[Language: Reptilian - Basic discovered! Analyzing information.. Error: Base Reptilian Core missing - Unable to Process!]

[Host is advised to assimilate with at least one of the local lifeforms in order to continue with the system process. Required vocational organs missing.]

Looking at the messages, Aiden wasn't the least bit surprised. These creatures, apparently from reptilian origins were using a language very similar to what he heard back in the sewers from Thuk's skink tribe. The way they created these clicking sounds were indeed pointing towards some sort of special organ unique to their race only, thus it made perfect sense that he would be unable to acquire the ability to reciprocate or even be able to distinguish between the similar-sounding clicks without the aid of something more precise.

The fact was, that even though the sounds these creatures made sounded repetitive, or the same, in fact, they had differences that just simply couldn't be picked up by the untrained ear. Either a small difference in frequency or maybe just a minuscule difference in its wavelength made an entirely different translation that would have gone past by mostly without notice for Aiden as well unless he focused.

As he focused on the robed figure's speech, besides the changes in repetition when he was attentive, he could feel these slights between two clicks or snaps, but that was it. It was not just incredibly difficult but it was also very exhausting if he were forced to try to understand what they were saying in this way.

Aiden sighed, knowing that what he needed to do, would only put him in jeopardy once again. The system clearly wanted him to act according to his origins, and absorb these three natives, in hopes of his core managing to synthesize their form and create a new orb inside his Primal Core.

As if fate herself was assisting him, this fragile-looking elder of its race was right in front of him, standing all by its lonesome. It was so confident that it had control over the captive boy that it even dismissed its guards..

Yet, as he looked at the robed creature as it kept clicking and clucking with its mouth, as it wildly, threateningly flailed the staff in its hands.. Aiden hesitated to commit the deed. The looming presence of this all-powerful being made him rethink his course of action.

He felt as if every action, every movement, every twitch was being monitored and carefully scrutinized. Whoever or whatever was the owner of this all-dominating presence.. he or she was incredibly powerful, the difference in their strength was like a vast chasm, a wide canyon so to speak.

Aiden was, for the first time in his life without any plan on how to proceed. Though from the outside he looked at the creature as it sneered and seemingly jeered at him, taunting or maybe celebrating their victory over an outsider, an otherworlder.. Yet Aiden did not react, he could not react as, besides the obvious body language, he could not understand anything from the creature.

Still, the robed elder either didn't notice this fact or perhaps decided to ignore it.

Eventually, it seemed that it had enough. Its tone suddenly shifted, the cheery, insulting ridicules have transformed into a more dire, somber timbre. Instead of the wild, unrestrained flailings, the dragonhead-ed tip of the staff was pointed directly at Aiden.

First, the staff was pointed at Aiden's head as the creature sneered, displaying an obvious, clear threat. Though the words, once again, passed by Aiden without understanding even the slightest of it, he could understand the underlying motive behind it.

Then, the creature slowly lowered the tip of the staff, wandering away from Aiden's head, all the way down to his torso, where the creature suddenly pointed it at his heart. Although it was more likely that it was pointing at his core.

Once again, the creature's tone shifted, speaking mostly in a somber, solemn manner, whilst throwing in an occasional threatening, warning tone. The figure also gestured with his free, left hand, drawing wide arcs, and various forms in the air as it erupted in a long-winded sermon.

Aiden could only watch the creature, unable to restrain a helpless, thin smile creasing up the edges of his lips, slowly shifting into a wry-looking, feeble, helpless smile.

His reaction, albeit honest, it also managed to further irk the robed little creature. It halted midway in its speech, its face writhe's, distorting into what first resembled a troubled frown that quickly grow, ultimately forming a rage-filled, twisted, hideous expression.

As if still in disbelief, unable to believe the foolish boldness, courage, or perhaps stupidity of this little maggot.. How dare he show utter disrespect, this unbelievable coarseness!

Such brazen action cannot go unpunished. To hell with the instructions from the High Priest and the Council of Elders! Who knows if their God truly conveyed such a weird, outlandish command? What if the High Priest just decided for whatever reason he wants this bareskin as a trophy of some sort?

At most, the creature would be subjected to some mild punishment, it refused to believe that its decision to forgo all reason and kill off this pathetic intruder would earn capital punishment! The guards it brought with it, were its own men, it could just make up some claim that the captive bareskin turned violent and had to be put down. Who could say otherwise?

Making up its mind, the robed creature suddenly raised the ornate, carved dragonhead staff into the air, and tapped the ground in the next instant.

Suddenly the eyes of the carved dragon head lit up with a strangely familiar, golden luster, sending a visible pulse of energy all towards the room. In the next instant, the traversing energy formed a small dome, capturing both Aiden and the creature in a sort of protective-looking bubble.

From the cruel, vicious sneer of what the creature has next shown under its hood, it didn't take a genius to figure out that the bubble served as to cut off any sound from escaping at the very least.

Additionally, it seemed to also block the functionalities of all sensory abilities as when next Aiden tried to send out a pulse, he suddenly hit an invisible barrier that he found unable to cross through.

Surprised, Aiden looked at the creature, only to be met with the most vicious, cruel, and sadistic look as the figure slowly pushed the hood off from its head revealing its skink-like golden striped, green wrinkled, and scale-covered skin.

Aiden could only sigh, seeing as how the whims of fate, did make the decision for him in the end. Even though he wanted to avoid bloodshed, it seemed that was just wishful, naive thinking on his part.

'I tried.. I really tried..' He lamented, looking upwards, hoping that the owner of the overbearing presence would understand and not fault him for what he was about to do..

---

AN: Hey there Readers!

Just a friendly reminder, that from wherever you are reading , you can reach out to me using any of the below methods!

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/shaele