Ancient Dragon in Arknights

In a daze, Nesario even heard a burst of cheerful music.

Nesario's hand holding the knife trembled uncontrollably, not from fear, but from excitement!

The hunting gene has been etched into human genes since ancient times, when people used stones and wooden spears to kill wild animals; now, many people are beginning to choose a safer way—using powerful weapons and armor to carry out the simplest killings.

It's pointless except for the small amount of pleasure and the chance to show off your spoils.

Now, Nesario grips his weapons tightly, dancing with monsters and fighting to the death. The thrill of victory almost makes him faint with excitement.

"This feeling... is simply addictive."

Nesario felt himself becoming increasingly arrogant, as if he were invincible, which was not a good sign.

Arrogance can blind people, and countless people throughout history have died because of their own arrogance.

"What happens next? It can't keep happening like this, can it?"

Neltharion didn't feel that he had received any summons or enhancements. The entire valley remained dark, and the mold and algae continued to sway gently in the wind.

Let's collect the spoils first...

Nesario didn't want to think about the worst-case scenario, so he forced himself to remain calm and began skinning and bone-removing the monster that was gradually cooling down—this monster had no scales, and most of its body's defense came from its thick layer of keratin.

Cuticle is the most difficult material to utilize, so the greatest value of monsters probably lies in their bones and sharp claws.

Nesario lacked the necessary skills; his movements were crude and his materials could hardly be called materials—they were simply dismembered bodies.

Just as he was about to find a bag to pack his spoils, his consciousness began to wander.

It's like accidentally falling asleep on a bus; you can vaguely feel your body swaying and changes in the surrounding environment, but there's always that one little bit of stimulation before you wake up.

"Roar--!"

A long, drawn-out dragon roar, like thunder, resounded through Neltharion's mind. He opened his eyes and found himself no longer in the dark valley, but in a... temple.

Nesario looked around and realized that the ground beneath his feet was not a floor, but a huge stone slab—as big as a basketball court, and there were probably tens of thousands of such slabs here.

Looking further ahead, one sees rising steps in different directions, with various statues standing on them.

The statues were all different monsters, or rather, different dragons—some with outstretched wings, some roaring towards the sky, some with graceful figures, and some fat and bloated.

They are all so lifelike, as if they would come to life at any moment.

"The Palace of Ten Thousand Dragons..."

Neltharion could only think of this name; no other words could describe the epic and magnificent scene before him.

He looked around at the bizarre and wonderful dragons, and then suddenly realized—what would be at the end of them?

As he slowly raised his head, and his eyes adjusted to the light and distance, everything he saw came into his mind.

Nesario lost the ability to speak.

He stared blankly at the several magnificent figures at the top—a ferocious yet incredibly handsome head; gleaming scales arranged in close rows like armor; thick limbs that seemed to possess immense strength; and outstretched wings that appeared capable of obscuring the sun.

dragon!

This is the symbol of evil, greed, yet power in the story!

The creature from the dream was now appearing before Neltharion, even if it was in the form of a stone statue.

"that is?!"

Although the gray-white stone statues were very expressive, they ultimately appeared somewhat monotonous.

In this gray and white world, Nesario saw a splash of color—vivid as blood, a blood-red hue.

That was an old acquaintance of his. That beast hiding in the dark valley like a killing machine was actually a member of the dragon army? This was probably the result of natural selection... The dark valley created it, and this guy successfully conquered that valley.

Nesario stepped forward and touched it. The sensation in his palm was as if it were alive: the feel of its skin, the temperature of its blood, and the beating of its heart.

"Odogaron".

The unfamiliar name appeared in Nesario's mind; clearly, the owner of the name was the perfect killing machine before him.

Nesario felt himself merge with the creature in front of him; its claws seemed to be at his disposal, and its volcanic eruption-like power was contained within his own body.

Dong Dong Dong——! ! !

His heart began to beat in his chest, like the sound of war drums—Nesario's bloodline had awakened after his first successful hunt.

The young dragon has grown its own claws and teeth, and it will devour those who dare to offend the majesty of the dragon!

"!"

Nesario suddenly opened his eyes. He was in a bad state. He had a deep wound on his left foot, and more importantly, his body was wrapped up like a dumpling—a circle of hemp rope had bound him up.

However, the wound on his left foot had already healed considerably. Nesario was unaware that his body was about to separate from the "Vaivan" race.

"..."

Nesario first observed his surroundings, determined to understand the situation around him.

With the help of the dim light, he could see his surroundings.

Three wooden crates, two burlap sacks containing unknown contents, and two Waiva cubs were crammed together in a small space. Judging from the constant jolting, it was a freight car, and one that was constantly moving.

'This is troublesome...'

How long have I been unconscious?

An hour? Or a whole day?

If it hasn't been long, then they should still be inside the city of Tikkarendo. If that's the case, then it's very troublesome.

A single day wouldn't be enough to force them to flee to another city, but their current location is definitely no longer in Tikkarendo's hands.

Well, the first time I left my hometown was because I was kidnapped.

Nesario had no time for sentimentality; getting out of trouble was the most important thing right now.

He knew very well that he had gained power.

Accompanied by a sharp, piercing pain and a tingling sensation—four dagger-like claws grew from Nesario's finger joints.

Snap—the rope was cut somewhere, and the tightly bound rope suddenly loosened.

Nesario lay in the carriage, beginning to stretch his stiff body while also observing his new "weapon".

'Claws growing from the joints are as thick as finger bones, with sharp tips and two rows of serrated barbs at the bottom... Isn't this a characteristic of Odogaron? Could it be...?'

Neltharion—nine years old this year—has awakened his dragon powers for the first time, powers derived from the one he defeated: the Odogaron.

Chapter Seventeen: The First Blood

"Sister... wake up quickly."

"elder sister!"

With a swaying motion, Saria opened her eyes—and there stood her dearest brother, Nesario, whose usually stern face was now filled with anxiety.

"Nesario? What's wrong?"

"Sister, it's not safe now."

"?"

Clearly, the effects of the drug had not completely worn off, and Saria was not yet fully conscious.

In situations like this, what's needed is to give her time to calm down, rather than constantly pressuring her.

"I remember now... where's that bastard..."

"They haven't appeared yet, but they should be not far from us. We are currently in a train carriage. The carriage owners are very likely to be them."

"I understand... What's this?"

Saria's growth was truly remarkable. If it were her from not long ago, she would probably be crying in fear by now. The current Saria simply nodded calmly to indicate that she understood; crying would not do any good and might even alert the enemy.

More than her current situation, she was curious about what had happened to Nesario's hand.

He had eight dagger-like claws on both hands—the broken rope on one side must have been cut by him.

"Hmm... should I call it Originium Arts or racial traits? In any case, it's harmless to my body and can actually solve my current predicament."

"Be careful and don't hurt yourself."

Having a tolerant older sister is wonderful!

The two siblings began to discuss how to solve their current predicament. The first thing they knew for sure was that they couldn't escape—at least their lives were secure inside the train carriage. If they jumped off, they would be met with the yellow sand and natural disasters of the wilderness.

Even if the two children were slightly capable, they would not be able to survive in the wilderness. Food and fresh water can be replenished and hunted, and natural disasters can be avoided in advance—but it is people who are in danger.

The law only works within the city; it's a set of dining etiquette established by those suit-wearing gentlemen so that they can distribute the cake in a dignified and reasonable manner.

But in the wilderness, the dead are devoured by Originium worms within hours, and the thugs will only boast about their day's achievements and the ugly way you died in a camp; in a few days, they will forget about it.

Even if someone dies in the city, there are still clues to follow, but in the wilderness... Terra is a land that eats people.

“There must be something they need in these boxes, and they also want to check our security.”

"So we launched a swift counterattack while they were opening the hatch."

"Yes, they must have had maps and communication devices to move around in the wilderness. That was the key to our rescue."

Having made the decision, it was time to take action—after confirming that the wounds were healed, the two siblings rested in the positions closest to the cabin door.

Their communication has shifted from verbal to gestural, a tacit understanding between the siblings that has long enabled them to do so; they minimize their vocalizations to avoid being detected and thus taking precautions.

The only saving grace at this moment was that there was a small window on the top of the cargo bed of the vehicle—the light shining in from there barely illuminated the entire space. Otherwise, in such a pitch-black environment, let alone communicating by gestures, it would have been a problem for Nesario to even find Saria.

"Brother, you're really something. You just kidnapped them like that in the city..."

"Heh, as long as we act quickly, those idiots will catch us. The key is this way of getting out of the city; that damned bastard dared to raise the price on the spot!"

Intermittent sounds could be heard outside; it seemed the kidnapper was approaching.

Nesario remained vigilant, so his claws were not yet retracted.

The tactic previously discussed with Saria was a blitzkrieg—two children against two adult men, which was almost impossible to win. The only chance was to eliminate the enemy first.

Nesario's claws are absolutely deadly, so the key to this victory rests on his shoulders.

Clang—the bolts on the outside of the carriage were pulled, making a metallic clanging sound.

One second, two seconds—the door was pulled open!