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The ship creaked low as its prow cut through the gray fog. Morning light failed to pierce the veil; it was as though the sky itself had been swallowed whole by a shroud of ash. Andy stood on the deck, hands curled loosely around the hilt of the Draconic Oathblade strapped to his side. He could feel it humming faintly, the four elemental auras within quivering as if in warning.
A low whisper brushed his vision—only his vision.
[Warning: Corruption Density Detected]
[Location → Former Dragon Clan Territory]
[Corruption Level: 47%]
[Effect: Aura suppression. Stamina drain increases by 12% per hour exposure.]
[Recommendation: Activate Dragon Senses & maintain bonded wards for suppression.]
The glowing glyphs vanished into the air before anyone else could notice. He inhaled slowly, steadying his chest, forcing a calm expression onto his face. Only he could see it now—only him.
Nia approached, cloak drawn tighter, sapphire eyes scanning the horizon. "Andy… the air feels heavy. Like it's trying to choke the life out of me." Her staff Lumina glowed faintly, a ward of light instinctively spreading.
Aurelia leaned lazily against the railing, golden hair catching what little light remained. Her tone was playful, but her eyes were sharp. "Heh, heavy? More like disgusting. Feels like the sea itself wants to spit this land back out. No wonder the stories call this place cursed."
Andy's lips twitched at their words, but inside, he compared it with the numbers dancing in his mind. Forty-seven percent. That was just the coast. If the density climbed higher inland…
He murmured quietly, activating his senses. The dragon core within him stirred, eyes sharpening, hearing stretching beyond mortal reach.
[Dragon Senses Active]
[Corruption Density Fluctuation → 49% → 52%]
His pupils narrowed, veins of light running briefly across his arms before fading. To the women, it looked like he was simply bracing himself, but in his head he saw the corruption bar creeping upward, alive like a predator waiting for him to slip.
He exhaled, forcing the vision down. "Stay close to me once we land. The air isn't just heavy—it's poisoned. Your wards will help, but don't push yourselves."
Nia nodded solemnly, eyes trusting. She didn't ask how he knew; she simply accepted. Aurelia smirked, stepping closer until her shoulder brushed his. "Tch. Acting like you're the only shield we've got. Just don't forget, Andy—if you stumble, I'll be the one carrying you."
Her words dripped with teasing, but underneath was sincerity. Andy caught her gaze, a flicker of warmth pushing through the fog. Then Nia slipped her arm through his other side, resting against him without hesitation. For a moment, the three of them stood together on that cursed deck, their bond weaving tighter despite the corruption pressing in from all directions.
Above them, the mist shifted, parting just enough to reveal a glimpse of the shore—twisted trees blackened by decay, roots clawing up like bones, and a coastline where sand was stained crimson as if it remembered blood spilled ages ago.
Andy's grip on his blade tightened. He didn't need the system's whisper to know: this was where their next trial began.
[System Update: Corruption Zone Entered]
[Suppression Protocol → Active]
[Constellation Progress Monitoring Initiated]
He blinked, and the text faded. He said nothing. Only his heartbeat echoed, heavy as the waves slamming against the ship's hull.
The gangplank creaked as it was lowered, but Andy did not move yet. His gaze stayed on the horizon, where the land bled shadows into the air. Then—
A faint chime rang inside his mind. A sound that only he heard. Clear, crystalline, yet heavy with meaning.
[System Notification Detected]
The letters shimmered before his vision, unseen by Nia or Aurelia. Only him.
[Warning: Corruption Density Exceeds Safe Threshold]
[Scanning…]
[Result → Landmass Saturation: 73% Corrupted]
[Detected Hostile Entities → Tier Classification Pending]
Andy's breath left him slowly. So the system had awakened fully here. His suspicion was right—the corruption wasn't just a blight; it was organized, alive.
Another chime.
[Constellation System Active]
[Current Constellation → Orion]
[Bond Progress Update → Nia ⭐ 22% | Aurelia ⭐ 20%]
[Reward Unlocked → Shared Inventory (Tier I)]
Andy blinked once, suppressing a smile as the full description unfurled in glowing runes across his sight.
> [Shared Inventory – Tier I]
Capacity: Unlimited (weightless).
Durability Lock: Items retain condition indefinitely.
Access Rights: Bonded partners (Nia & Aurelia) may summon/store with permission.
Soul-Tag: Only bond-linked signatures can withdraw.
Combat Sync: Weapon recall possible mid-battle with auto-notification.
His hands flexed faintly on the railing. Finally. It's no longer half-functional. He could still remember the frustration when Shared Inventory worked at barely fifty percent during the Ashens arc—items phasing out, aura leaking, sometimes refusing to appear when needed. But now, the system had fully opened its gates.
The staff of Lumina pulsed gently at Nia's side, as though recognizing something invisible. She tilted her head, brows knitting. "Andy? Did you feel that shift? The staff… it just resonated."
Andy turned toward her, offering his most natural calm smile. "It's fine. It means we're ready for what's ahead." He didn't elaborate—not yet. Nia no longer shared his system feed, and though she would notice the effects soon enough, this new burden was his to bear alone.
Aurelia's golden eyes flicked between the two of them, arms crossed under her chest. "Tch, don't leave me out of the loop. Both of your faces just shifted like you've seen ghosts." She stepped closer, hair shimmering even in the shadowed light. "If something's stirring, Andy, you'd better share it—or I'll squeeze it out of you." Her grin was playful, but her gaze was sharp.
He chuckled softly. "You'll see soon." Inside, though, his heart tightened. Because the system pulsed again, quieter this time, almost like a whisper from the stars:
[Sync Complete → Shared Inventory Functional. Use freely, Dragon-Bearer.]
Andy exhaled, straightening. Around him, the crew shifted nervously, waiting for his signal. But the real weight was invisible, coiled like starlight in his veins. He carried it alone.
The land ahead waited. And the system was awake.
The playful tension between Nia and Aurelia slowly gave way to silence as the three of them leaned on the ship's railing. The sea breeze shifted. It no longer carried the crisp salt and freedom of the open waters; instead, a faint metallic tang lingered in the air, sharp and cold.
Andy narrowed his eyes toward the horizon. "Do you feel that?"
Nia's sapphire gaze followed his. Her staff hummed faintly against her palm. "Yes… the mana density is changing." She tightened her hold on the silver crystal shaft. "It feels… wrong. Like a wound that hasn't healed."
Aurelia's playful smirk faded, replaced by a curious seriousness. She brushed her golden hair back, her voice quieter. "I feel it too. A heaviness—like the air itself is resisting us."
At that moment, one of the older crewmen approached, weathered face pale. He bowed slightly, speaking with a tremor. "My lord… my ladies… we're nearing the Northern Shoals. Beyond that lies the old land… the one the stories whisper about. They say it was once the nesting ground of the dragon tribes."
Andy tilted his head, attention sharp. "And now?"
The man swallowed, glancing nervously to the horizon. "Now it's cursed. Ever since the war, the land has been… corrupted. Flora twisted. Beasts unnatural. Villages—gone. They say shadow-born creatures walk freely, carrying the taint of something darker than death."
The words weighed heavy on the crew. Murmurs spread, sailors crossing themselves with charms, villagers clutching their children close.
Then it happened—
The sea itself seemed to exhale. From the far-off horizon, a black shimmer rose, faint at first, like heat waves. But as Andy, Nia, and Aurelia stared, the shimmer thickened into a haze of shadowed smoke, laced with sparks of crimson light. It clung low across the horizon like a storm refusing to move.
Andy's system chimed silently in his vision:
> [Warning: Corruption Density Detected – Tier I Threat Level]
[Estimated Origin: Dragon Corrupter Influence]
Only he could see it. His hand curled tightly around the railing, jaw clenched. Dragon Corrupters… it begins here.
Beside him, Nia's expression turned grave. "Andy, the aura is growing thicker the closer we sail. That land…" She shook her head. "It's bleeding darkness."
Aurelia leaned forward, lips parting slightly, her voice low and tinged with something between fear and excitement. "So this is it—the stage of our next story." She glanced sidelong at Andy, a spark returning to her golden eyes. "I hope you're ready, hero."
Andy exhaled slowly, letting the sea wind cut through the pressure in his chest. His aura pulsed faintly, the Dragon-Phoenix energy coiled and restrained beneath his skin. For now, he didn't need to show them how easily he could burn through such shadows. Not yet.
But deep inside, he knew. This was the threshold. Beyond it, their bond would be tested again. And somewhere in that horizon of black smoke and poisoned skies—three enemies awaited.
The corrupted land of the dragons. The true beginning of the Dragon Corrupters arc.
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