Chapter 79: Active World Quest: Final Phase
The sky above the city of Ignis-Vara trembled under the steady, thunderous beat of colossal wings.
Vetra—in her full, ancient Arrax dragon form—was far too massive to land within the tight confines of the town square without crushing half the stone structures. Instead, she circled low over the village like a living storm cloud, casting a massive, sweeping shadow across the cobblestones as the wind from her wings blew merchant stalls and awnings askew.
From the base of her broad, scaled neck, Vince slid down the thick ridge of her back, dropped over her sweeping tail, and landed gracefully on his feet right in front of Torvald’s guard patrol.
The entire village was dead silent. Guards, merchants, and dragonkin citizens stared with wide, disbelieving eyes, their hushed whispers filling the air.
"Is that... a human?"
"How in the hell did he get the Crimson Calamity to leave Mount Ignis?!"
"Look at his clothes... did he fight her bare-handed?"
Before the crowd’s shock could settle, a yellow-haired figure broke through the paralyzed onlookers. Lyrielle ran straight up to Vince, throwing her arms around his neck in a sudden, breathless hug.
"I’m glad you’re back,"
She murmured softly against his shoulder.
Vince chuckled, casually patting her back.
"Told you I’d be fine."
Lyrielle pulled back, her bright emerald eyes scanning him from head to toe—and immediately freezing when she took in his attire.
He was wearing a ridiculously sparse, primitive fur vest and jagged leather loincloth held together by coarse twine.
"What the hell are you wearing, Vince?"
She asked, her dignified expression morphing into sheer disbelief.
"Uhh..."
Vince scratched the back of his head, offering a sheepish grin.
"What happened to the enchanted outfit I conjured for you before you left?"
"Well... you see... it kind of got burned,"
Vince admitted smoothly.
Lyrielle let out a long, dramatic sigh, shaking her head.
"Likely story."
With a fluid wave of her hands, elven mana shimmered around her fingertips. A tailored, sleek dark jacket and reinforced trousers materialized over Vince’s frame, fitting him like a glove.
"There,"
Lyrielle huffed, adjusting his collar.
"It’s fire-resistant this time."
"Thanks, Elle,"
Vince said softly, reaching out and gently patting her head.
Lyrielle froze. The sudden, intimate nickname caught her entirely off guard. Her ears twitched, and a bright, burning flush instantly spread across her cheeks as her eyes widened.
"E-Elle...?" she stammered.
Vince raised an eyebrow, a dry smirk touching his lips.
"Yeah. You don’t like it?"
"N-No! No, no, no... it’s nice!"
She blurted out quickly, turning her head away sharply as she puffed out her cheeks, trying—and failing—to hide her flustered expression.
Before Vince could tease her further, a heavy boom rattled the stone square.
Vetra had compressed her massive dragon body, shifting back into her tall, muscular Man-Beast form. She touched down on the cobblestones with effortless grace, her crimson scales glinting under the afternoon sun.
The surrounding dragonkin citizens immediately dropped to their knees or bowed their heads in reverence, treating her like an ancient war deity walking among mortals.
Vetra, however, couldn’t care less about the kneeling crowd. She ignored them entirely, jogging straight toward Vince with a broad, eager grin.
Lyrielle turned around, taking in the towering, half-clothed dragonkin woman with wide eyes. She looked back at Vince.
"Oh... who is this?"
"Oh, umm..."
Vince gestured between them.
"Vetra, this is Lyrielle. Lyrielle, this is Vetra."
Lyrielle quickly composed herself, putting on her best diplomatic crown-princess demeanor. She stepped forward, stretching out her slender hand with a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you, Vetra."
Vetra looked down at Lyrielle’s hand, then crossed her heavy arms over her chest with a haughty huff.
"I don’t talk to weaklings."
Lyrielle’s jaw dropped. She turned her head toward Vince, her emerald eyes narrowing in sharp offense.
"Excuse me?! Did you hear her, Vince?"
Vince, who was already walking casually toward the inn with his hands stuffed in his pockets, didn’t even turn around.
"Be nice, Vetra."
Instantly, Vetra’s arrogant posture deflated.
"Y-Yes, Vince,"
She mumbled, rubbing the back of her head like a disciplined child. She quickly reached out and snatched Lyrielle’s hand, giving it a stiff, awkward shake.
"Nice to meet you too."
Lyrielle blinked, thoroughly stunned by how fast the terrifying dragonkin warrior had just folded under Vince’s command.
---
Vince was halfway up the wooden stairs inside the inn when a deep, familiar voice called out from the lobby below.
"You actually did it, didn’t you?"
Vince paused and turned around, his face neutral.
Torvald stood at the base of the stairs, leaning against his heavy war-hammer. The veteran captain looked at Vince with a mixture of profound awe and disbelief.
"You actually got the Calamity to leave the mountain."
Vince shrugged lightly.
"It was quite easy, actually."
Torvald let out a sharp, booming laugh, shaking his head in sheer amazement.
"You’re clearly a human... but if I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re the first of a completely new kind."
Vince smirked, turning back toward the stairs.
"I might as well have my own race written in the history books."
Torvald chuckled heartily, offering a firm nod.
"I’ll be off then. People like you are rare to come by in this world, Vince. I hope we cross paths as friends again."
"Sure thing, man,"
Vince replied as Torvald turned and walked out the heavy oak doors of the inn.
Down in the courtyard outside, total chaos was erupting.
Vetra was bouncing on her toes, eagerly trying to force Lyrielle into a brawl.
"Come on, long-ears! Show me what you’ve got!"
"Stay away from me, you brute!"
Lyrielle shrieked, shunning her completely and sprinting in circles as Vetra chased her around the courtyard like a hungry predator.
Upstairs in his room, Vince ignored the commotion outside and pulled up his system interface.
Display stats—specifically physical attributes,
Vince commanded mentally.
The floating purple window filled his vision, showcasing massive stat increases across the board. His strength, agility, and mana pathways were operating at a level far exceeding any mortal warrior. He could feel the dense, primordial energy thrumming effortlessly through his veins.
Suddenly, a notification window flashed, overriding his attribute display:
[ACTIVE WORLD QUEST: The Sovereign Transcendent Elixir — Final Phase]
> Target: Nerissa, Tide Caller of Nethros
> Location: The Depths of the Glass Sea (Head East)
Vince smiled calmly, dismissing the floating interface with a flick of his wrist.
He leaned against the window frame, looking out over the town.
I’m pretty sure I could take on the Duke and win easily as I am right now,
He thought silently.
"Vinceee! Help meee!"
Lyrielle’s desperate scream echoed from below as she sprinted across the courtyard, with Vetra grinning madly right on her heels.
Vince looked down from the window and burst out laughing. Watching Lyrielle run for her life in a complete panic was undeniably entertaining. He shook his head with a smirk, thinking to himself:
Going back to the Oakhaven right now would only cut her adventure short.
Leaning out the window, Vince called down over the noise:
"That’s enough, Vetra! I promise to spar with you tomorrow. Leave Lyrielle alone."
Vetra skidded to a sudden halt, her amber eyes lighting up with instant excitement.
"Are you serious, Vince?!"
"I am, Vetra. Now c’mon inside, Lyrielle. It’s getting late."
"I’m coming too!"
Vetra cheered, taking a step toward the doors.
"No, no, no,"
Vince cut in firmly.
"You’re too big, Vetra. You’ll crash through the floorboards. You’re staying on the roof tonight."
Vetra’s bottom lip pouted.
"But—"
"No buts,"
Vince said smoothly, turning away from the window.
Lyrielle rushed past Vetra toward the entrance, shooting the dragonkin a smug, triumphant glare.
"Serves you right, brute!"
Vetra’s slitted eyes snapped onto her sharply.
"What did you say, long-ears?!"
"Nothing!"
Lyrielle squeaked, sprinting the last few yards and slamming the heavy wooden door shut just as Vetra reached for her!