Dragons.
The most feared and idolized creatures in the Oasis. Beings as sublime as they were terrifying — and none of the races that existed in that universe dared to face one. Even the strongest kingdoms understood a simple truth: it wasn't worth it. There were no natural catastrophes in the Oasis, after all. There were the Dragons.
But the knowledge about those creatures awoke two things: curiosity and greed.
Curiosity, because dragons were giant creatures that lived alone, or commanding smaller creatures — forming true self-sustaining kingdoms. Beings capable of subjugating other species of the Oasis just with the weight of their own power and, at the same time, capable of speaking, of communicating, of creating. In the end, they were true onions of infinite layers, which made any scholar spend decades — maybe an entire lifetime — just trying to understand their nuances. Dragons were old and wise. And that, for anyone who valued knowledge, was a feast.
But it wasn't only curiosity that reigned in those creatures.
Because dragons were also greedy. They accumulated riches and knowledge like no one — and didn't like to share. They took for themselves everything they desired, without giving anyone else a chance. A life too long transformed them into beings that carried fortunes — both physical and of wisdom. And that awoke the worst in everyone around.
Of course, that would mean nothing. After all, no one else's knowledge or fortune mattered if there was no way to take it from whoever guarded it.
There was, however, a curious habit in those creatures — something that opened a dangerous gap.
Despite being known for being extremely lazy, dragons liked, every several dozen years, to change places. Sometimes to sleep. Sometimes just to breathe new air. In fact, they made the entire Oasis their own home — and pity whoever was in the new resting spot chosen. But, for having this unique characteristic, they couldn't go around dragging their riches. So, when they left, they left magical guardians to protect the old treasures, while they accumulated new ones in the next place.
It was a fascinating characteristic, that yielded good stories.
Most, I believed to be a lie. But some were true. And, in the end, the only certainty that existed was this: behind that gate there was something precious to the strongest creature that exists — accumulated over decades, maybe hundreds of years, maybe thousands. Buried. And forgotten.
Unfortunately, a dragon's greed was only second to the greed of the races that knew where their riches were.
✦ ✦ ✦
"Eris… I suggest we move away."
"What do you mean, Lord Leonidas? The guardians didn't even move, I mean…"
"It's not them I'm worried about."
While Eris looked at me confused, I began to move away.
There was something in the air. A tension that didn't come from the bronze statues, nor from the gate — it came from the two beings who, until a few minutes ago, walked side by side like allies. I felt, with every instinct that world had sharpened in me, that something was about to happen.
"Lady Bestaria…?"
"Shut up, girl, and get out of here. Now."
The Lioness looked at me with a smile of approval — like someone who recognizes that the smartest prey is the one that knows when to run — while drawing two golden daggers.
"So this is where our truce ends, tramp."
"Shut up, little golden fish. Today there's going to be sushi for my warriors."
I honestly felt sorry for Eris.
She seemed not to realize what was about to happen — though it wasn't hard to imagine. The two strongest of that place came alone, leaving all the others in the dark. They knew something. The only question, from the beginning, was who would keep the spoils. The luck that Eris and I had was simple: the two of them knew we weren't the problem.
I had predicted something like this could happen.
But, honestly, I believed they would at least wait for the guardians to be dead before beginning to try to kill each other. I must admit: I was naive not to realize how crazy an Aquamarine and a Burman could be.
"Come with me. Now."
✦ ✦ ✦
I held the confused girl's hand while we moved away toward the hole we came through.
As soon as we entered the narrow corridor, the ground trembled. Then it trembled again. And then it didn't stop anymore — a constant earthquake, coming from behind us, making earth and stones loosen from the ceiling with each new impact.
"Damn… those crazy sons of bitches. Do they even know there's forty meters of earth on top of us?"
Eris seemed in shock, still trying to digest what was happening.
I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. In the end, none of that mattered anymore. The alliance had been just a means to an end — and the end was that enormous gate. There was no friendship. There was no companionship. Maybe it was something she needed to learn: in that place, everything was a zero-sum game. For one to win, another had to lose. And, for the first time, I saw in her eyes the glimpse of that truth.
"But… what now? Our alliance? What's going to happen? What the hell is going through the heads of those crazy people? If Bestaria dies, I… no, please…"
Finally, Eris began to despair.
And I sympathized. From what I understood, she was alone in that place — and depended exclusively on Bestaria's protection to, most probably, not be killed. Or worse: be enslaved by some other Lord. Bestaria really seemed sensible. But, at the end of the day, she was still a Burman. And, if there was someone crazy enough to draw a weapon against an Aquamarine, it was exactly that race.
"If she drew the weapon against that Aquamarine, it's because she has some idea of what to do. I don't think she's easy to kill."
What I said wasn't a lie.
But the Aquamarines weren't, for so long, the strongest race in the Oasis for no reason. The real question was: how far were the Burmans from them? The last time I had seen the two races facing each other — in the Purge, in the fight that guaranteed my survival — I had one certainty: that Aquamarine who helped me, defeating the Burman I ended up killing, would have beaten my enemy with ease even if the two had been together — and without my help. But those were all rookies. And, as far as I knew, Aquamarines were born strong. What would happen when two ancient ones fought? I was genuinely curious.
But I wasn't dumb enough to stay and find out in the middle of the crossfire.
However curious I was, I knew exactly my place on that board. My kingdom was strong. But, individually, I was weak even against my peers — much less against an ancient Burman or Aquamarine. And, if I was still alive, fleeing through a tunnel with Eris, it was because both thought of me exactly what I thought of them.
"Did you know about this?"
It was a good question. While we ran, Eris still seemed hurt by all of it.
"I thought it could happen — even more so when I saw the two of them came alone. But did I know they were going to try to kill each other right off the bat? No… Maybe. But I wasn't sure."
✦ ✦ ✦
We ran until we finally reached the point where the Void's portal should be.
And, when I got there, it was madness.
The enemy attack — which at that time of day should be mild and spaced out — was frenetic. Arachne and her daughters tore enemies apart at a speed I had rarely seen, and even so they kept coming. It was clear something had changed.
"Damn. I think they found out. You go back to the surface — I'm going to have to stay."
"But… what do I do? Wait?"
It was a good question.
Honestly, I had no idea who would win that fight back there. What I knew was that her future depended on the result — but standing still waiting wouldn't change anything.
"You do whatever you want. But, unless you want to help me kill some enemies down here, I suggest you get out."
She left in a hurry, visibly upset with everything that was happening.
For her, that day had probably gone from zero to eighty too fast. But there was nothing to be done. The problem I had to solve now was another.
"Daughter! I'm going to Morgana and Livina. You take care of things here."
"Yes, Papa. You can rest easy."
I wasn't worried about Arachne.
If the enemy were just the Tyrin, she and the children would handle it — even if the quantity doubled. My worry was the other tunnel. Since up top it was day, I had left Morgana and Livina taking care of the army while I guided the guests. And now they were alone, in the middle of whatever that was becoming.
"I hope they're okay. And I hope this damn fight ends before we all get buried."
Because my problem was no longer just the enemy.
While I advanced through the tunnel, the tremors gave no truce. The walls shook, the ceiling creaked, and the earth loosened in blocks that grew larger and larger — to the point that I began to believe those corridors wouldn't hold even a minute more of so much impact. Two titans dueled forty meters deep. And the entire structure of that anthill trembled along.
✦ ✦ ✦
When I finally arrived, I found chaos.
Livina fought on the front line. Morgana didn't stop hitting with her darts, one after another, each shot bringing down an enemy. Even Pegasus was in the middle of the battle, tearing Tyrin apart with a fury that seemed like fun. It was clear that attack was motivated by something — I had never seen so many enemies at once, not even at the height of the night.
"Damn… what the hell is happening?"
I advanced while transforming the Mark into a long spear.
Morgana was the first to answer, without stopping firing — the next dart bursting the head of a Tyrin that had passed the Orghaal's barrier.
"I don't know, my Lord! They started coming after the first earth tremor. What's happening back there?"
"I think the two guests want the nest just for themselves. And each thinks the other is getting in the way."
Morgana and Livina knew what that was — I hadn't hidden anything from them.
But they also knew that the nests, despite being considered riches, were dangerous in the extreme. Unlike me, who always knew those two would end up killing each other, they believed the leaders would unite to conquer the nest together. And, truth be told: if they had done that, they wouldn't go through even half the difficulties one alone would face. But I knew the correct thing was to never underestimate greed. Even more so before a newly discovered nest, buried for hundreds — maybe thousands — of years.
"I can't believe those idiots… Watch out!"
Morgana fired, and the dart passed grazing me — preventing a Tyrin from reaching Livina from behind.
"Let's focus on not dying first. Then we'll see what we can do."
✦ ✦ ✦
After nearly four hours, the enemy finally began to diminish. And the tremors ceased.
"I think we already have a winner."
Livina and Morgana spoke between heavy breaths, exhausted.
But I remained tense. Because, if there was a perfect moment for the Tyrin to get what they wanted, it was exactly that one. They must have felt the battle of the two titans — and, by that point, would have already put the pieces together. The valley's protectors were killing each other. The defenses were exhausted. If there was a time to strike, it was now, with the iron hot.
"Don't lose yourselves in the diminishing of the enemy. Something's going to happen. Get ready."
Before I finished speaking, an enormous step sounded at the bend of the cave.
A single step — and the entire ground trembled beneath it. All the hairs on my body rose at once. Beside me, Morgana and Livina stiffened, weapons raised, breath held. Because the three of us knew, without needing to say it, that that was no longer a common Tyrin. The sound was too heavy. Too big. The kind of step that announces something that shouldn't fit in that tunnel.
"Seems someone got tired of just watching."