The trees grew high and twisting, acting as a wall between the beast-teeming woods outside and the civilization within. I beheld their leaves the size of shields, shimmering in the high sun, drawing close enough to run my claw over the grooved texture in curiosity. My hand tingled appreciably, the richness of the trees even more applicable when my mana gathering began to level up. But before it could even get halfway through the notification, a dull arrow struck the scales on my side. I whipped around, feeling the weight of Excella shift on my back. I extended a mental bridge to her using the mana I just received, ready to coordinate.

  “Halt, interloper” A kobold commanded.

  A shockbolt of pride coursed through my systems. My eyes narrowed, and several of my scales stood on end. I had to stop, focus inwards, and breathe deeply to try and negotiate rather than incapacitate.

  “I beg your pardon?” I asked with mere indignance, turning my head to the kobold. He bore green scales, a large crossbow, and an apprehensive expression- likely from my resistance to the bolt

  “This is Elzraid’s ring of the Ilya woods. No marking up his trees.” The kobold tried to command.

  “No weaker dragon will command me.” I stated. “How far has he progressed up the ladder of evolution?”

  The kobold guard took a hand off his crossbow to scratch one of his horns in thought. “I heard my captain talk about this. He’s said he’s tier... Four. Maybe five.”

  [To what, your three?]

  “Don’t remind me. But yes, I’m only third-tier”

  “Then I will follow his words.” I agreed with reluctance. “How does he treat you?”

  “Can’t complain,” the guard answered unhelpfully. “I watch for threats and get to eat my meals.”

  “What sort of threats can get through walls like this?” I challenged. “The trees are rich with mana”

  “Would you believe a mere human leapt over them?” The kobold squeaked. “Ripped Quendrig’s heart-stone clean out and took off before we could get a half-decent force together.”

  [That’s got to be a Contestant. Keep your guard up] Excella advised.

  “And who took over Quendrig’s lands?”

  “That’s the bad part, no one did. The kobolds are starting to get... uppity”

  “Let me in. I will stabilize the kobold population.”

  The guard sighed, but pulled a lever on the wall. Wheels began to spin, ropes began to tighten, and the door to give way.

  “Quendrig’s old lands are northeast, to your... right.” the guard informed, making sure they weren’t to his other right.

  A smile crossed my mouth. I was in. Distant mind magic had leveled up from the informational relaying, mental bridge with Excella slightly easier to maintain. These tree-kobolds had few roads, but all seemed light enough to walk along the interwoven branches with ease. I kept my head high, having to reorient myself a few times with the sun’s direction on this winding path. But I knew I was going to lands nobody wanted when the trees abruptly shortened. It felt like the whole of the Ilya woods were tilted, with all the runoff pooling at a single corner. And I felt watched. No sooner did I realize this than a dozen kobolds burst out, each of them barely coming up to my shoulder. Larger than Cilgris though still smaller than Croc and Drox, their claws swing wildly in a show of intimidation

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  “Give us the princess!” one yipped. A flash of confusion crossed my face, but Excella and I laughed upon realizing they were talking about her.

  “You mean my rider? She’ll only listen to your leader. Who might that-”

  “We don’t need a leader!” The head ko-bandit shouted, lunging at me with a sharpened blade of bluish-silver. I was so confident in my scales that I didn't even [Block], but wish I did. A sharp chill ran through my arm, and my anger manifested in a ball of hot wax. An orb of synthesized fire flew from my mouth to the kobold daggerist, rolling on the ground as my mouth seemed to move on its own. I latched onto the prone kobold and...

  A wet Crunch perforated the silence. I regained control of myself just as I was coming down from this vengeful high, reluctantly swallowing the weirdly plantlike kobold torso so that I could speak. At least two kobolds had fled, and I would not let this number rise to three. I licked my lips off, reared back, and [Roared].

  Leaves blew, branches shook, kobolds trembled. Even the two runners fell flat and looked at me. Doors of actual landbound huts opened, curiosity mesmerizing the kobold onlookers

  “Could any of you defend against that?” I ordered, looking to either side and summoning up some fire in my mouth between sentences for the visual flair. “With your last leader slain in cold blood, you need another. And I will step in, as a being worthy to protect and guide.”

  [Skills: Roar and leadership have risen to level 5. Upgrades available]

  Kobolds turned from cowering to bowing without a second thought. Some began dancing, some shuffled back to safety, but a comically muscular kobold walked towards me.

  “You don’t seem strong enough to lead” he stated in a voice of odd smoothness. I glared at him, an offended look clearly visible on my face. “I can see power, and yours is lacking. Leave me alive and I can tell you where to get more.”

  “Start talking.” I ordered, falling back down to all fours. I was slightly below eye level, but noticed unease on his face as he looked up, and then back to me.

  “We’re being attacked by the undead. Every night they shamble towards us, and we can’t exactly hide.”

  “I’ve got a place you can hide.” I offered. The kobold’s horns seemed to rise, as did his interest.

  “My mountain home is large, and growing diverse. Red scales, blue scales, green scales, all kobolds are welcome under my banner. And the woods outside are flush with life”

  “I don’t know...” Answered the musclebold uneasily. “I don’t want to annoy-”

  “The very same leaders who care little for you?”

  Something in his mind snapped. I hung my head, and sent a message to Excella.

  “I have them by the throat. Open a portal home.”

  Excella sighed, but gestured with her one good arm and quarter of the other. She shifted, almost fell, but opened a swirling portal.

  “Get inside.” I instructed, the kobolds making a solid green line and pouring into my mountain home. Undead were far from nutritious, but they were a definite problem- and would likely spread. The last of the kobolds filed in, and Excella closed it behind the last one. We decided, lacking better options, to rest until night in a now-empty home, the feeling of emptiness slowly dawning on me. Enough to make me dive into my mental realm with a comforting splash.

  My mana pool was mostly full, the stream from the top seeming wider than before. I let myself submerge in the pool, let the viewpoint splash around in the glowing cyan power, compressing it between my hands for the fun of it.

  [Skill: Mana Compression has risen to level 4]

  This spurred me on. My acts of compression gradiented from pleasure to production, leaving more stronger azure on the bottom of the pool.

  [Skill: Mana Gathering has risen to level 5. Upgrade available]

  I was out for a while, but mana was rich here. I had time to do one last thing I wanted to do before night fell.

  [Skill: Mana Compression has risen to level 5. Upgrade available]

  And that was it. I burst from my pool, eyes adjusting to the lower light. Excella remained visible, sword over one shoulder as several new cuts lined her.

  “You’re impossible to reach in there.” She mockingly observed. “I was worried you’d catnap the whole night.”