Elliot was wide awake inside his room. Too many things had happened and he was confused about what to do.
He was staring at his console, feeling the light of the breaking dawn from his window.
'You have 2 unclaimed rewards.'
'Claim?'
Elliot sat up after reading the notifications. He remembered the skill he delayed from Hope and the one after killing the Flame Dragon Emperor.
He was so lost that he didn't notice that the Flame Dragon Emperor's skill was also halted. Elliot wondered if this was because of a similar source of skill was delayed that the other draconian skill was delayed too.
"Claim Gain Companion Skill," he said.
'Gray Dragon Emperor Skill loading…'
'You have gained [ Dragon's Touch ].'
'Gain Flame Dragon Emperor Skill.'
'You have gained [ Test of the Flames ].'
[ Dragon's Touch
Cost: 2,500MP
! Dragon Stone required.
// The user will be able to strike a magical slash depending on the affinity of Dragon Stone the user possesses. ]
[ Test of Flames
Passive
// If the enemy has a Flame Affinity, the user shall gain +30% Strength and Defense, and +2 Attack Rate. ]
Elliot had a grin painted on his face. He now had an offensive magic skill. The other one was pretty specific but since Flame is the most abundant element, it would still make use for Elliot.
The only problem he had now was the Dragon Stone.
Checking his Inventory, he had realized that the dragon parts were already divided into parts.
The scales, fangs, horns, heartstrings, claws, and of course, the eyeballs, were already in different slots. Scrolling through it, there wasn't any Dragon Stone.
"Isabelle," Elliot whispered and ran outside the door.
No one was at the guild house except for Midnight and Sun that were cleaning.
"Good morning," Elliot greeted.
"Good morning," the siblings greeted back.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Midnight chuckled. "You looked confused the other day so I figured that you need some space."
Elliot gulped. He remembered what the Officer said the other night. Midnight would be the reason why their guild was going to be taken away by the Royal Family.
"I-I was…" Elliot trailed off, trying to make up any reason.
"Eh-lee-yot." Lance draped his arm around Elliot's neck. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Elliot responded. "Any quests for today?"
Lance shook his head. "Figured we could have a break just for a day. I forgot to tell you last night since you weren't around last night. Excuse us, Midnight, Sun."
Lance pulled Elliot down their usual table in the lounge.
"I bought some ingredients for Connor," Elliot said with a forced smile. "He said he was sick of my food. Where are they anyway?"
"Asleep," Lance said. "The three good men slept the moment I said we'll rest today. Lazy frogs."
"I'll go to Isabelle today," Elliot informed and stood. "I have business with her. You wanna come?"
"Yeah," Lance said. "Her shop is filled with rare gems and stones. The Royal Gem Collector doesn't have as many good gems as her."
"Okay," Elliot said and left with Lance.
When they got to Isabelle's shop, a familiar man was carrying a crate inside the store.
It was the man from last night.
"Y-You work here?" Elliot asked.
The man put down his crate and knit his eyebrows. He crossed his arms over his chest. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here for Isabelle," Elliot said. "Who are you?"
"Kian, where are my– oh." Isabelle walked over and smiled at Elliot and Lance. "What's up?"
"I'm here to ask about Dragon Stones?" Elliot said with a high tone that sounded like he was asking.
"Dragon Stones?" Isabelle pursed her lips. "That costs a Conquest-level quest."
"So, you have it?" Elliot asked. "Could you tell me what those are?"
"Dragon Stones are gems made from crystalized dragon blood," Isabelle explained. "The blood needs an aura that's known as a Dragon Force. These aura crystallizes the blood, forming the gem."
"Does the Dragon Force produced by dragons?" Elliot asked that made Isabelle roll her eyes.
"They're produced by goats that's why they're called Dragon Stones– of course, they're from the dragons!"
Elliot pouted. "Can a morphed dragon produce–"
Kian and Isabelle ran towards them. "A morphed dragon?!"
"Why am I here, papa?" Hope asked, eyes closing and opening in drowsiness.
Isabelle made Elliot drag Hope into the store. She said if he fails to do so, she won't be telling him anything more.
Desperate for answers, Elliot had no choice but to dash to Hope's room and bring him to the gem shop.
"Oh," Isabelle cooed. "You're so precious! Come on!"
She led Elliot's group towards a door beside the room she hid Ripple and Frost in. Elliot remembered a bitter memory, remembering the twins he accused of being enemies.
"It wasn't your fault," Lance said and smiled. "We'll find them soon."
Elliot nodded. "Okay."
"And, here!" Isabelle finally unlocked all the locks of the door. "Let's go inside."
She walked inside first, then Kian. Lance came next to make sure it was safe. Hope went in next and finally, it was Elliot's turn.
When he walked inside, he felt his body being pulled into several directions. The feeling reminded him of the time he went to the Forest of Gray Lake. Feeling dizzy, he shut his his eyes.
He opened his eyes and saw a vast field of flowers.
"Welcome to my Garden," Isabelle said. "I used Portal Magic to transport us here."
"And why are we here?" Lance asked.
Isabelle nodded at Kian. The man ran a couple of times away. He stretched his body and bounced a couple of times before breathing deeply.
His dark brown eyes shifted into a pair of dark gray ones. His skin turned to metal and his size enlarged.
In a matter of seconds, Kian transformed into a dragon.
'Beast detected.'
<< Metal Dragon Emperor >>
Level 99
Elliot was speechless. Another new feature had appeared. Kian had the symbol of The Creator's Greed.
But it was red.