I Received System to Become Dragonborn

They packed their belongings into their enchanted backpacks. It was only now that Eccar realized that the leather backpacks they all carried were actually enchanted — when he saw just how much stuff they could fit inside them. Realizing it might be embarrassing if the others noticed he had only just figured this out, Eccar kept silent.

They all gathered in a single room. It was pretty cramped, but for now, that wasn't a problem. As long as they could all fit inside, it would do.

Eccar, Jan, and Mark — the leaders of this mission — stood in front of their party members. Their faces had turned serious now. The playful attitude they'd shared the night before was gone, replaced by the tension and anxiety of what they were about to face.

"Alright, we all know what we're here to do," Jan began. "We're heading to the northern forest to visit that old temple. The journey is going to be a lot more dangerous than before, now that strange things have started happening. But we've prepared ourselves — as best we can."

Jan then turned to Mark, giving him a nod to continue if he had anything to add.

Mark nodded and stepped forward. "What we're about to face is real. I know that for sure after what happened in the forest on our way here. I'll be acting as second in command, while Jan — who knows this forest far better — will be the primary leader."

Mark then turned to Eccar, passing the moment to him if he wanted to say something.

Eccar smiled at all of them for a few seconds.

"I'm not suited to be a leader, so I'll follow your orders — up to a certain point. But if you come across something you're not sure about, call me and let me handle it. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I am stronger than all of you, so it's better if I take care of the most dangerous things," Eccar said.

Hearing that, no one felt offended. In fact, they even felt grateful. Eccar wasn't just strong — he was kind. He was willing to handle the unknown threats that could kill them. And when he said he was stronger than all of them, they believed it immediately — they could feel it in the aura he gave off. No one wanted to test it.

Jan and Mark both nodded in understanding. The two leaders exchanged a glance, as if silently sharing the burden of the journey ahead.

Mark nodded once more. And Jan swept his fierce, determined gaze over all of them. "Let's move."

The party then stepped out of the inn, paid their final bill, and headed outside.

Everyone in the inn watched them go and immediately knew they were about to embark on a serious quest. The best adventuring party in the kingdom, now joined by a team sent from Astoria — even if no one knew exactly what they were setting out to do, they could tell it was something serious.

The townsfolk who saw them walking through the streets whispered among themselves with growing concern. What kind of trouble was brewing, they wondered, that two full adventuring parties had to join forces and march out with their full gear?

All they could do was hope that whatever the danger was, it wouldn't reach their city.

Among the townsfolk watching the party leave, there was a woman still holding her smoking pipe. Her face, usually calm and relaxed, was now serious. As she observed the group — clearly strong and well-equipped — she knew this wouldn't be easy if she truly intended to eliminate her target.

And then, there was one among them whose strength she couldn't even begin to measure. The report from her subordinate last night had been troubling: the young man claimed that one of them — the scar-faced man with tanned skin — might have sensed his Shadow Magic. That was a serious concern. So serious, in fact, that she, one of the Masters of the Organization, had come to see the man herself.

And what she saw only deepened her unease. She couldn't gauge his power at all. That was dangerous.

Her tense expression softened as she took a slow pull from her pipe, letting the smoke calm her nerves. No — it would be fine. She was confident. She would send her most dangerous team to handle this. They would take care of it.

With that, the woman turned away, stepping back into the alleyway and vanishing into the shadows.

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As they left the city behind and followed the narrow dirt road, the sun still shone brightly above. It looked like it was going to be a good day.

They walked in a relaxed manner at first, the tension not yet settling in.

The road stretched on for several kilometers, giving them time to talk among themselves. Their conversation turned to their real skills and abilities — a casual exchange on the surface, but necessary. If they were to face dangerous enemies ahead, they needed to know each other's strengths and how to rely on them.

Eccar didn't join in. He stayed quiet, walking slightly apart from the group. In terms of strength, he was far above them, and he knew it. Adjusting to their pace or stepping in when needed wouldn't be a problem. For now, he simply enjoyed the breeze and the warmth of the sunlight on his face.

A faint smile appeared on his lips. It felt good — to see the trees, to feel the earth under his feet, and to hear the wind through the leaves. It was a sharp contrast to the white, pristine halls of the Elf Palace where he had spent too long surrounded by order and stillness.

By midday, when the sun stood highest in the sky, they finally reached the edge of the forest and stepped into its shadowed embrace. At that time, their faces turned tense.

Jan who walked at the front use his senses to look if something is presence among them. And yes, he can sense a lot of presence just when they stepped into the forest.

He turned back and nodded, as gesture that around them there were creatures watching already just like they thought.

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