"No need for us to fight over the egg," Ayvira said, taking control of the situation.
She somehow, with focused concentration, conjured a screen that usually showcased stats.
It was visible to both Drahon and Devon.
Ayvira began speaking.
"The voice with the runes said that there are five of the mythical dragon eggs."
Drahon and Devon exchanged glances, then they stared at Ayvira, nodding in the affirmative.
"Yes," they both said in unison, and it caught them by surprise, because they exchanged glances again, sharing one thought:
’Why did we exchange glances again?’
"The Golden Egg, the Azure Egg, the Crimson Egg, the Emerald Egg, and the Obsidian Egg."
She now pointed to the ’blank’ stats screen hovering in the air.
Then she forced a thought. By ’force’ a thought, Drahon saw her struggle a bit, holding something in. But she wasn’t actually holding something in, instead she was trying to force a thought out, to bring it to reality...
...to bring it to the screen.
After that act, words appeared on the once blank screen:
[Golden Egg – Embodies the essence of light and purity.]
[Azure Egg – Holds the power of the endless skies and storms.]
[Crimson Egg – Contains the fury of fire and destruction.]
[Emerald Egg – Channels the vitality of nature and growth.]
[Obsidian Egg – Shrouded in shadows, it harbors the secrets of the void.]
Drahon stared at it, blinking repeatedly.
What was she trying to do? The rune guide had clearly explained this.
"What does this mean?" Devon asked nonchalantly, knowing full well it was the description of the five mythical eggs.
His intention wasn’t to sound like he didn’t know it, but rather to ask what Ayvira’s reason was for showing it again. She could have just spoken it, but now she was conjuring a stats screen just to put the descriptions there.
Drahon too was bewildered by why she took the harmless effort of conjuring a stats screen to show them this.
But Ayvira was focused and seemed like she was up to something.
She told them to read the words on the stats screen and immerse themselves.
"Okay?" Drahon had said, uncertain.
Devon had at first been reluctant to heed her words, but Ayvira was dead serious, and it was evident in her expression.
And so Devon complied like Drahon, and they read the words on the stats screen, muttering them, actually.
After they were done, Devon raised a brow and stared at Ayvira, giving a shrug.
"Okay, so... why tell us to... stare... read the stuff on the stats screen?" Devon asked, trying to find the right words. "Feels like a command."
"You were clenching your fists, I had to be commanding to halt the incoming fight," she said.
Devon scoffed and then smirked, closing his eyes for a second.
"I wasn’t trying to fight him or...," he hesitated, then continued, the beginning words a slur: "Ah... I can’t say. I only suppressed an urge. Probably a side effect of my demonic powers."
A pause. Then he looked at Drahon and Ayvira and smiled.
"The fuck you saying? If I wanted to harm you guys, I would have done it after I helped you with the demon monsters. I would’ve killed you both and absorbed your essence."
Drahon and Ayvira squinted their eyes, then spontaneously furrowed their brows and exchanged glances.
"Wait, we can absorb essence from players?"
Devon let out a short breath and gave a half-smirk, folding his arms.
"Of course you can. It’s not common knowledge, but it’s possible. The system might not talk about it because it’s tied to advanced bloodline abilities... and darker mechanics most players never unlock."
He stepped forward, his voice calm but serious.
"When a player becomes more in tune with their draconic essence, especially those with a true bloodline, it unlocks certain... primal traits. Essence isn’t limited to monsters. It’s life-force, and we all carry it."
Drahon narrowed his eyes.
"So why hasn’t it happened before?"
"It sure has happened. The reason you haven’t seen it is because most players aren’t strong, or savage, enough. To absorb a player’s essence, they either have to be on the brink of death... or willingly transfer it. But when someone dies in a high-level battle, especially someone who has evolved, their essence doesn’t just vanish. If you know how, you can take it. Just like monsters."
Ayvira spoke quietly.
"So it’s like harvesting power."
"Exactly. It’s power. Raw and unstable. Dangerous, but real. And trust me... some players out there already know this. They just don’t say it out loud, so as not to be suspected. And see, I’ve just told you information as harmful as this."
He paused, looking at their faces, and said:
"If you think I’m more of a villain than a good guy, then have this in mind: I’m not a villain who’ll harm his friends. At least I’m not a vicious villain."
"You... you’re no villain. I mean, don’t think you are."
What Drahon wondered was how Devon knew all this. Wasn’t he a new player like the rest of them? It wasn’t even up to a week since they entered the Dragon Game.
Devon’s expression darkened slightly as he glanced between them.
"There are players who’ve taken it further," he said, his voice low. "Some... kill their own companions. Teammates they’ve fought beside for weeks, just for the power boost."
"No," Devon replied, his tone grim.
"It’s desperation. Ambition. Greed. When you’re chasing strength in this world, morals start to blur. In a world as cursed and damned as this. Especially when someone realizes essence from players, especially strong ones, can give more than from any monster."
Drahon’s jaw clenched, the weight of that truth settling in.
"So people are out there pretending to be allies... waiting to strike?"
"Yes. But I’m not telling you all this so you start to panic. I’m just telling you in case we meet other players."
Drahon and Ayvira were about to more questions when Devon pointed to the stats screen still in the air.
"You wanted to explain something to us, go on..."