Chapter 6:- A New skill
Scene 1: Sanctuary and Hatching
Shekhar let out a long breath, trying to shake off the adrenaline.
"Ugh, wow. That's a lot to process," he muttered, still feeling the shock of the void and the battle. "I think I'd rather not remember any of this."
He was deep inside a cave, moving with slow, unsteady steps. He used a tiny spark of fire mana flickering on his index finger to guide them. The cave was pitch-black and damp. After thirty minutes of walking, he reached an apparent end, which opened suddenly into an enormous cavern—a vast, hollow space easily large enough to house a fully-grown dragon.
"Ahhh, well, this is good," Shekhar sighed, looking around the empty space. "At least this cave is clear." He relaxed for just a second, letting his guard down, when a sharp scream from behind startled him completely.
He spun around, heart hammering in his chest.
The girl who had protected him was standing a few feet away, clutching her chest. "Whoa, whoa! Why are you so jumpy? Do you think I'm some kind of monster?" she asked, a mischievous grin fighting her anxious expression.
"Oh, sorry!" Shekhar retorted, rubbing his temples. "But why the hell would you scream like that? Anyone normally would jump!"
The girl winced. "Fair point. My apologies."
Both relaxed again, turning their attention back to the large cavern. Shekhar’s gaze swept the back wall and then froze in shock. Nestled on a low mound of polished stones were two huge eggs. They were the size of small human children, breathtakingly beautiful: one a pristine, shimmering white, the other a deep, obsidian black.
The girl followed his gaze and gasped.
"Wow, they are so cute and beautiful!"
Shekhar’s relief immediately mixed with caution. "They are, but I don't see any guardian here to protect them."
The girl tilted her head. "Hmm. Maybe you killed the guardians? You took down those two amateur dragons right outside. I bet they were the parents."
"Ah, well," Shekhar shrugged, stepping forward despite his unease.
He reached out and just barely brushed the surface of the black egg.
Simultaneously, the girl tentatively touched the white egg. At their touch, both eggs began to vibrate violently. They immediately snatched their hands back.
A blinding flash of silver light erupted from the eggs, growing in intensity until the cavern walls were momentarily illuminated. With a sharp crack and a small boom, both eggs hatched.
From the black egg emerged a sleek, midnight-colored baby dragon, no bigger than a large cat. From the white egg came its counterpart, a fluffy, ivory-white baby dragon.
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Scene 2: The Imprinting
The two tiny dragons blinked rapidly, adjusting to the cavern's dim light. The Black Dragon had scales like polished jet and eyes that seemed to absorb the light, while the White Dragon was covered in soft down, its eyes sparkling like cut diamonds. Confused and alone, they scanned the cavern before their gazes settled.
The Black Dragon fixed its large, inky eyes directly on Shekhar.
The White Dragon immediately turned and focused entirely on the girl.
Before either human could react, both dragons pushed off the mound of stones and darted forward on surprisingly strong legs. The Black Dragon scrambled up Shekhar’s chest and perched precariously on his shoulder, letting out a sharp chirp that sounded like grinding pebbles. The White Dragon was a second behind, nuzzling its fluffy head into the crook of the girl's neck, purring like an oversized kitten.
Shekhar stood frozen, an expression of profound bewilderment on his face. "Did... did they just adopt us?"
The girl giggled, gently stroking the white down of her new companion. "I think they did! They must have imprinted on the first person they saw after hatching. You know, like ducks.”
She looked at Shekhar, her smile radiant.
"It’s a sign of destiny, don't you think?.
Shekhar sighed, the chaos of the day finally giving way to absurdity. He gently moved the Black Dragon off his shoulder, holding the heavy creature in his arms. The baby immediately burrowed into his chest, sighing contentedly.
"Destiny, huh?" he muttered. He looked at the creature in his arms; it felt cold, and its density seemed to subtly pull his hand down. "Great. I just traded two dead dragons for two hungry, helpless ones."
Suddenly, a series of familiar System notifications flooded his vision, accompanied by a sound like chimes:
[NOTIFICATION: UNIQUE DRAGON BOND ESTABLISHED]
[A Shadow-Attribute Hatchling has imprinted on you. Its existence is irrevocably linked to your destiny.]
[Due to the unique nature of the bond, a new Skill has been unlocked: Shadow Pact.]
[Shadow Pact (S-Class): Allows you to passively share Mana with the bonded creature. In dire moments, you may temporarily absorb the bonded creature's unique attribute and power.]
[NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: The Fourth Eye]
Shekhar read the final notification, his brain struggling to process the sudden shift. The Fourth Eye? What is—
Just as he finished the thought, he looked at the girl. His new ability was instantly activated, and a System Panel appeared right over her head.
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Scene 3: A Shared Destiny
The girl suddenly gasped, clutching her forehead and staring wide-eyed at nothing above Shekhar's shoulder.
"W-what was that? Did you... did you just see that? A sudden pop-up—like a window! What is happening to me?"
Shekhar’s jaw tightened, his own shock immediate and profound. She can see it too? That’s impossible! His mind screamed through the cold reality: The System is mine! In this entire world, I’m the only one who ever awakened it! How is she able to
He activated his new Fourth Eye ability, confirming what his panel had just informed him.
The girl’s floating status window was clear:
[NOTIFICATION: UNIQUE DRAGON BOND ESTABLISHED]
[A Light-Attribute Hatchling has imprinted on you. Its existence is irrevocably linked to your destiny.]
[A new Skill has been unlocked: Luminance Link.]
[Luminance Link (S-Class): Allows you to passively share Mana with the bonded creature. Grants access to minor healing abilities derived from the creature’s Light attribute.]
[NEW ABILITY AWAKENED: Status Window]
Wait, she only got a basic Status Window notification, Shekhar analyzed, his mind racing at a terrifying speed. She’s confused because she’s seeing a System interface for the first time, but she can't see mine. And more importantly, she can't even access hers unless she specifically calls it up. My Fourth Eye is showing me information she doesn't even know she possesses yet.
He forced his expression neutral, desperately hiding the panic that his unique world interface was now spreading to others.
Shekhar looked at the girl—his bewildered, reluctant partner in dragon-rearing—and then down at the deep black dragon in his arms. He let the familiar, cynical edge creep into his voice, using it as a shield.
"Well," he said. "I guess we're stuck with each other, anyways. My name is Shekhar."
The girl’s smile softened, turning from mischievous to genuinely warm, even as her hand trembled slightly from the shock of her mysterious awakening. "I'm Hina," she replied, gently holding the white dragon up so it could look at him. "And this... this is definitely a much better reward than just EXP, don't you think?"
Shekhar looked from the two tiny, powerful beings to the woman who now knew his name. A strange sense of inevitability settled over him.
"Maybe," he conceded, a hint of a genuine smile finally touching his lips.
"Maybe it is."
He shifted the black dragon closer. "I think we just called it fate.”
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Part 4:-
A dark, suffocating cloud had not just gathered—it had settled, pressing down on the spires of Eryndor Kingdom’s central castle like a crushing weight. It pulsed, releasing a wave of intense, crippling energy. Every living thing—guard, servant, and noble—fell into a deep, unnatural sleep, their bodies slumping lifelessly wherever they stood. The entire kingdom went silent.
Smash!
The heavy oak doors to the castle’s Summit Hall were not merely opened; they were shattered by a brutal, invisible force.
A single, mysterious figure stepped through the splintered wreckage. They were wreathed in a swirling purple aura, the light of which felt cold and razor-sharp on the skin.
“It’s been a while, King Rudra,” the figure’s voice echoed, cold and edged with dark amusement. The words seemed to vibrate the very stone floor.
“The King of the Eryndor Kingdom.”
The figure took a slow, deliberate step toward the royal dais. Each footfall was loud in the sudden silence.
“Why are you so tense? Just chill. I’m not here for any trouble. I am here to meet my fiancée. I mean... my future wife.”
A sudden, harsh cackle ripped through the air, evil and utterly unhinged, making the King's teeth ache.
King Rudra Rathore remained seated on his throne, his knuckles white where he gripped the gilded arms. His jaw was locked tight, his breathing shallow.
(In his mind, a single, furious thought): "Not here for any trouble." My ass. This is the death of us.
To be continued...
