Seven dragons were dead; Galen set about gathering their remains.
"I really have the Black Mage to thank for this," Galen Yu thought as he stowed away the dragon bones. "Traveling would be such a hassle without this Traveler's Backpack."
He thought this as he stored the dragon bones.
A standard thirty-six-slot inventory was mostly taken up by weapons and equipment, leaving little room for resources. This large backpack fixed that problem perfectly.
Now, no matter how many resources he found, he didn't have to worry about space. It was a godsend for adventuring.
Having secured stacks of Dragon Bones and even a few Dragon Eggs, it was time for the next step.
He needed to find the key items for breeding Hybrid Dragons.
While Dark Dragons required a trip to the Dread Realm, he had everything else he needed for now. Next, he had to hunt for the essential catalysts.
Lightning Lilies, Ice Lilies, and Fire Lilies.
These flowers spawned in specific biomes: the savanna, the snowy plains, and the desert.
Fortunately, there was still some time before the next Dragon Hunt. Even if it came early, he had his Bone Dragon and felt no fear. He could explore at his leisure.
He continued to explore the world to his heart's content. Meanwhile...
Another group was also exploring this world.
They were bridging out with blocks following the trail left by the Fire Dragon. Thanks to a few leftover Potions of Invisibility, they were making steady progress.
Just as they reached the limits of their endurance, they finally hit the border barrier.
Crossing it was easy, and a notification chimed in their ears.
[SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FREEDOM NATION PLAYER FOR PASSING THE CRISIS CHALLENGE AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCING TO A SMALL CHUNK!]
[SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SAMURAI NATION PLAYER FOR PASSING THE CRISIS CHALLENGE AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCING TO A SMALL CHUNK!]
[SYSTEM: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STICK NATION PLAYER FOR PASSING THE CRISIS CHALLENGE AND SUCCESSFULLY ADVANCING TO A SMALL CHUNK!]
The bullet chat was ecstatic at the news.
"They finally got past those zombies! They've advanced!"
"A Small Chunk! They're finally out of the 'noob' zone!"
"And they've already made contact with the dragons. They're miles ahead!"
"While Galen Yu is busy making enemies of the strongest faction, our guys are building bridges. This is a massive win!"
"As soon as Mark figures out how to hatch those eggs, we'll have dragon riders of our own!"
"Soren Park is so smart; he'll definitely be the first to become a Dragon Knight!"
"Oakmoor! You have to carry on Ronan Mountwell's legacy!"
The players themselves let out a long, collective sigh of relief as the chat cheered.
The pressure from the Crisis had been suffocating, but they had finally pulled through!
"God, I never want to do that again!"
Mark felt a lingering chill down his spine as he remembered the zombies.
The sight of a normal sky was a massive comfort!
Hippogriffs, dragons, and magic.
A wide-open road of possibilities lay ahead of them!
Their daydreaming was cut short by a deafening draconic roar.
"You've arrived?"
A Stage 5 Fire Dragon descended, looking down at the members of the Alliance.
Recognizing the dragon that had led them into this world—their master—Mark was the first to fawn.
He stepped forward with a fawning smile.
"Yes, great lord! We followed in your footsteps as fast as we could without stopping for a moment!"
"Pardon me, but do you have any food or water? It was a long journey, and we..."
The Fire Dragon had already devoured its own stock, and the players were running dangerously low on the rations in their backpacks.
They were starving.
The Fire Dragon cut them off before they could finish.
"Very well. Follow me. The Dragon Mother has been in a foul mood lately."
The Dragon Mother?
That sounded like a significant figure.
Mark's eyes lit up with excitement. They were going to see her immediately.
His choice had been correct after all!
Even though they were technically thralls, helping the Fire Dragon was paying off. He was being introduced to the big boss right away.
In the real world, this would be like meeting a powerful patron!
This was a huge opportunity!
"Thank you so much! How are we getting there? Are you going to fly us on your back?"
The food issue was forgotten for the moment. If he made a good impression on the Dragon Mother, he'd never have to worry about food again!
"You think a few thralls deserve a ride? Get in there yourselves!"
His dream of being a dragon rider was crushed as the Fire Dragon led them to a nearby Dragon Realm portal, and they entered the Dragon Realm.
When they opened their eyes, they were in a different world.
The terrain was unique, filled with floating islands and scattered plains that lacked the orderly structure of the Overworld.
This was a paradise for dragons. Within just a few steps, they saw massive, terrifying dragons soaring overhead.
"Look at all the dragons!"
"They're bigger than skyscrapers! They look like moving mountains!"
"I'm not even as tall as one of their claws!"
"That one looks incredible! Look at those golden markings on its scales!"
"Wait, are those two different elements mixed together? Whoa!"
The sights of the Dragon Realm left everyone shouting in amazement.
Where else could they see such majestic and ferocious mythical creatures?
Basic Fire and Ice Dragons were rare here; most were higher-tier, more impressive breeds.
Even the viewers watching the stream were stunned.
"How are there so many dragons here?!"
"I've never seen these types before! They're so beautiful!"
"Wait, did I just see that right? Was that a laser?!"
"That dragon's breath is a literal laser! Holy crap!"
The sight of the Hybrid Dragons sent shockwaves through the audience.
Because they possessed multiple elements, their attacks were flashier and far more powerful than ordinary dragons.
Just by looking at them, one could tell these were 'High-Tier Dragons.'
The Fire Dragon's attitude made it even clearer.
As a proud Stage 5 Dragon, it usually looked for a fight with any common breed, but it noticeably gave the Hybrids a wide berth.
Sure enough, strength really was the only thing that mattered!
Even dragons understood that the one with the biggest fist made the rules.
With that thought in mind, Mark soon saw the dragon they had come to meet.
Near the portal sat a massive altar-like structure, upon which rested a gargantuan dragon.
It dwarfed the Stage 5 Fire Dragon, looking like a living mountain peak. Small flowers adorned its head, matching its name.
Tiamat, the Dragon Mother!
The Stage 5 Fire Dragon looked like a mere lizard standing at its feet.
When that massive head turned to stare at them, the hearts of every viewer watching the screen began to race.
"This is the Dragon Mother!?"
"Is this what God Yu is planning to kill?"
"One of its heads is bigger than my entire house!"
"Being stared at by that thing is terrifying. I can feel the fear through the screen!"
"The sheer scale of it... the pressure is insane!"
"Imagine a mountain coming to life, with eyes several times larger than a person staring you down. I'd be paralyzed!"
"Oakmoor is still standing? His mental fortitude must be off the charts!"
"Hang in there, Soren Park! Don't let it intimidate you!"
Tiamat lowered her head, bringing it close to the tiny humans.
Mark swallowed hard, his back drenched in cold sweat.
When a creature of that size got close, he could clearly smell the metallic scent of blood and the foul stench of its breath. He could see every ridge on its razor-sharp fangs.
In this situation, as the bullet chat noted, just being able to stand firm without wetting his pants was a testament to his willpower.
Taking a deep breath, Mark forced his voice to remain steady as he spoke in his most respectful tone.
"O Great and Respected Dragon Mother, if I may be so bold as to address you."
"We have heard that you are troubled. Might we be of some small service in easing your burdens?"
...