I Got Reincarnated As A Dragon

Chapter 7: Goodluck charm

As the sun rose on the verdant forest, Dryad emerged from her tree body, her ethereal form shimmering in the morning light.

She approached Elvis, who lay sleeping in a bed of soft leaves, and gently roused him with a tap.

"Good morning, little dragon," she said, her voice as warm and comforting as a summer breeze.

Elvis rubbed his eyes, then sat up and looked at her. "Good morning," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Dryad gazed at him for a moment, as if she wanted to say something. But before she could speak, Elvis took a deep breath and looked into her green eyes.

"I thought about what you told me yesterday," he said, his voice resolute. "I want to go out and explore the world, to see if the legend is true."

Dryad smiled, proud of the young dragon's growing sense of adventure. "You've grown since I first met you," she said. "You're not a little dragon anymore."

But even as she spoke, Elvis' face clouded over. "I want you to come with me," he said, his eyes beseeching.

Dryad's smile faded, and she shook her head. "My dear little dragon, I cannot," she said. "This tree is my body, and my spirit cannot stray far from it. I am the guardian of the forest, and I must stay here."

Elvis felt a pang of disappointment, for he had grown quite attached to Dryad during their time together.

He felt as though she was the only friend he had in the world.

Dryad, too, felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of leaving the young dragon behind.

She longed to explore the world with him, to see what lay beyond the forest's bounds.

But she knew that she could not. So she placed a hand on Elvis' head and looked into his eyes.

"Don't be sad, little dragon," she said. "I have something for you." And with that, she vanished into her tree, leaving Elvis alone once more.

"Pardon?" Elvis cocked his head, intrigued, as he waited for her to emerge.

Moments later, she emerged from the shadows, holding a gleaming necklace in her hand.

"Take this," she offered, placing the necklace in his waiting claws.

"What is this?" Elvis inquired, admiring the tiny green pendant that dangled from the delicate chain.

"It's a good luck charm for your journey," she explained.

"A good luck charm?" he repeated, feeling a warm rush of gratitude. "Thank you, I will cherish it always."

"Now go, little dragon," Dryad urged, pushing him towards the sky.

"Wait, could you help me put it on?" Elvis asked, showing her his paw without thumbs.

"Of course," Dryad said, quickly fastening the necklace around his neck.

"Farewell, my friend," Elvis said, lifting off into the sky. "I will return, stronger and wiser."

Dryad watched him until he disappeared from sight, a smile on her face. "It was a pleasure knowing you, little dragon. May fortune always smile upon you."

Her smile faded as she turned to face the forest, her expression darkening. "I do not know what brings those intruders here, but I am glad that I was able to get Elvis to safety before they could disrupt my spell."

---

The air was thick with tension as the leader of the adventurers, a towering figure with tanned skin and a scar etched across his face, turned to the holy knight beside him.

The knight was of average build, his blonde hair a sharp contrast to the rough exterior of the adventurer.

"We've done it," the adventurer said, disbelief evident in his voice. "We've broken the spell. I never would have thought that we would become trapped in an illusion."

The holy knight nodded, his expression serious. "Sadly, yes. The dangers of the forest were all too real. But it's fortunate that we discovered the truth in time."

The team looked to their leaders, awaiting their next move.

With a nod from both men, the group set off into the heart of the forest, searching for any signs of the dangerous or unique.

However, their search proved fruitless. Despite their caution, the beasts of the forest proved no match for the high-ranking adventurers.

The team scoured the area, but found nothing that sparked their interest or gave off a dangerous vibe.

An hour passed and a knight approached the leaders, reporting their findings. "Sir, we've searched the entire forest and found nothing of interest. No powerful or rare beasts can be found here."

The holy knight's eyes narrowed as he considered their options. "Then we only have one course of action left," he said, turning to the adventurer beside him.

The two leaders exchanged a nod, and the holy knight issued the command. "Cast a spell to seal off the entire forest!"

The team sprang into action, casting a high-rank magic skill that enveloped the forest in an invincible barrier. And with a fierce glint in his eye, the adventurer gave the next command. "Destroy the whole forest. Leave no stone unturned!"

The team erupted into action, raining destruction upon the beasts of the forest.

Corpses littered the ground as blood splattered across the earth. Within minutes, the forest was in chaos.

Flames licked at the trees as the knights and adventurers gave in to the primal thrill of releasing pent-up tensions in the name of humanity.

"Ahh!" The anguished cries of knights and adventurers echoed through the dense forest, drawing the attention of their companions.

In an instant, the tranquil peace was shattered by the sudden movement of tree roots, as they surged forward with deadly speed, impaling the unprepared humans with unerring accuracy.

The earth trembled as massive, towering plant monsters erupted from beneath the soil, engulfing hapless adventurers in its grasp.

"Stay vigilant!" the leader commanded, his voice ringing with authority.

The group fell into formation, wary eyes scanning the surrounding wilderness for any sign of the unseen attacker.

Confusion and fear clutched at their hearts as they wondered what manner of being could strike with such deadly efficiency.

"Is this the work of the entity rumored to pose a threat to humanity?" Thoughts raced through their minds, for even the mightiest knights and most seasoned adventurers could not withstand such a formidable foe.

An ethereal voice echoed within their minds, its tone cold and hollow. "I am the guardian of this forest. You humans have come to destroy this place, to slay the innocent creatures that call it home. You shall not be spared." The final words resonated within them, sending shivers down their spines.