Arthur stared in awe at the massive creature soaring before him. A dragon. A real, enormous, more than hundred-meter-long dragon with emerald scales that shimmered like polished gemstones. Its massive wings beat powerfully against the sky, sending gusts of wind rippling through the clouds.
As the dragon descended toward the mountain peak below, the very earth seemed to tremble beneath its weight. Rocks loosened from the mountainside, tumbling down in an avalanche as the beast settled, folding its colossal wings against its back. Even from his altitude, Arthur could feel the sheer presence of the creature, it exuded dominance, as if it were a sovereign ruler of the skies.
'Where the heck am I?' Arthur thought, gripping the controls of his shuttle. 'There are dragons here!'
Tarkuun-5 had its share of unusual creatures, and he had encountered large, wyvern-like beasts before. But this… this was different, it was the real deal. The wyverns he had seen were animalistic, instinct-driven. The dragon before him carried itself with a different air, he didn't know why but his instincts told him that this creature was intelligent.
Arthur quickly decided it was best not to disturb it. He wasn't about to test whether it was hostile or not. Adjusting his course, he directed the shuttle upward, ascending through the thick atmosphere while keeping his stealth systems engaged.
…
High above the planet
Minutes later, Arthur reached the planet's stratosphere, where the air was thin, and the sky darkened toward the vast emptiness of space. From here, he could oversee the entire world stretching out below him, an immense planet, far larger than Earth or even Tarkuun-5.
He activated the command for his thousands of reconnaissance probes, ensuring they maintained even spacing as they expanded across the globe. The sheer scale of the planet made the process lengthy, and even with the probes' high-speed capabilities, it took more than two and a half hours to fully cover its surroundings.
Arthur leaned back in his pilot's seat, observing the real-time feed on his HUD. What he saw amazed him.
The planet had a diameter of more than fifty thousand kilometers which is roughly four times that of Earth. The surface of the planet was covered by approximately fifty four percent land and forty six percent ocean. The planet has three immense continents with few small scattered landmasses. He also noticed some places on the planet have unknown energy storms raging.
Arthur zoomed in on different areas of the world, focusing on details.
…
The largest and most densely populated continent was dominated by humans or at least, beings that looked exactly like humans, Arthur didn't want to come to a conclusion this early. Sprawling medieval-style cities stretched across the landscape, filled with towering castles, fortified stone walls, and rows of timber-framed buildings. The settlements were connected by winding roads, stretching between vast plains, forests, and mountain ranges.
Arthur spotted massive walled cities, some built along rivers and coasts, while others were nestled deep within valleys or atop hills. Merchant districts, bustling marketplaces, and structured town layouts indicated an organized society, likely governed by some form of kingdom or empire.
However, what truly caught his eye was the presence of non-human hybrids among them, creatures that looked mostly human but bore animalistic features.
Some were Fox-like humanoids with large, pointed ears and fluffy tails. Cat-eared beings who moved with agile grace. Others with wolf-like features, rabbit ears, even bird-like wings.
Arthur's mind raced. Was this some form of genetic divergence? A different evolutionary path? Or something else entirely? He had read novels about demi-humans; these creatures might be something similar.
…
On the second continent, Arthur found a different dominant species, humanoids with pointed ears and horns. Their features were strikingly similar to humans, except for these distinct differences. Some had curved ram-like horns, others had sleek, swept-back spires.
The architecture in this region was gothic and grand, featuring black stone castles, spire-like towers, and massive citadels that looked like they belonged in some fantasy realm. Cities were arranged in a way that suggested hierarchical governance, possibly ruled by noble houses or powerful clans.
Arthur noticed large military fortresses near key locations, and in some areas, he even spotted massive battlefields, remnants of wars past or ongoing conflicts. These creatures resembled demons from stories he read.
…
The third continent was vastly different from the first two.
It was heavily forested, almost untouched by civilization, with only a few scattered cities nestled within the dense jungles and mountainous terrain. The forests stretched for miles, concealing towering beasts, some of which dwarfed the dragon Arthur had seen before.
Here, dragons were not a rarity.
Arthur spotted numerous dragons, ranging from small, wingless drakes to titanic behemoths soaring across the skies. Some lazed atop volcanic ridges, basking in the sun, while others engaged in aerial displays, possibly territorial disputes or mating rituals.
Beyond dragons, this land was home to numerous other massive creatures. Titan-like beasts roamed the forests, and winged predators circled the skies, making it one of the most dangerous landscapes on the planet.
Despite the dangers, there were still settlements here, likely populated by strong-willed or battle-hardened people. Arthur spotted massive tree-built cities, suspended high above the jungle floor, their wooden walkways glowing with bioluminescent lights. The beings that populated them looked like elves from fantasy books.
…
Despite the planetary size and few advanced-looking architecture, Arthur noted something peculiar, the technological level of this world was stuck in the medieval age.
Everywhere he looked, he saw stone castles, wooden houses, and blacksmith forges, but no advanced technology. There were no modern infrastructures present on any of the three continents.
However… something else caught his eye.
Near several settlements, he saw strange floating landmasses, with floating glowing orbs on top of them. But he was unable to see what was going on in those lands, something that seemed to prevent any prying eyes from outside.
Arthur zoomed in, analyzing the orbs more closely.
"Energy signatures… but they're not technological… Could this be magic, otherwise how would those lands float without any propulsion system or antigravity technology?"
The thought sent a thrill through his mind. Was this planet truly a fusion of medieval civilization and mystical forces?
He had seen many strange things in the galaxy, but this? A planet where dragons roamed freely, humans coexisted with human-animal hybrids, and horned beings that looked like demons ruled kingdoms?
"This place is straight out of a fantasy novel." Arthur leaned back in his seat, absorbing all the information he had gathered.
There were so many questions running through his mind. But one thing was certain, this was a world which might give him the opportunity to learn about magic.
Arthur exhaled slowly, gripping the controls of his shuttle.
"Time to find out more about this place."
…
Arthur controlled the shuttle and went towards a city on the continent which he termed as the human continent. After half an hour he arrived near the city, when he arrived on this planet he was on the continents where dragons were present.
He got out of the shuttle and put it inside his dimensional pocket. He removed his armor and controlled the nanobots on his clothes to shift and his clothes started to resemble the clothes that people of this world wear to not attract attention. He took out some nanobots from his dimensional pocket and made it resemble a bag for him to carry, as he thought a person alone without any luggage entering a city might look suspicious.
He then walked towards the city and after five minutes of walking along the road he reached the city gates. There were some city guards checking people entering the city. Arthur went forward and joined the line. When his turn came one of the city guards asked him in a language Arthur had not heard before but due to the universal translator he was able to understand and convey his points.
"Identity please." One of the city guards asked him. Arthur had already thought of an excuse to give, he said "Sir, I am from a far away village and this is my first time to enter a city. So, I don't have an identity card."
The city guard was not surprised by hearing it, there are many such people who frequently enter the city, so he asked Arthur, "Oh, then you have to pay to create a temporary identity to enter the city, it's five bronze coins for a week."
Arthur nodded hearing that and put his hands inside his bag, though it was just a ruse, what he actually was doing was something else entirely. He scanned the few bronze coins sprawled on the table in front of the city guard and ordered the Guardian AI of the Spear of Heaven to replicate some coins.
"Do it fast, there are other people waiting behind you." the city guard asked him, seeing Arthur taking more time than necessary. "Yes." Arthur then took out five bronze coins and submitted them to the city guard and received a wooden token with some symbols on it. Arthur was then allowed to enter the city.
…
Arthur stepped through the city gates, his eyes scanning his surroundings. The city before him was like a city straight out of medieval earth. The wide cobblestone streets stretched into the distance, flanked by buildings constructed from stone, timber, and bricks. Some bore grand, sloped roofs with ornate carvings, while others had simpler, functional designs.
The scent of freshly baked bread, sizzling meat, and a hint of something herbal filled the air, mixing with the chatter of merchants calling out their wares.
As Arthur moved forward, his gaze flicked over the people bustling around him. Humans made up the majority, but scattered among them were demi-humans of various kinds. A woman with fox-like ears and a bushy tail bartered with a fruit vendor, her sharp golden eyes narrowing as she negotiated. A young man with feline features, pointed ears and slitted pupils, leapt gracefully onto a moving cart, balancing effortlessly as he adjusted a sack of goods.
The variety of races confirmed what he had seen from above. Some wore simple, coarse tunics and cloaks, while others were adorned in elaborate robes, decorated with fine embroidery. Metal armor clanked as guards and warriors moved past, their weapons secured at their waists or strapped to their backs.
A large, heavily bearded man, no taller than Arthur's chest, sat behind a weapons stall. The moment Arthur saw him, he knew this was a dwarf.
The dwarf's thick fingers polished the steel of a broad-bladed axe, his eyes sharp and focused despite his short stature. Behind him, an impressive collection of medieval-style weapons and armor gleamed under the morning sun, steel swords of various designs, curved daggers, round shields reinforced with iron rims, and even intricately crafted plate mail.
Arthur stopped for a moment, observing how the dwarf moved with an artisan's care, handling the weapons as if they were extensions of himself.
He had seen advanced plasma-based weapons, hyper-alloyed combat suits, and automated defense systems. But the craftsmanship here had a different kind of beauty, a raw, personal touch, honed through years of experience rather than assembly-line precision.
Arthur continued walking, blending seamlessly into the crowd. He noticed several inns along the street, their wooden signs swaying gently with the breeze. Some bore the symbol of a mug of ale, others a resting bed. It was easy to guess their function.
The farther he walked, the more varied the establishments became. Blacksmith forges roared with heat, hammer strikes ringing in rhythmic precision. Tailors displayed fine silks and sturdy leather coats. Potion vendors advertised colorful vials of unknown liquids, each promising miraculous effects.
One particular stall caught Arthur's attention. A robed figure, their face partially concealed by a hood, stood behind a wooden stand filled with small glowing crystals. And Arthur stepped towards the stall to see what it was.
***
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