Walking over to Sol, I crouched. She jerked her head back, perhaps questioning my intense stare. Her eyes were lavender and reptilian, fixed upon me, while her tail was motionless. Soot and blood speckled her white scales. The longer I looked, the more certain I became.
I reached out my arm and patted her head. “Apithien-like features include purple eyes and a white complexion. You have the ability to command a power that Solgen had used before. Not only that, but others had also sensed an Apithien within you. With all this, I’m sure. Since you’re a Chimera, you possess the DNA of an Apithien and dragons, making you a mix between the two. More specifically, you have Solgen’s DNA inside of you.”
Sol tilted her to the side.
My hand flinched, and I retracted it away. “’Course not, Sol. I was just surprised. I won’t treat you any different now that I’m aware of what you are. Actually, did you know about this?”
“Right, it changes nothing at all.”
I smiled briefly at Sol and tried to rise. Suddenly, I felt nauseous and dropped to one knee while holding my head. “Yep, seeing stars now; I used way too much mana. Oh man, I hadn’t felt like this since the First Stage.”
“It’s alright, don’t blame yourself.”
It took a bit of effort, but I rose. Following some deep breaths and a neck massage, I felt better. I turned and stole a quick look at the corpse lying in front of us. Warlord Bazark had stopped moving, and his breastplate and leggings had suffered considerable melting. A puddle of black goop and blood surrounded him. I directed my sight elsewhere upon noticing a figure rapidly approaching from inside Arago. I was just about to lean over and look, but the enigmatic figure sprang up and landed directly next to Warlord Bazark.
“Defeating Warlord Bazark without any assistance is a daunting undertaking.”
Warlord Rex had arrived, still wearing that abysmally ugly armor. He drew his sword from its sheath and plunged it downwards, piercing the skull of the motionless body. His retraction made me wince, but he smiled nonetheless.
“He really is dead, marvelous! It was a wise decision to bring you on board for the betterment of Arago and the Marauders. Your contribution to the Demonic Continent is greatly appreciated.”
Following his statement, my eyes were filled with reassuring words.
Soon, a portal had formed right behind Sol and I. Warlord Rex peered at it. “Leaving so soon? I assume that as a traveler like yourself, there are more pressing matters for you to attend to. I would like to extend my gratitude for your victory in slaying Warlord Bazark. With the removal of Linark, Nastro, and the repugnant Warlord, the remaining members of the Liberators will be addressed.”
I sensed a gradual pull of my body towards the gray mass. Rather than resisting, I walked towards it with eagerness to return. Just before I completely submerged myself, a slight movement caught my attention. A familiar earring caught my eye at Sector F. Yet, it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Sol was not visible when I looked back. I believed she had fallen off, but then I spotted the end of her tail through the portal before it disappeared.
Someone’s impatient.
Sighing, I turned to Warlord Rex. “Yeah, no problem at all. Good luck with dealing with the rest. My dragon and I have somewhere else to be.”
“Is that so? I hope we will meet again.”
An uncomfortable laugh escaped me. If he were to find out- and he would- that their savior had stolen his treasures and a few books, he’d ask for my head to be put on a stick. Leaving the premises as quickly as possible was needed.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
With the dimensional pouch in my grasp, I leaped through the portal, silently hoping that the items made the transfer. I tore through the vastness of space, my eyes caught in a blur of gray. It took me a minute of transversal before I was plopped onto solid ground. As I stood up, the air quality shifted from a foul odor of feces to a pleasant aroma of roses. My eyes caught a glimpse of a computer desk, followed by a bed and a window draped with curtains. Specks of sunlight shone through.
“Yep, I’m definitely back to the present. It doesn’t smell like a pigs in here.”
Sol's voice made me turn around and notice her resting near the door. She let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes.
“You can’t rest yet, Sol. We have to keep moving.”
“Yep, and before we leave, let me check something.”
I approached the desk and set down the dimensional pouch. Rummaging through its contents, I found what I was looking for; the treasures and books from the Second Stage were still there. Those who finish the stages can earn masteries, items, and perhaps additional benefits that they can hold after exiting.
“Status.”
Compared to the First Stage, the amount of points I gained was less. Only 1500 points for the Second Stage. As for items, the Mystery Box and the Horn of an Alabaster Rhino were there. In fact, there were two Mystery Boxes; the other one was from the First Stage. Both had a purple color surrounding it, which probably meant it was a purple rarity while the horn was blue. I didn’t care enough to look at the horn, so I summoned the two boxes. A purple light shimmered in place, dropping them onto the table and shaking the computer and other items.
“This thing is heavy…”
[You have two purple grade Mystery Boxes in your possession. Would you care to open it?]
“Of course, open it up.”
The items acquired replaced the two vanished boxes. A white cloak fluttered and landed. Soon after came a heavy ingot that rattled the desk even more.
Immediately upon reading the description, I donned the cloak. As stated, the material was soft, akin to a blanket, and I sensed an increase in my defense. I referred to my Status.
“Yep, the boost has been applied and everything seems in order. Since I was flying around on a mana shield and sustained some damage, my mana increased! No mastery upgrades though, which is odd…”
While I was lost in thought, I became aware of the sound of heavy footsteps coming from downstairs. Sol heard it too and snapped herself awake, slinking away from the front door. A few moments later, the doors busted open, and a pudgy man with a bullet-proof vest walked in. In one hand was a machete and in the other, a handgun. The barrel was pointed right at my head.
“Put your hands up, intruder!”
It was none other than Paul, Mr. Reed’s close friend. I waved at the man, smiling.
“That’s a friendly welcome for someone who just returned from the Second Stage.”
Paul's menacing look softened, and he re-holstered his firearm. “Laila? Is that really you? How are you back from the Second Stage already? I thought you said you’d be back in a couple of days! Only 8 hours have passed.”
Eight hours? I was only in the Second Stage for four at most. I guess time moves twice as fast when you’re transferred.
“Yeah, well, I’m here now and I need to see Mr. Reed asap.” My stomach growled when I took a step. “Also, I need food in my belly. You don’t mind cooking, do you?”