Gabriel's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Wait, how did you know what I was looking for?"
Only silence met his question as the figure ignored him.
"You do know what I am speaking of, don't you? Are you perhaps… Deimos?"
At the mention of the name, the figure's movement halted—not in surprise at Gabriel's search for answers, but at the particular name he had spoken.
Slowly, he turned.
And in an instant, he was upon Gabriel, his hands wrapping around Gabriel's neck with terrifying force.
"How do you know that name?" His voice was low, controlled, but steeped in danger. "Who told you of him?"
Gabriel gasped, struggling against his grasp. "I knew it—you do know him!"
The figure tightened his grip, his gaze piercing, assessing. But after a moment, he released Gabriel, flinging him across the cave instead.
Gabriel's body slammed into the ground, the impact jarring, though his mind refused to focus on the pain. He dragged himself up, irritation flickering in his eyes.
"You said you are not my enemy, so why are you attacking me?"
The figure did not respond to that. Instead, his voice remained sharp, demanding, "Answer my question, human. How do you know of Deimos?"
Gabriel exhaled, his body weak but his mind sharp. "This is not my original body. I can't recall my true memories, nor the reason I was attacked. But I was told that Deimos has all the answers I seek."
The dragon, now in human form, observed Gabriel carefully. His body trembled faintly, the edges of his cloak flickering as if scales beneath the skin were struggling to hold their shape. His breathing was shallow, and though his voice remained steady, there was a weight to it—a weariness that betrayed his state.
He gave a slow, deliberate nod. "I see."
His voice had lost its hostility, but not its coldness. "You seek Deimos for answers. But knowledge comes at a price. Not all truths should be uncovered."
Gabriel steadied himself. "I have to find Deimos. I need to know the truth."
The figure regarded him for a long moment. His eyes narrowed, then—just for an instant—a faint flash crossed them. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, subtle enough to be mistaken for a trick of the light. Yet something in that flicker shifted his demeanor.
"Follow me," he commanded, turning to lead Gabriel through winding tunnels and cavernous chambers.
They arrived at a secluded, lonely chamber, dimly lit by a soft, ethereal glow emanating from the walls.
The dragon turned to face Gabriel, his eyes revealing a depth of wisdom and sorrow. His shoulders sagged, his form unstable, as though his strength was slipping away. "I can offer you something of great value," he said, his voice heavy with meaning. "But in return, I require a favor."
Gabriel's curiosity was piqued. "What do you want from me?"
The dragon extended his hand, and from the shadows emerged a small figure. It was a baby dragon, but in human form, appearing around ten years old.
The child's eyes, though youthful, held a depth of knowledge and sadness that mirrored the dragon's own.
"This is my child," the dragon said, his voice tinged with a rare tenderness. "I am dying, and my time is running out. I need you to take care of my child. Protect him, guide him, and in return, I will give you treasures of great power—treasures that will test the limits of what your body can handle."
Gabriel's eyes widened in shock. "You… you want me to protect your child?"
The dragon nodded slowly, his form flickering again, as if his body was struggling to remain whole. "Yes. My child's safety is paramount. Without the treasures I am giving you, you will never be able to meet him. Deimos holds the key to many secrets, but my child's protection is my final wish."
Gabriel looked at the young dragon, feeling a sense of responsibility and determination well up within him. "I will do it," he said firmly. "I will protect your child and ensure his safety."
The dragon's eyes softened, a flicker of hope lighting within them. "Thank you, human. Your journey will not be easy, but I believe you have the strength to succeed."
As Gabriel prepared to enter the chamber, the dragon spoke one last time. "Remember, the path ahead is fraught with danger. Trust in yourself and in the bond you will form with my child. Together, you may find the answers you seek and uncover the treasures that will aid you."
Gabriel stepped inside the chamber with the child in his arms. "Thank yo—" But when he turned around, he saw the dragon's disappearing figure.
To honor the dragon's wish, Gabriel bowed deeply as he saw the dragon's leaving form, never turning back.
The baby dragon had cuddled himself into Gabriel's arms, falling asleep. Gabriel looked at the innocent young boy and could not help but smile.
He wanted to pinch those soft cheeks but refrained from doing so. Instead, he placed the sleeping child on a soft cushion nearby and walked toward the middle of the chamber.
"Open."
The word echoed faintly. And though the dragon was already leaving, a small flicker crossed his eyes once more—so subtle it seemed accidental. Yet it was enough to seal his decision.
As soon as he uttered those words, the old wooden doors creaked open.
Inside the chamber, glowing orbs of all colors flooded Gabriel's vision, their light nearly blinding him. The pressure of each orb seemed to intensify as he walked deeper into the room.
Gabriel knew that these orbs were treasures that anyone would covet. He had to resist the temptation to take them all.
He remembered the dragon's words: to take only what his body could handle.
Gabriel began by sorting out the orbs, dismissing abilities, potions, skills, and weapons above S rank, as they consumed too much mana and were thus useless to him.
Without realizing it, he spent hours sorting through the orbs that were of no use to him.
Before him lay a pedestal, upon which several glowing orbs rested, each pulsating with a different aura. Each orb represented a weapon of immense power, and Gabriel's task was to choose the one that resonated with him the most.
He approached the pedestal, his gaze shifting from one orb to the next. The first orb glowed a fiery red, representing a sword imbued with the power of flames.
The next shimmered with a cool blue light, containing the essence of a water staff. A third orb crackled with electricity, housing the spirit of a thunderous hammer.
As Gabriel continued to examine each orb, his eyes were drawn to one at the edge of the pedestal.
Unlike the others, this orb emitted a soft, multicolored glow, shifting between shades of green, white, blue, and red. He reached out and touched it, and the orb responded with a warm, pulsing energy.
In his mind's eye, he saw the image of a bow and arrow, crafted from pure mana. The bow was sleek and elegant, and the arrow glowed with shifting elemental power.
Gabriel could sense the versatility of the weapon—it could transform into fire, wind, lightning, or ice with just a thought.
This was Gale's Arcane Bow, a weapon of boundless potential and adaptability. Gabriel felt a connection to it, as if the bow was calling out to him.
He knew that with this weapon, he could master the elements and become a force to be reckoned with.
With a determined nod, Gabriel made his choice. He lifted the orb from the pedestal, and the chamber seemed to brighten with his decision.
The other orbs faded into the background as the chosen one continued to glow in his hand.
Suddenly, the orb cracked, and the mana pulsating from it seeped through the cracks, dancing around Gabriel's hand and onto his body. The mana transformed into a ring on his left hand.
As Gabriel continued his examination, his eyes were drawn to a pair of orbs that radiated an intense, almost menacing energy.
These orbs pulsed in unison, their light flickering like flames. He reached out and touched one of the orbs, and a vision filled his mind.
He saw two sleek, elegant swords, their blades so sharp they seemed to cut through the very air. The swords were forged from an unknown material, giving them an otherworldly gleam.
As they moved, they left a trail of scorching heat, burning with an intensity that Gabriel could feel even through the vision.
These were no ordinary blades. The double swords were imbued with the power to inflict a burning sensation upon anything they sliced, leaving a trail of searing pain and destruction in their wake.
The swords' edges shimmered with a fiery aura, hinting at their devastating potential.
Gabriel picked this orb, not absorbing the mana into his body, instead placing it in his inventory.
A dim light caught his attention. The orb was very cracked and dim, unlike the other orbs that radiated a beautiful glow. This one seemed as if its magical force was running out.
Gabriel was not planning on taking anything else, but his curiosity got the better of him as he walked to the orb.
He placed his hand on the orb, expecting to see something, but nothing happened. Gabriel tried coating the orb with some of his mana, but it proved to be a grave mistake as the orb cracked even more.
The orb started seeping out blood. Gabriel tried to throw it away, but it was too late as he felt bloodlust directed towards him.
'Crack!' The orb exploded in Gabriel's hand, and it seemed to suck the energy from him as he felt nauseous and dizzy.
Gabriel's limp body fell to the ground as his vision became blurry. The last thing he saw was the orb fusing itself onto his body.
A figure stepped out from the shadows, appearing as if he had always been there, watching and waiting.
The figure wore a cloak as dark as night, blending seamlessly with the shadows that surrounded him. His eyes glowed with an eerie intensity, and a cold, calculating smile crept across his lips.
"Foolish boy," the figure muttered, his voice a chilling whisper that seemed to pierce the very air. "You have no idea what you've just unleashed."
He knelt beside Gabriel's unconscious form, his fingers brushing lightly against the blood-soaked ground.
The figure seemed to draw power from the chaos, his presence growing more menacing with each passing moment.
The orb continued to fuse with Gabriel's body, its power pulsing in a rhythm that seemed to resonate with the figure's quiet observation.
With a final, lingering glance at Gabriel, the figure stood and melted back into the shadows, leaving no trace of his presence.
Gabriel lay motionless on the ground, the orb's power coursing through him as he teetered on the brink of consciousness.