When Brian woke, the first thing he saw was the gloomy gray ceiling of a cavern.
Sunlight scattered fine golden specks outside the cave. He briefly closed his eyes, then opened them again, adjusting to the utterly unfamiliar surroundings.
"They would rather die than be taken prisoner. This one was only brought back after Orkash ambushed him and knocked him unconscious."
He heard voices nearby. Brian tried to move, only to find that he could barely wiggle his fingers, as if all strength had been drained from his body.
Then he heard someone say, "He's awake, Lord Caesar."
Caesar?
Brian felt as though his head were stuffed with paste, his thoughts far slower than usual. Who was Caesar? He had never heard that name before.
Right, how had he passed out?
It seemed their patrol had been ambushed by orcs. Caught off guard, they had no choice but to engage in a desperate fight. Amid the chaotic slaughter, he felt a sharp pain explode at the back of his head...
So he had been captured?
Thinking this, Brian painfully twisted his neck. Orcs came into view. The green-skinned beasts strode over, roughly seized his ash-brown curls, and forced him upright with pain and brute strength before pressing him to his knees.
This was bad.
Brian realized something was wrong, but before he could struggle, a massive glow lit up in the depths of the cave. The black dragon with bright yellow pupils stepped out of the shadows, filling his entire vision.
"Pleased to meet you, my friend."
The black dragon looked him over with interest.
So he really had been captured.
"Greedy, foolish chromatic dragon. The iron hooves of the Brando Family will soon sweep this region clean. Nothing will remain here." Brian glared back through gritted teeth. The black