I Received System to Become Dragonborn

The four of them made their way through the forest. Eccar had already said they couldn't afford to waste too much time on the journey, so Mark immediately told his party to keep a fast pace.

Eccar glanced at the four adventurers who were now his travel companions. They moved swiftly and gracefully across the difficult terrain, barely speaking, their focus entirely on maintaining their speed.

Despite the rugged path, each of them navigated it with ease, relying on their own individual strengths. Eccar, walking in the middle—since he was supposedly the one they were meant to protect—smiled, impressed by their abilities.

He could've used his wings to fly and easily shorten the trip to the Qomore Kingdom once he knew the correct path.

But for now, traveling like this with these human adventurers felt enjoyable. He got to experience what it was like to be human—to feel their physical limitations and the struggles that came with them.

"How's the pace? Are you keeping up alright?" asked Kaela, the hooded woman, with a playful smile.

She half-expected Eccar to be struggling. In her mind, he was a noble from the Elf Kingdom, probably used to a more pampered life.

But when she saw his face, her smile faded into a frown.

Walking behind him, she hadn't seen his expression earlier, and assumed he was just putting on a brave front. Pretending to be fine.

But no—Eccar looked completely fine. Not even a single drop of sweat on his face. His breathing was calm and steady.

"Yes. This is good. At this pace, we'll reach our destination faster," Eccar replied, his tone light and a smile on his face.

Kaela smiled back, realizing this man wasn't so simple after all. "Alright. Just let us know if you need a break."

Eccar nodded. "I will."

Of course, as a Dragonborn, he had far more stamina than any of them. In truth, it was more likely they would need to stop before he did.

While Kaela had been the one speaking with him, she wasn't the only one watching him closely.

Mark, leading at the front, Selene behind him, and Thorne at the rear—each had caught parts of the conversation and stolen a glance at Eccar. They all came to the same realization:

Eccar wasn't ordinary. He clearly possessed significant strength—possibly more than any of them.

This thought actually came as a relief. It meant they weren't dragging along a burden, but rather, traveling with someone who added to their overall strength.

At the pace they maintained, Mark estimated they had already completed a third of the journey to Qomore by the time the sun was about to set. It was an impressive feat.

"We'll rest here," Mark announced as he spotted a decently sized clearing, perfect for making camp.

The group nodded, quickly setting up three simple tents—one for Mark and Thorne, one for Selene and Kaela, and one for Eccar.

A campfire was lit in the middle, and night watch duties were assigned. Eccar insisted on taking a shift, but Mark assured him it wasn't necessary—they'd handle it.

Respecting that, Eccar quietly retired to his tent for the night.

Night had fallen, casting long shadows beneath the tall trees. The forest, once quiet under the sun, now came alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures.

In the far distance, a pack of wolves howled together, their chorus rising into the air in eerie harmony. Somewhere closer, the chattering call of a monkey—or something like one—echoed between the trees.

Leaves rustled nearby, and though no creature appeared, the soft crunch suggested something had drawn near before backing away, likely startled by the fire and the presence of humans. Whatever it was, it wanted no trouble.

After a simple but satisfying dinner, the group sat around the flickering campfire, each holding a cup of warm drink. The flames danced between them, casting shifting shadows on their faces.

"Tell me more about what you know about our quest," Mark asked, turning to Eccar with a steady voice.

"I don't know much more than you," Eccar replied honestly. "My friend's the one who knows the details. But he can't be here yet."

"Your friend?" Kaela asked, her curiosity piqued. "Who is he?"

"He's... human," Eccar answered, his words a bit hesitant. "But from a faraway place. He'll come when the time is right."

"You mean, come to us?" Selene asked, raising an eyebrow. "Directly?"

"Yeah," Eccar nodded with a small grin. "He has that kind of ability. Hehe."

The four adventurers exchanged looks—brief, silent, but telling. Eccar wasn't just strong—his allies were powerful too. A man with this incredible teleportation powers? That wasn't something you heard every day.

After a few more minutes of quiet small talk and a shared sense of mystery, the party agreed it was time to rest. The fire crackled on as they each retreated into their tents, one by one.

But then, as the night deepened, the forest stirred again—more active than before. The calls of animals grew louder, closer, the underbrush shifting more frequently.

But just as suddenly as it had risen, the noise stopped.

A dead silence fell. Unnatural, and complete. As if the forest itself was holding its breath.

Mark and the others noticed it instantly. The forest's sudden silence wasn't natural, it was the kind that wrapped around the air like a warning.

Selene, Kaela, and Thorne quietly stepped out of their tents and gathered in front of Eccar's tent. Mark joined them a moment later, already armed and alert.

Inside his tent, Eccar was fully aware of the change too. But he stayed put, calmly lying on his bedroll. This was their task, not his. Unless things got truly dangerous, he'd let the adventurers handle it. He trusted them.

"We'll set a two-person guard shift," Mark said quietly. "There's nothing out there for now... but I don't like how the forest just died like that."

The others nodded in agreement. Better to stay cautious than to be caught unprepared.

Thorne and Kaela took the first watch. They moved away from the fire, taking positions that allowed a wide view of the surrounding darkness. Both had the same stern expression, their eyes scanning the trees with unwavering focus.

"The forest is too silent," Kaela muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she scanned the dark tree line.

"Yeah," Thorne replied in a low grunt, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, fingers tense and ready.

Minutes passed. The only sound was the soft crackling of the campfire behind them. Still, they kept vigilant.

Then—just when they thought the tension was passing—they saw it.

Shadows flickering and gliding between trees without sound.

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