The village chief watched in silence as the young man's body halted after the final push. His eyes narrowed, studying every detail of the mystery unfolding before him. Several theories crossed his mind about what could be happening, yet none of them included the possibility that something foreign was aiding this boy.
Little did Onyx know, the dragon-head gem he had swallowed earlier now rested near his heart, pulsing gently. When the daily quest was completed, it released a faint black glow. A new message appeared before the weakened young man.
[Daily Quest Successfully Completed]
[You Have Received Evolution Reward: Vocal Cord Repair]
Sharp pain struck before he even understood the words. His throat burned as if molten fire had been poured inside him, forcing him to collapse face-first onto the ground. The village chief rushed forward at once.
"Onyx! Onyx! What is happening?" His claws shone with a soft green light, wrapping around the young man like a glove. When the spell failed to produce the expected result, the elder's face grew pale.
"How is this possible… your body is perfectly intact, stronger than ever, so where is this pain coming from?" He called upon ancient magic capable of healing nearly any wound, as long as it was not severed nerves or deep natural illness. Yet the scan revealed nothing. No injury, no rupture, no visible cause for the dragon thrashing on the ground, his eyes red with tears as if he could not breathe.
"Dear spirit of the dragon ancestor, protect your son. Shield him from this tragedy. Let his body recover and let your embrace reach him." He dropped to his knees, pleading to the heavens for help from the one revered as the ancestor and father of all dragons.
The air thickened at once, filling the room with an aura so dense it felt like something could be tasted on the tongue, as if a presence had descended. Yet the gem inside Onyx reacted, vibrating with sudden force and driving the aura back as if rejecting it entirely.
In that moment, several strained, muffled sounds escaped Onyx's mouth, making the elder's eyes widen in shock. In all his years watching over this young dragon, he had never heard him utter a single word. He had examined him himself and knew the truth: the boy's vocal cords had never fully developed at birth. He should not have been able to form even the simplest sound. What was happening today?
"E-elder…"
The first word slipped from Onyx's lips, rough and uneven, as if a beast was attempting to speak the dragon tongue for the very first time.
To both of them it felt like a miracle. One had spent his entire life yearning to speak, and the other had spent just as long dreaming of hearing his adopted son say even a single word.
[Your vocal cords have been repaired successfully. Avoid speaking too much for the next few days.]
[You will receive your next quest at midnight.]
"Blessing… a blessing from the ancestral dragon…" The elder's tears spilled freely. He could not believe what he was hearing or seeing. Only one thought burned fiercely in his mind as he reached toward the young man. I must protect him and his secret, no matter the cost. If the great families learn that a dragon has been blessed by the ancestor… God forbid what fate awaits Onyx. They will drag him to the coldest mines and work him to death for the rest of his miserable life.
His old, shriveled dragon arms wrapped around the young dragon, patting his back and wings, though his eyes narrowed with suspicion and surprise.
"Child, sit down. Let me inspect your body." He guided Onyx to the ground, and the boy obeyed, still moving his tongue awkwardly, unfamiliar with the strange freedom of producing sound.
"Marvelous… outstanding… reality-breaking. What miracle drug have you taken, Onyx?" The elder's claws traced over hardened scales and thickened muscle, feeling strength at least ten times greater than the day before. No logical explanation could justify such a transformation. Yet instead of greed or envy, the elder's face brightened with pure joy, a radiance he hadn't shown even in his youthful years.
A heavy pat sounded from Onyx's back.
"Excellent! Excellent! The dragon ancestor has blessed you, child. Even if you lack a divine flame, your body alone could protect you now with raw strength. Hahaha! Kneel and thank the ancestor. He answered my prayers!"
He pushed Onyx's head toward the floor, fully believing that divine mercy had responded to his pleas. Onyx didn't argue. The elder's words carried weight, and the gem he swallowed did resemble a dragon's head. Perhaps it truly was connected to the ancestor. That was the belief forming in his mind.
"Yes, Elder." His voice was still rough and broken, difficult to understand, but it was progress, far better than a lifetime of silence.
After bowing nine times, he rose to his feet, feeling his body lighter than ever. Every movement felt supported by surging strength, like his own muscles were guiding and lifting him.
"But what has gotten into you, child, doing so many push-ups as if you had lost your mind…" The elder shook his head. Before Onyx could respond, letting out strange, uneven sounds while trying to find the right ones, the elder patted his shoulder.
"No matter, child. Don't push yourself. You need to rest now. I will tell Artherum to give you time off from work. If you need anything, you know where to find me. As for me… I need to calm my old heart. Oooow… and my back hurts too. Today was too much for me. Rest well. Until next time."
His steps faded as he left the hut, leaving Onyx sitting in an awkward silence. He wanted to explain the real reason he had trained so desperately, but perhaps it was better if he did not. He feared others might misunderstand and call him mad.
He sat down, hunger gnawing at him. From the small furnace, he pulled out a large bone with meat he had saved from a previous day. His sharp teeth bit down, crushing the bone in a single snap, and he froze for a moment. It wasn't just his muscles. Even his bite strength had increased. After finishing his meal, he still felt ravenous, yet sleepiness overwhelmed him. Fatigue finally claimed him, and he drifted off.
Ding!
A sharp sound jolted him awake. Onyx groaned softly, irritation flaring, ready to confront whoever had disturbed him. But instead of another dragon, he faced the glowing system screen.
[Your second quest begins: Stay in the air for 22 hours straight]
[Your challenge begins now]
[Time Remaining: 22h 0m]