Liam's eyes stung when he opened them. The sight of the golden pearl was still so clear in his mind he thought he was seeing it all over again.
Whatever the dragon had done, it was incredible.
He strained to turned his head to the side to get a view of the ancient beast. It was no longer standing but rather it sat upon its belly, one arm crossed over another that had it's palm flipped to the ceiling.
His gaze instantly fell upon the golden pearl that floated between the dragon's claws. It glowed with a golden light that made his heart skip a beat. For some inexplicable reason he felt that this small golden pearl was worth so much more than he thoughts.
"Finally awake little one" the dragon's voice pulled Liam out of his reverie.
With a groan, he sat up.
His body felt sore all over. He could see clearly that on the surface his wounds had healed but internally though…his ability was fighting against something else that felt unnatural, it was those clashes that left him feeling so…sick.
"My ability is having trouble healing me…what's that all about?" Liam wondered.
"My aura as well as the aura from the runes linger in your body still. They are what is preventing you ability from fully healing you"
Liam gasped and jumped from the dragon's voice before instantly being ravaged by pain that.
"Argh! Hell that surprised me" he winced.
"Young one…" the dragon called out to him. "Do you know what this is?"
The dragon directed towards the golden pearl that even now glowed with a golden light that felt somewhat divine.
Liam shook his head. "No I do not"
"This…is the essence that constitutes my entire being. It is my essence and it is the key that will help with your burden"
Liam's eyes widened, his pupils trembling. His mouth went dry as he tried to formulate a response however the dragon didn't let him.
"You will receive this essence and therefore you will inherit everything that I am." The dragon said.
"W-wait…" Liam's voice came out in a croak.
"My blood, my strength and my legacy. It will help you to break the limits of your mortal body and balance its talent to match that of your Soul Seed" the dragon went on to say.
"Wait…" Liam whispered.
"After this you will no longer be a mortal but one of dragon kind"
"I SAID WAIT GODDAMMIT!" Liam raised his voice and only then did the dragon pause his speech.
Liam felt a dull ache and flicker of warmth in his heart. His eyes moistened a little but he bit his lips to steel himself.
"W-why…why are you going to far just to help me? I was sure you wanted to kill me just a while ago so why are you suddenly going to such lengths for me?" Liam finally got the courage to ask.
The two looked at each other. A silence lingered in the den. Liam could almost hear his heart beating in his chest.
The dragon blinked once before it stretched its neck to look up.
"Indeed" the dragon finally said. "I asked myself that very question when I decided to do this. Then a bout of enlightenment came over me as I watched your every action since your arrival. You are shunned where you come from because of your weakness and I was banished to this realm because of my strength…
"And yet despite all of that" the dragon lowered its head. "We both managed to survive. We both fight to prove those who despise us wrong."
For the first time since he came here Liam felt like he was finally starting to understand this ancient being. He could feel the pain of betrayal his voice. See the weight of loneliness in his eyes. And feel his longing in his presence.
"And so I have decided to stake everything that I have on you, whose will rivals my own. My life, my pride, my revenge, my power. That is the price you must pay if you want to succeed. So come you who is to be my kin" Immortal Flame's voice carried with it a presence that made Liam's blood boil.
Liam stood to his feet despite the ache in his body. Despite the weakness in his knees and despite the pain in his head. His own will blazed, the spark of defiance that lay deep within his being exploded like a flashbang.
Within his Sea of Soul, part of the shell surrounding his Soul Seed broke off, bring him once a step further into the Shedding Stage.
Immortal Flame stretched his palm towards him and the golden pearl floated forward. Liam watched it smoothly cross the distance. Its motion almost fluid.
The golden pearl stopped just before his chest. He looked up at the dragon's eyes.
"Stay conscious for as long as you can" Immortal Flame said before the golden pearl shot into his chest. And the moment it did it…
Bang!
An explosion took place within him.