Chapter 7: Graveyard of Lost Dragons

Horizon squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact. The fall was going to hurt — he just hoped it wouldn't be fatal.

The thought of smashing into the ground sent a surge of panic through him, but there was nothing he could do but wait for the inevitable.

Just as his face was about to collide with the unforgiving earth, an unseen force caught him mid-air, suspending him for a moment before gently lowering him to the ground. His body met the dirt with a soft thud, leaving him face-first in the dust.

"Whew," Horizon muttered as he stood up, swiping away the imaginary sweat from his brow. Looks like this world wasn't going to kill him just yet.

He took in his surroundings, eyes wide with awe and unease. Before him stretched a broken, desolate land, forever shrouded in the eerie glow of twilight.

This land had given way to a barren expanse of jagged crags and endless plateaus, extending as far as the eye could see. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the only signs of life were the occasional scurrying of crusher beetles and other scavengers, feasting on the remnants of the dead.

The ground was littered with bones — some ancient, others disturbingly fresh.

Scattered across the landscape were strange, ceremonial sites, where bones had been arranged into grotesque effigies of dragons and other dragonkin. The skeletal structures loomed like grim sentinels, their hollow eyes seeming to follow Horizon's every move.

Horizon shuddered. This was no ordinary land; it was a graveyard, a place where the dead outnumbered the living, and where the very earth seemed to whisper of long-forgotten horrors.

"Where am I?" Horizon muttered as he swiped his screen, pulling up the map. His eyes widened in surprise — it was blank. Just an empty, black expanse with a single glowing dot marking his landing spot. Looks like he still had to mapped the place.

This Drakha world was unknown to him. All he had was an incomplete map of Eternia, charted by the humans who came before him. But this region, this eerie, desolate land was a new world altogether.

A sudden sensation washed over him, prickling the back of his neck. "What is that?" he whispered, his senses on high alert. He felt a presence, but couldn't pinpoint its location.

Could it be his [Draconic Awareness] kicking in?

Are there enemies nearby? Horizon's eyes darted left and right, scanning the landscape. His nerves were fraying, and the tension was eating away at his composure. If he was about to face a real fight, this would be his first.

Battling holograms in the ARKs was one thing, but facing real beasts and monsters? There were no do-overs here, no second chances. A misstep meant death — permanent and final.

Horizon quickly glanced at his AP (Attribute Points). He hadn't allocated his points yet, unsure of which stat he needed most at this moment. He decided to hold off, waiting until he had a better sense of what he was up against. He needed to survive his first encounter before making any decisions.

Horizon took stock of his equipment: a simple sword, a sturdy shield, leather armor, a light crossbow with 20 bolts, a Dragoncraft Tool Kit, and an explorer's pack with [Recovery Potion x5]. He equipped his gear with steady hands. He'd trained with both sword and bow before, so the feel of the weapons in his grip was reassuring, though the situation was anything but.

Next, he glanced at his available +100 AP. These points could significantly boost his stats, but he hesitated. Which stat would be most crucial right now? He didn't want to waste them, so he decided to hold off and wait for the right moment. Maybe his current stats could withstand whatever was coming his way.

That ominous presence was drawing closer. Horizon could hear the eerie skittering of bones and the crunch of broken earth underfoot. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement and instinctively pointed his blade in that direction.

Horizon blinked, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. From the shadows, a skeletal figure slithered forward. It resembled the twisted remains of a dragonkin, but without legs, its body supported by a bent spine that arched unnaturally to hold up an oversized skull. The creature's thin, sinewy arms were disproportionately long, ending in clawed hands that gripped a dull, brutal-looking spear.

Its forehead bore a glowing rune, pulsating with an eerie light — the likely source of its unnatural power. The skin, stretched tight over its bones, had a dry, mummified appearance, revealing a broad, thick-boned rib cage beneath. Every movement was accompanied by the unsettling creak of dried sinew and bone.

The spear it wielded had a broad, wickedly sharp blade, and a shortened shaft, making it a versatile weapon. The creature could hurl it as a javelin or use it as a short sword to stab and slash. These monstrosities were infamous for their mindless brutality, mercilessly tearing apart their foes if given the chance.

Horizon felt a chill crawl down his spine. These weren't just mindless beasts — they were cruel, relentless killers, driven by an ancient, malevolent force. He gripped his sword tighter, knowing that if he hesitated, these creatures would show no mercy.

"What . . . what kind of creature is that?" Horizon muttered, his voice trembling despite himself.

Before he could process what he was seeing, another one emerged from the darkness, then another, until Horizon realized he was surrounded by these skeletal deformed baby dragons.

The sight was both terrifying and surreal, and for a moment, his heart raced as he grasped the reality of the situation.

Looks like he had no choice but to fight.