I staggered back in fright, my face as pale as ashes. I could hardly believe my eyes.
So this was a dragon.
I had read a lot about them in books, seen enough of them depicted in paintings and movies.
But nothing could've prepared me for this moment. This was the real deal, and I'm staring right at it.
It loomed over ninety feet tall, as tall as a five storey building with shoulders broader than a castle gate.
Its scales gleamed like red molten iron. Between each plate of scales, its veins pulses like liquid fire.
The dragon's armoured face bore two massive spiraled horns curling back from her brow.
But it was the eyes that sent a shiver down my spine.
Staring at those slitted golden eyes with burning pupils felt like gazing at a dying star.
I couldn't speak. I couldn't move. Its intimidating presence petrified me at a spot.
"Do not be alarmed, Archer," It said, its voice rolling like an earthquake. "This is what you might call a meeting of the centuries. I have waited for your return, my liege."
I swallowed hard. "Wait...I'm confused. Who are you?"
"I am Gwyneria, Monarch of the Everblaze," it answered proudly. "I am the last of my kind. A Great Dragon and direct descendants of the Primordial Dragons."
Oh, so it's a female dragon. My pulse spiked.
The Primordial Dragons were the first dragons in existence. They're basically the gods of dragons.
It amazes me that a direct descendant of the Primordial Dragons was right in front of me.
"Wow," I breathed, my voice weak. "Just wow. How do you know my name, Gwyneria?"
Gwyneria chuckled in her rumbling voice. "Silly, boy. Do you not remember me? Then again, I am not surprised. It's been 500 years since the last time we saw each other."
Now I'm getting really confused here. I had been reincarnated here from my old world. I've never met this creature in my life.
"Forgive me, I just couldn't picture where I might've met a dragon before," I replied. "If you'd be so kind as to elaborate, I'd appreciate it."
Gwyneria lowered her massive head towards me. "The legendary hero who became king. Surely, you've heard the tales, haven't you?"
"Of course, every mother tells it to their children before bed," I answered. "There's no man born of a woman who doesn't know it."
The tale of the legendary hero who became king was a popular story in this world.
It literally defined this world's history.
According to legend, the hero was born a slave, shackled under the cruel hands of his slave masters.
However, the hero was born with raw talents and untapped potential.
At the tender age of eight, he ran away from his slave master and vanished in the cold mountains.
It was said that he trained himself by wrestling with warthogs and grabbling wild bears, using nothing but his bare hands.
When he turned twelve, the hero forged his first sword and single handedly defeated a hundred demons that had terrorized a mountain village.
The older he grew, the stronger he became.
By sixteen, the hero formed a band of adventures and swore publicly to defeat the demon king: ending his reign of terror.
Everybody laughed at him. They called him a madman. If he thought he could go up against the demon king and live, he must be delusional.
However, this didn't stop the Hero.
The story concluded with The hero defeating the demon king and restoring peace unto the land.
His accomplishments caused the people and everyone who ever doubted him to crown him as the first King.
"That story happened five centuries ago," I said, facing Gwyneria. "It's not relevant in this present age. No one even remembers his name or what he looked like."
Gwyneria shook her head, scales rattling against the chains binding her.
"I served in the hero's party. I fought at his side, watched him grow old and die. Before his death, he sealed me away in this dungeon and promised to return to get me."
I frowned at the thousands of shackles binding her wings, her claws and her throat. "He imprisoned you for 500 years? Why would he do that?"
"A prophecy foretold of the devil king's return," Gwyneria explained. "His soul still roams the earth and one day, he'll return after five hundred years."
She paused. "My liege knew if I wandered free, the devil king's army wouldn't rest until they hunt me down and kill me. So I waited until you were born."
I stiffened, my finger slowly pointing at myself. "You mean me?"
She nodded. "Yes, my liege. From the moment you were born, you were destined to destroy the demon king once and for all. It's so good to see you again."
Krell's words came back to me in a flashback.
"You'reachildprodigyofthelegendaryherowhobecameking500yearsago. Doyouhaveanyideahowmuchofathreatyouaretothedemonking?"
It now made a lot of sense. The reason why I have so much raw talent and potential.
I was the reincarnated version of the hero who became king five centuries ago. This changes everything.
I was the rightful heir to the throne.
Gwyneria watched my reaction closely, smoke curling between her fangs. "My liege, do you understand now? Free me and together we'll take down the demon king."
My eyes returned to the shackles binding her. "Can't you free yourself?"
"This dungeon was built by the old king to keep me safe," she replied. "High class monsters and traps were set in all ninety-nine floors to keep both humans and demons at bay."
She went on, rattling the chains. "These chains are imbued with the King's powerful spell. I'm afraid only the king can undo the seal."
I studied this dragon for a while. I had an uncanny feeling I wasn't being told the entire truth.
Now, the legend of the hero who became king never spoke of a dragon ally. If there was one, everyone would know about it.
I've never taken any keen interest in ancient tales.
However, if there was one thing I've learnt is that in this world, dragons and demons were sworn enemies to humankind.
So why would the Hero keep a dragon as a companion? Why seal Gwyneria instead of killing her?
There haven't been any dragon sightings in centuries. That's because it was believed they've all gone extinct.
If Gwyneria was indeed sealed by the old king, then there must've been a deeper reason behind it.
"I'm not going to free you," I said, squaring my shoulders. "Not until you swear a Bloodtruth covenant with me."
A Bloodtruth covenant was a deadly ancient blood-magic pact that binds two parties by their word.
Should either party break their oath, the magic triggers a lethal curse that kills the liar outrightly.
Not even a dragon can survive the fate of the curse.
Gwyneria reared her head back and snarled at me. "That's a forbidden blood-magic, Archer. How dare you demand such from me?"
I drew out my dagger and dragged it across my palm. Blood welled up in my hand.
"Because," I held out my bleeding hand to her, my eyes narrowed. "I believe you're lying to me."