KREGOR

Kregor is a a strength-based tank hero of the Draconis faction. Kregor uses Dragonquake Zones and brands to target enemies that have penetrated into the allied side of the battlefield. Accumulates points of Dedication to enhance allies in the allied battlefield.

As night fell, Erik and Lena cautiously peeked out from the shadows beneath the tower, trying to find the right moment to slip past the border of Dragon Isle.

"Kregor won't catch us... as long as we're careful," Erik whispered, his forehead glistening with sweat and excitement. Lena nodded, and they quietly moved into the shadows, attempting to blend into the night.

"What are you doing here?" Kregor's voice cut through the quiet like thunder. His imposing form and sharp eyes left the two young Draconis with nowhere to hide.

"Kregor, we just wanted to..." Erik stammered, trying to explain.

"I've warned you more than once. Rules are rules," Kregor interrupted coldly. "Without proper paperwork, no one leaves Dragon Isle. Or do you want to earn yourself a lashing?" Kregor's harsh tone made them tremble with fear.

Like prey that had barely escaped a hunter's trap, Erik and Lena hurried to their quarters, grumbling about Kregor's strictness.

"He's so obsessed with the rules. As long as he's here, no one's leaving this island!"

Erik nodded in agreement. "Why does he have to be so strict? Even the nobles aren't spared... There was an elder who suddenly had to leave, but Kregor stopped him."

"I remember that! The elder needed to take his subordinates on a mission, but he didn't have time to issue travel permits in advance, and Kregor stopped him at the border..."

"Yeah, the elder was furious! He accused Kregor of being too rigid and delaying the mission! The elder had the authority to issue permits... he just didn't have time! But that stubborn old man insisted on seeing official paperwork before letting anyone through!"

"His obsession with rules is terrifying! It's nothing but rules and codes day in and day out! Eventually, Dragon Isle will reach its breaking point!"

Still, the two could only vent their frustrations as the world beyond Dragon Isle they yearned for remained out of reach under Kregor's watch.

Rumor had it that Kregor was a relentless gatekeeper. He was strict and unwavering, leading the Dragon's Scale as the head of the border garrison and guarding the exit that connected Dragon Isle to the outside world.

For the reclusive Draconis faction, there were rarely any marine creatures foolish enough to invade Dragon Isle. Thus, the duty of the Dragon's Scale was more about preventing members of the faction from leaving on their own. There were many young Draconis like Erik and Lena, who wanted to sneak out of Dragon Isle. They knew very little about the outside world-only that the humans and the Draconis had been at odds since ancient times. The lack of any descriptions of this outside world only intensified the curiosity of these new generations.

But leaving Dragon Isle had never been easy. Except for elites sent by the elders on missions to Hathor, common dragons rarely obtained exit permits.

Under Kregor's tenure, the border of Dragon Isle had become unbearably strict, and many Draconis were frustrated by his deliberate interference. He never missed a loophole, and even the travels of the elders were subject to his strict review. The others could only marvel at his tireless dedication, even as they suffered under his unyielding commitment to rules.

After all, for those who wanted to sneak out, Kregor was an impassable barrier. Under his watch, the border defenses of Dragon Isle were impenetrable.

"Lena! Elder Hildwin proposed at the Elders Meeting to support the humans against the Hypogeans." Erik rushed back to their quarters, panting. Lena instantly woke up. "We might have a chance to go out and see!"

As the decision spread throughout Dragon Isle, the border became busier. Besides the dispatched elites, many common dragons also got permits to leave Dragon Isle. Though there were still restrictions, traveling to Hathor was no longer out of reach.

Erik and Lena easily obtained their exit permits under the guise of external communication. With all their paperwork in order, they no longer feared Kregor's imposing presence.

"Now we can go without having to deal with your rules! Kregor, all you ever do is lecture us about regulations and get on people's nerves..."

"Your paperwork's in order. You're free to go," Kregor replied, unaffected by Erik's sarcastic tone. He gestured for them to move along, indicating the line behind them.

"Hmph, he's probably seething inside! Now that all those people he held back can leave, it proves his strict rules were pointless!" Lena's grumbling quickly shifted to excitement for the world ahead as they crossed the border, and the stubborn old man behind them felt like a distant memory.

When Erik and Lena returned to Dragon Isle, months had passed. Their experiences on Hathor had shown them a life completely different from Dragon Isle, and they were eager to return with their newfound knowledge. But just thinking about having to face Kregor again made them frown.

"Lena, do you think that old gatekeeper will try to set us up?"

"Who knows? He might accuse us of siding with the humans and refuse to let us back in..."

The two reached the border, still a short distance from Dragon Isle. Their mockery drew the attention of patrolling Dragon's Scale members, who stopped to chat with them.

"You two really seem to have it out for Kregor..." remarked one of the Dragon's Scale members, scratching his head. Erik, remembering the trouble Kregor had caused, launched into a rant about the strict gatekeeper. Despite Kregor's dedication to his role, the constant captures had worn on them.

After listening to Erik and Lena's complaints, a colleague who had known Kregor for a long time sighed. "We know many people are unhappy with Kregor, but he's just very dedicated to his work. Besides, he wasn't always this way..."

"Really? Did he start taking the wrong medicine?" Erik's anger remained.

"You've got Kregor all wrong. He used to be a very interesting person, far from the stern figure he is now!"

Lena was surprised. "I can't imagine... What happened to make him like this?"

"It's quite a story... When he was younger, he loved his wine. One time, while on duty, he got drunk and fell asleep on the tower... Because of that, two young dragons managed to steal the totem and sneak across the border..."

"Hah! Did they get into trouble when he caught them?"

"No, one of the young dragons had an accident and died outside..."

The guards moved forward slowly, but the noise around them seemed to turn into silence in Erik and Lena's ears.

"So... don't hold a grudge against him. He's given more than you realize."

As Erik and Lena reached the front of the line, Kregor was still as stern as ever.

"Don't dawdle. There are others waiting behind you."

After passing the inspection, Erik whispered a "thank you" to Kregor and quickly left.

Lena followed, glancing back at the gatekeeper who had devoted his life to guarding the border. She seemed to recognize why he was so rigid about rules and principles-perhaps it was his way of making up for the young dragon's tragic end.

Kregor wasn't trying to make life hard for those who wanted to leave. His commitment to guarding the border was about ensuring the safety of the dragons. The weight of his responsibility meant he could never let his guard down, and although he faced criticism, his conviction never wavered.

"Lena, I've given it a lot of thought. Even though he caught us repeatedly, he never actually punished us... Maybe he's just worried we might end up like that young dragon if we sneak out..."

"Yeah, he was just doing his job. With a border guardian as strict as him on Dragon Isle... it certainly makes everyone feel safer."

The two stepped onto Dragon Isle, feeling a newfound sense of peace.

"That's right. With him here, Dragon Isle is the safest place in the world."