I Received System to Become Dragonborn

The grand doors to the Elf Palace throne room swung open with a low creak, revealing King Fairon and his cohort.

They moved with a natural grace that only Forest Elves seemed to possess, their emerald-green robes adorned with intricate leaf-like patterns glimmering under the enchanted light of the room's golden crystals lights.

King Fairon, a tall figure with a crown of entwined branches and silver hair flowing like a cascade of moonlight, led the group.

His calm green eyes swept over the room as he strode in. The faint sound of his boots barely audible on the polished floor.

The gathered council rose in acknowledgment. Aurdis, Aerchon, and Saeldir stepped forward with measured steps, offering formal bows. Behind them, the five advisors followed suit.

"Greetings, Fairon," King Gulben said, his deep voice carrying warmth despite the moment. "It is a pleasure to see you here, though I wish the circumstances were less dire."

King Fairon inclined his head in return, and speak with smooth but firm voice. "The pleasure is mine, Gulben. Though indeed, the weight of recent events darkens this hall."

After exchanging greetings with King Gulben, King Fairon turned his attention to Erend and Eccar, who stood silently to the side. His gaze lingered on them, a flicker of unease crossing his calm expression.

Erend offered a small, disarming smile, his stance relaxed but his eyes giving away his otherworldly nature.

Beside him, Eccar stood arm crossed, his sharp gaze meeting the scrutinizing stares of the Forest Elf cohort with unyielding defiance.

"They are not Elves," King Fairon remarked after a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. His voice, though calm, carried a note of curiosity mixed with suspicion.

His cohort, six Forest Elves clad in green armor, exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing as they examined the two strangers.

Eccar's expression hardened further under their scrutiny. "Is there something on your mind, Your Majesty?" he asked.

King Fairon's gaze didn't waver. "Only that it is rare to see non-Elves here in the palace, let alone standing in such esteemed company."

King Gulben stepped forward, his voice steady as he addressed the unspoken tension.

"King Fairon, allow me to introduce our trusted allies, Erend and Eccar. They have proven themselves to be invaluable to our kingdom." He paused, his eyes meeting King Fairon's. "They are the Dragonborn I mentioned in our previous correspondences."

At the mention of "Dragonborn," King Fairon's expression shifted, a mixture of intrigue and caution.

"So, it is true," he said, his voice now become softer but still tinged with doubt. "These are the Dragonborn of legend, the ones you spoke of?"

King Gulben nodded solemnly. "Yes. Their powers and bravery have been instrumental in defending the Elf Palace from threats that would have otherwise overwhelmed us, and this whole world. Like the Great Calamity at that time. They stand with us now in the face of an even greater danger." Discover hidden tales at empire

The murmurs among King Fairon's cohort grew louder, their unease palpable.

One of them, a younger Elf with striking green eyes, leaned closer to Fairon and whispered, "They may be powerful, but can we trust them? They are not of our kind."

King Fairon silenced the murmurs with a raised hand before turning his attention back to Erend and Eccar.

"Then you must forgive my initial reaction," he said, inclining his head slightly. "If you are truly the Dragonborn, your presence here is both a great surprise and a great relief."

Eccar relaxed slightly. "Just like you can see. We're no myth," he replied, and smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Erend chuckled softly, his tone lighter. "We're here to help, Your Majesty. That's all you need to know for now."

King Fairon studied them both for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. If King Gulben vouches for you, then I will trust his judgment. But I hope you will not mind if I reserve my own judgment until I have seen your capabilities for myself."

"Fair enough," Erend said.

King Gulben then stepped forward to redirect the conversation.

"Now that we are all gathered, let us proceed. There is a lot we need to discuss, and the threat we face grows stronger with every passing moment."

The Forest Elves took their places, though their wary glances at Erend and Eccar didn't go unnoticed.

For their part, the two Dragonborn remained composed and just decided to listen for now.

---

The portal shimmered and rippled like liquid blood before the cloaked man leaped through it.

His landing was unsteady and he stumbled forward while clutching the stump of his left arm, which ended abruptly at the elbow.

Blood dripped onto the cold metal floor, leaving a gruesome trail behind him.

A grimace twisted his youthful face as he reached up with his remaining hand, ripped off his cracked mask, and flung it to the ground with a furious motion.

The mask shattered further, fragments scattering across the floor.

"Damnit!" he spat through clenched teeth, his voice trembling with a mix of pain and anger.

His blue eyes that filled with both tears of agony and frustration scanned his surroundings.

The room was vast and cold, filled with the hum of machines churning endlessly, constructing the weapons and soldiers that would serve Laston's plan.

Steam hissed from vents along the walls, and the relentless clanging of machinery echoed through the factory. The air was thick with the acrid smell of oil and metal.

The man swayed slightly, the blood loss and adrenaline taking their toll.

One of the guards stationed near the room clad in black molten armor caught sight of him. The guard rushed to his side.

"Sir! You're hurt!" the guard exclaimed, reaching out to steady the man as he staggered.

The injured man waved him off weakly at first but then relented, leaning heavily on the guard as his strength faltered.

"Infirmary... now," he muttered hoarsely.

"Right away!" The guard adjusted his grip to better support the man and began guiding him through the corridors of the facility.

They passed row upon row of mechanical creations in various stages of assembly, some humanoid, others resembling monstrous beasts of war.

Sparks flew from welding arms, and the hum of energy cores powering the machines pulsed faintly.

As they reached the infirmary, a small, sterile room tucked away in a quieter section of the factory, medical personnel quickly sprang into action.

The man was laid onto a table, and a team of medics surrounded him, their movements swift and precise.

"We need to stop the bleeding first," one of them said, already preparing a cauterizing tool.

The man hissed in pain as the tool sealed his wound with a harsh sizzle. His breathing was ragged, but he didn't cry out, his jaw clenched tightly.

His gaze fixed on the ceiling. Thoughts of his failure consumed him, the encounter with Erend replaying over and over in his mind.

The power, the sheer overwhelming force of the beast...

As the medics worked, the door to the infirmary slid open, and a figure stepped inside. It was a woman in a sleek, black uniform with crimson accents—a high-ranking officer in Laston's forces.

"Tell me what happened," she demanded with cold voice.

The man turned his head slightly, his voice filled with bitter anger. "I encountered him. The Dragonborn that lord Laston told us about."

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms. "And you failed."

The man's jaw tightened. "He's not like anything we anticipated. He is strong and fast. He took my arm without breaking a sweat!"

The woman's gaze flicked to his bandaged stump, and her lips pressed into a thin line. "You've seen his strength firsthand. That makes you valuable. Rest and recover. We'll debrief when you're stable."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and exited the room, leaving the man alone with his thoughts and the unrelenting hum of the factory in the distance.

---

King Gulben concluded his explanation with a somber tone, detailing Laston, the traitor who had managed to fuse Magic with machinery to create terrifying creatures.

The revelation sent ripples of unease through King Fairon's cohort, their expressions a blend of concern but also skepticism.

Erend stepped forward. He described the battle with the cloaked man and the constructs that had attacked him.

Despite his words, Erend could see the skepticism in the sidelong glances exchanged among Fairon's advisors.

"I can see your doubt. But this is no exaggeration. If you need proof, look at the remains of what I fought," Erend said.

As if summoned by his words, a knock echoed through the chamber, drawing everyone's attention.

"Enter," King Gulben called.

The doors opened, revealing a group of Elf soldiers carrying the mangled remains of the metal birds Erend had destroyed earlier.

The faint smell of scorched metal wafted into the room, and the hum of residual Magic emanated faintly from the shattered constructs.

The soldiers set the remains down in the center of the room. Gasps rippled through Fairon's cohort as they stepped closer to inspect the wreckage.

---