The First Legendary Dragon Tamer

The battle raged on.

Draco crouched low in the shadows at the cavern's edge, eyes narrowed as he observed the chaos.

The Water Dragons fought valiantly, weaving in and out of the crystalline lake, but it was clear they were faltering. Their waves crashed violently against the Plant Dragon's vines, yet each strike seemed to do little more than slow the intruder. The Plant Dragon's roots dug deep, drawing strength from the soil, while thorned tendrils lashed like whips, ripping through scales and sending sprays of blood across the bioluminescent flora.

'It's one against three… and still, the Plant Dragon is pushing them back.'

Draco's pulse quickened. The Water Dragons were fierce, no doubt, their every roar churning the lake into storms. But vines and roots answered with equal ferocity, each blow landing with bone-shaking impact.

The ground itself seemed to obey the Plant Dragon's will.

One of the Water Dragons screeched as a thick vine wrapped around its neck, dragging it halfway out of the water before slamming it mercilessly against the rocky cavern wall. The beast convulsed before sinking back beneath the surface, limp.

"Impressive…" Draco whispered, his eyes gleaming.

This was the kind of bone-shattering strength that Draco desired!

His current set of abilities was great, but they were mostly focused on movement and concealment. He needed something with explosive power and variety, and just from watching the battle playing out before his eyes, he could feel his appetite growing.

This power… he wanted it!

"ROOOOAARRR!" The air vibrated as a result of the roars of the monstrosities, but Draco continued to watch—determination etched in his azure eyes.

Despite the overpowering strength of the Plant Dragon, it was slowly beginning to show strain.

Its breaths were heavier, its scales chipped where watery blasts had torn through its bark-like hide. For all its dominance, its strength was not endless.

The lake rippled suddenly.

Draco's eyes widened as a massive form emerged from beneath the surface—a creature dwarfing the three Water Dragons he had already seen.

Its scales glistened brighter, its fins broader, its roar deeper, vibrating through the entire cavern.

Power radiated from it like a crashing tide.

—The Water Dragons' Champion.

'So this is their true leader…'

The Champion's eyes glowed an intense blue as it surged forward. With one colossal sweep of its tail, a towering wave rose and crashed upon the battlefield, smashing into the Plant Dragon with brutal force.

The cavern shook violently, bioluminescent flowers scattering their spores into the air.

The Plant Dragon staggered, roots snapping as it tried to steady itself. The Champion pressed on, its maw opening wide. A torrent of condensed water erupted forth, slicing through vines and ripping apart thorns. The sheer force of the water pressure carved deep scars into the rocky ground.

For the first time, the Plant Dragon was forced onto the defensive.

'The difference between normal Dragons and their Champions… it's that wide, huh?' Draco thought, clenching his fist.

His thought went back to the Cave of Trials, and he recognized the difference between the Nightcrawlers like Nyx and Preto. The difference was staggering, to say the least.

And it was all due to Ranks!

A Rank 2 Dragon was about three to five times stronger than a Rank 1. As for Rank 3 Dragons, they were three to five times stronger than those at Rank 2.

Just from observing the sheer pressure that the two exuded, and the destructive nature of their fight, it was evident to Draco that both Plant Dragon and Water Dragon Champion were Rank 3 Dragons.

The Compass that Zara made also seemed to think so.

"ROOOOAAAARRR!"

The Plant Dragon roared defiantly, summoning a forest of spears made of hardened vines.

They shot forward, piercing the lake like thousands of arrows. The Champion twisted and countered with another devastating wave, shredding the vines mid-air.

The clash continued, but momentum had shifted.

The Champion's strength was undeniable. The Plant Dragon's movements grew sluggish, its vines slower, its roar weaker.

Finally, with a pained bellow, the Plant Dragon slammed its tail into the cavern floor, uprooting massive chunks of stone to form a barrier. Roots exploded outward, wrapping around the ceiling and walls.

It was a desperate retreat.

The Champion bellowed triumphantly but did not give chase. Satisfied with its defense of the lake, it returned to the waters, the remaining Water Dragons rallying at its side.

'Wise choice…' Draco thought to himself. 'The greatest advantage of a Sea Dragon is the body of water that they occupy.'

In this world, there were three main kinds of Dragons: Land, Sky, and Sea.

Sea Dragons dwelled in large bodies of water, and most of their abilities revolved around commanding vast bodies of water, or influencing it other ways. Land Dragons lived on the land and were the most common kinds of Dragon—perhaps due to the fact that humans also lived on land.

And then, there were Sky Dragons… the most troublesome ones to deal with.

Not only did they have wings, which greatly enhanced their mobility, but they also had the trickiest kinds of abilities, and were particularly adept at running away.

In essence, they were the simply the worst.

The cavern slowly stilled, leaving only the echo of fading roars and the sound of trickling water.

Draco's eyes gleamed with hunger.

'Stronger than me… much stronger. Both sides. But… this is exactly what I needed.'

The compass in his hand pulsed faintly, an arrow still pointing toward the retreating Plant Dragon.

Without hesitation, Draco followed.

He slipped into the shadows, invoking Preto's Breath.

'[Into The Shadows].'

His form vanished into invisibility, his steps silent as he trailed the wounded beast.

The Plant Dragon's path carved through the cavern tunnels, its massive body leaving behind a trail of splintered vines and smeared dark green blood.

It wasn't moving with the same dominance as before. Its movements were sluggish, weakened.

'Perfect. A Dragon injured and separated from its territory. It's vulnerable.'

But Draco knew vulnerability didn't mean weakness.

After a while, the Plant Dragon slowed, its massive body slumping against the cavern wall. Roots dug weakly into the stone, anchoring it in place. Its breaths came heavy and ragged, and its emerald eyes flickered with exhaustion.

It wasn't alone for long.

"…You've been watching me."

The Plant Dragon's voice was deep, guttural, and suspicious. Its head turned slightly, pupils narrowing into slits as its gaze swept the shadows.

Draco smirked.

He released Preto's Breath, stepping casually out into the faint glow of the cavern's flora. His silhouette emerged, calm and deliberate, as though he had expected to be caught.

"You're sharper than most. As expected from a Dragon."

The Plant Dragon's body tensed, vines rising instinctively in defense. Thorns dripped with poison, roots cracked the stone beneath them.

Despite its wounds, it was still a terrifying sight.

"Why do you follow me, human?" it growled, voice rumbling with hostility. "Do you seek death?"

Draco chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"If I wanted your death, you wouldn't be standing here talking to me. I'd have struck when you were weakest—back when the Champion slammed you into the ground. Yet here I am. Unarmed. Alone. Approaching you openly."

The Dragon's eyes widened slightly, twitching in surprise.

"You're surprised I can communicate with you, aren't you? Not only can I hear you clearly, you can also understand me." Draco continued with a casual smile. "I'm sure you've also sensed that I'm different from other humans, so you don't have to worry too much."

The reason for Draco's confidence was his increased strength, which at least guaranteed him an escape if things went south.

He was also certain about his words, especially since Preto was quite perplexed about his existence when they first met. This, at the very least, guaranteed him some interest in the eyes of his target.

Unlike before, however, he wasn't going to be foolish enough to suggest an alliance.

His intentions completely differed this time.

The eyes of the injured Plant Dragon narrowed further, suspicion flickering in their depths.

"…Then why are you here?"

Draco's grin widened. His voice lowered, confident and deliberate.

"To help you."

The cavern grew silent, save for the faint dripping of water.

The Plant Dragon blinked once. Then again.

"…Help me?" Its tone dripped with disbelief, suspicion sharpening into menace. "What trick is this, human? Do you take me for a fool?!"

Vines shot upward, slamming into the stone wall behind Draco, narrowly missing his body. The impact sent shards flying, but Draco didn't flinch.

He stood calmly, hands in his pockets, gaze unwavering.

'What impudence! Dragons are truly arrogant, even in the face of benefactors…' Draco fought every instinct in his body to fight this creature and show the stupid thing its place.

"Believe me or not, but you and I both know the truth: you can't win this alone. The Champion of the Water Dragons will keep you out of that lake forever. And every time you return, you'll be driven back, wounded further, until one day… you won't return at all."

The Plant Dragon snarled, but Draco pressed on, his voice sharp, cutting.

"You're strong, but you're not invincible. Alone, you will lose. But with my help…" Draco's smile grew colder. "…you won't."

The Dragon's breath rumbled heavily, its vines twitching uncertainly.

"What could a human possibly offer me?"

Draco's eyes glowed faintly with ambition.

"More than you think."

For a brief moment, the Plant Dragon hesitated, torn between suspicion and curiosity.

And Draco, standing there with absolute confidence, knew he had it exactly where he wanted it.

Being caught was no accident. Being questioned was part of the plan.

He had maneuvered everything into this moment.

'Now… let's see if you bite.'