DRAGON MEN

We followed Calfus out of the inn once Sam changed into clothes that didn't look so..... revealing. It took a fair bit of time for us to actually get to the lord's residence. It actually wasn't as close as I had originally thought. It was close to the outskirts but it certainly did not say I am the Lords house. Apparently Dwarves don't think as much about social status as they do about treating each other right.

It was a fair sized building. About the size of the in we stayed in and was also made out of marble. The only exception to the building was warriors was carved onto the outside of the walls. They all stood with their shields planted in the ground with the sword through them as the knights stood their. It was as though they were guarding the place but at the same time.... treating it as sacred. We passed The door was small enough for Sam to enter. Unfortunately I could not. Luckily though they moved the meeting to a place in the house where there was a window that I could stick my head in to listen.

The Lord of the City was a much simpler man than I thought. He wore normal clothes. Similar to a squire from the dark ages with exception to the sleeves having been ripped off. He was a burley man and full of muscle. His beard showed a youthful brown with hardly any wrinkles on his face. The only thing that stood out was a massive mark on his arm. I would know that mark anywhere. A pact mark of a beast tamer. This mark had a snake bearing it's fangs while it was coiled in the center of a shield. It was a very ominous mark. (This man must be Yi Ze's trainer.) I thought. He exuded power without saying or doing a thing. After he entered the room Sam stood and bowed.

He bowed slightly in return. "It has been many years since we have had guests not of the dwarf tribe in our city. I must thank you for saving our port town to the south. We recieved news a couple days before it happened but were unable to get there in time to save the citizens. You were not only able to prepare but also guard our countrymen from harm during the time required for repairs. For this I thank you from this heart of mine." His voice was deep as a ravine with a roaring river for its base. Deep but flowed like water. He bowed even lower to Sam and I.

The Lord raised his head. "I have yet to introduce myself. I am Bram. Lord of the City of Crystal Sky and Trainer of The Crystal Guardian." He sat down in a high backed chair to the left of the window with a short round table by the window. " Please sit." He waved to the chair across from him. Each move he made seemed like a mountain moving. Slow and deliberate. "I had Calfus go and prepare some tea while we talk. I heard one of my subordinates has been rather unpleasant and acted without manners. I do apologize for this. I have already given orders to send him to the coal mines." He looked at Sam who slightly shuddered. I turned my head to look at Bram. "Lord. Why just the coal mines? He offended and hurt my master only to be sent to mines, where dwarves I have heard are most comfortable. Why?"

Bram looked at me and what followed were the coldest words I've heard. " My friends. You are mistaken. Dwarves hate mines. We prefer the open spaces and places like my fair city. I sent him to the mines because dwarves have sensitive noses and coal is the nastiest material we can ever smell. We'd prefer to shovel and smell monster feces over mining coal." His eyes glinted with a cold light. I couldn't help but grin slightly. ( Serves that pig right) was all I could think. Calfus came in carrying a tray with a tea pot and cups on it.

" Right on time my friend." Bram said loudly. Calfus placed the tray on the table and we started our discussion. The discussion covered many things and lasted for an hour or so. In the end we resolved the problems that had occurred between the dwarves and ourselves. Bram had agreed to give us a couple things. One of which was something called a blood crystal that would help me greatly.

" Blood Crystal's are fairly rare but we dwarves have no use for them. Only monsters are able to eat them or use them at all." He had folded his hands together with his elbows on the table. "What exactly are blood Crystal's?" I asked. Curiosity might kill a cat but it would have a hell of a hard time killing me. Bram turned to me and began to explain. " Most Crystal's form from a beast or some being dying and the earth absorbing it's essence. A blood crystal on the other hand is different. Blood Crystal's are formed around places where a great amount of blood flowed from multiple monsters or people. It absorbs so much essence it becomes murky and red like blood. In essence it is the highest concentration of blood power that one can find. But it's because of that concentration that noone can use it. Having too many attributes in a crystal makes it useless while a pure elemental crystal is priceless."

" Ok." I replied. I had learned much while I was here. It was about an hour or so later that we finally left Brams home with a bag and a canister of sorts. Calfus led us back to the inn we were staying at and then said his goodbyes because he had other tasks to do. We went to our room and found quite the nice room. A queen size bed with stone bed posts with floral carving on it was on one side while a wooden dresser was off to the other. There was a set of glass double doors facing out. Sam opened them and walked out onto the balcony. The sight was breath taking. The city was a sea of glowing rainbow lights. It was haunting but beautiful.

" Ignis.... Nevermind." I felt it. Her nervousness and slight fear. Of what I wasn't certain, but I did know that when the time was right she would talk to me. I turned to the things we had brought back with us. The canister in particular. It was a cylinder made of black leather with a metal cap engraved with runes that glowed with an eerie light. " What do you think will happen when I eat this thing?" I asked Sam.

" I don't know. But if Bram says it's beneficial I believe him. But first. You are too big to stay in this room. Let's go to the barn before you eat it." I nodded and picked up the cylinder in my mouth and headed for the door. Sam followed close behind. The barn isn't nearly as bad as it sounds. It was ok. Hay was everywhere and there were stalls of course but it was warm. I entered one and got Sam to open the canister for me. The moment we did there was a wave of power that filled the air. There were two creatures in there with us and their heads turned to look at us. One was a fanged horse. It had a horses body but a serpent's head. It's fangs were enormous. It was like seeing a sabertooth snake. The other was a unicorn.... Not much to really explain there. They immediately turned away when I glared at them. Sam pulled out the crystal and I shivered. It was blood red and eminated power. Whatever blood had been fed to this thing had been ridiculous. The smell is what got me though. It genuinely smelled like blood. It was an acrid iron smell that filled the air. Sam grabbed her nose to keep the smell at bay. Slowly I opened my mouth and took it from her. The taste wasn't sweet like the other Crystal's I'd had. It was savory and had a heavy iron taste. I swallowed it. And laid down to wait.

After a moment of waiting I felt pain wrack my body. Power was pouring through me in a raging river. My bones groaned and my muscles were taught as steam poured off my body.

/ Host has acquired Blood Crystal of the dragon tribe. Host has Acquired the following DNA.

Human: 100%

Lesser Disaster Dragon: 100%

Dwarf: 100%

Demon: 2%

Combining the blood lines to strengthen host.

Dragon man bloodline created.

Dragon Man: Has the intelligence of both the humans and dwarves but the strength and speed of dragons. Most have the ability to transform into a lesser form of an ancestor./

/ Does Host wish to take on the dragon man blood line and combine it with your Disaster Class Armored Sky Tyrant?/The system asked. ( Yes) I thought. Despite the pain of my taught muscles I felt exhilarated. The pain increased again and the system chimed.

/ Bloodlines combined successfully. Host can now evolve into Shield Tyrant Dragon Man.

Host can look similar to a human and be able to use weapons. Visible differences will be a pair of horns, pair of shield wings, and tail. Will also be stronger and faster than humans. Does host wish to evolve in this direction?/

I thought for a bit and groaned at Sam through the bond. { How are dragon men viewed among the races?} Startled she quickly picked up a book of notes she had been writing from the pack at her side. " Dragon men are fairly common and viewed in good standing amongst most adventurer parties. They are known to be an honorable race and strength is their belief system. If you aren't strong you shouldn't fight." She said hurriedly.

{ Good} ( System.... Do it) The pain was blinding as I felt myself compress as my bones condensed and my form grew smaller. My six legs turned into four limbs as my middle limbs moved and merged with the shield arms on my back. My shields shrank with me. My wings too combined with my shields making them feel even heavier. My face felt like it had been slammed into the floor as it went from being a lizard to the face of a man. My horns curled slightly to still be above my head. My claws had grown into fingers with claws at the end. My feet were similar to what they were before but they were thinner and elongated to make me taller. They felt like putty that was being pulled. My claws were sharp and black. My scales were lessening as skin took its place. My shoulders and back were covered with red and purple scales leading all the way down to my tail which came from my tailbone and down. My shield wings were now actually wings that were foldable. The parts where the bones were in the wings were heavily reinforced to the point they could give steel a run for its money. I obviously couldn't fly with them but I certainly could defend against almost any attack.

As the changes took place Sam stood their staring. My face formed and stopped shifting as the rest of me was finishing up. Scales covered the back of my hands and my elbows as my chest filled with muscle and became more chiselled. I felt the strength of a human form again. I don't remember how many years it's been since I was able to feel something below my waste in a form like this. I flopped over as the last crack echoed through me and the transformation finished. It was at that moment that Sam squealed and I realized I was in the nude... embarrassing.