Red Dragon's Treasury

Red Dragon's Treasury

Relying on the familiar scent in his bloodline left behind by his bargain-bin mother, Keosius wound through the depths of the cavern and finally arrived before a stone door.

The stone door was heavy, radiating an air of danger.

This was the red dragon's secret treasury.

It was her forbidden possession, the domain of her greed, a place every creature in Anzeta coveted yet could never discover.

The red dragon cautiously extended a claw and pushed open the heavy stone door, then abruptly beat his wings and took flight.

Boom!

In an instant, surging lava erupted forth.

It roared like a frenzied beast, radiating terrifying heat as it sought to swallow every living thing whole.

This was the greedy red dragon's harshest punishment for any creature that dared lay hands on her treasure—turning them into part of the lava, melting their corpses until not even their bones remained.

Though he had reacted in advance, the lava flooding the entire entrance inevitably submerged Keosius.

Fortunately, the same bloodline as his mother's flowed through him, granting him a natural affinity for fire and heat.

His scales were still thin and his skin tender, so he could not luxuriate in lava as comfortably as an adult red dragon. But to him, this lava was merely somewhat scalding water; it posed no threat to his life.

"Hey-ho!"

Using his Wings as oars, the Young Red Dragon paddled with all his might, propelling himself deeper into the treasury and through a deep opening.

The view before him suddenly opened up—

Gold, gold piled into mountains.

At the slightest touch, the Gold Coins flowed slowly like a river, spilling onto the rocky ground with a clattering rush.

Among the mountains of gold were also buried items gleaming with magical light.

Keosius felt his breathing quicken. Unable to help himself, he exhaled a puff of hot air, his orange-yellow vertical pupils reflecting the flickering gold.

The greed deeply rooted in his red dragon bloodline urged him to stay. It was as though a voice in his mind was telling him: Claim this gold, claim these treasures—these are all yours.

Boom!

The tremendous sound shook the hills.

It was the red dragon's roar and the Paladin's stern shout.

The sound also jolted Keosius awake from his profound greed.

That was right. He did not have much time.

The red dragon was fighting the Paladin, and she was clearly no match for him.

Once his bargain-bin mother was killed, this Vengeance Oath Paladin's next target in his crusade to eradicate evil would likely be this "young evil" that was Keosius.

And taking the entire mountain of gold before him was simply impossible.

No wonder this red dragon had caught the attention of a Quasi-Legendary Paladin. There were probably several million Gold Coins here.

She must have looted the treasury accumulated by some kingdom over generations for more than a century in one go. Otherwise, even an ancient dragon's collection would not be this outrageous.

He also understood why a red dragon that favored scorching climates had appeared in the frigid Anzeta Great Wasteland—she had been fleeing with stolen goods.

"Magic items. I only need magic items that can improve my ability to protect myself."

Keosius quickly regained his composure. Suppressing his greed, he pushed aside the mountain of gold before him and inspected the magical items shining within.

"Blade Ring, reduces slashing damage."

"Soul Amulet, Speak with Dead once per day."

"Magic Immunity Amulet, negates one instance of spell damage below the sixth circle. This is a godsend for pioneering. Taking it."

The young dragon swallowed the exquisitely patterned mithril amulet in one gulp.

Red dragons were natural spellcasters. Their bodies were also natural magical vaults and materials; any magic item could be stored within them and remain effective.

It was said that some ancient dragons afflicted with "Magiphilia" even carved magical runes onto every scale, using them as Magic Scrolls whenever needed.

"Lava Heart, deals additional fire damage. Good stuff."

"Blazing Staff, three Fire Rays. Taking it."

In just a few dozen seconds, the red dragon had swallowed over ten magic items, but only these were truly valuable. Many of the rest were fancy court magic—expensive, but of little practical use.

It was clear that this adult red dragon preferred gold far more than magic.

The sounds of fighting outside grew increasingly intense, but the roars were clearly weakening.

The red dragon was about to give out.

"Time to go."

The young dragon headed toward the opening, but as if under a charm spell, he kept turning back to look at that mountain of gold.

The greed from deep within his bloodline filled him with the urge to devour all that gold. That craving was as addictive as it was impossible to resist.

Unfortunately, magic items had already nearly filled his stomach.

"One bite. Just one bite."

Keosius opened his bloody maw and wolfed down a huge mouthful of gold. The remaining Gold Coins streamed from the corners of his mouth like a waterfall.

He had expected a metallic texture, but to his surprise, in his mouth filled with Sulfur Scent and scorching air, the gold tasted like an overly rich dessert, with an inexplicably soft, chewy texture.

A translucent panel appeared before him once more.

Achievement: Gold Devourer

"As an evil dragon, you are not content with merely hoarding gold in your cave. You even seek to make it part of your ever-unsatisfied body. Your greed makes even the gods sigh.

Believe that once you possess sufficient power, the world shall be swallowed by your endless desires."

Passive Trait Obtained: Metal Scales Level 4 (4250/5000)

AC +2, Constitution +1. When you consume a certain quantity of precious metals, their elements will adhere to the surface of your body and the depths of your heart. Your scales will take on the corresponding metallic luster, greatly increasing your armor and constitution.

(Note: Yongen.Kapalius was once one of the greediest dragons in the multiverse. He even set his sights on the treasuries of the gods. In the end, however, his wish was granted—he was transformed into a colossal golden statue, eternally floating in the Astral Void.)

"Clatter..."

The red dragon felt the Gold Coins rapidly melt within his body, streaming toward his surface. Under the firelight, his scarlet scales faintly took on the luxurious sheen of gold.

The dragon's heart also pounded under the nourishment of those elements, growing stronger as it pumped more scorching blood throughout his body.

"Hah—"

Keosius exhaled a breath of hot air in contentment.

One had to know that the increases on the attribute panel were not merely linear, but nearly exponential. Each level was roughly 1.2 times stronger than the last, an enormous enhancement to his constitution.

"Good stuff. Too bad I can't take all the gold with me."

Keosius had not expected a moment of greed to bring such an unexpected windfall, but the battle outside was nearly over. If he did not flee now, he would lose his chance.

If he let his bloodline influence his mind at such a life-or-death moment, he would truly become the stereotypical red dragon with muscles for brains.

"Time to go."

Red dragons were exceedingly proud and self-confident. They would never even consider abandoning their treasure and fleeing their lair.

Fortunately, his bargain-bin mother was not entirely like that. At the very least, she had left a narrow escape route for her hatchling.

With his belly bulging, the Young Red Dragon crawled out of the treasury, flying and running all the way toward an opening on the other side of the lair.

This route led to the southern slope of Cloud Peak, and beyond that lay Bokara Mountain Forest. Once he reached it, the sky would be the limit for a dragon, and the sea wide enough for him to leap.

An adult red dragon's massive body would be difficult to hide, but the tall spruces, birches, and other trees could conceal a young dragon with ease. He could even live and hunt among them.

"The wind's up—run for it."

Keosius looked at the cave entrance just ahead and leaped into the air.