adbindia Chapter 88 - 83:Whispers of the True League
Chapter 88 - 83:Whispers of the True League
Night had settled over **Greenwood Forest**, but the village was far from quiet.
The great bonfire in the center of the clearing crackled warmly, sending sparks drifting into the cool night air. The scent of burning cedarwood mixed with the fresh fragrance of moss and wildflowers that grew along the forest floor.
Elves gathered in small groups around the fire, talking, laughing, and sharing food after a long day of rebuilding and training.
Some were roasting strips of venison over the flames.
Others passed around cups of herbal tea.
Children chased each other between the tree houses that formed the outer ring of the village.
For the first time in many days...
Greenwood felt peaceful again.
The long shadows of ancient trees danced across the ground as the flames flickered.
And near the edge of the clearing lay the largest presence in the entire forest.
John.
The massive black dragon rested comfortably beside the fire, his obsidian scales reflecting the orange glow of the flames like polished armor.
Even while relaxed, his sheer size made the surrounding elves look small.
His wings were folded neatly against his back, and his long tail curled lazily along the ground behind him.
Yet none of the elves feared him anymore.
In fact...
Many of them now felt safer because he was there.
Several younger elves occasionally glanced at him with admiration.
One small child even waved at him earlier.
John had awkwardly waved back with one claw.
That moment alone had caused half the village to laugh.
Now, however, John was quiet.
His golden eyes reflected the flames as he stared into the fire.
Deep in thought.
Nearby, Lythriel sat on a fallen log, sharpening the blade of her spear with slow, rhythmic strokes.
*Scrape.*
*Scrape.*
The sound of metal against whetstone cut through the night air.
After a moment, she glanced sideways at the dragon.
"You’re awfully quiet tonight."
John lifted his head slightly.
"I’m thinking."
Lythriel smirked.
"That’s dangerous."
John narrowed his golden eyes.
"You’re very bold for someone who can barely scratch me."
Lythriel pointed the whetstone toward him.
"Keep talking like that and I’ll aim for your eyes next time."
John chuckled, a deep rumbling sound.
"Fair point."
Across the fire, Sylvara sat with several younger elves who had been asking her questions about healing magic.
The priestess patiently demonstrated how to channel small strands of mana through the hands.
A faint green glow illuminated her fingers as she spoke softly.
"Magic must flow like water. If you force it, the current breaks."
The young elves listened with wide eyes.
After answering a few more questions, Sylvara noticed John staring silently into the fire again.
She smiled gently and excused herself.
"I’ll continue tomorrow."
She walked toward the dragon and sat beside Lythriel.
"You seem troubled," she said softly.
John tilted his head slightly.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
Lythriel snorted.
"He’s been staring into the fire for ten minutes."
John exhaled slowly, releasing a faint puff of smoke.
"...I was thinking about what comes next."
Sylvara’s expression became thoughtful.
"You mean your evolution?"
John nodded.
Lythriel stopped sharpening her spear.
"So you’re serious about that Tier thing you mentioned earlier?"
"Very."
Sylvara folded her hands in her lap.
"You said reaching the next level would give you a humanoid form."
"That’s one of the benefits."
Lythriel leaned forward.
"And the other benefits?"
John hesitated slightly.
"Power."
Lythriel rolled her eyes.
"You’re already ridiculously powerful."
John shook his head slowly.
"Not really."
Both elves stared at him.
He continued calmly.
"Right now I’m strong compared to most creatures in this forest."
Sylvara nodded.
"That’s an understatement."
"But beyond this forest... the world is much larger."
Lythriel frowned slightly.
"How much larger?"
John paused.
Then he spoke carefully.
"There are beings that could crush this entire forest without effort."
Silence fell between them.
The fire crackled softly.
Lythriel stared at him.
"...You’re joking."
John shook his head.
"No."
Sylvara’s voice was quiet.
"You’ve seen creatures like that?"
"Not personally."
"Then how do you know?"
John hesitated.
*System knowledge.*
But he couldn’t say that.
"I’ve heard... stories."
Lythriel crossed her arms.
"What kind of stories?"
John looked up at the sky.
Above them, the stars shimmered through the gaps in the forest canopy.
"Stories about beings that live beyond the normal world."
Sylvara followed his gaze.
"The stars?"
John smiled slightly.
"Something like that."
Lythriel waved her hand dismissively.
"You’re talking about ancient legends."
"Maybe."
Sylvara tilted her head curiously.
"What kind of legends?"
John took a moment before answering.
"In many old stories... there are beings that exist above normal life."
"Above?" Lythriel repeated.
"Yes."
"Stronger than dragons?"
John nodded.
Sylvara leaned closer, clearly intrigued.
"What are they called?"
John smiled faintly.
"I once heard them described as... the **True League**."
Lythriel blinked.
"The what?"
"The True League."
The phrase sounded strange even to John.
But according to the system...
It was accurate.
Sylvara’s eyes shone with curiosity.
"Tell us."
Lythriel grinned.
"Yes, dragon storyteller. Continue."
John chuckled.
"Well... according to those stories, the world has many levels of existence."
Lythriel tapped the butt of her spear against the ground.
"Go on."
"Most creatures live in the lower tiers."
"Like animals, monsters, humans, elves?"
"Exactly."
Sylvara nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense."
"But once a being becomes powerful enough... they begin to approach a different level of existence."
Lythriel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
John explained slowly.
"Imagine climbing a mountain."
"Okay."
"Every tier is like climbing higher."
Sylvara nodded.
"And Tier 10?"
John looked up at the stars again.
"That’s when you reach the summit."
"But that’s not the end."
Lythriel tilted her head.
"What’s above the summit?"
John smiled.
"A whole new mountain range."
Both elves stared at him.
Sylvara whispered softly.
"...So Tier 10 is only the beginning."
"Yes."
Lythriel leaned back with a whistle.
"That’s insane."
"Maybe."
Sylvara looked curious again.
"So what happens when someone reaches that level?"
John shrugged slightly.
"According to the legends..."
"They stop being normal creatures."
Lythriel raised an eyebrow.
"Meaning?"
"They become something else."
Sylvara spoke quietly.
"Ascended beings."
John nodded.
"Something like that."
The fire crackled again.
For a while, none of them spoke.
Finally, Lythriel broke the silence.
"Well... that’s terrifying."
John laughed softly.
"Why?"
"Because you’re saying you plan to reach that level."
"Maybe."
Lythriel pointed at him.
"You see? That’s exactly what worries me."
Sylvara smiled slightly.
"I find it fascinating."
Lythriel groaned.
"You would."
Sylvara looked back at John.
"What would change about you?"
John thought for a moment.
"Everything."
Lythriel frowned.
"That sounds ominous."
John shrugged.
"Evolution always changes things."
Sylvara nodded slowly.
"Yes... but evolution doesn’t always mean losing who you are."
John looked at her thoughtfully.
"That’s true."
Lythriel stretched her arms lazily.
"Well, whatever happens, just don’t become some cosmic monster that forgets about us."
John chuckled.
"I’ll try."
"You’d better."
Just then, a familiar voice spoke from behind them.
"May I join you?"
Commander **Aerion** stepped into the firelight.
His silver hair shimmered faintly in the glow of the flames.
Sylvara nodded politely.
"Of course."
Aerion sat across from John, his sharp eyes studying the dragon carefully.
"I overheard part of your conversation."
Lythriel sighed dramatically.
"Of course you did."
Aerion ignored her.
"John."
"Yes?"
"You believe the world contains beings stronger than dragons."
"Yes."
Aerion folded his arms.
"Then our understanding of power is incomplete."
John smiled slightly.
"That wouldn’t surprise me."
Aerion stared into the fire for a moment before speaking again.
"Long ago... our ancestors recorded strange encounters."
Sylvara looked surprised.
"You mean the ancient archives?"
Aerion nodded.
"Yes."
Lythriel leaned forward.
"What kind of encounters?"
Aerion spoke slowly.
"Creatures that appeared briefly... then vanished."
"Creatures?" John asked.
"Yes."
"Describe them."
Aerion frowned slightly as he searched his memory.
"Some looked like dragons."
John’s ears twitched.
"But different."
"How?"
"They possessed humanoid forms."
John’s eyes widened slightly.
Sylvara noticed immediately.
"John?"
He quickly composed himself.
"Interesting."
Aerion continued.
"They were said to possess overwhelming power."
Lythriel crossed her arms.
"You’re saying ancient dragons could become human?"
Aerion shrugged.
"The records are unclear."
John’s mind raced.
*So humanoid dragons exist in this world.*
The system suddenly spoke.
**[Confirmed.]**
John almost flinched.
*You knew?*
**[Yes.]**
*Why didn’t you tell me earlier?*
**[Host did not ask.]**
John mentally groaned.
*You are unbelievably unhelpful sometimes.*
**[Correction: Efficient.]**
John ignored the system.
Lythriel was staring at him again.
"You’re doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"The staring into space thing."
John chuckled awkwardly.
"Just thinking."
Sylvara looked thoughtful.
"John... if dragons can truly take humanoid forms..."
She hesitated.
"Would you want that?"
John answered honestly.
"Yes."
Lythriel smirked.
"Because of the tea?"
"And the food."
"And the chairs?"
"And the chairs."
They laughed.
The tension around the fire faded again.
Aerion eventually stood.
"We will discuss the archives tomorrow."
Sylvara nodded.
"That would be wonderful."
Aerion looked at John.
"You may find the information useful."
John smiled.
"I’m sure I will."
As the night grew deeper, the elves slowly returned to their homes.
The fire burned lower.
Eventually only three figures remained.
John.
Lythriel.
Sylvara.
Lythriel yawned loudly.
"Alright, dragon."
"Hmm?"
"Don’t stay up thinking about cosmic monsters all night."
"No promises."
Sylvara smiled warmly.
"Good night, John."
"Good night."
They walked toward the village.
Soon, John was alone beside the dying fire.
The forest was quiet now.
Above him, the stars glittered across the endless sky.
John spoke softly.
"...Tier 10."
The system responded immediately.
**[Host progress toward Tier 10: 58%]**
John blinked.
"Wait."
That number was higher than he expected.
"How close am I really?"
**[Evaluation: Host approaching evolutionary threshold.]**
John’s heartbeat quickened slightly.
"So the summit isn’t that far anymore."
Silence followed.
Then the system added:
**[Estimated evolution window: 1–3 months depending on experience gained.]**
John smiled slowly.
"That soon, huh..."
He stretched his wings slightly.
"I guess I should prepare."
But far above Greenwood Forest...
Far beyond the clouds...
Far beyond the sky itself...
A pair of ancient golden eyes suddenly opened in the darkness of the void.
A deep voice echoed across the cosmos.
"...A young dragon is approaching the threshold."
Another voice responded calmly.
"Should we intervene?"
The first voice rumbled softly.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if he truly reaches Tier 10..."
A faint smile formed in the darkness.
"Then he will finally become interesting."
The stars shimmered silently above the sleeping world.
And somewhere in the depths of the universe...
Ancient beings had begun watching.
The game...
Was about to become far more interesting.
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100 ps = 1 extra Chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra Chapter
30 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter