I Received System to Become Dragonborn

The creature rose with an unyielding determination after the attack. Its cold blue eyes locked onto Erend and Eccar as if sizing up every move they might make.

This time, they shared a look, each understanding the need to raise the stakes. Erend clenched his fists, the scales along his arms igniting with flickers of flame that soon grew into roaring embers. Eccar's hands crackled with Magic of the earth power. Aa faint tremor rippling through the sands as he summoned his control over the earth.

Without further hesitation, Erend launched himself forward. Fire dancing around his fists as he threw a blazing punch aimed squarely at the warrior's chest. The skeleton twisted, deflecting Erend's strike with its sword.

However, as it did that Eccar slammed his fists into the ground. Stone spears erupted from beneath the sands aiming for the skeletal warrior's back.

With uncanny reflexes as if having eyes behind his head, the warrior dodged between the spears, pivoting with eerie grace, but the barrage kept it on the defensive.

Erend took advantage, releasing a burst of fire from his mouth, a searing wave that forced the skeleton to sidestep.

It barely evaded, but the flames licked its armor, scorching its chest plate and leaving faint trails of smoke in the air.

Eccar wasn't finished. Raising his hand, he called upon the desert itself. The sand swirled and thickened, solidifying into an earthen prison around the skeleton warrior, the walls towering and closing in. But just as the earth walls began to close the skeleton's blade glowed with an ominous blue light, slicing through the prison's walls in one powerful swipe.

The walls crumbled, yet the momentary pause was all Erend needed.

He lunged, his claws trailing sparks as he activated his lightning power, the bolts arcing from his scales to his palm. He attacked, he aimed for the warrior's exposed shoulder and this time, the lightning surged through the ancient metal, crackling through its armor.

The skeleton staggered, its movements momentarily disrupted as the energy coursed through its frame.

But it didn't falter long. With surprising resilience, it charged at Erend and began to swing its sword.

Eccar leaped toward it to intercept, forming a massive stone shield in his hands, which absorbed the brunt of the blow.

The impact sent cracks splintering through the shield, and Eccar staggered under the force, but he held firm.

Erend seized the chance to unleash a torrent of flames, intensifying the fire with each burst until the desert air shimmered with heat.

The flames engulfed the warrior, casting the ancient armor in a red-hot glow. Just as it tried to break free, Eccar summoned a boulder from the ground then sending it hurtling into the warrior with bone-crushing force.

The impact knocked the creature back, and it fell to one knee, its armor now scorched and dented.

But it refused to stay dead. It rising once more.

Eccar summoned pillars of earth that wrapped around the warrior's legs, rooting it in place. Meanwhile, Erend gathered every ounce of fire and lightning he could muster, combining them into a single powerful strike.

He charged forward, his fists ablaze, and with a roar, he struck the warrior with all his might.

Lightning and fire surged through the skeleton's body, arcs of energy crackling as the heat melted the ancient metal, while the bolts fractured its bones.

The skeleton warrior's blue eyes flickered, dimming as its body began to disintegrate, leaving only fragments of bone and metal in the sands.

Erend and Eccar stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily, their scales flickering as they recovered.

"Guess that was one last challenge worth facing," Erend muttered, a half-smile breaking his exhaustion.

Eccar nodded with expression of relief and triumph. "Yeah, lets go back now."

Erend took a deep breath and focused on the connection with the System. Closing his eyes, he reached out mentally, feeling the familiar pulse that awaited his call and he issued the command. Within seconds a shimmering portal materialized before them swirling with white color.

Eccar nodded and his expression softening with relief. Then together they stepped through the portal.

As they emerged to the other side, they found themselves standing in their chamber within the Elf Palace again.

Though they had spent what felt like countless hours or maybe days fighting in the desolate desert and of the Dungeon World, here, time barely moved forward — perhaps two or three hours at most.

Erend took a deep breath, the familiar comforting scents of the palace replacing the harsh, arid smell of sand and battle. The room was quiet, peaceful, a stark contrast to the fierce combat they had just left behind.

Eccar stretched, his body visibly relaxing as the tension of the fight released.

"Feels good to be back," he murmured. "Never thought I'd be so grateful for a quiet room again. But our battle is worth it. I feel stronger again now."

Erend offered a tired but contented smile.

"Yeah. That was intense but we have gained more strength again. Glad we took it on, though."

Erend glanced at Eccar as they both exchanged a worried look.

"You think something might've happened while we were gone?" he asked.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Eccar replied with a half-smile.

They shared a quick nod and moved toward the door, their instincts urging them to check on the palace and its surroundings.

As they stepped outside, they immediately noticed a young Elf walking briskly in their direction. Erend recognized him, he is one of Saeldir's apprentice. The apprentice's eyes widened with surprise at seeing them, his relief palpable.

"My lords," he said, catching his breath. "You couldn't have come at a better time."

Erend and Eccar exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowing.

"Did something happen?" Eccar asked, his tone tense.

"Yes, my lord," the apprentice replied. "Master Saeldir sent me to find you immediately. A portal from another world just opened and three figures have come through it."

Erend's eyes widened, a surge of both alarm and curiosity flashing across his face.

"Show me where they are," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for delay.

Without another word, the apprentice turned, leading them swiftly down the palace corridors and toward the grounds.

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