The kingdom, as it seemed, was struggling financially and, basically, in all things.
He stared at the runes once more then said to it.
"I need information on the eggs, how I’m going to get them, where do I start."
The runes flickered. It couldn’t speak and so it replied in letters which Drahon had to read.
If it was the rune guide it would reply in both forms - verbally and with words.
[The eggs are all scattered in different places far from here and now it’s up to you to go look for them. I’ll be giving you the exact areas it is to be found, but it will be hard as some are guarded and others are just too hidden deeply.]
"Ok," Drahon said, his eyes now fixed on the runes. "Go on."
[First you’ll need info on other kingdoms surrounding you as they pose a threat.]
Drahon simply nodded.
The system flickered (as usual) and now it showcased:
[Surrounding Kingdoms Overview]
[1. Kingdom of Vareldan (Player-Controlled)
- Alignment: Strategic & Diplomatic
- Known For: Superior economy, silver-armored knights, and espionage
- Threat Level: ★★★★☆
- *Rumor: The ruler prefers peace—but only when profitable.
2. Crimson Vultarr Dominion (Player-Controlled)
- Alignment: Aggressive Expansionist
- Known For: Fire mages, ruthless raids, elite wyvern units
- Threat Level:* ★★★★★
- Rumor: The player burns entire villages to gain "Terror Reputation" perks.
3. Kingdom of Eldroth (NPC)
- Alignment: Lawful, Traditional
- Known For:* Dragon-worshipping temples, elite paladins
- Threat Level: ★★★☆☆
- Rumor: One of the mythical eggs may be hidden in their catacombs.
4. Frostvale Federation (NPC)
- Alignment: Cold, Isolated
- Known For:* Ice archers, fortified walls, frost golems
- Threat Level:* ★★★☆☆
- *Rumor: No kingdom has ever successfully invaded Frostvale.*
5. Blackhorn Enclave (NPC)
- Alignment: Warlike & Brutal
- Known For: Ogre troops, blood rituals, berserker champions
- Threat Level:* ★★★★☆
- Rumor: Led by a warlord who believes in strength above all.
6. Solaire Republic (NPC)
- Alignment: Democratic & Technological
- Known For:* Mechanical constructs, solar cannons, scholar units
- *Threat Level: ★★☆☆☆
- *Rumor: Their libraries may hold maps to lost egg sites.
- Alignment: Dark, Mysterious
- Known For: Necromancers, cursed forests, undead cavalry
- Threat Level:* ★★★★☆
- Rumor: Their king never shows his face. Some say he’s already dead.
Drahon stared at the glowing runes and slowly stroked his beard-less chin.
"Tough," he muttered.
He wasn’t wrong. He had only just been teleported here not long ago, so it made sense he hadn’t made a name for himself like the other two players had.
The one who intrigued him most was the leader of the *Crimson Vultarr Dominion*. Just an hour into the level and that guy had already earned the reputation:
"This player burns entire villages to gain ’Terror Reputation’ perks."
For some reason, Drahon felt like that player could be someone he knew. Maybe... Devon?
If it was Devon, that would be one hell of a twist, so he was pretty sure it wasn’t.
Or... perhaps it actually *was* Devon? He wasn’t sure. He’d have to find out soon.
Then there was the ruler of Arkenmoorains. That one gave him the creeps. First time he’d heard of necromancers in this world.
Even if the ruler was just an NPC, he had to be careful. The rune guide had said NPCs in this world were far deadlier than normal.
Maybe this was where that started to make sense.
"Their king never shows his face. Some say he’s already dead."
Creepy. Drahon had a weird feeling he’d meet him soon. Maybe he was tied to one of the eggs.
And then there were the mentions of Fire Mages and Elite Wyvern Units. He didn’t expect to see those in this world either.
He understood Fire Mages to be spellcasters focused on fire-based magic, fireballs, flame walls, even explosions. In kingdom battles, they’d be useful for sieges and defense.
Elite Wyvern Units were something else, high-tier aerial riders flying dragon-like beasts. Fast, brutal, and deadly. The "elite" part meant they were rare and far more powerful than standard riders.
Drahon sighed. He had fire mages... but they were all beginners. And he lacked knights.
He was absolutely cooked.
And war? That was literally stated in the level’s description:
[Build kingdoms and go to war]
If an actual war started now, he didn’t even have enough troops to defend a village gate.
So, he made a decision. He’d use the rest of the day to rest, observe, and learn. Get used to how things worked around the kingdom. Maybe start a conversation. Maybe act like a proper ruler.
He’d figure things out properly tomorrow.
The day dragged on, not much happened in terms of action, but it proved rich in knowledge. Drahon spent it exploring more of the kingdom, riding through villages where commoners bowed at the sight of him. The entire experience felt oddly like being inside a role-playing video game.
He enjoyed watching the mages at work, observing how they conjured spells. The fireballs they cast weren’t as grand as he’d imagined, which he figured was due to their inexperience. He encouraged them to keep training, knowing their magic could prove vital in future battles.
He also discovered that the kingdom faced daily skirmishes against the surrounding wild and primitive clans. Apparently, these groups all shared one goal, separating Drahon’s head from his shoulders. The repetition of it made him frown. The threats sounded almost too scripted, like something you’d expect from game-generated NPCs.
He had also learned from the guards that these savage groups circled the kingdom like vultures, lurking just beyond the forests and hills. They struck mostly at dawn or nightfall, when defenses thinned. Every nearby village feared them. They were always watching and always waiting.
"We’ll chop your lord’s head off!"
"We want to slit the throat of your bastard lord!"
"Where’s the head of your lord!, gimme or we’ll kill all of you!"
Drahon suddenly came up with an idea, it would be tomfoolery killing the wild warriors that wanted his head off. Since he was low on Knights and fighters, why not recruit them.
It all depended on how.