The group remained frozen in shock at what they had just witnessed—a savage battle between two immense creatures. They couldn't decide what was more surprising: the brutal combat or seeing an entire limb regenerate thanks to Drayk's incredible self-healing ability. His power was on a level none of them had ever seen before, except for Orzoth, who had lived among dragons for a long time.
Fully recovered, Drayk stood up with a sigh and looked at the group, flashing a relaxed smile.
"Wow, that was intense," he said with a chuckle, clearly still exhilarated from the fight.
The group slowly snapped out of their stupor. Varian cautiously stepped forward, concern in her eyes.
"Are you sure you're okay? Can we keep going?" she asked seriously.
"Of course!" Drayk replied immediately, pounding his chest with exaggerated confidence. "You think a little fight like that is enough to stop me?" The carefree grin on his face didn't match the bloody scene they had just witnessed.
Kaelon let out a relieved sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "You really freaked me out there, man. Regrowing a limb isn't exactly something you see every day."
Drayk laughed lightly, running a hand through his hair in a nonchalant manner.
"Well, living dangerously is part of life now, isn't it?"
Orzoth, with his usual serious expression, nodded slowly.
"It's good to see you mastering the unique abilities of our race so early, but don't forget that this draws a lot of attention. We need to be careful."
Drayk took a deep breath, his smile gradually fading, replaced by a newfound seriousness.
"Yes, I know. But I'm not backing down now. The Nexum Runes are waiting for us, and we don't have time to waste."
He looked at the group, his eyes gleaming with the determination they all knew so well.
"So, what are we waiting for? Let's finish this."
The group continued advancing through the dark tunnel. The air still carried a heavy, suffocating presence, but it gradually lightened as they moved further from the battle site. Drayk, however, seemed unsettled, his expression lost in deep thought.
"You alright, Drayk?" Varian asked, noticing his unease.
Drayk blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Ah… yeah, I'm fine. It's just… something feels off."
"Something off?" Kaelon tilted his head, curious. "Like what?"
Drayk sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I was able to absorb that draconic energy, and I even regrew my arm, but… I didn't absorb the minotaur's stats. I only got the Original Form ability. It's like something blocked my skill."
Orzoth, who had been walking in silence beside them, finally spoke. "Perhaps there is a limit to what you can absorb for now. Greed isn't limitless. Every power or skill you absorb consumes life energy. And remember, you activated an extremely powerful form at that moment."
Drayk pondered. That made sense. "So you're saying I need to increase my life energy in order to absorb stronger abilities?"
"Exactly," Orzoth confirmed. "The stronger you become, the easier it will be to take in powerful skills. For now, your body rejected a full absorption of that creature's energy to protect you."
"Makes sense," Drayk nodded, though he still felt a bit frustrated. "But at least I gained something incredibly useful in return."
Kaelon grinned and patted Drayk's back. "See? No need to be frustrated. You literally activated your Original Form—the aura I've always sensed around you finally materialized! You need to appreciate these wins more."
Drayk let out a small smile and took a deep breath, deciding not to let it distract him from his mission. "You're right, Kaelon. Let's keep moving. We still have a lot to do."
Varian smiled subtly, satisfied to see the group's spirits lifting again, while Orzoth remained focused on their surroundings.
The group cautiously advanced through the tunnel until they finally came across something different. A stone hatch lay ahead, partially covered in moss and layers of accumulated dirt. Kaelon stepped forward, carefully brushing away the vegetation that concealed the structure.
"What is this? A trapdoor?" Kaelon murmured, inspecting the newly revealed structure.
"It looks like some kind of magical seal," Orzoth replied, moving closer to examine it. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the symbol engraved on the surface. "This magic… it's a powerful seal. Once broken, whoever placed it will certainly notice."
Drayk furrowed his brow, quickly understanding the situation.
"You're saying that if we remove this, our stealthy entrance is over?"
Orzoth nodded slightly, maintaining his serious expression.
Drayk crossed his arms, thinking of an alternative. Before he could decide on the next step, his vision blurred, and suddenly, his mind was pulled from his body.
Drayk awakened, slowly blinking as he adjusted to the familiar void surrounding him. It was the infinite space he had seen before. Nexum stood before him, watching him calmly.
"Nexum…? How did I end up here again?" Drayk asked, surprised.
"I brought you here, young dragon. The energy of the runes is close enough now," she responded gently. "We need to talk."
"About what?"
Nexum approached slowly, extending her hand until it lightly touched Drayk's forehead. Instantly, a powerful energy surged through his entire body. He felt something different—like his power was being readjusted, controlled, even limited.
"What… what are you doing to me?" he asked, struggling to understand what was happening.
"Your power is immense, but still unstable. I am reallocating your energy so that you can wield it with greater control. This will allow you to absorb abilities more safely in the future."
Drayk felt an odd sense of relief upon hearing that. It was as if something inside him was finally finding balance.
"Thank you, but now I have another problem. Do you know of any way to break the magical seal we found?" he asked urgently.
However, before Nexum could answer, the world around him darkened, and within seconds, he was back in his body.
Drayk gasped, taking a deep breath as he returned to reality, finding the group staring at him with curious expressions.
"Drayk? You disappeared for a moment!" Varian asked, worried.
Drayk quickly pulled himself together, flashing a confident smile.
"I'm fine. In fact, I think I know what to do now."
Drayk looked directly at Orzoth, his determined gaze reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"Orzoth, break the seal. But be ready—things are about to get a lot more serious."
The sage nodded silently, closing his eyes as he focused his magic. A powerful aura began to flow around him, causing ripples in the air as he channeled energy to unravel the magical seal. A faint glow radiated from the stone, resisting the spell that clashed against it in small but powerful bursts of energy.
After a few tense moments, a sharp crack echoed, and the seal finally shattered into fragments of light that slowly faded into the air.
Kaelon quickly stepped forward, examining the newly opened passage.
"The path is clear, but… we have company." He discreetly pointed toward the guards patrolling near the Great Tree.
Orzoth wasted no time, quietly chanting an incantation in the Zar'keth language.
"Vek'zul thorin, norai'drak…" he whispered, casting a veil of magic over the group, rendering them invisible.
"Stay silent," the sage cautioned. "They cannot see us, but they can hear us perfectly."
Drayk took the lead, his heart pounding as they approached the massive tree at the center of the royal garden. The Nexum Runes were closer than ever. He could feel the tension rising with every step, knowing they were on the verge of something monumental.
"Move quickly but carefully. The runes are waiting for us," Drayk whispered, stepping decisively toward the Sacred Tree.