The True Dragon System

Divine (1)

Barlor hated bowing to Manny, but he needed to protect his family. He followed the main raid party, knowing the danger awaited inside the cave. Every step forward carried the weight of his family's needs, and he was ready to face whatever came next.

The raid party entered the dark cave. Shadows danced on the walls as they moved deeper. Barlor felt the chill of the air around him. Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the cavern.

"Get ready!" Manny shouted. "The boss monster is close!"

The ground shook, and all the System Bearers received a prompt. Barlor looked at his hands, but nothing appeared. Panic filled him as he realized he was alone.

A massive shape emerged from the shadows. The Giant Lesser Dragon stood tall, its dark crimson scales gleaming in the dim light. Barlor’s heart raced as he took in the creature’s glowing eyes.

Manny raised his weapon. "We need to take it down. Follow my lead!"

The System Bearers prepared for battle. They charged at the dragon while Barlor stayed back, watching. The dragon lashed out, and Manny countered with a powerful strike.

"Watch out!" one of the bearers yelled.

Barlor held his breath, admiring Manny's strength. The battle dragged on, lasting nearly half an hour. Barlor felt both fear and awe as he saw the System Bearers struggle against the beast.

Finally, with a final blow, the dragon fell. Cheers erupted in the cave. Barlor rushed forward, eager to see the loot. He found a large sack filled with gold, diamonds, and ethereal ore.

"Look at this!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder.

"You can’t keep any of it, Barlor," a System Bearer said with a smirk. "Only the bearers take the loot."

Barlor's heart sank. "But I fought too!"

Manny approached, handing him a $50 note. "Here’s your cut."

"What’s this?" Barlor frowned, disbelief washing over him. "I helped defeat the dragon!"

Manny's lackeys laughed as they took the loot. One shoved Barlor to the ground. "Blanks don’t get much. Know your place."

Barlor's anger boiled over as he saw Manny’s smug face. He charged at Manny, fists clenched tightly. "You can’t treat me like this!" he shouted, throwing a punch with all his strength.

Manny dodged effortlessly and countered with a single blow. Barlor flew backward, landing hard on the rocky ground. "You're dead," Manny sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. The other System Bearers gathered around, their laughter echoing in the cave. They kicked and punched Barlor, their cruelty clear as they overwhelmed him.

As the Dungeon Gate's closure approached, Manny stood over Barlor's battered body, the shadows from the cave looming behind him. "I'm doing you a favor," he said, grinning with satisfaction. "You won’t have to live this pathetic life anymore." With that, Manny and the other System Bearers vanished, leaving Barlor alone in the desolate land.

Barlor lay there for hours, staring at the red sun hanging low in the sky. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, and hunger gnawed at his insides. His mind drifted to his life, filled with pain and hardship. He remembered the day his parents died, leaving him and his baby sister, Lara, in their grandfather's care. He had tried so hard to give Lara a better life, working countless odd jobs, but now he felt abandoned and beaten in this barren wasteland.

"Lara, Gramps... I'm sorry," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes as the reality of his situation sank in.

As despair tightened its grip, the sky above began to darken ominously. Storm clouds gathered, swirling in a chaotic dance. The once-red sky transformed into a violent tempest, the wind howling as it picked up speed. Suddenly, one of the clouds descended lower, revealing a massive figure that sent chills down Barlor’s spine. It wasn’t just a storm; a colossal dragon emerged from the swirling clouds, its scales glistening like obsidian in the dim light.

Barlor, beaten and broken, could only watch in shock as the giant dragon approached, its wings casting dark shadows over the land.

The creature's eyes burned like molten gold, its presence overwhelming and terrifying. Barlor’s heart raced with fear, but a flicker of something else stirred within him.

Barlor’s body ached with every movement. His four broken ribs, swollen lips, and multiple bruises reminded him of the beating he had taken from the System Bearers. Despite the searing pain, he forced himself to stand. Lying down was not an option. Above him hovered the most terrifying being he had ever seen: a Divine Dragon. With its golden and black scales, it was exactly as his grandfather had described in stories. Fear gripped him, but he couldn’t help but marvel at the dragon’s majestic aura.

As Barlor locked eyes with the dragon’s glowing, sun-like gaze, his fear faded. He accepted his fate, knowing he was as good as dead in this barren land without food or water. Spreading his arms wide, Barlor closed his eyes and prepared to embrace his end. "This is the end for me, I guess… I'm ready, great one," he whispered, resigned to his fate.

But nothing happened. Barlor stood there, waiting for the dragon to end it all, but the creature remained still, as if deep in thought. Sarcasm crept into Barlor’s voice as he muttered, "Take your time; I’m not going anywhere." He crossed his arms, growing impatient. Minutes passed in silence, and the tension began to play tricks on his mind. Half an hour went by with no sign of the Divine Dragon doing anything at all. The stillness of the cavern made every second feel like an eternity.

"Divine Dragon?"

Barlor called out, feeling ridiculous as his voice echoed in the empty cavern. Silence stretched on, and with no response, Barlor began pacing, his footsteps echoing through the space.

Alone with his thoughts and unsure of what to do, he felt the weight of the quiet gnawing at him.