「Roar———」
A tremendous roar echoed from afar.
It made mountains tremble and the ground shake; birds and wild beasts fled in terror, and even the young creatures deep in the caves woke up suddenly, bewildered.
「Hiss」
「What on earth happened?」
Ethan felt as if he had just awoken from a nightmare, his mind still groggy.
But in front of him was neither his familiar room nor the high-tech game pod and equipment.
Instead, there was a dark, warm cave, solid rocks, and even a few scattered gold coins on the ground.
「Where is this place?」
Ethan felt a splitting headache, with countless memories flooding his mind. There was magic like in fantasy novels and memories of his past life as a player.
He only remembered taking on a task from a wealthy player to farm giant hill fingers, traveling to the Giant Gorge and fighting for over eight consecutive hours.
Eventually, his body couldn't take it, so he left the character on AFK to sleep for a while, preparing to get back into the game pod to fight.
But when he opened his eyes, he found himself in this mysterious place, and his body felt strange.
He struggled to get up, instinctively walking on all fours, and reached a nearby water puddle.
「Dragon?」
Before him, the "beast" was covered in fine red scales, its golden vertical pupils radiating ferocity and brutality.
Over three meters long, its body still had traces of youth, but many parts were already menacing, with sharp teeth, claws, and powerful limbs.
Yes, it was a young dragon.
And one of the Five-Colored Dragons' strongest and most brutal: the Red Dragon.
Its mouth reeked of sulfur, with a volcano seemingly buried deep in its throat, ready to erupt anytime, making Ethan uncomfortable.
He sneezed involuntarily, sending out steaming hot air and smoke from his nostrils.
A semi-transparent blue screen suddenly appeared before him.
[Juvenile Red Dragon]
Name: Kaesius Claudeu Norixius
Template: NPC (Available in 10 years, 1 day, 18 hours)
Category: Large Dragon, Lawful Neutral
AC: 18 (Natural Armor)
Attributes:
Strength: 21
Dexterity: 10
Constitution: 18
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 11
Charisma: 14
Skills: Stealth +4, Perception +8, Hunting +2, Escape +4, Knowledge (Future) +4
Damage Immunity: Fire
Senses: Blindsight 10 ft, Darkvision 60 ft, Passive Perception 14 ft
Languages: Draconic, Common
Actions: Bite, Claw, Tail, Fly, Breath Weapon (Fire)
Special Abilities: None
Challenge Rating: 6 (2100 XP)
Evaluation: "The Red Dragon's powerful claws and sharp teeth can become a nightmare for adventurers, often using fire breath or special physical attacks, as well as ancient magic. Even the juvenile Red Dragon should not be underestimated, or it will become a lifelong nightmare."
「Have I transmigrated into Irezage?」
「And become Kaes?」
After browsing the information, Ethan, or Kaesius, finally clarified the situation and recalled memories from his past life.
Irezage is a holographic game based on classic D&D.
Its origin and developer are unknown, but it boasts cutting-edge technology, claiming to create a real world for players, with hundreds of millions online simultaneously.
From ordinary people to elites in society, commerce, and politics, countless players are immersed, some living fully in game pods.
Kaes is known as the Red Dragon, the first world boss of Irezage 1.0, contracted with abyssal demons.
He holds countless titles: "Scorching Flame," "Mountain Wrath," "Player Soul Reaper," "Beginner Nightmare."
In early missions, the Red Dragon tormented thousands of new players with fire, forcing them to suicide-attack strategies to survive.
Thus, Kaesius earned the immortal title: 「Kaes」.
Even now, in version 4.0, with level cap 20, players explore the astral planes, yet Kaes' legend remains.
「Roar!」
Another roar outside the nest interrupted Kaesius' thoughts.
The intense pressure in the air made the young dragon shiver, but it ran cautiously to the cave entrance.
In the distant sky, a massive red dragon flapped its wings, causing fierce winds and watching from above.
This must be his biological mother, a strong adult Red Dragon.
「Half-human, half-elf mongrel, leave my territory!」
「Do you know who you face?」
「Before you stands the favored offspring of Tiamat, ruler of Cloud Peak, the noble and mighty Red Dragon, Aclania!」
Her tone was arrogant, as befits her bloodline.
On the ground, a half-elf warrior in dark-golden armor faced the dragon without fear, silver sword on back, speaking firmly:
「Evil dragon, your arrogance cannot prevent your end」
「You plunder and harm the innocent; your actions have destroyed justice and order」
「No matter which god stands behind you, we, the oath-bound, will make you pay— with life!」
A paladin's vow of vengeance!
The half-elf drew her silver sword, the Red Dragon dived, jaws wide to rip her apart, flames scorching the air.
「It's 'Twilight Blade' Rhea」
Kaesius recalled the mission related to him:
Main Quest: [Frozen Nightfire]
[Ten years ago, Rhea the half-elf paladin killed Kaesius' mother. The young dragon fled to Anstica Mountains, waiting to take revenge on humans. Now, after a pact with ancient demons, it becomes "Scorching Flame," destroying cities and leading its evil army.]
The current timeline is ten years before, the dragon-paladin battle.
The half-elf paladin is level 20 with divine favor, while adult Red Dragons typically have CR 17.
Kaesius had no time to think and hurried back to the nest.
「Tiamat above, this is the dragon treasury」
「Hope it's not too shabby…」
Kaesius exhaled sulfurous hot air, shook his stiff wings, stretching them
Using the familiar scent inherited from his temporary mother, Kaesius twisted and turned through the deep cave until he reached a stone gate.
The gate was thick and radiated danger.
This was the Red Dragon's secret treasure vault.
Her forbidden domain, her land of greed, coveted by all creatures in Anzeta yet inaccessible.
Cautiously, the young red dragon extended his claws, pushed the heavy stone door, and flapped his wings to soar.
「Boom!」
Instantly, molten lava surged forth.
It roared like frenzied beasts, emitting scorching heat, attempting to devour everything in its path.
This was the harshest punishment for any creature daring to touch the Red Dragon's treasure—turning them into molten lava, melting their bodies entirely, leaving no bones.
Even with prior reaction, the lava flooding the cave engulfed Kaesius.
Fortunately, his bloodline, like his mother's, gave him innate fire resistance.
Though his scales were thin and his body juvenile, preventing a comfortable lava soak like an adult dragon, the heat posed no mortal threat.
「Hey-yo!」
The juvenile dragon used his wings like paddles, propelling himself deeper into the vault.
Ahead, the sight opened dramatically:
Gold—piles upon piles of it.
Coins flowed slowly like rivers, falling on the rocks with a «clink-clink» sound.
Among the golden mounds were items shimmering with magical energy.
Kaesius' breath quickened, his orange vertical pupils reflecting the glittering gold.
Innate draconic greed urged him to stay, as if a voice whispered:
Claim this gold, these treasures—they are yours.
「Boom!」
The sound shook the hills.
It was the Red Dragon's roar and the paladin's shout.
Kaesius snapped out of his greed-induced trance, realizing time was short.
The Red Dragon fought the paladin and was clearly losing.
If his temporary mother were killed, he would be the next target of this vengeance-driven paladin.
Taking all the gold was impossible.
No wonder this Red Dragon drew the attention of a near-legendary paladin—millions in gold.
Now Kaesius understood why a heat-loving red dragon appeared in cold Anzeta—it was fleeing with loot.
「I only need magical items that enhance survival.」
Kaesius regained his rationality, suppressed his greed, and searched the golden piles for magical items.
「Blade Ring: reduces slashing damage.」
「Soul Amulet: speak with the dead once per day.」
「Magic-Null Amulet: nullifies one spell under level 6—essential for early-game survival.」
The young dragon swallowed the finely engraved mithril amulet.
Red Dragons are innate spellcasters; their bodies store and activate magical items.
「Heart of Lava: adds extra fire damage, nice.」
「Blazer Staff: three fire rays, take it.」
Within seconds, he had swallowed over ten magical items, most valuable.
Clearly, adult Red Dragons value gold far more than magic.
Outside, the battle intensified, but the roars weakened.
「Time to go.」
The juvenile dragon headed to the cave exit but repeatedly glanced back at the gold mound.
Bloodline greed tempted him to consume all the gold, yet the magical items nearly filled his stomach.
「Just one bite.」
He opened his mouth, swallowed a mouthful, and coins tumbled like a waterfall.
The gold, surprisingly, felt like rich sweets in his sulfur-scented, hot mouth.
A translucent panel appeared:
Achievement: Gold Devourer
「As an evil dragon, not satisfied with storing gold, you sought to merge it into your insatiable body—your greed impresses even the gods…」
Passive Gained:
[Metallic Scales] Level 4 (4250/5000)
AC +2, Constitution +1
The metals absorbed into your body, shining on your scales, enhancing armor and constitution.
「Shhhh…」
Gold melted, flowing across his body; his heart beat stronger, pumping hot blood everywhere.
「Hah—」
Kaesius exhaled comfortably.
Attribute growth is exponential, roughly 1.2× per level, greatly enhancing constitution.
「Good stuff, but can't take all the gold.」
Unexpectedly, his greed brought this boon, yet the battle outside was almost over.
He had to leave now.
Thankfully, his temporary mother had left a narrow escape path.
The full-bellied juvenile dragon exited, running and flying toward another cave entrance of the nest.
This led to the southern slope of Cloud Peak, then Bokara forests—freedom to fly and hunt.
Tall trees provided perfect cover for a small dragon, for living and hunting.
「Strong wind, ha!」
Kaesius leapt toward the approaching exit.