Reborn as the Failed Lord with my Resource Gathering System.

Back inside the domain, the dark fog that had once polluted the entire place had slowly begun to fade, most of which had slipped through the barrier and filled the streets of the outside world.

With the reduction of the black fog, Dorian could finally see the cracked eggshells and the person awakening within them.

The dragon.

The dragon slowly stood up, its long red hair falling behind it, its green eyes glowing with intensity. It was naked, yet had no sexual features to speak of.

As Dorian stared, he could not make out whether the figure standing before him was a man or a woman. However, one thing was certain: this dragon was truly strong.

While it still stood in the comfort of the eggshells, its mana leaked from its body, sending chills down the spectators who watched over it.

With a single flap, the dragon's red wings grew out of its back, stretching wide and casting a large shadow over itself.

Then, with its hand pointed at Dorian, the chilling, feminine-like voice spoke.

"How infuriating," the voice sent chills down Dorian's spine. "Why have you come before me and insisted on bringing these insignificant life forms here as well?"

Dorian raised a brow. "A talking dragon, eh…" he tried to keep his calm persona. "That's not something you see every day."

The dragon frowned a bit. "Are you perhaps the one who just fed me with the mana capable of hatching me?"

'A fully grown humanoid? I was expecting a baby dragon. Shit. In any case, the fact it is trying to communicate is a good sign. I just have to see if it is capable of reason.'

Dorian gestured as he replied, "That is correct. My mana woke you up."

"Is that so? Then there is no reason for these two to be here…"

Dorian's eyes widened as he watched the dragon point at the crawler, who was simply watching from the sidelines. Before he could react, a fast-moving beam shot out of the dragon's hand and sped straight at the crawler.

Just like that, the crawler's body scattered into multiple pieces on the ground the moment the beam made contact with it.

It happened so fast that both Dorian and Lili didn't know how to react. Shock was still etched on their faces as they watched the crumbled and burnt bones of the crawler lay lifeless on the ground.

"Crawler!" Lili screamed, immediately preparing to sprint towards her dead friend.

But before she could move, the dragon shifted its aim and pointed its finger at Lili, hinting that it was going to do the same thing to her.

"Don't you dare!" Dorian roared, stepping in front of Lili, shielding her with his body. He glared at the dragon, his calm demeanor completely shattered. "What was that for?!"

The dragon merely tilted its head, its green eyes unblinking. "They are insignificant. You fed me, not them. Their presence here is an annoyance."

"An annoyance?!" Dorian clenched his fists. "That 'annoyance' was my ally! And she," he gestured behind him to Lili, who was trembling, "is also my ally! You have no right to just… erase them!"

A faint smile touched the dragon's lips, a gesture that sent a shiver down Dorian's spine.

"I forget how easily humans value such things. How long has it been? A hundred years, or maybe more? My conception of time froze after fifty years or so." Its voice, still chillingly feminine, held an undertone of immense power. "Sigh, I refuse to continue this conversation with that creature here. Move, let me get rid of it."

Lili, despite her fear, managed to stammer, "Master… screw talking, let's kill this thing. I can tell for a fact it doesn't see us as living things." Tears welled in her eyes.

The dragon's gaze shifted to Lili, a flicker of something unreadable in its green eyes. "Such emotions are wasted on lesser beings. You are not human, nor are you from this world. Am I correct?"

Dorian's face was etched with worry, his eyes staring left and right.

'This is how newborn dragons are? Why is it speaking as if it holds ancient knowledge and memories? It only just came into this world, and yet it already knows what a human is and is also capable of speaking.'

He paused. 'There goes my plan to manipulate it using my worldly knowledge. What do I do now? Is my only option truly to battle this monster?'

Suddenly, a thought hit him—another brilliant idea.

Dorian smiled a bit, then he took a couple of steps forward.

"Excuse me, but the thing is, I have a lot of questions, if you would," he uttered.

The dragon looked at him, slowly lowering its hand.

"That is only natural. You stand before a dragon. No creature on earth would be in your position and not have questions," it continued. "Knowing your fate, I will grant you that wish. Ask that which is in your heart."

"Very good." Dorian raised a finger. "Firstly, do you have any intention of eradicating the human race? Or the world, for that matter?"

The dragon stared for a while.

"Of course," it responded. "Many years ago, my people ruled over the earthly realm; in return, we offered our blessings. Once I leave this place, I will return to my duty and bring about a new era for dragons. Many will oppose, and many will die."

"Second, do you believe yourself to be stronger than a human?"

The dragon paused yet again, as if contemplating the question with a disgusted look on its face.

"I do."

"Third question, do you plan to kill me as well?"

"You are my slave. The dragon art is dead; your mana is the only thing pure and strong enough to replicate it. Your servitude will bring about my dream and the new age of dragons."

"Lastly, are you familiar with the God of Gamble?"

Silence held for a long while.

"What business does a dragon have with a god? We are as day and night. The gods are our mortal enemies; while we rule the land, they rule the sky."

"Interesting." Dorian clapped his hand, a stupid smile on his face. "I have a lot of questions as well. As such, I say we settle this with a game of gamble to keep the time short."

"What?"

"Yeah, what?" Lili blurted out as well, looking at Dorian with confusion.

Why on earth would he offer a dragon a game? Especially one who didn't think twice before killing one of his allies.

"In this world, we humans are considered weak. In order to prove you are stronger than a human, a certain gamble is placed. Those who fail to pass this gamble are considered to be on the same level as humans."

"Such a tradition did not exist in my time," the dragon uttered right after, clearly doubtful.

"Yes, but it does now. If you are to win the game of gamble, then all of humanity will bow to you without any sort of resistance. Hence, no one would have to die."

"Is that so? You speak the truth?"

"Of course. Why would I need to lie to a mighty dragon?"

Lili remained shocked, clearly seeing where Dorian was heading with this.

"Very well. As I have just been born, and you being my slave, I will grant this wish yet again. Speak, what is this game of gamble?"

Dorian grinned heavily. "I am glad you asked."

...

[A/N]

In case there is any type of misunderstanding. For starters, yes, the dragon has intelligence beyond a normal child; that said, the dragon is still a child, and it will be explained later, which is the only reason why Dorian was able to do what he did here.