The next morning, my brother surprised me with breakfast. He had started collecting different ingredients during our explorations and used human armor and weapons to create what he called "kitchen utensils"; honestly, I didn't pay much attention at first, just another one of my brother's strange ideas, I thought, but his food was delicious, and he always said it was missing something called "seasonings."

  - Brother, as always, this is very good.

  - Well, Garrl, I thought it would be fair to celebrate the near completion of the magic seal; I wish I could make something for the great serpent and lady Spider, but I wouldn't know what to cook for them.

  - Don't worry, you'll come up with something, but remember that you have to teach me. What do you call it? Recipe?

  - The truth is, it's not a big deal, Garrl; you just use frog fat and what I think are mushrooms give it the flavor. What you have to do is sauté, just don't let it burn. The truth is, it's very simple, but you'll see when we're on the surface, because I'll find more ingredients and seasonings, and I'll show you how to enjoy good cooking haha.

  - One more reason to finish the stamp, brother; ………………….. ufffff I'm full ………………… I feel very energetic. Do you know where the great serpent is? I think today I will be able to defeat it.

  - Hahaha, you are very optimistic, Garrl, but remember that we first need to finish the magic seal. As for the great serpent, he told me in the morning that he had to check something and that he would return later.

  - It's a shame I wanted to train a bit today, but oh well. So, brother. Will you accompany me to finish the magic seal today?

  - Of course! I wouldn't miss this last one, although I'll only help you with the simplest connection, I don't want to run out of mana like yesterday; so, let's go.

  …………………………………………………

  Meanwhile, near the surface.

  …………………………………………………..

  I'm almost there. I don't like going to the surface; the many different things there overwhelm my senses compared to the caves. But I want to surprise those two little kobolds, although I think they are already adults. Mmmmm, better ask them later, so they can clarify it for me.

  Breigon told me that he wanted to cook something special or different for Garrl, but that he didn't have the ingredients and hoped to find them on the surface, but they have never gone up and it can be dangerous, so I will hunt something for them myself and bring it to them; they have worked hard, they deserve it.

  I wish they wouldn't leave, but I know it's inevitable; they want to find more of their kind. It's understandable: the kobolds live in communities, unlike all the other creatures in these caves, including me. However, since I met Tammat and his stubbornness to defeat me, I began to enjoy not being alone and being able to talk to someone.

  These two are very talkative; mainly, Breigon is very curious, and Garrl, being Tammat's offspring, inherited his pride, as well as his strength and ability to manipulate mana. Breigon seems to want to make changes, although, to be fair, both want to make those changes; however, there is something different about Breigon, his strange way of being and behaving, which doesn't remind me of how a kobold should behave, but rather gives the impression of talking to a human. It's very strange.

  And to add to the strangeness, every time Garrl or I asked him where he got all those ideas from, if he was a wanderer, he always looked for a way to change the subject; we both know he hides something, but Garrl once told me that, no matter what it is, he will still be his brother and that he will wait for him to tell him; those words from Garrl showed me that not only Breigon is different, but also, he is. Both of them are, I don't know if it was because they weren't raised in their village, but both are good kobolds. I will be sad when they leave, but I will eagerly await their return, and I even hope that more kobolds will want to live here.

  You see, Tammat, old friend! Your legacy continued and will continue with them. It makes me envious; maybe I should ask Breigon if he can teach me the inheritance spell that the kobolds use. I would like my offspring not to forget me and also to be able to inherit everything I have learned; if not, I will teach them as I taught those two; yes, that will work too.

  Finally the surface, I thought I would never get here, ……………………….. and yes, everything is as overwhelming as always, I should have come at night instead. Wait, ……………………………. Why is there a magic barrier covering part of the entrance?

  At that moment, I noticed a source of mana approaching me at great speed. I slid away quickly, but that same source of mana split into several smaller sources before falling, scattering in all directions. I had to harden my mana to avoid being hit, but the problem was that I had moved away from the cave entrance, and before I could return, another attack came, and then another and another. There were too many attacks in a row, and while I protected myself with my hardening, I was spending too much mana covering my entire body. On top of all this, I was disoriented from the multiple attacks and being on the surface. I could only head towards the forest, but I knew it was a trap, and I knew who was attacking me—humans!

  I have fought humans before, and those attacks are from their weapons; I also know they usually fight in groups, so they must be hiding in the forest waiting to attack me, but I knew where those attacks were coming from, I had already pinpointed the exact spot, so I prepared my mana attack, gathered it in my mouth, and launched it.

  Immediately, when my attack hit its target, I was able to perceive with my senses: it was the smell of blood, as well as the attacks ceasing, and without thinking twice, I headed back to the entrance of the caves. I wasn't afraid of humans, but it was more important to tell Garrl and Breigon that they had returned. However, to my surprise, the magic barrier was now covering the entire entrance, and behind it, there were humans generating; damn it! They surrounded me to prevent me from returning while I was distracted; but if they think that barrier can stop me, they are very mistaken. immediately I gathered mana in my tail and charged at the magic barrier, the impact was immense, but it didn't break the magic barrier, however, it was weakened, another hit and it would fall; I was gathering mana for another attack when I noticed it, several humans appeared and attacked me with their mana spears, I struck two humans with my tail, killing them instantly, but others managed to pierce my scales, I couldn't cover my entire body, I had already spent too much mana, the attacks continued, they had cornered me between their barrier and themselves, I defended myself with everything I had, taking down several, why were there so many humans?

  Suddenly, I saw them; they weren't just a few humans, there were dozens of them, all in armor and weapons surrounding me. I had never seen so many of them, and armed. I remember Breigon told me he feared the humans would return and be better prepared. I didn't believe him. Tammat! ………………... This is what you and your people faced! I must buy time to think about what to do, I won't be able to kill them all, then I see a human with different armor approaching, I know from the mana emitted by their weapons that they are dangerous, even for my mana hardening, so I decide to try to talk to this human.

  - Why are they attacking me? I haven't done anything to start this attack! ……….... I have only defended myself!

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  At that moment, I notice that the human seems surprised, speaking with other humans in a language I don't understand. Then I notice again the magic barrier they placed at the entrance, and it has been reinforced. I'll have to escape another way! So, I decide to keep talking to buy time to think.

  - They know me as the great serpent of the great caves; I have gotten along well with several humans and fought with others, but I have never sought to kill their kind, I have only defended myself and the caves. What are you doing here? What do you want?

  At that, the human draws his sword and approaches me; the other humans keep their distance.

  - So, he wants a one-on-one fight. Fine by me! You are just like all the last humans who have come, they only want to kill us and take the mana minerals from the caves; that will destroy our home and I won't allow it.

  I lunge at the human and attack him with bursts of mana from a distance; however, he dodges them, and immediately moves at high speed towards me. I manage to harden my mana, but as I knew, it wouldn't be enough. I hissed in pain, but managed to compose myself and strike the human, and although I sent him flying, I knew upon touching his armor that it also had a magic barrier spell that saved him from being split in half, but it wouldn't work again and he knew it, as other humans gathered around him to protect him.

  - Wasn't it that you wanted a one-on-one fight? ………….. Tell me something human: Did you attack and destroy the kobold village a long time ago? Did you fight in the same cowardly way against a kobold defending its nest?

  The human didn't say anything, just stared at me, but I knew it was them. These humans were the ones who killed Tammat, and they would pay for it. However, the human retreated, no matter how many times I told him he was a coward, and ordered the other humans in their strange language to continue the attack against me. I knew that what they wanted was to wear me down, as they always kept their distance, and while I was able to take out a few more, that didn't solve my situation, so I lowered my defense to gather all my mana into a single attack. It was risky and they managed to hurt me more, but it was my best bet to destroy that magic barrier.

  I was so tired, but I wouldn't give up, I would never do it, and before I launched my attack on the magic barrier, the human I believe to be their leader returned to fight again. I wanted to kill him and I knew I could with the mana I had gathered; I wanted to avenge Tammat, but even if I killed him, the other humans would kill me and continue. No! I must inform Breigon and Garrl, that's the best thing to do, but just then the human finally decided to talk to me.

  - Can you hear me? …Are you listening? …………………….. I think so. I think so. It's strange talking with this magic, but answering your questions, yes, it was us who killed those lizards; it was a surprise attack, by the time they realized it was too late, and yes, there was a kobold who was quite annoying, or should I say two. That last idiot exploded in a fireball, can you imagine? He almost killed me. Luckily, my armor protected me, although not completely as you can see. You know, there are legends that spoke of you, one of the great mana beasts that inhabit the caves, the great serpent! I admit that you are strong, you destroyed and survived our long-range crossbows and killed several of my soldiers with mana armor with just one attack.

  - Why are they doing all this?

  - Why? And why not? These lands, or at least this part, belong to us and you are just beasts who literally live in a hole, you know nothing about how the world works, and why should you; but well, I wonder if your mana core will be as peculiar as that of that kobold who was different from the other kobolds. I took it on a whim, everyone knows that the cores of those lizards are worthless, but it turns out this one can lead us to a great vein or deposit of mana mineral.

  - Mana core? ………………………. Are you referring to our mana crystals? Are you talking about our mana crystals? You say you took it from that different kobold! You say you took it from that different kobold! Did you take Tammat's crystal? Why? Don't our crystals produce mana when we die, making them useless to you?

  - That's why you're an ignorant beast, but as a gift before I kill you, I'll try to explain it to you, even though I'm not an expert on the subject. It's true that their cores gradually stop emitting mana when they die, until they end up being mere decorative stones or, at most, used for some spells or treatments, but that kobold's core turned out to be exposed to large concentrations of mana, and of course, we're talking about these caves, there must be an undiscovered vein, and we came for it, even though we had already planned to mine these caves. However, finding a mana-rich deposit is the best way to start; that's why it took us so long to return, we had to prepare better to explore and delve deeper. How lucky I was to go back for that core! Although I had to pay with these burns. Damn lizard! But well, it will be worth it for everyone in the end.

  It must be Tammat's crystal, that's all I thought. She was not only the only kobold to awaken the heritage of her ancestors, making her different from other kobolds, but she also worked for so long on the magic seal that it was exposed to natural mana, which must have affected her crystal in some way, and now these humans want to use it to reach where Breigon and Garrl are. They will discover the magic seal! No! They want to and are going to destroy the great caverns! If they take all the mana ore, they will kill everyone and those who remain won't be able to achieve their awakening, and they want to start everything by using my friend's crystal!

  - Give me back the Tammat crystal, it doesn't belong to you! These caves do not belong to you!

  But no matter my complaints, the human didn't respond to me anymore; he just smiled and spoke in his language to the other humans. He mocked me, he mocked Tammat's sacrifice. These humans are not good, they are nothing like those I spoke with or the one who saved me when I was just a cub. These humans are like the ones described in the legacy of Tammat and Garrl, they only destroy. Breigon, I don't think it's possible to dialogue or get along with these humans. I know you believe there must be a way to coexist, that there are good humans, and I know there are, but this time we will have to fight.

  The human lunges at me; I want nothing more than to kill this human and reclaim the Tammat crystal, but it's not the right moment. I strike the ground with mana to create a distraction and head towards the magic barrier, but before I hit it, I feel my body not responding.

  Where am I? Where am I? ................ Is that you, Tammat? Are you Tammat? ................................. Tammat! Old friend, I have missed you so much. ………………………. I met one of your latest offspring and another for whom you fought to protect; their names are Garrl and Breigon. They are somewhat different, but worthy of their lineage; even one of your great ancestors named Drazird helps them. Can you imagine that? One of your craziest ideas became a reality. They will complete the magic seal that you and your village started, protect the great caverns, and then I will teach my offspring how you do it; I will pass on everything I have learned in my life …….... but now I am very sleepy ……………... but now I'm very sleepy ………………… very sleepy ………………… Will you allow me to rest just this once? I promise you that, once I recover, we will fight like before; I just need to rest a little. Thank you, old friend … ... Breigon, Garrl, I will bring you something you can enjoy; I hope Breigon knows how to cook it. I would like to try it... I would like to try it … ………………… Did you have anything else to do? \nText to translate: ………………… Did I have anything else to do? It was very important. What was it? But I'm so tired... … …………………. Please, always take care of yourselves, Please, always take care of yourselves, Breeiiigooon, Garrrrrrl ………………………..

  ………………………….……………………..

  Unbeknownst to her, the great serpent was attacked by another human; it could have been exhaustion, her lack of mana, her multiple wounds, or anything else, or perhaps all of it, but the attack was lethal. Little by little, the human who challenged her approached the great serpent, and a final attack ended her life, driving his sword into the head of the great serpent.

  - Prepare everything to go down, and I want you to extract the core from this beast; it might have some use.

  ………………………………………………..

  - Garrl, did you feel that?

  - Yes, it was strange; I think we should leave it at that for today. Don't you think, brother? I don't feel well.

  - Yes, only five more rock slabs to connect, but I don't feel well either; let's rest instead. In two days, we will finish with the magic seal and on the third day we will activate it. I can already imagine the joy of the great serpent.

  - Have you thought about what you'll cook for them? To celebrate.

  - No, I'd better ask them what their tastes might be, to give them something they like, if I may say so; they deserve it for all the help they've given us.

  - Yes, I support you in everything you need, brother, count on me. Let's go ask her; I also want to challenge her, but when the magic seal is active, we can't leave without at least beating her once.

  - Oh, Garrl, you and your warrior pride.

  - What? We are kobolds; the blood of our great ancestors runs in our veins. Besides, our mother was able to defeat her; we just need to come up with a plan together. Do you remember?

  - Well, honestly, I also want to beat her; she has given me many beatings, but I want to do it to show her that we have grown thanks to her teachings.

  - That's how it's said, brother. For our great ancestors and for her and her teachings! We will beat her at least once.