Chapter 12: Training in the Gloom and Unexpected Discoveries

The cave fire dwindled, giving way to the faint glow of dawn. The prophecy of the Temple, of dragon blood and the "Ancient Soul Emblem," still echoed in Kai's mind. They had made their decision: not just to flee, but to seek that Temple. It was the only objective that could lead them to the truth, and perhaps, a way home.

"We need a few days to recover and prepare," Arthur said as he checked his own minor wounds. "And most importantly, Kai, you need to get familiar with your new skills."

Elara nodded. "And we need to find more information about this 'Ancient Hall' or 'Temple.' Ancient tales are often very vague."

The three of them spent the next two days consolidating their strength. Arthur, despite his light injuries, maintained his sword and hammer training, keeping his body ready. Elara sought out herbs to heal their wounds while honing her archery skills in the dense forest.

For Kai, this was a golden opportunity to truly master his new abilities.

With "Spiked Hydro Armor," Kai focused on strengthening his scales. He realized this skill not only increased his defense but could also make his scales sharper, turning his body into a living weapon during rolls or collisions.

Kai's "Venom Breath" skill also improved significantly. Initially just a faint wisp of smoke, it could now be concentrated into a weak, greenish stream, enough to daze and discomfort a small monster. He noted that his venom was especially effective when used from a distance or in misty environments.

"Tidal Burst" was the most powerful skill Kai had recently absorbed. He practiced by channeling his mana, creating small ripples of water, then gradually larger waves that pushed away decaying tree trunks. A strong enough "Tidal Burst" could create a temporary exclusion zone around him, pushing back enemies and allowing him to re-establish his position.

But the real game-changers were "Mist Camouflage" and "Bush Hide." Kai spent hours practicing blending into his surroundings, becoming an elusive phantom. He could move silently, almost invisibly, allowing him to launch surprise attacks or simply escape the enemy's sight. This ability transformed Kai from a relatively vulnerable target into a formidable stealth assassin, especially in environments with cover or fog.

During their training, Elara made a significant discovery. She found another small dragon skeleton deep within a decaying tree stump not far from their cave. It was tiny, but the remaining scales were a pale blue, distinctly different from Kai's jade-green.

"Arthur! Kai! Come see this!" Elara called out, her voice a mix of surprise and apprehension.

The dragon skeleton was not much larger than Kai's current form, but it carried an ancient aura, and the remaining scales emitted a faint magical energy. Beside it, there was a piece of old, almost completely rotted leather, but a few faded characters were still legible.

"Is this... a map?" Arthur stared at the leather fragment. "Or some kind of symbol?"

Kai approached, his "Keen Senses" flaring. He felt a faint surge of memory from the dragon skeleton. Not a lingering spirit, but an imprint, a message deeply etched into the bloodline. He lightly touched the leather scrap.

A fragment of memory about the "Crystal Dragon Hall" has been transmitted.

A flood of information poured into Kai's mind. They were disjointed memories from an ancient dragon, a young aquatic dragon that had once sought the Temple. It spoke of traps, specific monsters guarding the path, and most importantly, a temporary weakness of the Ancient Hall, an ancient ritual that only occurred on new moon nights and during the thickest fogs. And only dragons bearing the "Crystal Imprint" could pass through.

"This isn't a map," Kai said, his dragon eyes glowing. "These are memories. From a dragon that once came close to the Temple." He recounted what he had just perceived. "It called it the 'Crystal Dragon Hall.' And there's a specific time to enter... during the new moon and the densest fog."

Arthur and Elara exchanged amazed glances. The inert dragon bone and leather scrap had suddenly become keys to unlocking buried secrets. Not only did they have a prophecy, but now they had a rough "memory map" of the path.

"So it's not just dragon blood," Elara murmured. "But a 'Crystal Imprint.' This dragon... it seems to have a connection to the Temple."

Kai looked down at the skeleton. He felt a strange connection to it, as if it were a part of a past he had never known. "If it can lead us to the Temple... then we have a huge advantage."

The morning sun pierced through the foliage, illuminating the ancient dragon skeleton and the faded characters on the leather scrap. The three Otherworlders, now armed with enhanced skills, invaluable information, and a clear objective, knew that this journey would be fraught with peril, but also promised great discoveries. The path to the "Crystal Dragon Hall" was clearer than ever, and they were ready to embark on that fated journey.