As the vines absorbed the energy from Gregor's body, his enormous form gradually returned to normal.
After a fierce battle, the entire volcano was riddled with cracks, and the lava inside had almost completely evaporated.
The four people stood in the crater and looked down. As the lava receded, a huge platform was revealed below.
Four massive stone pillars stand at the four corners of the platform, guarding the red gemstone on the central altar.
"The Magic Stone!" Vane's eyes lit up, and he jumped down first.
The group followed closely behind, passing through a soft energy membrane and stepping onto the platform.
A crimson halo enveloped their entire bodies, not only isolating them from the external heat but also steadily restoring their depleted physical strength and energy.
Vera looked around, her brow furrowing slightly.
"No portal?"
The group was taken aback as Gregor activated his special vision.
[... not only that, there wasn't even a treasure chest.]
"You should just touch the Magic Stone, isn't that how it works in the game?"
Vane reached for the Magic Stone, but Gregor stopped him.
Let's look again.
Amidst the puzzled gazes of the others, Gregor walked to the edge of the platform and looked down at the lava below.
Do you remember the Ashen Fire Dragon's final move?
Recalling the look in the other person's eyes as they gazed at the volcano, Gregor expanded his field of vision, observing intently.
[Perhaps there's something else here that we haven't noticed.]
"The dragon's treasure?" Gorth guessed, since it's a common belief that dragons like to collect treasures.
"Would someone look at something like that just because it's treasure?"
Vera disagreed, and Vane slapped his forehead as he listened to the discussion.
"I know what it is!"
The group looked over at the sound, Vane explained.
"In the prequel, there are two dragon eggs in the Ashen Fire Dragon's nest. Judging from the color and pattern, they are most likely the wyvern hatchlings from the main story."
[Found]
As soon as he finished speaking, Gregor noticed something was wrong.
After using the vines of the Gorth to carry out a "salvage operation," two dragon eggs appeared before them.
"That's huge," Vane exclaimed.
The two eggs were as tall as a person, one black and one white, with spiral patterns on their shells resembling solidified lava.
He reached out and touched it, but instead of the expected burning heat, it felt warm and cool.
[...]
Gregor stared silently at the dragon egg, and after a long while, he sighed softly.
Let's go... take them and leave this place.
He picked up a dragon egg in each hand, and the others placed their hands on the Magic Stone in the center.
"So, we're about 1/6 of the way there, right?" Vane muttered.
A burst of crimson light erupted, engulfing their figures.
"Bosses, you're back!"
As soon as I returned to the hall, I saw Ifrit in front of me.
Vera picked him up and rubbed his head.
"Are you just going to wait here all this time?"
"No, I'm just bored..."
Ifrit shook her head, her gaze instantly drawn to the dragon egg in Gregor's hand.
"What a huge egg! Is it for eating?"
"You can't eat this."
Gorth controlled the vines to weave a nest, allowing Gregor to place the dragon eggs inside.
Vera put the struggling Ifrit down, who then lay down beside the nest to watch.
"I've never seen such a big egg before. What kind of creature could it be?"
"It's a dragon!"
Vane chuckled and ruffled Ifrit's hair, explaining as she looked at her questioning gaze.
"Just think of it as a primal version of Draco."
Ifrit remained confused, while Vane slapped his forehead, remembering the near extinction of the Draco race on Terra.
"Yes, just consider them as Ancients of the Saria race."
Vane came up with a somewhat inappropriate analogy, and Gregor, upon hearing this, compared Saria's appearance to a wyvern cub, and surprisingly found a subtle resemblance to the white dragon.
"Really!"
Ifrit was clearly very interested and pointed to the dragon egg, asking...
"How long until they are born?"
"How would I know?" Vane scoffed. "We don't even know if those two eggs are dead or alive."
The words had been spoken when everyone was taken aback.
Gregor immediately activated his special vision, a slight unease settling in his heart—the dragon egg's energy was slowly and steadily dissipating.
Gregor picked up Ifrit and handed her to Gorth, then took the dragon egg and tried to infuse it with his own energy.
"Is the boss incubating eggs?" Ifrit asked curiously, but no one was distracted enough to answer.
"No way? He's the lord's child, how could he be so fragile?"
Vane observed the condition of the dragon egg.
With the infusion of energy, the patterns lit up again, but once they left Gregor's touch, the light quickly dimmed again.
"How about trying the Magic Stone?"
Gorth took out the crimson gem, and a soft halo instantly enveloped the entire hall.
"Mmm..." Ifrit let out a comfortable sigh, looking content. "So warm... like basking in the sun."
The group exchanged glances, somewhat surprised.
Although they could feel the energy emanating from the Magic Stone, they did not experience the same level of comfort as Ifrit.
Suppressing his doubts for the moment, Gorth brought the Magic Stone close to the dragon egg. Gregor sensed it for a moment, then shook his head:
[No, the reception efficiency is too low; it can't keep up with the rate of data loss.]
"Why don't you just hold him the whole time, boss?" Vane, always eager for drama, suggested.
"After all, you're the most suitable one for me."
[The problem isn't there... the energy inside the egg keeps dissipating.]
[If this continues, they will never mature.]
"Then how about plugging up where it's gone?" Vera suggested. "They were originally at the bottom of the volcano. Boss, why don't you try simulating that kind of environment?"
"I'm afraid that won't work." Gorth shook his head. "If they could hatch like that, they would have hatched inside the volcano long ago."
"So troublesome?" Vane poked the eggshell, feeling the faint pulse of life inside.
"Could these two be dead eggs? Or... are they congenitally deficient and need some special nutrient solution?"
Gorth's eyes flickered, and he took out several bottles of life potions.
"Give it a try?"
"The quantity is not enough."
Vane shook his head.
Even if they accumulated a lot of potions in the Dungeon, it would be a drop in the ocean to completely soak the two giant eggs, not to mention the daily consumption.
Everyone fell silent, Vane sighed:
"If only there were a liquid as vital as a life-giving potion... But that's just wishful thinking. Even if such a thing existed, there probably wouldn't be that much of it, right?"
"..." x3
The air suddenly became quiet.
Vane noticed three pairs of eyes fixed on him and immediately sensed something was wrong:
"Wait, why are you all looking at me?"
"Full of vitality..." Vera mused.
"Liquid..." Gorth's gaze swept over the blood-red patterns on the vines.
[A large quantity is needed...]
Gregor pointed at Vane, and the three of them spoke in unison.
Isn't your blood the answer?
Soon after, a pit was dug in the center of the flowerbed, and two dragon eggs were carefully placed inside.
Blood brimming with life energy flowed into the pit, gradually submerging the dragon egg.
The lava-like patterns shone brightly and clearly through the blood, as if it had finally received the nourishment it had been craving.
"[Valid.]" Gregor confirmed.
"That actually works..." Gorth breathed a sigh of relief.
"The results seem to be better than expected," Vera nodded.
"Does nobody care about me?!"
A childish cry rang out as the chibi version of Vane tried to squeeze into the crowd, only to be easily picked up by a small hand reaching out from behind.
"Fourth brother, you've become so small!"
Ifrit's eyes lit up—she wasn't the shortest one anymore!
"What do you know!"
Vane struggled in her grasp, trying to maintain his dignity.
"The best things come in small packages!"
"So why didn't you shrink before?"
Gorth mentioned Vane and shared some screenshots in the group chat.
Can blood created using energy be the same as the blood of one's own body?
Vane's eyes widened, and he puffed out his chest proudly.
"I went through a lot of trouble to ensure their safe birth, so..."
"When the babies are born, I will definitely choose one!"
"The true colors have been revealed."
Gorth wanted to roll his eyes, but since he didn't have eyelids, he could only sigh.
Gregor simply sat down on the edge of the pit, the glow of the lava echoing the shimmering patterns on the pit floor.
Gorth led Vane to the second floor to prepare food, Ifrit followed, leaving only the two of them in the Nursery.
"Do you care a lot?"
Vera sat down beside him, and Gregor nodded.
"Then we'll take good care of them; that way, we won't have let them down."
After a long silence, Gregor suddenly spoke.
[Second child...]
"Um."
Do you believe that Varkolyn controlled Him?
"Maybe so, isn't that how it is in games?"
Is it really a game?
"..."
Vera remained silent, Gregor stood up and extended his hand.
[I need to become stronger...]
With Gregor's help, the two got up and walked towards the hall.
"I should be the one saying that."
(Varkolyn: A race on a deadly planet filled with deadly poison, the strongest being the Varkolyn Leader.)
In order to invade the primordial world, the aliens needed a physical form as a conduit. Varkolyn and his allies, after influencing many local bosses, caused a riot and took the opportunity to steal the Magic Stone.
... a relaxed mealtime...
"Well, it's about time we headed back."
Vane stretched as he sat on the raised chair.
"I'm almost at my destination; someone's waiting for me."
Are you traveling...?
Gorth used vines to collect the tableware, which was then automatically transported upstairs for washing.
"That's what you think, anyway, you're just killing time."
Vane jumped off the table and chair, revealing the books that had been cushioning the chair.
"Where did the book come from?"
Gorth was puzzled. Ifrit pointed to a corner of the room.
"Wasn't it placed on the ground?"
The others looked over, and Vera hesitated before saying:
"Those are the monk's books?"
The place Ifrit pointed to was marked with an unidentified magic circle; in the game, that's where mages wait.
So, this is a magic book?
Gorth picked up the book more carefully, gently turning a page.
"Can't read."
Vera picked up a book and flipped through it; the unintelligible text was covered with strange patterns.
"It's normal not to understand the writing in the Vitality Continent... but the magic arrays are quite clear."
Vera handed it to Gorth, offering a reminder.
"But since it's a magic book, we should put it away properly."
Gorth nodded and put the book away in the shadows.
"What about the Magic Stone?"
The function of the Magic Stone has not yet been explored, but its ability to restore energy alone is enough to prove its functionality.
[Leave it in the lobby, or you can put it into your shadow.]
Gregor concluded that the importance of the Magic Stone was self-evident and could not be underestimated by the group.
"Then let's stay in the lobby..."
After putting away the Magic Stone, Gorth turned and walked towards the forging room.
Inspired by the magic book, he suddenly became interested in the blueprints for those weapons.
Seeing Gorth leave, Vane also waved goodbye.
"Anyway, I'm leaving now. I won't be back for dinner tonight."
Let's go too.
Gregor took Ifrit's hand, though she seemed somewhat reluctant.
"But I still want to see the dragon eggs hatch..."
That will take a long time.
The two figures disappeared, Vera turned and walked towards the forging room.
She's going to bring some souvenirs for those idiots in the mercenary group...