Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-556

The Lizardmen tribes born in Nyzzet's dungeon were often very rudimentary and savage, although these beings had the potential to develop greater intellect and civilization, due to their monster nature, this potential was often never showed.

Of course, this changed a few hundred years ago when the first Elder Dragon to have been born in Nyzzet's dungeon, Goghesdum appeared and by using the inherited intelligence and knowledge of its previous life as a mage and scholar, he led the Lizardmen tribes into a new future.

It was certainly hard at first, as the Lizardmen were born and raised like monsters, awakening their intelligence was too hard, and the first generations were only domesticated by Goghesdum like tamed monsters which he slowly taught how to be more 'human' while also expanding their strength and minds through his blessings.

An Elder Dragon is a being of such strength that they can grant blessings to the ones that consume their blood or flesh, and Goghesdum did this so those that consumed his flesh could develop better.

It was only in the fourth generation of Lizardmen that they finally awakened the inner intelligence of their minds and also sentience. They were able to learn languages more easily, to store knowledge more easily, and to dedicate themselves to more complicated work such as crafting and even alchemy and blacksmithing.

At the fifth generation, there were more and more intelligent Lizardmen being born, and as they inherited the blessings of Goghesdum to their offspring, they would develop their intelligence and minds furthermore…

It took him more than one hundred years, but Goghesdum had finally reached what he was aiming for. The Thunder Lizardmen, that had inherited his dragon bloodline and blessings through consuming his flesh many generations ago finally reached a level of intelligence and sentience that could rival humans and many other demi-human races.

Even when Lizardmen were considered to be purely monsters as they were not the children of any god, but ancient monsters that existed even before Genesis was split into realms, resilient monsters that always worked in large packs, were ruthless but also took care of each other, ensuring their race survival even after the destruction of their world.

Goghesdum certainly had a fascination for this species of monsters, as he had investigated about them a bit in his previous life and even more now in his second life as a Dragon.

At last, Goghesdum taught them politics, how to craft complex items, and even magic technology to an extent. Although their numbers were small due to their high intelligence and sentience making them less fertile, they were prospering as a civilization.

Goghesdum taught them how to build large buildings and houses, various methods of hunting, how to capture and create cattle, and many other things.

Many of such Lizardmen were born as geniuses and talented beings, advancing on their own civilization even more than Goghesdum had expected.

After a few more generations, their tribe had prospered and became a small city, with many other cities across the dungeon, which were being protected and nourished by the other Elder Dragons that Goghesdum taught and raised.

Now there were four cities of Lizardmen, their numbers were a small per city, but their intelligence could be said to be on par to humans… or perhaps, even better.

Their features slightly changed as they became more sapience, the Lizardmen of Nyzzet's dungeon did not even resemble those that the people in the outside world were accustomed to.

Their lizard-like heads changed, becoming more human-like, but covered slightly in slim scales, they were able to stand straight like humans and the fingers in their hands developed so they could use tools with more ease.

Goghesdum's effort paid off at the end, as he had finished the creation of a new and superior Lizardmen race that could be classified as a demi-human in all of its glory, the High Lizardmen.

And so, it has been many years since the birth of the first High Lizardmen, and the people in these cities inside the dungeon were prospering as they did their daily tasks and lives, while making sure to worship and offer their faith to the Elder Dragon that had raised them since early on in their stages of evolution, when they were once simple monsters with barely any intelligence to talk about.

It was yet another peaceful day for the High Thunder Lizardmen Priest of the church of Goghesdum, Yerze Hazass.

She was a young High Lizardmen girl on her nineteen years of age, finally coming to age just recently, she was given the position of a High Priest by Goghesdum himself, who saw great potential on her charisma and words that attracted the masses to the church.

She had a petite body and seemed younger than she was, her hips were quite wide, giving her a contrast between her innocent appearance and her already developed womanly beauty. Her eyes were golden-colored, and her body was covered in slim, purple-colored scales, with a rather long tail atop her round butt and long black nails at her hands and feet.

High Lizardmen, differently than conventional Lizardmen, looked more humanlike, as their heads were not those of lizards and looked human in appearance aside from their skin being covered in slim and delicate scales.

Yerze was born in a small family of crafters, but since very young that she was always attracted to the church and to helping people through it. After a fortuitous encounter, she met Goghesdum himself, who saw great potential in her talents and was given a high position in the church as a Priest, and now, after a few years and after having her deeds recognized by Goghesdum, she was given the title of High Priest, leading the church as the youngest High Priest to have ever appeared in the city of the High Thunder Lizardmen.

Unlike some other civilizations, in the city of the High Thunder Lizardmen, the church was an especially important place that kept the faith of the people and also governed most politics.

Being crowned as the High Priest was something similar to becoming a Princess, while Goghesdum was the King, in a way.

It's been two years since she was 'crowned' as the High Priest, as she had just woke, taken a bath, and then went to the church, where she met with a group of orphan kids that had been brought by the believers.

The little kids included not only High Lizardmen but conventional Lizardmen as well, which were often discriminated against.

However, Yerze did not see Lizardmen as an inferior race, but as children that needed to be taught well how to behave, as their nature was more savage… however, after many years of generations, even conventional Lizardmen had acquired a large amount of intelligence and sapience, and were just as intelligent as most of the normal High Lizardmen, but needed to be guided through a path that could let them showcase such intelligence instead of giving in to their monstrous nature.

Different than High Lizardmen, conventional Lizardmen had the intimidating heads of lizards, and some of their subspecies had even those of crocodiles or dinosaurs.

They were feared as monsters by the High Lizardmen society and thrown into the streets at an early age. The truth about this was that even High Lizardmen still had chances, although small, of giving birth to Lizardmen.

Yerze was given the task of taking care of these children, no matter what their origins were.

"Very well then, my children, it might be a bit abrupt to all of you here… but please, rest at ease, the last thing I desire is to harm you. By the words of our god Goghesdum, you will be given a new opportunity outside of the streets" said Yerze with a gentle smile, her aura released a bright atmosphere that drawn the attention of the young kids.

However, an intimidating, dinosaur headed Lizardman child seemed to not trust her.

"You're lying! All of the High Lizardmen want to kill us! Just because we are different! Just because I have the head of my ancestors! I cannot… I can't trust you!" said the little kid, his face was ugly and intimidating, but his voice was gentle and fearful, he was but a young child, an innocent soul mistreated because of its appearance and lineage.

After the words of the boy, many of the other Lizardmen children followed his stance as they moved to his side.

"So I got another group that it is quite stubborn… Well, there is no use in discussing things, it would only make you more fearful. Why don't I show my goodwill through actions?" said Yerze as she opened her Item Box and took out a large table with her herculean strength.

"A-A table?" asked a Lizardmen kid.

"Indeed! A table! But a table will not do much alone… right?" said Yerze with a cute smile, as she opened her Item Box again and began to set many plates over the table one after another, with recently prepared food. Roasted meat carefully seasoned, vegetables and fresh fruits, rice-like seeds, and many other delicacies were put one after another, even candies, gelatin, and cream.

"Sigh… it would be a pity if you didn't accompany me in my lunch… there is a lot that I don't think I could be able to eat…" said Yerze teasingly… was she really the High Priest?

Many of the Lizardmen kids glanced at her with baffled expressions… how could the famous High Priest have such a cocky and teasing personality?

They had lived through many hardships and many people had tried to trick them into trusting them by giving them food, so even this trick was not effective against them…

But their empty bellies and the delicious smell of the meat… the enticing and colorful vegetables and fruits… and the drinks and juices waiting to satiate the thirst of their throats were there.

However, unlike any other times, there were no tricks nor conditions, she was just waiting there, beginning to eat a piece of grilled steak seasoned with a sweet barbeque sauce.

"So will you come to accompany me?" she said while biting a piece of meat.

"I… I…" said the dinosaur-headed Lizardmen boy.

"I'm hungry!" said another, rushing towards the table.

"Onee-chan, forgive our rudeness!"

"Please, can I have some fruit?"

"Onee-chan, won't you ask us for things afterward, right?"

"The only thing I would ask you all is to behave well, accept three meals a day, clean clothes, two baths a day, and a room for each of you," said Yerze with a gentle demeanor.

The dinosaur headed lizardman boy kneeled in hunger in the ground… his stubbornness wasn't resisting the charm of Yerze and the food anymore.

"But Onee-chan, are those even conditions?"

"Perhaps she is really good?"

"I don't know but all of this is delicious! It is not poisoned!"

"I've never tasted such a delicious piece of meat!"

"So?" asked Yerze, glancing at the dinosaur headed boy.

"F-Fine…" said the boy, moving to the table and eating a large sandwich with his giant jaws, devouring it whole.

Warm tears began to flow from his little dinosaur eyes as he contained himself from the delicious flavors dancing on his tongue.

"D-Delicioush…" he muttered.

Yerze caressed the boy's head with her delicate hands, afterward kissing it on its forehead.

"Don't worry my child, you're in good hands now" she said.

"O-Onee-chan…" muttered the boy, who had never felt the affection such as the one that Yerze was giving to him. It was as if she was always her big sister… somehow, her ability to convince others and to soften their hearts was what made Goghesdum chose her as a High Priest. Despite her playful and cocky personality, she was in fact an incredible woman, and her motherly instincts always made those in necessity feel a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

As Yerze brought more food for the starving children, she felt tremors coming from outside the city.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The kids became frightened as they asked Yerze what was happening.

"Calm down, my children, stay below the table, I shall go see what it is," said Yerze, moving towards the window.

Glancing through a window from within the large, white-colored building that was the church, she glanced at giant Dragons, Wyverns, Leviathans, and Snakes of over fifty meters battling against an army of smaller demi-humans led by a Fairy…

"Just... what is that?"