Roth keeps his composure as he stands tall before the great massive dragon that looms over him. The massive aura that the dragon is profusely giving off is sending waves of fear through his body. He's amazed he is even standing at all. Mina and Katsumi however were still sitting on the floor petrified unable to move a single inch. Roth looks back as their faces are frozen in fear. He hasn't seen Mina act like this since he first met her when she was in chains still. He looks back at the godly beast at it still watches him with those glowing blood red eyes. Just the slightest shift from the dragon's body sounds like the entire ground is shifting.

"I am surprised you are able to stand before me little human. I would have expected you and your troupe to have scampered off by now, yet you lot seemed to have the will to stay. How commendable I dare say."

"And you seemed to be very intelligent and very proper for someone to be living in a mountain."

"HMPH, and you really think I chose to live in this disgusting damp cavern and make it my home? What utter nonsense. I am from high blood boy, not some troglodyte."

"Then... why are you even here in the first place?"

The beast exhales through his nostrils as large steam come plummeting out, vibrating and echoing the large open cavern. He sways to his side and leans against the enormous pillars. The amount of force he put should've crushed it, but the pillar stood strong.

"Forgive me, I have not introduced myself properly. You know my nick names, the calamity god, devourer of man, etcetera etcetera. Though my actual name is Hajime."

"Hajime? That is a... lovely name..."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere boy. You came here because you wanted to know why I deemed you worthy, correct?"

"Yeah, I really want to know. Why am I worthy? What makes me so special about killing a bunch of wyverns?"

"Because you are not an ordinary human. Tell me, when you struck down my wyverns, did anything happened at all. Anything... unusual?"

Roth averted his gaze in anxiousness knowing full well about his ability not working.

" It's because your power did not absorb or take any type of energy from them, yes?"

"How did you-"

"My dear boy, all those wyverns were my summoned familiars. They are connected to me. It doesn't matter if you strike one down, you will not absorb their power."

Roth was now scared that he knows his ability, but how much does he know? Roth takes a moment and appraises Hajime. Suddenly his head feels like it was about to explode. He slouches over grabbing at his head to make the pain stop. The status of Hajime was terrifying. All he could see was nothing but pure static. Suddenly words appear but all he could hear was the sounds of loud constant buzzing error sounds.

LVL: X HAJIME STR: X ERROR PER: X ERROR CON: X ERROR DEX: X ERROR WIS: X ERROR CHR: X ERROR

He grabs his head until finally he closes his appraisal skill. The sudden bombardment of noise and pain finally ceases. He calms down catching his breath and getting back his composure.

"My oh my, you were trying to see how strong I am where you not?"

"You... you knew I was trying to check you?"

"But of course my little human. That means you also have the eye of God."

There was that title again, the eye of God. Frida also mentioned that Roth had it but never really understood what that meant. Roth has his full attention now and walks closer towards Hajime.

"The eye of God. I heard that title before, but I have no idea what that means."

"It's very understandable, it is a rare gift that only so few have possessed it. You are also special too. With two special gifts. Does the word void magic mean anything to you?"

His eyes widen, and his heart raced. He tried to speak but no words were coming out. Hajime let out a soft giggle.

"As I expected. Void magic, as you already know by now, is the ability to use all forms of magic. What you may not have known is that you also have the ability to use other people's form of specialized magic. You know, their special little tricks. like that mirage skill you have. You didn't just learn it by defeating him after knowing what he did, you physically absorbed the power becoming one in your own."

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"That does make a lot of sense when you put it like that."

"Another interesting fact is that you also have the ability to create new skills, with the right amount of mana and casting of course. Never wondered why that glowing golden mist always goes into your body after defeating an enemy."

Roth thought it was just a stupid game gimmick when he was creating his character, he didn't think it actually had a part and lore in this world. Hajime shifted his body and came close to Roth's face, inspecting him closer.

"You remind me a lot about him. You have the same air as him."

"What him? You mean there's someone else that's just like me in this world too?"

"Hmph, indeed. Though, that was a lifetime ago. He was an adventurer like you. Carefree, always an extrovert, no matter what he did he always seemed to help anyone, no matter how minuscule it was."

"How long ago was this?" Hajime stopped and looked up at the celling, giving a long and thoughtful pause.

"More than a millennium ago. It is the very reason of why I'm in this forsaken mountain in the first place."

"I don't understand, he was the reason? It sounded like you respect him."

"Because I do respect him boy, he didn't put me in this mountain, my own kind did!"

The mountain shook as he raised his voice in frustration. Roth held onto the side of the wall trying not to fall over.

"Long ago, my kind the great elder dragons, were in an alliance with the demon king of that era. I was one of their commanders in the dark army's legion. I command over the siege and burning of cities. One day that adventurer made a bet against me. He said that if he won, I shall submit to him and see the wonders of what humanity has to offer. And If I won, I would siege victory and kill him gaining the title of hero slayer."

Roth's eyes widen once more, " You mean to tell me he was-"

"Yes, he was the hero who defeated the demon lord's army and stopped their invasion. And I was a part of his party. After the war was over, the other great elders found me and branded me as a traitor of my kin. They stripped me of my powers unable to change into my human form. Placing a curse onto my soul, sealing me in this mountain, until the end of my days."

"I-I am so sorry. I truly am sorry, but how did you ended up working with the Fidelity?"

"That wretched woman Frida, she found me in this cavern and placed an obedient spell on me. Forcing me to summon my familiars to her whim and cult. I try to refuse all I can but to no avail. Which is why I scoured for many years finding the perfect candidate to set me free of my eternal torment."

"You want me to free you? How am I supposed to do that! You're huge!"

"By what you have always been doing my little human. By absorbing my powers."

The realization sunk in, and Roth was baffled. He shook his head in disbelief, " No, I can't I- I don't know how this will affect me. You're literally ancient power, I don't know if my body will be able to handle it."

"Taking power and relinquishing it have two very different sides. If you slain me, had we been pure enemies and absorb my power, your body will surely have shut down due to the amount of energy I have. But making an offering to you as I have to my old friend so long ago. Your body will obtain all that energy, it will not reject you. Plus, I have seen how you handle yourself with that bow. If you free me from my bonds, I shall bestow you the highest form of rarity. A summoned bound bow. No longer will you burden yourself with too much equipment. With this, you can summon a bow with pure mana and use any elemental spell as your arrow."

Roth's eyes glistened from the golden glowing crystals on the floor, "Why, why are you asking me this? You barely know me. You only know me from a bunch of wyvern's perspectives. Why even trust your faith in a kid like me." Hajime stood there silently staring back into Roth's eyes but that malice aura surrounding him seemed to dissipate. Now all he can feel from him, is burden.

"No one has reminded me of him in such a long time. I know you are the one who can set me free. Please child, I beg of you. Don't make me spend another moment in this prison. I can feel myself already drifted away from this world. The two binding spells are what's keeping me in place."

Katsumi and Mina finally stood next to Roth after getting the courage to stand beside knowing who this dragon was. Roth looked at both of them and they fully support whatever Roth chooses. Roth scratched his head with all the pressure he has been dealing with. With a moment of silence and deep breathes he steps closer to Hajime.

"Alright, I'll do it. I'll free you from this imprisonment." Hajime slowly smiles and bows his head with the most utter gratitude.

"You have my utmost respect, young man. I thank you, truly. I deeply apologize for scaring the two of you. I merely wanted to test his resolve is all."

"Oh no worries hahahaha it's okay hahahaha...." As mina tries to play it off but is still so genuinely scared.

"Before you set me free, there are two things I want to pass down before my depart. I shall grant you a travel spell. It's only one use, but I figured you want to use it instead of walking back down this mountain all over again. The other is another poor soul that is trapped like me as well. She is in this country as well near the capitol. Please set her free of her binds as well."

"I- I will Hajime, I promise you."

"Good lad, I wish you all luck on your greatest endeavors. Take down that sick woman Frida for me. Tell her Hajime sends his regards."

Roth chuckles and agrees. Hajime positioned himself and lifted his chest close as he can to Roth. There was a gash that exposed Hajime, were there laid a scale once. Roth hesitantly placed the tip of his sword on the gash. He stopped and looked at Hajime once more. He nodded slowly as if he was telling Roth, it was okay. He stood there for a moment and with one thrust it slid deep into the wound. No reaction from Hajime. So now Roth but all his mana deep into the sword to pass down the energy throughout his body. With what felt like an eternity was instant, giant volts of electricity shot into Hajime sending every bolt into his body. Hajime let out a giant screech that shook the mountain. Every wyvern in the cavern screamed in unison as if they were feeling the pain as well. After pouring every mana from his body into the wound he pulled the sword out quickly and stepped back.

Hajime's body was convulsing from the intense shock. Suddenly, his body began to glow starting from his claws all the way up to his body. His painful expression was no replaced with a euphoric face. His body began to glow even brighter, and a voice rang out loud.

"Thank you all...Katerina... my love...I'm home now..."

He looked at him with awe at what he just said. Soon his body glowed that lit the entire cave making it look as if it were daytime on the surface. Giant plumes of golden mist shot into the air and beamed directly into Roth. Showering him like it was a waterfall. For nearly a minute of this passed until finally the mist subsided. Roth looked up into the air and what left behind were golden embers, some with black edges as if it were burnt paper embers slowly falling into the cavern floors. He reached out and let a few land in his palm. it gently landed only for it to vanish slowly into dust. Hajime, who was trapped for more than a millennium, is now free from that eternal hell.