The True Dragon System

Barlor pushed forward, his eyes fixed on the glowing white portal. Around him, the crowd murmured in anxious tones, their faces lit by the flickering light of the Dungeon Gate.

“You think anyone’s gone through yet?” a man muttered nearby.

“Not yet,” came a sharp reply. “Everyone’s waiting to see what happens. No one wants to be first.”

Barlor stopped for a moment, his heart pounding. He turned to see two System Bearers talking, their weapons strapped to their backs.

“We’re wasting time,” one of them said, a tall woman with a spear. “What if it closes? There could be treasure beyond this gate.”

The other, a younger man, shook his head. “Or death. Who knows what’s on the other side? Dungeons are unpredictable.”

Barlor swallowed hard and took a step closer to the portal. The swirling light seemed alive, pulling at the air around it.

“You going in there, old man?” someone called out. Barlor glanced back. A teenager grinned at him, clearly mocking. “Not much for someone like you, huh?”

Barlor frowned. “Maybe it’s not for you to decide who goes and who doesn’t.”

The teen snorted but said nothing more. Barlor turned away, his hands trembling slightly.

“Are you really considering this?” a voice asked softly. A woman, older than him, stepped up beside him. “It’s dangerous for those without a System.”

Barlor stared at the portal. “I don’t have much choice.”

“What do you mean?”

He sighed. “My family needs more than I can give. If there’s even a chance I can bring something back… I have to try.”

The woman’s face softened, but her eyes held worry. “Is it worth risking your life?”

Barlor didn’t answer. He simply stepped forward again, closer to the swirling white light. It hummed, deep and low, like it knew he was coming.

“Barlor!” someone yelled, but he ignored them. His feet moved on their own now.

“I’ll come back,” he whispered to himself. “I have to.”

Barlor stood near the edge of the portal, watching as a group of System Bearers gathered. They moved with confidence, checking weapons and gear. Their leader, a tall man with a sword strapped to his back, noticed Barlor approaching.

“What do you want, Blank?” the man asked sharply, eyes narrowing.

“I want to help,” Barlor said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Laughter erupted from one of the System Bearers. “Help? You don’t even have a System. What are you going to do? Cheer us on?”

Barlor ignored the jeers. “I can carry supplies, watch your backs—anything. Just let me come with you.”

“Why?” the leader asked. “What’s in this for you?”

Barlor looked at the swirling portal. “My family. I need this chance. I won’t get in the way.”

A familiar voice cut through the crowd. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Barlor turned to see Manny, his childhood friend. Manny wore light armor and carried a gleaming axe, his expression full of disdain. “You think you can handle this, Barlor? You couldn’t even handle gym class.”

Barlor’s jaw tightened. Memories of taunts and whispers came flooding back, but he held his ground. “I’m not the same kid I was back then.”

Manny scoffed. “Sure you aren’t. You’re still a Blank. This isn’t a game, Barlor. You’ll just slow us down.”

The leader glanced between them, annoyed. “Enough. He wants to carry supplies? Fine. But you stay in the back. Don’t fight. Don’t speak unless I tell you to. Got it?”

Barlor nodded quickly. “Got it.”

Manny shook his head in disbelief. “You’ll regret this,” he muttered to the leader.

The crowd, which had been buzzing with whispers, fell silent as the group began organizing. System Bearers strapped on armor, adjusted weapons, and slung bags over their shoulders. Barlor picked up a heavy pack that was shoved toward him, his arms straining under the weight.

“Stay out of the way, Blank,” Manny said, his voice cold.

Barlor didn’t reply. He just adjusted the pack and looked toward the portal, its white light flickering like a heartbeat.

*I’ll prove myself,* he thought. *You’ll see.*

As the leader gave the order, the group stepped forward. The portal loomed ahead, alive and waiting.

The moment Barlor stepped through the portal, the heat hit him like a wall. The sky above was a sickening red, casting an eerie glow over the cracked, barren ground. Jagged rocks jutted out like teeth, and in the distance, dragon-like creatures slithered and crawled, their scales glinting in the harsh light.

“Move it, Blanks!” barked the raid leader, his voice echoing through the empty landscape.

Barlor adjusted the heavy pack on his shoulders and fell in line with the other Blanks. They shuffled forward, eyes downcast, careful to stay out of the System Bearers’ way. Ahead, the System Bearers readied their weapons, confident and unfazed by the hostile environment.

“Look at them,” a System Bearer sneered, nudging his companion. “Sweating already. They’ll drop like flies.”

Laughter rippled through the group. Barlor kept his gaze low, gripping the straps of his pack.

“Alright, Blanks!” the raid leader called out. “Your job is simple. Collect monster parts. Stay out of the way. If you see something dangerous, run. Don’t waste our time.”

As the group began to split up, Barlor stayed close to the other Blanks, trying not to draw attention. It didn’t last long.

“Well, look who we have here,” Manny’s voice rang out. Barlor froze as his former friend approached, his axe resting casually on his shoulder. Manny’s smirk widened as he looked Barlor up and down.

“Still hiding, huh? That won’t help you here.”

Barlor said nothing, his jaw tight.

“Here,” Manny continued, reaching into his pack. He pulled out a dagger and held it up. The blade was rusted, the handle chipped and barely holding together. “This should suit you just fine.”

Barlor stared at it, his face burning. “That’s not a weapon. It’s junk.”

Manny grinned. “It’s better than nothing, Blank. You don’t need anything fancy. Just… poke at whatever’s left after we’re done.”

The System Bearers around them chuckled. One of them called out, “Careful, Barlor! Don’t drop it and hurt yourself.”

Barlor’s hand curled into a fist, but he forced himself to relax. He reached out, taking the rusty dagger. The weight of it was pitiful, but he held it tight.

“Thanks,” he said quietly, his voice steady.

Manny leaned closer, his smirk fading into a cold glare. “Don’t embarrass me out here. If you can’t keep up, just disappear.”

Barlor didn’t answer. He turned away, clutching the dagger so hard his knuckles turned white. The laughter followed him as he joined the other Blanks, his heart pounding in his chest.

*Let them laugh,* he thought. *I’ll prove them wrong.*

The ground trembled as a deafening roar split the air. Massive dragon-like creatures swarmed the battlefield, their scales shimmering under the blood-red sky. System Bearers rushed forward, weapons flashing as they engaged the beasts. Shouts and clashing steel echoed through the barren landscape.

“Blanks, move!” someone yelled.

Barlor gripped the rusty dagger, his knuckles pale. Around him, the other Blanks stumbled, scrambling to collect monster parts as ordered. Every few seconds, another roar or explosion made someone flinch.

“Keep up, Barlor!” Manny’s voice rang out from somewhere ahead, filled with mockery. “Try not to trip over your own feet!”

Barlor’s jaw tightened, but he stayed silent. He focused on the task, moving toward the body of a fallen creature. Its massive form lay still, blood pooling around its scales. The heat and stench made him gag, but he pressed on.

“Over here!” another Blank called, struggling to cut into the beast’s tough hide. “Help me!”

Barlor hurried over, dropping to one knee. Together, they hacked at the creature, carving free what looked like valuable scales. Sweat poured down his face, but he didn’t stop.

“You’re wasting your time,” Manny’s voice cut through again. Barlor looked up to see Manny watching from a safe distance, his axe resting casually on his shoulder. “A rusty dagger won’t get you anywhere.”

Barlor ignored him and kept working. Every cut, every bit of progress fueled his resolve. He wasn’t here to argue.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Manny continued, smirking. “You’ll always be a Blank. You don’t belong out here.”

Barlor finally paused, meeting Manny’s gaze. “I’m not here to impress you,” he said quietly. “I’m here to prove something to myself.”

Manny’s smirk faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly. “Suit yourself. Just try not to die before we get back.”

Barlor turned his attention back to the creature, his hands steady. The roars of dragons echoed in the distance, and flashes of light lit up the sky as System Bearers fought on. Around him, the other Blanks struggled, but Barlor worked with quiet determination.

This wasn’t just a raid. It was his chance to break free—to show he was more than they thought. Clutching the dagger tightly, he stood and moved toward the next fallen beast, ready to face whatever came next.

The deeper they moved into the Dungeon, the more the air seemed to hum with danger. The red sky darkened to a sickly crimson, and the ground beneath Barlor’s feet cracked and shifted with each step. In the distance, monstrous roars shook the earth as System Bearers clashed with dragons, their weapons glowing brightly in the chaos.

“Keep up, Blanks!” the raid leader barked. “We’re not stopping for you if you fall behind!”

Barlor tightened his grip on the rusty dagger, breathing hard. He glanced at the others—Blanks stumbling under heavy packs, faces streaked with dirt and sweat. Fear sat heavy in his chest, but thoughts of his sister and grandfather pushed it back. *I have to keep going.*

“Careful where you’re stepping, Barlor!” Manny’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. Barlor turned to see him striding confidently across the broken terrain, his axe glinting. “Wouldn’t want you to trip and break that priceless dagger of yours.”

The group of System Bearers around Manny laughed. Barlor’s face burned, but he didn’t rise to the bait.

“I’m still here, aren’t I?” Barlor muttered under his breath, pushing forward.

“What was that?” Manny said, stopping short. He turned, his smirk widening. “You’ve got something to say, Blank?”

Barlor met his gaze, his voice steady this time. “You act like you’re better than everyone, Manny. But at least I’m not hiding behind a System.”

Manny’s grin faltered for a moment, and the other System Bearers fell silent. “You’re just as useless as you were back in school,” Manny sneered. “Don’t forget where you stand, Barlor.”

“I know exactly where I stand,” Barlor replied. “And I’m not here for you.”

The tension hung heavy for a moment before the raid leader’s voice boomed over them. “Enough! We’ve got incoming!”

A deep, guttural roar shook the ground. Barlor looked up just in time to see a massive dragon-like creature burst from behind a crumbling rock formation. Its scales shimmered dark red, and smoke curled from its open mouth.

“System Bearers, on me!” the leader shouted.

Manny turned without another word, joining the others as they rushed to engage the beast. Blades and magic flashed as the System Bearers leaped into action.

Barlor’s heart hammered in his chest, but he forced himself to move. He looked around and spotted a Blank frozen in place, staring wide-eyed at the fight.

“Come on!” Barlor called, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. “We need to keep moving!”

“But it’s huge—”

“I know! Just focus!”

The two of them hurried across the broken terrain, ducking behind a jagged rock as the dragon roared again. The heat from its fire made the air shimmer. Barlor peeked out, watching as the System Bearers fought, their movements quick and powerful. Manny stood at the front, swinging his axe with practiced ease.

Barlor tightened his grip on the rusty dagger, his resolve hardening. This Dungeon was chaos, but it wasn’t just a battlefield to him. It was his chance to prove something—to Manny, to the others, and to himself.

“I won’t be left behind,” he whispered, pushing forward. *Not this time.*

---

Barlor gathered the last bits of loot as the raid continued. He bent down to pick up a shiny scale from a defeated lizard monster. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the other Blanks. They laughed and joked, happy with their spoils.

"Hey, look at that cave," one System Bearer shouted, pointing. "I think the boss monster is inside!"

Manny, the raid leader, clapped his hands. "Alright, Blanks. Head back to the Dungeon Gate with your loot. Stay safe. We'll check the cave."

Barlor hesitated, watching the others turn to leave. Manny noticed and frowned. "What are you doing, Barlor? Why haven’t you left?"

Barlor took a deep breath. "I want to help loot the cave. There could be treasures inside a dragon's den."

Manny laughed, shaking his head. "You? A Blank? Why would I let you join us? You’re just being greedy."

Barlor’s heart sank, but he stood firm. "I need the money for my family. My sister and my grandfather need help. I can’t keep up with my earnings."

Manny’s expression remained cold. "That’s your problem, not mine. Why should I care?"

Barlor swallowed his pride and bowed deeply. "I’ll work for double the f*e. Please let me join."

Manny crossed his arms, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You really think I’ll risk my life for you? If you get into trouble, don’t expect me to save you."

Barlor nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "I understand. But I need this chance."

"Fine," Manny said, rolling his eyes. "You can come. Just know the risks."