As the dragon's story drew to a close, it turned its gaze upon her, its eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, little hatchling, for indulging an old dragon's ramblings and reminiscence," it rumbled, its voice tinged with warmth.
She waved off the dragon's thanks, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "It's my pleasure," she replied, her voice soft but sincere. "I enjoyed listening to your stories."They have given her a better idea of the world outside, even if it is from a dragon's perspective.
The dragon nodded, its scales glinting in the dim light. "As thanks for your attentive listening, I shall give you some advice," it offered, its voice taking on a more serious tone. "Your current level is much too low to survive on your own out there." She leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What do you have in mind?" she asked.
The dragon chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the chamber. “I may not be able to increase your level directly, but I can offer you pointers for your skills,” it explained, its eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can see that you are a rogue of level 5, a class that is generally well-suited for fighting enemies of a much higher level."
Her eyes widened in surprise, her mouth falling open slightly. "But I'm not a rogue," she protested, looking at her class, Voidstalker, her voice tinged with confusion.
The dragon tilted its head, its expression mirroring her perplexity. "Ah, I see," it mused, its voice thoughtful. "You must not be aware, but one cannot see the specific class of another individual, only the archetype under which it falls. Warrior, mage, rogue, healer, bard - these are a few of the broad categories that encompass other classes."
She nodded slowly, her mind racing as she absorbed this new information. "And for monsters and beasts?" she asked, thinking back to the Servitor Golem.
"For some creatures, it is different," the dragon explained, its voice taking on a lecturing tone. "In those cases, you will see the creature's race rather than its archetype. As you have likely already seen with mine."
She nodded, absorbing the dragon's words as she sat before the creature. The dragon's eyes sparkled with curiosity as it asked, "Do you possess the skill of meditation, little one?" Her brow furrowed as she considered the question. "Yes, I do," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
The dragon's scales glinted in the dim light as it leaned forward, its voice taking on a more serious tone. "Meditation is one of the most important skills you can cultivate," it explained. "If you can empty your stamina and mana reserves and then use meditation, you will find yourself growing stronger at a much faster rate. That is what we will be working on. Use your skills and empty your reserves."
She hesitated, her mind racing as she weighed the potential risks and benefits of the dragon's suggestion. After a moment, she decided that if the dragon meant her harm, there was little she could do to stop it. Besides, the ancient creature had already had ample opportunity to cause her harm, if that was its intention.
With a deep breath, she placed her dagger and Boogie down beside her. She focused her mind, drawing upon her Voidwalk skill twice in rapid succession.
Mana: 120/180
Stamina: 3/43
She looked up at the dragon, her voice tinged with fatigue. "My stamina is near empty, but my mana is still more than half full," she said, her chest heaving slightly. The dragon nodded, its eyes glinting with approval. "If you have any skills that can deplete the rest of your mana, use them now," it instructed, its voice firm but not unkind.
Her brow furrowed as she considered her options. "Is there a particular skill I should prioritize?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Weapon enhancement, ranged attacks, or an escape skill?"
The dragon paused for a moment, its eyes distant as it pondered the question. "You already have a strong escape skill with your teleportation," it mused, its voice thoughtful. "And you are far too fragile to engage in close combat, at least for now. That should be a last resort, not something we focus on at this stage."
The dragon's gaze sharpened as it focused on her once more. "I suggest you prioritize your ranged attack skills," it said, its voice filled with conviction. She nodded, her mind made up. She raised her hand, focusing her energy as she fired a Void Bolt at the floor beside her.
"Stop," the dragon commanded, its voice booming through the chamber. "Fire the bolt at me instead." She froze, her eyes wide with shock. She shook her head vehemently, her voice filled with confusion. "I-I can't do that!" she stammered.
The dragon threw back its head, its laughter echoing through the chamber. Her blush deepened, her embarrassment growing as she realized the ancient creature was amused by her reaction. She stared at the dragon, her eyes wide with disbelief as the ancient creature's laughter echoed through the chamber. The dragon's mirth subsided, and it fixed her with a knowing gaze.
"Little one," the dragon rumbled, its voice tinged with amusement, "your skills will only improve at a snail's pace if you continue to use them against inanimate objects." Her brow furrowed as she considered the dragon's words. "But how else am I supposed to practice?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
The dragon leaned forward, its eyes glinting with wisdom. "Your skills will level up much quicker when they are used in a fight and against stronger opponents," it explained, its voice filled with conviction. "The stronger the opponent, the better."
Her eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. "You mean..." she trailed off, her voice tinged with uncertainty. The dragon nodded, its scales glinting in the dim light. "I am likely the strongest being you will ever encounter," it said, its voice filled with a mixture of pride and solemnity. "Use this opportunity that I have so graciously given you to speed level your skills."
She hesitated, her mind racing as she weighed the dragon's words. On one hand, the idea of attacking the ancient creature seemed foolish, even suicidal. On the other hand, the dragon had a point. If she wanted to improve her skills quickly, she needed to push herself beyond her comfort zone.
With a deep breath, she raised her hand, focusing her energy as she prepared to fire another Void Bolt. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes locked on the dragon's, seeking confirmation that this was truly what it wanted. The dragon nodded, its expression one of encouragement. "Do it," it rumbled, its voice filled with anticipation.
Elara took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She focused her mind, drawing upon her mana reserves as she fired a Void Bolt directly at the dragon's chest. The Void Bolt struck the dragon's chest, and to her shock, the ancient creature leaped up. Making the ground quake. Its eyes sparkled with a newfound intensity.
"You... You're a void user!" the dragon exclaimed, its voice filled with a mixture of surprise and awe. "I smelled void mana on you, but I wasn't certain it came from you directly." She stared at the dragon, her mind reeling from its sudden change in demeanor. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
The dragon leaned closer, its eyes narrowing as it studied her intently. "When you used your teleport and bolt earlier, I had my suspicions," it explained, its voice filled with excitement. "But now, after being hit with your mana, I am certain beyond a doubt that you are a true void user, not someone merely imitating the craft."
Her brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the dragon's words. "Why is that so surprising?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. The dragon's expression grew serious. "It is exceedingly rare for a human to wield void magic without succumbing to madness," it explained, its voice low and solemn. "In fact, I even checked your scent when we first met to ensure that you were entirely human as you looked and not a half-breed."
Her eyes widened as the implications of the dragon's words sank in. "What do you mean?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper. The dragon sighed, its breath ruffling her hair. "Void magic is typically the domain of demons," it explained, its voice filled with a mixture of reverence. "They are the race most adept at traversing the void, as their minds are uniquely suited to handle such power."
The dragon's gaze bore into her, its eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "I was unaware that a human could learn to wield void magic," it admitted, its voice tinged with awe. "Many have tried, and all have failed. Some had more success than others, but in the end, it was considered a branch of magic unsuitable for humans."
She stood in stunned silence, her mind reeling from the dragon's revelation. The idea that she, a human, could wield void magic should have succumbed to madness was not pleasant to think about. She had always assumed that her class was something anyone could obtain, but now she realized that there was more to it than she had imagined.
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"How do people usually get their class?" She asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. The dragon tilted its head, seemingly perplexed by such a basic question. "Someone gains a class by fulfilling the prerequisite for it," it explained patiently. "For a Warrior class, that might be defeating a certain number of enemies with a weapon of choice. For mages, it may be using mana in a specific way or learning the theories behind some magic. Sometimes even what you eat can have an influence."
The dragon's eyes glinted with wisdom as it continued. "A few classes are very common and can be found in books and scrolls, while others are secretly kept by families or different organizations. And some are lost to time."
She nodded, absorbing the dragon's words. It made sense, in a way. Each class required a specific set of skills and knowledge, and it stood to reason that one would have to demonstrate proficiency in those areas to unlock the class.
The dragon fixed her with a curious gaze. "How did you obtain your class?" it asked, its voice filled with genuine interest.
She hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "The system just told me that I unlocked it," she said finally, deciding to keep her Skill Class Roulette a secret for now. "But it hid the prerequisite behind question marks."
The dragon pondered her words for a moment, its expression thoughtful. "That is indeed curious," it mused, its voice tinged with intrigue. "But the world works in mysterious ways that even I do not fully understand."
Her brow furrowed as she processed the dragon's revelation about her void magic. Her mind raced with questions, and she found herself fixating on one in particular. "You mentioned demons earlier," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Can you tell me more about them?"
The dragon's eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement at her question and nostalgia. "Ah, the demons," it rumbled, its voice filled with a hint of fondness. "They are a race, much like the others that inhabit this world. However, they are blessed with a naturally longer lifespan than humans." She leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What are they like?" she asked.
The dragon's scales glinting in the dim light. "In many ways, they are similar to humans," it explained. "They value strength and respect those who possess it. They even look similar to humans, though they often have more legs or arms."
Her eyes widened at the mention of extra limbs. "More legs and arms?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. The dragon nodded, its expression one of amusement. "Indeed," it confirmed. "They come in more shapes and sizes than humans, but I can assure you, they all taste the same."
Her stomach churned at the thought of the dragon's eating history, but she pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the dragon's words. "So you've met demons before?" she asked.
The dragon's expression grew wistful, its eyes distant as it reminisced. "In my time, I have fought many demons," it said, its voice filled with a mixture of pride and respect. "They are excellent warriors, with a battle instinct and tenacity second to none."
She sat in silence, absorbing the dragon's words. At first, she had been apprehensive about a race called demons, her mind conjuring images of the supernatural beings depicted in the fiction from her home. But the more the dragon talked, the more she realized that there seemed to be no connection between the two.
"They seem to be just people," she mused aloud, her voice tinged with a newfound understanding. "People who fight well." The dragon nodded, its expression one of approval. "Indeed," it agreed, its voice filled with a mixture of respect and admiration. "The demons are a formidable race, and one that should not be underestimated. Something that you humans have a tendency to do."
As she pondered the implications of her newfound knowledge, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. If void magic was typically the domain of demons, what did that say about her? Was she somehow connected to this race, or was her ability to wield void magic a mere fluke?
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. There would be time to ponder these questions later. For now, she needed to focus on the task at hand - improving her skills and finding a way out of this strange place. She looked up at the dragon. "I think I've heard enough for now," she said. "I have a lot to think about, but I don't want to get too caught up in the details just yet."
The dragon nodded, its expression one of understanding. "Of course," it rumbled, its voice filled with a mixture of approval. "There will be plenty of time for questions later. For now, let us continue with your training." She nodded, her expression determined as she prepared to continue her training with the dragon. The ancient creature seemed pleased by her willingness to learn, its eyes glinting with approval.
"Very well," the dragon rumbled, its voice filled with a mixture of amusement and anticipation. She took a deep breath, focusing her mind as she raised her hand once more. She fired another Void Bolt at the dragon, her aim true as the bolt struck the ancient creature's chest.
To her surprise, the dragon showed no signs of being affected by the attack. It merely sat there, its scales glinting in the dim light as it waited for her to continue. A notification appeared in her vision, informing her that her Void Bolt skill had leveled up to level 2. She couldn't help but feel happy, even if it seemed insignificant compared to the dragon's immense power. She fired one more Void Bolt, her brow furrowed in concentration. She glanced at her mana reserves.
Mana: 20/180
Her gaze fell upon her dagger, still lying beside Boogie. She decided to use her last remaining mana to infuse the blade with void energy using her Dark Infusion skill. She walked over to Boogie, picking up the dagger as she did so. The small elemental sat there, still terrified by the dragon's presence. Elara felt a pang of sympathy for the creature, and she turned to it with a reassuring smile.
"Boogie," she said softly, her voice filled with understanding. "If you're more comfortable in the hall we came from, you can go there. I'll be fine here." Boogie didn't hesitate, floating away immediately as if relieved to be given permission to leave. The dragon let out a low snort of amusement, its eyes glinting with mirth as it watched the elemental's hasty retreat.
Elara turned back to face the dragon, her hand gripping the dagger tightly. The dragon watched her intently, its eyes glinting with curiosity. "Do you know how to use that dagger?" it asked, its voice filled with interest. She shook her head, her expression sheepish. "Not really," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I only just got the skill Dagger Handling."
The dragon nodded. "That is the most basic of skills for fighting with a dagger," it explained. "Should you keep leveling it, the skill can evolve into another skill at level twenty. Which skill it evolves into is again determined by fulfilling the prerequisite, and then choosing which one fits you best."
Her eyes widened at the dragon's words, her mind racing with the possibilities. She had no idea that skills could evolve in such a way. The dragon's gaze fell upon the dagger in her hand. "Change of plans. For now, use the dagger to slice at me," it said.
She hesitated, her grip on the dagger tightening as she looked at the ancient creature with uncertainty. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. The dragon let out a low chuckle, its eyes glinting with amusement. "Do not worry," it reassured her, its voice filled with confidence. "Your dagger seems to be of fine quality. It would not shatter immediately."
Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Can you not see the quality rating of the weapon?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. The dragon shook its head. "No, I am not able to inspect the weapon, as it is being wielded by you," it explained patiently. "You are not able to inspect objects, such as armor or rings, on people whilst someone is wearing it."
She nodded in understanding, her mind absorbing this new information. She took a deep breath, steeling herself as she moved towards the dragon, her dagger held at the ready. As she drew closer, she could feel the heat emanating from the dragon's body, the air around it shimmering with an intense warmth. She gritted her teeth, pushing through the discomfort. A second before she made contact with the dragon's hide, she activated her Dark Infusion skill, and began to slice at the ancient creature's scales.
After her first few strikes, a notification appeared in her vision, informing her that her Dagger Handling skill and Dark Infusion had leveled up to level 3. Both skipping level 2 entirely. She couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, even as she continued her assault on the dragon's seemingly impenetrable hide.
She felt a bit of disappointment watching the Dark Infusion on her dagger fade after just a single slice, the void energy dissipating into the air. She glanced at her mana reserves. One second of Dark Infusion cost her 20 mana, draining the rest of her reserves.
"Should I meditate to restore my mana?" she asked the dragon, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
The dragon shook its head. "No," it rumbled. "You should exhaust yourself first by using your dagger. When you can no longer stand the heat or can no longer keep the dagger steady in your hand, first then should you meditate to restore your mana and stamina." She nodded, deciding to trust the dragon's advice. The ancient creature seemed to know what it was talking about, and she was eager to learn.
With renewed determination, she continued her assault on the dragon's scales, striking at the creature with all her might. The heat emanating from the dragon's body was intense, and she could feel sweat beginning to run down her temples and neck as she exerted herself.
Each strike of her dagger seemed to take more effort than the last, and she could feel her muscles beginning to burn with fatigue. The physical activity and the oppressive heat were taking their toll on her, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through the discomfort. Her hand trembled as she continued her attacks, the dagger growing heavier with each passing moment. She could feel her grip on the weapon slipping, her fingers slick with sweat as she struggled to maintain her hold.
Just as she was about to strike again, the dagger nearly fell from her hand, her exhausted fingers barely able to keep hold of the weapon. She stumbled forward, catching herself with a hand on the dragon's hide, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. She stumbled back from the dragon, her hand still tingling from the intense heat of its scales she touched. The heat had been just a step below burning, and she could feel the sweat dripping down her body as she put some distance between herself and the creature.
She took a few steps back, finding a spot where the heat was more manageable. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, the exertion of the exercise finally catching up to her. As she stood there, she realized that she had been so focused on her training that she had ignored the system notifications that had been popping up in her vision. With a sigh, she sat down on the ground, taking a moment to rest and examine the messages. The first notification informed her that her Dagger Handling skill had now reached level 6. She felt a sense of pride at the progress she had made, even if it was just a small step forward.
The next notification caught her attention, and she couldn't help but smile as she read it. The system was congratulating her on unlocking the General Skill: Heat Resistance Level 1. Her proximity to the dragon's scorching scales had been enough to trigger the skill. As she continued to scroll through the notifications, she noticed that her Heat Resistance skill had already leveled up to level 3. She was amazed at how quickly she was progressing, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the thought of what other skills she might unlock in the future.
Elara glanced at the dragon, which had decided to take a nap amidst her relentless onslaught, as if her attacks were nothing more than a gentle breeze upon his hide.