'Huh, a draconic legacy?' Anser seemed to have heard the term before, yet it also felt somewhat unfamiliar.
He indeed sensed a unique magical power descend upon him, then be drawn into the dice.
The most exciting thing was the level-up. At level 7 he could master 4th-level spells and gain new class features; his strength would increase considerably.
His painstaking effort to secure the killing blow had not been in vain.
But now was not the time to think about such things. The others had no combat notification and did not know the black dragon had already died; they were still beating it.
"Stop, stop—it's already dead!" he quickly shouted.
Hearing this, everyone immediately stopped, breathing heavily a few times as their surging excitement gradually calmed down.
Old Moss released his hands, and the dragon's head fell to the ground with a bang. Blood flowed from its eyes, its expression ferocious, making it look even more terrifying.
For a moment no one spoke. Everyone simply stared blankly at the black dragon.
"We… slew a dragon?" The halfling Colin slowly stepped forward, touching the jet-black dragon scales, his expression somewhat dazed.
"Heh. Using the word 'we' is really quite exquisite—no shame at all." Bratt came back to his senses, pursed his lips, and imitated Colin's tone. "We're really amazing!"
"Haha…" Anser smiled faintly, which made everyone burst into laughter as well.
As they laughed, everyone gradually relaxed. The situation just now had indeed been rather dangerous; that professional squad from Amn had truly been very strong.
"So how should we deal with this black dragon's corpse?" Salian looked toward Anser, though the corner of his eye kept glancing at Iris nearby.
The main force that killed the black dragon had indeed been their side, but the entire battle had been one integrated fight; no one could ignore the contributions of Durlag's Tower and Fort Jacqueline.
Especially this lady castellan. At the crucial moment she had supported Anser, interrupting the Antimagic Field. Afterwards, meteors fell one after another from the sky, smashing hundreds of soldiers into a panicked retreat and preventing the enemy from surrounding Anser.
Therefore, the ownership of the black dragon became a major problem.
Anser had also thought of this point, but he felt there was no need to discuss distribution right now.
He looked at Iris and asked, "Do you have any good method?"
"Your way of handling it is too wasteful. Beneath my castle there is a magical vault that can preserve things. It won't spoil even if stored for several months." Iris looked at Anser with a half-smile. "You wouldn't… be uneasy about it, would you?"
"Of course not." Anser chuckled softly, his expression serious.
Choices made during battle best reveal a person's character. The moment Iris came to save him despite the danger, she had already earned his recognition.
Iris giggled, her smile bright. "I can't carry it. You take it."
She had previously seen how the treant made its entrance and already knew he had such an ability.
"I'll stop the bleeding first." Anser responded, circling the black dragon and casting Ray of Frost to seal the still-bleeding wounds so they would not be wasted.
The others excitedly helped turn over the corpse to make sure nothing was missed.
Quentin was even more meticulous. He called over a squad of guards to collect the fallen dragon scales and scraps of flesh, and even had markers placed on the patches of soil soaked with dragon blood. It looked as though he was preparing to send people to shovel away even the dirt.
He had also wanted to hand all those odds and ends over to Anser, but Anser flatly refused. They could keep those small things for themselves as a participation benefit. The dragon scales could also be kept as a memento of the dragon slaying.
After stopping the black dragon's bleeding, Anser placed a magical mark on it and stored the whole thing inside Holrewen.
The treant Old Moss and the two awakened trees were also sent back to watch over the black dragon's corpse—not because he feared it would be damaged, but because the black dragon's flesh and blood were not safe, and anyone who touched them by mistake could be injured.
The others stayed behind to clean up the battlefield and gather the spoils of war.
The professional party from Amn had left behind quite a few good things, and they could not afford to miss any of them.
After all that commotion, the sun was hanging high at noon, the temperature had risen, and the smell on the battlefield had become even more unpleasant.
There was a great deal of loot. Just the firearms, ammunition, and various weapons and equipment alone had piled up into a large heap, making them difficult to carry.
Anser had no choice but to work a little harder and temporarily store everything inside Holrewen, then send Salian and the others back as well so they could rest.
Only after Quentin saw that nothing had been left behind did he nod in satisfaction and give the order to return.
The soldiers escorted the prisoners on the way back, each of them excited beyond measure and not feeling tired in the slightest.
Anser sat on Iris's flying carpet, and the two of them left first.
He had checked with the telescope just now. There had been no movement at all in Amn's military camp, so they had probably given up.
After returning to Fort Jacqueline, Iris led him straight underground.
There were two more levels beneath the castle. One level was an ordinary basement and ice cellar, while the second level was the magical vault.
The two of them went down the stairs, and upon entering they were met by a pair of bronze-colored metal doors fully five meters high, covered with intricate silver array patterns and overlaid with a layer of magical barrier.
Iris reached out and touched the doors. Rings of magic rippled outward, and then the doors slowly opened.
She stepped inside and softly explained, "My maternal grandmother was a highly learned archmage. She oversaw the construction of this place, and my parents later improved and upgraded some of the magic arrays…"
Anser followed behind her and discovered that the interior was extremely spacious. Around the surroundings there were only a few shelves, stone platforms, treasure chests, and the like, holding several dozen magic items.
Further inside, there was a huge circular platform like a pool, gleaming with silvery light.
There were also two doors beside it, though it was unclear where they led.
"Put it on top of that. It's specifically used for storing the corpses of giant beasts," Iris said, pointing at the circular platform.
Anser activated the Rod of Security and teleported the black dragon's corpse onto the circular platform. Immediately afterward, the platform emitted a ring of magical radiance that completely enveloped the black dragon.
"I can't really understand it, but it feels very extraordinary. By the way, how come you didn't become a Wizard?" he asked with some curiosity. Iris was a pure Sorcerer and did not have a single level as a Wizard.
"I'd like to know that too." Iris's gaze was distant. "Ever since I can remember, my father taught me how to control my innate magic, while my mother taught me all kinds of arcane knowledge."
"Then that just means your talent is extremely good," Anser guessed.
"Obviously." Iris raised her brows, looking as if it were only natural. She beckoned with her hand. "Let's go. I contacted a friend of my father earlier. She once studied at Candlekeep and later moved to the Giant Plains."
"Only after she arrives can these things truly be put to use."
She had no intention of selling the black dragon. Materials of this level were very rare; selling them would be a waste.
"Mm." Anser understood. He also did not know how to handle it, so leaving it to a professional was not a bad idea. "The buyer you mentioned earlier for the green dragon's tail—is it her?"
"No." Iris watched the vault doors slowly close, then turned and went upstairs. "That person lives in the Wood of Sharp Teeth. He's an alchemist with a very strange temper. He comes out once every few days. If he's interested, I'll send someone to notify you."
"Alright."
While speaking, the two of them arrived at the first floor of the main castle.
"You should go back and rest. I'll make a trip to the Union." Iris gave Anser a push; she had long noticed the fatigue in his eyes.
"Alright." Anser waved his hand. "The spoils are still with me. You all discuss how to divide them—try to make sure everyone gets a share. It wouldn't be right for everyone to have worked so hard for nothing."
"I won't forget."
Iris gave a few instructions to the steward, then flew straight out of the castle.
Anser returned to his room, shut the door tightly, and teleported to Holrewen.
The treant was sleeping. It had been injured, though fortunately not seriously.
The newly appointed village chief Rudin was leading several dozen villagers in constructing houses, bustling with activity.
Most of the others were staying in the hall of the Black Tower, listening to Bratt explain the battle that had just taken place.
After greeting them, Anser went alone to the top floor, lay down on the bed, and brought up his character sheet.
A glowing mark shaped like a black dragon floated above it, extremely eye-catching.
He touched it with his consciousness, and a stream of information flowed into his mind.
[Dragonkind Legacy obtained. Please choose the legacy effect, or use it to enhance one of your own abilities related to dragons.]
'So that's how it is.' After carefully reviewing the information, Anser understood.
When a dragon dies, its power may take root in a certain creature. That creature might be the successor chosen by the dragon, or it might be the murderer who killed the dragon.
Dragonkind Legacy is highly random and has no particular pattern. Even the effects of the legacy vary greatly, and sometimes negative effects can appear.
However, the dice had restrained this power, making it more standardized.
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