I Received System to Become Dragonborn

"Everyone intact?" Eccar\'s tone was brisk, his piercing gaze sweeping over them. His presence radiated command and assurance even as the adrenaline still thrummed in their veins.

Kael nodded with face that is mixture of awe and disbelief. "We\'re fine. You didn\'t leave a single one standing, did you?"

Eccar shrugged, his claws retracting into his gauntlets, leaving no trace of their deadly work. "Don\'t worry, they all dead. Let\'s keep moving. We\'re not out of danger yet."

Tovan exhaled sharply, his tension easing as he gestured toward the hover sleds. "We\'ve got the materials. Now, we just have to make it back without more interference."

Eccar nodded, then his gaze darted around their surroundings, scanning the area with meticulous precision. The faint hum of the signal jammer overhead provided a rare moment of security, cutting off enemy communications and masking their movements. Still, he wasn\'t about to take any chances.

"The jamming is holding for now," he said. "But we shouldn\'t let our guard down. Move quickly and stay ready for anything."

The team resumed their retreat, hauling the hover sleds through the rugged terrain. Despite their exhaustion, Eccar\'s presence seemed to fuel their determination and he can give them sense of security.

Kael and Tovan exchanged glances, their expressions filled with unspoken admiration for the Dragonborn who had singlehandedly turned the tide of their mission. Their teammates also feeling the same way.

Yet, Eccar dismissed their awe with a curt gesture, urging them to stay focused before they could say anything.

"Save your breath for later," he said. "This is far from over."

So they did. Then few minutes going with focused silence as they bringing their haul.

Finally, the group reached the entrance to the underground homeland. Three warriors clad in black armor guarded the concealed passage with their weapons at the ready. They relaxed only when they saw Eccar emerge with the team, their tension giving way to relief.

"Get it open," Tovan ordered.

The guards sprang into action and immediately revealing a hidden entrance beneath a camouflaged rock face. The passage yawned open. As the last of the team filed in with the hover sleds, the warriors sealed the entrance behind them, murmuring incantations that cloaked it in layers of protective and conceaelment Magic.

The air grew cooler as they descended into the underground sanctuary. The walls glowed faintly with embedded runes, guiding them deeper into the heart of their resistance\'s stronghold. By the time they reached the main chamber, the tension that had gripped the team began to dissolve.

The moment they entered, the underground settlement erupted with cheers. Men, women, and children crowded around, their faces lighting up as they saw the sleds loaded with stolen materials.

Shouts of celebration echoed off the cavern walls, and for a brief moment, hope seemed to fill the air.

"We did it!" someone cried.

"Eccar!" others called out, their voices reverent.

Kael couldn\'t help but smile, his earlier fear fading in the face of their people\'s joy. He turned to Eccar who stood slightly apart with a small smile on his face.

"You\'re the reason we made it back," Kael said. "They should know—"

"Later," Eccar interrupted. "Celebrate now, but don\'t let your guard down. This is just one victory in a long war."

Eccar can\'t let them enjoying this small victory too much. They still have a lot to do.

Kael nodded, recognizing the wisdom in his words. Still, the sight of their people cheering, clapping, and even shedding tears of relief was a balm to their weary souls. This is the first time nobody got killed when they outside doing mission like this.

Eccar finally allowed himself a small, fleeting smile before stepping forward, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

"Rest while you can. We\'ll need to organize the materials and make the weapon so we can prepare for what\'s next."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into another round of cheers. Despite his stoic demeanor, Eccar\'s words carried the weight of reassurance and hope for hem. For now, the resistance had won a battle and their morale had risen with it.

---

Few hours later.

The air in the dimly lit war chamber buzzed with the energy of victory. The leaders of the squads had gathered once more around the large circular table with expressions a mix of determination and also rare happiness.

Commander Varok sat at the head, his battle-worn features softened by a rare smile.

Eccar leaned against the wall nearby, his presence commanding yet unassuming.

The murmurs of conversation settled as Varok cleared his throat, drawing everyone\'s attention.

"The mission was a success," he began, his gravelly voice carrying a note of pride. "And we all made it back alive. That alone is a victory worth celebrating."

A wave of nods and murmurs of agreement swept through the room. Renna, the chief weaponsmith, smiled faintly.

"We owe much of this to you, Lord Dragonborn," she said, glancing at Eccar.

All eyes turned to him. Eccar inclined his head with a small smile, his piercing gaze calm.

"The mission\'s success was a team effort," he replied, his voice steady. "Each of you played your part. Let\'s not forget that. I\'m just playing a distraction."

Varok thumped a fist against the table. "Modesty aside, your intervention was critical, my Lord. Without you, we might not have made it out. Now, thanks to this success, we have a chance to turn the tide."

The room shifted as the leaders leaned in and their focus intensifying again. Renna tapped the edge of the table, drawing attention to the materials report spread before her.

"These resources are of incredible quality. We can proceed immediately with forging the siege weapons and outfitting our troops with more advanced gear."

Varok nodded. Discover stories at empire

"Do it. The faster we can arm ourselves, the stronger our next strike will be." He turned his attention to the map etched into the table\'s surface. "Speaking of which, we need to decide our next target."

Kael who was seated at the far side of the table, leaned forward.

"The invaders are mining our world\'s minerals at several key locations. Their operations there are vital to their war machine. We take out those mines, and we cripple their supply lines."

"Agreed," Tovan chimed in. "The mines are heavily fortified, though. We\'ll need a solid strategy and coordination if we\'re to succeed."

Darek\'s gaze swept over the map. He walked to the table and his finger traced one of the marked locations, a remote mining site nestled deep within a mountain range.

"Here," he said. "Their mining operation in the Blackrock Pass. It\'s a critical node in their supply chain. Taking it out will send shockwaves through their operations."

Varok\'s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "A bold move. The Blackrock Pass is dangerous terrain, and their defenses will be strong there. But if we strike with precision and enough force, we can pull it off. And I believe that they are never have expected us to strike there cause they underestimating us."

"Then let me prepare the weapons. I\'ll forge the strongest equipment we\'ve ever had. With the Dragonborn leading us, I belive that we can make this happen," Renna said.

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