Meeting An Ancient Dragon

Chapter 3

"Now that the trash is dealt with, why don't we hunt some dragon eggs?" Kane said in a cheerful tone as they ventured deeper into the forest.

Inside a gloomy cave...

Ethan's eyelid slowly twitched slightly before it finally opened.

"Is this the afterlife?" he asked, but there was no answer, only his voice echoing in the empty cave. He checked himself and discovered that all his bruises were healed.

"So I am dead?"

He sluggishly picked himself up from the ground before he strode deeper into the cave. The cave had skeleton parts scattered all over the ground, and anytime Ethan stepped on one, a squishing sound echoed in the cave, and the bone turned into dust.

A fairly large spider web extended from the cave ceiling slowly before it finally landed on Ethan's head.

"Shit." Ethan jolted back as he violently ruffled his hair. The spider fell to the ground before it hastily crept on top of the bones and disappeared into the dark cave.

"It's just a spider, huh? I thought it was a scorpion; I hope they are not here," Ethan mumbled to himself as he strode deeper into the pitch-dark cave.

When he went deeper into the cave, he stopped at a wide flat wall, which was covered in sticky green grease with cobwebs and several tiny ants all over it.

"Am I trapped? Is this what the afterlife looks like, or have I transmigrated into another world?" Ethan squinted his eyes, and with a doubtful expression, his gaze darted around the spot where he was standing.

"I guess I have to trace my steps back. Maybe I might find my way out of this place," Ethan thought, and he turned around and took a step forward, but at that slight second, his foot was in the air, the spot where he stood made a rumbling sound, and it opened as if it was a hole, and he fell inside what seemed like a black tunnel.

"Ahhhhh," Ethan's scream echoed inside the cave as he fell at a relatively fast speed.

"Fuck! Am I going to die a second time? Why am I so unlucky?" Ethan yelled loudly and shut his eyes tightly, hoping to land on the ground.

"Ahhhhhhh." The scream continued until he burst out of a pipe-like tube and fell into a blue pool, making a huge water splash.

Ethan swam out of the water, and when he was back on his feet, he noticed the scenery had changed, and right now, he was in a throne room.

"Where the heck is this place?"

Ethan stopped when he noticed a red viper leaping toward him. Its red slit-like eyes looked like those of a predator, and with its sharp fangs showing, the snake propelled itself towards Ethan.

"I hate snakes!" Ethan said in an annoyed tone before he slapped the jaw of the snake, causing it to lose its teeth, and the snake ran away.

When he got closer to the throne-like hall, Ethan saw several dragon skeletons standing in a straight line on each side of the long hall. The dragon skeletons all had cobwebs on them, and they looked like they would turn into dust at the slightest impact.

As he got closer, the dust from the bones sipped into his nostrils, making him sneeze.

Finally, after walking for some time, Ethan reached the end of the hall, and he could see a throne. It was a throne that was made of bones woven together, and a huge book with a black-blooded crystal embedded in the middle could be seen.

"What is that?" Ethan mumbled, and he stepped forward towards the bony throne. However, when he was about to stretch his hands to take the book, the cave floor shook violently. Then, huge, giant footsteps resounded as the ground trembled from the impact of the loud footsteps.

"Whatever that is, I don't want to encounter it," Ethan thought, and was about to hide in the corner, but his legs didn't move.

"What is happening to me?" Panic was written all over his face. "Why can't I move my legs?" Ethan said in a weak tone before he shifted his gaze towards the large gold slit predator's eyes in the dark.

His heart thumped loudly against his chest, and it looked like it would explode any moment from now.

"You're awake?" Ethan suddenly heard a deep voice.

Ethan's heart accelerated even more.

Then, a massive red dragon's head came out of the darkness before his full body came into view.

Ethan's hands trembled rapidly, and he slowly crept back until his back bumped against a wall.

"Don't be afraid, kid. I mean no harm. And by the way, you are supposed to be thanking me," the dragon spoke.

Hearing what the dragon said, Ethan forced his shivering lips to stop and said, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I saw you fall from the cliff after being betrayed by your brothers." The deep dragon's voice resounded once more.

"Then, you mean I am not dead?" Ethan asked, with a glint of hope.

"Yes, you are not dead," answered the dragon.

Ethan was relieved, but he knew he wasn't safe here as the largest dragon he had ever seen was right in front of him.

"Then where am I?" "Who are you?" Ethan said, in a shaky voice.

"Your first question is, this is a different realm. Oblivious to all the races."

"So you mean I am not in the dragon beast forest?" Ethan asked again.

"Yes, but I can get you there again if you want." The dragon answered.

"Okay, my second question." "Who are you?" Ethan inquired.

The dragon breathed fire from his nostrils and said, "I am known by many names. Some call me the red dragon, the cosmic lord, but I am mostly known as Rowena, the first human dragon."

"But according to the books, you went into seclusion," Ethan uttered in disbelief.

The first human dragon was something almost everyone knew about in the Draconian empire, so it came as a shock to see that legendary dragon in person for Ethan.

"Yes, you're right,"

"Ancestor, please forgive me for not acknowledging your presence," Ethan said, and slammed his knee to the ground, kneeling on the cold cave ground.

"Get up, my descendant. I would also like to ask you for a favor."

"Anything within my power I would do," Ethan said in a determined tone.

"You see, in recent times, the dragon race, which I fought and built, is now declining. We are no longer at the top of all the realms like we used to be. The humans will soon surpass us, just like the vampires and demons. The only reason I remained in this cave was to await the worthy descendant with golden dragon eyes like mine. And you, my direct descendant, were lucky to pose it. This is the reason I brought you here."

"Looking at your face, I know you're confused," Rowena said.

Ethan nodded.

"In ancient times, the golden dragon's eyes were worshipped because of the power they posed within. That is why you see the palace decorated with golden dragon eyes. Only those who possess the golden dragon eyes can attain the true cosmic rank and ascend to immortality. To cut a long story short, I would like to transfer all my powers to you. I have already reached my limits, so what do you say?"

The smile on Ethan's face grew. "I accept," Ethan said without hesitation. This was his chance to get stronger and get back at his brother for all those years of torture. This time, he will be on top.

Rowena nodded, pleased that he finally had a successor.

"A few minutes later, Ethan was lying on an elevated altar inside the cave naked. The altar was adorned with gold crystals, making it glow.

"Okay kid, time to start the ritual. Brace yourself." Rowena opened his large mouth and spit red flames on Ethan's naked body, engulfing his entire body in flames.

"Aghhhhh" His scream shook the entire cave. The pain was akin to being thrown into a larva. He felt his skin peeling and healing again, over and over again, and he felt like he had to just give up and die.

After some time, the flame dispersed from his body, revealing his tanned skin, but as he tried to get up, he fell back and lost consciousness.

***