I Received System to Become Dragonborn

While the Elves within the palace busied themselves with strategies and preparations, Erend was locked in a battle high above facing three of the mechanical birds that relentlessly assaulted him.

Their attacks came from every direction and their glowing red runes pulsing with ominous Magic energy in every attack.

The mechanical birds weren't merely constructs of metal. Erend could feel it, a distinct hum of Magic energy coursing through their reinforced metal frames.

They weren't just strong and fast, they were a fusion of advanced engineering and Magic that somehow Laston managed to create together.

Despite the attack of the three birds, Erend deliberately refrained from using his full power and only relying mostly on his physical strength.

He countered their attacks with quick strikes and agile maneuvers, occasionally unleashing bursts of fire to keep them at bay.

He wasn't holding back out of pride but to gauge their resilience and understand the extent of their strength.

And they were indeed pretty strong. Every punch he landed felt like striking a wall, their enchanted metal absorbing much of the force.

Their movements were fluid and almost unnervingly intelligent when dodging his attack as if they adapted with his every attack.

Above it all, the cloaked figure hovered, his arms crossed as he observed the battle with a faint smirk.

His piercing blue eyes gleamed with malicious amusement, reflecting the crimson light of the runes on the birds.

"You're struggling, Dragonborn? Come on!" the man taunted, his voice ringing out mockingly above the clash. "You can do better than this, right? Don't make me disappointed after hearing so much about your strength from my lord."

The words grated on Erend, but he didn't respond to it yet. Instead, he focused his eyes as he evaded another blast from the mech birds.

Howver, his patience was wearing thin. He had seen enough of their capabilities. It was time to end this.

A low growl rumbled in his throat as his body tensed. His red-and-black scales shimmered with an intense glow, and a wave of heat radiated outward from him. The mechanical birds faltered momentarily when their sensores sensing dangerous signal. Their runes flickering as if sensing the shift in power.

With blinding speed, Erend moved.

He shot toward the first bird. The bird's claws extended as if in instinct to respond to his attac. He met it head-on delivering a single devastating punch that shattered its metallic body into glowing fragments.

Before the second could react, he spun mid-air, Erend's claws lashing out and severing the second bird's wings in one swift motion.

As it plummeted, Erend lunged toward the third, his fist igniting with fire before he struck and then obliterating the metal construct with an explosion.

Their destruction lasted mere seconds after he got serius. What had been an overwhelming assault moments ago was now reduced to falling shards of metal and dissipating Magic energy.

The cloaked figure's smile faltered briefly, his amusement replaced with a flicker of annoyance. But then, he let out slow and dark chuckle.

"Impressive," he said. "It seems the stories didn't exaggerate after all. Let's see how long you can keep that up."

Erend hovered in place, smoke rising from his fists. His sharp gaze locked onto the cloaked figure, his fiery aura still burning brightly.

"I've had enough of your games," Erend growled, his voice low and menacing. "If you think your child tricks will scare me, you're dead wrong." Stay tuned to empire

The cloaked figure sneered, his eyes narrowing as his smirk twisted into something more sinister.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You think you've won? Don't get cocky, Dragonborn. This was just a warm-up. There are plenty more of my creations ready to strike you down."

Erend sighed audibly, his fiery aura flickering around him like an impatient storm. He crossed his arms and tilting his head slightly with expression a mixture of frustration and boredom.

"I don't have time for this nonsense, kid," he said. "Why don't you bring that bastard Laston here? Let him fight like a real man instead of hiding behind lackeys. Or maybe…" Erend's voice dropped, laced with mockery, "he's too afraid to face me after what I did to him last time?"

The cloaked figure's demeanor shifted instantly. His smug amusement was gone and replaced by a burning rage. His once-composed face behind the mask twisted with anger, his blue eyes flaring with a dangerous light.

"Don't speak my lord's name with your filthy mouth, you disgusting—"

Before the man could finish, Erend moved. With a burst of speed he closed the distance between them in a blink of an eye, his fist aimed squarely at the cloaked figure's chest.

The cloaked man barely had time to raise his armored arm to block the attack.

Boom!

The impact was powerful, a shockwave of energy rippling outward as Erend's fist met the armored limb.

The cloaked figure's block held, but the sheer force of the blow sent him flying backward through the air. He tumbled several meters before regaining his balance, his dark cloak whipping wildly around him as he hovered and visibly shaken.

Erend remained where he was, his eyes locked onto his opponent. He flexed his hand, the faint glow of embers trailing from his knuckles.

"What's the matter? Did I hit a nerve?" he asked, his voice calm yet dripping with menace. "I thought you were tougher than this."

The cloaked figure steadied himself, his breathing heavy. His armored arm trembled slightly from the impact, the previously pristine plating now dented and scorched where Erend's punch had landed.

"You dare—" he said with voice that turned into low growl. The fury in his tone was so clear.

Erend raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

"I dare a lot of things, kid," he interrupted. "Now, are you going to fight me, or are you just here to run your mouth and waste my time?"

The cloaked figure's anger boiled over, his voice ringing out in a sharp, commanding tone. "You've sealed your fate, Dragonborn! I'll show you the true power of my lord's creations!"

As he raised his hands, dark energy crackled around him, and multiple portals began to form in the sky. The air grew heav and Erend's gaze shifted briefly to the swirling rifts, already sensing what was coming next.

"So predictable," Erend muttered to himself, preparing for the next wave. His fiery aura intensified, his body brimming with energy. "Alright, let's get this over with. I will capture you, then torture you so I can make Laston come here by himself."

Erend lunged at the figure with more clear deadly intent now.

---