[Spirit Dragon (Epic)]Level: 55 (0/33,000)Race: Dragon / ElementalStrength: 850 Agility: 985 Mana: 985 Vitality: 850Growth: 10 (Gains +10 to all attributes per level)Skills: (Expand)
"So this little guy is actually pretty strong."Kurose Akira studied the spirit dragon's status panel, genuinely surprised.
He had never imagined it would turn out to be a level 55 Epic Spirit Dragon. At this stage of the game, its combat power was something most guilds simply wouldn't be able to withstand.
Fortunately… this little creature seemed to like him a lot.
"Mm~ mm~"
The spirit dragon stretched out its tongue and gently licked Kurose Akira's cheek, openly expressing affection and closeness.
Faced with such an overly enthusiastic little creature, Kurose Akira found himself at a complete loss.
Beside them, Elina stood frozen in shock.
She simply couldn't understand why her spirit dragon would show such intimacy toward an ordinary human man.
According to legend, spirit dragons would only submit to pure elves—so why was it displaying attachment toward this man instead?
What… was going on?
But soon, Kurose Akira's brows knit together slightly, a hint of gravity entering his gaze.
Because this spirit dragon already had an owner.
Damn it!I've got to figure out how to steal it away!
"Come back."
At that moment, Elina called out softly. The spirit dragon immediately trotted obediently back to her side.
As it returned, it couldn't help but glance back at Kurose Akira, its eyes filled with reluctance and lingering attachment—until Elina lightly tapped it on the head.
"Please, have a seat, sir."
Elina forced a faint smile and gestured for Kurose Akira to sit.
He nodded and took a seat on a vine-woven chair by the lakeside.
Elina poured him a cup of tea, but his thoughts weren't on the drink at all. The milk-scented black tea Beayarella had given him earlier was still lingering warmly in his stomach.
Green tea could never compare to milk tea.
"I heard you've been running around because of Beayarella?"Elina lifted her cup, took a light sip, and smiled as she asked.
"Mm." Kurose Akira replied calmly.
"And why go to such trouble?"Elina set the cup down and asked in return. "The elf race is united and benevolent. Even if Beayarella is put on trial, she'd only be placed under house arrest. Her life wouldn't be in danger. Why take it so seriously?"
"For you, it's house arrest," Kurose Akira said in a low voice. "But all she wants is to be with her children."
"I see."Elina chuckled softly. "Perhaps I simply don't understand those feelings—so-called family bonds, love…"
She paused, then continued,"Did Yuluci tell you that I'm the one who most wanted Beayarella to be judged?"
"Yes." Kurose Akira nodded.
"Beayarella and I are both elven princesses. We're rivals."Elina explained quietly. "And she did violate elven law. She deserves judgment. The rules of the elves can't be broken for the sake of one person."
Kurose Akira fell silent. He hadn't expected even the elves to engage in power struggles behind the scenes.
"But not anymore."Elina's tone shifted noticeably. "I've decided to support her instead."
She had chosen to abandon the judgment of Beayarella and instead clear her name.
This sudden reversal left Kurose Akira deeply confused.
"Why?"
"There's no particular reason."Elina smiled lightly. "I just feel like doing it. Beayarella and I are rivals, not enemies. Of course, we're not exactly close friends either."
She wore an innocent, guileless smile—but that simple answer didn't satisfy Kurose Akira at all.
"I don't think you're very elf-like."He frowned.
Of all the elves he'd met so far, most lacked deep scheming. Take Yuluci, for example—her approach was straightforward. Beayarella broke elven law, potentially harming the Elf Queen's reputation, so she sought to put her on trial.
But Elina was different. Impossible to read.
Simply put, she was a walking riddle.
"Is that so? Many of my kin say the same."Elina smiled faintly. "But I hope you'll believe me—I'm doing this for the future of the elves."
She took another sip of tea.
"That's all I had to say. You may leave now. Of course, if you'd like to stay and drink more tea, I won't stop you."
Kurose Akira said nothing more. He stood and left, feeling increasingly unwilling to remain in Elina's presence.
This elf appeared pure and flawless on the surface—but her heart might be as unfathomable as an abyss.
Elina made no comment as he departed. She merely raised her cup and took a quiet sip.
"Fu~"
After exhaling a fragrant breath, she prepared to stand—
Then suddenly noticed that her spirit dragon was gone.
"Hm? Where did it go?""…It couldn't be—"
...
"Why are you following me?"Kurose Akira crouched down, frowning as he looked at the spirit dragon.
The little dragon happily circled him, then gently bit onto his arm, tugging as if to lead him somewhere.
Completely baffled by the creature's strange behavior—but driven by curiosity—Kurose Akira decided to follow.
Soon, the spirit dragon led him to the vicinity of the Elf Mother Tree.
Within a one-kilometer radius of the Mother Tree, a powerful magical barrier existed—but the spirit dragon seemed immune to it.
It actually brought Kurose Akira straight through the barrier with ease, entering the forbidden zone.
He was utterly astonished.
As they drew closer, the surrounding mana grew incredibly dense.
It felt like he had wandered into a divine realm. Even the grass beneath his feet seemed alive—when he stepped forward, the blades parted on their own, revealing dark brown soil beneath.
Before he realized it, he was already standing beneath the Elf Mother Tree.
He looked up.
Countless fruits hung from branches thousands of meters high. From afar, they looked no larger than fists—but up close, each fruit measured over a meter in diameter.
"Mm~ mm~ mm~"
The spirit dragon rubbed its head against Kurose Akira's pant leg, as if trying to tell him something.
He turned in confusion—and noticed what it was pointing at.
A… tree hollow?
"You want me to go inside?"he asked.
"Mm~ mm~!"The spirit dragon nodded.
Guided by the spirit dragon, Kurose Akira entered the hollow.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze in shock.
The interior was piled high with gold, silver, and jewels.
"Mm~ mm~ mm~!"
The spirit dragon led him to the treasure pile and extended a small claw, gesturing for him to choose one item to take.
"You're… giving me a gift?"Kurose Akira asked in disbelief.
"Mm~ mm~!"The spirit dragon chirped happily, excitement flashing in Kurose Akira's eyes.
He quickly scanned the hoard, searching for something suitable.
Then—his gaze stopped.
A wooden carving.
It depicted a woman of otherworldly beauty. Though carved from wood, her charm was impossible to conceal—delicate features, a graceful figure, as though all the beauty of heaven and earth had been condensed into her form.
Kurose Akira couldn't help but marvel at its exquisite craftsmanship and spiritual presence. He carefully lifted the carving to examine it.
If even a wooden likeness could be this captivating… how breathtaking must the real person be?
[Elf Queen Wooden Sculpture (Common): A symbol of reverence for the Elf Queen. She is the queen who birthed us all!]
"So this is the Elf Queen?"Kurose Akira was slightly surprised. He'd heard that within the elven palace stood a jade statue of the Elf Queen nearly a hundred meters tall.
He hadn't had the chance to see it yet—but he definitely would someday.
The moment he picked up the sculpture, the spirit dragon rushed over and began licking his cheek anxiously.
It looked nervous—clearly unwilling to let him take this particular treasure.
"All right, all right. I'll choose something else."Kurose Akira chuckled.
Even a spirit dragon revered the Elf Queen this deeply.
"This one, then."
He selected a gemstone shimmering with seven-colored elemental light.
[Elemental Gem (Rare): A magical gem that increases elemental damage.]
"This one's okay, right?"he asked with a smile.
"Mm~!"The spirit dragon nodded vigorously, clearly delighted.
"Xiao Bai?"
Elina's voice suddenly rang out—she seemed to be searching for the spirit dragon and had arrived near the Mother Tree.
"Crap!"Kurose Akira's expression darkened.
If the elves discovered he had entered their forbidden zone, he'd likely be imprisoned.
The spirit dragon sensed the danger and quickly bit onto his arm, pulling him deeper into the tree hollow.
Just as Kurose Akira hid himself—
Elina stepped into the hollow.
"Why did you sneak back to your nest? We still have things to do later."
She reached out with her delicate hand and gently pinched the spirit dragon's chubby cheek.
"Mm~ mm~ mm~!"
The spirit dragon flapped its wings, as if urging: I know, I know! Let's go!
"Why are you in such a hurry?""Feeling guilty, are you?""Slow down—I can't even keep up."
After a bit of tugging and chatter, the spirit dragon led Elina away from the hollow.
Hidden inside, Kurose Akira finally let out a breath of relief.
He stepped out from hiding. Seeing that both Elina and the spirit dragon were gone, he prepared to return to the guild.
But—
To his shock, the teleportation circle didn't work here.
He walked toward the magical barrier, thinking it should only block entry—surely leaving wouldn't be a problem—
Bang!
"Ow!"
Kurose Akira slammed headfirst into the barrier, his expression instantly darkening.
It was over.
He was trapped inside.
Let me out!
Just as he resigned himself to waiting until the spirit dragon returned to its nest—
Suddenly, the Elf's Tear in his chest began to glow brilliantly.
In the next instant, the barrier surrounding the Elf Mother Tree vanished entirely, opening a clear path outward.
…?
Filled with confusion, Kurose Akira stepped beyond the boundary.
The moment he crossed it, the barrier reformed on its own, as if nothing had happened.
"What… was that?"
Curiosity flooded his mind regarding the Elf Tear's special power.
At that moment—
Beneath the Elf Mother Tree, a silver-haired elven woman appeared faintly in the distance, quietly watching him from afar…