Chapter 59: DragonKin Village

Leon had 50 Evolution Points again, but he kept them banked. His build was incredibly stable, possessing answers for single-target execution, massive AoE damage, psychological suppression, and absolute defense.

Leon dismissed the panel and continued his trek along the glowing blue river.

For the next several hours, the landscape slowly began to shift. The massive, towering crystal trees became less dense, giving way to rolling hills covered in vibrant, bioluminescent grass. The ambient mana remained incredibly thick, but the chaotic, wild nature of the environment seemed to soften.

It looked... cultivated.

Leon’s Origin Eyes picked up on the subtle changes. The grass wasn’t just growing wildly; it was patterned. The glowing stones along the riverbank had been purposefully arranged into simple, elegant retaining walls.

He was approaching a settlement.

He pulled the Sovereign’s Mantle tight, opting not to engage the optical invisibility, but keeping his presence muted. As he crested a large, rolling hill, he looked down into a wide, shallow valley.

Nestled within the valley was a breathtaking village. The architecture was a seamless blend of natural environment and elegant stonework, featuring sweeping, curved roofs made of polished sapphire and deep mahogany wood. Watermills turned lazily in the mana river, generating a soft, rhythmic thrumming sound.

But it was the inhabitants that caught his eye.

They weren’t human.

Moving through the village were tall, powerfully built humanoids covered in fine, iridescent scales. They had elongated, reptilian snouts, swept-back horns, and long, muscular tails swaying behind them. Dragonkin.

Leon stayed on the hill, observing them. They were NPCs, native inhabitants of Sector 12. They wore elegant, flowing silks and carried beautifully forged spears and staves. In most MMOs, an NPC village in a Level 50+ zone was just a place to buy high-tier potions and pick up fetch quests.

But Eternal Heaven was fundamentally different. The AI and the system mechanics were terrifyingly realistic.

Leon decided to make a direct approach. He had the Vanguard of Humanity title, which guaranteed that NPCs would recognize his pioneer status and heavily boost his baseline reputation. He shouldn’t have to worry about them attacking on sight.

He walked openly down the hill, following a beautifully paved cobblestone path that led directly to the main gate of the village.

As he approached within fifty yards, the Dragonkin guards standing at the entrance noticed him.

They were massive, standing nearly eight feet tall, clad in intricate silver armor that left their powerful, scaled arms bare. Their eyes narrowed, their slit pupils focusing on the lone human walking toward them.

"Halt, traveler," the guard on the left called out, his voice a deep, resonant baritone that rumbled in Leon’s chest. He crossed his silver spear with his partner’s, blocking the gate. "This is the sanctuary of the Azure Scale. Humans rarely survive the Prismatic Expanse. State your business."

Leon stopped, offering a calm, non-threatening smile. He didn’t reach for his weapons.

"I’m just passing through," Leon said smoothly. "I’ve come from Sector 4. I’m looking for information, and perhaps a place to rest."

The guards frowned, exchanging a skeptical glance.

"Sector 4?" the right guard scoffed, his tail lashing behind him. "Impossible. The Boundary Gate has been sealed for centuries. Only a being of immense, unyielding destiny could breach the—"

The guard stopped mid-sentence.

His golden, reptilian eyes suddenly widened, the slit pupils dilating entirely. He was staring directly at Leon, but he wasn’t looking at Leon’s face. He was looking at the invisible, system-generated aura radiating from Leon’s very soul.

Ding!

[Title Effect Triggered: The Vanguard of Humanity (Mythic)]

[The local NPC faction has detected your pioneer status.]

The guard on the left gasped, his spear trembling in his grip. The heavy, oppressive aura of Sector 12 seemed to literally bend around Leon, acknowledging his right to exist perfectly within its hostility.

Clatter.

The silver spears slipped from the guards’ hands, hitting the cobblestones.

Without a moment of hesitation, both eight-foot-tall, heavily armored Dragonkin dropped to their knees. They bowed their horned heads so deeply that their snouts nearly touched the dirt.

"Forgive us," the left guard whispered, his voice trembling with absolute, undeniable reverence. "We... we did not know. Our eyes were clouded by ignorance."

The commotion caught the attention of the villagers inside the gate. Several Dragonkin carrying baskets of glowing fruit stopped. A blacksmith hammering a blade paused. They all looked toward the gate.

And, like a wave crashing over the village, the realization hit them all simultaneously.

One by one, the Dragonkin dropped to their knees, bowing toward the entrance.

An elderly Dragonkin, wearing ornate, sweeping robes of deep blue and gold, hurried toward the gate, leaning heavily on a carved wooden staff. As he reached the entrance, he too dropped to his knees, tears welling in his ancient, reptilian eyes.

"The prophecy," the elder gasped, his voice choked with emotion. "The ancient texts spoke true. The Boundary Gate has opened. The Vanguard has arrived."

The elder looked up at Leon, raising his hands in a gesture of pure worship.

"Welcome, O Chosen Hero. You who have been sent by the Goddess to deliver us from the encroaching Void. We are your humble servants."

Leon stood there, surrounded by dozens of kneeling, worshipping dragon-people.

He stared blankly at the elder.

Then, very slowly, a deeply amused, incredibly sarcastic internal monologue began running through his head.

Sent by the Goddess? Chosen Hero? Are you kidding me? Leon thought, fighting the desperate urge to laugh out loud. I literally broke the economy of a starter town yesterday to buy a slice of chocolate cake. I am the absolute furthest thing from a divine savior.𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

But he had to admit, as he looked at the genuine tears in the elder’s eyes and the trembling, reverent posture of the guards... the NPCs of Eternal Heaven were entirely, terrifyingly too realistic.

Leon cleared his throat, adjusting the Sovereign’s Mantle to look as majestic as possible, deciding to just roll with it.

"Please," Leon said, infusing his voice with what he hoped sounded like humble, divine authority. "Rise. We have much to discuss."