Just under a hundred meters down the tunnel, a group of nine figures huddled around the Elder as he scratched the rough stubble growing on his cheek and pondered the situation that had just been reported by the assassin.

It seemed that not only had the dragoness entered her human form, but she had seemingly collapsed and was waiting for them.

His gut was telling him that something was wrong but how could he know that the one he was chasing had forsaken the pride her kind was famous for to ensure victory. Dragons, while not stupid, had nearly always prefered direct confrontation instead of relying on tricks and schemes making them somewhat easy to understand.

"Guild Master, I didn't say anything earlier as I didn't think the dragoness would be in such a state, but you should know that the Grand Council have ordered that all dragons that have not been bound must be killed? Why would you make an offer that we cannot keep?" whispered the leather-clad man, who was currently applying various toxins to his blades as they had located their quarry.

The others, who were now in the throes of there own preparations without rush, as it seemed the dragoness had finally exhausted herself, looked towards their slightly greying leader.

"Bound is bound. Before the order was given or after makes little difference. I will still be complying with the spirit of the agreement," chuckled the Elder.

He had already made his preparations outside the cave system and couldn't help but look down on the young nobles around him for their lack of sense.

It was apparent to him that those in charge had decided that this dragon hunt was safer than the assault of Dragon's Peak and strings had been pulled to get the offspring of the more significant, non-militaristic houses out of danger.

The Elder couldn't help but shake his head.

The dragon's gradual decline in strength had taken over a thousand years. Now the end was in sight, those who had avoided the fighting had finally come out to try and claim some of the spoils.

Thinking that victory was all but guaranteed, these inexperienced Chosen had significantly underestimated the dragons which inevitably had lead to countless deaths.

Not that the Elder, who belonged to one of the small, militaristic houses minded.

To him, the cowardly nobles were only culling themselves. Something that would make the transition of power after the war much more manageable.

For his house, like many others, prospered in times of war but, without a significant enemy to cower the masses, they would need to look into other methods to maintain control.

Pushing past those who were in his care, just out of eyesight of the dragoness, the Elder calmed his nerves. "So my beauty~ Have you thought about my offer?"

"What is there to think about?" responded a harsh, feminine voice with a heavy tinge of disgust. "You want to either want to enslave us or use our bodies for your hideous concoctions. Why would I bind both my body and soul to such a disgusting creature? What makes you think you are better than me? That you have the strength to dictate such terms?"

The tone of the Dragoness turned mocking. "You want me to submit? Ha. How about I give you a counter offer? One much for fitting for your petty existence. Leave now, and if I feel like it, I will allow you to retain your worthless lives."

The Elder chuckled, though his cheeks burned from her vicious onslaught, along with the nine others who knew the state of the dragoness.

Appart from the Elder, none of them had any experience with dragons other than this hunt yet they still knew of a dragon's legendary arrogance and pride and felt that she was attempting to bluff her way out.

"Come on little monster, you are on the verge of death," the brown-robed man responded after taking a quick peek around the bend. "Pride and honour are useless to the dead. Our Elder is a respectable man and, as long as you behave, will ensure that you are not treated too poorly."

"What are you doing?" whispered the plate wearing man. "If she submits, we won't get anything. Her body is almost priceless."

The brown robbed man shrugged as he rolled his eyes. "If it were me in there, I would like to think I would be given a chance."

"You would have been roasted alive and become nothing but ash without a moment's hesitation," grumbled the Elder, displeased that he had been interrupted by the nobles.

"Kaltheia~, I hope you don't mind me using your true name, but I must stress the importance of what I am about to say," continued the Elder, not willing to give the other nobles a chance to derail his attempts at subjugating the dragoness. "Your clan is on the verge of extinction, abandoned by your kin and are at death's door. Think about what is best for you and your young."

"Everything is as the gods will. They are generous in offering you this opportunity to not only survive but a chance to prosper in a new age."

"As the god's will?" spat Kaltheia, bloodlust seeping into her voice. "So the gods willed us to destroy four of your capitals, burning them to the ground with every man, woman and child that inhabited them? When we devoured all your best and brightest after discovering the locations of your training grounds? They willed every city that we have raised?"

"What about all of the divine bloodlines we have eradicated? What about their descendants, the demi-gods, that we have slain? You truly believe this is the will of your gods? They may be powerful, but not even they can control fate and time."

Each statement was like a hammer blow to the Chosen that were hiding in the tunnel, raising issues that not only did they not have the answers to, but that the didn't even want to think about.

"And don't give me that crap about them having a bigger plan for everything. Even your gods can't escape the laws of existence," continued the Dragoness.

"It's only a matter of time that they are killed off by their offspring, just like what they did to their parents, and ascended the heavenly thrones."

"My kind has seen it all before. We have existed from the primordial era, the beginning of time, and seen gods come and go like the changing of the seasons."

Kaltheia's voice darkened. "And when they fall, without their gifts, you Chosen will follow quickly. And you know what?"

A beautiful smile reappeared on the dragoness' face. "Just as it always has been, my species will continue onwards, eventually forgetting that your misbegotten races ever existed. My clan may fall, but you cannot erase the might of all of our draconic bloodlines. My kind has face faced far greater tribulations than this."

Kaltheia's statement wasn't just false bravado. Her kind was one of the first species to exist, and although they had evolved significantly since their humble beginnings, they were, excluding the seven worlds and two heavenly dimensions, a constant that had always existed. Even with the extinction of the Dark Clan, the six other dragonic bloodlines would continue and, if history were anything to go by, would eventually return to this world when the dust had settled.

"Watch your mouth monster," spat a crimson-robed figure as the sword in his hand emitted an azure glow before rushing down the tunnel, towards the small enclave in which the Kaltheia sat. "You kind have no soul and will never be reincarnated unlike us Chosen and the gods we follow. Once you die, you cease to exist whereas for us, our deeds in life will be measured, and we will be justly rewarded. We are the eternal ones."

"Damon!" bellowed the Elder, quickly following the impulsive youth with the rest of his group. He knew that the dragoness was trying to provoke them, and only thought that she wanted to initiate the fight before she grew too weak to resist.

The man called Damon charging in gave her this opportunity and could impact his chances of capturing such an impressive creature causing him to grind his teeth in anger.

His anger at the young noble only increased as his eyes settled on Kaltheia's human form, causing him to suck in a greedy breath.

While it was almost impossible to subjugate a dragon, Kaltheia was barely holding onto her consciousness as she took short, shallow breaths.

Her captivating appearance didn't even enter his eyes as he licked his lips at the prospect of obtaining not just any old dragon, but a dragon of the Dark Clan.

While she was in such a weakened state, it would be easy not only to bind her to him but to use the master, servant variety. If he could do this and heal her quickly, ensuring that no permanent damage existed, he would gain an enormously powerful tool to further his ambitions.