightly, the golden light in her eyes flickering with something akin to respect. "And you might be the future who might be able to change this very Nest."
Artorius took a long, slow breath, then let it out, his posture softening just slightly. The battlefield around them was silent now, the last echoes of the fight fading into the night. He studied her, then spoke with quiet finality. "I will accept your oath, but know that if you ever move against me again nothing will save you. You've seen what happens to those who stand in my way. I will accept only the truth from you going forward."
"We have an understanding," Lady Shiun nodded, her eyes unwavering. Then her gaze unfocused slightly, her pupils dilating as if she saw far beyond him. When she spoke again, her voice carried the hollow resonance of prophecy. "On the topic of giving you the truth, Dragon lord… I foresee your death."
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A few days had passed since his victory over Lady Shiun. The days had been filled with recovering and arming his army, expanding his forces, and preparing for the inevitable clashes to come. Yet despite all his successes, one thing remained gnawing at the back of his mind, the prophecy Lady Shiun had uttered: "I foresee your death."
Artorius tried to shake off the ominous words as he stood at the entrance of a dungeon deep within the Dewdrop Meadows, his forces at his back. Lady Shiun's words echoed in his mind, the golden imugi's warning lingering as if a storm cloud hanging low over his future.
He stared into the lush, strange landscape of the Dewdrop Meadows. The flowers that shimmered with dew glowed faintly, the air thick with the heady scent of fresh grass and golden pollen. It was an ethereal place, deceptively peaceful and beautiful. Yet Artorius knew better than to trust appearances. The meadow was a land of illusions, a place where enemies could be masked by trickery, and every step could lead into a trap.
Stepping into the dungeon, he took a deep breath and turned to his captains. "Prepare the men. This dungeon will test more than our strength."
After hours of moving through the maze-like, shimmering terrain, the air began to feel thick, almost suffocating as they came upon the final chamber. Artorius could see the glow of the golden mist shifting around them, the flowers swaying in an unseen breeze, and the faint shapes that danced in and out of view.
Entering, they arrived at the heart of the Dewdrop Meadows, a massive clearing surrounded by glowing flowers, and at the center, a crystal throne sat upon an alabaster pedestal. There, sitting upon the throne, was the boss: [Blooming Lady — Level 28]
Image: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1196337405029220/
She seemed to be quite powerful and it had to do with Shiun not regularly clearing the dungeon. The flower boss shimmered and the air shifted, growing thick with magic, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
With a silent, swift motion, the Blooming Sovereign's petals flickered, sending out a burst of pollen, golden and dangerous. It was not just a distraction; the pollen clung to skin and armor, sapping the strength of those it touched. Artorius saw his soldiers near the frontlines stumbling, their movements sluggish, their breathing labored. It was as if the pollen itself was draining their life force.
"Advance!" Artorius bellowed, his voice cutting through the air like a sword. He called upon his dragons, and they dove toward the flower creature with a mighty roar. But the Blooming Sovereign was no easy prey.
It took a while for them to finally take it down as his lance pierced the center of the Blooming Lady, its light cutting through the swirling petals and striking deep into the heart of the creature's core. The monster shuddered violently, its form flickering and warping as though it was unraveling. Petals scattered in all directions like falling leaves, and the ground beneath it cracked open, releasing a surge of energy that sent a shockwave throughout the battlefield.
For a moment, there was silence. Artorius stood victorious, his breath coming in heavy gasps as the weight of the battle lifted from his shoulders. His soldiers cheered, their voices echoing in the now-still air. Plus he got some great messages that made the fight worth it.
You have slain [Blooming Lady — Level 28]
Congratulations! You have leveled up. Archetype: [Leader] → Lv. 18
Stat gains: +1 INT, +1 WIL, +1 CHA
Congratulations! You have leveled up. Class: [Storybook Squire] → Lv. 18
Looting the creature, they found some class tokens which he gave out along with a whip that created a stronger illusion which he saved for Shiun, plus one magic item that interested him that he took for himself.
Lens of Foresight(Unique) - Glimpse a fews seconds into the future to spot danger
After storing the creature's other body parts left behind, they headed down for the final item, the trial. As he ventured forward, Artorius came before a pristine white dais with a single mask resting on it.
Touching it, the world had swallowed him whole and he found himself in a massive polished marble stage with golden lights floating above him. Staring at him was an assembly of dragons seated at luxurious tables, their eyes fixed upon him. They were not ordinary dragons, but massive, regal creatures with jewel-toned scales and golden eyes that gleamed with power.
The booming voice from earlier reverberated across the arena. "Welcome to the Trial of Looks!"
At the center of the hall stood a raised dais, upon which an elegantly dressed dragoness stepped forward. Her scales were a deep sapphire, gleaming under the light, and her wings were spread wide, casting a shadow over the room. Her gaze pierced into Artorius with an unsettling intensity.
Then she raised a placard with a 9 on it. Artorius could only shake his head as he was pretty sure he was being graded on his looks. One by one, the dragons took their turns grading his looks.
It went on like this for what seemed like hours. The constant shifting of eyes, the murmur of whispers, and the clink of placards being raised and lowered. Going through what could only be a humiliation ritual of being graded by different dragons, Artorius was thankful it was over.
Artorius was back in the Dewdrop Meadows, the mask resting comfortably in his palm. The world around him had returned to its previous tranquility, but Artorius knew that he had been changed. His ability to influence, to command, had been enhanced. He could feel it, the shift in how the world would respond to him from here on out.
[Trial of Looks — Completed]
Reward: +3 Charisma
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The trek back to the Veilpetal Sanctum was a quiet one. As the golden gates, the steady rhythm of his army activities greeted him. His ranks had swelled to nearly 1,600 strong, dragons flying overhead, soldiers marching in formation, the sound of their hooves and talons pounding against the earth like the drumbeat of war. They had become a force to be reckoned with, but his mind was still heavy with the cryptic warning Lady Shiun had given him.
The golden imugi was waiting for him at the gates of the Sanctum, her shimmering, serpent-like form coiling lazily in the cool breeze. "Lady Shiun," he greeted her, his tone steady but laden much more.
"Are you finally ready now, my lord?" she asked, tilting her head slightly, the golden light of her scales reflecting in the late afternoon sun. Ouroboros joined them landing on his shoulder.
Artorius frowned, his thoughts swirling. "Would you care to explain why would I die? What is coming for me?"
"I know much, Artorius, but I can not see," she said quietly, her voice more solemn than usual. "Wghat I do know for a fact is that if you don't make your move, it will be the end for you."
Ouroboros spoke up, considering his words carefully. "You are an upstart Artorius, one who has made enemies of the most powerful beings in this nest. Your very presence challenges their supremacy. That is a threat they will not tolerate."
His gaze hardened, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a chill down Artorius's spine. "Most likely I believe Shiun's sight shows her the White Lady and the Oblivion Dragon teaming up to destroy you. They will not let some nobody rise so high and snub them. Your very existence defies them." He paused, letting his words hang in the air before finishing with, "They might even be willing to team up to finish you before they fight it out between themselves."
Artorius's heart skipped a beat. He knew what he had been doing was very risky and the enemies he made now were not something he could handle lightly, let alone both of them at once. He didn't even hit his goal of making it to Level 10 to unlock his new skills, mutation, and traits.
Now it looked like he wouldn't have that time as his time table of hitting the other biomes under the command of the White Lady was cut short. Already going to the dungeon was something that Shiun wasn't happy about as it was wasted time before his inevitable end
He could feel his thoughts aligning into a single, decisive course of action. "What shall we do?
"Strike at the Hollow Marshes," Shiun said decisively. "They are locked in a conflict as we speak. The White Lady's forces and the Oblivion Dragon's armies are engaged in a deadly standoff there. It is your window of opportunity."
Artorius stood silent for a moment, processing the information. The Hollow Marshes were a vast, treacherous land, a place of shifting swamps and dark forests, where no one dared to tread lightly. Not only that, but he had to face two great armies, yes, weathered from their fighting but two two great forces nonetheless.
But if this was his chance… he needed to take it. The world around him seemed to narrow, the weight of the decision pressing upon him. He could feel the power within him, the result of his many trials, his growing army, the Words he learned, the levels he gained, the magical items he found.
His voice was calm, but there was a steel to it when he spoke. "Then we move. We will take advantage of this moment."
Lady Shiun's expression softened slightly, but there was a knowing sadness in her eyes. "I must warn you, it will be costly, Artorius. You will suffer great losses. But you will come out on top... in the end. Just remember this, your victory will not come without sacrifice."
Artorius met her gaze, unwavering. He knew the future was not written yet so it was in his hands. "I'm ready to face whatever it takes. We're not just going to survive; we're going to win."
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A/N: What losses will mc suffer.. I wonder?
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Chapter 27 Recap!
Leveled up Race: True-Blood DragonMen to Lvl. 18!
Leveled up Archetype: Leader to Lvl. 18!
+1 INT, +1 WIL, +1 CHA
Leveled up Class: Storybook Squire to Lvl. 18!
[Trial of Looks — Completed] +3 Charisma Gained