One of the Rank 1 gods notices me. She steadily and elegantly walks over. She's an older woman with a young and 'powerful' figure. She'd be attractive if I were human.
image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/148.png]
"Ah, hello and welcome to our little town. Do you need anything, fellow highgod?"
So polite! I wish more of my interactions had gone this way. Perhaps being a dragon has colored my views somewhat. Still. Even knowing that? I'd still choose to be a dragon.
Especially versus what I am now.
"Yes, hello! I'm newly ascended. I'm looking for any points of interest or things to discover."
She looks at me oddly.
Yes, I ascended at Rank 3. Don't judge.
"Certainly, certainly. Follow me to my shack where we can discuss news and happenings."
I follow to her so-called 'shack.' Then, I look around.
None of the other buildings are this ornate. Is this Rank 1 god rich or something?
She opens the door and welcomes me in. I walk forward, cringing as my Origin Crystallization spreads out on her beautiful tile floor. Nobody else can see it, but my body and Will know it's there. Like it's merely another part of my sensory system, sending me data.
"Fellow highgod, would you mind disabling that talent of yours? I don't know what it is, but it's creating a mess."
Rah— maybe someone else does see it!
"Sorry, I can't. That's why I'm here. To get rid of this damnable thing."
She walks inside her 'humble abode.'
It must be expanded with spatial magic. Ornate furniture, a grand staircase, small tasteful gems lining the candelabras. Who is she? I'd love for her to be my hoard's interior decorator.
She sits down in a nice plush dining chair. She crosses her legs and arms, then pulls out a long cigarette holder. I'm still standing. Apparently, she doesn't care for decorum so much as decor. Not that I mind.
"Hmm, so you're the one the sins and virtues are so upset about? Imagine that."
"What do you know?"
"Not much. Just that they've been in a tizzy over a dragon who can't control his powers. I'd expected you to be more proud and arrogant. I imagine most any dragon would love being too powerful for their own good."
"That's because you don't know. My species changed. I'm... Not a dragon anymore."
"Oh, what a shame."
"That it is. So, why did you bring me here?"
"I wanted to get a good look at you. The light out there is positively terrible."
Rhhm, rokay.
Silence fills the room.
"May I compensate you for information?"
"Obviously."
She reminds me of Raiz's dearly departed. Strange how I ran into another info broker the moment I came to a new—
Rah crap.
It's that talent again, isn't it?
"Right, I need general information about what goes on up here. I know, stupid question."
Greed only cared about hoarding. Wealth, power, and so on. Not a single other thing. His memories from before he fell to the sin of Greed were useless. The human god's memories are more distorted the farther back I look. I'm not sure what's up with his memories, but... Rah, wait. This is definitely the effect of Endless Will. I finally figured it out! Good thing I never used that talent. Either way, his memories are also useless.
"Not at all, hun. You said you just ascended. This kind of question is cheap but useful, isn't it? Good job getting your money's worth."
"Speaking of money—"
"Treasures, power, or both. That's all."
"Are you a dragon?"
"Hun, never ask a woman about her weight."
Rehhhhh? What? What.
...
No, never mind that.
I create a Mana Gathering inscription slab from thin air. The woman watches me with interest.
"Would something like this do?"
I hand it over to her.
"Oh, you're quite the skilled inscriptionist! That'll do nicely, yes. I can give you one of two bits of knowledge. News and gossip, or the general lay of the land."
I make another inscription and hand it to her.
Am I printing money?
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"I'll take both."
"Hmm, our customer knows what he wants. So, news and gossip. It's been quite dull lately— but don't be disheartened. You're the talk of the town. The dragon who can't make himself stop destroying stuff, it seems. It's incredible you've made the sins in particular so upset despite not being above Rank three yourself."
"It goes well beyond 'destroying stuff.' You may be an information broker, but you don't want to know what that crystal stuff does. You'll have a mental breakdown. No offense. Pride kinda did when he found out."
"My, oh my. You've subdued the irascible Pride of all creatures."
"Not exactly, but he's been a great subordinate. I don't know what—"
Her cigarette holder drops from her hand.
*clat-tt-t-tk*
Rah, damnit. I misinterpreted her metaphorical use of 'subdued.' Too late.
"Rhum, never mind that. Any other gossip or news?"
Even though she's stunned, she keeps going like she's in 'information broker mode.'
"Of course, one other tidbit. To the northwest about three hundred or so kilometers, there's—"
*KAFOOOONNNN*
The roof caves, the walls on all four sides explode inward. The scene turns to chaos as the house's Spatial Compression inscription disintegrates. Magic, mental attacks, and cold weapons barrage my position from every angle.
*THROOOM*
I see the information broker roll off to the side, barely out of the way of my attackers' barrage.
My mind snaps to and I realize.
The sins and virtues have this house surrounded. Something seems to be fighting my ability to directly eat the stats of everyone nearby; likely a counter to Parasitic Infinity, a former Abyssal talent. Plus, there's always Annihilate, so if I want to eat—
No!
Why the hell am I thinking about HOW I should eat them?!
What is WRONG with me?
I try to transfer, but space is locked down tight.
*fzrt*
Damnit! They don't know about my fate talent's new on-death ability! Why did I not tell them?! Do they not know spells make me stronger, too? Agh! The warp bug's talent merged with my Mana conductive body, hence my silent movement—
I try to contact Pride while dodging blades and spells. My connection goes through, but I immediately hit a wall.
He's imprisoned.
His arms, legs, wings, and tail are bound by several manacles each. They're all coated with red inscriptions. His eyes and dragon snout are also wrapped in a solid metal cover. He's kneeling, not fighting his bindings.
Pride. What have I DONE to you?
I dodge another barrage of spells, while flying upward to get away from the town.
*phfew*
*shreth*
*pheft*
I'm immediately pulled back down— my body slams HARD into a road. The road easily shatters from the impact.
*FLOFAH-KOOM*
Origin Crystallization silently explodes from my body as if my attackers smashed a wet sponge.
I feel a huge wave of excitement.
DAMN!
"Pride, if you have any way to contact them—"
"I don't, my god."
Another coordinated attack. Two spears and a longsword. I realize, I can't see my attackers. Space is distorted. They're countering Spatial Infinity, too. Then, they likely have a counter for Temporal Infinity as well.
I try to time-lock them, but nothing happens. No surprise there.
*shoo*
*fhroosh*
"This is bad."
"I thought this is what you wanted, my god?"
"Why are you willing to be chained up, anyway, Pride?"
I dodge a wicked fast spatial tear.
*SKREE*
Neat spell.
"My god, we're all compelled under you."
▓▒░░░░░░░█▓░▓░░░░█▒░░░░█░░░░▒██████
▓█░░░█░░░█░░█░░░░█░░░░▓██░░░░░░█▒░░
░▓▓░███░█▓░▒█▓████▓░░▓█░▓▓░░░░░█▒░░
░░███░▓██░░░█▒░░░█░░▒█░░▒█▓░░░░█▒░░
░░▓█░░░█▒░░░█░░░░█░░█▓▓▓▒▒█▒░░░█▓░░
My body feels like I've fallen into liquid nitrogen.
I've stolen their free Will? Then, when all the dragons knew my location, back when I first visited Dracon State...
No! Goddamnme, NO! This ENTIRE time!
My mind flits to Dracosect.
Roh, roh. Roh why?
I block an attack from a spear with my hand. My hand complains, loudly.
*THUNH—*
###`¶-$;℅?¶∆!|+@^!;£"@!;•+%'~׿$###
Origin Crystals are strewn across the ground and nearby space, where they then spatter like blood. It doesn't harm me, of course. No. I feel my excitement rising. I'm pleased to be stabbed.
It's like a twisted version of what I felt scratching my tail a few days ago. Except, this is so much more powerful; it's almost undeniable. It's making my mind slip, just a bit...
I try to redirect my thoughts.
"Pride— I'm. I'm so sorry."
"I know, my god. I still would've submitted. You really are a creature worth venerating. I'll miss you greatly."
I just barely dodge wide slashes from above, ahead, and behind at the same time by burrowing into the ground.
*rumble*
*shring*
*shing*
*fong*
"Pride. I hate to tell you this. If you can think of any way to contact them, do it. My latest talent evolves if I'm killed."
His body freezes. Then, he starts fighting his manacles with a draconic fury. They aren't budging, though. A series of sin servants rush into the cell. They try to further restrain him, but it's futile, of course! He's a dragon. His manacles' red inscriptions blaze with yellow light and—
They hold.
I dodge another series of spells as they somehow wrench me out of the ground. I then realize they've thrown me back into the center of the town.
*thoo*
*PFEW*
*chree*
Are they keeping me here so I restrain myself? I try to talk directly to my attackers.
"_______________________—"
I can't hear myself talking.
I focus on Pride again. He's making zero progress. I've never used my Origin this way, but it's now or never. I cast Annihilate on the manacles from Pride's own body.
*FZZssss*
"My god, did you do that?"
A huge wide-area blast of flames violently cooks my location. I feel power flood into my body.
*FOOM*
Masses of Origin Crystal flow out in return.
STOOOP!
"Yes, I told you I had the ability to do that. I just never used it before now. Not once."
"I'm honored to be your first."
That sounds weird, Pride.
"Get out of there and do SOMETHING to make them stop before I go completely out of control. You're all standing on the edge of the void. All of you!"
*SKREE*
*SHRRE*
*SKERE*
Three spatial tears flit past my head.
I almost didn't catch those.
Pride blasts out of the dungeon directly through the roof, then soars quickly toward my location.
Alright, good. That's one down.
I focus back on the battle. My attackers seem to have started laying down an array over the area. I see many gods fleeing the town and running out into the plains.
Good. Hopefully, they won't get caught in whatever happens.
I dodge another set of spells and one mace.
*ka-FOO*
*chee*
*chreet*
*shrish*
Weird, I didn't see that mace until it was right on top of me. How's that work?
I watch as a series of new attacks rain down. This time, halberds. I dodge— but it's more difficult.
*thwing*
*thring*
*thwng*
Are they switching weapons based on my reaction? They're watching me.
I run my fingers across my neck, then I point to myself and gesture 'explode.'
I don't know that, but given what other smaller impacts have done? I don't want to find out.
They completely ignore my gestures. A swift series of spatial tears, halberds, and a scythe all attack in coordinated unison. Three of these attacks shred my body, spewing Origin Crystallization across a huge area.
*SHREE*
*SKREE*
*SHKEE*
*shrin*
*skhrin*
*swihn*
*SHAA-THWA*
###`¶-$;℅?¶∆!|+@^!;£"@!;•+%'~׿$###
###`¶-$;℅?¶∆!|+@^!;£"@!;•+%'~׿$###
###`¶-$;℅?¶∆!|+@^!;£"@!;•+%'~׿$###
They're all identical sounds, each blends together in an ear-rending cacophony.
Seems their sound-block can't stop it. And I can't block the waves of positive emotions I'm feeling. They completely distract me from the fight, making me want to spread my Origin Crystal around and eat like a ravenous beast.
Just as I'm barely keeping myself from going completely nuts, I see the inscription on the ground blaze to life. I feel a lockdown similar to the Dragonblood Sigil. Except, my muscles aren't locking up. I don't have muscles.
My MIND is crumbling under the massive flood of Antimana being fed directly into my Origin. I start drooling and my eyes go blank. I feel endless waves of happiness plus a powerful sense of ravening. I feel my body morphing, involuntarily, into my Annihilation Maw form.
No, I feel it changing. Permanently.
I barely manage to look up.
I see Pride falling from the sky.
It IS the Dragonblood Sigil!
A mace smashes my deformed head.
*shrish-FOOG*
Clean off.