Chapter 16: The Bond of Blood
The Bond of Blood
The air in the cave grew heavy as Dani stared at the system notification hovering in front of him.
[System Notification: Emma wants you to save this dragon. Do you accept?]
Dani glanced at Emma, who was watching him intently. "Save it? How am I supposed to save something this massive?" he muttered, his heart racing.
But Emma's gaze didn't waver, and with a deep breath, Dani pressed [Accept].
The notification vanished, replaced by another.
[System Notification: Use your resources and skills to stabilize the dragon's condition.]
A Race Against Time
Dani sprang into action, scouring the cave for anything useful. His Mind's Eye guided him, highlighting vines and leaves he could use. "This... this could work," he muttered, gathering materials.
Emma stood guard over the dragon, her tails swaying rhythmically, as if reassuring the dying creature. Dani quickly crushed the leaves and mixed them with water from a small pool inside the cave, creating a rudimentary paste.
"Alright, big guy," Dani said nervously, approaching the dragon. Its massive eye flickered open, focusing on him. For a moment, Dani froze, but Emma nudged him forward.
He carefully fed the concoction to the dragon. The creature groaned, its breathing stabilizing slightly, but the system notification appeared again:
[The dragon's life is still in danger. Continue treatment.]
"I need more," Dani muttered, clenching his fists. Without hesitation, he sprinted back into the forest, gathering herbs and materials with the system's help.
A Strange Request
Returning to the cave, Dani prepared an ointment and applied it to the dragon's cracked scales and wounds. The dragon groaned softly, its massive body trembling. Dani wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a faint sense of relief.
But then another notification appeared.
[System Notification: Drop your blood on the dragon's injury.]
"My blood? Why?" Dani asked aloud, his voice echoing in the cavern. Emma nudged him again, her eyes filled with an urgency he couldn't ignore.
"Alright, fine!" Dani muttered. He pulled out his small dagger, pricking his finger. A single drop of blood fell onto the dragon's largest wound.
The reaction was immediate. The dragon's body glowed faintly, the light spreading from the wound to the rest of its form. Dani stumbled back, shielding his eyes.
"What's happening?" he whispered, completely baffled.