"I wasn't expecting you here, Milord. I've been diligently overseeing the work you assigned me."
Hephaestus wiped his soot-stained hands on a cloth, clearly surprised to see Angel approach him amid the clanging of hammers and the roar of forges.
"I could say the same about you, Apollo," Angel said with a faint smile, using the god's code name. "So this is where you've been hiding. Came to recruit dwarves for the village construction, I take it?"
"I've already brought them there," Hephaestus replied, gesturing to the bustling forge behind him. "I stayed behind to observe their craftsmanship. It's rare to see such fine work outside the heavens. But may I ask… what brings you here, Milord?"
"I'm here for a quest," Angel said simply. "A dragon-slaying one."
"The Rock Dragon?" Hephaestus raised a brow. "The one that's been nesting in the mines? If that's the case, allow me to take care of it for you."
Angel waved him off. "Nah, I want to handle this myself. You can get back to your business. Oh—and I heard something about a group calling themselves 'the Heavens.'"
"That would be us, Milord," Hephaestus chuckled. "A few of us decided it was time to leave our mark on this world. But I won't delay you further. Best of luck."
With a flash of light, Hephaestus teleported away.
Angel muttered to himself, "So they're the Heavens, huh… fitting name."
He took to the sky, wings of mana trailing behind him, soaring to the summit of Rockdragon Mountain. There, nestled among jagged cliffs, was a sprawling dwarven city humming with magical energy. Crystal-powered lanterns illuminated intricate bridges and tunnels. Sparks flew as blacksmiths hammered glowing ingots, and the sharp scent of molten ore filled the air.
Angel descended and approached a dwarf who was hammering a sword on an anvil.
"Excuse me…" Angel called out.
The dwarf glanced up, wiping sweat from his brow. "Hmm? What is it, lad?"
"I'm looking for the mines. I've taken the quest to slay the Rock Dragon."
"Straight west from here," the dwarf said, pointing with his hammer. "You'll see a cave entrance—that's the mine. But watch your step. The deeper you go, the stranger it gets."
"Thank you, sir."
—
Rockdragon Mine – Entrance
"So this is what a mine looks like…" Angel murmured as he stepped into the cavern. Bioluminescent crystals embedded in the walls bathed the interior in a gentle glow, lighting the path like a natural chandelier.
"Oi, who goes there?" barked a gruff voice.
A stout dwarf with a braided brown beard approached, axe slung over his shoulder.
"I came to slay the dragon," Angel replied calmly.
The dwarf scoffed, eyeing Angel's lean frame. "You? With that scrawny build? This ain't no playground, boy. You'll get yourself killed."
"I'll be careful, dwarf-sir," Angel assured him with a slight bow.
"Hmph. Name's Bifur. Chief of the mining team."
"Angel. Just Angel."
Bifur narrowed his eyes, then grunted. "The dragon's holed up in the deepest shaft—right where we had our richest crystal veins. We were extracting rare gems for the forge when the beast showed up, driving us out."
"I'll take care of it."
"Well, do your best. Watch out for crystal crabs—sneaky little devils."
"Got it!"
Angel dashed deeper into the mine. The tunnels became narrower and darker, the air heavier with mana and tension. At the bottom, he entered a vast cavern illuminated by a massive, glowing crystal embedded in the wall.
"…It's beautiful," he breathed. "I want to touch it."
As his hand neared the crystal, it trembled. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface—then it erupted outward. From within, a dragon emerged. Its scales shimmered like polished gemstones, every inch of it refracting light in dazzling hues.
"That's more a Crystal Dragon than a Rock Dragon," Angel muttered. "No matter. I've got just the thing."
He took a deep breath.
"Art Switch: Gem."
His eyes shimmered, pupils morphing into facets like precious stones. He felt it instantly—resonance. The crystals around him pulsed in response to his presence.
"This feels… incredible."
He raised his hand.
"Gem Style: Diamond Trap!"
Crystalline shackles erupted from the ground, locking around the dragon's legs. It roared and thrashed, but the binds held fast.
"In the game, this was considered one of the weakest bloodlines… but here? This is real power."
The dragon roared and tried to lunge at him.
"You're bound by crystal and still trying to attack? Bold." Angel chuckled, preparing his next move.
Before he could strike, a sharp pain bit into his ankle. He looked down. "A crystal crab?" He sighed. "Annoying little…"
But at that moment, the dragon swung its massive claw.
Angel raised a single palm and caught it.
"Is that it?" he said flatly. "I expected more from a dragon."
The dragon's eyes widened.
"I guess that's what happens when you max out all your stats." He smiled coldly. "Let's finish this."
"Gem Style: Crystal Bullet!"
Five razor-sharp crystal shards launched from his fingertips, whistling through the air. They pierced through the dragon's chest, neck, and head in perfect formation.
The beast collapsed with a shudder, its body scattering into fragments of glittering stone.
Angel approached and sliced off its head with ease. "One dragon head, coming up."
—
Back at the mine entrance, Bifur's jaw dropped as Angel returned with the severed head.
"You really… did it?"
"Yup. Here's your proof."
"Well, I'll be damned. Listen, kid—if you want, I know a blacksmith who can forge you a weapon from this. Think of it as your reward."
Angel considered it. "I've already got a lot of weapons, but… why not? One more wouldn't hurt."
"Follow me then."
They ascended through winding paths until they reached a smithy near the peak of the mountain. Inside, the forge blazed with intense heat.
"Bralmulir!" Bifur bellowed. "I've got a special job for you!"
Another dwarf, this one with a jet-black beard, turned from his anvil. "You got materials? Thought the mines were blocked off."
"He's the reason they're not," Bifur said proudly. "Kid, show him the head."
Angel stepped forward and unveiled the dragon's head.
Bralmulir gasped. "This… This is a Rock Dragon's head! But how…?"
"He slayed it," Bifur grinned. "Now forge him a proper weapon."
"I can do that," Bralmulir said, eyes gleaming. "It'll take some time, but it'll be worth it. Got anything else with you?"
Angel pulled out one of his old game weapons—the Tempest Sword. Its silver-blue blade crackled faintly with wind energy.
Bralmulir's eyes went wide. "Where… where did you get this sword?"
Angel smirked. "Let's just say… it's from another world."