The First Legendary Dragon Tamer

The Plant Dragon's eyes remained wide, her vines coiling tightly around her body as if Draco's words had pierced straight through her scales.

For a long, strained moment, the cavern was silent save for the faint echo of water dripping into the underground lake.

Finally, her voice rumbled, low and reluctant.

"…You are correct. I am carrying eggs."

Draco's smirk returned, but his gaze sharpened, curious. "I figured as much."

"How? No human should have been able to notice so easily." The Dragon's emerald eyes narrowed.

'You'd be surprised…' Draco's thoughts flashed for a moment. 'There are experts who study Dragons and their biology. Those guys could tell if a Dragon is sick or pregnant with only a few glances.'

Draco had studied a bit of the literature, but he wasn't a bookworm, so he had only picked up a few hints that he thought would be necessary for survival. Thankfully, the fragmented knowledge he had was more helpful than he expected when it counted most.

'I should study more when I get back…'

Draco shrugged lightly, his tone casual even though his mind burned with calculation. "You guarded your stomach too carefully during the fight. Your movements were precise, controlled—almost protective. Not the way a Dragon fights when it's only itself on the line. Then there's the Compass."

He reached into his cloak, producing the small device. Its glass surface pulsed faintly—red as always, constant, but with flickering yellow lights that blinked like a heartbeat.

"When I entered this cavern, the Compass kept showing multiple signals. But the only Dragon I saw was you." He tilted it in his hand, watching the yellow sparks dance. "At first, I thought it was broken. Zara said this thing was just a prototype, after all. But…" His smirk widened. "Zara's a genius. If the Compass says there are multiple Dragons, then there are. Even if they're not hatched yet."

The Plant Dragon's eyes widened further. She hissed, vines bristling with disbelief. "You… deduced all this from that trinket and my movements?"

Draco's grin deepened, though his eyes stayed cold. "I took a chance. And I was right."

The Dragon stared at him for several heartbeats, before her gaze lowered, the faintest tremor in her voice.

"…Impressive. Irritating. But impressive."

She straightened, her massive frame looming tall, wings stretching slightly against the cavern ceiling.

"My eggs require a large body of water saturated with Essence. Only in such a cradle can they hatch. The Underground Oasis—this pool—was meant to serve that purpose. But the Water Dragons claim it as their own. Unless they are driven out, I cannot nest here."

Draco's smirk faded into thoughtfulness.

'This is the problem with breeding Dragons. Each of them has special conditions for hatching, making it a very difficult process. They also have to be raised in a particular environment, or else they won't grow as fast—or they could even die.'

Due to these problematic elements, Draco already concluded that it would be much easier to capture Dragons than breed them.

'Still… this is a great opportunity for me.' He nodded to himself. 'I found a pregnant Dragon, and also the perfect place for it to hatch its young ones. All of this couldn't possibly be a mere coincidence, could it?'

Right as his eyes faintly glimmered with deep contemplation, a System Notification suddenly appeared while a voice rang inside his mind.

[System Alert]

{New Quests Generated: Seeds of Conflict}

Primary Quest: Assist the Plant Dragon in hatching her eggs (Not Started)

Secondary Quest: Eliminate all Water Dragons occupying the Underground Oasis (Not Started)

Hidden Quest: Tame at least ten Dragons (Not Started)

[Current Synchronization Rate: 11%]

Draco's lips curled.

'Of course. Perfect timing.'

But this was an opportunity in its purest form, so he couldn't even complain.

If the Plant Dragon succeeded, he wouldn't just gain her strength—he'd secure a bond with the next generation of her kind. Hatchlings that could one day rival even Rank 3 Dragons.

The risk was also not very high, considering the priceless reward.

He met the Dragon's gaze, voice steady. "Then it seems we have the same goal. I'll help you drive them out."

The Dragon's eyes narrowed, suspicion still burning within them.

"But why would you, a human, take such a risk? Aren't you against Dragons increasing in number? What do you gain from helping me?"

Draco smirked, stepping closer, unflinching beneath her looming form.

"Let's just say… I see potential in you. And your children. Aligning with you now means power later. Simple as that."

The Dragon growled, vines twitching, but she did not refute his words.

At last, she nodded.

"…Very well. Rest, human. When my strength has returned, we will strike together."

*********

Hours passed in tense silence.

The Plant Dragon rested near the underground cavern's edge, her breathing gradually steadying, her wounds knitting with natural resilience. Draco, meanwhile, sat cross-legged on a stone, eyes closed, focusing on controlling his Breaths.

Shadows coiled around him like smoke, vanishing and reappearing with each breath he drew. Sparks of light flickered along his fingers, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

He alternated between them, weaving darkness and radiance until his body trembled from strain.

'Still not smooth enough…' Draco thought grimly. 'Preto's Breath lets me evade, but it drains me too fast in prolonged combat. Lumina's Breath is devastating, but it eats through my stamina like wildfire. If I can't balance them, I'll burn out before the fight's even halfway through.'

Despite the Plant Dragon complimenting his natural control over breaths, Draco felt undeserving of such praise.

Compared to Dragons, who had strong and sturdy bodies that could withstand the weight of their power, he was severely lacking. He needed to increase his Level so he could properly wield the Breaths at his disposal, and even obtain more Breaths to improve versatility.

He opened his eyes, exhaling sharply.

'I need to grow stronger…' These thoughts were flowing in his mind while he kept his guard up against the Plant Dragon, who also did the same with him.

His gaze drifted toward the Dragon, who watched him silently now, as if studying the strange rhythm of his power.

By the time the cavern's ceiling had begun glowing faintly with the filtered light of dawn aboveground, the Plant Dragon stirred, flexing her vines.

"It is time."

Draco rose to his feet, his Compass already glowing faintly red. His heart quickened, not with fear, but with anticipation.

"Then let's move."

***********

The strike came swift.

The Underground Oasis stirred with activity as the Water Dragons slithered through the pool, their sleek forms cutting through the surface with grace. The moment Draco and the Plant Dragon emerged, the water rippled violently with hostile intent.

The Water Dragons hissed, their eyes glowing with cerulean light. At least half a dozen surfaced, sleek blue scales shimmering like liquid crystal.

"They will not yield their home," the Plant Dragon growled, wings spreading. "Prepare yourself."

Draco smirked, summoning his shadows. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

The battle ignited.

Vines lashed out, tearing through the pool like living spears. Water surged in retaliation, waves exploding outward as the Dragons attacked in unison. Draco darted along the cavern floor, Preto's Breath shrouding him as he vanished and reappeared between the surging torrents.

A Water Dragon lunged at him, maw snapping open with rows of jagged teeth.

Draco's eyes narrowed.

"[Let There Be Light]!"

A burst of radiance erupted from his palm, blinding the creature mid-charge. He followed it with a condensed sphere of light, hurling it straight into the Dragon's open mouth.

BOOOOM!

The explosion tore through its jaw, sending the Dragon thrashing in agony. Draco pressed his advantage, shadows wrapping around his legs as he dashed forward, drawing his short blade.

He leapt onto its thrashing body and drove the sword—now coated in golden light—straight into its eye.

A piercing shriek filled the cavern before the Water Dragon collapsed, its body still.

[You Have Leveled Up]

Draco exhaled sharply, pulling his blade free. His body buzzed with new strength, his muscles taut and responsive.

'Good. I'll need this.'

But there was no time to rest.

Another Dragon surged toward him, water spiraling around its body like a whip. Draco raised his hand, flooding his arm with Lumina's power. His blade blazed with light as he swung, cleaving through the torrent and slashing into the Dragon's flank.

The Plant Dragon's vines seized the opening, constricting the creature and tearing it apart in a violent burst.

Together, they moved as one—Draco weaving through gaps, striking at vital points, while the Plant Dragon dominated the battlefield with crushing force.

The pool ran dark purple with blood.

But just as they turned toward their next target, the water trembled.

A deep rumble echoed through the cavern. The pool surged upward in a towering wave as a massive silhouette rose from its depths.

The air shook with a roar so powerful it rattled Draco's bones.

"ROOOOOARRRR!!!"

The Water Dragon Champion emerged, towering above its kin, its scales gleaming like sapphire armor, eyes burning with primal fury.

Draco's smirk faltered slightly, replaced by a sharp gleam in his eyes.

"…So the real fight begins."