The blistering heat of the desert world beat down as Erend and Eccar moved relentlessly through this Level 5 dungeon and striking down every creature that crossed their path. The monsters here were fiercen and each one a dangerous test of their endurance and skill.
Yet, as scorpions fell beneath their claws and sandworms writhed to the ground, the two Dragonborn seed unstoppable, their power growing with every battle. They are already used to them at this point.
Ti passed in a blur of combat and the relentless waves of enemies pressing them to the edge of exhaustion. Even with their Dragon power turns out they can't keep doing this forever.
Finally, they reached a point where the air felt thick with the weight of all they had fought, and Erend raised his hand to signal a break. They stopped with breath ragged and they dusted with sand and dried monster ichor.
As they rested, Erend pulled up his status window, his gaze sharpening as he took in the numbers. Level 80.
He felt the impact of it. The strength and abilities honed through hours of constant combat. He had crossed a significant threshold and though they hadn't spoken about it, he guessed that Eccar was near the sa level.
But Erend kept his thoughts to himself, especially the quiet excitent he felt upon realizing he now had enough points to unlock another Dragon Transformation.
Once they felt sowhat recovered, they took to the sky, wings unfurling as they cut through the hot desert air and flying over the barren dunes. It was finally a relief, the ground a blur beneath them as they soared.
The wasteland seed endless until, like a mirage, the oasis like before appeared on the horizon. Vibrant green trees circled a pool of clear water, shimring with an inviting coolness.
The two Dragonborn descended, landing in the soft sand by the water's edge, breathing deeply as they took in the surprising beauty of this secluded place again.
For a mont, Erend was tempted to tell Eccar about his new power but he decided to wait.
They looked around the familiar oasis, the air cooler under the leafy shade. They'd been here before, and both found a strange comfort in its serenity amidst the desert's hostile expanse.
After a few monts, Sahura appeared, her silhouette almost blending with the oasis's lush surroundings. She wore a confident smile, her Egyptian features frad by dark, flowing hair that caught the sunlight, lending her an otherworldly aura.
As she approached, three stone chairs rose effortlessly from the sand in front of her. She gestured for them to sit and they took their seats.
"How are you two doing?" Sahura asked, her tone warm yet observant, her eyes drifting from Erend to Eccar.
"We're good," Erend replied with a small smile. "We managed to kill the Great Calamity."
"Barely," Eccar added with a dry chuckle. "Lucky we stopped here before we faced it, or we wouldn't have survived."
Erend nodded in agreent, his face reflecting the truth in Eccar's words. Sahura's gaze softened and for a brief mont concern flickered across her expression. Then she sighed, relieved.
"It's a good thing you two survived," she said. But she could tell sothing was weighing on their minds.
Erend cleared his throat.
"Sahura, there's sothing that's been bothering ," he said. "Do you know that the Great Calamity — the enemy we fought — is a Dragonborn?"
Eccar glanced at Sahura as well, clearly eager for answers. Sahura's brows raised in surprise, her mouth parting slightly as she absorbed his words.
"I don't know anything about the outside world besides what you've told ," she replied, genuinely taken aback. "Is that true?"
"It's very true," Eccar answered, leaning forward. "We were as shocked as you. That thing was a Dragonborn. And it didn't agree with us when we act as the protectors of realms but prefer himself as the conquerors." His voice hardened, the echo of the Great Calamity's words still ringing in his mind.
Sahura's expression darkened, her gaze growing sharp. She seed to hesitate, as if choosing her next words carefully. After a mont, she spoke in somber tone.
"Yes… it will tend to happen," she said softly, her gaze far away. "This... dark and greedy of purpose in a Dragonborn. It's more likely to happen than you might think."
Erend and Eccar exchanged glances, a shadow of doubt flickering in both their eyes.
"What do you an?" Erend asked, his voice edged with unease.
A dark feeling stirred within him as if so truth about the Dragonborn — and about himself — was waiting to reveal itself.
He'd always believed that being a Dragonborn ant strength and a kind of divine purpose. But now, the seeds of doubt were growing and he wondered if he'd been wrong all along.
Sahura watched him carefully.
"A Dragonborn, Erend, is like any other creature across worlds. So can be wise and selfless, but others... can be greedy and drawn to power," she explained, her gaze steady. "And power," she added quietly, "often corrupts."
"Even powerful beings like us?" Eccar asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.
Sahura nodded, her expression grave. "Especially those with the greatest power. For the most powerful, the allure of corruption can be even stronger."
A heavy silence settled between them. Both Erend and Eccar looked away, their thoughts racing.
Erend felt a strange unease twisting in his chest. mories of battles and the rage he felt through him ca to mind — the ferocious thrill, the anger that sotis threatened to consu him.
It was an emotion he could wield like a weapon, but now he wondered if it was also a dangerous weakness.
He glanced over at Eccar, catching a flicker of uncertainty also in his eyes. His friend was probably thinking the sa, realizing that even the Dragonborn were not immune to the darker parts of themselves.
They should have realized this sooner. Why don't he ever think that if they have so much power they will grow the sense of corruption of it?
Finally, Erend broke the silence. "Do you know if there are others out there like the Great Calamity? Other Dragonborn who have... gone dark?"
Sahura's gaze softened with understanding. "I don't believe there are many like him," she replied. "But even a single corrupted Dragonborn can bring devastation. You know that better than anyone now, after facing the Great Calamity."
Erend nodded slowly. "Yeah," he murmured. "They don't need to be many to cause chaos."
Both he and Eccar grew quiet, their doubts deepening. Erend could feel the weight of his own power, and with it, a creeping fear. The mory of that rage, of letting it guide him, ca back now with an unsettling clarity. He wondered if he could hold on to his purpose or if the anger would consu him one day.
Sahura watched them in silence, sensing their turmoil. Then, in a gentle voice, she broke the tension.
"I believe you two will not give in to that temptation."
Erend looked up, surprised by her certainty. "How can you be so sure?"
A small, reassuring smile played on Sahura's lips.
"Because," she said, "you have sothing you want to protect."
---
User Comments
0 comments from readers