A Chronometric Defect

While flying above the western badlands, I've come to find it's not nearly as desolate as the rumors suggest.

It's past midnight, but I see everything like it's daytime. I enjoy my stellar vision.

I look to my left. Here.

I look farther to my left. And there.

Reh, there's large pockets of water and greenery. In some areas, it's similar to a savanna or grasslands. The spot near Achiton is a flat-out rocky desert, though, which may have led to the name sticking over time.

This region's other striking feature is a huge number of holes in the ground which look like burrows.

Except these chasms are large enough for me to fit my entire body while I'm scaled up to 20 meters. Thousands of monsters pour into and out of each one like a bunch of ant colonies. These monsters aren't all insects, though. Some are normal animals and... Reh? I think I see a fungus monster.

...

Which means my supposition was correct. The thing that's making all these monsters attack Achiton is the same thing that infected both the warp bug and Yenim. Or, should I say, intentionally infected?

Regh.

According to the experimental data I've received from The Purified Heavens via Leario, they regularly use a technique called 'mind clamp.' What this is, exactly, is not discussed in the documents I've read. Still, I've been able to make some decent guesses. It's likely that white object I keep finding.

I reform the papers I've absorbed into my body. I then snatch the sheaf of papers from midair.

I can review these mentally, but it's amusing to stick with the mundane sometimes. Some might say it's to keep myself grounded or whatever, but that's ridiculous. Dragons can fly exactly as high as they desire. Based on what I've learned about my wings recently— outer space shouldn't be an issue. Except for the radiation.

So, rewh. Dragons do as they damn well please. Besides, I have a better way of keeping myself sensible.

As for eating and reforming these papers? This would be perfect for subterfuge at the experimental facility. Imagine not realizing the paper document you're holding is actually a dragon.

Hilarious!

But, I can't be bothered with intrigue and spycraft. I'd break in there and demand anything I wanted... If I felt like it.

I'mma dragon! Rawr.

###ROOOOOOOOAAAARRRRR###

*pfew*

A black line shoots out to the horizon.

Rawh! I got my sweet roar back. Except, it doesn't level cities anymore; at least not usually. Its power is super-concentrated into that black line. If I aimed that line at the ground, well. Hreh. It doesn't explode— it eats.

In fact, it's eating all the air it passes through.

I've been using Mana to reform the air I consume, so I don't mistakenly destroy this planet's atmosphere. This said, I find it odd. How can I get permanently more powerful by eating physical mass and yet reform that same mass via Mana? I'm concerned that me eating is some sort of one-way consumption of the planet.

...

I can't figure out where that energy is coming from. Does this universe not obey the law of physics from my past life called 'conservation of energy?' The one which stated 'energy can neither be created nor destroyed?' That would be strange considering how much this universe's physics seem to match up with my previous life.

I may be a dragon, but the only obvious difference in my observations of this world is the existence of Mana. Or, is the difference that I can sense mana? Was Mana also present in my past life?

I don't know.

Ragh, never mind.

I look back to the papers, shuffling them in my claws.

*shf-shrk*

I pull one from the pile.

*shhk*

I assembled this one from data across all of the documents I possess. It notes all of the times Yenim has entered the western badlands alone. Why? Nobody can explain. After finding the white object, though, I've got a rough idea.

She does so both before and after she left for Achiton, up until a Dracorend Arrow involuntarily nested itself in her brain. Strikingly, she doesn't remember coming out here, but when prodded, she does think she has.

Something doesn't add up.

I shuffle the papers again.

*shuf-ksh*

*skh-shf*

I pull out my own experimental sheets.

*shkk*

I suppose 'I' am all four of these things, now, so I mean experiment two. I was definitely mind-clamped— like Yenim. I wandered in from the western badlands, as well.

The warp bug didn't migrate down here, but I suspect it didn't have any need. If my guess is correct? There's a rogue experiment somewhere in the underground around here. It's possible the thing has grown its network large enough to reach into Venifera. Which is interesting, since these monsters below me don't attack Venifera. At all.

I think The Purified Heavens is using it to mind-control both experiments and people. However, under certain circumstances, their so-called 'mind clamp' can malfunction. It appears whatever programming the Empire adds to these white things can break and it'll return to its original purpose: the infected becomes what I like to call a 'destroyer.'

An infected whom habitually kills.

It appears the Empire thought they were losing their grip on Yenim and wanted to execute her before she exposed herself. What's interesting is that Yenim did not turn into a destroyer, but rather after killing her brothers, her mind control began weakening instead. She'd been going into the badlands less and less up until she was shot.

The plant making these things probably isn't very smart. Maybe the human brain is complex enough to defeat its mind manipulation given enough time? Rawh, I'm not sure. Since I only have one human data point, this is the best I can do right now.

I shove the papers back into my body. I'm not storing the papers anywere— I'm reabsorbing my own flesh.

I'm weird.

I'd expected these white objects would've spread like crazy in Achiton, but that hasn't happened, according to Pathfinder. It's easy for these white objects... Seeds? Rahr, they look like seeds, and I think the source is a plant, so I'll call them seeds.

It's easy for these seeds to infect weak monsters. Stronger monsters and, naturally, heavily-armed guards have no problem completely ignoring them. The victim needs to consume the seed for it to infect them, but the seed's ability to encourage a creature to consume it is limited to smell and taste.

That doesn't mean it's not a problem, though. The fact the Empire is using this seed is a problem in and of itself. I found thousands of these seeds inside the Tengerii citizens I executed, especially inside those running the sex trafficking ring. At the time, I had no idea what these were, so I ignored them. Maybe some part of human biology?

Seeing the same object inside a giant bug monster makes that theory impossible. Not to mention how twisted and malformed said bug monster was. Yet, these white things are identical? Utter nonsense. It was planted, for sure.

Hrrahm. But back to the landscape.

I think the best way to figure out what's down in these holes is to dig into the ground and rummage around. My mental map does extend underground, except when I look down there...

I find a lot of rocks and dirt. Surprising, right?

Worse, not many in this world are interested in geology. Soil cultivation, yes, but not geology. I wasn't able to locate any helpful memories.

So, I asked Pathfinder. It put a huge red dot over the entirety of Shridenia. How terribly annoying Pathfinder can be at times. It's probably including whatever branches reach into Venifera. The ones I can't find.

Still, I check Pathfinder again.

Reh. I'm flying over the center of where the big red dot is, so... If this thing has a main body, it should be around here.

I drop to the ground with the typical badass draconic flair, slamming into the rocky surface.

*THUD*

I stand up as my wings move majestically behind me. Rawh, reah.

I retract my wings and examine my surroundings for a moment.

Now for the glamorous part. My ridiculously amazing mental abilities kick into high gear, and...!

I start excavating dirt. Reh hreh.

*shud*

*klud*

*flot*

...

Why should I not eat the whole badlands? Hrr. Well, I'm digging up a pretty darn wide area so I don't miss anything. Aside from the fact I might destabilize the geology surrounding Achiton if I don't put the dirt back— I mean, I could easily reinforce it. I'm mostly worried that eating too much of this planet could cause issues.

*shnk*

*shul*

*shup*

Rawh, what a weird concern to have. 'What happens if I eat too much of this planet?'

...

I shake my dragon head.

I'd rather not find out.

*shuf*

*klud*

*flod*

Bit by bit, I make my way underground. It's probably excessively safe to dig down like this rather than entering the tunnels, but I'm going slow anyway. The power I possess becomes irrelevant if I use it carelessly.

*hulf*

*blud*

*roff*

After a few of this world's hours, I hit what seems to be a huge rock shelf.

*thuf*

*flup*

*thonk*

I use my newest talent to clear off a wide area with a small windstorm—

*shoooof*

— which reveals an obvious stone gray.

Is this what they call 'bedrock?'

Seems likely.

I look at my mental map again. All of the nearby tunnels go straight down to this bedrock, and here I am. Nothing.

*sphew*

I look down. There's a stone-colored spike sticking out sideways from the direct center of my chest. It entered through my left side, which should've definitely impaled my heart.

Well, shit.

That could've been fatal if I wasn't immortal. How'd I screw this up so badly? I look to where the spike is...

Coming from...

Directly from the bedrock? What?

I break off the spike.

*chrrt*

I fly back out of the hole. This time, I open my underground map and zoom out.

Way. Out.

By the time I have the entire country of Shridenia visible, plus a section of Eritromi, I see the end of the bedrock. I turn the map vertical.

...

That's not bedrock.

It has roots, and those roots are what reach deep into the real bedrock. This is... A giant plant bulb?

Holy crap!

Well, I found the freakin' plant. Sorry for doubting you, Pathfinder. You were right all along.

I feel two different conflicting sensations in my chest and head at the same time. Hruh?

I dismiss that and examine my mental map. Indeed, now I can see the roots proper.

No idea why I didn't recognize these things before. Too damn big, I guess?

Some of the bulb's roots reach up into Venifera, Haitos, Kaifalos, and even a few into Fridellia. They don't extend into Achiton, for some reason, which may be why the monsters are attacking Achiton so vigorously. I also notice the roots stop dead at that split pyramid between Achiton and Haitos. Is that thing blocking the roots? Actually, hruh, it looks like a large region south of the pyramid has no roots at all. Odd. Well, I plan to continue ignoring that thing as I always have.

I shrug my dragon shoulders. I won't disturb the structure which keeps Achiton safe.

I mentally move the map a bit.

None of the roots reach into the city of Achiton itself. However, they do extend around Achiton via Haitos and into Tengerii, where they form a thick clump underground.

I move the map around, trying to assess the situation.

That root branches off at many places and travels deep into the Empire. Plus, there's a lot more of them. Hrem.

Are the roots helping the bulb steal some kind of resource from those it infects? I'll need to go clean up all of these cities. However, to do that, I'll need to eliminate the bulb itself. Except for one major problem.

Regh, a plant of this size; I can ignore unstable geology or damage to the planet. This HAS to die. It'll kill the planet just fine without my interference. Except, if I do kill it? It'll rot and the whole damn nation will fall into the resulting sinkhole. Other nations, too. This thing is big enough to end multiple countries just by dying.

I turn the map vertical again to check the thickness of the root under the Empire's capital.

Rugh, this thing's enormous. Just that branch of the root is almost as thick as the city is wide.

Forget what I said earlier. I'll also need to patch up the areas currently occupied by these roots, meaning a lot of ground works are necessary throughout the entire continent. That means loads of digging and reinforcement. Maybe I can get someone else to do this work? Then I won't need to eat so much of the planet. Who, though?

Rehm.

I look back at my map and move it around some more.

In the Empire, well— I'll need to take over all of these cities because the Emperor obviously won't listen.

I move my map over to other countries.

Actually, I doubt any leader would accept a dragon digging massive holes under their precious cities.

Rawh. I wasn't planning on it, but it looks like every nation on this planet requires my conquest.

Suuuch a shame...

I grin toothily.

I guess this was always going to be the result, wasn't it? I'mma dragon. Rawr! As a prideful dragon, though, I need a proper reason to declare all-out war. How thoughtful of this bulb to give me one.

I look out to the northwest.

For now, I'll discuss this with the king of Shridenia as well as the president of Eritromi. The latter is called 'president,' but he's a military dictator, so I'll meet him first. He'll be good practice for other world leaders.

As for Tengerii, I consider that city a part of my own little nation, whether or not anyone else agrees. Anyone who has an issue with Tengerii or my other cities can get stuffed. And eaten.

A dragon never gives up their loot! Yes, I've decided. Those people are indeed a part of my dragon hoard. They, naturally, must be very well cared for.

Rah, rawh. I feel like my dragon tendencies are stronger than ever lately. It seems the longer I'm in this body, the more fiercely those draconic instincts exert themselves. It's becoming hard to resist because, hraw. I don't want to.

I'mma dragon! Rawr!

###ROOOOOOOOAAAARRRRR###

*pfew*