The massive form of the Shadow Drake lay motionless before Les, its dark, shimmering scales catching the faint light from the chamber's stone walls. He stood there, panting, his weapon still glowing faintly from the battle's heat. Victory notifications flashed across his screen, and the adrenaline from the fight still pulsed in his veins. But he couldn't focus on the usual rush of satisfaction or the glowing rewards chest that materialized nearby.
His skill—Life Mirror—was pulsing, drawing his attention back to the fallen beast.
Les had used Life Mirror dozens of times in combat, but never on a creature of this magnitude. The ability allowed him to dive into a person's—or a beast's—life, siphoning their experiences, their knowledge, and at times, even their deepest instincts. But with the Shadow Drake, he had hesitated. It was more than just a fearsome monster—it was an ancient creature, brimming with raw power and centuries of existence. He hadn't been sure what might happen.
The drake's memories still lingered in the air like a weight pressing down on him.
Taking a deep breath, Les activated the skill, Life Mirror, and his vision blurred for a moment as the world around him dimmed. His consciousness began to merge with the drake's mind, the sheer force of its life pushing against his senses like a tidal wave.
Memories of the Drake flooded him.
He was soaring through the skies over desolate, rocky landscapes. Towering mountains rose beneath him, the wind whipping past his scales as he roared, announcing his dominion over the skies. He could feel the raw power in his wings, the fiery breath building in his throat, and the innate connection he had with the ancient magic of his kind—the language of dragons. It wasn't just a spoken language, it was a primal force, older than any written word, used by the drakes to control the elements and assert their will over the world around them.
As Les delved deeper into the creature's mind, the knowledge of the dragon language began to settle into his own consciousness. The words were strange and guttural, yet they resonated with power. Each phrase had the potential to bend the world, to reshape the battlefield, and to summon untold destruction—or protection. The drake had not only fought with claws and fangs but with the very essence of nature itself, commanding the winds, summoning fire, and twisting shadows to its will.
Les's mind reeled at the enormity of what he was learning. The drake's language wasn't just a tool for combat; it was a living, breathing part of the creature, and now, it was becoming a part of him. He had always considered himself a jack-of-all-trades, dabbling in various skills but never mastering any of them. But this… this felt different. This was mastery in its purest form—a primal force he now carried within himself.
As the final echoes of the drake's memories faded, Les staggered backward, his body trembling. The physical weight of the fight had been intense, but the mental toll of absorbing a fragment of the drake's ancient consciousness was far more overwhelming. He knelt on the ground, his hands trembling as he tried to steady himself.
The game system finally responded, flashing a new notification in his vision:
Skill Obtained: Dragon Language (Ancient Tongue)
You have unlocked the ability to use the primal language of dragons. Commands of this tongue allow the user to summon elemental forces and influence the battlefield with draconic power. Each use consumes significant mana.
Les stared at the notification in disbelief. He had expected something useful from the raid, perhaps a rare weapon or some high-tier armor. But this—this was far beyond anything he had imagined. The dragon language was legendary in the lore of Ancient Arena Online, spoken only by the most powerful drakes and other ancient creatures. Players had spent years searching for ways to unlock it, but it had remained elusive… until now.
Still kneeling beside the drake's massive corpse, Les flexed his fingers, trying to focus. He could feel the words swirling in his mind, begging to be spoken, but he held back. This wasn't a power to be used lightly. It had the potential to turn the tide of any battle, to grant him abilities far beyond the reach of most players. But with that power came immense responsibility. He needed to learn to control it, to understand its limits before unleashing it in combat.
Slowly, Les rose to his feet, his breathing still uneven but his mind racing with possibilities. The usual treasure chest from the raid still glowed softly nearby, its rewards waiting for him. But as tempting as the physical loot was, he knew that the real prize today was the knowledge he had gained. The Life Mirror skill had granted him something no amount of gold or rare items could match.
Still, he approached the chest, opening it with a swift motion. Inside, there was an assortment of high-tier loot—rare armor, potions, and a massive two-handed weapon with fiery runes etched into its blade. Les scoffed lightly. It was impressive gear, to be sure, but after what he had just absorbed, it felt… lacking.
Les took the items, stashing them in his inventory, but his thoughts remained on the dragon language. He could feel the words in his mind, waiting to be spoken, to reshape the world around him with their power. But first, he needed to learn how to use them.
As he made his way out of the Forgotten Temple, the eerie quiet of the ruined structure seemed to follow him. He passed through the crumbling halls, his footsteps echoing off the walls, but his mind was already racing ahead to what was next.
In the distance, the city's lights flickered, a beacon of life and competition that beckoned him back. He had gained something monumental today, but he was still just one player. There were others in this world, and beyond it, who would seek to take from him what he had earned. He couldn't let his guard down. Not now.
As Les stepped out into the open night of Ancient Arena Online, the cool breeze greeted him. The shadows of the city loomed ahead, but they no longer felt as intimidating. With the power of the dragon language resting in his hands, he felt a shift within himself. He wasn't just surviving this world anymore.
He was going to conquer it.
And for the first time, the doubt that had clouded his resolve began to fade.