After what seemed like an incredibly long time, Murky finally noticed that the fierce dragons were gradually disappearing from the battlefield.
"Is it finally going to be over?"
With each dragon vanishing, a deep sense of relief washed over Murky, easing the burden on his tired soul.
It felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, signaling the approaching end of the grueling struggle that had consumed him.
Clang! Shang! Crang!
Despite the ongoing clash of swords against dragon fangs, the resounding clash of shields deflecting the scorching dragon breath, and other echoing sounds in the air, Murky couldn't help but fixate on the remaining Bull horses.
"Could they still be in danger?"
Their presence lingered in his thoughts like a faint murmuring, tormenting him with the fear of not fully grasping the intricate art of Draugrskins War and the nagging uncertainty of being accepted by the world.
"It shall pass peacefully," Murky said, trying to assure himself.
Yet, intertwined with those anxieties, was an unmistakable eagerness, a burning anticipation that coursed through his veins, urging him onward and compelling him to embrace the current situation.
"Luckily, the journey to gather the spring water had proven to be worthwhile."
Murky added, while holding his chin with his finger.
"Even the surprising flatulence of the spring water made of Ancient Dragon had played a role."
He added as he finally, he felt calm.
Like a water without a single wave.
In this moment of satisfaction, a sudden sound pierced the air, capturing Murky's attention.
Ding!
[ The player StupidLove has a twenty-minute break to seek safety in the underground sanctuary called 'Rogar'. ]
[ Failure to comply will result in demotion to the lowest rank in the village. ]
Like a lightning strike, Murky's focus sharpened, his determination mixed with frustration.
"Huh?"
He gnawed at his lower lip, a sign of the pent-up anger surging within him.
"This annoying system," he muttered under his breath, his hands itching to throttle the system if it had a physical form.
Then, a wave of memories flooded his mind, evoking images from movies he had seen.
They depicted young Dragonskins awakening their dormant dragon genes and embarking on transformative journeys within the underground facility known as 'Rogar.'
This sanctuary catered to women in the tribe who had yet to awaken their dragon genes, as well as wives, infants, poultry dragons, and newly awakened Draugr warriors like Murky.
"Well, so I shall go then," Murky said.
In an instant, the symphony of battle erupted once more, its echoes reverberating through the air.
Swords clashed against teeth, shields repelled fiery dragon breath, and various combat sounds intertwined, creating a dissonant chorus that saturated the battlefield.
Clang! Clang! Booarrff!! Pishik!
These clashes resounded, accompanied by the pungent scents of sweat, blood, and other bodily fluids that hung in the air, creating a palpable atmosphere.
Amidst the chaos, Murky surveyed the scene, his gaze catching sight of the Bull horse and the enigmatic dragon warrior who had returned.
"Well, well, well, lad," the shameless Draugr warrior addressed Murky, his gaze piercing through the turmoil with unwavering directness.
Perched atop his mount, Murky noticed the warrior's colossal feet, resembling sturdy tree trunks that grounded him firmly to the earth.
It had eluded Murky's attention before, perhaps obscured by the now-present crimson stains of battle. But now, he saw the Draugr warrior standing tall and proud, untouched by the bloodshed that marked the dragons' demise.
"You've done remarkably well, young lad," the warrior's words flowed, carrying a sense of camaraderie that transcended the chaos surrounding them.
A mischievous sparkle danced in his eyes, accompanied by a click of his tongue, a wink from his right eye, and a liberating smile.
"But now, it's time for you to return to... you know what I mean, right?"
The warrior's words hung in the air, laden with significance, as he gestured with a knowing nod, indicating the path ahead.
"Fear not, for my loyal companion will carry you on her back, ensuring your safe arrival at the safe grounds, the 'Rogar'."
When Murky heard these words, he got really angry. He felt the anger rushing through his body, making him furious. But then, something surprising happened. His anger turned into shock, and he couldn't speak or understand what was happening.
The Draugr warrior, sensing Murky's mixed-up feelings, gave him a stern reminder.
He spoke with authority, making it clear that Murky shouldn't mess with his feelings.
"Remember," the warrior warned, making sure Murky understood. "Don't even think about making this lady or mine angry. Got it?"
Soon, the warrior got off his big, majestic bird-dragon-horse, and his heavy boots hit the ground hard, emphasizing his warning.
As the warrior got down, he gently patted his loyal horse, looking for reassurance in its unwavering loyalty. But to his surprise, the bird-dragon-horse snorted dismissively.
"Brrrrr…"
It sounded displeased on his riders decision.
This made the warrior furrow his brow and scratch his head, trying to understand why the horse was acting that way.
Meanwhile, Murky watched all this with confusion and curiosity.
Ding!
[ Name: Unknown
[ Level: 10.
[ Blood class: two.
[ Talent: Poultry juice
[ Status: Healthy. ]
He also tried to scratch his head, showing he was thinking and puzzled. But his heavy armor made it hard for him to move, and he felt trapped and unsure about what to do.
Even though Murky really disliked the warrior, he knew he owed him a favor. He felt obligated to say thank you, even though it was difficult for him.
The warrior leaned in closer, his old face almost touching Murky's, and whispered like it was a secret.
"We know it's not easy to gather so much spring water," the warrior said, his warm breath against Murky's cheek. "But don't worry, young lad. As a way to thank you, I'll personally train you."
Murky, feeling the pressure to be polite, closed his eyes and forced a smile, even though he didn't mean it.
He replied with a "thank you" that didn't sound very sincere. But deep down, he felt strongly that he could learn things on his own and didn't need the warrior's help.
Without wasting any time, the warrior signaled for his big bird-dragon-horse to take Murky to a place called Rogar.
"Huraaaahh!!!"
The horse obediently lowered its head, its four horns ready like weapons.
Murky quickly got on the horse's back and positioned himself at the rear, ready for the journey.
As he settled in, Murky noticed that the horse still seemed to dislike him. But he didn't let it bother him. He knew the horse's feelings would pass soon.
The horse made a gurgling sound, showing it was unhappy and accepting its fate.
"Ugrrrrrr…"
The warrior sensed the horse's unease and gently tapped its side, speaking comforting words that echoed in the air.
"Don't worry," the warrior reassured, sounding confident.
"It's just a small moment, a tiny problem on our journey. Come back fast once you dropped him to the, 'Rogar.'"
Soon, on the way, Murky felt like he found himself embarking on a dangerous journey.
They rode through a road littered with dragon corpses and Draugr warrior bodies, sprinting past them and taking a long glide. The sight horrified him, but he sighed with relief, thinking, "It's not as bad as in movies."
Murky assumed that it was Snow White, killing the strongest dragons, after all, he ordered her to.
Suddenly, his eyes squinted as he spotted a small dragon crawling towards him, but the poultry dragon bull horse she rode was too fast.
However, despite riding past it, Murky felt uneasy. He sensed something lurking in the shadows, but dismissed it, saying,
"Maybe I'm just seeing things."
Deep down, though, he remained cautious.
Soon, he saw another small dragon, and even though he rode past it, he still felt uncomfortable. Then another one appeared, and this time it transformed into a larger creature right before his eyes.
"What are those things?"
Murky couldn't quite comprehend how the transformation occurred, or if it was even real.
He wanted to check again to be certain he wasn't imagining things. Before long, another small dragon attempted to run towards him and the poultry dragon bull horse.
Murky noticed that it transformed too, but in a different way.
"What?"
He blurted in shock, then, another one came, faster than the rest but not as fast as the poultry dragon bull horse, leaving Murky unsure of its true identity.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed, "Uwaaarrkk! Uwarrk!"
It was loud and made Murky's heart sink. He wondered, "What's going on?"
Normally, any dragon, whether domestic or predatory, would avoid him or be scared of him because of the fart, so why did he feel targeted?
"Uwaaaak!" "Uwaaaarrk!" The calls continued, and Murky knew he was being followed.
The poultry dragon bull horse sped up, showing signs of anxiety and disregarding Murky's comfort.
"Neeeighhh!"
It screamed as it became faster and faster.
Despite being hurt in the butt by the sudden acceleration, Murky held onto the rope tightly, determined to stay on the horse.
As they raced forward, he noticed fleeting shadows attempting to attack the poultry dragon bull horse, but its speed and agility kept them at bay.
"She's too fast," he complimented with amazement.
Murky recognized that her ability to navigate such encounters stemmed from her vast experience fighting draconic creatures.
When the creatures missed their mark, he inspected them closely and found familiarity in one creature.
Soon he felt his heartbeat became loud and fast.
"Am I in a movie?"
Murky muttered to himself.
The creature resembled something from his past life, with well-developed forelimbs, curved claws, and a slender tail for balance. It was covered in feathers, much like its relatives.
"Right I am, and these are not dragons but Raptors?"