Chapter 247 - Proud actors

    (Crimson "Red" Dragon POV)

    Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would stoop so low as to become a mere prop in a film, all for the sake of regaining my freedom. The very thought would have been preposterous to me a decade ago.

    Curse my foolishness! I mentally berated myself, my mind drifting back to the fateful day of my capture. If only I had known the consequences of venturing beyond the safety of the Draconic Realm!

    Ten Years Ago

    Excitement coursed through my veins as I prepared to embark on my first journey outside the confines of the Draconic Realm. Confidence swelled within me, a certainty that my power would be more than enough to overcome any obstacle in my path.

    And for a time, I was right. As I descended upon an elven city, my mere presence sent waves of awe and fear rippling through the populace. Though I was but a juvenile dragon, I effortlessly overpowered even the mightiest elven warriors who dared to stand against me.

    Arrogance consumed me. I reveled in the way the elves catered to my every whim, teaching me the common tongue and introducing me to the wonders of their culture—films, traditional games, sports, and more. I was their king, and they my willing subjects. It was no less than I deserved.

    I basked in the adoration and reverence the world showered upon me. I was a dragon, a being to be admired, feared, and worshipped in equal measure.

    Or so I believed, until the day I ventured beyond the borders of that friendly elven kingdom, eager to explore more of the world.

    "The dwarves and their legendary craftsmanship," I mused aloud. "Perhaps they could fashion a mechanical likeness of me. What a delightful diversion that would be!"

    Foolishly, I assumed the dwarves would welcome me with the same warmth and deference as the elves. How wrong I was.

    The moment I alighted in a dwarven city, I found myself surrounded by a phalanx of heavily armed soldiers. Before I could utter a single word, they opened fire, their weapons trained on me with ruthless precision.

    Rage consumed me. I fought back with all my might, but my resistance only served to escalate the situation.

    They dragged me deep underground, where they imprisoned me within a mechanical contraption fortified with both magic and technology.

    To my horror, I discovered I was not alone in my captivity. Dozens of other dragons, all mere younglings like myself, languished in similar prisons. Over the course of a decade, our numbers swelled to nearly two hundred.

    Salvation came in the form of an assault by adult dragons, their fury enabling many of us to escape. But fortune was not on my side, and I found myself ensnared within the confines of a Pocket Vault.

    "Incredible! Dragons truly live up to the legends my grandfather used to tell!" a demon actor exclaimed in awe.

    "I never thought I''d see the day when I''d be acting alongside such magnificent beings," an elven actress gushed, her eyes wide with wonder.

    "To think we''ll be witnessing the raw talent of dragons on the big screen," a human crew member murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.

    Their praise and reverence were a balm to my bruised pride, tempering the sting of having to follow Arthur''s commands.

    Perhaps, I mused, there was some small satisfaction to be found in showing these lesser beings the true might and majesty of dragonkind, even if it meant enduring the indignity of acting in a mortal''s film.

    ***

    (3rd Person POV)

    The presence of the dragons on set sent ripples of astonishment through the cast and crew. Whether they were actors or technical staff, everyone found themselves marveling at how Arthur had managed to bend these majestic creatures to his will, albeit reluctantly.

    Among the most intrigued were Firfel and Shafel. They knew firsthand the immense challenge of taming even juvenile dragons, yet here was Arthur, commanding them with apparent ease.

    How did he accomplish this? they wondered silently, their minds grappling with the implications. The only plausible explanation was that Arthur''s power surpassed that of the dragons themselves, enabling him to dictate their actions as one would a mere pet. But the notion of Arthur possessing such immense strength seemed almost inconceivable.

    Nearby, Rocky, cast in the role of Theoden, found himself equally astounded. In all his years, he had rarely encountered dragons, let alone expected to witness two of them under Arthur''s control.

    This kid never ceases to amaze, Rocky mused, his gaze fixed on the young director.

    Ever since that fateful day when Arthur had undergone his transformation, becoming a filmmaker and inviting Rocky to star in "Demonfather," he had sensed a profound change in the boy. It wasn''t just a shift in mentality; there was an undeniable growth in Arthur''s magical prowess and martial arts skills, evident in the way he carried himself.

    How did he achieve such a remarkable transformation? Rocky pondered, his curiosity piqued.

    As an ancient vampire demon, Rocky had never before witnessed a metamorphosis quite like Arthur''s. It defied explanation, leaving him both impressed and perplexed.

    Shaking his head, Rocky refocused his attention on the task at hand, joining his fellow cast members in the ongoing rehearsal.