Master Of None

’Family beetles

This is also a species of monster known as the false centipede. They are a species of dark affinity monsters somewhat similar to octopuses in the form that they use dark mana to cloud the area around themselves and appear more dangerous than they usually are. They also often latch on to one another to look like a longer and more terrifying predator. This is because their natural predator is the green earth centipede which can not differentiate color.

They are an extremely valuable species of beetle able to break down even the toughest of plant materials. They are also extremely resistant to many poisons and venoms allowing them to break down plant monster bodies that would poison the ground where they perish or live.

This makes them an incredibly important species of monster for the ecosystem to keep moving along its cycle and preventing areas from becoming broken or barren. They were often consumed and became scarce in ancient times, however, like other species of monster they developed the ability to go dormant as eggs for many years, even partially fossilizing did not cause them to properly perish due to the layer of dense mana around their egg shells.

This caused some of them to be used as displays or relics before they were accidentally killed by those holding them.

It is rare to find them in a panicked state due to the fact that they will often be fairly tame around those that do not wish them harm. They were even once guided by a tribe of ancient humans to clean their farm lands before the tribe was wiped out by a passing ancient monster.

They also have a beneficial shell that is shed once a year as they grow. The remnant shell can be used to create a fertilizer able to assist the growth of small seeds. Due to this, they often migrate leaving areas in better quality than before, especially lands that may have been struck with disease or fire in the past…’

Gila and Onyx were extremely happy to say the least.

All the dark mana in the air causing the area to be shadowy was due to them being afraid. It was also their natural instinct to hold on to one another and appear to be monsters bigger than themselves. They were trying to be safe from predators that no longer existed to the knowledge Gil and Onyx had right now.

”Are you thinking what I am thinking?” Gil glanced down at Onyx, who was already looking up at him with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

”A gift for the demi-human kingdom and their expanding farms?”

The idea was simple: guide these beetles toward the demi-human kingdom where they could be tamed and used to help revitalize the soil and break down the tough to decompose remnant crops. Plenty of foods had plant waste that would be left behind once processed.

Due to all of this being the case, the demi-human kingdom often had mages that would assist the decay rate to produce the fertilizer. Not only was that costly since they had to pay more mages, but it was not as efficient as it could be. Simply because it still had a longer time of making decent quality fertilizer.

Yet, if the family beetles could be used to make better quality fertilizer in less time, then there would be a huge boost toward crops of the next generation. They would be better quality with better nutrients to grow in. better production amounts, and more space that would not be take up by massive piles of decomposing materials.

This would also help dealing with the waste in multiple cities, just like Genesis itself. These family beetles could assist in decaying compost that would have sat for longer than the time it takes for them to consume it.

While the two of them began to approach the family beetles so that they could make contact and show that they were not a threat, Midnight was thoroughly enjoying the situation she was in.

Small embers of spit flames grazed her scales while the soft claws of seven fire dragon hatchlings scraped her scales leaving not even a single scratch. She barely even glanced at them while standing in front of the fire corn she found them trying to break and chew on as a snack.

Her gaze, when glaring at them caused the hatchlings to flinch but their pride quickly won out over them causing them to attack her again. In their eyes, she had shown up and ruined their fun. Not only that, she had pushed them away from the snack they found and believed they owned.

They were dragons after all, they should get whatever they wanted.

Or at least that was the foolish thoughts they had as some of the youngest hatchlings. They hadn’t had the wrath of their mothers to teach them the way of things and how to respect others territories. But their mothers needed rest too and it was just bad timing that they had hatched so early. These things happened, no one could control the speed at which a young hatchling grew let alone hatched.

With a small huff, Midnight made flames leak from her mouth and drift around her body. The sudden flash of flames terrified the hatchlings causing them to leap back and growl. But as Midnight stood up and stretched, they saw her claws even more menacing and her gaze focused on them.

She wasn’t being passive any longer, she was sending a message that the hatchlings would understand.

It was instinct, she was stronger than them and she was in charge. While it was nothing to speak of in terms of her actual power, it was enough. It also gave a rather entertaining sight to the farmers working the field that these hatchlings had been bothering since they hatched and could wander about.

She then shifted in to her dragonkin form, shocking them. They hadn’t learned much but they understood that their instincts told them she was much stronger than what they believed. That they couldn’t hope to match a dragon that could take a more humanoid form like her.

When she leaned toward them, the seven hatchlings now somewhat shaking, she grinned. In the dragon language, she spoke out and ordered them to follow her.

As the farmer watched, the seven hatchlings followed midnight on shaky legs and followed what she was telling them. They understood strength and naturally had the language of their race in their very blood. They knew that they were not safe to roam about now. That they had rules to follow.

Rules backed by power beyond theirs.

However, Midnight was not stopping things here. She had smelled these hatchlings and was about to go looking for the elder fire dragon that was their father. The one that followed Ignus’s orders and had been standing guard over a small pool of lava where the earth dragons had dug deeper to allow a natural flow of fire and earth mana to mix.

The fire dragon watched it to prevent any sparks from igniting crops, that job was better suited to them than a mage since it would be easier for a drain to just absorb that heat to prevent everything.

But, unlike other dragons, this elder dragon could order their dragonkin to watch over it and take care of the hatclings. While the mothers might be mostly in charge, that didn’t apply to when their mother was resting. This elder fire dragon had some parenting to catch up on.

When she marched the hatchlings there, the elder dragon recoiled slightly. As much as he knew the hatchlings had hatched, he did not expect Midnight herself to bring them here let alone that they were even strong enough to leave the nest just yet. Normally they would need a lot more time.

This was just another part of everything changing because of the increased mana density and purity within the world. The hatchlings could grow stronger faster. They were able to get in to trouble sooner than they would normally have been if the world had not returned to the flow it naturally had.

”You need to teach them better. The fire corn they ate will cost three gold coins to be paid to the farmer. They can work for the price by digging or weeding for them.” Midnight gave a harsh glance and then began to leave.

While it was a small event to handle, it was something that would lead an example for the other dragons. A story that would warn them that they needed to pay attention to their hatchlings no matter what. That they would not be exempt from the consequences of actions. Just as any other race would be.

That was the core reason that such a small matter needed to be handled by Midnight, someone from the hero’s party and of such a high ranking. To be setting an example for the dragon race and others.

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