“You’ve done my children dirty!” The monster growled in a language that only Arad understood.

[He speaks draconic, be wary!]

Everyone froze in place, staring at the massive burning lizard. “That’s one big salamander. Is it the queen?” Jack backed away, watching the monster’s movements.

Aella pulled her bow, “It seems like it, we should retreat. My arrows aren’t long enough to deal any damage to it.” She yelled.

Arad was about to speak, looking at the monster when Mom stopped him, [Don’t speak. It will discover your nature.]

^What should we do then? Retreat?^ 𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺

[That’s right, move back slowly.]

As Arad and the rest took one step back, the monster swung its tail, causing the cave to shake. CRACK! The path behind them crumbled, trapping them in the room.

“Do you think I will let you escape after killing my children?” The monster growled.

“The monster is growling at us. Get ready for an attack.” Jack shouted while getting close to Arad. “Aella, try to find an escape route for us.” He shouted. At the moment, he thinks that Aella has the best eyesight in the room.

^They can’t understand what the monster is saying. Should I try and negotiate?^

[No, there is no chance this monster will let a wyrmling live.]

“Only a bunch of fools,” The monster growled, glaring at them with a streaming fire gushing from its nostrils.

CLANG! Arad stepped fromward, banging his staff on the ground. “Stay behind me. I will take the front.” THUD! He rushed toward the monster.

“Chief, be careful!” Jack yelled, running to the side and attempting to distract the monster.

“How funny.” The monster turned its head, opening its massive jaw toward Jack. KA-SWOOSH! A burst of flames rushed toward Jack.

ZON! Arad immediately teleported between Jack and the monster, lifting his arms to block the fire breath.

BAAAM! The flames rushed around Arad, crackling and charring his top, yet his skin remained undamaged. “Chief?” Jack gasped, surprised at Arad’s sudden appearance. BOOM! As the flames exploded, Arad glared at the monster.

^No holding back on this one.^

Arad took a deep breath, bending backward, filling his lungs, and a white stream of flames burst from his nose. The monster stepped back, alerted.

“GRWAAAA!” Arad screamed, releasing a massive stream of pure white flames from his mouth.

“What are you?” The monster twisted its neck, dodging the blast with ease.

[Get them to leave. After distracting the monster, we will run as well.]

“JACK, Take Aella and find a way to leave this place, ” Arad growled. BAM! His body burst into flames, “This one is mine.”

“What are you saying, Chief? I will fight here beside you!” Jack lifted his dagger.

“You’re in the way. I can’t control my flames that well.” Arad lied. He can control his flame. The problem is that fire is useless against this creature. He needs to use the void directly.

“Come here, Jack. We will find Alcott and Ginger!” Aella shouted, looking around for an escape route.

The monster stared at Arad, almost smiling, “I see, a red draconic sorcerer. Can’t you understand by words?”

[It thinks you’re a sorcerer. Speak with it but keep that guise.]

“Monster, are you the one causing trouble in this cave?” Arad growled, speaking in draconic, glaring at it in the eyes.

The monster titled its head, “So you can understand me.” It glared at Arad, “I’m the salamander’s queen, not a monster.” She stepped to the side, “Did you think I would let you leave after killing my children?”

BANG! Arad smacked his staff on the ground, “You weren’t here last year. Do you know you’re trespassing on another’s land? Before long, hordes of adventurers will rush down here to slay you and your kin.”

“Cheif, are you talking with that thing?” Jack stopped searching for a moment, and Aella smacked him.

The monster looked at Jack and Aella, “Children, at them.” The salamanders rushed to kill them.

“Look here, let them go!” Arad yelled, and the monster snorted, “No, I will soon evolve into a dragon. You’re kind and won’t stand a chance against me.” The queen growled, her tail flapping around, and flame gushed from her spine, causing the room to become an oven.

[Dragon’s blood is powerful. A creature with it can usually evolve into a dragon if he gets strong enough.] Mom explained, [That includes even human sorcerers.]

^Are you saying this thing has dragon blood? A sorcerer monster?^

[Exactly, a dragon must have mated with one of the salamanders and produced this thing.]

BAM! Arad rushed ahead, swinging his sword at the monster’s front leg. ^I will slice the muscle and cause it to fall.^

When Arad’s sword approached the leg, the queen moved back, dodging the attack, “Slow!” She growled, swinging her front right claw at him.

CLANG! Her claw hit Arad in the torso sending his body flying away.

STAB! At that moment, the queen felt a sharp pain below the base of her tail. “Who’s there?” She growled, trying to see but failing. “It’s that rogue!” She assumed when she didn’t see Jack around.

Jack hanged to the base of her tail when she couldn’t hit him, jamming his dagger again and again below her scales. “I will bust your ass open!” He shouted while his arms burned from her hot scales.

“Try and hit a vein!” Aella yelled, aiming at the queen’s eyes.

“I can’t. This one is too thick for my short dagger!” He shouted, “Just Die!” He started stabbing faster.

The queen growled, running around and banging the walls, “Get off me!” and dragged her ass on the ground like a dog. Eventually, she brushed Jack off on a stone.

The queen barely marched, blood pouring from her rear end.

Aella rushed toward Jack and found him barely alive, his arms charred and his legs broken. “You stupid idiot!” She shouted, trying to drag him away before the small salamanders ate him.

Jack giggled while bleeding from his mouth, “I drilled her a fourth hole,”

“You insolent bastard!” The queen rushed toward them, opening her blazing jaw.

KABOOM! Something exploded in the back, and the air started rumbling as two purple eyes appeared in the shadows.

“All I wanted is some children!” THUD! Arad took a step forward, three gaping holes in his torso.

The queen stared at him, “What are you?” She could feel that something was off about him. She sensed no flame or heat from him.

“With all this bullshit!” Arad glared at her, “Why should I be the only one holding back?” Veins popped in his forehead, and his eyes flashed with a deep purple flare.

[Arad, calm down.]

“Why are you still standing with those wounds?” The queen turned toward him, releasing another breath.

Arad shouted, “GRWA!” A dark flash blinked, blasting her flames away with a loud rumble.

“That woman is mine!” Arad took a step forward, glaring at the queen in the eyes, “This whole place is mine. Who are you to stand here?”

[Arad! Don’t let the dragons’ arrogance consume you!]

As the queen watched, Arad’s body morphed into his draconic form, glaring down at her, “You’re the reason I’m not with Aella yet!” Arad growled, the ground beneath him shaking.