“Alright,” Alex muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the fading light of the horizon, “It’s time to speak to Alphox about that bloodline.”
Determined, he closed his eyes and focused, trying to reach out to his primordial dragon ally.
“Alphox,” he called again, his voice firm.
But he was met with silence.
He tried several more times, but no matter how much he focused or how loudly he called, Alphox refused to answer.
Frustrated, Alex clenched his fists.
“What’s his problem now?” he muttered, shaking his head, “I save your ass from certain death, didn’t I?!”
Then he took a deep breath, deciding to try a different approach.
“Undead King,” Alex commanded, his tone resolute. “I’m using my [Death Call] for this.”
In an instant, the air grew colder, and shadows coalesced above him.
The towering figure of the Undead King materialized, his hollow eyes gazing down at Alex.
“You called?” the King asked, his voice echoing like a distant storm.
Alex looked up, his expression calm but stern.
He didn’t know exactly how powerful the Undead King was at that moment since he was meditating for a while, but that wasn’t important.
All that mattered was whether the King could be useful.
“Go check on the dragon,” Alex said with a groan.
The Undead King inclined his head in a low bow, but as he straightened, his empty gaze lingered on Alex for a moment, it was almost as if he had seen something strange on the man.
“Problem?” Alex asked sharply, noticing the hesitation.
“No… Never mind,” the King replied, shaking his head.
Without another word, he vanished, teleporting into the [Shadow Pet Space].
When the Undead King appeared in the shadowy dimension, he found Alphox awake.
The dragon lay coiled amidst the shadows, his massive form radiating a faint, ominous energy.
“The human is calling you,” the Undead King announced, his voice steady as he approached.
But before he could get close, a barrier of darkness erupted between them, blocking his path.
“Are you serious?” the King muttered, raising an eyebrow at the barrier.
“Leave,” Alphox growled, his voice low and menacing. “This is my space. I’ll decide what to do with it.”
The Undead King studied the dragon for a moment, then shrugged.
“Well, at least I tried.” He made no attempt to force the issue; it wasn’t his job after all.
With that, he returned to the real world to report back.
“He’s awake but refusing to listen,” the Undead King informed Alex, his tone indifferent.
“Of course he is,” Alex muttered, rubbing his temples.
Talking to Alphox clearly wasn’t going to be easy. But giving up wasn’t an option.
“If he won’t come to me,” Alex said, “then I’ll go to him.”
The Undead King tilted his head slightly.
“You’re not exactly allowed to enter the [Shadow Pet Space] on your own,” he said before vanishing, going back to his own space.
Alex smirked. “We’ll see about that.”
He focused his mind, searching for a way to breach the barrier that separated him from Alphox’s space.
At first, nothing happened. He tried again and again, frustration building with each failed attempt.
Then, suddenly, a surge of dark energy enveloped him, cold and electrifying, and he was able to make the connection.
Ding!
[Your reputation with Alphox has reached the point where you can access his space.]
“Finally,” Alex grinned, feeling the pull of the dark energy guiding him.
He allowed it to take him, and in the next moment, he appeared in the shadowy dimension.
The [Shadow Pet Space] was vast and oppressive, its atmosphere heavy with an unnatural stillness.
Alex stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the dark expanse.
“Human,” a deep voice rumbled, cutting through the silence.
Alex turned to see Alphox standing amidst the shadows, his crimson eyes glowing like embers.
“So, you can come here too, huh?” Alphox said with a faint grin, though there was a sadness in his expression. “Not that it matters.”
Alex approached, his gaze steady.
“What’s the problem?” Alex asked, he didn’t know why, but he felt like Alphox was carrying some sort of regrets, “Is this about those dragons? What they said about you and your title?”
The mention of the dragons made Alphox’s eyes blaze with fury.
He turned sharply, his tail whipping through the air.
“Those bastards…” Alphox growled, but then his anger seemed to deflate.
His gaze dropped to the ground, where his reflection shimmered faintly in the shadows.
“What they said is true,” he said quietly.
Alex stayed silent, letting the dragon speak.
“I’m nothing but a weak dragon,” Alphox continued, his voice heavy with bitterness. “I struggled against all of them, forced to rely on a human to save me repeatedly.”
He glanced back at Alex, his expression a mix of anger and sorrow.
“Now look at me,” Alphox said. “Mocked by everyone. I’ve lost my title, the respect and fear I once commanded. I can’t even return to Dragon City.”
At the mention of Dragon City, Alex’s ears perked up.
“And you know what’s worse?” Alphox leaned closer, his massive head looming over Alex. “No matter what I do, nothing will change. We’re just fools, trying to defy fate.”
Alex frowned, but Alphox wasn’t done.
“I’ve seen into your consciousness, human. You resent the gods, the demons, and the races who think themselves superior. But think for yourself, do you truly believe you can win?”
“…”
“Do you truly believe you can change anything?” Alphox laughed, a hollow, bitter sound. “The answer is no. Neither you nor I can defy fate. That’s why I stay here.”
He stepped back, his wings folding tightly against his sides.
“I have nowhere else to go,” Alphox said. “So I’ll fight alongside you, a fool like me.”
Alex’s jaw tightened. He stepped forward, his voice firm.
“You’re wrong,” he said.
Alphox tilted his head, surprised by the human’s defiance.
“I don’t care if what I’m trying to do is foolish,” Alex continued. “I don’t care if the odds are stacked against me or if the gods themselves want me to fail. I’ll keep trying, no matter what. Until I die, or until they do.”
Alphox stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, a smile spread across the dragon’s face.
“…I knew it,” Alphox said.
Ding!
[Your reputation with Alphox has increased!]
The shadow barrier that had blocked Alex’s path dissolved, clearing the way.
Alphox straightened, the sadness in his eyes replaced by a familiar pride.
“Now,” the dragon said, his tone lighter. “You wanted to know about the Dragon Bloodline, didn’t you?”
Alex nodded.
“Then let me tell you,” Alphox said, his grin returning.