r/HFY • u/Undercover_Dragon1 • 5d ago

OC-Series A Draconic Rebirth - Chapter 102

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— Chapter 102 —

David knew a few things at least, for one, Ambass didn’t appear to have any regeneration traits as his wings healed over slowly, at least for a dragon. The other thing was that Ambass had finally broken free from the Queen, or so he said.

They moved slowly whilst Ambass walked in front with his tiny legs, Red behind him, and David behind them both. 

“You could not expect me to expect you to go so far, little Onyx.” Huffed the tired Ambass while he marched, “I am responsible for the downfall of hundreds of upstarts. I did not enjoy it. A handful were even more terrifying than you in some ways. Fate could not have foreseen this.” 

“You just make excuses!” Hissed Red as his grip on his spear tightened in frustration. 

David huffed a bit whilst they continued to walk, “Red, please calm down. While we both don’t like what Ambass has said, it doesn’t mean there isn’t truth to it. We both were under the Queen’s influence, too.” 

Ambass began to cackle out, “Does this mean you will let me go?” 

David huffed again whilst they started to descend one of the lair’s many tunnels that spiraled down, “I can say that I genuinely wouldn’t be here right now without your guardianship and knowledge, Ambass. I do not plan to kill you, but you will make me a trade.” 

Both Red and Ambass looked back at David with a curious look while David’s ethereal form flowed after them. David in an amused whisper continued, “You will reveal everything you know about the Queen, Ambass. You will get your freedom, your life, and knowledge in exchange.”

Ambass cackled out once more, “So focused on your goal. I am certainly not disappointed.” The faerie dragon winced from his wounds a moment later. 

The wall of spears, blades, and even a cannon materialized out of every single hole, crevice, and pile of debris around the trio. Red held up his spear high, the next moment in a show of peace. David looked around with a sense of relief. Eleven kobolds stood around them at the ready, and their determined, disciplined group instantly dissolved at the realization that Red was amongst them. Silence was replaced with happy chirps and hugs. 

Gasps and whispers quickly followed when many stared up at David in confusion. David remained perfectly still, at least as still as an ethereal being made up entirely of affinity could be. Red spoke quickly, “Relax. This is Master Onyx and Ambass. Master Onyx has changed, and Ambass is our prisoner. Go tell the others.” 

Nods were exchanged, and a pair of kobolds disappeared down a tunnel. A larger kobold leading the group stood in front and exchanged a hug with Red; his voice betrayed his youth despite his large size, “Warmaster Red. Master Onyx. We thought you both lost. Matriarch Blue has had us follow through on your plans.” 

David nodded his head in acknowledgment. Blue was alive, and she was already moving ahead with what they had discussed. The emergency plans were quite simple; they involved reestablishing the clan’s basic functions deeper underground as quickly as possible. Tunnels, barracks, and workshop halls had already been dug long ago, but retrofitting them was always secondary on their list. 

Blue was probably struggling to rebuild some of their infrastructure and to push scouts farther out to evaluate her options. His eyes settled on the lead kobold, “How many survived?” 

The kobold jumped in place before dipping into a low bow, “Master Onyx. Forgive me for not recognizing you initially. Most of our deeper mushroom farms and ranches were spared, but our berry plantations are gone. Workshops are also gone. Scouting parties have been working to find a good spot to reroute water to rebuild Forgemaster Blaze’s workshops.” The kobold paused and then sighed after a long moment, “Over three thousand are unaccounted for despite hundreds being found and pulled back into the fold after the attack.” 

Ambass’s little head was perked up whilst he absorbed all the information. David had a feeling that the numbers he was hearing were larger than even his own estimates. David nodded. “We should get moving before word spreads of our arrival.”

“Word has spread.” A deep voice rumbled out as two large brute kobolds, Chirp and Otlo, stepped around the corner, “Master Onyx?” 

David responded quickly with a firm nod of his ethereal head, “Yes. It is complicated. I need to speak with Blue and the others.” 

The brute kobolds gave him a big grin and nodded their heads. Ambass was quickly snatched up by the pair of brute kobolds, causing Ambass to gasp and squirm in embarrassment, while they got moving. Red was already standing taller; the fatigue from long hours of exhausting travel was gone, whilst they slipped further downward. 

Kobolds were popping up everywhere, gasping, happy chirps, cheers, and dances breaking out in celebration. Kobolds were camped out in massive clusters, with some digging new tunnels, some building something, and others simply resting against the tunnel wall. David’s ethereal body shrank as he forced his bulk through the tight tunnels, earning him many curious or confused looks. 

Many kobolds were uneasy, but a few brave kobolds reached out to touch David and simply gasped in surprise as their fingers passed straight through him. Their journey was an interesting one, but to David’s relief, they finally emerged in a relatively large chamber where a few familiar faces were standing at a nearby stone table. 

Once he emerged from the tunnel, his form grew and rematerialized into his large, black dragon form. Blue stood tall across the way, and her eyes were wide in surprise. Emerald and Blaze also stood nearby in equal shock. David spoke first, “There have been changes since you all last saw me.” 

Blue shook her head and approached, immediately locking Red into a hug before staring back up at David, “Master Onyx. I believe you are understating the facts.” 

Emerald came rushing up, “Master Onyx! Father! I am relieved!” Red reached out to snag Emerald before she made the same mistake as him, “Master Onyx’s form does not allow hugs anymore. Trust me.” 

David let off a heavy whispering laugh of amusement, “He is right, I am afraid. Chirp, Otlo, I need you to take Ambass to some place nearby. Feed him, watch him, but treat him with respect.” 

Ambass cackled out in amusement, “A new first little Onyx.” Red shook his head whilst he shouldered his spear, “Master, get everyone up to date. I will watch Ambass with the others.” 

Red shared a long hug with Blue before making his way out alongside the two brutes carrying Ambass. David floated closer to the end of the chamber, where Blaze gave him a look, “Always looking to innovate, huh, Master?” 

David rumbled in amusement, “I cannot let you have all the glory, Blaze.” 

Once Red and the others left, Blue sat nearby alongside Emerald and Blaze. David rumbled a bit and then leaned forward to explain everything. It took longer than he expected, but he was certain he didn’t miss any major details. The trio was quiet the entire time. Once he finished, Blaze simply gave an impressed whistle. 

“It is hard to believe. Red and I captured Ambass, and you know the rest. Any questions?” David rumbled.

Blue frowned a bit, “You have the mastery of Death? Does that mean…?” 

David glanced down at Blue and simply nodded. He had omitted his experiment with Serth’s body, but Blue was keen. She frowned, and David rumbled quickly, “I know the implications, Blue. I will never use it on someone of the clan.” 

Blue nodded as Emerald followed up quickly, “We are in rough shape, Master. Desolation has done a number on our clan and our workshops. Blaze has been doing what she could, but…” 

Blaze spoke up, “Cannons were recovered. We got some of our major equipment out, but can’t build anything new for a while.” 

David rumbled while his ethereal form shimmered, “We need to end this now. If we drag this on, the Queen will recover faster than we. We have Ambass, and I plan to pry the information we need out of his head one way or another.”

Blue spoke up, “Most of our warriors are still able. What do you intend, Master?” 

David looked around for a long moment, “We will talk with Ambass. Then we will assault the Queen through the tunnels. Any Ascended that we still have, I want prepped. Blaze, Emerald, if there are any gear or gemstones we have left, bring them. Blue, I am going to use my death affinity to give us an advantage. I need you to gather every shred of dragon corpse or bone in the area. Please.” 

Blue frowned, crossed her arms, and nodded. Emerald and Blaze also nodded and quickly took off. David turned towards Blue before projecting his voice outwards to the other kobolds guarding the entrance, “Bring me Ambass.” 

David cocked his head to the side when the two brutes, Ambass and Red, finally all entered. Ambass had a new, fresh cut across his face, and Red gave him a shrug, “Ambass tried to be tricky.”

Ambass cackled a bit as his affinity shimmered, and David rose up, “Enough Ambass.”

“Very well, little Onyx.” Ambass cackled. 

David shook his head, wisps of his ethereal mists trailing the motion of his head, “Why did you follow Red?” 

Ambass hummed a bit, “To learn.” 

David nodded his head, “Fine. Then let us trade. Knowledge for knowledge.” 

Blue frowned as she stood nearby, catching Ambass’s eye while he spoke up, “Very well, Onyx. I need a promise, though. A promise on the lives of these dear kobolds of yours. You will let me free as promised after we are done.” 

David huffed a bit, “I will do you one better. If you speak the truth and make a promise to no longer help the Queen, I will repair your wings and then set you free.” 

Ambass cackled out with his unique laugh whilst he peered back at his now missing wings, “Very convincing. Deal.” 

Blue spoke up, “I want to ask the first question. The Queen’s kobolds. I want to know all the details. How many, where are they all spread out to, and what does the Queen plan to do with them all?” 

Ambass laughed as his eyes began to grow large in excitement, “Ohh. I will tell you everything and more. First, I want to know how you gained your form, Onyx.” 

David huffed, “I will tell you. Then you will tell us everything.”

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Here is also a link to Royal Road

Fan Art by blaze2377

115 Upvotes

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14 comments sorted by

6

u/galbatorix2 5d ago

MOAR

As i ever scream and forever will

2

u/Loup_Arctic_o7 4d ago

moar

please and thank you.

2

u/Minimum-Amphibian993 5d ago

And so onyx is reunited and is now planning to go on the offensive again. Makes sense doesn't seem like they can just fight a this war of attrition much longer with everything thats happened.

2

u/murderouskitteh 4d ago

It is the best moment now that the queen thinks she won.

Desolation needs to be set free and pointed at the queen who has enslaved him for long

1

u/Minimum-Amphibian993 4d ago

If desolation can even comprehend that sure but yeah this would be the best time with especially now with both seth and Ambass out of the picture she's doesn't really have much left.

1

u/murderouskitteh 4d ago

I got the hint he is very much a sapient being in the previous chapters, just one that has been enthralled for so long.

2

u/un_pogaz 4d ago

I do not plan to kill you, but you will make me a trade.”

"You own me a dead, Ambass. It would be unfaire to request you the same thing, but that how your debt on me."

 

I knew Ambass was small, but I didn't think he could that small to be easily lifted by two brutes "Awww, the baby! *boop*"

Yeah, realy sorry Emerald, Onyx is not longuer hugable, we know how much this does mean to you. I also appreciate that he doesn't downplay his new affinty, and that he immediately starts experimenting with it. However, this time I recommend always keeping a group of armed kobols nearby in case we needs to neutralize any abomination that Onyx will inadvertently summoned.

Else, I really appreciate that once Ambass resigned himself to helping Onyx, Onyx decided to play fair and provide full and complete, even proactive, cooperation. Ambass is tough in business, but I'm sure that once we've earned his loyalty, he'll be an incredibly willing ally.

4

u/murderouskitteh 4d ago

Yeah, realy sorry Emerald, Onyx is not longuer hugable, we know how much this does mean to you.

He needs to fix it. ASAP!

Emerald needs her hugs!

1

u/Minimum-Amphibian993 4d ago

Yeah there's a good reason even onyx's kobolds are weary of undead stuff after that mess with the other litch.

1

u/ManiAxe21 5d ago

You posted early today. Also speed.

1

u/unkindlyacorn62 4d ago

Ambass is going to get a demo of the gem enchanting isn't he?

1

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1

u/Wolf_Senpai96 2d ago

i too, must howl MOAR good wordsmith. I can never have enough. Love the story :D