Dragon Ecology

Dragons are legendary creatures within The Outerverse, deriving from The Chaos Void. Their family tree prominently started with The Ancient Dragons, which then ensued to continue through association with The Commodities.

# History

## The Ancient Era

Almost nothing was known about Dragons, but civilizations across The Outerverse still brought the concept of these creatures to their miss-driven religions. They were right in idea, but not in the premise. Within a desolate realm, a tranquil species arose from an entity known as Anguis. He was the first being to be present within the realm and remained there, never leaving his domain. Through cell division, entities with the same symbol on their chests came to be, functioning as pseudoreplicas of himself. These beings never truly stayed within the realm, as their creation was far too powerful for the barriers to handle. As a result of this, the Chaos Magic that derived from them and their realm spread through various places of The Outerverse. This commenced the numerous religions they were present in and infected The Commodities that existed there. The elements that The Commodities bestowed created a newer but lesser species through cellular alteration, which came to be known as The Modern Dragons. They possess the same elemental abilities that The Commodities possess, but never truly used them for equilibrium, yet for calamity. This was later on the cause of The Great War.

## The Modern Era

Once The Modern Dragons' danger came to be known within the Outerverse, the Commodities were sent out to extinguish them from causing more damage. Although the Commodities clearly won, The Modern Dragons were severely weakened by the Bloodborne Plague. Their weakened state forced them into sleep mode, which gave the Commodities enough time to seal them away with a spell similar to that of what happened to the Monsters in Undertale. Notably the only species that participated in the war were The Black Dragons and The Red Dragons, while The White Dragons knew what outcome the battle was going to have. They were far too intelligent and tranquil to make such a mistake. and so, they stayed away.

# The Ancient Dragons

## Information

The Ancient Dragons are a calm, but powerful species. They are reptilian-like and walked on four legs, but used two limbs located around their back for flight. Their colouration is dark in origin, yet never stayed in the same pigment. Each retained a scarlet pigment, but it is practically never visible due to it being tainted by other colours. Every Ancient Dragon possesses a form of lightning known as Scarlet Lightning, an extremely energized form of power capable of melting even the hardest materials. The lightning crystalizes upon touching cold, as opposed to Bloodborne which crystalizes when touching something warm. The Ancient Dragon retains a specialized form of Omniscience referred to as Nigh-Omniscience. This knowledge and understanding likely stems from their connection to Anguis, but have taken shape into something they can handle. Outside the failsafe barrier, their powers are moulded into what they exactly need to enter the realm, primarily the ability to control space-time. This is due to how heavily protected The Chaos Void is, as anything without or above space-time is not allowed to enter.

## Entities of Importance

The characters here serve an important role within the realm, with Anguis being the highest-ranked entity due to him being the first. The six other characters were the lineage for every SOUL Trait present within The Outerverse, being the first to possess them.

## Anguis

Anguis, being the entity previously created and chosen by Malum to conquer The Omniverse along with him, is the Omniscient ruler over The Void of Chaos. Due to his uncontrollable mind, Malum was incapable of confronting Anguis, resulting in him neglecting his creation to pursue Olethros instead. Anguis does not possess emotions or a motive, yet instead is constantly within a state similar to that of a coma. He can move, but his body would function like a puppet for his paramount state in fiction. He doesn't even possess a SOUL, which leads to a hypothesis that every Ancient Dragon has a SOUL because they can't necessarily be like him.

### Etana

Etana, being the personification of determination, is the gatekeeper of The Chaos Void. As the safety measure for the realm, Etana is the strongest dragon. She possesses the ability to manipulate the Spectre Flowers, a form of failsafe to the dimensional barrier in case something wants to enter the realm. She controls these flowers through the mind alone and can determine the motive of whatever entity attempts to breach the realm, which then allows her to determine it through changes in radio waves of the stigma.

### Vox

Vox, being the personification of bravery, is the messenger of The Void of Chaos. Watching over the realm from the ruins with his enhanced sight, Vox is present to scream in case the Failsafe Barrier has been tampered with. Although Etana functions as the inquisitor, Vox is the converter; being able to completely modify, alter, and fix any damage done to the Failsafe Barrier via Makeshift Link. Vox is the only one who possesses this form of magic, as anyone else without the true SOUL of bravery would fall into an endless loop of death.

### Nima

Nima, being the personification of Justice, is the executioner of The Chaos Void. As his title says, Nima justifies that is good and evil. If a fellow Ancient Dragon has fallen under malevolent control, or an intruder has somehow managed to break into the realm, he is present to destroy them at all cost. Being devoid of fear and only feeling an unrivalled sense of justice, Nima is the true Arbiter within The Metaverse. As a result of this, many believe he is stronger than all other Ancient Dragons. This is because he has never been seen, yet simply been heard of.

### Abel

Abel, being the personification of Kindness, is regarded as the Beta and the Alpha within The Chaos Void. She is weaker than all other Ancient Dragons to many extents, but the defining trait of herself is the paramount aura that she emits. Her task and only task is to expand her aura to a point where it reaches outside the Failsafe Barrier, practically inducing invulnerability and immortality to anyone within the Hyperversal Region. This is the reason why you become unharmed by practically anything, as it is to protect those incapable of handling certain environments. This induces Kindness into your SOUL, alongside slowing down time by just a fraction to allow you to register information easier without getting absolutely terrified of everything enormous size.

### Shinobu

Shinobu, being the personification of Patience, is a female Ancient Dragon that supposedly resides within the Coral Shrine. Or, within doesn't necessarily suit the position of this dragon, rather she exists directly under the shrine. When entering the shrine, one gains a sense of emotional longevity and forbearance, increasing what personal aspect an entity deems itself lacking. Although mostly residing under it, she does occasionally come out. Not in the shape of a dragon, but in the shape of a Human, with certain physical characteristics reminiscent to that of a Kumiho.

### Caw

Caw, being the personification of Integrity, is the largest known dragon in all of fiction. Although currently the size of a mountain, his ability to alter size is unparalleled in comparison to anyone else. His objective within the realm is currently unknown (Though functions as a tourist attraction at the moment), but it is believed that he is some form of second-hand man to Anguis; a protector and a proxy of sorts. Nothing ever threatens Anguis, but when the day comes, he'll be awake once more.

### Sisu

Sisu, being the personification of Perseverance, is a self-dependent, unrelenting force of nature that seemingly disappeared from the books themselves. Nothing is known about them, not their purpose or even their gender. It is believed, however, that Sisu is one of the few purpose-driven dragons that had managed to escape the realm, even though there's literally no trace, no sign, and no recollection of them existing. But they must've existed, otherwise the Seven Souls do not add up to the story itself.

# The Modern Dragons

## Information

The Modern Dragons are very unique in comparison to The Ancient Dragons, specifically in their setting and variety of functions. The Modern Dragons are one singular species but do have sub-categories accounting for classing. There is also something known as a variant, which is not put under a category for species, yet instead is something else completely on its own.

## Black Dragons

Within this sub-category of Modern Dragons, the Black Dragons are the most powerful. Since they are the species most related to the Ancient Dragons, they possess virtually every attribute that their ancestor had: from their rotated scales to their six limbs, the Black Dragons also possess a virtual rendition of the flames used by their antecedents. Though roughly similar in design, the flames possess a unique ailment that allows them to function like that of solid matter, cutting through flesh rather than burning it. As a result of this, the flames can also be used to initiate different shapes, allowing the Black Dragons to achieve greater knowledge.

## Red Dragons

Even though the Red Dragons are ranked second, they are less closely related to the Ancient Dragons. This is likely due to disruptive selection, which was possibly due to the incapacity to apprehend valued traits over inferior ones. The Red Dragons possess the ability to manipulate their genes, allowing them to hybridize with other dragons. Their aggression is so far-fetched that they simply do not possess a functional frontal lobe, which was the cause of their species' deceleration in evolving properly. Incapable of altering the body itself, the Red Dragons gained disproportionate appendages as well as nonfunctional vital organs.

## White Dragons

Ranked less than Red Dragons due to their stronger connection with The Commodities, the White Dragons are highly intelligent. Unlike every other Dragon, who speaks through telepathy, the White Dragons possess a wide range of vocabulary sounds and speech comprehension. They are highly strategic in any form of activity or subject, and possess a larger variety of abilities. As a way of gaining heritage over elements, they all possess the fundamental ability to manipulate atoms, thus allowing them to manipulate dark energy, dark matter, and ordinary matter. They are superior to that of Red Dragons but are ranked as such due to underlying reasons within the genetic spectrum.

## Variants

Variants, by simple definition, are physically different from any dragon. They also possess dissimilar abilities, which range from variation to variation.

### Wyvern

Wyverns are puissant, yet diverse in population. They possess only four limbs: two hind legs and two wings used similarly to forelegs while not airborne. Their main ability is to transfer thermal energy from one material system to another system, generating heat to any degree that they'd want. This can then vary from a small explosion similar to a blockbuster bomb, utilising atomic fusion and fission, to an energy output similar to a Hypernova. A few Sub-categories come with this, such as a small amount of authority over radiation and the institute of black holes.

### Asian Dragon

Although known formerly as Asian Dragons, they are called as such due to their eastern background. These dragons do not associate with any planetary background (Eastern is simply a term used to signify what direction within a verse they are usually found), and do not need oxygen to survive. Their bodies are elongated and support large amounts of fur to keep them warm within the cold expanse. Their size is not known to a full extent, but knowing that they strictly live in space rather than on a planet, it is believed that their size stretches anywhere from an asteroid to a large planet. The diet that they consume contributes to their massive size. knowing that they'd need a large amount of nutrients and proteins to stay alive, they most definitely feed on planetary structures, which contain tryptophan among other things. Since nothing alive can reach any interstellar size, Asian Dragons most likely possess some form of size manipulation.

### Feydragon

Feydragons are the only dragons that are genetically magnified to a pre-eminent species, rather than being related to every Modern Dragon in a wide spectrum. They aren't necessarily a variant either, but are still put in said category due to some features that value a specific species: The White Dragons. They have no free will, functioning like a hive mind when another Feydragon is near. The only exception is when they're not under control, which puts their bodies in a state in which they perish, only to be recreated once new control is applied. Their bodies are almost completely made out of dust grains (which are gases released from an energy source, this being from a White Dragon), lacking cells except for neurons and glial cells, likely there to give control to White Dragons. Abilities are unknown, but likely similar to their masters.

### Amphiptere

This variation is very similar to the Wyrms, but is far different in actuality. First of all, they possess actual functioning wings, located at the middle of their elongated body. The wings are extremely large and support various protrusions that extend into a circular form, seemingly unnatural by normal standards of flying animals. Secondly, these circular formations begin with large holes that release water vapour, forming large clouds that escape from the protrusions. And lastly, their innate ability to control lightning then allows them to release the said energy, pumping the lightning in a circular motion so that it pushes their body through the enormous clouds to accelerate. Although they can technically manipulate lightning to different extents, they mostly perform this to be able to fly at a speed of up to 199,000 mph. They are relatively passive.

### Basilisk

This unique variation possesses eight legs, with no limbs used for airborne traversing. Their entire bodies are covered with hard layering, which is made possible due to a sticky substance that attaches itself to any solid material during burrowing. This substance is achieved solely due to their sweat, containing polymers similarly strong as an epoxy adhesive. These creatures do not possess any element but likely rely on brute force achieved by a groundbreaking weight of 100 tons, amplified by 20 when solid material is applied.

### Drake

Drakes are, nonetheless, the least Dragon-like variation simply due to their lizard-like appearance. They have no wings and only rely on ground traversing, with speeds capable of reaching 100km/h+. They are the smallest variation, being anywhere from the size of a Komodo Dragon to a Rhinoceros in terms of height and length. Their main ability is to spit a highly acidic and poisonous substance from their mouth, which has a protective layering similar to that of plastic. The acid is strong enough to melt titanium within 4.5 seconds, which usually spoils their meal before they can even dig in. So instead of shooting it directly onto the body of their prey, they spit it at the ground so that it disables the target.

### Wyrm

With the body of a snake, but features of a lizard, Wyrms can be quite confusing to look at. Although they share traits similar to various animals we know of, they still share DNA with Dragons. They are mostly related to the Drakes, but must've at some point in their evolution, departed to no longer use legs. A notable, yet strange feature is two small wings that are relatively near the neck. These do not function at all and have simply evolved into colourized impressions to attract potential mates. They specialize in coiling around their prey, but resolve into using venom if the said prey is resilient. The venom possesses a murine LD ⁵⁰ value of 0.028 mg/kg SC, which is enough to kill over 100 humans.

## Entities of Importance

The characters here served an important role in the war between Modern Dragons and The Commodities, being ranked by how sufficient they were during that event.

## Hydra

Hydra was an exemplary dragon during the war, serving as their sworn leader throughout that time. He was the combination of every singular dragon present in the modern era, possessing a humongous size followed by multiple heads that filled up his extensive torso. He is deemed the most powerful modern dragon in history, as his power was unconquered only till he fell ill like all else and sealed away into the pit of darkness, never to be seen again.

### Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl was a god-like, galaxy-leveling dragon, created by a Commodity in an attempt to replicate the dragons themselves. This failed miserably, as he transcended beyond their control, and became a half-god half-dragon. He's considered the God of Wind and Stars, despite literally being a half-breed. Most of the time, he's depicted similar to a Wyrm, though has feathers, unlike the variant.

### Tiamat

Tiamat is no less similar to Hydra, though her domain and reign are far less great. Although considered the goddess of saltwater, in reality, she is no divine being. She is simply a multi-headed dragon, though with far greater power than any other dragon seen within the variant section. Possessing control over every element, her favourite and most powerful is the usage of water. She used this during the war, flooding her enemies in an unwavering ocean.

### Fáfnir

Fáfnir was an asexual, non-vocal dragon with an identical productive stage comparable to an Amazon Molly. They fought against a Commodity known as Yara, who was considered the goddess of insects and oceans. After being beaten, its remains were sent down into the cursed pit along with any other dragon, singularly developing a need for vengeance that continues to contort its now broken body.

### Python

Python was yet another dragon created by a Commodity, but for a different purpose altogether. Their creation was made so that it would not naturally side with the dragons or the deities, but instead to fight anything within its sight. Killing as many dragons and Commodities as it could until it was eventually defeated, its skeleton rests within an AU known as Statictale. Its creator is unknown, though likely a malevolent god as a result of its blind purpose.

### Tianlong

Tianlong was an Asian dragon whose size surpassed any other modern dragon, said to have reached the length of many light years. He functioned as a form of intimidation display, alarming the gods with a horrifying experience that the dragons were coming. Interestingly, due to his immense length, the Commodities couldn't seal him away. He now floats in space, together with the rest of his species.

### Scylla

Scylla was a female, multi-bodied dragon whose domain primarily was in the sea. Her objective was to suck in any Commodities that dared to get too close to the ocean, using her other half known as Charybdis to finish the job. As a result of killing them via swallowing, Charybdis was naturally immune to matter manipulation, rendering the sealing magic useless against both Scylla and her body-sharing partner. She is said to exist within the ocean of Paratale, though this is unknown.

### Apep

Apep has been depicted as a snake-like half-breed between god and dragon, being the embodiment of darkness and disorder. What made him special was the fact that he was far more connected to the Ancient Dragons due to the slight authority over disorder, causing havoc across the Outerverse as a result of it being more or less passive. He was never sealed, as the magic was simply overcome by the attempts themselves, leaving him behind as a result of that. His location is unknown.

## Trivia

* Dragons are the most powerful species within The Metaverse, likely due to their vast history.
* The reason why The Ancient Dragons have such a power gap when inside and outside The Chaos Void is that they need certain aspects to enter, primarily the ability to sink in through Space-Time manipulation. Without this, they'd be considered a threat to the realm.