I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Chapter 612 The Skeleton

The soldiers moved swiftly, dismantling the enormous blue skeleton piece by piece. The larger bones like the spines and limbs proved challenging to transport, their weight and length requiring careful maneuvering through the narrow mine tunnels. Fortunately, those bones are proved to be strong and not vulnerable to impact so they don't need to be too careful.

Sweat dripped from their brows as they worked tirelessly, guided by Kael's precise instructions and Commander Varok's unyielding presence.

The faint glow of the skeleton seemed to pulse rhythmically as the last of the long bones was transported through the swirling Magic portal. With a final heaving effort, the soldiers maneuvered the remaining fragments into the gateway.

The cavern was now empty of the mysterious relic, its eerie light replaced by the shifting hues of the portal's energy.

"Good work, soldiers!" Varok called out, his voice carrying over the sounds of heavy breathing and clinking metal. "All soldiers, prepare to retreat through the portal. Leave nothing behind!"

The troops began moving swiftly, filing through the gateway in steady lines. Their weapons and siege equipment were transported last, each piece disappearing into the glowing vortex.

Only Varok, Kael, Renna, and Brogar remained behind, standing guard as the final remnants of their forces disappeared.

Kael gripped his blade tightly, his sharp eyes fixed on the crumbling entrance. The sound of heavy impacts grew louder accompanied by the faint but distinct shouts of the invaders.

Renna knelt by the charges, her fingers poised over the detonator.

"They're almost through," Kael muttered. "We have to blow it now."

Varok nodded grimly. "Renna, do it."

With a decisive press of the trigger, a deafening explosion rocked the cavern.

BOOM!

The entrance collapsed in a thunderous roar, sending a cascade of jagged rocks crashing down. The screams of the invaders caught in the blast echoed through the chamber, a grim confirmation of their success.

The resistance soldiers exchanged brief triumphant glances, savoring the sounds of their enemy's suffering.

"Good riddance," Brogar growled, gripping his hammer with satisfaction smile on his bloodied face.

The minutes dragged on as the last soldiers and equipment passed through the portal. The ground trembled faintly under the repeated impacts from the other side of the collapsed entrance. Dust swirled in the air, illuminated by the dim light of the portal.

Finally, the last soldier disappeared into the gateway, leaving only the four commanders. Varok turned to his companions with resolute expression.

"Time to go. We've done all we can here," Varok said.

Kael nodded, stepping closer to the portal, while Renna and Brogar fell in behind him. The faint sound of stone grinding against stone grew louder — evidence that the invaders were making progress in breaching the rubble.

As Varok stepped through the portal, the final defense was complete.

The swirling energy engulfed him and for a moment the world blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors. When his vision cleared, he stood in the resistance's homeland already, surrounded by relieved soldiers.

Meanwhile, back in the mine, the invaders finally breached the entrance. Their angry cries faltered as they stumbled into the now-empty chamber, finding only the broken bodies of their comrades scattered among the debris. The eerie silence of the cavern was their only answer as the remnants of the blue glow faded into darkness.

The resistance had escaped, and with them, the ancient blue skeleton they had been guarding for so long.

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The large war hall of the homeland echoed with raucous cheers and triumphant cries, the sound reverberating off the grand stone walls.

Soldiers raised their weapons high in celebration, their faces shined with pride and relief. It was a rare and hard-earned victory that brought a sense of unity and hope amidst their long grueling conflict and suffering.

In the middle of the revelry however, a cluster of soldiers stood apart, their eyes fixed on the blue skeleton now resting in the center of the hall.

Its immense size dominated the space, the faint glow emanating from its surface casting light that danced across the faces of those who gazed at it.

Whispers rippled through the onlookers.

"What is it, really?" one murmured. "They said the invaders were just mining minerals, but is something else entirely."

Another voice that sounded hushed and uneasy replied, "You can feel it, can't you? That energy. It's alive, in a way. Dormant, maybe, but still powerful."

The whispers spread like a current, sowing unease even amidst the victory. The skeleton's unnatural presence loomed over the celebration, its mysteries casting shadow over their triumph.

Commander Varok who now standing near the high table with his trusted officers, clapped his hands together to gather attention.

"Enough chatter. Count our losses," he ordered. "We'll celebrate properly once we know the cost so we can pray for the dead."

The room quieted as soldiers moved to tally the dead and wounded. Minutes later, the results came in, delivered by a young officer whose face was marked with disbelief.

"Commander," he began, "the losses… they're minimal. Far fewer than expected."

Varok's eyes widened briefly, then a slow rare smile spread across his face. He exchanged glances with Kael, Renna, and Brogar, each of them sharing the same astonishment and relief.

For the first time in years, they had won a battle without paying a devastating price.

"This is the best result we've had in years," Renna said.

Varok nodded, his chest swelling with pride. "It's a sign that things are turning in our favor. Let's hope it lasts."

As the mood lightened and the hall filled with a renewed sense of optimism, the heavy doors at the far end creaked open. The elders entered, their presence immediately commanding attention.

Draped in brown flowing robes adorned with intricate symbols of their order, the three figures moved slowly, their expressions unreadable.

Their eyes fell on the blue skeleton, and for the first time in recent memory, the stoic elders betrayed their composure.

The elder woman at the center halted mid-step, her weathered face tightening with shock. The other two mirrored her reaction, their wide eyes locked on the massive remains.

Varok noticed their reaction immediately. Frowning, he made his way through the crowd toward them, Kael following close behind.

"You know something about it," Varok said bluntly as he approached, his voice low but firm. "What is it?"

The elder woman turned her gaze to him, her expression a mix of awe and dread. She hesitated as if weighing the weight of her words. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling.

"Commander Varok," she said, "what you have brought back is no ordinary relic. This… this is the skeleton of a dead goddess."

"A… goddess?" Varok repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

The elder nodded solemnly. "One who fell in an ancient war. Her power may have faded, but traces of it remain within these bones. This energy, this glow… it is the remnants of divine might, dormant but not gone."

Varok's stomach tightened as he processed her words.

The skeleton's faint glow seemed to grow brighter, as if responding to the revelation.

Kael stepped closer to Varok, his voice low. "What does this mean for us, Commander? If it's truly a goddess… what happens next?"

Varok didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the skeleton, its mysteries now more daunting than ever.

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