A dragon!!?
I continued to advance, the light of my lamp illuminating the narrow passage ahead. Past the traps, the path seemed quieter, as if hell had—temporarily—ended.
The smell of sulfur gradually faded, replaced by a warm, clean, and peacefully earthy scent.
I hadn't walked far before I saw a light, not the faint glow of my lamp, but a flickering, dim, green pulse. My heart beat faster with excitement; I felt as though I was approaching the cave's very heart.
When I reached the chamber, I stopped. The room wasn't large, but it was breathtaking. The harsh cave had transformed into an earthly sanctuary. And on the opposite wall, the Existence Stones were embedded.
They were exactly as I had imagined from the novel's last description: pale green, shimmering with a soft aura, integrated into the rock like jewels belonging to another world. Beside them, luminous plants grew in the wall's crevices, emitting a faint blue light that merged with the green of the stones, bathing the chamber in a calm, magical glow. But in the center of this wonder, on a low rock directly beneath the stones, was an entity I hadn't expected.
It was a small dragon, about the size of a medium-sized dog. Its body was covered in pure white scales that glittered in the dim light, and its eyes flickered with a sharp, enchanting emerald green. But the beauty was tinged with pain. I stepped back slightly, knowing it had noticed me. Its eyes widened, and it looked at me with an interrogative gaze, as if wondering how I got in and who I was.
Wait, wait a minute. There was no mention of a dragon being here. I was sure dragons were rare in this world, according to the novel. But now I saw a dragon, and not just any dragon, but one that wasn't mentioned in the novel. I tried to regain my composure and steady my feet as I returned its stare. Its breathing sounded labored, but its eyes concealed no trace of its pride. It seemed ready to attack at any moment, then asked with arrogance:
"Human? What is a human like you doing here, and how did you enter??"
Its tone was insistent despite its obvious pain. It felt as if it would attack if I didn't answer. I sighed slightly, looked at it, and then replied:
"I didn't know there was a small dragon like you here... As for the reason for my presence, I want some of the stones and plants."
I told it straightforwardly. I didn't think lying would convince it, especially since it was a creature not mentioned in the novel.
"Why should I believe humans like you? I give you moments to leave, or..."
It raised a finger, and a small ball of compressed energy formed, then it finished with a threat: "I'll explode you."
Forget it. Even if every cell in my body trembled and screamed danger, I wouldn't move from here if I didn't take the stones. I knew that in the future, I would face insane things if I didn't have strength.
"I won't move."
My voice wasn't loud, but it held a strange steadfastness, a firmness that contradicted the panic that had swept through me moments ago. If I had to face children with anything, it was to remain firm in my stance. My eyes were fixed as I looked at the tiny dragon. I continued:
"Power, specifically the Existence Stones, is my only chance for survival in this crazy world. And I won't leave here without them. Besides, what does a little dragon need with those stones?" I questioned, wanting to get closer to it. This was the first time I'd seen a real dragon... Well, I hope I don't die because of my curiosity.
The dragon intensified the compressed purple ball; it began to flicker violently, and its emerald eyes blazed with the fires of anger. However, the internal coughing fit that shook its small body could not be concealed. It looked as if it was fighting the pain more than the guest before it.
"You arrogant creature! You stand before me and talk about survival while I, myself, the Great White Dragon, give you a chance?" the dragon muttered with difficulty, its voice like a sharp whisper.
Ignoring the child's pride, I took one step, then another, crossing the danger zone the dragon had defined. I then aimed the lamp directly at the dragon, highlighting its shimmering white scales which bore spots of blood. Specifically, the blood was spread from the heart region. I was surprised and stepped back slightly as I looked at it... That wound... Who would dare hurt a child like this? I felt a great surge of anger inside me as I looked at the wound. I asked, my tone carrying a hint of suppressed fury:
"Who... Who did this to you, and why haven't you healed yourself?"
As I recalled, most dragons were of the magic branch, so they could heal easily. But this one... I looked at it.
The look in the white dragon's eyes froze, a mixture of surprise and pent-up anger, as if it wasn't used to being asked about its weakness. It ignored my question sharply, trying to hide a slight tremor that shook its small body.
"What business is it of yours, human, with my blood and wounds?" the dragon growled in a faint, weak voice, but pride still encased its tone. Its voice failed it again, turning into another painful cough that forced it to hunch over slightly.
"This... this is not an injury you can treat with some trivial human herbs." It raised its head with difficulty, and I looked at its emerald eyes that were beginning to lose their luster. "My condition is the result of a shard from the 'Blade of the Void'. No crystal power can remove or cure it, or they will meet the same fate as me, and even the power of the dragons can't help! It's a shard that drains my soul!"
I caught my breath, stepping back again, not out of fear this time, but out of realization. Shards of the Blade of the Void... They were mentioned in the novel. They were among the most dangerous types of weapons, whose maker and origin were unknown. The fate of anyone who touched or was exposed to its shards was harsh. They were the complete opposite of a crystal; they could even destroy it... And if the crystal was destroyed, it meant you were simply either dead or going insane.
I felt a chill pierce my soul, colder than the cave air. 'Blade of the Void'! A curse that ends everything. It's not just a poison, but the destruction of the fundamental power of this world's system... But how did this dragon encounter it? To my knowledge, it wasn't used in the novel; its name was only mentioned in the books of forbidden weapons. I sighed, then looked around. If the shard affected its crystal, that explained why it was here, in this specific place, even if the Existence Stones slightly alleviated the injury, it wouldn't be enough for him. This small dragon, although not mentioned in the northern part, possessed a pride like the characters in this region. I sighed slightly. Why do all the characters in this region have such great pride and madness, even as he fights death in this dark sanctuary?
I slid the blade aside to see if it would attack me. It didn't move; it was barely breathing. Well, this is the first time I've dealt with dragons, so let's see...
I said calmly, trying to infuse some reassurance that I didn't feel: "You're here for them too, aren't you? The Existence Stones."
The dragon regained some composure. "What if I am? Do you expect me to share with you?"
"No, I expect to not share." I firmly raised the blade in my hand. "In fact, I want all of it."
The white dragon raised its head with difficulty, expressing its astonishment in a broken whisper: "What? Are you insane, human? Do you think with this rusty blade you can take what is mine?"
"Who said I would kill you? Let's make a deal."
I said, my gaze fixed and sharp. For a moment, I felt like Louis when he found money. I laughed internally at this.
"A deal?"
The word was repeated in a broken voice, almost a whisper, but the sarcasm was evident, as if the mere thought was an insult to him. "What kind of deal can a weak human standing before me with an injured shoulder offer to the Great White Dragon?" It shook its small head slowly, increasing the spread of blood spots on its scales. "Will you cure the curse of the Blade of the Void with your worn-out bandages? Get out of here or..." It started to raise the purple ball again, but it shook and weakened before it was even complete, increasing both my despair and relief at the same time.
I ignored his weak threat, feeling confidence creeping into my tone with every steady step I took towards him.
"I don't expect you to believe me, little dragon, but you said it yourself: This is not an injury that can be cured by ordinary powers. The Blade of the Void is the antithesis of crystals, a destructive force for everything fundamental in this world."
I stood steadily two steps away from it, tilting my head slightly.
"And you mentioned that the Blade of the Void drains your soul. That's true. But let me treat you, little dragon. What will you choose: to stay here and wait for your death, or to let me try my luck and cure you?" I said. Despite being small, dragons are intelligent... As for the Blade of the Void, it doesn't pose an obstacle to me now, as I haven't built or activated my crystal yet, so I'm fine.
The purple ball froze in the air for a moment, then completely dissipated. It wasn't due to the dragon's weakness, but the shock etched on its features. Its emerald eyes widened in a mixture of astonishment and suspicion. This human had just confirmed what he was trying to hide from the world: that the curse was devouring his soul.
"You... How do you know all this?" the dragon asked in a weaker voice than before, the tone of threat fading, replaced by deep caution. "And who are you to stand before me and speak with such confidence? Are you the Messenger of Death?"
I shrugged my injured shoulder. "I'm just an honest human who knows when his opponent is in the last corner. My answer won't change your reality. The shard is killing you slowly. Time is not on your side, little white dragon."
Well, I didn't want to leave him here suffering this fate. I looked at him. There was no mention of his existence a year and a half later when that character came here. This meant either he was cured or... he died. I sighed softly as I continued to observe his features.
The dragon let out a hot breath that seemed like a suppressed cry of despair. It looked at the shimmering stones behind it, then at me, then at the darkening spot expanding around its heart. Its scales twitched slightly. Pride was screaming refusal, but the pain and the scent of death were louder. It seemed as if he was in a whirlwind of thoughts, but in the end, he looked at me with a look full of determination.
"A deal... let it be a deal." the dragon said in a hoarse voice. Some emerald returned to its eyes, but it was exhausted. "What is your price, human who has enough courage to die?"
I gave a cold smile, the smile of Louis when he knows he has managed to drag the other into his game. My smile covered my extreme fear. I realized I was about to embark on an insane gamble.
"The price is simple." I said as I nodded towards the stones. "All the Existence Stones and the luminous plants. I won't share anything with you; I'll take them all in exchange for your cure."
The dragon stared at me for a long time, breathing with difficulty. Then it gave a short laugh that didn't reach its eyes. "Impertinent! Fine, human, try your luck. If you succeed, you'll take the stones. If you fail..." It raised its head with defiance, "I will tear your soul apart before the Blade of the Void can get to me. Now... start!"
It was a dragon's bargain, clear and absolute.
I looked at him, specifically at the shard stuck in the wound.
No one with a crystal could remove or heal it, but I... I looked at myself, the rusty blade, and my black pocket watch. Well.
I took a deep breath, trying to arrange the crazy steps swirling in my head. It wasn't easy. I was betting everything, not just on the survival of this small dragon, but on my entire fate.
I looked into the dragon's eyes, then placed the pocket watch in its small, scaled palm, cautious not to disturb the wound. It was as if I was giving a part of my soul, but now I desperately needed you to be a shock absorber.
"What is this... a watch? Is this your cure?" the dragon asked with disdain, but the tone of concern and curiosity was more evident than ever.
I smiled coldly. "This... is just the beginning, and don't talk about the watch that way. It is my treasure."
I raised the rusty blade in my hand, which seemed trivial compared to the magnificence of the entity before me, then I continued, focusing my gaze on the wound and the dark shard: "As for the real cure, it lies in my current state. You are lucky that the one who found you is a weak human like me, and not a great Crystal Lord."
I extended my other hand towards the spot where the blood was pooling, ignoring the caution and pride of the dragon who was wrestling with himself. "The Blade of the Void destroys fundamental powers, and anyone with an energy crystal will be destroyed if they get close to its shard. That's why you suffer. But I... I am the only one capable of touching this wound and dealing with the shard without going insane or dying immediately. Don't ask why, because I won't answer."
I didn't wait for his reply. Just the thought of a rusty knife being used as a surgical tool on a mythical creature made me nauseous, but necessity is the mother of invention, and time is the most precious currency.
"This will hurt." I said calmly, my tone not asking a question but announcing a harsh truth.
I took another step, ignoring the faint moan that escaped the white dragon. I placed my palm on its shiny white scales, directly around the wound area. The scales were icy cold, but I felt the rapid pulse of life beneath them.
My shoulder injury flared with pain with every movement, but my focus on the dragon and the wound was stronger than any physical sensation.
I used the tip of the blade with extreme caution, concentrating on the point where the dark shard was clinging to the dragon's skin. The Blade of the Void emitted a hidden aura of destruction; I felt it penetrate the surrounding cold air. As someone without a crystal, I wasn't affected by madness, but a feeling of cold air began to crawl onto my fingertips. For a moment, I looked at the watch, which was indeed doing its job. It was repelling the energy emitted by the shard, if only slightly, and preventing it from causing madness. Well, I expected this, as it is indeed without a crystal, like me. I ignored it and focused all my attention on the wound, following a sequential set of steps in my head.
Step One: Stabilization. I gently but firmly pressed on both sides of the wound. The dragon was trembling, but it didn't cry out. Pride was preventing it, which was to my advantage.
Step Two: The Initial Cut. I pushed the tip of the rusty blade, slightly tearing the tissue surrounding the shard. The dragon's body convulsed violently for moments, and its emerald eyes stared at me with intensity and suppressed anger.
Step Three: The Removal. This was the crucial moment. The shard had to be removed in a single, swift motion to minimize damage. I couldn't use any magical power—as I didn't possess any—nor any complex tool. I relied on the strength of my steady hand and precision.
I took a deep breath, then grasped the shard with my thumb and index finger. The dragon braced itself for the pain, and with a swift movement, I pulled the Blade of the Void shard out of the wound.
A sharp cry of pain shook the quiet cave. It wasn't the roar of a dragon, but the cry of a desperate small child. A wave of dark, turbulent energy emanated from the open wound, but the shard—small and deadly—was now between my fingers.
It was a small, jet-black, pointed piece, which didn't just absorb light but seemed to devour it. I immediately felt the air around it become polluted. I looked at it for a moment, then put it in my pocket, wondering if it would be useful. As soon as the shard was out, the white dragon collapsed onto the rock beneath it. It was breathing slowly, its emerald eyes partially closed. The sudden internal bleeding stopped, but the emerald aura that surrounded its body vanished completely.
The next step was necessary to stop the external bleeding and prevent infection. I looked at the luminous plants surrounding the stones.
"Luminous Plants." I muttered to myself. "They aren't just luminous; their fundamental healing properties are capable of closing destructive wounds."
I hurried toward the fissure in the wall, temporarily ignoring the shimmering stones. I picked a few of the glowing blue leaves. As soon as I touched them, I felt a slight tingle of life energy penetrate my hand.
I returned to the dragon, crushed the leaves in my injured palm, and then applied the greenish-blue paste to the open wound. The process was rough, but he didn't move.
As soon as the paste touched the wound, a faint 'zzz' sound was heard. The blue light emanating from the paste began to blend with his white scales, and the edges of the wound slowly began to knit together. The dragon's heartbeat gradually returned to its normal rhythm.
I stepped back, looking at my hand, which was already bandaged, in addition to the remnants of blood and paste... I removed those bandages, and to my wonder, it had indeed healed, with no trace left. I looked at the luminous flowers; they truly could heal wounds in an amazing way.
I returned my gaze to the small dragon, which was drifting into a deep, desperate, therapeutic sleep. The danger of the Blade of the Void wasn't completely gone, but it was at least out of his body. There was no longer anything consuming his soul. He was gripping the watch tightly, so I tried to gently pull the black watch from the dragon's grasp, but its small claws were clamped down with unexpected tightness. It held onto it as if it were his only anchor in this deep sleep, or perhaps a part of its tired mind still realized that it was a source for repelling the dark energy that relieved him of the burden of the Blade of the Void.
I remembered his words about the Blade of the Void draining his soul. I sighed, realizing that trying to wake him or wrestle with his pride while he was on the brink of death was not a wise step. I looked at the watch in his paw, then at the stones behind me.
"Fine, little dragon, I'll consider it a temporary deposit." I muttered to myself. It was my treasure, but the stones were survival.
I turned my back on him towards the shimmering Existence Stones. They were my chance, the price of the insane gamble I had taken. I didn't hesitate. I advanced toward the opposite wall, using the tip of the rusty blade—which had suddenly transformed from a surgical tool to a mining implement—to carefully pry the pale green jewels from the rock. Each piece removed from its setting emitted a faint, heavy glow in my hand; I felt as if I was carrying a part of the essence of this world and its disorganized energy.
After securing the stones, I didn't forget the rest of the bargain: the luminous plants. I picked enough to make them my essential companion and placed them carefully in my cloth bag, where they released their cool, earthy scent and faint blue light. These plants were a treasure no less important than the stones, having proven their magical effectiveness in treating destructive wounds that ordinary powers could not heal.
I took a final look at the white dragon, deep in its sleep, clutching my watch as if it were a child hugging its favorite toy. In my pocket, I had the lethal Blade of the Void shard, and in my hand, I had the Existence Stones and the essence of the healing plants.
As for the blood of a sixth-grade monster, I turned my face and looked at the dragon's pool of blood. It was old, but it was still blood. I looked at it. Well, I guess it's okay to take a little. I called my bag, took out a spoon and an empty water bottle, and put about three spoonfuls in it. Well, I wonder if this is enough.
After I had secured the treasure of the stones and plants, and put the Blade of the Void shard and the precious dragon blood drops in my pocket, all that was left was to leave. I looked at the lamp, its light dancing on the features of the sleeping dragon. Perhaps he will wake up in a day or two. If he wakes up, he will be exhausted. I sighed lightly and took out a food box and a water bottle from the bag. I didn't know what dragons eat, but to my knowledge, the novel mentioned that their food was similar to humans. I looked at the box for a moment, then placed another one and asked the bag to disappear.
The bag had vanished, and the two food boxes and the water bottle remained beside the sleeping dragon as a final mark of the strange deal that had been struck. I sighed, realizing that I had gained the cave's most valuable treasures, but I had lost my precious watch—at least temporarily—to a stubborn dragon's deposit.
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