Dragon King

January 14, 2025

"I'm going to be the best adventurer that this town has ever seen!" Leopold exclaimed through bites of his breakfast. It wasn't every day that his family could afford to have Eggs, Bacon, Potatoes and Pancakes covered in syrup but today was a special day. Leopold's mother smiled warmly at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she watched her son eat with enthusiasm.

"I have no doubt about that, Leopold," she said. "Just remember to be careful out there, alright? The woods can be dangerous, especially during the Culling." Leopold's father nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "Remember, son, the Culling is not a game. You must stay focused and cautious. Your safety is the most important thing."

Leopold nodded, his excitement dimming slightly at the reminder of the seriousness of the task ahead. The Culling was a brutal tradition in their kingdom, where poor families like theirs were forced to send one child out into the dangerous wilderness to hunt a level 1 monster as a form of obtaining the adventurer class. The royals claimed it was a necessary rite of passage, but many suspected it was a way to thin out the population of the poor.

After finishing his breakfast, Leopold gathered his gear and headed towards the Gate where he would check in with the Guard Captain. When he arrived he saw other children from poor families, looking equally nervous and determined. The Guard Captain, a grizzled veteran with a stern expression, stood before them and eyed each of them in turn. His gaze lingered on Leopold for a moment, evaluating the determination in his eyes.

"You all know the rules," the Guard Captain began, his voice filled with authority. "You have until sundown to return with the proof of your kill. Any signs of falsification will not be tolerated. The risks are high, but the rewards of becoming an adventurer are greater, you can only obtain a single class in your life and many have wished for the adventurer class"

The children looked at each other solemnly, the weight of the Guard Captain's words sinking in.

"You will each have your own area to hunt in. Remember to be wary of not just the monsters, but also other dangers that lurk in the woods," the Guard Captain warned. "This is not a group project, in order for you to succeed you will need to rely on your own skills and cunning. Now line up and we'll distribute your equipment"

As the Guard Captain finished they passed out maps outlining the children's areas and wooden swords to protect themselves.

Leopold looked at the wooden sword in confusion, "It's going to be awfully hard to defend myself with this," he muttered under his breath. But he knew complaining wouldn't do him any good. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted the strap of the wooden sword on his belt and set off towards the designated area marked on his map.

After all of the children received their map and training sword a notification appeared in front of Leopold

Quest: The Culling
As a child from a low income family you are required to participate in The Culling. Return before sunset with proof that you have slain a Level One monster.
Rewards: Adventurer class, Readmittance to the town
Status: Incomplete

As Leopold walked through the dense woods, his initial determination began to waver. The canopy overhead became thick and less and less light filtered through, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made Leopold's heart race in fear. Suddenly, the bush next to him began to shake and move and a rabbit darted out in front of him, causing him to yelp and stumble backward.

Breathing heavily, Leopold tried to steady himself. "It's just a rabbit, Leopold," he muttered to himself, trying to calm his racing heart. He shook his head, chiding himself for getting spooked by such a small creature. Steeling his resolve, Leopold continued forward, determined to prove his worth as an adventurer.

As he ventured deeper into the woods, Leopold found himself in a peaceful clearing. The sunlight filtered through the leaves.

"I haven't found any monsters yet, but I'm going to relax here for a bit and see if I can't get my nerves back in check," Leopold said to himself. Sitting down on a fallen log, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.

In the quiet of the clearing, Leopold began to hum a tune, a familiar nursery rhyme that his mother always hated, but all the kids loved.

"Royal Jelly and Noble's Hats. Some are skinny, but most are fat"

Suddenly, a deep growling but melodic voice joined in, completing the verse with a twist that made Leopold's blood run cold.

"But the ones in silken slacks, make the best Dragon Snacks!"

As the voice finished the verse, Leopold's eyes shot open, scanning the clearing for the source of the voice. To his surprise, a large, wounded dragon emerged from the shadows, its scales shimmering in the sunlight. The dragon, regarded Leopold with a mixture of curiosity and amusement in its eyes.

"You have quite the brave tongue for one so young," the Golden Dragon rumbled, his voice deep and resonant. "That nursery rhyme carries a lot of truth in its verses."

Leopold had no idea what to do, but fearing for his safety he raised his wooden sword defensively. "W-who are you?" he stammered, his voice betraying his fear.

The Dragon chuckled, a sound that rumbled through the clearing like distant thunder. "I am Varian, once a mighty dragon, now wounded and weakened by the Royal Dragon Slayers," Varian explained, his eyes glinting with a mix of sadness and anger. "They thought they could conquer me, but I am not so easily felled. Now put that toothpick down before you hurt yourself"

Even through his bravado Leopold could tell that Varian was not doing well. Varian's scales were dulled and cracked in places, and Leopold could see a deep gash along the dragon's flank that still oozed dark, viscous blood. Despite his fear, Leopold's heart ached for the wounded creature before him and he put down his training sword.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, Varian?" Leopold asked tentatively.

"Tell me about yourself, Leopold," Varian replied, his gaze intense as he studied the young boy before him. "Why are you out here in the woods, facing such danger? What drives you to risk your life at such a young age?"

Leopold hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal to the dragon. But there was something in Varian's eyes that made him feel inexplicably comfortable, as if he could trust the ancient creature with his deepest secrets.

"I come from a poor family, Varian," Leopold began, his voice soft. "Every child in a family like mine is forced to go on a Culling to hunt a monster. It's supposed to be a way for us to show our worth and potentially become adventurers. When I become an adventurer my family will no longer have to worry about food or shelter. I need to do this for them."

Varian nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his majestic features. "A noble goal," he rumbled. "But be wary, young Leopold, the life of an adventurer is not an easy one. It seems that the royals care not for the lives of the poor, only for their own gain," Varian continued, his voice filled with sadness and disdain. "But in your eyes, I see something rare, true courage and selflessness. Perhaps there is hope yet for this kingdom."

Leopold felt a swell of pride at Varian's words, his fear momentarily forgotten in the dragon's presence. "Thank you, Varian. I will do my best to prove myself and protect my family," Leopold vowed, feeling a newfound sense of determination coursing through him.

As the day went on Varian asked Leopold about many things, his family, the things that bring him joy, the things that scare him and the things that he truly desired, and Leopold answered him, feeling more at ease than he ever had before.

Varian regarded Leopold with a mixture of pride and concern. "You truly are a brave soul, Leopold. Come closer"

As Leopold began to come closer to the dragon, Varian began to hum and energy began to swirl around them. The air crackled with magic, and two items appeared in the dragon's claws.

"I would like to give you three gifts Leopold. In the mountains to the north lays a cave with treasures untold. This horde is only accessible to the one that holds this key. I would like to give it to you." Leopold's eyes widened in astonishment as Varian presented him with a shimmering golden key, intricately carved with runes and symbols that seemed to pulse with ancient power.

"This is a ring of experience. The human body is not as efficient at absorbing experience points as the majestic dragon and much of the experience that you could gain goes to waste. This ring acts as a type of buffer to help you store and utilize experience points more effectively as your body is capable of using them," Varian explained as he placed the ring in Leopold's outstretched hand. The ring glowed softly with a warm, comforting light, filling Leopold with a sense of newfound strength.

Leopold marveled at the gifts bestowed upon him by the wounded dragon. "I don't know how to thank you enough, Varian. These gifts mean more to me than you can imagine," Leopold said, his voice filled with gratitude and awe.

Varian merely nodded, a faint smile touching his draconic features. "You miscount my young friend, I said three gifts and that is only two." With a graceful movement, Varian extended his clawed hand towards Leopold, and in a single swift motion carved a rune into Leopold's chest.

The rune began to glow and emitted a warm, golden light that enveloped Leopold in a comforting embrace. He felt a surge of power coursing through him, a deep connection with something ancient and powerful that seemed to awaken within his very soul.

"What… what have you done, Varian?" Leopold asked, his voice filled with wonder and a touch of trepidation.

Varian replied, "This rune will empower any weapon that you hold making it strong enough to slay even a dragon."

Leopold could hardly believe his eyes as he looked down at the glowing rune on his chest and then the wooden sword in his hand. As he gripped the hilt, a surge of energy coursed through him, and the wooden sword began to transform before his eyes. The familiar weight shifted, becoming more substantial, and intricate patterns of sigils and runes appeared along the length of the blade, glowing with a soft, ethereal light.

"My final gift to you is my life, that you and your family might live." Varian's voice was barely a whisper, his eyes closing in exhaustion. Leopold could feel the dragon's life force ebbing away, and a lump formed in his throat at the sacrifice that Varian was making for him.

"Varian, no… you can't," Leopold protested, his voice cracking with emotion. "There must be another way."

Varian opened his eyes, fixing Leopold with a gaze filled with ancient wisdom. "This is the only way, young one. The Royal Dragon Slayers seek to claim my essence for their own gain, but I will not allow it. By having you to strike the final blow on me, my essence will be bound to you and not them, protecting you and granting you the power to do much good. It is a small price to pay to thwart their plans and help someone who has a heart such as yours"

Leopold's heart ached as he realized the gravity of Varian's sacrifice. The dragon had chosen him, an ordinary boy from a poor family, to inherit his power, even if it was in part to spite the Royal Dragon Slayers. Leopold knelt beside Varian, a mix of sorrow and gratitude welling up inside him. "I will never forget you, Varian. I promise to use your power wisely and to honor your memory in everything I do," Leopold said, his voice filled with emotion.

Varian's eyes gleamed with pride as he let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "You have a good heart, Leopold. Remember, true strength lies not just in power, but in the compassion and kindness that you show to others."

Leopold took the sword and Varian closed his eyes. With a swift slash Leopold struck the final blow, the blade cutting through the air with a resounding hum. A blinding light enveloped them both as Varian let out a final roar that echoed through the clearing.

As the light faded, Leopold found himself kneeling alone in the clearing, the once majestic dragon now gone all that was left was a single Dragon Scale. The ethereal sword now a simple wooden training sword again.

Leopold fell to the ground, overwhelmed with a mix of grief, awe, and determination. That was when a notification appeared in his vision.

Congratulations you have slain a level 347 Dragon and gained 5,760,237 Experience points.
Congratulations you have reached the required 5 experience points to gain your first level, any excess points will be discarded.
Your magic item "Ring of Experience" has been activated, additional experience has been saved
You have unlocked the Dragon Slayer Class (Rare).

By slaying a dragon you gain a portion of their strength and are held in high regard by the nobility of the land
You have unlocked the Dragon Kin Class (Legendary).
By fulfilling a dragon's final wish you gain a portion of their magic and have an amount of influence over magical creatures.
Error: Only one class assignment allowed…
Merging classes
You have unlocked the Dragon King Class (Unique)
By simultaneously unlocking both the Dragon Slayer and Dragon Kin class you gain the strength and magic of Varian, High King of the Dragons proportional to the amount of Experience that you are able to consume. You are held in high regard by all humans and given complete dominion over magical creatures. This class will grow and scale as if you were a magical creature and not a human.

Leopold stared at the notifications in disbelief, his mind reeling with the magnitude of what had just transpired. He had not only slain a powerful dragon
and gained immense experience but had also inherited the Dragon Slayer and Dragon Kin Classes which then merged and gave him the unique Dragon King class

Everyone knew that it was impossible to gain more than a single class, but he had never heard of classes merging. It was unheard of, unprecedented, and it filled Leopold with a mix of exhilaration and apprehension.

At this point he had spent the whole day with Varian, who was apparently the High King of the Dragons, and the sun was beginning to set. He pulled up his quest log.

Quest: The Culling
As a child from a low income family you are required to participate in The Culling. Return before sunset with proof that you have slain a Level One monster.
Rewards: Adventurer class, Readmittance to the town.
Warning incompatible reward, class assignment discarded
Status: Complete

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