When Ethan fell silent, saying nothing, the Gem Dragon Grand Elder immediately stepped forward and spoke up.
"Honored Lord Valkarion," he began, his voice solemn but urgent, "we understand how difficult it would be to reclaim the sacred artifact—the Gem Dragon Bracelet—from Sea King Maelthorak. But I give you my word: if you can retrieve it for us, I will grant you the full power of the Sacred Altar to help you grow stronger."
He paused, then added with emphasis, "And this promise has no expiration date."
"No matter when—be it years or even centuries from now—if you bring back the Gem Dragon Bracelet, the Sacred Altar, our most sacred place, will open its gates to you."
"And to show our sincerity, I'm willing to send Zyraxis to aid you in your rise to power."
The moment those words left his mouth, Zyraxis—the Mana Crystal Dragon—visibly stiffened. His expression darkened as he spoke.
"Grand Elder…"