Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday-Chapter 253 : Completed Bond

The Dragon...

The air within Infinite Realm shimmered with golden light as Grace stood before the colossal form of the dragon.

Its long, sinuous body was curled elegantly over the rocky terrain, its shiny scales glimmering under the soft glow of floating spirit lanterns.

"What's with the lanterns?" She demanded, sparing a side glance at 2025 that was hovering beside her.

"It requested those a while ago." 2025 replied, slowly inching away from Grace when it noticed the air around her turning cold.

Grace was left stunned. She turned her full attention at 2025 and demanded - "It asked for the lanterns and you put them up there for decoration?"

"Well... we don't want it angry, do we?" 2025 just shrugged.

Letting out a sigh, she returned her attention to the Dragon who was completely ignoring them and their ongoing conversation.

Its thick, powerful limbs were resting against the ground, while its sharp claws were half-buried in the earth. Its antler-like horns were stretched toward the sky, giving it an aura of ancient wisdom even though it was still pretty much a baby.

For the past few months, she had been trying to gain its trust, spending time in its presence, feeding it rare herbs, and observing its behaviors. But despite her patience, the creature remained distant, watching her with cautious eyes that held both intelligence and pride.

But if it was determined to test her patience, then she was also not going to give up first.

She adjusted her stance, gripping the dagger she had brought for training. Her eyes locked onto the dragon's unreadable gaze as she took a deep breath.

"Come on, you have rested enough," she said, keeping her voice steady. "It's time for you to do some training with me."

The dragon huffed, and a warm gust of air washed over her as it flicked its tail. Its whiskers twitched, its gaze narrowing slightly. It was listening, at least.

Grace knew that it wouldn't move until forced to. Hence, without any warning, she lunged forward. Her dagger sliced through the air in a sharp arc toward dragon's massive body.

It's eyes gleamed as it reacted instantly, its long tail snapping toward her like a whip. She barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side as the force of the tail strike sent a powerful gust of wind in all directions.

2025 immediately flew to a safe distance, observing the chaos that just began from the sidelines.

Grace didn't stop. Spinning on her heels, she struck again, this time aiming for the dragon's legs. But it reared back, its enormous body moving with effortless grace as it avoided her attack. A deep rumble echoed from its chest - almost like a laugh.

A smirk stretched across her lips.

So that was how it was going to be.

With a burst of energy, she dashed forward, her movements swift and unpredictable. She knew she was no match for its strength, but speed and technique were on her side. She weaved between its shifting limbs, striking at its legs and tail, forcing it to react, but making sure to not injure it.

The dragon countered with well-placed swipes of its claws, each one narrowly missing her as she danced just out of reach. It didn't use its full strength, and she knew it. This wasn't a fight - it was a test.

Sweat dripped down her brow as she leaped onto a nearby rock and pushed off, launching herself into the air. She brought her dagger down with all her strength, aiming for its shoulder.

She was going straight for a dangerous move because she knew that it was going to defend without any problem, but what she didn't expect was for it to suddenly go still.

Panic bloomed within her as she realized the dagger was going to hurt it. Things did seem out of control, but she still pulled her power back and flipped the dagger just in time to hit the dragon's shoulder with the hilt and not the sharp blade.

A sharp gust of wind erupted beneath her, and before she could find her bslance, she was thrown backward. She hit the ground hard, her breath leaving her in a painful gasp.

She groaned but didn't stay down. Pushing herself up on shaky arms, she looked up to see the dragon lowering its head, watching her with something new in its eyes - acknowledgment.

It was testing her... and she seemed to have passed.

Grace exhaled, brushing dirt from her clothes as she met its gaze. "So? Was that enough to prove myself?"

The dragon didn't answer, but instead, it did something unexpected. It lowered its head even further, its eyes locking onto hers. Then, with deliberate slowness, it nudged her shoulder with the tip of its snout.

The warmth of its breath brushed against her skin, and for the first time, it wasn't a warning or a sign of dismissal.

It was acceptance.

A slow smile spread across her lips. She reached up hesitantly, her fingers grazing over its smooth, black scales. The dragon didn't move away.

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

It had taken months, but finally - finally - she had made progress.

But just as she was about to step back, a sudden pulse of energy surged through her fingertips, spreading through her body in a wave of heat. Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.

The bond - the dragon was completing its Spirit bond with her.

She felt its presence seep into her core, its spiritual essence intertwining with hers. Power, unlike any, surged thtough her - a vast sky, endless clouds, the feeling of soaring above mountains and rivers, the warmth of the sun against her skin.

And then, a single thought echoed in her mind - You have my trust.

She gasped, stumbling slightly from the sheer force of the connection. The dragon rumbled, watching her with silent amusement.

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She straightened, blinking away the dizziness. Her heart pounded as she realized the weight of what had just happened.

A slow grin spread across her lips as she looked up at the magnificent creature before her.

"Then let's see what we can do together."

The dragon exhaled a deep breath, its mane flowing as it straightened to its full, imposing height.

The real training had only just begun.