Chapter 2: Red Dragon's Vault
Kai Xiusu, guided by the faint, bloodline-scented memory left behind by his cheap mother, wove through the winding depths of the deep cavern, twisting and turning through jagged tunnels until at last he stood before a massive stone door.
The door was thick, ancient, and radiating a palpable sense of danger. This was the hidden Treasure Vault of the Red Dragon—her forbidden hoard, her lair of greed, a place every creature in Anzeta longed for but dared not even dream of reaching.
With careful precision, the Red Dragon extended a claw and pushed the heavy stone door open. Instantly, she slammed her wings wide and launched herself upward.
"Boom!"
A violent surge of lava erupted from within—molten geysers roaring like enraged beasts, spewing scorching heat that sought to consume everything in their path. This was the Red Dragon’s ultimate punishment for any who dared trespass upon her treasure: to be reduced to molten slag in the magma, their bodies melted away, bones left untraceable.
Even with a split-second reaction, the searing wave of magma flooded the entire cavern mouth. Kai Xiusu was engulfed.
But luck was on his side—his body carried the same bloodline as his mother, granting him an innate affinity for fire and heat. Though his scales were thin and his skin tender, not yet strong enough to lounge in magma like a full-grown Red Dragon, the molten flow was merely scalding water to him—no real threat to life.
"Heh!"
With wings as paddles, the young Red Dragon powered forward, pushing through the lava-filled passage and diving deeper into the vault’s dark heart.
Before him, the chamber opened up in breathtaking splendor—mountains of gold, piled high like hills, shimmering under the flickering glow of the cavern’s heat. Coins, when disturbed, cascaded like liquid rivers, spilling onto the stone floor with a constant clatter-clatter.
And amid the golden peaks, buried within the wealth, glimmered magical relics pulsing with arcane energy.
Kai Xiusu’s breath quickened. A surge of heat escaped his nostrils. His orange-yellow eyes glowed with hunger, reflecting the endless sparkle of gold.
Deep within his Red Dragon bloodline, an ancient greed stirred—whispering in his mind:
Take it all. Claim it. This treasure… is yours.
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar shook the mountain—Red Dragon’s furious bellow, the Paladin’s battle cry. The sound snapped Kai Xiusu from his trance.
He had no time.
The Red Dragon was losing. She was clearly outmatched.
Once she fell, the Oath of Vengeance Paladin would turn his blade toward the young, untested evil—him.
And carrying off the entire golden mountain? Impossible. No dragon, not even one of legend, could haul such a hoard.
No wonder this Red Dragon had drawn the attention of a near-Legendary Paladin. The treasure here was staggering—hundreds of thousands of gold coins, perhaps even millions. It wasn’t just a hoard—it was a kingdom’s wealth, stripped bare over generations. Even the greatest ancient dragons’ collections couldn’t compare.
That explained why a fire-loving Red Dragon had ended up in the frozen wasteland of Anzeta Great Wasteland—she’d fled with stolen treasure.
“Magic Items,” Kai Xiusu forced himself to think clearly, suppressing the craving, “I only need ones that’ll keep me alive.”
He began digging through the golden mountain, scanning the glowing artifacts.
- Blade Ring: Reduces slashing damage.
- Soul Amulet: Once per day, communicate with the dead.
- Magic Nullification Talisman: Negates one spell damage below 6th level. Essential for early exploration. Taken.
With a single gulp, the young dragon swallowed the mithril-encrusted, intricately engraved talisman.
Red Dragons were natural spellcasters. Their bodies were living sanctuaries of magic—every item they consumed could be stored and activated within their flesh. Legends spoke of ancient dragons with “Arcane Addiction” who inscribed runes into every scale, turning their skin into living spellbooks.
- Heart of Magma: Inflicts additional fire damage. — Good.
- Rod of the Scorching One: Three fire beam attacks. — Taken.
In less than a minute, Kai Xiusu had consumed over a dozen magical items. But only a few held real value. The rest were flashy, ornate trinkets—courtly magic, beautiful but useless.
Clearly, this mature Red Dragon had loved gold far more than magic.
The battle outside grew louder—roars, clashing steel, the crackle of fire. But the dragon’s cries were weakening.
She was nearly finished.
“Time to go.”
The young dragon turned toward the exit—but his gaze kept drifting back to the golden mountain, hypnotized by the pull of bloodline greed. The desire to devour it all was addictive, overwhelming.
But his belly was already full—Magic Items packed tightly inside him.
Just one more bite.
With a wide, blood-drenched maw, Kai Xiusu lunged, swallowing a massive mouthful of gold. Coins spilled from his jaws like a waterfall, clinking and clattering across the stone floor.
He expected the cold, metallic taste of coin—but instead, the gold melted in his mouth, soft and sweet, like over-rich dessert. It was strange, almost unnatural. The air in his maw—thick with sulfur and scorching heat—had transformed the metal into something strangely tender.
A semi-transparent interface shimmered into view before him.
> Armor Class Achievement: Gold Devourer
> As a true monster of greed, you don’t merely hoard gold—you seek to consume it, to let it fuse into your insatiable body. Your hunger has even awed the gods. When you grow strong enough, the world itself shall be swallowed by your endless desire.
>
> Passive Ability Unlocked: [Metallic Scales] – Level 4 (4250/5000)
> - AC +2
> - Constitution +1
>
> When you consume a significant amount of precious metal, its elements bind to your body and heart. Your scales will take on a shimmering, corresponding metallic luster, and your armor and constitution will increase dramatically.
>
> (Note: Yunen Kapalius was one of the most greedy dragons across the Multiverse. He once coveted the Gods’ Treasury. In the end, he got his wish—transformed into a colossal golden statue, forever floating in the Astral Void.)
"Gloop… gloop…"
Kai Xiusu felt the gold dissolve within him, flowing like liquid fire through his veins, seeping to the surface. His crimson scales began to shimmer faintly, catching the lava light with a golden sheen.
His heart, fed by elemental energy, pounded stronger—pumping hotter blood through every limb.
"Huff…"
He exhaled in deep satisfaction.
He knew well—Attribute Panel gains weren’t linear. They grew exponentially. Each level was roughly 1.2 times stronger than the last. This was a massive boost to his Constitution.
“Good stuff… but I can’t take it all,” Kai Xiusu sighed, regretting the momentary lapse of greed. But the fight outside was nearly over. He had seconds left.
If he stayed now, letting bloodline instinct rule him, he’d become the cliché—just another mindless, muscle-brained Red Dragon, obsessed with gold.
“Time to go.”
The Red Dragon was proud, arrogant—she’d never consider abandoning her treasure. But his mother? She’d left a narrow escape route, a secret passage for the young to flee.
With his belly heavy and his body glowing faintly with golden energy, the young dragon slipped out of the vault, flying and fleeing toward another cave entrance deep within the lair.
This passage led to the South Slope of Cloudspire Peak. Beyond that lay the Bokala Forest—where the sky is high for dragons to fly, and the sea is wide for dragons to leap.
An adult Red Dragon would be too large to hide. But a young one? Among the tall spruce and birch trees, concealed in the shadows, it would be invisible. He could live there, hunt, grow strong.
"Wind’s strong—let’s scram."
Kai Xiusu eyed the distant exit, wings flared, and leapt into the air.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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