3: Primordial Dragon

"YOU do not fear me?" The deep voice roared inside Nesca's head.

Nesca glanced at the blood flowing from its side as she nodded. "I do. But if you wanted to kill me, you would have already done it. I'm actually thankful, that your presence in this forest is enough for the low-ranking beasts to stay away as I navigate the darkness."

It's deep growl echoed through the cave.

"You are strange, demon princess."

Nesca tilted her head and her eyes widened in disbelief. "You truly know who I am?"

"I know the bloodline of every demon who has ruled this land," the dragon replied. "Your scent belongs to the imperial family."

The dragon lowered its head, studying her. "But your soul does not."

Nesca remained silent. She expected questions after her transmigration, but hearing it from a dragon made her feel flabbergasted.

"You noticed easily, huh."

The dragon's crimson eyes blinked. "You admit it?"

"I don't see a reason to lie to a dragon who can probably crush me with one claw."

The dragon stared at her for a moment before it released a weak laugh.

"You possess courage, little demon."

Nesca walked closer. "Your injuries are getting worse, by the way."

The dragon scoffed. "Do not waste your time. My wounds were caused by a cursed weapon and forbidden magic. Even powerful healers could not easily cleansed it."

Nesca looked at the dark energy spreading across its scales. Indeed, the wounds were not normal. A strange black mist surrounded the damaged part, as if eating away its life force.

She remembered something.

The Moonstalk Herb!

The system said it contained life energy capable of restoring damaged blood essence. And her mission was only to gather it.

But perhaps…It could save this dragon too.

"I have an idea!" She pulled the herb from her satchel.

The dragon's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

"The forest, obviously. Soon, I might propagate this. It could be sold at a high price."

The dragon ignored her blabbering. "You found Moonstalk Herbs and brought it here?"

Nesca shrugged. "What's the matter? I may be weak, but with your current condition, you might die before me. Can't you be just thankful I happened to have something useful? You're dying!"

"You would give away something that could save your own life?"

Nesca looked down at the herb. "Well, I can gather another batch of this herb."

For a moment, the cave went still. The dragon's crimson eyes slightly softened. "Your words are not what I expected from you, little demon. If you slay me, you'll gain immense power, enough to take control of this empire."

Nesca smiled. "Stop being racist, Mr. Dragon. Power? Sorry, not interested. At least, not now."

She stepped forward and crushed part of the Moonstalk Herb between her fingers. Then Nesca placed the glowing herb over the wound.

A silver light spread across the dragon's body. The moment the Moonstalk Herb touched the cursed wound, the black mist began to disappear.

The dragon let out a powerful roar, and the entire cave shook.

Nesca was thrown backward and slammed against the stone wall.

"Ugh… had I landed on a wrong spot, I'd surely die! Thank the heavens this body is squishy."

Pain spread through her fragile body. But she didn't focus on it. Nesca was elated that her idea worked. She saved the dragon!

The system immediately appeared.

[Warning! Host has suffered physical damage.]

[Vitality decreasing.]

Nesca gritted her teeth. "Seriously? Helping someone would kill me?"

The dragon looked at her in surprise. "You should have protected yourself."

Nesca slowly stood up. "Wow, you're welcome!"

The silver light continued spreading as the dragon's wounds began closing, and the corrupted energy slowly disintegrated.

The dragon's breathing became steadier. And after several minutes, the surrounding pressure slowly fading away.

The system suddenly rang.

[Ding!]

[Hidden Achievement Completed.]

[The host has saved an ancient dragon.]

[Additional reward obtained.]

Nesca froze. "Additional reward?"

The blue screen kept blinking.

[Rewards Received:]

[Moonstalk Herb Gathering Quest Completed.]

[Vitality increased.]

[Minor Disease Suppression activated.]

[Hidden Reward: Dragon's Protection.]

[Special Ability Unlocked: Life Energy Absorption.]

[The host can absorb a small amount of natural life energy to strengthen the body.]

Nesca's eyes widened at the flooded notification. "Whoa! Amazing!"

Warmth flowed through her body in an instant. Her previously weak heartbeat became stronger, and her breathing became easy. Even the constant pain inside her chest began fading.

She clenched her fist. "Is this for real or am I imagining things?"

The dragon watched her. "It seems the system has rewarded you."

Nesca looked up as her brow almost formed a line. "You know about the system?"

The dragon closed its eyes. "I know many things that exist beyond this world."

That answer only created more questions. Before Nesca could ask, the dragon continued.

"My name is Arkhael, I am the last descendant of the Primordial Dragons."

Nesca looked at him. "The last? I thought Primordial Dragons had long been extinct."

"Because I live in seclusion. Waiting for the prophecy to happen before I reappear again."

Nesca was suddenly curious. "What prophecy?"

The dragon remained silent. Then it looked directly at Nesca. "The arrival of a vengeful soul from another world."

Nesca's heart stopped. Did the dragon refer to her?

'No, of course not,' she denied in silence.

Because she came from the same world. Vengeful, yes. Perhaps, it was just a mistake. She had nothing to do with such prophecy. She wasn't even sure if she could survive this ordeal.

Arkhael spoke again. "That soul that would either save this world…" the dragon paused then it added, "or destroy it."

Nesca stared at the dragon.

The system that had always answered her as quickly as possible suddenly flickered.

[Warning!]

[Information restricted.]

The system refused to reveal something for the first time. Nesca didn't mind it though, she thought since it had nothing to do with her, she was not interested to know.

Arkhael slowly stood, his massive body casting a shadow over her.

"Tell me, little demon."

The dragon's eyes burned with power, it was something ancient.

"Are you the one who will bring salvation, or are you the one to bring chaos?"

Nesca refused to be intimidated. "A weakling like me could bring world's destruction?"

She laughed. "It sounds crazy. Why me? I'm too lazy for that. I just want to survive… for now."