Chapter 354: The Sacred Ritual
In the depths of the forest, where the ancient race of elves resided, a certain land revealed itself. It was a place where many beings with white, fairy-like skin and breathtakingly beautiful faces gathered. Under the shade of a colossal tree, the area was illuminated by rays of sunlight that danced through the leaves, casting enchanting, glittering lights upon the scene.
The air was filled with a refreshing crispness, and the sky above was a striking contrast to the territories of other races. It stretched out in a clear, vibrant blue expanse, adorned with wisps of clouds that appeared as if they were descending from the heavens, gradually transforming into a gentle mist that brushed against the ground.
Unlike the forests in the realm of the beasts, this particular forest was imbued with a magical essence. Delicate creatures, akin to butterflies with wings, fluttered and twirled around the trees, leaving trails of glistening pixie dust in their wake. These tiny beings were thrice the size of pebbles, yet possessed bodies perfectly proportioned to fit within the palm of a human hand.
With a human-like intellect, they expressed a range of emotions while interacting with the trees and leaves.
The fairies also possessed slightly elongated ears, a mark of their extraordinary nature. They harnessed the surrounding energy, weaving it into beautiful displays such as conjuring miniature rainbows and playing melodies that harmonized with the trees and animals.
"Your majesty, your ears are truly exquisite," spoke a female elf with golden hair. Amongst the group of females, there was one elf whose ears surpassed all others in their elegance—a sight that could only be equated to gazing upon a goddess.
The other elves encircled the long-eared princess, their eyes filled with reverence and adoration. They resembled devoted fangirls in the presence of their idol, experiencing a mix of excitement and awe.
"Thank you for your kind words, but my sister's ears are even more beautiful than mine," the princess replied humbly. As she mentioned her sister, a solemn hush fell upon the vibrant gathering.
Her sister had gone missing over a decade ago, after venturing near the human border. Despite the passage of time, the elders of the elven clans—her father included—still searched tirelessly for a way to locate her without venturing beyond their own realm.
"Forgive us for interrupting your tranquility, princess, but the ritual is about to commence," announced a group of male elves donned in light green armor, suddenly appearing before them.
"Sister, where are you?" the princess whispered, her gaze fixed upon the distant blue sky, where the human territory lay. With her hands clasped against her chest, she walked alongside the males, deep in thought.
The other female elves watched her with eyes welling up, their once vibrant gazes now turning moist as they reminisced about their first princess. Despite her occasional arrogance, the elves adored her unconditionally, recognizing her as the perfect candidate to become their guardian and queen.
However, due to her impulsive nature and penchant for playing near the human borders, she had vanished more than ten years ago.
"Your majesty, rest assured. Our current endeavors align with the search for your elder sister," one of the male elves spoke in a soft, somber tone. The conclusion of their arduous quest to find their beloved first princess seemed to have arrived.
Meanwhile, Desmond found himself surrounded by countless colossal Flying Lizards, their massive forms casting ominous shadows upon the scorched earth. The sun blazed relentlessly overhead, intensifying the already scorching temperatures that enveloped all living beings.
A pool of green blood pooled around Desmond, transforming the parched ground into a small verdant lake, strewn with the lifeless bodies of the gigantic Flying Lizards.
Predatory animals, including wolves, were drawn to the scene, their primal instincts urging them to claim a share of the fresh meat and the corpses of the fallen Flying Lizards. Even the weaker beasts attempted to pry at Desmond's body amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, Desmond's shadow engulfed him, and he closed his eyes, seemingly relishing the macabre spectacle as he basked in the pool of green blood. Upon closer inspection, one could discern streaks of black and red energy intertwining, connecting Desmond to the lifeless bodies of the Flying Lizards.
With the shifting of the shadow that draped Desmond's form as the sun traversed the sky, his condition appeared increasingly dire. His upper body was exposed, his pants tattered and barely clinging to his frame, only a few remnants of clothing managing to hold together.
His body bore numerous claw marks, but the most grievous wound resided on his back—a massive bite that had torn through flesh, revealing his breastbone, with multiple tooth marks engraved upon it. As the shadow gradually shifted across his body, Desmond's pitiful state became more apparent. Crimson blood trickled down his forehead and ankles, and bones protruded through torn skin.
This situation was perplexing because, according to the system's information, these Flying Lizards possessed a strength equivalent to that of an upper stage 2nd-class swordsman, a significant disparity compared to Desmond's might. Unless...
"HAHAHAHA!" Desmond suddenly erupted into maniacal laughter. As his laughter echoed through the air, a multitude of transparent screens appeared, obstructing his vision. Simultaneously, his body evaporated, emanating a foul odor and leaving behind a wispy mist.
[Dragon essence absorbed!]
[Dragon essence absorbed!]
[Dragon essence absorbed!]
...
[New information has been updated!]
[Race: Beasts
Species: Flying Lizard
Information:
A creature commonly found in deserts and barren lands. Unlike the rare Wyvern, which preys on beasts as their sustenance, these creatures typically hunt sheep and cows. There have been instances of them attacking horses belonging to traveling merchants.
Predicted Combat Power (Strength): 20.00 - 40.00 (Youngling)
Predicted Combat Power (Strength): 100.00 - 120.00 (Adult)
Classification: B-rank]
[Host stats have undergone a drastic change, and the status has been updated!]
[Current life force: -5 years]
[-Status-
Name: Desmond
Gender: Male
Age: 11 years
Race: Dragon
Class: 0th Dragon Slayer
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 222.00
Strength: 135.00
Agility: 145.00
Stamina: 44.40
Dragon Essences: 15]
"No wonder humans are at the bottom of the food chain. I can't fathom the Demons' intentions in the south. With their power, they could effortlessly crush the Southern Kingdom, yet it seems they are merely toying with us," he muttered, a mixture of curiosity and disdain coloring his words.
Although Desmond's stats far surpassed those of ordinary humans, he had only scratched the surface of the beasts and demons' hierarchy. The evidence lay in the fact that these youngling Flying Lizards alone had the capacity to lay waste to countless human villages.
As his body ceased evaporating, a miraculous transformation took place. All of his wounds, including the most severe, magically healed, leaving no trace of claw marks or dripping blood. It was as if his body had been fully restored to its pre-battle state.
[An advanced class material has been discovered near the host!]
"Blood of the Flying Lizard?" Desmond
questioned, contemplating the find. It had been years since he had attained the Dragonslayer class, and he vaguely remembered that he needed a potion from the academy and the blood of a creature connected to dragons or their descendants.
NOVEL NEXT