Chapter 2: Birth of a dragon

'It's dark'.

.

.

.

As the darkness descended upon him, Elvis was overcome with a sense of unease. His body was confined within a liquid space that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Pushing and pulling with all his might, he struggled against the boundaries of his prison, desperately trying to break free. Suddenly, he heard a loud crack and saw a sliver of light. Renewing his efforts, he pushed with all his might, driven by the hope of escape.

With one final heave, the eggshell cracked open and Elvis tumbled out into a world that was strange and unfamiliar. He surveyed his surroundings, taking in the light blue cave that surrounded him. The space was vast, easily accommodating a private plane, but it was empty save for a towering nest and a few scurrying insects.

Confused, Elvis looked around the dimly lit cave, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "Wait, didn't I die?" As his memories slowly began to return, he realized with a start that he was no longer human. He panicked, letting out a scream that emerged as a tiny dragon's roar.

His once-human body had been transformed into that of a dragon, with rough black scales covering his skin. The scales were surprisingly soft to the touch, but their texture was rough and jagged, giving his skin a menacing appearance.

His head had elongated, with a sharp snout filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. His once-handsome features had been replaced with a fearsome visage, complete with glowing red eyes that flickered in the darkness.

Elvis flexed his newly-formed wings, feeling the powerful muscles beneath them tense and contract. They were massive, easily spanning several meters from tip to tip, with strong, sharp talons at their ends.

As he moved, he felt the weight of his long tail, which trailed behind him, balancing him as he walked. The tail was thick and muscular, with bony ridges running down its length, adding to his formidable appearance.

With a deep sigh, Elvis muttered, "Crap. How will I ever attract a woman now?" The idea of being with a female dragon unsettled him, and for a moment, he was lost in his own misery. But as the rumbling of his empty stomach grew louder, he forced himself to focus. He was a dragon now, and dragons did not dwell on their appearance.

[The host is hungry.]

[Please proceed to eat the eggshell]

He heard a familiar sound once more, the same noise that had echoed through his mind as he perished in his previous life. "Did it follow me here?" he pondered. But before he could give it much thought, his stomach growled once more, reminding him of his hunger. [Proceed to eat the eggshell, or the host might die of hunger,] the sound urged.

Elvis approached the peculiar item, an eggshell, with some trepidation. It seemed odd to eat such a thing, but as he gazed upon it, his hunger only intensified. With some hesitation, he took a bite, and to his surprise, the shell was quite delicious. Sweet and nutty, it contained the vital nutrients that a young dragon needed to thrive. He devoured the entire shell in mere moments, feeling his strength and size increase with each bite.

Elvis knew he couldn't remain in the safety of the cave for long. He had to hunt for food or risk starvation. "I should leave this cave and possibly hunt for food if I don't want to die of hunger," he thought. He was adapting quickly to his new life. "The past is behind me," he realized. "I must move forward, like a dragon."

With that, he triggered a mission - to leave the mountain caves.

[Mission triggered: Leave the mountain caves]

"Huh, I triggered a mission?" Elvis didn't understand how the system operated. As he explored the cavern, he discovered two exits. The first led to the outside world, a perilous journey for one who could not yet fly. The second led to unknown dangers, but as the mission prompted him forward, he steeled himself and descended the stairs, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

With a dragon's intuition coursing through his veins, Elvis felt a sense of foreboding as he gazed down into the unknown depths below. On earth, he would have shied away from such potential peril. But as a dragon, cowardice was not an option, not when the mission was imperative. He steeled himself and spoke the words that he knew must be said. "I must delve into the unknown and explore whatever is down.

—

Long before the birth of Elvis, a mysterious glow illuminated the dense forest and the surrounding mountain range, announcing the arrival of a new era. The wild creatures, whether ferocious beasts or mythical monsters, trembled in terror at the sight of the ethereal radiance, which permeated an ominous and dangerous energy that penetrated even their hardened exterior. Beyond the boundaries of the forest, the people of the land were also affected by the power of the light, as they sensed an unsettling chill run down their spines, while gazing upon the golden beams reaching for the sky.

In the grand and fortified walls of the northern human kingdom,The king sat upon his throne with a regal air, his posture erect and commanding. Despite his advanced age, his body seemed to exude a vitality that surpassed that of even the youngest of men.

His beard, white and flowing, cascaded down his chest, emphasizing his regal countenance. His eyes were piercing, and his gaze was unwavering, seeming to penetrate the very souls of those who met it. Upon his head sat a magnificent crown, its precious jewels glinting in the light, and his royal garb was adorned with intricate embroidery, befitting of his majestic status.

His very presence seemed to command respect and awe, and his subjects regarded him with the utmost reverence and admiration, and his royal guards stood watchful beside him, while the castle hall was teeming with the kingdom's eminent ministers.

The atmosphere was palpable tense, for the ministers knew that the king's summons could only mean that something of immense significance was about to unfold.

"Have any of you witnessed the strange light from earlier?" The king's voice reverberated in the hall, his unwavering gaze fixed upon the eyes of his ministers.

Silence lingered for a moment as the ministers hesitated to speak, feeling intimidated by their sovereign's commanding presence. To hold the title of human king was a mark of valor and strength, reserved only for those who had overcome innumerable battles and emerged victorious.

After a beat, they nodded in unison, eventually breaking the silence, "Yes, your majesty."

The king's piercing gaze swept over the assembled ministers, his voice betraying an underlying steeliness as he posed his question. "Do any of you know what that symbolizes?"

His courtiers looked at each other with an air of trepidation, but none could summon a response. It was the king himself who broke the uneasy silence. "I was visited by the mad old man again," he began, his voice growing more urgent. "He told me that the light signifies the birth of a creature that will pose a threat to the existence of humans and the world itself."

The room erupted in gasps and murmurs of disbelief. For all their fear of the mad old man, few had taken his ravings seriously. Yet there was no denying the urgency in the king's voice.

"What is to be done, your majesty?" one of the royal ministers asked, his voice trembling with anxiety.

"The light originated from the forbidden forest," the king replied, his eyes flashing with determination. "Gather your forces and clear the forest. Inform the kingdom to eliminate any and all threats they may come across. The beast in the forest must be killed."

The ministers bowed low in obedience, but one could sense the unease that gripped them. After all, the forbidden forest was a place of great danger, and it would take time to mobilize the troops and prepare them for the daunting task ahead.

The king, sensing their hesitation, considered his options carefully. "Very well, then," he said at last. "The expedition shall commence in two weeks."

The ministers bowed low once more before departing to carry out the king's orders. But even as they left, a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air.

Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the forbidden forest mountain, Elvis was about to face his first true test of courage.