Chapter 405 – The Awakening of Awakened Ovak

“Wake up, wake up…”

“What… sound…”…

Immersed in a hazy fog, Ovakain seemed to faintly hear a voice calling from afar.

“What… happened… to me…”

Feeling the throbbing pain deep within his soul, the awakened Ovakain forced himself to recall.

During his slumber, he felt as though he had been repeating a dream filled with pain yet unable to find release. Ovakain dreamed of returning once more to the half-dragon tribe, lying again in that shabby yet warm dragon nest built deep within the dense forest. Breathing in the fragrant scent of leaves in his dream, watching the blurred figures of half-dragon children playing around him, Ovakain didn’t want to wake up. He even wished to remain asleep forever, even though he knew this was merely his own illusion…

But then, Ovakain dreamed of the person he most longed to see yet least wanted to face…

When the old half-dragon shaman’s face, covered in dull scales yet full of kindness, appeared before Ovakain, even the steadfast black dragon couldn’t help but weep loudly. Even though this was just an illusion, Ovakain couldn’t suppress the guilt in his heart.

“…Old man, I’m sorry… I failed to protect my kingdom. The Dragon Roar Kingdom has been destroyed. I fled like a stray dog. All our clansmen died in sorrow. The tribe, dreams, and hopes you left me… all gone, all destroyed. It’s all my fault, all my fault…”…

Ovakain cried loudly like a wronged child confiding in a parent. He knew that if the old man were truly alive, he wouldn’t blame him, but Ovakain still found it hard to forgive himself.

However… the crying didn’t last forever. Emotional release couldn’t continue without end.

After all, Ovakain was one of the rare strong ones who had achieved “Cage Escape.” He wouldn’t drown in sorrow. The real old man was no longer here. The dead couldn’t help him. Ovakain’s lamentations were only for this illusory image in his heart – indulging in it was utterly meaningless.

After what felt like an eternity of weeping, Ovakain finally wiped away his tears and raised his head. In his eyes, the flames of determination burned fiercely once again:

“My story hasn’t ended yet. I must have revenge. I’ll make that Punk Cyan pay a heavy price. I will create my own kingdom once more… I can no longer remain asleep.”Although the soul’s sting still clung to the depths of Ovakain’s mind like persistent maggots, the black dragon used his formidable willpower to force himself awake.” He had indeed heard a voice calling him earlier. As a Master-Level spellcaster, Ovakain knew that sweet voice wasn’t part of his dream – he had truly heard a sound from reality.

“It seems I’ve luckily escaped death once more.”Feeling the emotion called “relief” emerging in his heart, Ovakain couldn’t help but sigh helplessly. When had he, the mighty black dragon Ovakain Acidmaw, ever needed something like “relief”? To have fallen to such a state was truly a testament to the unpredictability of fate.

Helpless as he was, Ovakain slowly opened his eyes. Of course, although the black dragon had regained control of his body, he didn’t startle or jump up in alarm. With Ovakain’s intelligence, it wasn’t hard to deduce that he must have been rescued by a merchant caravan or travelers to have survived. Considering the duration of the “Greater Polymorph” spell fixed on his necklace, Ovakain estimated that when he collapsed, he must have appeared as “dressed in fine silks, looking frail and delicate.”” Ovakain thought it safer to pretend to be a distressed Noble young master, especially since the black dragon was currently so weak that even encountering a Formal-Level professional around levels 13 or 14 would likely prove difficult to handle.

Having made these considerations in an instant, Ovakain cautiously opened his eyes, feigning weakness and disorientation.

“Hiss, it hurts… Where am I?”…

Slowly moving his hands with a speed that combined Noble etiquette and urgency, he supported his forehead while remaining alert to his surroundings. Pretending to be a frail Noble young master, Ovakain gradually sat up.

Only now did the black dragon realize he was inside a carriage. The walls of the carriage were adorned with decorations and hangings rich in desert characteristics—abstract clay dolls of various sizes, brightly colored woven flowers, and sculptures with a soft luster. Though each decoration was small in size, they covered the carriage walls, making the originally spacious interior feel cramped.

Ovakain himself was lying in bedding woven from Desert sheepskin. The coarse sheepskin was far less comfortable than his dragon lair, and as he sat up, the black dragon could even detect the peculiar smell emanating from the sheepskin. Of course, having grown up in the Half-Dragon Tribe, Ovakain had long been able to ignore such trivial matters as odors.

“My dear young master, you’re finally awake?”

Just as the vigilant black dragon finished observing the carriage’s interior and was about to get up and go outside, the wooden door of the carriage suddenly swung open. Along with the blinding sunlight, a spirited and beautiful young woman with wheat-colored skin appeared before Ovakain.

“How long are you going to sleep? Dinner is almost ready. If you don’t come out soon, you’ll miss out on everything.”

The girl’s voice was as clear and lovely as a babbling spring. Perhaps genuinely eager to prepare dinner, the wheat-skinned girl merely called out to Ovakain before turning to leave. Whether entering the carriage or turning to depart, the Desert girl exuded a heroic aura. Compared to those Noble young ladies, she might not be as refined, but Ovakain felt that such a girl possessed a natural beauty.

Of course, Ovakain’s gaze was purely appreciative. When it came to aesthetics, Ovakain still preferred female dragons of his own kind over human women. However…The girl’s appearance caused Ovakain’s eyes to dim slightly once more. Seeing her delicate yet somewhat tsundere face, Ovakain was reminded of his own assistant-like “secretary.” Truth be told, his experimental assistant had remained unchanged for several centuries.

“By now… she’s probably dead too”…

Savoring the emotion called sorrow emerging from his heart, Ovakain slowly rose to his feet. He planned to eat something and express his gratitude before quickly leaving the caravan. Ovakain hadn’t forgotten that he still had a relentless enemy hot on his heels, and he didn’t want to bring catastrophic disaster upon the merchant group that had saved him.

Regardless, eating something quickly was absolutely necessary for Ovakain at this moment. He estimated that the rescue team had only managed to give him some water, as he still felt intensely hungry. At this moment, the black dragon felt somewhat grateful for the human body granted by this “Greater Polymorph” – had he maintained his massive dragon form with its high energy consumption, Ovakain reckoned he might have become the first black dragon to starve to death.

(End of Chapter)