Dragon Of Eternity: Reincarnated As A Dragon With System

Chapter 5: The Hunter's Path

The hatchling stood amidst the battlefield, his breathing steady now as the system's notifications faded from his vision. Blood still stained the rocky ground, but his focus shifted to something more pressing—the system itself.

Inventory unlocked, the message had said.

"Inventory," he murmured. "Let's see how this works."

The thought barely formed before a glowing interface appeared before his eyes, a translucent grid with empty slots. His gaze shifted to the massive body of the Clawstalker lying motionless before him.

He reached out hesitantly with his claw, imagining the beast disappearing into the system.

The system chimed.

[System Alert]

Do you want to store Clawstalker (Level 4) in your inventory?

"Yes," he growled, his voice low and firm.

The body shimmered before dissolving into particles of light, vanishing into the grid. One slot now displayed the faint silhouette of the predator, its name and level glowing faintly beneath it.

"Good," he muttered. "I'll need that later."

Satisfied, he turned his attention to himself. "System," he called, "show my profile."

The glowing text reappeared, hovering before him.

[Player Profile]

Name: Unnamed Hatchling

Level: 2

HP: 8/8

MP: 10/10

Species: Blackscale Wyrmling (Dark Variant)

Title: Hunter of Predators

He stared at the text, his claws twitching slightly.

"Blackscale Wyrmling," he murmured, tasting the words. "Dark Variant… so that's what I am."

The words lingered in his mind as he studied the profile. The numbers weren't impressive, but they were enough—for now.

A sudden gust of wind swept across the rocky terrain, cutting through the bloodied air like a blade. The hatchling shivered, the chill brushing against his scaled body.

His claws dug into the dirt as he glanced around, the harsh environment now unnervingly quiet.

It's over, he thought, his gaze falling to the ground where the Clawstalker had once been. But as his eyes scanned the horizon, a new realization settled over him.

"I'm still out in the open," he muttered.

The memory of the system's earlier notification flickered in his mind—the first quest.

"System," he called, "show the mission."

The glowing text appeared immediately before him.

[Quest Alert: Active]

Objective: Survive for 24 Hours.

Time Remaining: 23:33:21

His claws twitched as he stared at the timer.

"Only 30 minutes?" he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief. The battle with the Clawstalker had felt like hours, every moment drawn out by pain and desperation. But the timer was clear: he was barely getting started.

He turned briefly, his gaze shifting toward the forest behind him. The tall grasses swayed ominously, their dark shadows stretching across the rocky ground.

That's where the Clawstalker had come from, slinking through the grass with predatory precision.

His eyes narrowed. "No way I'm going in there," he growled softly. "God knows what else is lurking—serpents, beasts, worse."

The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he turned back toward the rocky terrain ahead. His gaze settled on the uneven outcroppings in the distance.

"A cave," he murmured, his voice heavy with caution. "It'll have to do."

His claws scraped against the ground as he started forward but hesitated. What if something's inside? Another beast… or worse?

He turned back to the scattered shards of his egg, their jagged edges gleaming faintly in the light. Carefully, he picked up several pieces, their weight reassuring in his claws.

"System," he called.

[System Alert]

Do you want to store Dragon Egg Shards (x99) in your inventory?

"Yes," he growled firmly.

The shards shimmered, vanishing into the system with a faint glow. He flexed his claws, now empty but prepared.

"If anything's in that cave," he muttered, "these might come in handy."

With a final glance at the forest behind him, he set off toward the rocky outcrops, his eyes scanning every shadow for signs of movement.

The jagged terrain gave way to a steep incline, the faint shadow of a cave entrance looming ahead. The hatchling's claws scraped against the rocky ground as he climbed, his tail swaying for balance.

Each step felt heavier as a strange sensation crept over him—a prickling at the back of his mind, like an unseen danger pressing down on him.

He paused at the mouth of the cave, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black interior. The chill of the wind whispered against his scales, but this wasn't just cold. It was something else.

Something's wrong.

His claws twitched, his instincts screaming at him to turn back.

"I shouldn't be here," he muttered, his voice a low growl.

Just as he began to step away, he noticed them.

Dozens of golden eyes blinked from the darkness, their faint glow piercing through the shadows. They were small, scattered, but unmistakably watching him.

His body froze.

"What…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The shadows shifted, the faint sound of shuffling feet and low growls reaching his ears. Panic surged through him, and he turned, ready to run.

The system chimed.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 221

Status: Kneeling, head bowed in respect.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 345

Status: Trembling violently, radiating fear.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 129

Status: Kneeling deeply, body language showing reverence.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 104

Status: Cowering against the wall, avoiding eye contact.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 587

Status: Standing still, observing with cautious respect.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 476

Status: Kneeling with both hands pressed to the ground in deep submission.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 214

Status: Backing away slowly, trembling in fear.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 189

Status: Huddled behind others, shivering with unease.

[System Alert]

Target Identified: Goblin No. 321

Status: Standing stiffly, arms at its sides, posture indicating cautious respect.

He skidded to a halt, the flood of messages making his head spin.

"Goblins…?" he muttered, his voice shaky with disbelief. His gaze darted back to the golden eyes.

Some of them were bowing. Others were trembling. The sheer variety of reactions was baffling. Respect, reverence, fear—it was all there, scattered across the cave's occupants.

He turned slowly, his claws scraping against the ground as his instincts warred with the system's information.

What the hell is this?

Why would they…?

His voice trailed off as he stared into the darkness. The goblins didn't move, their glowing eyes fixed on him. They weren't advancing, nor did they seem ready to attack.

Instead, they remained still, their silence heavier than the tension in the air.

"What… is going on?" he whispered, his confusion mounting with every passing second.

He stared into the cave, his claws twitching as he processed the surreal sight before him. Goblins trembling, kneeling, showing fear and respect—it was bizarre, to say the least.

"Wait…" he muttered, his gaze flickering between the golden eyes in the darkness. "If they're respecting me… does that mean I can control them? Bring them under me?"

I need to survive for 24 hours right? I think their cave would be safe.

Before he could spiral further into his thoughts, the system chimed.

[System Alert]

Reminder: During Attempt #222,567, goblin children mistook the egg for a ball and broke it while playing.

[System Alert]

During Attempt #224,359, goblins offered the egg to a Clawstalker for protection but were scammed and promptly eaten.

[System Alert]

During Attempt #325,873, goblins hunted and ate the player, mistaking him for an oversized lizard.

[System Alert]

During Attempt #456,112, goblins boiled the egg in a soup but set their camp on fire.

[System Alert]

During Attempt #512,845, goblins worshipped the egg for a week before forgetting about it and leaving it to rot.

[System Alert]

During Attempt #684,921, goblins sold the egg to a traveling merchant, only to be cheated with counterfeit coins.

His jaw dropped as he stared at the flood of messages, his tail stiffening in disbelief.

"…What the hell?" he muttered.

A laugh bubbled in his throat despite himself, his claws scraping against the dirt as he shook his head.

"This has got to be some kind of cosmic joke."

He turned back toward the cave, his glowing eyes narrowing as he straightened his posture.

"But maybe this time…" he said softly, determination creeping into his voice.

Maybe I'll figure this out.

Kek, let's see if they dare to even lift a finger.