After murdering two men in cold blood, I freaked out. Was I supposed to call the cops? Would they even come?
I eventually took a step back and considered the situation.
First, I wrapped my arm tight with a bandage to stop the bleeding. I was hoping that my healing had been boosted somehow with my Attributes, but I didn’t know for sure, so I’d need to visit the hospital later.
Before that, though, I needed to handle the dead men.
The first step in that was to collect their Echoes. Using the words “Family,” and “Love,” I figured out where their families lived and how I could get the two mens’ things to them. I removed their valuables, doing my best to be respectful, and set them aside.
Then I started digging graves.
Rather than dump them together like I’d done with the goblins, I took the extra time to dig two separate places for them, and laid stones over the graves when I was done. Like before, as soon as I’d finished setting up the resting place, the dirt packed inwards and tidied itself up, like the Echoes had accepted my efforts.
By the time I was done, the sun had risen, and I decided that I had to get myself treated. The wound didn’t feel that bad anymore, but I didn’t know if that was a sign of infection or not.
First, though, I needed to look at my notifications.
Eidolon’s Embrace (Lv. 2) → (Lv. 3)
+1 Mana Recovery
+1 Attribute Point (Human Versatility)
+1 Skill Upgrade
Grip of Death or Shielding Clutch
“What are those?”
I told you killing those meat sacks was worth it, didn’t I?
I ignored the drake.
Grip of Death (Lv. 3)
Wrap a target in the grip of an Echo. The Echo may speak to the target freely, providing advice, encouragement, and consolement, and if you’re the target it increases your Attributes by 10% of its own per level in Eidolon's Embrace. Furthermore, you may consume other harvested Echoes to gain a burst of Mana Regen equal to the consumed Echo’s total stats.
Shielding Clutch (Lv. 3)
Wrap a target in the grip of an Echo. The Echo may speak to the target freely, providing advice, encouragement, and consolement, and if you’re the target it increases your Attributes by 10% of its own per level in Eidolon's Embrace. Furthermore, any physical harm the Eidolon's target receives is blocked and redirected to your Mana pool.
The choice seemed pretty easy to me. Grip of Death would help me with Mana deprivation but so far the only thing that really drained me was when the dragon took over my body, in which case I'd probably want my Mana to run out faster.
Plus, it would probably help a lot if I ever took another gunshot wound.
I locked in my choice and felt something wrap around my skin. Looking down, there was a slight, almost-invisible shimmer across my body, reminiscent of scales if I looked closely enough.
With that done, I cleaned myself up a bit to make sure I wouldn't be walking into the hospital with blood, vomit, and dirt all over myself, and changed my bandage, then headed for the ER.
----------------------------------------
I cancelled my Shielding Clutch before getting out of the car, just to make sure nobody would notice. It was a bit paranoid of me, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.
The instant feeling of weakness was staggering, but I managed to make it inside without seeming like a drunk.
I made my way to the front desk, trying to portray a sense of relaxation and a lack of urgency.
“Hello sir, what seems to be the problem?” The receptionist flashed a brilliant smile my way.
I smiled back, and pulled up my sleeve, where my bandage was still tie. “I may have gotten shot?”
The lady's face paled.
“I know how that sounds, but it's just a fles–”
She pulled a phone off the desk and put in numbers rapidly. “We have someone here who says he got shot, can you send someone out immediately?”
“...wound.” I finished lamely.
Quickly, a man in scrubs came in and brought me into a room that seemed almost makeshift in design, set with a dozen others in the middle of a room that should've been filled with desks and computers.
“Let's take a look here,” the man said as he pulled up my sleeve and snipped off my bandage. My wound started slowly bleeding, and the guy winced. “Yeah, that got pretty close to your axillary nerve. Feel any pain?”
I shrugged. “Not really? Just a bit when I move it.”
“Thought so. I'm gonna run some saline over this and then we'll see if I can get this healed, okay?”
He stepped away to grab some supplies, and I stared at my feet for a second.
When he returned, I asked, “By heal, do you mean with Skills?”
He nodded with a smile. “Yeah, this Mana System might've sent a lot of things to crap and increased the number of patients coming in by a lot, but it seems that most people got Skills based on things they already did, or things they wanted to do. We've got a bunch of magic healing now, and we're taking shifts of napping while our Mana comes back. I've got a bit of a headache already, so you might be my last patient before I swap out.”
As he spoke, he gently poured some saline on my wound.
I still couldn't feel it, but he nodded like he could tell it was working.
Then he closed his eyes and placed both hands on the area around my wound.
Green dust seemed to leave his hands and sink into my body, slowly causing the feeling in my arm to return. My shoulder immediately started itching, and I reflexively reached for it, but the doctor caught my hand and stopped me.
Now he healed with just one of his hands, his eyes open and looking at me. “I'm Jonathan Price, by the way.”
I have a pained grin. “Thanks, Dr. Price. I'm Kenny.”
He chuckled. “Not technically a doctor, just a nurse who got lucky.”
He ran his fingers over a small scar that remained where I'd been shot, then cut off the healing energy.
“Thanks again, sir.”
“No problem.” He yawned. “I'm gonna go take a nap, this headache is awful. Don't worry about paying at the front desk, treatment is free these days.”
With that, he got up and walked away.
I did the same, nonchalantly walking out of the Emergency Room as though I'd never been injured at all.
As I drove home, I idly wondered how many other professions had been completely changed by the introduction of Mana. Could lumberjacks safely cut down trees in a single swing? Could firefighters summon water to extinguish burning homes?
Perhaps the apocalypse wasn't all bad after all.
----------------------------------------
I returned to my garden and sat down in front of the two graves I'd just dug.
Why do you feel remorse? The dragon queries. You didn't kill them, and they were too weak to survive the consequences of their own actions.
A feeling of rage simmered inside me– mine, this time, not the dragon’s.
My inability to control you is what got them killed. How are you able to take control over me?
I got the impression that the dragon was baring its fangs at me. You are weak. You lack magical potency. Mana. Your mind is incapable of fending my intrusions– or the intrusions of others like me– off.
I groaned. So, until my Mana Attribute is higher than yours was in life, I won't be able to stop you. And I'm guessing that the stats from Shielding Clutch don't count?
A toothy grin. Correct.
“So why should I allow you to remain as my Eidolon, then? Why shouldn't I just switch to one of the goblins and not have to worry about you ever again?”
Try it.
I did, and felt my brain buzz as a wall of sound met my senses. Unintelligible screaming and a distinct impression of hunger overwhelmed me. I stomped the emotions down, and they quietened but didn't quite vanish. I then checked my screens.
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Name: Kenny Bert
Race: Human (Earth)
Role: Speaker for the Dead
Strength: 5 (+0)
Mana: 7 (+0)
Dexterity: 5 (+1)
Mana Recovery: 7 (-1)
Passives: Human Versatility, Echo Garden
Skills: Immortal Questions (Lv. 2), Shielding Clutch (Lv. 3)
Quests: Reintegration (2%)
I shut down the Skill instantly upon seeing the negative Mana Recovery, and put my Attribute Point from earlier into Mana, bringing my base up to eight.
Then, reluctantly, I let the dragon back in.
See? You need me, boy.
I started thinking. I really didn't want to use an Echo from the people the dragon had killed, but the dragon just had way too much control right now.
“I'll make a deal with you.” I injected as much confidence as I could into the statement.
Oh?
“You can have free reign in combat from now on, as long as you swear that you won't kill, maim, or torture any humans. If you can't do that, or you break the promise, I will get rid of you. I'm not sure when I'll next get a Skill, but I'm confident there's something out there that can get rid of you.”
There was a long pause.
Will this deal continue even after you get the Mana to prevent me from doing whatever I want?
I grimaced and thought for a moment. “It'll continue until I find something stronger than you that I can reliably control.”
I could feel the dragon thinking for a long moment. It was an odd sensation, like it was happening in my own brain, but I couldn't tell what was actually being thought. I accept, on the condition that you find a way to get rid of me after that. I don't want to be held as a prisoner in your body.
“Then we have a deal.”
Something seemed to twitch inside of me, like my subconscious had accepted the agreement.
We will be bound by this oath– incapable of breaking it until the other dies.
My eyes widened. “Is that built into the Mana System?”
Not quite. It's a combination of Mana and sentient will. If either of us had been unfaithful, with intentions to break the pact or manipulate the terms, it would not have formed.
“If you hadn't told me, I would have never known.” I frowned.
It is not the role of the predator to lie. Only prey must. I am a dragon, the greatest predator of all. To deceive is not in my nature.
“For such a great predator, you sure got taken out pretty fast,” I quipped.
My body was that of a infant and I still caused serious damage to your people. Do not underestimate my kind for the failings of our weakest.
“What about your mind? You sure don't seem that young.”
Dragon's souls are eternal. Mine is the same as was before me. When a dragon dies, another is born in its place, with all of its memories intact.
“Infinite reincarnation, huh?” I thought it over. “Then what are you? The System says you're an Echo.”
That is true. I am merely a reflection of that soul and the mind that once stored it. My true self is surely gone by now, manifesting itself as another drake elsewhere in the multiverse.
“So you're like a clone? Dang, sorry about that, man.”
I will not doubt the significance of my existence simply because I lack a soul. I am as cunning, as potent, and as meaningful as any other dragon soul. My wishes and desires are those of a dragon. Am I not, then, a dragon unto myself? The Eidolon lectured.
“I suppose you are. Now, then, what should be our next step?” I slapped my thighs and rose to my feet.
Conquest, of course. You are too weak right now. You must become strong enough to be worthy of me.
I mulled the thought over in my head. “Makes sense. Not sure I want to risk another fight with just a cleaver, though. Let's see if I can get my hands on a weapon.”
There was a loud snort in my mind. Inferior tactics, but I suppose with your lack of natural weapons it's to be expected.
“Quiet, you. Your ‘natural weapons’ did jack diddly squat against a few guns.”
I allowed myself to smile at the indignant squawk the dragon made.
----------------------------------------
A bell rang as I opened the door, and the shop owner took a look at me and waved me in.
“Come on in, kid. Everything's on the house.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Really? Why's that?”
He chuckled. “The world's ending, kid. Do you really think I'm gonna need money for much longer? Plus, there's no shot cops are gonna waste their time on little old me just for arming the people, right?”
I shrugged in reply.
“Now, what are you looking for? Something small, or something big?” He leaned in, stage whispering, “Please say something big.”
I thought for a second. “I need something melee and something to handle problems that I can’t solve with that alone.”
The merchant looked me over. “You look a bit scrawny for it, but I suppose these days anything’s possible, huh? I’ve got a couple weapons of the physical variety, if you wanna take a look.”
At my nod, he gestured to one of the aisles and stepped out from behind the counter, leading me over.
“Our selection of these isn’t as large as it is for guns, mostly just knives and swords. If you see something you like, feel free to bring it up to the counter so I can show you how to use it.”
As the man walked away, the dragon cut into my thoughts. That one.
My eyes flickered over to where he was mentally gesturing, revealing a pair of… wide knives with handlebars?
“What are these?” I muttered.
Those are our new claws, the dragon proclaimed smugly.
With a shrug, I carefully grabbed them both by the handles and carried them back to the register.
The store owner gave me a weird look. “You sure you want these, kid? They’re mostly just a novelty item– not all that great in a real fight.”
I shook my head, admitting, “Honestly? I’m not sure what I’m doing. These just felt right.”
He shrugged. “Your choice. You can always come back for something a bit larger later on. These are called katars, or push daggers. It’s not too complicated– just grab them and pretend you’re punching.”
I gripped the handles and something felt… right. It had more to do with the dragon than it did me, I think, but if the dragon’s fighting abilities were enhanced then so were my own chances of survival.
“Alright,” I announced, setting the blades down. “Now, how about something with a bit more range?”
The man’s smile widened. “Well, I’m guessing that you’re not very knowledgeable about this sort of thing, so I’ll keep it simple– small or big?”
“Big.” The answer was instant. Weaker enemies could be dealt with in melee to help develop my Skills and give the dragon some work to do. Things that I couldn’t handle but still needed to die could be handled with ordnance.
The owner’s grin grew almost unnaturally large. “Perfect! We keep the best stuff in the back, give me just a second.”
He disappeared behind a door for a moment, and returned carrying a case.
“These are all some of my favorites, but I’ll let you take one if you promise not to use ‘em on people.” He set the case down on the counter and gave me a look.
After a moment I realized he was waiting for me to respond, and stuttered out, “Uh, yeah, of course I promise.”
“Good enough.” He popped the case open so we could both look inside. “Now, I’ll explain these to you on account of being new to guns, and then I’ll show you how to use ‘em. First, though…” He gave me a look. “What’s your Strength?”
I shifted uncomfortably, glancing over at my Attributes idly.
Name: Kenny Bert
Race: Human (Earth)
Role: Speaker for the Dead
Strength: 5 (+9)
Mana: 7 (+12)
Dexterity: 5 (+4)
Mana Recovery: 7 (+6)
Passives: Human Versatility, Echo Garden
Skills: Immortal Questions (Lv. 2), Shielding Clutch (Lv. 3)
Quests: Reintegration (2%)
“Oh, come on. I won’t tell anyone.” He gave me a warm look. “I just wanna make sure you can handle the recoil.”
“Right, it’s… fourteen.” His eyes widened.
“Well dang, no wonder you wanted the katars. You’ll do just fine, I think.” He glanced down at the guns and pulled out a pistol.
“You’ll probably be wanting this, then. In the simplest terms I can put it, this is a Desert Eagle. We’re gonna be loading it with .50 Action Express rounds, though it can take a few other types as well.”
He flipped the gun around, showing me a switch on it. “This is the safety. It’s currently in the ‘on’ position. Keep it that way unless you’re actively shooting. One of my buddies shot half his thigh off once because he kept holstering without making sure the safety was on.”
The shop owner pulled a magazine out from under the counter. “Same thing with these. Unless the gun is with you and you have a chance of needing it, don’t leave the gun loaded. Also, for this specific type, you don’t want to load it from the top, just with the mag.”
His hand gripped the top and pulled it back. “Do it just like that, okay? After that…” He looked around for a second. “Well, I don’t have anything to shoot at to demonstrate, but that’s how you load it. And to unload…”
He pressed another button that released the magazine, then pulled the slide back again, releasing the chambered bullet.
“Now, I wanna watch you do everything I just did. Leave the safety on.”
I awkwardly held the gun in my hand, but did my best to replicate his maneuvers. When I’d finished, he nodded at me. “That’s good enough. Now, one more thing– you don’t point this at anyone, especially yourself, and if the trigger goes down but the bullet doesn’t fire you set this thing down somewhere safe and don’t touch it anymore. Deal?”
“Deal. I’ll be careful.”
“You’d better be. That thing is lethal. It won’t just kill one guy, it’ll go through him and kill the next one too, you understand?”
“I understand.”
“Good. Let me grab you some ammo.”
The Southern man turned away, but I stopped him. “Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions? Not about the gun, just for curiosity’s sake.”
“Sure thing.” He turned back and leaned over the counter. “What do you wanna know?”
“Why are you here? If you’re saying everything in the shop is free, why don’t you just leave and let people take it?”
“There’s a difference between taking something that’s free and theft,” he explained, “If I weren’t here, just left and let whoever take whatever, they’d be stealing. Even if I put a sign on the door that said it was all free, I’d have no way of enforcing boundaries, like asking you not to shoot people. Plus, things were free for you, but if someone came in and tried to take all my stock for themselves, they’d definitely be stealing. It’s my job to make sure good folks like you are able to get your hands on the things you need to survive– and to keep the bad ones from making the world a living hell for you.”
That was… noble.
“Has anyone tried to steal so far?”
He nodded. “Right after the screens popped up and a few people saw monsters, everyone freaked out. I fired a couple warning shots, and that scared most of them off. The rest got some birdshot to the chest. Nobody died, if you’re worried about that.”
“And any monsters? Have you had to deal with those yet?”
“Just one, and it wasn’t too big or anything. Little scaled thing with sharp fangs and claws, ran around on four legs but stood up when it got close. Blew the thing’s head clean off and threw it in my pickup.”
That’s a kobold. Nasty rodents, even worse than goblins. They pester dragons constantly, trying to help us without even knowing how to speak. Some of my kin use them effectively, but most just eat them. You should take the body for your garden.
“Just one more thing, then…” I grimaced. “Do you mind if I take the body?”
----------------------------------------
The store owner had been concerned by my request, but eventually let me take it along with a bag of ammunition and a pair of mags.
It was nice to see that there were still good people out there. All the apocalypse movies always portrayed people getting all militant and aggressive.
Things aren’t that bad yet. When the Mana Density reaches 25%, the overall potency of monsters will be ten times worse, if not moreso.
“Quiet you,” I muttered, shoveling another pile of dirt onto the new grave. A few more and the grave was accepted by Echo Garden, providing yet another uptick in the Echoes’ power and the Mana Recovery buff they provided.
I hadn’t really seen much in the way of benefits from my Garden yet, but deep down I knew it was one of those things that would take a lot of time and effort, but would eventually turn into one of my most powerful abilities.
Are we going to hunt now?
I gazed up at the sun, guessing at the time.
“You know what? Sure. You’re in charge, tell me where to go.”