Starting out as a Dragon Slave-Chapter 27 - : No matter what the consequences, I must become strong!

Mordred slowly got back to work after the break, gritting his teeth against the searing pain still burning his back. Every gesture had become mechanical, every blow against the cold rock seemed to empty his soul a little more. The gallery was plunged into a heavy silence, interrupted only by the regular sound of picks striking stone and the muffled murmurs of suffering and exhaustion from the other slaves.

But Mordred refused to give in to despair. Today, he had no choice; he couldn't afford another failure. His mind focused solely on the task ahead. He dug tirelessly, his muscles screaming with exhaustion, sweat mixed with blood slowly trickling down his back and arms.

After what seemed an eternity, his pickaxe finally struck a different rock. A bluish glow appeared timidly beneath the dark layer of earth. Mordred's heart leapt in his chest, his trembling hands delicately pulling out the precious ore.

The little moonstone appeared, bathed in a soft bluish light, contrasting strangely with the oppressive darkness of the mine. Mordred contemplated it for a moment, captivated despite his fatigue, when a notification suddenly appeared before his eyes:

[Ding!]

[Moonstone uncovered. Will you absorb it? Yes / No]

This time, his gaze remained fixed for a long moment on the floating invitation before him, his heart beating violently in his chest.

"What if I absorb it this time?" he thought inwardly, his tired mind trying to quickly weigh the risks. "Since I've been here, every day's been hell... and even harvesting these damn stones doesn't change a thing... I'm just becoming a better slave."

The temptation was immense. His fingers tightened around the stone, his breath quickened. He knew full well that by absorbing this stone, he could perhaps strengthen Isaac, offer him a chance of surviving longer in the other world. But here, he absolutely had to meet the quota, or else...

A heart-rending scream suddenly sounded behind him, immediately reminding him of what was at stake in this terrifying place. He turned around sharply.

- I beg you! I... I can't take it anymore... begged a slave on his knees, imploring the dragon guard with tears streaming down his dirty face.

The dragon burst into cruel laughter before brutally raising his whip and slashing him down.

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- There's no mercy for trash like you!

The slave's screams echoed through the cavern as Mordred looked away, disgusted by the scene. He clutched the moonstone in his palm, feeling deep anger.

- I can't afford to be weak here... he muttered angrily, his jaw clenched. Whatever the risks, I've got to get stronger...

His gaze returned to the system notification, still floating before his eyes.

He took a deep breath.

- Yes." he murmured in a firm but low voice.

Instantly, the stone disappeared between his fingers, letting a slight warmth penetrate his skin, spreading slowly throughout his body. Mordred felt a faint surge of energy, a tiny glow that barely revitalized him, but the sensation was comforting enough for him not to regret his choice.

"I've got to keep going", he thought immediately, striking the rock again with determination.

For the next few hours, Mordred worked tirelessly, painstakingly finding more stones, facing the same dilemma each time, but reluctantly choosing to place them in his basket to avoid suspicion. Yet, with each discovery, the same consuming urge returned: to absorb the stones, to steal their power, to escape this horror even temporarily.

Finally, another whip cracked violently in the air, announcing the end of this long day.

- END OF WORK! Get over here at once!" ordered the guard sharply.

Mordred felt the tension building inside him as he approached the dragon guard. His throat tightened as he watched the expression of icy rage on the reptilian's face. He knew perfectly well what his almost empty basket meant. An intolerable failure, a fate far worse than mere lashes.

But this time, the Isaac in him flatly refused to accept his fate without a fight.

The dragon-guard approached slowly, his massive shadow towering over him. His gaze burned with cold anger and disgust, detailing the almost empty basket.

- Empty again? he hissed dangerously. Are you kidding me, human?

Isaac, under the forced identity of Mordred, gritted his teeth, feeling a dull, rebellious anger rising inside him. The same rage that had always accompanied him into the dungeons to face far more frightening monsters. He slowly looked up at the dragon, with an air of defiance he'd never shown before.

- This time, I'm not empty-handed," he replied curtly.

The guard sneered, leaning dangerously close to his face.

- Your ridiculous basket is almost empty, you vermin. It's worse than empty, it's an insult!

In one swift, brutal movement, the dragon-guard raised his gigantic arm to seize him by the throat. But this time, Mordred instinctively dodged, pivoting on his legs as he would have done in the face of an otherworldly monster. The dragon missed, surprised by this unexpected move.

- You...!" roared the creature, turning furiously.

Mordred took advantage of the situation to strike the guard in the face with his basket of stones. The impact was so unexpected that it knocked the dragon slightly off balance.

But this brief moment of triumph was far from enough. Barely a second later, the creature retaliated with a brutal backhand blow that struck Isaac hard on the shoulder, throwing him to the ground.

Mordred felt the stinging pain run through his arm and shoulder, but refused to stay on the ground. He immediately rolled to dodge the guard's massive foot, which was about to crush him, and struggled to his feet, gasping for breath.

- You'll pay dearly for that arrogance, you vermin! the creature hissed angrily.

The whip snapped through the air, swift as a viper. But once again, Mordred anticipated the blow with his hunter's reflexes, stepping aside just in time to avoid a superficial bite. But before he could counterattack, the dragon-guard threw his huge fist at him, striking him violently in the torso and brutally taking his breath away.

Mordred was thrown backwards, his back slamming into the rock face. He collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to move immediately, coughing blood onto the damp earth.

The dragon approached slowly, a gleam of astonishment shining in his icy eyes. He leaned over Isaac, staring at him with cruel interest.

- So, you know how to fight a little?" he sneered in a dark, almost admiring voice. Interesting. Very interesting indeed... But useless.

He brutally grabbed Mordred by the throat, lifting him with ease above the ground.

- Your little act stops here, you vermin. Take him to the coliseum!" he shouted to his subordinates. Let's see how long he lasts in front of the real monsters!

Mordred, dazed and half-strangled, tried in vain to free himself, but the dragon's grip was too strong. His vision began to darken as he slowly suffocated. The guard finally let go of him abruptly, letting him fall heavily to the ground, where two other guards immediately grabbed him by the arms.

- Take him away!" shouted the dragon furiously. Make sure he learns the cost of defying his masters!

As he was dragged from the mine, Mordred, still half-conscious, could vaguely hear the astonished murmurs of the other slaves around him, amazed that one of them had dared to defy a dragon guard.

- He's mad..." murmured a muffled voice.