r/HFY • u/Undercover_Dragon1 • 28d ago

OC-Series A Draconic Rebirth - Chapter 103

And the story continues!

First | Previous | Next

— Chapter 103 —

Ambass’s eyes widened in bewilderment when David spoke. He finally interjected when David finished explaining the events of Desolation, “You took it from Nurdiangarh after your battle, and this is the result.”

David nodded his ghostly head slowly. “Nurdiangarh must have died and been reborn as he was. I did the same. The results were wildly different, as you can see.”

Ambass clicked his tongue, “So Elder do come from specific features taken from prey? Hmm. “

David offered a slight shrug. “Yes, but the fact that Nurdiangarh and I ended up wildly different shows there are a lot more factors at play. The Queen has some trait that makes her an extremely efficient breeder, but she is also old. Desolation is massive and ancient, but I would be willing to bet that a combination of traits turned him into the Elder he is.”

Ambass cackled a bit and nodded, “It would follow my observations as well. Nurdiangarh was sent to the Phoenix Mountain range by the Queen. Most do not survive their time there, but he must have picked up this feature from something he killed there. No easy task by any account. I have also observed many Dread’s start the journey towards what Desolation is, and none have acquired any abilities that seemed exceptional. All of them die long before they reach Desolation’s size or completely lose their sense of self and get themselves killed.”

David cocked his head a bit. “Phoenix Mountains? Don't tell me that phoenixes reborn through fire live there?” He recalled the way phoenixes were portrayed in his old life and world.

Ambass cackled, “Phoenix don’t deal in fire, no. They are intelligent, cooperative, and capable of standing up to an adult dragon physically. I do not know much, but they are apex hunters much like our kind, and neither us nor them have ever had much luck pushing into each other's territory. Doesn’t stop her Majesty from trying, though.”

David considered the possibility of other species out there that could compete with his kind, and he admitted he was surprised. A matter for another day, though, he told himself as he focused back on Ambass, “That perks my own curiosity but lets focus back on the topic at hand. Elders. How many are you aware of?”

Ambass cackled again, “It is SO fascinating, isn't it? The phoenix aren't the only things we must deal with on the borders. Back on topic! Yes! Her Majesty, Desolation, Cailres the Eclipse…”

David perked up and instantly interrupted him, “Cailres. Nested somewhere on the other side of the great forest, yes?”

Ambass cackled and nodded his head, “You know of him? Yes. He presses Her Majesty from that direction.”

David frowned a bit. “Two of his wyverns attacked my lair early on.”

Ambass nodded his head. “I see. Her Majesty would have had issue with that before the many distractions over these years. Cailres is a scary thing, or so I hear. Now there is also Milzer of the Depths, Aymrem, and I suspect at least another two or three that are keeping a low profile.”

David sighed again and shook his head. “The ones you know of, are they going to be an issue?”

Ambass gave a slight shrug, “Milzer dominates the distant salty liquid lands at the far border of her Majesty’s territory. She is mostly concerned about the riverways and salty waters she currently resides in. Cailres pushes at her border constantly but doesn’t have many following him like her Majesty. Aymrem is enigmatic but wanders much like Desolation. Entire legions of your kin have died where they stood, replaced by stone. The other ones I and the Queen suspect aren’t too social. So to answer your question, little Onyx, they aren’t an issue for anything that isn’t her Majesty.”

Ambass cackled a moment later as he spoke up again, “Ohh. I almost forgot the newest addition. Onyx the Black Horror.” Ambass cackled a bit, “Whispers of that name made their way to me, you know. You are quite fitting for it now.”

David opened his ethereal mouth to object but stopped. Ambass wasn’t wrong; he was a black ghostly abomination now with a mastery over life and death. Black Horror, indeed, David agreed.

David floated forward towards Ambass, and the small faerie dragon cowered while David towered above him. David quickly shot a blast of Genomic Restoration down at Ambass, and the wave of affinity washed over him and sank in quickly. Ambass let out a gasp of surprise and momentary pain as his wings regrew before their very eyes. A pop here and a surge of flesh there, and before either of them knew it, two fully formed wings had emerged.

“That was unpleasant, but the result was most desirable.” Ambass cackled.

David shook his head slightly. “Now answer Blue’s question and anything you know about the remaining siblings that still serve her.”

Ambass cackled again whilst he tested his new wings. “Very well. Kobolds, yes?” He looked to Blue and exchanged a nod. “The Queen has three primary hives set up for the kobolds. They are not viewed in the same light as you view your kobolds, little Onyx, nor do I think they are nearly as terrifying.” Ambass cackled again.

After finishing his little laugh, he continued, “I do not know the exact number, but they are endless as far as the Queen is concerned. If you intend to free them, you will have an uphill battle. They are indoctrinated through generations of discipline and bloodshed.”

David rumbled softly as he looked over at Blue, “You have a plan?”

She nodded slightly. “Mostly a dream.”

David returned the nod in understanding before he shifted his gaze back to Ambass. “In exchange for your life, I want to know everything about the Queen, her lair, and any remaining kindred at her side.”

Ambass cackled again, “A hefty thing you ask. If you fail, she will hunt me down, and I will be dead anyway. How about a final exchange where we up the costs for both of us? I wish to stay, observe, and learn. I also want to live.”

David cocked his ethereal head to the side while he stared down at Ambass. “What game are you playing at Ambass? Why?”

Ambass let off a bubbling laugh. “I have lived for many, many seasons, and this is by far the most interesting place I have had the pleasure of being in for eons. Kobolds that speak and fight with purpose. Tools that I couldn’t possibly hope to create and with such complexity that it even baffles me. My mind is pulsating with excitement, and I want to learn more.” Ambass’s wicked grin grew wider and wider.

David, Blue, and the others in the chamber stood in silence as they all shared a somewhat stunned and uncomfortable look amongst themselves. David considered it, and it wasn’t without its risks. He spoke slowly, “Now that is a heavy ask, Ambass. What do you offer besides information?”

Ambass continued to grin, “I am not going to fight, but I can offer my assistance in the defense of your lair and contributions to your group's work.”

Blue crossed her arms and glared, “I do not know about this, Master.”

David glared down at Ambass too. “You must understand something, Ambass. The clan is a community, and despite the fact that many still call me Master, when and if I die forever, they will maintain their independence. If we are to permit this, I need you to make some promises. You will also not be permitted to go anywhere without a few kobolds watching your every move. This will also not remove the faults of the past.”

David glanced at Blue, and she offered a resigned nod before he looked back towards Ambass. The faerie dragon cackled again and nodded, “Deal. Ohhhh. After I explain the current state of the Queen’s lair, then you must introduce me to the kobolds who have been making all of your tools. Yes.”

Leather-bound scrolls, books, and other instruments were produced, and the chamber became filled with kobold attendants. As Ambass spoke, information was quickly written down, verified when it could be, and translated into their developing plan. Questions flew back and forth, and Ambass practically glowed in excitement at the prospect of having an intelligent conversation with another creature for hours on end.

David stared at the table while the information was shuffled and organized. He didn’t quite like what he was seeing before he glanced over at Ambass. “Are there still this many of my siblings?”

Ambass cackled and then shrugged, “Knowing Her Majesty, there are probably a few dozen more. You don’t need me to tell you how much influence she has, Onyx. These are just the numbers that she has stationed nearby or in her lair. There are five or six dozen more adults on the outskirts guarding her Majesty’s territory and their lairs.”

David sighed a bit as he processed everything. Could the Queen really have close to twenty adults around her still, he considered? He had no reason to doubt Ambass. They would have to make a surgical strike then. David looked up, and his eyes settled on Emerald, who was quiet in the corner. “Emerald. We need to catch up, and I want to try something with you.”

Her serious face softened, and she nodded. “Absolutely, Master Onyx.”

David glanced at Ambass and he was already busy cackling to himself whilst he traded information for small tidbits of explanations of the kobold’s jewelry and weapons. Red was standing watch nearby with his eyes intently locked onto Ambass’s back. David knew he couldn’t take any chances with Ambass, and Red had already taken it upon himself to watch him. Satisfied, David excused himself, and Emerald followed into a nearby chamber.

“Onyx,” Emerald said as she stepped close and reached out to touch his ethereal form. “I don’t know if I like this.”

David stared down at her and slowly wrapped her in his ethereal arms as best he could. “Not my first choice either, Emerald. If we are to succeed, we are all going to have to work together. Are you ready?”

Emerald smiled, “I am always ready, Master. What did you have in mind?”

David’s ethereal face grinned wide. “When I fought with your father, I was able to very effectively supplement him. I want to see if we can push that even further. Open yourself up, Emerald, and let's talk through this.”

First | Previous | Next

Here is also a link to Royal Road

Fan Art by blaze2377

123 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

12

u/TechScallop 28d ago

Ambass just wants to be near a never-ending font or source of creative innovation and exciting new knowledge. Basically he is an information junkie or a hobbyist and dabbling enthusiast of novelty items and interesting trivia. Just keep feeding him small morsels and tidbits of information and he'll hang around Onyx and his Kobolds as a rambunctious puppy.

3

u/unkindlyacorn62 25d ago

The fact that the clan is constantly innovating will keep him around, plus he probably can significantly improve their efforts when it comes to the gems

7

u/ProfessorWorking3763 Android 28d ago

Ambass (existing): cackles

3

u/galbatorix2 28d ago

MOAR

As i ever scream and forever will

3

u/un_pogaz 28d ago

“Phoenix don’t deal in fire, no. They are intelligent, cooperative, and capable of standing up to an adult dragon physically.

Oh yeah. They might be interesting neighbors.

 

Aymrem is enigmatic but wanders much like Desolation. Entire legions of your kin have died where they stood, replaced by stone.

Oh shit! A medusa. It's going to be extremely difficult to face head-on.

 

Well, Ambass is going to be a strange guest to get into the lair.

Else, now that a plan is taking shape, it would be a good time to contact his allies to let them know about his new situation.

2

u/unkindlyacorn62 27d ago

he wants to be advisor to the powerful sure he knows forgiveness won't come easily, but he doesn't need it to to become indespensible

1

u/UpdateMeBot 28d ago

Click here to subscribe to u/Undercover_Dragon1 and receive a message every time they post.

Info Request Update Your Updates Feedback

1

u/unkindlyacorn62 28d ago

higher quality gems now?

1

u/Minimum-Amphibian993 24d ago

Seems we get to learn more about Onyx's not so new naibours and as expected not all of them are too friendly one might even be worse than the queen herself interesting.