The group was gathered in the hidden village in the mountains, debating the best way to enter the royal capital. Orzoth, the wise one, explained that he had never visited the city, so opening a portal directly to it was impossible. However, he knew of a small village on the outskirts that could serve as a starting point.
The discussion dragged on without reaching a satisfying conclusion. In the end, they decided to rest and revisit the plan the next day. But while the others slept, Drayk remained restless.
In the mansion that served as his refuge, he wandered through the corridors until he reached the library. He needed answers—something that could give him an advantage in infiltrating the capital. His eyes scanned the books, flipping through ancient tomes and scrolls, searching for any mention of the city or methods of infiltration. Unknown magic, historical accounts... any clue could be useful.
In another room of the mansion, Varian examined the documents retrieved from Malek's chamber. As she sifted through the pages, she found something unexpected: Malek himself had been investigating the Order of the Eclipse. In a diary, he revealed that the organization had two faces. The first, public, was represented by the four lords appointed by the king. But the true Order of the Eclipse operated in the shadows, manipulating the monarch and major events across the continent. They were responsible for the downfall of the dragons and for placing the current king on the throne.
"So Malek wanted to become one of them…" — Varian murmured, closing the book.
"But it seems the Order didn't appreciate his curiosity."
Back in the library, Drayk skimmed through an ancient tome detailing the deeds of dragons throughout history. Most of the stories didn't interest him… until one account caught his attention.
It spoke of one of his ancestors, summoned by the king of the time to face a monstrous creature that had taken over the underground tunnels beneath the capital. The dragon accepted the challenge and descended into the city's depths.
Days later, a tremor shook the land. The sound of chains breaking, followed by a roar. The dragon emerged from the tunnels, wounded, through a passage that led directly to the royal garden. Before succumbing to his injuries, he revealed that he had failed to kill the creature but had managed to seal it away. In his honor, the king buried his body right there. Some time later, a majestic tree grew over the grave—the legendary Sacred Tree.
Drayk closed the book, deep in thought.
"A secret tunnel… This might be exactly what I need."
If that passage still existed, it could be his best chance to enter the capital unnoticed. His eyes gleamed with determination.
The next day, the group gathered again. Drayk was excited about his discovery and was the first to speak.
"I saw in Malek's memories… The runes were buried in a beautiful place, beneath a great tree. If my intuition is right, it must be the Sacred Tree in the royal garden!" — He recounted the tale he had read, detailing the underground tunnels beneath the capital.
The group listened attentively. Kaelon was the first to question:
"And the sealed creature? If it's still there, it could interfere. What if the tunnels have collapsed?"
"Or worse," Varian added.
"The seal might already be broken. The Order could have taken control of that creature."
The group pondered. The tale didn't specify when the event had taken place, making everything uncertain. If the monster was still there, awakening it could be a disaster. But Drayk was determined.
"We have no choice. These tunnels are the only way to enter without drawing attention. We can't afford a war inside the capital."
After further discussion and considering all the risks, the decision was made. They would enter through the tunnels.
"Prepare yourselves," Drayk ordered.
"We leave now."
Orzoth focused, opening a portal that took them directly to the village near the capital. The first step of the plan was in motion.
The village was modest but bustling. Merchants came and went, and soldiers patrolled the streets. Nothing indicated the presence of a secret underground tunnel, but Drayk knew appearances could be deceiving.
"Let's split up," Orzoth suggested.
"The less attention we draw, the better."
Kaelon went to explore the alleys and less-traveled streets, listening for rumors. Varian, ever stealthy, entered the local tavern to gather information. Orzoth preferred to analyze the older buildings, searching for any clue about an underground entrance. Drayk, meanwhile, walked through the village with sharp eyes, observing every detail.
Hours passed without any concrete leads until Kaelon returned with news.
"I heard an old man talking about the tunnels," he said, excited. — "He mentioned an ancient well, sealed off years ago, that no one dares to open."
Drayk exchanged glances with Orzoth and Varian. That could be the way in.
Without wasting time, the group headed to the indicated location. The well was in an abandoned area on the outskirts of the village. Covered in moss and stones, it was clear that no one had touched it for a long time.
Drayk approached, clearing away the debris. The stone lid bore worn but still recognizable markings: draconic runes.
"This is it," he murmured.
Orzoth touched the runes and muttered a spell. The seal glowed for a moment before dissolving. Slowly, the lid slid aside, revealing the darkness below.
"Last chance to back out," Drayk joked, glancing at the others.
"Not a chance," Kaelon replied with a grin.
"Then let's go," Drayk said, leaping into the well.
One by one, the others followed, plunging into the dark depths of the underground tunnels. The air was heavy and damp. The scent of ancient stone and earth filled their senses.
"If those tales were true..." — Varian whispered. — "Then something might be waiting for us down here."
Drayk smirked, feeling the adrenaline surge through his veins.
"Then let's find out."
Down below, the group surveyed the area. The ground seemed to have once been a dried-up riverbed. In the center, a spiral staircase descended even deeper. After a few minutes of exploration, they found what looked like an old mining tunnel. Most likely, while exploring the region, miners had discovered a water source and built the well to supply the village.
As they advanced, they began noticing worn-out runic inscriptions. This place had once been a rune extraction site. Fortunately for the group, the main tunnel was well-defined, while the secondary paths led to dead ends, preventing them from getting lost.
After a few more minutes, they spotted a rusted sign. It marked the boundary of the capital and warned that all resources found there were property of the king.
"We're heading in the right direction," Drayk murmured.
But something was wrong.
The energy around them was beginning to shift. The air grew heavier. A shiver ran down Orzoth's spine.
"I think the sealed monster is still here. The energy is getting denser… Stay alert."
Drayk narrowed his eyes, activating his enhanced vision. That's when he heard footsteps ahead.
"Shhh... Something is moving up ahead," he whispered.
The group drew their weapons and began moving stealthily. They advanced cautiously until their vision cleared: dozens of creatures were gathered around a massive beast, bound by magical chains that kept it unconscious.
"A minotaur..." — Drayk recognized the imposing figure. A creature similar to mythology, yet imbued with an ancient and powerful aura.
The beings surrounding it seemed to be feeding off the energy emanating from the imprisoned beast.
"Mana devourers," Orzoth whispered. — "They're parasites. If one of them touches us, our mana will be drained in seconds."
Drayk's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Then we won't get hit."
The first move came from Kaelon. Fast as lightning, he lunged at one of the smaller creatures, crushing it with a single punch wrapped in spiritual energy. The impact obliterated the creature into a black mist.
Varian darted through the shadows, her daggers glowing with a violet sheen. Each precise strike pierced the mana devourers, eliminating them before they could react.
Orzoth raised his hand, chanting an incantation. Shadowy spears materialized around him and, with a snap of his fingers, shot forward, impaling multiple enemies at once.
Drayk grinned. Then, he charged.
In an instant, his body shimmered with golden scales. With a single leap, he landed in the middle of the enemies, his roar echoing through the tunnel. His blade sliced through the air, dispersing the mana devourers as if they were smoke.
Little by little, the creatures were defeated. Just when everything seemed to be under control, they rose again.
"They won't go down that easily," Orzoth warned. — "They are magical beings formed from energy. There are only two ways to destroy them: a spell powerful enough to dissipate all the energy around us, or eliminating the source of that energy."
The group exchanged glances. Attacking the sealed beast could break the seal and lead to an even more dangerous battle. Kaelon questioned whether Orzoth had a spell powerful enough to drain all the energy from the area. The sage, still fending off enemies, simply shook his head.
That was when Drayk heard a voice in his mind.
[Notice: The energy in this area is mixed with draconic life force.]
He frowned. That wasn't very helpful. But before he could think further, another notification appeared.
[Notice: You have received a new quest.]
[Notice: You leveled up.]
[Level: 5]
{Str. 270 | Int. 220 | Dex. 320}
[Notice: Absorb all draconic life force in the area.]
[Reward: Skill (Original Form)]
Drayk's eyes widened. A new ability, possibly tied to his draconic form. But this one was different… It was the "Original Form."
"I need you to trust me!" — he exclaimed.
Before the others could react, he leaped toward the chains binding the beast and activated his power.
[Greed activated.]
[Draconic energy absorbed.]
[Notice: Your stats have doubled.]
{Str. 540 | Int. 440 | Dex. 640}
Power surged through his body like a storm.
[Notice: Quest completed. Skill "Original Form" acquired.]
Drayk's eyes glowed with an intense golden hue. Something was changing inside him. And the sealed beast... was beginning to react.
Upon absorbing the draconic energy, the chains binding the massive creature shattered. Its colossal body collapsed with a deafening crash, causing the walls to tremble. The impact wiped out all the creatures that had been feeding on it, scattering them like dust in the wind.
Orzoth reacted quickly, raising a magical barrier to shield Kaelon and Varian from the debris. Drayk, however, dodged the flying stones, his gaze fixed on the now-unshackled creature.
"We need to run!" — Orzoth shouted, opening a portal behind the group.
But Drayk stood his ground. His heart thundered like a storm inside his chest. He stepped forward, his eyes burning with determination.
"I didn't come this far just to turn back now."
[Notice: Original Form activated.]
The energy around him condensed into a devastating vortex, dense and almost tangible. His body began to change, expanding as deep crimson scales emerged, glowing like burning embers. Flames flickered between his fangs as his wings unfurled—majestic and formidable. When the dust settled, a dragon stood before the freed beast.
The minotaur raised its head, its eyes now ablaze with a golden glow. Its body pulsed with a sinister energy, and with a brutal gesture, it summoned a massive two-handed axe, inscribed with gleaming runes.
With an earth-shaking roar, the creature charged.
The tunnel was too narrow for both of them to fight freely. The minotaur swung its axe, but the movement was restricted by the surrounding walls. Drayk seized the opportunity and lunged without hesitation. His jaws clamped onto the creature's neck, piercing its steel-like flesh. The minotaur bellowed in pain, struggling to break free, but Drayk drove his claws into its chest, holding it in place.
The battle turned into a massacre.
The minotaur retaliated, its blows smashing into Drayk's side, fracturing some of his scales. But even wounded, Drayk didn't falter. Golden flames erupted from his mouth, scorching the beast's body.
Every wound Drayk inflicted seemed futile. The minotaur regenerated its flesh within seconds, its injuries closing as fast as they were made. This only fueled the fury of the primordial dragon.
"Enough of this!" — Drayk roared, his wings spreading to their fullest.
With a brutal move, he coiled his tail around the minotaur, locking it in place for a moment. The monster fought back, but that was when Drayk saw it—at the center of its chest, apulsing magical core.
"So this is where you hide your true power..."
With a final roar, Drayk focused all his strength and lunged with his claws. The strike tore through the beast's flesh, shattering bones and tissue until it reached the core. In an instant, the minotaur's body convulsed violently.
The golden light in its eyes vanished.
The monster let out one last, gasping breath before its body lost all strength and collapsed onto the ground. The tunnel fell into complete silence.
[Notice: Greed activated.]
Drayk's body began reverting to his human form. But something was wrong. He felt a void where his left arm should have been.
His body was covered in deep wounds, and pain radiated through every fiber of his being. Blood streamed from the spot where his arm had been torn away during the fight.
But then, a new notification appeared before his eyes.
[Notice: Self-healing ability absorbed.]
A searing heat surged through his body. His wounds began to close at an astonishing speed. Bones reformed, muscles rebuilt, and within seconds, his arm was restored as if it had never been lost.
[Notice: You leveled up!]
[Level 6]
[Notice: You leveled up!]
[Level 7]
{Str. 550 | Int. 450 | Dex. 650}
Drayk took a deep breath, feeling the newfound power coursing through him. The battle was over, but within him, a new force had awakened.