Merchant From Earth in the Magical World

In the midst of the Blood Crown Mountain Lizardman Great Army's encampment lay a flat, expansive rock.

Atop the rock, two Lizardman kings and numerous vassal Clan Leaders sat together... silently observing Clan Leader Long Jaw standing in the center.

Clan Leader Long Jaw's condition was greatly different from usual.

King Red Eye couldn't help but sigh, his anger toward Long Jaw gradually dissipating. The complete annihilation of his clan's elite troops had dealt him a huge blow. We don't know what he encountered, and we cannot conclude that he returned without fighting simply because he bears no serious wounds.

After waiting a while, King Red Eye said to Long Jaw, "Clan Leader Long Jaw, you may go and rest. As for dealing with this invading army of Werewolves and humans, leave it to us. We will avenge your clansmen."

But instead of leaving, Clan Leader Long Jaw held his head even higher, exclaiming, "Please address me as Long Jaw Dragon. I know you do not believe my words. I will use my newly acquired power from the Dragon Clan to show you the true difference between myself and all of you. Open your eyes wide and witness the power of a Lizardman who has awakened the Dragon Clan bloodline!"

After saying this, Clan Leader Long Jaw walked to the edge of the rock and took a deep breath, facing the open area beyond.

The Lizardman leaders all watched Long Jaw in silence.

「...」

On the way back to Blood Crown Mountain, the excited Long Jaw had been constantly experimenting with his newly activated Dragon Breath ability.

He kept hiccupping because a combustible gas was being produced continuously within his body. To unleash a true Dragon Breath, he had to find a way to store these gases and then release them all at once in a large volume.

Lizardmen are amphibious creatures with an air bladder in their bodies to provide oxygen when submerged for extended periods. However, since Lizardmen spend most of their time on land, this air bladder is rarely used.

Thus, Long Jaw adjusted his breathing method to transfer the combustible gas produced in his stomach to his air bladder. His hiccups also stopped.

Now, it was time to reveal the emergence of the world's first Dragonkin.

Long Jaw took a deep breath, using his expanded lungs and chest muscles to compress the air bladder. Once the pressure reached a certain level, he opened the passage connecting his mouth and the air bladder.

The high-pressure gasoline vapor within the air bladder shot forward, and at the precise moment, Long Jaw used Magic to conjure a spark.

The gasoline vapor ignited, erupting into a ten-meter-long column of fire that blasted forward.

FWOOSH... It lasted for a full ten seconds or more.

The two Lizardman kings were stunned. The numerous Lizardman Clan Leaders were stunned. All the Lizardmen who witnessed Clan Leader Long Jaw unleash his Dragon Breath were utterly stunned.

The notion that Lizardmen possessed Dragon Clan bloodline was merely a legend they used to aggrandize themselves. Lizardmen worship dragons, and the ultimate creature of their Swamp Tribe, the one they protect, is the Nine-Headed Dragon. This is why Lizardmen are also fond of adding 'dragon' to the names of various magical beasts. The Bipedal Flying Dragon, for instance, actually has no relation to the Dragon Clan whatsoever. And Dragonflies... a type of mosquito-like magical beast, what connection could they possibly have with the Dragon Clan?

All Lizardmen knew that the tale of them possessing Dragon Clan bloodline was just something adults told to deceive children. A lie passed down from generation to generation.

But this time, they had witnessed with their own eyes a Lizardman unleashing Dragon Breath—a power only the Dragon Clan could wield—right before everyone.

This was not Magic. With so many Lizardfolk Heroes present, it was impossible for Long Jaw to deceive them with mere magical tricks. This was, indeed, genuine Dragon Breath.

What Long Jaw had said was true; he had truly received a divine blessing that activated the Dragon Clan bloodline within Lizardmen.

So, the ancestral legends passed down to us didn't lie! We Lizardmen truly possess the noblest bloodline in this world! To think we're related to the Dragon Clan! This realization invigorated all the Lizardmen. Dragon Breath will incinerate everything in the world! The invading Werewolves will be reduced to ashes under its might! The swamps will finally return to the hands of us Lizardmen! No... to the hands of the Dragonkin! Since Lizardmen carry the Dragon Clan bloodline, it means all of us have the chance to awaken our bloodline and unleash Dragon Breath, just like Clan Leader Long Jaw! We can complete life's ascension and become higher-ranking Dragonkin!

The Lizardmen surrounded Clan Leader Long Jaw, cheering wildly and chanting "Long Jaw Dragon!"

It seemed as if by shouting loudly enough, they too could ascend to become Dragonkin.

Only King Red Eye and King Green Tail looked extremely displeased.

The elites of the Lizardmen Clans had gathered at Blood Crown Mountain. Here, Long Jaw had effectively demonstrated to the entire species that he was superior to the Blood Crown Lizardmen—a higher racial tier altogether. They, the two Lizardman kings, had originally been self-proclaimed. Their titles weren't legitimately earned; how could they face Long Jaw... no, Long Jaw Dragon, who was now a tier above them in the racial hierarchy?

The two Lizardman kings saw anxiety and worry in each other's eyes. If this matter wasn't handled properly, the elated Lizardmen would undoubtedly push Long Jaw onto the throne of the Lizardman King. At that point, these two 'pseudo-kings,' each controlling such vast forces, would be faced with a choice: either divide their territories and submit to the new king, or stand in opposition to the entire Lizardman species. But even if they did divide their holdings, could they expect a peaceful end? Their most urgent task now was to suppress Long Jaw's rising prestige and halt the expansion of his influence. Fortunately, his clan's elites had all perished; otherwise, they truly wouldn't be able to suppress him now.

After exchanging glances, the two Lizardman kings acted.

King Red Eye spoke up, halting the Lizardmen's wild celebration. He waved his hand to dismiss the Lizardmen not involved in the council and bid the attending Clan Leaders be seated.

Then he addressed Long Jaw, "Long Jaw... Dragon. King Green Tail and I are both delighted by your awakening of the Dragon Clan bloodline. This signifies the impending rise of us Lizardmen, and our transformation into a more powerful species... the Dragonkin. The gods have chosen you to be the first Dragonkin. King Green Tail and I will henceforth honor you as the sage of the Lizardman species. We will jointly dispatch our strongest warriors to ensure your safety, allowing you to discover, undisturbed, the method for other Lizardmen to awaken their Dragon Clan bloodline. This is the mission bestowed upon you by the gods, and it is also the solemn responsibility King Green Tail and I entrust to you."

King Green Tail added, "Indeed. Protecting your safety is the paramount task for our entire Lizardman species. Your sole mission is to enable more Lizardmen to awaken as Dragonkin."

The plan King Red Eye and King Green Tail had devised was to first control Long Jaw. This would deny him any opportunity to interact with other Lizardmen and prevent him from further expanding his influence and power. Then, they would assign him a mission. If he couldn't find a way for other Lizardmen to awaken as Dragonkin, then he would be kept searching indefinitely. And if he did find a method... King Red Eye and King Green Tail would, of course, be the first to evolve into Dragonkin. After that, Long Jaw wouldn't be able to cause any significant trouble.

The pronouncements by King Red Eye and King Green Tail received the unanimous approval of all Lizardman Clan Leaders. Everyone yearned to evolve into Dragonkin, so their only hope was to rely on the first Dragonkin to discover the method of awakening.

How could Long Jaw possibly have considered all of this?

He joyfully accepted the assignment...