Rise Of The Spatial Dragon

Dane had been wondering, what use is money to the lavels, especially since they showed since of really wanting the money promised by the vasil. He didn't have to wonder for long as he soon discovered why they wanted said money.

As all beings, nobody want to work especially if there was an easier and more efficient way to do things. While the lavels were accomplished hunters and had the physique to catch any prey, who wanted to do all that work of chasing down a beast if they could avoid it. Similarly, they needed more efficient means of protecting themselves from invasion and enemy attacks.

The best solution was of course, invention of weapons. The weapons in place were crudely done bows and arrows that hardly found a target, clubs and sometimes machetes that helped in hunting, preparing the food and fighting any invaders. Unfortunately for the lavels, their massive paws weren't build for building and crafting. They could grasp, but without opposable thumbs, skilled crafting was all but impossible.

That's where the vasils came in. They excelled in crafting and they could invent all manner of beautiful weapons and equipment. They also had artists that could make sculptures, magnificent drawings and so on. They made a currency of small metals that could be traded, and while the lavels almost always had no money, they could barter with other things the vasils found hard to acquire.

In fact, some lavels had formed mercenary groups that would go hunting for the vasils, in exchange for weapons and equipment, which they used to awe the other lavels. This wasn't commonly done, as that was seen by the proud lavels as submission to the vasils, and those who engaged in such were severely ridiculed.

However, while all this was good and all, the most frustrating thing of all was that the planet was content. There was no need for strife, no need to cause chaos, and therefore the nature of any species was to remain docile, procreate and thrive. If one wanted to rise in power, in a contented planet, it would take arduous work and commitment to build an image which was brittle since it was founded on superficial feelings such as contentment and greed. What really built a foundation were feeling of salvation, having overcome, rescued.

One option he had was that he could cause a disaster. This was a feat he could easily do, and especially with the two helpers he had chosen to use as scapegoats, he could leave behind a prophesy that could last entire generations, of a king to save the people from this threat. With proper planning, this was a scheme that was widely used in the universe as it had such propensity for success.

His other option was to somehow convince these two to raise an army, become great and on their efforts build himself an empire. However, since most people would only see such an empire as just a conqueror, to truly sway the minds of the people, he would have to come in as a rebel, take down the very empire he had build and in its place leave a republic.

Yes, this had been the way he had build the kingdom that encompassed an entire planet. He had first started by building an empire, but somewhere along the way he realized that he had become the villain, so, he switched out and went to begin a rebellion, a feat that was so hard to do since he had only been a mortal. Back then he had longed for a way to do this properly, with the abilities to reincarnate as a mortal and even simulate death as mortal, he could indeed start an empire in one life and then the rebellion in the next. Of course, what would come after, what is established, that was the real price.

He wondered if he should pity this planet as it had become his playing ground, although this was just a fleeting thought, as he first needed to see how these species would would react to pressure and threat of death. Would feelings of nationality and loyalty be born, or would they disintegrate into limitless factions each hiding and keeping safe until the threat was finished. Each of these were reactions that had been exhibited before, and luckily, if they showed the latter, he could work on their bloodlines to cause them to choose the former in a few centuries.

Still, what he had planned for these two was grand. He wasn't really using them, since he would end up granting them their heart's d.e.s.i.r.e, at least that would be a suitable gift. Bamboo's d.e.s.i.r.e was simple. He longed to fight and outshine Hasilo, his elder cousin who hogged all the glory as being superior in strength and power. In fact, many expected him to awaken an ability related to strength as he had shown amazing feats so far.

Though Bamboo hoped this was not the case, sadly for him, Dane had already checked and confirmed that the lavel did indeed have a high affinity to the earth elemental, which meant that he could become a mage who could manipulate the earth element. Though Hasilo tried to gain this, he couldn't achieve a break through since he lacked the one thing that all beings in the planet lacked, need! Necessity bred inventions, heroes, martyrs and so much more, but in a state of peace, what need was there for all these. Once again, Dane sighed.

For one, Dane would give Bamboo a way where he could rise to the top of all the lavels, ushering in a mighty kingdom.

Barcova was easier to please. He was a greedy vasil, hence he would latch at anything as long as he saw profit. He would use his nefarious mind to raise him to the pinnacle of vasil leadership, and ultimately, grant him something he dared not dream.

Yet, to obtain these benefits, he needed to have them walk a path of pain and hardship, encounter nightmares and be at the point of defeat, before raising them back up again. Was he being unfair, he wondered, wouldn't have their lives been better had he let them be? Perhaps all this was fate.

Some questions were useless, they would be part of his plan, and as such, they would be protected, guarded and when it came time for them to be sacrificed, they will be ready and willing. He couldn't help feeling like he was fattening these scrawny bulls for slaughter, but at least they would have a meaningful life, wasn't that what mattered.

In Bamboo's clan, if you were to ask any young unattached male whom they fancied as a partner, they would unequivocally answer Thea. The young maiden lavel was a thing of beauty, so serene and innocent. Her body could be described with one sentence, all the right junk in all the right place, exactly as any lavel imagined a goddess would look in their fantasies. Even those less imaginative would look at her to get such insight, and they all d.e.s.i.r.ed her.

She usually hid from most, opting to remain in her shelter most times. Multiple suitors still pursued her, but she rejected them all.

Bamboo felt like he could stare at her all day long, and as they walked by her shelter, he craned his neck to catch sight of that amazing beauty, causing Maple to 'accidentally' bump him and knock him to the ground. He stood up with a grumble and continued walking.

He had wrapped the vasil in a collar, almost leaving on exposed part, for at any moment of distraction the thing might shape change and slip away. He had to admit, he liked their travel better with the vasil as a mouse, but he didn't force him to change, preferring to remain vigilant and aware of any escape attempts.

Up till now, he was still wondering how he had allowed Maple to convince him to consider this decision. He was the type to remain cautious, preferring to offer the vasil to the elders. Had the temptation of gold been too much, or was he allowing Maple too much wriggle room. While they had been best friends since childhood, it wasn't lost on him that she liked him. He usually tried to escape any notion that might lead in that direction, since he didn't know what to do.

He wasn't star struck with the goddess Thea either, as she was too far out of reach for him. For him, love and relationship could wait until he made a name for himself, and for that he needed Maple, his devoted follower and the first member of his entourage.

This was it, the place that he had been waiting for, Barcova's treasure trove. The vasil really was cautious, and of all the places he could have chosen to hide his wealth, this was the worst, mostly because it was a natural attraction for any galactic being, the energy gems in the walls were so rich they could satisfy an astral beast used to devouring planets.

The main reason Barcova had chosen it was because of how difficult it was to get to. First of, they had to get to a pit that was very close to a no-go zone area of the Bayu, the planetary ring. Next, they would descend the pit for half a mile before coming to a tunnel. The tunnel led to many caves, and it was in one such cave that Barcova had hidden his loot.

Knowing that the vasil would not willingly part with his loot, Dane used some bit of mind control, nothing dangerous, just enough to persuade him that allying with the lavel was in his best interest. The master manipulator at work showed his skills as he slowly led his prey to the net he had already laid out for them.

As the trio began the descent, Barcova had an obvious advantage because he could fly, and the fact that he didn't use that opportunity made Bamboo wonder if he was being led to a trap. Still, for some unknown reason, he decided to endure it and see to the very end, then he would tear up this vasil should things not go according to plan.

The lavels were good climbers, and though it took much difficulty to climb that much distance below ground hanging on the cliffs, they finally made it to the tunnel. Maple marveled at how beautiful it was. They had expected it to be pitch black, and though they could see in the dark, they didn't need to.

All around the walls were luminous gems that gave off a dark green light. Though it wasn't much of an improvement from the darkness, at least they could see clearly where they were going. Leading the way, Barcova walked towards his treasure trove.

Dane could almost see the look on their eyes long before they walked in. He had been waiting for this, and as this was his moment, he would put on quite a show.

The halls were already eerie enough as is, but as they walked in, the only sound the could here was the echoes from their footsteps. The air was damn and ghastly, almost as if warning them not to take a single step forward. Every instinct within them warned them, and even Barcova, who was used to these trips, could feel a cold sweat trickling down his spine.

Silently though, they walked on, almost as if speaking could bring death upon them. Barcova sighed when he saw his treasure trove cave, and as he walked in, he could almost feel safe. Almost.

He led the others to his treasure, and as he walked on with pride, he failed to notice that his cave was brighter than usual. He hauled the c.h.e.s.t that contained his hoarded loot and presented it proudly to the lavels, expecting gasps of surprise and joy that never came.

Surprised, he turned to look at the lavels, only to realize they were frozen stiff with a horrific look on their eyes. They were even trembling. Having a really ominous feeling in his belly, he stiffly turned to look at what they were staring at.

What he saw next caused his heart to almost burst with terror, and before he knew it, he was flat unconscious!