The Goblin Who Devoured Fate

The Draconic Kobold Warden loomed before us, its golden eyes glowing in the dim cavern light. Its obsidian scales shimmered with a faint heat, and the deep rumbling growl in its throat sent a primal warning through my bones.

This wasn't just some beast.

It was intelligent.

Rhia gripped her spear tightly. "Leon…"

I took a slow breath, keeping my stance firm. Running wasn't an option. If this thing wanted to kill us, we'd already be dead.

That meant it was waiting. Watching.

Testing us.

I took a gamble.

I lowered my weapon.

A Voice in the Darkness

The Warden narrowed its eyes, watching me carefully. Then, to my surprise—

It spoke.

"Why… are you here?"

Its voice was deep, guttural—but clear.

Rhia stiffened beside me. "It can talk?!"

I forced myself to stay calm. This was an opportunity.

I met the Warden's gaze. "We were fighting the kobolds outside. But we weren't here for you. We found this place by accident."

The Warden let out a low, rumbling exhale. Its sharp claws flexed against the stone floor.

"You… seek the egg?"

I hesitated. How I answered this could mean life or death.

I glanced at Rhia. She was tense, ready to fight—but she trusted me to make the call.

"We don't even know what the egg is," I admitted. "But we can tell it's important."

The Warden's claws tightened. "Then you are dangerous."

The temperature in the room rose.

Flames flickered along its scales.

Rhia took a half-step closer to me, her grip tightening on her spear. We were seconds from a fight.

I had to do something—fast.

The Hidden Truth

I raised my hands. "Wait! We're not here to steal it. But someone else might be, right?"

The Warden's eyes narrowed.

Bingo.

I took a step forward. "This egg—it's not just a normal dragon egg, is it?"

Silence.

Then, after a long pause—

The Warden spoke.

"It is an egg of the Forgotten Bloodline. The last of its kind."

I felt my heartbeat slow.

A lost bloodline? What did that even mean?

The Warden's golden eyes hardened.

"I was placed here to guard it. If it falls into the wrong hands… the world will burn."

My stomach twisted. What the hell had we just stumbled into?

A Choice to Make

The Warden studied me, then spoke again.

"I have watched you. You are… different."

I tensed. "What do you mean?"

It didn't answer. Instead, it stepped aside, revealing the egg.

"Prove you are not an enemy."

A test.

Rhia shot me a worried look. "Leon… be careful."

I nodded and stepped forward.

The egg's surface was warm under my fingertips. The moment I touched it—

[System Notification!]

[You have made contact with the Egg of the Forgotten Bloodline.][A choice will soon be placed before you.]

A sudden pressure filled my chest.

Something was coming.

And it would change everything.