I Only Tame Dragons

"What is this place?" Lydia muttered to herself.

In this mysterious realm, the landscape sprawled out before Horizon and the others like a dream, shaped by forces unlike any they'd encountered.

The realm seemed divided into distinct regions, each dedicated to a single element: Forest, Water, Desert, Fire, and Ice.

These realms lay separated by miles of wilderness and some magical barrier that none could yet fully understand.

When the group first landed in this new dimension, they found themselves at the heart of the Forest, surrounded by towering trees that scraped the sky.

The air was filled with the earthy scent of damp moss and the rustling of leaves as a gentle wind wound its way through branches high above. Vines hung down like green curtains, swaying lazily, while vibrant mosses and wildflowers blanketed the forest floor, creating a soft carpet underfoot.

Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy in scattered beams, casting pools of light and shadow over the forest floor.

It was an ancient place, heavy with the aura of secrets and memories, as though countless souls had once wandered here, leaving behind only whispers in the breeze.

The map they'd received was crude, and barely decipherable. Still, it showed a clear demarcation of the five realms, each arranged like spokes on a wheel, with their current location, the Forest, at the center.

Surrounding it, each elemental region extended outward, each a realm unto itself. The Water region was marked by waves, the Desert with a barren stretch of dunes, the Fire realm was etched with flames, and the Ice region depicted in jagged icicles.

To win, they'd need to find the exit – somewhere deep within these mysterious lands.

"Well," Horizon said, closing the map on his screen. "At least we got the Forest. Better than being dropped straight into the Desert or Fire zones. Here, we won't need to worry about food or water for a while."

Von nodded, scanning the trees around them. "True. Plenty of cover here as well. Gives us the chance to set up a solid base before scouting the other regions."

The group quickly agreed on a plan while they still could and no other group were present to disrupt them.

Horizon and Nyx would go ahead and search for the exit. The rules didn't specify that the entire group needed to reach the exit together to secure victory; just one person finding it would suffice.

It was the kind of loophole that could make a world of difference in a competition where survival and strategy mattered as much as skill.

Their strategy seemed simple: split up to increase their chances of finding the exit without exposing everyone to the dangers lurking beyond the trees.

Horizon had the necessary stats and skills to do it alone, capable of handling himself in unknown territory. He was faster too, since he had the skill [Fly]. Nyx was the second-best choice for the mission; as she was their best bet on finding the exit.

Together, they could scout the surrounding regions while the others hide within their base.

Von took charge of the remaining group, his stats insuring that they had a strong fighter in their ranks. With Frigid's tanking skills and Silphie's support, at his side, they were prepared to defend their base should anything – or anyone – come their way.

It was decided that they would stay back and hold down the fort, especially since their group had fewer members than some of the others in the competition.

Larger guilds had the resources to field over a dozen participants, but Horizon's team didn't have that luxury. With only a handful of allies, each life was essential to their success.

"We can't afford to lose anyone in the first round," Horizon reminded the group, his voice calm but firm. "Every person here counts if we're going to make it through the rest of the competition."

Lydia added in a serious tone, "Unlike the other guilds, we can't afford to treat anyone as expendable. If we're dead here, then we're really dead. And any missing member will only make the next challenge harder."

The group agreed, and after a few final adjustments to their plan, they set to work establishing a temporary base at one of the hidden cave that they had found.

They found a large, hollowed-out tree with a sturdy trunk that would provide cover and camouflage, and inside was a cave. They had to clear out the beasts inside though, nothing that they couldn't handle.

The forest provided plenty of resources – stones, branches, vines – and within the hour, they had fashioned a simple perimeter around their base. It wasn't much, but it would give them a warning if anything tried to approach.

Once everything was in place, Horizon and Nyx prepared to set out. They carried only the essentials: a small amount of food, weapons, and his life saving items.

Before departing, Horizon turned to Von.

"Keep an eye out," he said. "We'll check in through the communication device. If I run into any trouble, assume control, continue the search, and keep everyone safe. Don't come looking for me."

Nyx rolled her eyes. "What do you mean, 'trouble'? With me around, failure isn't an option. And as my subordinate, don't even think about failing."

"Of course, I won't fail," Horizon replied. "I just meant if any unexpected issues come up."

Von nodded, his expression lightening up. "Just find that exit. We'll hold things down here. And don't worry, I'll protect them."

As Horizon and Nyx slipped into the dense undergrowth, the sounds of the forest swallowed them.

This was no ordinary forest; it thrummed with energy, as if it were alive. Giant mushrooms, some the size of small boulders, sprouted in clusters along the path, their caps glowing faintly with an ethereal light.

Strange plants with thorny vines and leaves glistened with an oily sheen, hinting at toxicity. Creatures scurried in the shadows – some familiar, others bizarre and alien.

As they ventured deeper, Nyx stopped abruptly, pointing to a set of tracks in the mud. They were deep, clawed, and unlike anything she had ever seen.

"Horizon, look at these tracks," she whispered, crouching down to examine them closely. "Whatever made these is big – and probably predatory."

Horizon frowned, studying the marks. "Let's keep moving, but stay alert. We're bound to run into all sorts of strange beasts here." And worst, players.

This dimension was big but not that big, so they were bound to bump into other groups.

The deeper they went, the darker the forest became, even though the sun still hung high in the sky. The dense canopy overhead allowed only slivers of light through, creating an ever-shifting pattern of light and shadow.

The air grew thicker, filled with the sounds of chirping insects and distant animal calls. Every so often, they'd come across remnants of previous travelers – a broken sword hilt here, a tattered piece of fabric caught in a thorn bush there.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After a few hours of travel, they came upon a clearing that appeared untouched. In the center stood a tall stone monolith etched with unfamiliar symbols. It radiated an eerie, cold light, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.

"What do you think this is?" Nyx asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Horizon studied the monolith, running a hand over the strange markings. "No idea. Could be a marker, or maybe something left by the ones who created this realm. We should be cautious – there's no telling what kind of magic is at work here."

Deciding not to linger, they moved on, taking mental notes of the clearing's location in case they needed to return. Hours passed as they explored the edge of the Forest, occasionally catching glimpses of the other regions beyond.

It took only two hours before Horizon stumbled upon a skirmish, where players clashed fiercely in a chaotic brawl.

Hidden above in the dense canopy, Horizon observed the scene unfold, his gaze sharp as he took in the action below.

At least two guilds had joined forces against a single group, their numbers forming a deadly circle around their target. It was an unexpected sight—the Roaring Beast guild, led by none other than David, the fierce beastfolk warrior, was holding his ground with his companions, fighting off both sides with remarkable tenacity.

"Isn't that our beastfolk neighbor?" Nyx whispered, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene. "Looks like he's in a serious bind."

The two guilds surrounding Roaring Beast were relentless. One, the Iron Fangs, was known for its brute strength, their members wielding heavy weapons that could crush bones with a single swing. The other, Nightshade Syndicate, specialized in ambush tactics and poison, a lethal combination in tight quarters.

Together, they pressed in on David and his team, exploiting any opening they could find.

But even as his forces grew weary, David fought on, his roars echoing through the forest as he launched strike after strike, showing no sign of backing down.