I stepped into that human sized hole right beside the eagle.
It was pretty narrow at first, but the further in I went, the wider it became.
Eventually, I found myself in a smaller cave.
In front of me, there was a rather calming pond. Though, the lily pads were cut into pieces.
On the other side of the pond was a pitch black altar.
And it was also the place where I would get my 'artifact.'
I flew over the pond, and when I reached the black altar, I quickly bit into my finger.
A single droplet of blood fell into the altar, and then a barely noticeable pulse spread out through the cave.
I felt the vibrations, and when I saw that my blood had been absorbed into the altar, I knew that it was working.
I took a couple of steps back. In fact, I jumped back to the other side of the pond.
Just then, the ground shook violently.
A few bits of the cave's roof fell down, but I shielded my body with Telekinesis.
The shaking stopped as quickly as it began, but when the dust settled, I saw a black blob floating slightly above the altar.
It gave me an ominous feeling, but I knew very well what it actually was.
When I approached it and placed my hand on top of that blob, a pop-up appeared right in front of me.
[Ding!]
[You have uncovered the Ancient Dragon Sacrificial Blob]
[What would you like to sacrifice?]
Yeah...
It was a very ominous sounding item.
If I gave something valuable, I would receive something as valuable in return.
I had done this so many times in the game.
The main character usually had three choices.
He could either sacrifice:
His eyes.
His hands.
His legs.
But in truth, that sacrifice was a blessing.
If I chose my eyes, I would get draconic eyes in return.
My hands? Draconic hands. Legs would be the same.
It was a no lose situation, and the effects of getting something valuable were also further increased by the money invested.
That was why I brought along so many gold coins.
I stared at the blob for a few extra seconds, and after playing out the scenario in my mind countless times, I was ready.
The maximum reward came by investing 500 gold coins.
I took them out and dumped them onto the blob.
They vanished without a trace, but the blob, instead of being pitch black, turned a dark crimson.
And now came the real deal.
What did I want to sacrifice?
If my life did not depend on it, I might have chosen the eyes. Maybe the hands or legs.
But I was not restricted by the game's choices anymore.
I had free will, and with that free will... What better part to turn draconic than my heart?
A maxed out dragon heart.
My growth speed would increase by so much, and so would the power of my Gift.
I hesitated, but if I wanted to change Amon's... no, my fate. Then I had to do this.
I had to.
[What would you like to sacrifice?]
[...]
"My heart."
The moment I uttered those words, I fell limp on the floor.
My body turned cold in an instant.
Darkness soon washed over my sight, and before I knew it, there was nothing.
I could not even hear that annoying buzz in my ears.
It was silent.
Reaaally... Really silent.
I waited a couple of minutes.
Those minutes soon turned into hours.
No...
Had it already been days?
I had lost track of time completely.
The feeling I had buried deep down rose back up.
I had been too reckless...
There were only three choices for a reason.
If getting a Dragon Heart was that easy, then why did they not give it to the already overpowered main character?
Because if he did get it, he would instantly die.
And that was probably what happened to me.
Though...
I kind of hoped my life would flash before my eyes?
I was pretty badass in my childhood.
Even my first crush was impressed by me.
My parents, the night before dying in a car crash... They stared at me with proud looks when I told them I had graduated at the top of class.
I tried turning off my brain, hoping the negative thoughts would fade away alongside it.
But they did not.
I continued thinking over and over...
Over and over
Over and over
Over and over
Over and over
***
I lost track of how long it had been.
I can confirm that counting to one billion was definitely possible in one sitting though.
Right as I was about to return to counting, I suddenly felt a tingle.
For the first time in ages, I actually felt my body.
That tingle soon expanded into something more.
I felt my toes, then my legs. My torso, then my hands, and lastly, my head.
I was not sure if what I was feeling was real.
But when I slowly inhaled the air and then exhaled it, a soothing sensation washed over me.
All that was left to do was open my eyes.
But...
What if my mind was just playing tricks on me?
What if when I opened my eyes, I went back to feeling nothing again?
Those thoughts continued until I suddenly heard a bell chime.
The system...
I hesitantly opened my eyes.
The unfamiliar light of the dark crimson blob shone down on me.
I was back.
I was alive.
It took me a while to get up to my feet, but when I finally did, I leaned against the altar, clutching my forehead and trying to suppress the headache.
A few hours passed with me simply standing still, not doing anything.
When the headache finally disappeared, I stopped leaning against the altar.
My mind still felt foggy, but putting that aside, I glanced at the new pop-ups, which assured me that I really was back.
And judging from what I was seeing...
My gamble paid off.
[Ding!]
[You have sacrificed your heart.]
[You have endured 100 years of solitude.]
[You have been deemed worthy.]
[You have obtained the Dragon Heart.]
[Dragon Heart Compatibility - 100%]