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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Undercover_Dragon1 on 2024-11-16 08:43:08+00:00.

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— Chapter 16 —

David’s eyes fluttered open and he let off a gasp of air. He had passed out so suddenly that it took him a moment to recall what happened. His eyes adjusted and they slowly focused in on a small kobold cuddling up against his nose. The shattered shell of a freshly hatched kobold not but a few paces away. David rumbled happily as he realized his experiment was a success. Blue was awestruck in the corner of the cavern, muttering something to herself. 

“Thirty has now become thirty-one, Blue.” David offered a draconic grin towards the blue kobold. Rumbling happily David peaked at his prompt quickly and saw that the Rapid Growth had consumed most of his magic charges for the day. That meant, for the time being at least, he could only cast the growth once per day.

“Blue. Come collect your child. How many more eggs do you have?” He cocked his head as he aimed the question at Blue, attempting to knock her out of her stunned shock. 

“A doze- well… eleven now.” Blue murmured as she approached and scooped up the little kobold.

“You have been laying eggs overtime?” David rumbled in thought as he did the math.

“No. A few of the first generation are starting to lay eggs. Yellow’Brown and Blue’Yellow have both started.” Blue nodded.

“Who are they mating with…? They aren’t inbreeding are they?” David cocked his head to the side. Did kobolds have to worry about inbreeding? That might be an issue if he let it continue. 

“Noone? Master… Oh.” Blue came wandering close and placed her hand on his nose, “Kobolds do not suffer from the same issues other land walkers suffer. Kobold females can make eggs without mate but it is not best.”

“I see. Do all the females produce only females this way?” David remembered lizard species back home that could reproduce asexually. It was basically making small clones of themselves. 

“Yes! Master understands! Females can make more females. Kobolds expand rapidly.” Blue beamed up at David.

“What about males? Where do they come into play?” David asked curiously. He wondered if like some species back home inbreeding was less of an issue. He knew that some species of insects could subvert most of the negative impact of inbreeding because of how many chromosomes they possessed. Did creatures of this world even have chromosomes?

Blue gave David a warm smile, “Forgive me. I forget you don’t know everything Master. Sometimes it seems like you do. Males are important! We do not encourage siblings to mate. Females make females but we need differences to thrive. Tribes will exchange males as a means to spread their strengths. Red is a powerful fighter! Some tribes have a lot of healers, or crafters. Males carry those traits to other groups.” She offered a nod once she was done.

David rumbled to himself. So it didn’t seem like they were immune to the effects of inbreeding but males were important for bringing in a diversity of skills, and genetics. The kobolds almost felt like a swarm of little hyper intelligence bees or ants. 

“I see. I want to try and hatch an egg early every day if possible… We will start with the youngest eggs first. Let the oldest finish hatching themselves if possible.” David did the math. Three females producing eggs right now will mean that on average he could force hatch about 15 eggs every few months. 

Both Yellow’Brown and Blue’Yellow came in to see him shortly after and offered their praises and worship. The worship was still uncomfortable but he tolerated it as much as he could before shooing them away. He asked the duo and blue to watch over the freshly hatched kobold for a few days and report if there were any ill effects from his affinity. He reassured them that if there was anything off he would hold off on using it on another egg. 

A few days later and the little hatchling hadn’t appeared to have any adverse effects. In fact he was progressing quickly as he already wandered the tunnels of their home and found a way to contribute. Finally the trio of females gave their blessing and David resumed his work. Thirty-one kobolds became Thirty-two shortly after and David did not pass out this time. The Rapid Growth used an extraordinary amount of his magical energy but the spell came quickly and easier this time. After learning a new way to twist his affinity, further uses always came naturally like he had carved the process into his very core. He was curious what that meant exactly, and if someone in this world had an explanation? 

The kobolds were tireless in their work and the tunnels had been expanded into the mountain side deeper and deeper. They had begun pulling free chunks of ores and other deposits from deeper down. David had requested to inspect some of it as they formed a massive pile of the material outside. A heavy chunk of rock was brought to him and embedded inside of it was a yellow looking deposit. David’s mind raced and he almost thought it was gold until he spotted small green coloration throughout the material. His mind clicked with realization.

“Blue. I believe these are copper deposits. Have you ever heard of copper in this world?” David peered over at Blue.

Blue cocked her head as she thought and gazed up at her Master in amazement., “I do. I nor Red ever studied smithing but we used it in the tribe at times. Are you certain? Master your knowledge is always amazing and seemingly random. Truly blessed we are to have you. ” 

David nodded his head in amusement, “Take these ores and grind them up. Then melt them down with a fire. You should be able to pull copper out of it given time. I do not know the entire process but I know copper at least is easy to mold pou-” David stopped as Blue gave him a look. He had decided to hold off on his ramblings. He was always a fan of history back home and while he never touched a forge in his life, he was always fascinated by humanities use of copper, tin and then later iron. 

“Trust me. We can make more tools such as axes with this. Easy to replace too.” Blue nodded and got to work. She snatched up some of the younger kobolds to help her with the task. She directed them mostly and watched. 

David questioned her briefly about why she  always grabbed the youngest kobolds around and she simply responded that this was the way to learn new skills. The younger they were the more adaptable they could become with some direction. David chuckled and left her to it. Kobolds were impressive creatures and everyone in the colony seemed to become obsessed with one task or another and invested their entire being into it. Blue was clearly right in having younger kobolds with no skills focus on the task in hopes that it would spark the development of a smith skill or something else useful. 

The forest had been pushed back a bit as trees were taken down, and structural beams were popping up in strategic positions throughout the tunnels. A few massive caverns were the main focus of the structural beams, as lines upon lines of mushroom farms were planted. These mushrooms were the very same ones taken from near the sanctuary and provided key back up nutrients to all of the kobolds. Sawdust, debris, and other material were laid down and carefully extracted mushroom spores were being spread up and down the lines. These massive caverns were perfect for mushrooms as they were dark, damp and cool. David was satisfied with their work and made sure to compliment the little group of kobolds, which earned a happy and cheerful chirping of glee. 

The following morning as David was waiting for them to bring him another egg a sudden and violent crash rang out as he heard the snapping of logs, and the busting of the lair’s front barricade.

The deep grunting snarl of his kind tongue filled the tunnels as something other than him or his kobolds spoke, “One of Qazayss’s brood thinks they can establish their lair here unimpeded? Foolish.”  

David’s massive form pushed forward through the tunnels as fast as he could. His spikes and horns grinded against the stone walls as he rushed forward. As he burst out of the lair he was met with the sight of an unpleasant but familiar sight. It was the Lesser Wyvern from the other day standing before him. The barricades were in ruin and there were a few kobold’s laying nearby unresponsive. Oddly enough, at this range, he could see the Lesser Wyvern giving off a faint shimmering blue glow. It reminded him of something familiar but he didn’t have much time to place it as he needed to act. 

David bared his teeth as he stood tall, easily outmassing the smaller Wyvern before him, “Is that how you greet a neighbor? You bastard. We could of talke-” 

A hissing, wheezing laugh cut him off as the sinister red eyes of the Lesser Wyvern bored into him, “No. Cailres the Eclipse has commanded your removal.”  The Wyvern’s mouth opened wide and a blast of putrid gas spewed forth and rushed over David. David let off a gagged cough as the gas flowed into his lung and he felt a violent stabbing pain. Shit. Its affinity is gas? Poison? Something else?

As David fought against his burning lungs, and now burning flesh he took a few steps forward towards the Wyvern. It laughed at him as it spread its massive wings…

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