The morning sun rose weakly over the misty valley, its light breaking through the aftermath of the Ancient Dragon's Trial. The once blazing battlefield was now silent — ash, molten stone, and fragments of scales lay scattered. The smell of burned air still clung to their clothes.
Lior stood in the middle of it all, chest heaving, hands trembling slightly. His entire body ached, but his heart surged with pride.They had done it — the team had slain an ancient dragon.
Terra, standing firm despite his cracked earthen armor, let out a low grunt. "That beast was no ordinary dragon," he muttered, dust falling off his stone skin.Sylph hovered beside him, her once-luminous wings flickering weakly. "No kidding… I thought its last flame would turn me into smoke."Ignis laughed hoarsely, fire still simmering in his hair. "At least it didn't. You'd look terrible as a puff of air.""Shut up, flame head," Sylph snapped, but the edge in her voice was softened by exhaustion.
Aqua — calm as ever — gently released a healing mist, wrapping around Lior and his companions. "You've done well, Lior," she said softly. "The dragon's fire was ancient — it holds secrets older than this land. Its power now flows through you."
As the golden embers of the dragon's body faded, a sphere of flame floated toward Lior. It pulsed with warmth and energy."The Dragon's Fire…" Lior whispered. "It's choosing me."
Beside it lay fragments of shimmering crimson scales. He picked one up — it pulsed faintly in his palm, heavy with power.A message appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly:
[Dragon Essence Acquired: Fire Scale – Skill Unlocked: Infernal Resistance & Dragon Breath (Low Tier)]
His lips curved into a smile. "Looks like we've got more to learn."
But there was no time to celebrate. The toll of the battle had pushed them to their limits."Return to the void," Lior said quietly. "You've done enough."
Terra placed a massive hand on Lior's shoulder, his deep voice echoing. "Rest well, summoner." Then, one by one, they faded into streaks of light — Terra, Ignis, Aqua, and Sylph — returning to the void realm, their resting place beyond mortal sight.
Silence fell again.
Lior sheathed his blade, wincing at the ache in his side. "Guess it's time to go home."
That evening, he stumbled back to his small wooden cabin on the hill outside the town. Every step burned, but the moment he stepped inside, a wave of comfort filled him. He set his bag down and collapsed onto his bed.
After a few hours of rest, Lior finally sat up, patched his wounds, and lit a small fire."Nothing beats a hot meal after almost dying," he said with a chuckle.
He cooked what little ingredients he had — roasted rabbit and herbs — and ate quietly. The memories of the dragon's roar still echoed in his mind.
When the moon rose, curiosity gnawed at him. He had to know what the dragon's gift had truly done.
"Let's test it," he whispered.
He grabbed the dragon scale, stepped out into the nearby forest, and placed it before him. Its red glow reflected in his determined eyes.
"Come forth — Terra!"
The ground trembled, and Terra emerged from a burst of brown light. "You called, Lior?"
"Yeah," Lior said, cracking his knuckles. "I want you to hit me."
Terra blinked. "You… what?"
"As hard as you can."
"Are you serious?" the elemental asked, frowning.
"Dead serious. Let's test this."
Terra shrugged, then raised a massive stone fist. "Don't regret it later."
The blow landed — hard enough to shatter trees behind Lior. But when the dust cleared… Lior stood tall. Barely scratched.
His eyes widened. "It worked…"
Flames flickered across his arms as he activated the new ability. His breath glowed red — and a blast of fire erupted from his mouth, scorching the clearing.
[Skill Activated: Dragon's Breath – Fire Aura +100%]
He grinned like a madman. "This is insane."
After a few hours of training, Lior returned home, utterly drained but satisfied. As he cooked again, he noticed his pantry almost empty.
"Well… there goes my last bit of food," he muttered. "Guess I'll need some quests tomorrow."
He leaned back and smiled tiredly. "The life of a summoner, huh?"