I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Eccar's boots ground to a halt, furrows carved in the dirt from the sheer force that had thrown him back. He exhaled slowly, feeling the dull throb spreading through his chest.

Yeah. He definitely felt that.

However, his grin stretched wider, his sharp teeth that suddenly appeared flashing faintly in the dim light. Even without activating his Dragon Scales — without the hardened, obsidian armor that could shrug off blades and Magic alike — his skin was supposed to be tough enough to handle almost anything.

If that punch had gotten through, enough to make him feel it… Then this bird-champion wasn't just show. He was actually strong.

"Not bad, bird," Eccar muttered, rolling his shoulders with a crack. "This might actually be fun."

He didn't waste anymore time.

With a sudden burst of speed Eccar lunged forward. The ground cracked under his feet as he propelled himself like a launched arrow straight at the towering bird man.

Their collision was immediate.

Eccar's fist came up in a brutal hook aimed at the creature's ribs but the bird-man met it head-on and blocking with a forearm as hard as metal.

The gauntlets shimmered with another pulse of Magic as their limbs crashed together, sending a sharp shockwave rippling through the air. The thick mist even dissipating a little because of their impact.

They battle with brutal attacks the next second. No dodging and no tricks.

The champion retaliated instantly, slamming his other fist down in a hammer-like blow toward Eccar's shoulder.

Eccar shifted just enough to catch it on his forearm — the impact still jarring, driving his knees deeper into the earth. He still haven't used his Dragon Scale yet.

Eccar let out a laugh with rumbling sound. His fist lashed out again, this time a straight jab aimed at the bird-man's jaw.

The creature snarled and took the hit — feathers and flesh rippling — but he didn't flinch afterr receiving it and just driving a knee upward into Eccar's gut.

The breath whooshed from Eccar's lungs, but he twisted with the blow, swinging an elbow into the creature's side at the same time.

An impact happened again. Bone against muscle. Metal against skin.

Each strike echoed with the sound of meat and metal colliding, brutal and raw. Neither of them stepped back or even dodged as if wanted to prove something.

It was a contest of pure endurance and power now.

A savage punch from the champion slammed into Eccar's ribs, making his side throb, but Eccar answered with a rising knee that crashed into the creature's abdomen.

The force made the massive bird-man grunt, but his claws swiped immediately, raking across Eccar's chest and shredding part of his robe — though his skin underneath remained intact, tough as scaled leather.

Eccar spat to the side, blood-mixed saliva hitting the ground. His grin never wavered.

"Yeah," he rasped. "You're strong. But let's see how long you can keep this up!"

The bird-man champion's bird eyes flashed with savage glint.

And they clashed again. They exchange fists, knees, and elbows, those attack actually heavy enough to make the ground shudder because of the impact. The air quivering with each brutal exchange.

---

Across the river, Jan, Mark, and the others stood tense, their ears straining to catch every thundering crash echoing through the mist. Their faces had turned grim, anxiety tightening their jaws and darkening their eyes.

They couldn't see what was fighting beyond that choking wall of fog — but it felt like two mountains were colliding, their titanic blows shaking the ground.

The fact that they couldn't see only made it worse. Their imaginations filled in the gaps, each clash sounding more monstrous than the last.

Their grips tightened on their weapons. Cold sweat broke out across their foreheads as they exchanged uneasy glances.

They knew Eccar was the one battling out there… but what was he fighting?

From the sound of it, he had finally found an opponent strong enough to match him blow for blow. And that thought made their chests grow heavier with fear.

---

Meanwhile, deeper on the other side of the forest, Darel's party had also frozen in place.

The distant shockwaves of clashing power rumbled through the trees, making even the ground seem alive beneath their feet.

They crouched low instinctively with wide eyes.

"...What is that?" one of the adventurers whispered, voice tight with worry.

No one answered because no one have it. Silence hung heavy over the group as they listened.

Darel's brow furrowed, his sharp eyes fixed in the direction of the sound — the same direction where the party they'd been sent to hunt was supposed to be.

"They're fighting something," Yarna murmured, her voice low. "Something massive."

Darel nodded slowly. "Yeah. But it doesn't sound right. I don't hear blades clashing or Magic going off… It's like…" He trailed off, his frown deepening as another earth-shaking thud rolled through the forest.

"It's like two giants slugging it out with nothing but fists," he finished grimly.

Yarna didn't reply. She thought the same — and that only made her skin crawl.

Still, she let out a slow breath and touched the amulet hanging at her neck. Thankfully, their party had the protection charm. Whatever that monstrous thing was, it shouldn't come after them.

---

Eccar and the bird-man were still locked in battle, their bodies crashing together in an endless storm of fists, knees, and elbows. Five minutes had passed, each second filled with brutal strikes with no thought of dodging.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, the mist around them long torn apart by the force of their blows.

But now, the bird-man was starting to feel the strain creeping into his muscles, his breathing growing heavier with each exchange.

But Eccar's punches hadn't lost an ounce of strength. Every hit landed with the same power as if the past minutes of fighting meant nothing to him.

That fact gnawed at the bird-champion's mind, worry flickering in his eyes.

The bird-man grit his beak and threw his arms wide. His body suddenly ignited with a radiant white glow.

The air around them howled as blades of wind formed and slashed outward in a violent burst.

Eccar braced, but the gale struck him full force. The cutting winds tore through his robes, slicing his skin. Crimson liquid splattered the ground as thin lines of blood opened across his chest and arms.

The force of the blast shoved him back several steps, his boots carving fresh gouges into the dirt.

---