Journey from Overlord

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The forest is indeed a treasure trove. Here, one can find wood, medicinal herbs, animal skins, and edible meat. Both humans and orcs have long relied on the bounties of the forest for survival and trade. However, the forest is as perilous as it is bountiful. Lurking in its dense thickets are predators—armed with sharp claws, deadly fangs, and venom—ready to strike at any moment.

The Dark Moon Forest is notorious for its Four Forbidden Zones, regions so dangerous they are avoided by all but the most reckless or desperate. These zones include the Millennium Tree Spirit's Grove, the Lava Cavern inhabited by the Death Spider King, the Yuelan Highlands, home to the Holy White Fox Demon, and the Central Lake, ruled by the dreaded Giant Snake of Ten Thousand Kills, Nonos.

The creatures that inhabit these zones are collectively revered as the Four Sages of the Forest, powerful magical beasts whose dominion is undisputed. Both humans and demi-humans take great care to avoid provoking these beings.

Nonos, the massive water snake, emerged from the depths of the Central Lake, his movements fluid and precise as he snatched a fat salmon in his jaws. Satisfied with his catch, he devoured it in one swift motion. Unlike the other Sages, Nonos lacked a prestigious lineage like the White Fox, the leadership of a colony like the Spider King, or the near-immortality of the Millennium Tree Spirit.

Nonos began his life as an ordinary water snake. His rise to power was forged through relentless training, brutal combat, and merciless predation. Every step of his journey was a testament to his will to survive and dominate.

As he basked in the sunlight, his massive frame emerged from the water, the scars on his body standing as stark reminders of countless battles. Some wounds were from skirmishes with humans who coveted the resources of the Central Lake; others were from clashes with powerful adventurers.

The deep scar over his left eye, however, was the result of his most defining battle—a fight with the former leader of the werewolf tribe, Mad Wolf, the strongest sub-human warrior of his time.

That victory, during a devastating drought, had established Nonos as the undisputed King of the Forest. Following the battle, he brokered a contract with the demi-human tribes: they were allowed to draw water from the Central Lake during droughts and fish in moderation year-round.

In return, they were to offer him annual sacrifices of land animal meat. This deal freed Nonos from the need to hunt constantly, allowing him to focus on honing his combat skills. Over decades, he had grown far stronger, confident that a rematch with the demi-humans would end in his favor, unlike the tense negotiations that had concluded their last encounter.

Recently, he had been contemplating increasing the number of sacrifices demanded from the tribes. After all, his power had only grown, and he deserved greater tributes.

Nonos' goal was singular: to grow stronger through unrelenting combat and rigorous training. His ultimate dream was to transcend his current form and evolve into a dragon, becoming the undisputed ruler of all waters in the forest.

Suddenly, a strange force propelled Nonos out of the lake, lifting his massive body into the air. Disoriented, he twisted and thrashed, hissing loudly in protest. Confusion turned to dread as he was overwhelmed by a reality he could scarcely comprehend.

Before him, a golden eye appeared—large, radiant, and menacing. It exuded an oppressive aura, as if the weight of a mountain bore down on him. Nonos' body froze as the eye's gaze stripped away his defiance.

Through his rolling vision, he saw the creature fully. It was a dragon, its emerald-green scales glinting like polished jade in the sunlight. Massive wings stretched across the sky, and its muscular frame radiated power. Razor-sharp claws gleamed ominously, and an overwhelming presence marked it as no ordinary dragon—it was a Dragon King, a true apex predator.

"My mistress has taken a liking to this place." the dragon declared, its voice calm but commanding. One of its claws hovered in front of Nonos, a silent promise of destruction.

"Feel honored, worm—[Annihilation]."

In the blink of an eye, the massive snake was reduced to nothingness, his body dissolving into ash that scattered in the breeze. Nonos' doubts—why a dragon had appeared here, why he was its target, and who this "mistress" was—vanished with him. He had no chance to find the answers.

The dragon activated [Teleport], disappearing from the Central Lake. Moments later, it reappeared in another part of the forest, lowering its head as it knelt before its summoner.

"My Lady, I have found a suitable location for your residence." The dragon said, its voice reverent, "Although it is still rudimentary, it is the finest spot in the forest."

Aya reached out, her fingers brushing against the dragon's scaled head, "Thank you for your hard work." She said with a soft smile. The dragon's tail twitched excitedly, a gesture that made Aya chuckle.

Fifteen minutes earlier, Aya had tested her skill, [Advanced Magic Beast Creation], successfully summoning the level 83 Elven Dragon. The experiment, a trial to confirm whether magic could function in this new world, had gone better than expected.

Aya had been nervous during the summoning. Would it fail? Would the summoned creature disobey her? Fortunately, her preparation paid off, and the spell was successful. The dragon she summoned exhibited far greater intelligence than the simple AI-controlled companions in the game she remembered, a development that both surprised and reassured her.

"Before the summoning duration expires, I will protect my mistress." The dragon promised.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Aya replied, "Please take me to the location."

Sitting sideways on the dragon's back, Aya pondered her limited resources. Though she specialized in summoning, [Advanced Magic Beast Creation] could only be used six times a day. She needed to strategize how to make the most of it. Her mind raced with plans, unaware of the dragon's sudden, labored breathing and the tremors rippling through its massive frame.

The Elven Dragon's thoughts were far less strategic, 'My mistress...is sitting on my back...and her...' It trailed off, struggling to contain its excitement.

Aya remained blissfully ignorant of the dragon's inner turmoil, her feet swinging idly as she silently prayed for her safety in this strange new world.

Aya stretched out her hands and held them in front of her. She admired her beautiful fingers, now noticeably longer and fairer than in her previous life, a sight that moved her deeply.

[Release]

At her command, the illusion effects on her fingers dissipated, revealing rings adorning all ten of her fingers, each emitting a brilliant glow of various colors.

In YGGDRASIL, players were typically restricted to wearing one ring per hand. However, Aya had acquired a high-priced item that allowed her to wear rings on all ten fingers, each with its own activated ability.

Aya was not the only player who made such an investment. Those who valued power and ability would inevitably spend money on such items.

She recalled a time when extra rings had first been released. Aya had eagerly spent money to unlock the rings for all ten of her fingers. In contrast, Flying Squirrel, who had to wait for his next month's salary to afford enough paid items, showed rare envy and jealousy.

"That's great. Aya is so rich." He had said.

"If Momonga-san wants, I can give you the props." Aya had offered generously.

At the time, the price of those game props had been trivial compared to her pocket money. Aya's illness had been quite serious, and she wasn't sure how much longer she would live, so she felt it would be a waste not to spend the money. Besides, she hoped it would make her friends happy.

"Let's not do that." Momonga had declined her offer.

"If money is involved, it might make things between Aiya-san and me feel... strange."

"Flying Squirrel-san is unexpectedly manly!" Takimi had exclaimed from the side.

"What do you mean by unexpectedly?" Momonga had responded with a slight frown.

Aya was jolted from her memories by the Elven Dragon's soft voice.

"Madam?"

With a smile on her face, she replied, "Ah, it's nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment." Her heart ached slightly as she sighed inwardly, realizing that she might never see her old friends again—whether it was her brother, Takimi, or Flying Squirrel.