I Received System to Become Dragonborn

Chapter 612 The Skeleton

The soldiers moved swiftly, dismantling the enormous blue skeleton piece by piece. The larger bones like the spines and limbs proved challenging to transport, their weight and length requiring careful maneuvering through the narrow mine tunnels. Fortunately, those bones are proved to be strong and not vulnerable to impact so they don't need to be too careful.

Sweat dripped from their brows as they worked tirelessly, guided by Kael's precise instructions and Commander Varok's unyielding presence.

The faint glow of the skeleton seemed to pulse rhythmically as the last of the long bones was transported through the swirling Magic portal. With a final heaving effort, the soldiers maneuvered the remaining fragments into the gateway.

The cavern was now empty of the mysterious relic, its eerie light replaced by the shifting hues of the portal's energy.

"Good work, soldiers!" Varok called out, his voice carrying over the sounds of heavy breathing and clinking metal. "All soldiers, prepare to retreat through the portal. Leave nothing behind!"

The troops began moving swiftly, filing through the gateway in steady lines. Their weapons and siege equipment were transported last, each piece disappearing into the glowing vortex.

Only Varok, Kael, Renna, and Brogar remained behind, standing guard as the final remnants of their forces disappeared.

Kael gripped his blade tightly, his sharp eyes fixed on the crumbling entrance. The sound of heavy impacts grew louder accompanied by the faint but distinct shouts of the invaders.

Renna knelt by the charges, her fingers poised over the detonator.

"They're almost through," Kael muttered. "We have to blow it now."

Varok nodded grimly. "Renna, do it."

With a decisive press of the trigger, a deafening explosion rocked the cavern.

BOOM!

The entrance collapsed in a thunderous roar, sending a cascade of jagged rocks crashing down. The screams of the invaders caught in the blast echoed through the chamber, a grim confirmation of their success.

The resistance soldiers exchanged brief triumphant glances, savoring the sounds of their enemy's suffering.

"Good riddance," Brogar growled, gripping his hammer with satisfaction smile on his bloodied face.

The minutes dragged on as the last soldiers and equipment passed through the portal. The ground trembled faintly under the repeated impacts from the other side of the collapsed entrance. Dust swirled in the air, illuminated by the dim light of the portal.

Finally, the last soldier disappeared into the gateway, leaving only the four commanders. Varok turned to his companions with resolute expression.

Varok's eyes widened briefly, then a slow rare smile spread across his face. He exchanged glances with Kael, Renna, and Brogar, each of them sharing the same astonishment and relief.

For the first time in years, they had won a battle without paying a devastating price.

"This is the best result we've had in years," Renna said.

Varok nodded, his chest swelling with pride. "It's a sign that things are turning in our favor. Let's hope it lasts."

As the mood lightened and the hall filled with a renewed sense of optimism, the heavy doors at the far end creaked open. The elders entered, their presence immediately commanding attention.

Draped in brown flowing robes adorned with intricate symbols of their order, the three figures moved slowly, their expressions unreadable.

Their eyes fell on the blue skeleton, and for the first time in recent memory, the stoic elders betrayed their composure.

The elder woman at the center halted mid-step, her weathered face tightening with shock. The other two mirrored her reaction, their wide eyes locked on the massive remains.

Varok noticed their reaction immediately. Frowning, he made his way through the crowd toward them, Kael following close behind.

"You know something about it," Varok said bluntly as he approached, his voice low but firm. "What is it?"

The elder woman turned her gaze to him, her expression a mix of awe and dread. She hesitated as if weighing the weight of her words. Finally, she spoke, her voice trembling.

"Commander Varok," she said, "what you have brought back is no ordinary relic. This... this is the skeleton of a dead goddess."

"A... goddess?" Varok repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

The elder nodded solemnly. "One who fell in an ancient war. Her power may have faded, but traces of it remain within these bones. This energy, this glow... it is the remnants of divine might, dormant but not gone."

Varok's stomach tightened as he processed her words.

The skeleton's faint glow seemed to grow brighter, as if responding to the revelation.

Kael stepped closer to Varok, his voice low. "What does this mean for us, Commander? If it's truly a goddess... what happens next?"

Varok didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the skeleton, its mysteries now more daunting than ever.

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