Reincarnated As A Dragon With Cheats-Chapter 36: Dragon Of Death (1)

Chapter 36: Dragon of Death (1)

A few hours ago...

[Notice: New avatar unlocked.]

Pebbles looked at the system screen with eyes full of curiosity and enthusiasm.

He had sent Azeth to complete a mission, and now he had the chance to create yet another avatar.

Except this time, it was a bit different.

[Note: You can either create an avatar from scratch or choose one of the following dragons to become your avatar.]

He had already created an avatar once before, and this time he wanted to see what it meant by the latter.

’I want to choose.’

Then a system panel appeared, displaying three different locations.

The first image was that of a white-silver shelled egg inside an ice cave, surrounded by Ice Monkeys and large Ice Golems. It was located in the faraway lands of Noth in the Scandimon Kingdom.

The second image was that of a brownish-red egg resting within lava flowing down a volcano. This volcano was situated on an island far away from the continent.

The third image showed a small but dark cave, quite similar to the cave he was currently in. There were no special characteristics, except for the fact that bones and carcasses of creatures lay scattered everywhere.

However, the third image did not show any egg.

Instead, it showed a small reptilian black body lying on the ground, sleeping.

Furthermore, the location of the third image was not too far away. Just southeast of the dungeon.

’System, if I choose one of these eggs to be my avatars, will the eggs hatch?’

[Affirmative.]

’Good. I choose this one...’

With one of his claws, he poked the second image.

He did not choose the first one because it was simply too far away. The second one was still far, but relatively closer.

Adding to that, he thought a fire attribute dragon could help him greatly and would have an excessive advantage in a forest.

Ding!

[You have chosen the Fire Dragon’s Egg as your second avatar.]

Ding!

[The egg is hatching...]

Ding!

[Congratulations!]

[The egg of the Fire Dragon has hatched.]

There was no live footage or video playing, so all he could rely on were the system messages.

And he was genuinely happy about it.

Except...

Ding!

[The Fire Dragon has hatched prematurely.]

"..."

"What...?"

Nightstone heard him and asked, "What, master?"

He met her gaze but withdrew instantly, promptly ignoring her as annoyance was clearly displayed on his face.

’Premature? Wait, where’s the option to use Karma Points!? It would obviously die in lav-’

Ding!

[Due to premature hatching, enough fire resistance was not built.]

’Exactly! I want to use-’

[Heat resistance was not available.]

Ding!

[The dragon hatchling of Fire attribute has succumbed to the lava and died.]

[Your second avatar has died.]

"..."

Guilt washed over him.

First confusion, but guilt soon engulfed him.

He slapped himself.

Slap!

Nightstone was shocked.

"Eh? Master?"

He slapped himself again.

Slap!

And he continued.

Slap!

[-1 HP]

Slap!

[-1 HP]

Slap!

[-1 H-]

"Master! Stop!"

Nightstone shot a web, gluing his hand to his face.

Pebbles couldn’t help but grit his teeth in frustration and agony.

He then slowly raised his head as tiny droplets of tears formed beneath the mask.

’Forgive me.’

That was all he could say.

Ding!

[Notice: The eggs will hatch. However, the host cannot use Karma Points to level them up. Not right now, as the host has not unlocked such features.]

"Ha..."

’So only during creation I can use the Points... but don’t you think you were a little late telling me this time?’

[...]

"Master, are you alright? Is something wrong?"

Nightstone sensed Pebbles’ sadness.

Pebbles sighed and controlled his emotions.

"You see, Nightstone... in this world, survival begins even before one is born..."

Nightstone suddenly paid closer attention.

The goggles she wore even now slowly loosened.

"Survival exists in every form. Be it a simple egg, an ant, or even a powerful floor boss. In the end, if you live... you are the winner."

Nightstone could relate to that.

Countless nights she hadn’t slept, afraid that her own parents might kill and eat her.

There were many days when she had to run from the vibrations that caused rocks to collapse and seal tunnels.

And many times all she could do was curl into a corner, praying and waiting for the screams to stop so she could breathe again.

She could relate.

Most definitely.

"My grandmother once said something," Nightstone said.

"No one rewards you for surviving. You won’t receive merits or praise from anyone. In fact, you might even be cursed for surviving at the expense of others."

Pebbles listened quietly.

"If you survived, it means someone else died. Either one of your kin... or the predator."

"In this cycle of life and death, there is only one winner."

"The survivor."

"And the reward?"

She paused.

"Survival itself."

"It doesn’t sound grand, but one must use everything they have to survive. Because it is not the survival of the fittest."

"It is the survival of the luckiest."

Pebbles sat silently after hearing those words.

His pupils slowly dilated.

"And who are the lucky ones?" she muttered.

"The skilled? The trained? The powerful?"

"No."

"The truly lucky ones are those who were handpicked among those who tried."

Pebbles fell into deep thought, entering a semi-trance.

Ding!

[Your mind is being reinforced with the knowledge of the Ancient.]

Ding!

[Your mind is being reinforced with the wisdom of the Forgotten One.]

Ding!

[Your mind is being strengthened with the understanding of the Pure One.]

Ding!

[Your mind has been strengthened.]

For thirty whole minutes, Pebbles did not move.

He could neither hear nor see, nor act by his own will.

The system messages did not even reach him.

But it was not frightening.

He was at peace.

And for the first time, he felt he understood the world, even if only a little.

When he opened his eyes again, a gentle smile rested on his face.

It was not a smile filled with mockery.

It was a not a smile filled with arrogance.

But a mixture of sadness, regret, and understanding.

He raised his hand slightly and said,

"Thank you, Nightstone... those were some good words..."

Nightstone, who had nearly bitten her legs off from nervousness, finally relaxed when she heard his voice.

She bowed once, then twice.

"Ah... my pleasure, master."

He then turned toward the system screen.

’Can I still choose another avatar?’

[Affirmative.]

[The slot for your second avatar is empty. You may choose...]

He clicked the third image.

Ding!

[Congratulations. You have chosen an ordinary, overly hungry lizard with 1% dragon blood of the Death attribute.]

[Give it a name.]

"Azatoth."

Ding!

[Congratulations!]

[Your second avatar is Azatoth, the Death Dragon.]

"..."