Led by Xisuo, [ the Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] set off for the altar in the very center of the village.
Near the altar, he saw vast tracts of farmland planted with various crops. One of them seemed similar to one he had seen in the experimental field of [ Do Some Farm Work ], while the others grew in all sorts of strange shapes, sprawling and twisting in the fields.
He was even bitten by a bright red flower.
"What... what's this crop called?"
Looking at the bloodstains on his forearm, [ with Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] he asked Xisuo.
Ah... The village chief looked at the serrated petals streaked with blood:
We usually call these biting crops dragon fruit.
Holy crap, dragon fruit!
Having a thorough understanding of the world's background even before obtaining access to the closed beta, [ Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] naturally knew that Seraphina was the fire dragon, and that the Dragonborn were born under her influence.
So, plants affected by dragon fruit are called dragon fruit?
That's so reasonable, I'm speechless for a moment.
Lost in thought, he was led by the village chief into a house. On the altar in the center of the house was a flame-like scale. Just entering the house made him feel a wave of heat.
Xisuo knelt down on one knee in front of the scale and mumbled a lot of things.
[The one who watched the whole thing with Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] didn't know if Seraphina could hear the prayer, and then Xisuo instructed him to perform several devout and difficult movements according to the customs of the Dragonborn.
After finishing the last move, Xisuo patted him on the shoulder happily:
"We're comrades now."
"Ah?"
[ His Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] He looked at the village chief, whose face lit up with joy, and was immediately dumbfounded:
"That's it? So simple? I haven't changed at all..."
Xisuo shook his head unhappily:
"Where is it simple? This is just the beginning. Next, I will allocate you a house near the altar. You will live here for two years, receiving the call of the sacred relics day and night, and you will become a true Dragonborn."
"A true Dragonborn? Then what am I now?"
Xisuo thought for a moment:
"You're considered Dragonborn in name only, or rather, you've qualified to become Dragonborn."
So all that maneuvering was just an entry ticket...
"Wait, what do you mean by saying you want to live here for two years?"
[ Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] – that's how he grasped the key point in the other person's words.
It means exactly what it says.
Xisuo explained:
" Alienation is a gradual process; it's not something you can simply decide to become Dragonborn Dragonborn. Our ancestors were also given this scale, which allowed them to find respite from the Demonic Tide under its protection."
"You'll live in the village for the next two years. Once you can transform into a half-dragon, you'll be a true Dragonborn."
"As the first generation of Dragonborn, you will live longer than all of us. You will be the future hope of Dragonborn Village, and I intend to train you to be the next village chief."
"Oh, by the way, I also have a daughter who's sixteen this year, you see..."
As he said this, Xisuo raised an eyebrow at the boy.
Old man, no wonder you were laughing so happily before, you were waiting for this all along...
Wait, that's not right!
"No, wait a minute!"
"Don't talk about marriage yet, no, that's not the point. Don't say anything yet, let me sort this out..."
[ Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] He quickly waved his hand; his mind was a bit of a mess.
I originally thought that being Dragonborn, or rather, transforming into a half-dragon, was a skill that could be learned, like Duolin's Directed Alienation.
So now I'm being told that this thing, like nuclear radiation, actually needs time to accumulate?
And it wasn't a short period of time, two years?!
Two years from now, who knows what this game will be like? By then, everyone else will be using the [+12 Refined Heaven-Shattering Thunder Staff] to crush the [True Overlord Sunset Shrimp], while you'll still be grinding your experience in the Dragonborn Village, waiting for that dragon scale to Alienation you into Dragonborn.
This is a complete waste of time!
No, absolutely not!
[ With Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] he sternly refused:
"This can't be done, I can't accept it."
Xisuo's face immediately fell—you were the one who said you wanted to be Dragonborn, and you're also the one who didn't want to be Dragonborn, what do you mean? Are you treating people like stupid dogs from the Tree Worship Church?
Seeing the other party's "I've offended the abbot and I still want to leave" attitude, [ the Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] quickly explained:
"That's not what I meant. It's not that I'm giving up, but... is there a faster way? Two years is too long. I don't have that much time—we might be facing a war in a few days. I want to become Dragonborn as quickly as possible and gain immense power. Do you think that's possible?"
Xisuo's expression changed instantly upon hearing this, shifting from anger to respectful surprise.
This young man decided to become Dragonborn Incarnation such a reason?
No wonder he didn't care at all about the damage becoming Dragonborn would cause to his body... nor did he intend to stay in the village.
Xisuo was filled with awe:
"I underestimated your awareness. If... what you say is true, there is indeed a faster way, but it won't be as gentle."
[ Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] He waved his hand:
"Come on, there are no cowards among the Dragonborn!"
"Good!"
Xisuo was also moved by his bold words and quickly opened a door in the house where the altar was located, leading to the underground, and gestured for him to come in.
Stepping into that secret room, [ with Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] I felt my jaw almost drop to the ground.
The entire chamber was filled with dark red scales. Although they weren't as bright red and huge as Seraphina's sacred scale, they were still about half the size of a clenched fist.
And looking across the entire basement, there were far more than ten thousand such dragon scales.
He looked at Xisuo and asked in a surprised tone:
"This is?"
Xisuo pointed to the scales:
"These are all the scales left behind by the Dragonborn over the past hundred years. Every time they transform into half-dragons and then back, some scales fall off. We collect them. Although they don't have any special meaning, it's at least a sign of respect for our faith."
"If you truly crave power, then take some from here."
[ With Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] He bent down and grabbed a handful, about seven or eight scales, holding them still warm in his hand. He looked at Xisuo:
"What's the fastest way to see results? Topical application?"
Xisuo patted him on the shoulder:
"Taken internally."
He compared the size of the scales to the size of his throat, then looked at Xisuo:
"Can I go back and eat at my own pace?"
Xisuo nodded:
"Of course you can. You are already a member of our team, and I will naturally give full trust to my fellow countrymen."
"At the same time, you also need to live up to this trust. If I find out that you have betrayed the Dragonborn, we will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!"
[ With Lion Hidden in the Eyes ] he said earnestly:
"Rest assured, I will make the name of the Dragonborn resound throughout the world."
Xisuo was greatly pleased upon hearing this and said with a smile:
"Hopefully so. After the Demonic Tide, the world will see an increasing number of strange and unusual races. If there is even one powerful Dragonborn, we will be proud of you."
As he spoke, he put his arm around the boy's shoulder again:
So, about my daughter...
"..."