I Only Tame Dragons

"I don't want to cut too many trees," Horizon said casually. "They're essential for good air circulation and shade for my future home."

The spirit chuckled again, clearly amused by his pragmatism. "Even so . . . you are the first player in Singing Grove to meet the requirements."

"Requirements? For what?" Was this going to be a quest? Horizon thought.

"To face Kothar," Atalanta replied, her voice deepening, filled with ancient weight. "And to defeat him."

"Kothar?"

"Kothar, a twisted Lizardfolk, lost within the Gloomy Woods, stumbled upon a forbidden relic. This relic allowed him to forge a dark pact with a powerful demon patron.

"With his newfound powers, Kothar became obsessed with turning the Singing Grove into a wasteland of undead. Rallying Lizardfolk loyal to his cause, he stole the [Heart of Gaia], a sacred artifact of the grove, and corrupted it. The once-pure heart of the forest was shattered into fragments, each piece cursed and scattered across the forest, tipping the balance of nature toward decay.

"These fragments are bound to one another, showing visions of their locations to anyone who destroys one."

Horizon's eyes narrowed as he recalled the [Token of Savagery] he had taken from the Lizardmen Chieftain. A vision had indeed flashed before him when he destroyed the token, an image of an unknown location forming in his mind. "So that's what it was . . ."

"You've already faced one of Kothar's cursed Lizardfolk. But if we don't stop Kothar and reclaim the cursed fragments of Gaia, restoring them to their original form, the Singing Grove will wither and die."

"I won't allow that," Horizon said, his voice firm and resolute. This lush, magical landscape had become his home now, and there was no way he'd stand by and watch it rot.

"Then, will you accept the quest?"

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"One thing—does this quest have a time limit?"

"In six months, if the curse isn't stopped, it will be too late. The forest will be beyond saving."

Horizon nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "Alright, I accept." The competition only lasted two months at most, so by the time he returned home, he could start with this quest.

However, now wasn't the time to take action. The journey to the Crownjade Woods would take three to four days on a carriage, assuming they took breaks along the way. On top of that, they still had to find their last remaining party member. Saving the forest, as important as it was, would have to wait.

Right now, the competition was his top priority.

"Thank you, Horizon," Atalanta said with warmth. "Accept this gift for our first meeting."

[ACCEPTED! UNIQUE Quest! Atalanta's Request!]

[ACQUIRED! Fragment of Gaia!]

|| Fragment of Gaia ||

→ Wondrous Item, Very Rare

→ The Fragment of Gaia is an ancient relic infused with the essence of the Earth itself, capable of refining raw materials and elevating them to the next tier of quality. This mystical stone is revered for its ability to transform base substances into purer, stronger forms, enhancing their durability, potency, and magical properties.

Its power stems from the lifeblood of the planet, drawing on the primal forces of creation.

→ However, the Fragment's powers aren't whole and are currently limited. It can only refine a set amount of materials per day, capped at 100 pieces.

→ Any material placed within the Fragment's influence is reshaped and enhanced, pushing its potential to the next tier—common metals turn into rare alloys, basic herbs gain stronger medicinal properties, and magical stones glow with untapped energy. Sometimes, you might receive 2-5x refined material with a single material.

→ The Fragment's true potential remains locked, suggesting that there may be ways to expand or unlock further capabilities, allowing for greater refinement or perhaps more advanced transformations in the future.

|| E N D ||Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"It's one of the Fragments of Gaia that you recovered from Chieftain Uger," Atalanta explained, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and hope. "Thanks to you breaking the curse, one of the fragments has returned to me. I will let you borrow it for now, as it will aid you immensely in your quest. Though it's not yet whole, it remains a powerful item."

"Thank you." Horizon accepted the [Fragment of Gaia] without hesitation. With this, his issue of dealing with low-tier materials would be solved, and he could now forge High-Tier Drakhan Silver equipment and possibly Low-Tier Gold Equipment. The possibilities this fragment unlocked were vast, and it would be key to his future preparations.

At the break of dawn, Horizon and his group had finished their preparations to head toward the Crownjade Woods. Originally, they had planned to depart as soon as they delivered Druger and the other builders safely to Sky Talon, but the unexpected request from the harpies had caused a detour, delaying them by two days.

Still, with their objective clear, they resolved to find their final member within the Crownjade Woods, hoping to complete their team before the looming competition.

Given the large number of guilds and adventurers heading toward the woods, Horizon reasoned that there would likely be independent players or even skilled Eternians seeking groups within Crownjade Woods. This plan was much more efficient than blindly searching in scattered villages or towns.

With this in mind, the group agreed that Crownjade Woods would be the perfect place to recruit their last teammate.

After leaving Druger with some money and detailed instructions for the construction of their new home, Horizon, Nyx, Lydia, Von, Silphie, and Cappy quickly set off on their journey.

Their first stop was Mappletown, a bustling trade hub right now where they could rent a carriage. Though Crownjade Woods wasn't too far from Sky Talon, it would still take three to four days of travel by carriage with proper rest breaks, and nearly a week on foot.

Given the urgency of their mission and the time-sensitive nature of the competition, they decided not to waste any more time traveling by foot.

At Mappletown's busy marketplace, they secured a sturdy carriage, large enough to accommodate the group and their supplies. The cost was steep—5,000 gil for the rental, food, and provisions—but time was of the essence, and Horizon didn't hesitate. After all, the competition ahead promised much greater rewards than mere coin.

As the horses galloped through the countryside, the landscape began to change. Rolling green hills gave way to the towering trees and shadowy canopies in the distance. The air felt heavier, filled with the scent of damp earth and the ancient whispers of the forest. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a feeling that the real journey was just beginning.

The group spent the ride in quiet preparation. Nyx was busy sleeping, her skeletal wings softly rattling with each motion. Lydia was already back to her usual energetic self after the previous night's festivities, and sat counting the gemstones in the bags, humming a tune as she did.

Von, ever the joker, kept fiddling with a deck of cards, occasionally trying to impress the others with sleight-of-hand tricks. Silphie was in her own zone of eating their provisions. Cappy was hovered over at Von's shoulder. Horizon, however, remained focused, his thoughts already on the forging recipes in his [Library] interface.

There was still so much to be done once they arrived. Finding a strong ally was just the first step. They would need to gather intel, plan their strategy for the competition, and, of course, deal with any unexpected threats lurking in the woods.

But one thing was certain: with their sights set on the Eternian Competition, the next chapter of their adventure was about to begin.