I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 112: CP: Entering The Dragon Territory

Week Two: The Borderlands

The landscape continued to change—grasslands giving way to volcanic soil, scattered hardy plants to fields of obsidian glass and cooled lava flows.

The air grew hot and sulfurous.

Zale struggled.

Without regular ocean access, his scales were drying, cracking slightly at the edges. His breathing grew labored. The mer-prince who’d moved with fluid grace in water now walked with visible effort.

"We need to find him water," Alex said to Naga on the eighth day. "Real water, not just these shallow streams. He’s dying slowly."

"I know," Naga said grimly. "But there are no major water sources between here and dragon territory. Just ash fields and lava plains."

[SYSTEM ALERT: Mate Bond Degradation Warning]

[Zale’s health: 67% and declining]

[Estimated time until critical: 4-5 days]

[Recommendation: URGENT water source needed]

"System, please tell me you have something," Alex said silently.

[Checking shop options...]

[Available items:

Portable Ocean Sphere (500 SP): Creates a 10-foot diameter sphere of salt water, self-sustaining for 30 days

Emergency Hydration Mist (100 SP): Temporary relief, lasts 6 hours

Water Summoning Talisman (300 SP): Pulls underground water to surface, one-time use]

[Recommendation: Portable Ocean Sphere. It’s expensive but permanent solution for the journey]

"Five hundred SP," Alex muttered. "That’s a lot."

[YOUR MATE IS DYING.]

"Point made. Buy it."

[PURCHASED: Portable Ocean Sphere]

[Current SP: 1,268]

[Item deploying in 3... 2... 1...]

A sphere materialized in front of them—perfectly round, filled with clear salt water that shimmered with bioluminescent algae. It floated about a foot off the ground, rotating slowly, maintaining its shape through what looked like pure magic.

Everyone stopped.

"What," Granite said slowly, "is that?"

"Emergency ocean," Alex said. "For Zale."

The mer-prince stared at the sphere with an expression between disbelief and desperate hope.

"Is that... is that real ocean water?"

"According to the system, yes. Self-sustaining for thirty days."

Zale didn’t wait for further explanation. He shifted form—legs merging into his powerful tail—and dove into the sphere.

The water accepted him completely, expanding slightly to accommodate his mass, then settling back into its perfect globe shape.

Zale surfaced inside, gasping with relief, scales already beginning to shimmer with renewed health.

"This is—" He couldn’t finish the sentence. "How is this possible?"

"Magic shop," Alex said. "Don’t question it too hard."

The babies were immediately fascinated.

Siddy tried to climb into the sphere. Sterling attempted to coil around it. Jade studied it with tactical interest. Ripple pressed against its surface cautiously. Onyx fell asleep touching it. River flicked his tongue at the water, tasting the salt, then settled back with apparent satisfaction.

"Can we keep it?" Sterling seemed to ask (through a series of interested chirps and attempts to wrap around the floating sphere).

"It lasts thirty days," Alex said. "So yes, we keep it. Zale needs it."

[MATE BOND STABILIZED]

[Zale’s health: Recovering rapidly]

[Crisis averted!]

[Also the babies think the ocean sphere is a toy now, good luck with that]

They traveled with the floating ocean sphere for the next week—an absolutely surreal sight, a perfect ball of seawater drifting along with their party while a mer-prince periodically dove in to restore himself.

The babies eventually accepted that the sphere wasn’t a toy (after Siddy got stuck inside it and had to be rescued, hissing dramatically the entire time).

Skye’s wings gradually began to preen themselves—not consciously, not with intent, but the muscle memory returning slowly. He’d wake up some mornings to find he’d smoothed a section of feathers without realizing it.

And the volcanic mountains grew closer.

Closer.

Until one morning, Alex woke to find they were standing at the border of Dragon territory proper.

The ground here was black volcanic glass, sharp and unforgiving. Steam vents hissed in the distance. The air tasted of sulfur and ash. And ahead, rising from the volcanic plains like a fortress, was the Dragon Citadel.

It wasn’t a building—it was a mountain that had been carved, shaped, transformed into a living city. Caves and tunnels and platforms, all glowing with internal fire. Bridges of cooled lava connecting spires. And everywhere—everywhere—the unmistakable shapes of dragons. They looked too advanced for the current beast world.

Flying.

Roosting.

Patrolling.

Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds.

"Well," Leo said into the stunned silence. "That’s impressive."

"That’s terrifying," Zale corrected from his ocean sphere.

"That’s where we’re going," Alex said, touching the six divine stones in his pouch. One more. Just one more.

Skye’s wings spread slightly—the first time he’d done that voluntarily in weeks.

"I remember this place," he said quietly. "My mother brought me here once, for diplomatic meetings. The dragons are... intense."

"Intense how?" Granite asked.

"Intense like they could kill you by breathing in your general direction," Skye said. "Intense like they consider themselves gods and everything else beneath their notice. Intense like—"

A massive shadow passed overhead.

Everyone looked up.

A dragon—easily three times Granite’s size, scales like polished rubies, wings that blocked out the sun—circled once, twice, then descended to land directly in their path.

The impact shook the ground.

The dragon shifted from full beast form to humanoid in seconds—revealing a tall, powerfully built figure with crimson scales, ruby eyes, and an expression that suggested extreme annoyance.

"Trespassers," the dragon said, voice carrying the kind of authority that made lesser creatures instinctively bow. "State your business or turn back."

Alex stepped forward, six snakelings secured in carriers, three mates flanking him, one broken eagle behind him, one bear beside him, and six divine stones burning against his chest.

"We seek audience with your leader," he said clearly. "We come for the Fire Stone."

The dragon’s ruby eyes widened slightly.

" Fire Stone? "

" You wish to covet our lord’s treasure! You dare? " The red dragon flapped his massive wings on his back— sending gush of heated air around him. It’s ruby eyes glistened with unhidden fury and he clawed out his sharp nails.

Then, unexpectedly, he turned back.

He looked at top of the citadel as if some unknown force called for his attention.

After few seconds, he turned back to face Alex and his party. By then he pulled back his wings and nails and anger in his eyes vanished.

" Let’s go. Our Lord wish to see you. "

[CRITICAL ALERT: DRAGON ENCOUNTER]

[Species: Fire Dragon (Royal Guard)]

[Threat Level: EXTREME]

[Current mood: AMUSED (for now)]

[Recommendation: DO NOT MAKE HER ANGRY]

[HOST... this is it. The final stone. The last territory.]