6. Gate (1)

A week has already passed since I decided to train Nash and Isla. It hasn't been long, but both have already managed to handle their mana relatively stably.

During training, I confirmed that Nash has an aptitude for externally manifesting his mana and even imbuing it into different objects. If one seeks the practicality of this, it would be equivalent to saying he can use his mana to make his weapon sharper using mana or enhance the effects of objects that use mana as their power source.

Isla, on the other hand, has been working on enhancing her stealth ability for the moment. Since yesterday she has started playing hide-and-seek with Nash and, due to Isla's ability, Nash has been complaining that it is unfair for him to have to be the seeker to the point where, for every time Nash manages to find her, Isla has won several times before.

Well, even though he hasn't realized it, his detection capacity has been improving with each round, so I don't see reasons to stop them either. This game also serves as training.

…Besides, for some reason, it calms me to see that they have relaxed enough to run like that in front of me.

Regarding food, their diet has consisted of fruit gathered from the forest and fish obtained from the lake. Without condiments like salt, the fish is consumed simply by roasting it but the children don't seem to mind and eat it eagerly. As for me, I don't need to eat thanks to the dragon heart, which continuously generates mana that is used to maintain my state, although Isla occasionally offers me some of her portions and I find myself obliged to eat in front of her.

Today I was also in front of the lake watching the children play after finishing the training session.

Isla had the role of seeker, while Nash had to hide. I, on the other hand, was in charge of watching the surroundings to ensure there was no danger to the two of them, although I doubted there was anything like that in this area.

"...Should I go to human territory?"

There are dragons who like to live among humans, whether because they fall in love with one or simply because they want to enjoy their way of life. They create a human identity and coexist with them. Polymorph is usually used for that purpose.

In my case, I don't usually stay long among them. Unless I received an invitation from an acquaintance, I simply wasn't attracted to going where humans were.

Then, why am I considering going to human territory? The answer is simple, Nash and Isla.

I might not have lived much with humans but even I know that a cave like mine is not a good area for their growth. I would have no problems continuing to live there, it is my nest after all, but I feel problems could arise if the children continue living there.

First, the only place where they can sleep is on the ground. Even if they use my original body as support, it must still be uncomfortable for them.

Second, there is the problem of food. The food that is possible to get in this area is very limited in variety. If there isn't enough variation in their diet, health problems could arise later even if they are fine at this moment.

And third, they are humans. I am a dragon. Even if they don't want to, they need to learn to live among their own kind. It is thanks to living in society that humans managed to survive and expand as much as they have.

So, if this is what I think, why haven't I gone yet?

Human society functions based on money and, in case you don't remember, my cave is empty.

Literally.

In human terms, I am poor.

I could force my entry, yes. But I don't think that's a good idea, both in terms of setting an example for the children and the problems that would arise in human society.

I would prefer to avoid that decision if possible.

While I was thinking about how I should solve this problem.

'!!?'

Something was happening.

'The barrier broke!?'

The barrier that has remained stable over so many years had broken without prior warning.

A barrier I created specifically to prevent invasions was broken in an instant.

"Nash, Isla! Come here!"

I quickly called the children, who still don't seem to have noticed the situation.

"What's wrong?"

"?"

Nash and Isla were asking me why I had called them while heading toward where I was, but, before I could answer, I jumped toward them.

A large amount of unnatural mana was accumulating in the area around them forming something that shouldn't be there.

And, when I reached them, we were no longer at the lake.

"Nash, Isla. Are you okay?"

"...Yes"

"..."

The first thing I did was ask how the children were. Nash answered affirmatively while Isla nodded her head.

Once I ensured they were safe, I started analyzing the situation. My barrier had broken and unnatural mana began to accumulate in the area, after that, we were transported to a different zone from where we were. Is this perhaps what Nash referred to as a 'gate'?

I looked around; the lake was no longer visible anywhere.

Instead, a field covered in snow extended as far as the eye could see.

I quickly decided to use my mana to cover the children and prevent the cold from causing problems. This doesn't seem like a situation where I can avoid making use of it.

And more importantly.

'The mana in the air... This is not mana that was created naturally.'

Yes, the mana covering this zone has an owner. But, before I could continue thinking about the implications of that.

Thump Thump

Something started approaching. No, rather a group was approaching.

Giants 4 meters tall with a single eye were approaching us.

'Cyclopes? Where did they come from? I was sure there was nothing there a moment ago'

I hadn't neglected my detection for a moment and, even so, had they managed to get that close? About 150 meters still separated us but, considering my detection capacity, it remains unusual that I hadn't noticed before.

Besides, cyclopes are a semi-intelligent race. They live in small groups and are capable of having simple conversations. But they have no stealth capacity whatsoever. They are beings that don't usually attack unless you burst into their territory and they tend to be quite noisy when defending it.

That is why it is even stranger that I didn't manage to detect them before. Did they just appear out of nowhere?

I stood in front of the siblings who were holding hands and spoke to them.

"Nash, Isla. Don't separate from me, understood?"

"Yes"

"..."

Both nodded and I directed my gaze toward the cyclopes.

"What is this place? Where did you appear from?"

I raised my voice asking the cyclopes but received no answer. No, I did receive something as an answer but I don't think it can be classified as one.

"GRAAAOOOHHH"

The group of cyclopes screamed at my question and started running here with their clubs in hand.

'How strange. Even if they aren't very intelligent, it isn't to the point where they can only scream'

Seeing that the cyclopes have no intention of stopping, I started preparing myself. Even if I am curious, I cannot allow putting Nash and Isla in danger just to satisfy it.

My mana moved and quickly formed 20 fire spears around me, one for each cyclops.

"Are you not going to answer?"

I asked one last time but the answer they gave me was the same again. They screamed and ran toward us regardless of anything else.

Seeing it wasn't possible to solve the situation by talking, I decided to make use of the prepared spears and, the next moment, the cyclopes' hearts had been pierced at such speed that their bodies hadn't managed to react and, due to the momentum of having been running, they fell while still moving forward.

'It's weird, it's as if they only had their instincts'

I approached the cyclopes' corpses with the children following closely. The area around the heart was charred and there were no signs of blood; it was an almost instant death.

'No matter how much I look at them, there are no differences from the cyclopes I know. Then why don't they have intelligence? Is it related to the mana of this zone?'

Even investigating their bodies I found nothing important. It was then that I realized mana was accumulating and, in the zone where it was accumulating, a group of 3-meter white wolves started appearing.

'Were they created from mana? Is that why I hadn't detected the cyclopes before?'

The wolf pack started running toward us and I started preparing myself.

How much time had passed?

Monsters appeared, I eliminated them and, after a while, more monsters appeared again. Exploring the zone I found that, while the place looked big at first glance, there was a limit to the zone in which it was possible to move, as if outside said zone everything was an illusion that doesn't really exist.

Thud

The last monster of the group fell. Large creatures covered in white fur: Yetis.

Until now the cycle has always been the same, a group falls and a next even more numerous group is generated.

The mana present in this zone has also been decreasing as the monsters are generated.

At this rate, there should only be one last wave before the zone runs out of mana.

What will happen once the mana runs out?

Will we return to the lake?

I hope so.

Even if I am fine, the children aren't used to being in a zone like this.

I would like to finish soon if possible.

Even if I have intentions of investigating this phenomenon, I can't put them in danger just for that.

"KRUAAAAAARG!"