“It is not kindness to deceive with flattery or comforting sentiments.” Lena explained.

“Kira's core is able to withstand the pressure of the average dungeon at the jade or amber level, but I cannot comment on whether she is likely to survive in this dungeon.”

“You don't know?” Micro asked.

“On the contrary. I am quite certain of the likelihood of her success.” Lena replied.

“However, her survival in this situation depends primarily on her self awareness.”

“Self awareness...?” Kira repeated.

“Awareness of myself?”

“Whether you choose to enter that dungeon or not today must be a decision born of intimate knowledge of one's abilities and limitations.” Lena explained, then addressed Kira directly with a stern tone.

“Young disciple of the Truck Sect, bask in the aura of that dungeon and look inward. Look past your pride and know yourself.”

“Know myself...” Kira nodded. She looked at Micro for a moment, who simply gave her a thumbs up, then she walked closer to the dungeon portal.

After closing her eyes and standing in silence for a while, she took a deep breath and her face darkened.

“What do you think, Kira?” Micro asked, stretching his arms and legs as he prepared to enter the dungeon.

“I don't think...” Kira sighed.

“No... I know I wouldn't survive, not yet...”

“Hah!” Kolt smirked, but a number of sharp glares silenced him quickly.

“You'll get stronger in no time.” Micro reassured her, taping her shoulder a few times as she held back her frustration.

“It’s good that you can read the signs, and you should always follow signs.”

“You may take pride in your choice, girl.” Lena nodded.

“Many cultivators have met a dishonourable end after underestimating their opponent.”

“Pfft.” Kolt blurted out, his confidence beginning to return.

“I wouldn't back away from a challenge!”

“Would you fight me?” Lena asked him with an eyebrow raised.

Kolt froze again, unable to meet her eyes.

“Well...” Kolt mumbled.

“You share your sister's wisdom, though you lack her manners.” Lena continued.

“It is far more shameful to challenge one much stronger than you than to retreat.”

“Retreat is shameful though, isn't it?” Kolt asked quietly.

“If you merely seek death in battle, then you may do so at your leisure. But to challenge someone or something is to declare it your equal, to declare yourself worthy.” Lena said coldly.

“You would not dare to dishonour me by equating my century of cultivation to the efforts of your short life, would you, boy?”

“No...” Kolt answered.

“That's how it worked at the tournament, if I'm recalling it right.” Micro added.

“They said it was honourable to pick a fight with somebody around your level, but challenging somebody weaker or stronger was rude. Right, blue?”

“Hmm?” Blue shrugged.

“They were all weak.”

“Ah...” Micro nodded, but the conversation was starting to feel heavier on his mind.

“Anyways, you guys have a good time cultivating. I'll be right back.”

“Watch the kids.” Blue ordered Trill, who saluted lazily as he jumped onto Kolt's shoulder. Blue then looked at Micro and grinned.

“It's a race, obviously!”

Without another word, Blue flew into the portal. Micro ran to catch up, and entered shortly after her, leaving Lena, the children, Trill, and their darkly dressed acquaintances behind.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

~

“Hello?” Micro's voice echoed in a large room of grey stone. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dimly lit room after exiting the portal, and the pressure of the dungeon only felt slightly uncomfortable.

He looked around, but was alarmed to see that he was alone in the room.

“Your associates are safe.” A deep voice filled the room, causing even the smoothly carved stones beneath Micro's feet to vibrate.

“Be focused, child…”

“Oh, that's good.” Micro replied, noticing the voice had come from a closed door in the wall he faced. He walked toward the door, and pushed it slowly open.

“I am Ka-Rim, keeper of this dungeon.” The voice rang out again, even louder than before, and a blinding light flashed before Micro's eyes.

Micro instinctively shielded his eyes with translucent armour, but the light quickly subsided, and what came into his focus was a bright room full of shining treasures. Beautiful works of art hung on every wall, shining pillars supported a ceiling decorated with mosaics of gemstones, and small mountains of gold, jewels, and other luxurious looking objects littered every surface in sight.

Seated atop a golden throne, Micro found the source of the voice, an old bearded man in fine robes. He sat with a dignified posture, looking down at Micro with an intimidating glare.

“Nice to meet you, Ka-Rim!” Micro waved casually, though he was forced to bow his head slightly by the pressure he felt from the man.

“Are you a dragon?”

Micro stopped and looked carefully at the sitting man for a while, but didn't notice anything similar to the dragon which Ray had pretended to be.

“I am a dragon, yes.” The man answered curtly.

“But are you you entirely human?”

“Not entirely, no.” Micro replied.

Ka-rim's eyes widened for a moment, then he frowned. With glowing eyes, he seemed to confirm something about Micro before continuing.

“An odd shape for a soul, but it holds desire, as any human’s would… Hmm…” Ka-rim remarked. While he had seemed bored and dissatisfied at first, he appeared more curious about Micro’s nature as he spoke.

“There is no thirst for power in your eyes. Nor do you crave riches. But...”

Red, scaly wings suddenly burst out of the man's back, flinging him out of his chair toward Micro in a straight line through the air so quickly that Micro couldn't react. Micro raised his hands to shield his face from the wind which caused the treasures all around him to be carried into the air like dust before settling again. Micro opened his eyes to find the man, who was much taller than he had realized, looking down at him with his great wings still extended.

“But...?” Micro asked timidly.

“Your greed is unmatched.” Ka-rim grinned, exposing his golden teeth.

“Though you would leave behind no riches with which to decorate my humble dungeon upon your death, the weight of your greed is… marvelous…”

Micro took a moment to calm himself, recalling his reason for entering the dungeon, and did his best to shake off the uncomfortable sensation brought on by the dragon's aggressive aura.

“I'm here to pick up a core card, if you don't mind.” Micro declared as assertively as he could, though he took a small step backwards.

“You are not well acquainted with the Dragon Art.” Ka-rim replied.

“You possess strong will, but I do wonder if you possess strength enough to bend reality to that unyielding will.”

“So, I have to bend something?” Micro asked. He looked around, but didn't see any object to be bent.

“There may be nothing of greater value to you at this moment than the door back to your world.” Ka-Rim said, pointing to a small, wooden door, partially obscured by a barrel of shimmering swords.

“It is not my design to be cruel.”

“But I...” Micro attempted to reply in confusion.

“You can still save yourself.” Ka-Rim continued.

“Should you enter the trial, your life will depend on your ability to overcome something… unrealistic…”

“I will complete the trial.” Micro forced himself to speak.

“Greed can only take you so far, foolish child.” Ka-Rim scoffed. The man with dragon wings turned and walked to the middle of the room full of treasure, then turned slowly to face Micro again, waving his hand through the air.

“I hope you are as lucky as you are foolish, and as strong as you are… greedy...”

With a wave of the man's hand, the world around Micro faded away, the shimmering gold was replaced by complete darkness, and his head filled with a sharp pain.

Micro writhed in the empty space as his head ached more and more, until the familiar smell of exhaust fumes caught his attention.

“Huh...?” Micro muttered with a weak voice as the sensation of his feet on pavement surprised him.

“Where am I?”

BEEP

“Huh?!” Micro jumped backward with a yelp as several cars and a bus drove by, nearly hitting him before continuing on. He thought he heard a driver shout at him from one of the cars, and he brought himself to his feet.

A young man in a suit carrying a briefcase passed behind him, apologizing after his briefcase bumped into Micro’s leg.

“Wha-” Micro's confusion overwhelmed him as he took in the strange world, realizing only after catching his breath that the street corner where he stood was familiar to him.

“I know this place...” Micro whispered to himself as he observed the people walking by, the buildings standing by the road, and the cars rushing by.

“But...” Micro mumbled as his eyes fell on a particular patch of pavement.

“Excuse me.” Another pedestrian announced as they brushed passed Micro on their way along the busy road.

Micro’s confusion faded as a single question distilled from his scattered thoughts.

“Who am I...?”