Arc | Chapter. 54: Malz’s Offer (Patreon)

Chapter. 54: Malz’s Offer

It was a shame. A shame that I hadn’t been able to use my SS Tier skill, even casting it out loud made me happy ⁠— well if I was honest I felt like I had to vocalize each and every word or it wouldn’t come. It was… magical. Every syllable triggered my mana to respond in a certain way, and it had all been at the tip of my fingers.

But unfortunately, the Dragon of Frost had interrupted things, and the mana within the air trembled, enough to at least make me stop along with his roar. But that small disruption threw me off a bit, but I also felt like it allowed me to understand the skill slightly better.

Every word felt like it built upon each other… And the mana strands in the air and how I felt them changing were no different either. Unfortunately, the disruption had made me lose that magical feeling, but at the same time I supposed that it ended up sparing the Dragon of Shadows.

Which in retrospect, it was for the best.

And now, I found myself walking down the cave along with none other than Malz, who was somewhat limping as we walked. It was… awkward. I had so many thoughts and feelings, but as time passed, only one thing remained.

Guilt.

“Hey, I’m sorry for… you know…” I shifted awkwardly as we walked. “Everything…”

There was a silence, as the walk continued, it lasted for a few seconds before a sigh left her, and contrary to my expectations she shook her head.

“It’s fine, It’s not like I behaved the best way either.” A sigh left her. “But I appreciate your apology, sorry for not accepting defeat after all was said and done.”

“Right… it’s fine…”

It was… weird. Perhaps it was because Ceylon wasn’t around, but I didn’t know how to interact with Malz, or Mally as she had suggested. Which well, just made all my interactions with her awkward. At least with the Dragon of Frost I knew what I wanted, so even if it was hard to assert myself I could still do it, but with Malz⁠… that really wasn’t the case at all.

Because well, I ultimately didn’t know what I wanted to even achieve with her, or anything really.

I frowned as we walked, and then she spoke.

“You know, I never thought that you would be so strong. At least, not to be able to survive the [World of the Abyss] an SS Tier skill. I do know your boon, but…” She shook her head. “It is still impressive to me.”

I blinked. “Thank you…?” It was an… odd compliment. “I guess I just did what my instincts told me to? I encased myself in ice, used a lot of skills and survived…”

She chuckled. “Yeah your kind is always very… instinct driven.”

“My kind?” I raised my brow, now confused.

“Yeah, your kind.” She nodded. “The kind of beings who derive enjoyment out of fighting. Your kind thrives in situations where their life is at stake, and when it isn’t they kind of just…”

Her words made me curious, enough to prod on what she was saying.

“Kind of just?”

“Well, they are just kind of there. They just live until their next battle and that’s about it, do things to pass the time but they never really stop fighting. Naturally, I don’t know your life but I have a feeling you’re in that situation too.”

“I’m not, or at least hope not to be.” I shook my head. “I’m just here to get stronger because I’ll have to deal with the Hero of Shadows again, but also because of the fact that I will have to deal with the Hero of Flames too.”

“The Hero of Flames?” Malz lowered her head as we walked. “I can see your troubles now. But if you have such a strong SS Tier skill then I don’t think you should be that worried.”

“I have to make sure I can kill him,” I said, shaking my head. “That is all. I’m way more interested in trying to live a somewhat relatively normal life and finding a place to call home than to have the fact that I’m a hero spread to the world.”

“So you’re saying that most heroes aren’t aware of you?” She asked as we finally reached the center-most room. “That is quite unexpected.”

“Only the Hero of Shadows, the Hero of Flames and the Heroine of Spiders should know, but the Heroine of Spiders is now working for me,” I said, shaking my head.

“Oh, that is quite nice.”

The talk continued as I followed Malz, and we headed to another cavity where she had to transform to her human form. Once we were there, I was met with a rather archaic room, one that was full of potions and bottles.

“Well, now we are here.” She said letting out a breath before turning to meet my gaze. “Though to think you’re so different than those battle maniacs I’ve met, yet you exhibit almost the same traits.”

“I guess so.”

She nodded and then turned to the variety of shelves, all of them carved within the rock themselves. Malz looked around for a few moments, before picking up two potions and handing them to me.

“These are for you.”

“Right, thank you.”

She turned and grabbed something from the bottom shelf.

“And this is for me, since conventional stuff doesn’t work on dragons.”

I nodded and looked at the two potions she handed me.

[ Ancient Mana Potion of Immemorial Times. Tier: S ]

[ Ancient Health Potion of Immemorial Times. Tier: S ]

I blinked, and Malz spoke.

“They are not SS Tier, but they should still restore you to almost top shape, that’s how amazing they are.” She said as she uncorked the gourd she held in her hand. “By the way, how long did it take you to finish training?”

I blinked, as I watched Malz down whatever liquid was inside her gourd.

“Thank you for the potions.” I nodded.” As for the time, it was. Five years and seven months⁠—”

And she spat the liquid onto the ground. “What⁠— five years?!”

“Yeah…? The System said something about record time; now that I think about it.” I thought for a moment. “Is that even good? I have no point of reference.”

She gasped for a moment, trembling before shaking her head. “Out of all heroes, your time is the best I’ve heard of, the Hero of Flames took seven years…”

“Oh. Huh…?”

◇ ◇ ◇

I ended up drinking the potions and being bombarded with questions, but by the end of things after we both were healed and everything died down, she was simply put… staring at me. Almost in reverence. It was awkward. And as we headed back, I had about enough as I asked:

“Aren’t heroes largely irrelevant to dragons?”

“Yes, but I’m probably the most interested in heroes out of all the other elders, and you are just…” She shook her head. “I don’t understand you.”

“What do you even mean?” I raised my brow, still walking to get back, while I was invested in the conversation I also had another thing in mind:

The blood ceremony.

The sole reason I had come to this place.

Meanwhile, Malz seemed to be thinking. “I don’t know, when did you arrive in this world? Did you learn that SS Tier skill in training?”

“I came here like a month and a half ago,” I said after a moment of thought. “As for the skill, not really. I learnt it after killing an Immemorial Emera Spider.”

“You… killed one in spite of…?” She blinked. “Ha? One of those things?”

I nodded now, smiling pleasantly. “Mhm, it was a good fight. A fun one really.”

“I mean, I assume it was, but just how⁠—?!” She gaped. “No, I have to find out how!”

“And how will you do that?” I asked, as I walked into the plateau that was now devoid of dragons.

I was a bit confused, but before I could react Malz pulled me, and grabbed my hand. She met my gaze with her golden eyes as she lowered herself before me.

The wind blew, and after a breath, she spoke resolutely.

“Arc, I want you to take me with you.”

I blinked. “Ha?”

“I want to go along with your adventures or your journey towards a normal life.” She closed her eyes. “I can also help if the Hero of Shadows or the one of Flames come.”

“No? I already have enough with Regis’karr.”

“I can just replace him.” She frowned. “I’m stronger than him and more knowledgeable than him in everything but earthly topics.”

“I said no.” I lightly frowned.

“Can you at least reconsider it?” her pleading voice gave me pause.

I stared at her for a moment. My thought process boiled down to; I didn’t want to have two dragons following me, not when I’d also possibly need to teach Malz common sense. But her offer was still tempting to me… In the end, a sigh left me.

“I’ll make a final decision after the ceremony.”

She blinked. “Right, I can work with that.”

“So, where is the ceremony?” I asked.

“It’s at the peak of the Maw of Dragons.” There was a pause before Malz spoke again. “I’ll take you there.”

“You what?”

And before I could react, the Dragon of Shadows displayed her true form before me, lowering herself.

“Get on, it’s faster this way.”

Wasn’t dragon riding supposed to be something dragons didn’t easily agree to?

“Right…”

Though, I still listened, more interested in the ceremony than anything. Then moments later, we set off towards the top of the mountain.

* * * * *

Regis’karr was nervous, nervous about the fight that had happened between Arc and Malz, the Dragon of Shadows. Arc wasn’t the most stable of individuals, and Malz wasn’t either, but the thing was; Malz was one of the elders. She was a Grand Dragon Elder, whereas Arc was practically an outsider.

Sure she was the Heroine of Frost and one of the most promising individuals the dragons had seen in centuries, but matter of fact was:

She was an outsider.

And now, after the situation settled in, the Grand Dragon Elders wanted her out. They were raising their concerns to the Dragon of Frost, he who had the most respect and whose decision weighed the most.

“She is a savage!”

“She will be the doom of all of us, starting a battle with the heroes!”

“If any of us anger her enough she will attack us too!”

…

It was a barrage of voices, and Regis’karr understood. But Arc wasn’t that extreme⁠— she certainly was unreasonable at times, but so was any hero who had gone through the System’s training. They had very fickle personalities, and to some extent, Arc was actually the sanest one Regis’karr had met.

But it’s not as if his words could convince the other elders. They all wanted her to not receive the blood ceremony, and the Dragon of Frost, standing at the peak of the Maw of Dragons, simply observed. A golden chalice that was the size of a person to his side.

Finally, after a few moments and as the complaints died down. The Dragon of Frost shook his head.

“I believe in her integrity, and I believe in what Regis’karr saw.” He closed his eyes before opening them resolutely. “That is why I shall personally take responsibility should anything come from her actions after she joins us.”

The elders wanted to argue, but the Dragon of Frost continued.

“The ceremony will be seen to the end.”

His eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped as the atmosphere turned cold.

“This will mark a new age for the dragons.”

And at that moment, a gust of wind swept as everyone’s attention turned to the base of the peak. Where Malz the Dragon of Shadows arrived, and on top of her was…

Arc.

Regis’karr blinked, all of the elders did at the same time as the implications of what it meant settled in their minds. For some reason or another, Malz had made this choice. Meanwhile, Arc after thanking the Dragon of Shadows stepped down and began to walk towards the chalice.

“Welcome, Heroine of Frost.” The Dragon of Frost said with a smile. “We were awaiting your arrival.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Malz moved next to Regis’karr, all while Arc approached the peak of the mountain under the tense gazes of the present elders. Then, finally, as she stood before the chalice the Dragon of Frost began.

“It is time for the blood ceremony and it is time for you to become one of us. Are you ready to accept the responsibilities of the dragons?” He met her gaze. “To share our burden, and to save Arlas from its impending doom?”

Arc took a breath and nodded. “I am ready.”

“Good.” The Dragon of Frost nodded. “Let us begin!”

And he spread his wings wide, the mana in the air shifted, the chalice shone red and something within the Maw of Dragons changed. Malz and Regis’karr shared a glance in confusion, and yet the rest of the elders seemed to ignore it as they focused on Arc.

She stood in front of the chalice, her eyes barely seeing its contents. Yet for some reason, Regis’karr had a sinking feeling of what was about to come.

“Through consuming our mana filled blood and flesh, you will become one of us.” The Dragon of Frost gestured. “Now consume.”

Arc stood there, in silence for a few moments before she shook her head.

“SS Tier poison, really?” She sighed. “If you wanted to kill me that bad there are better ways to go about it.”

With those words, she kicked. The chalice dented and went flying out of the Maw of Dragons, its contents spilling into the air as everyone just stared.

It was as if a pin was dropped, a stifling silence engulfed the peak of the highest mountain in all of Arlas, that was until a laughter broke it. And the one who was laughing was no one else but the Dragon of Frost.

“I really wanted to do this the easy way, but it seems like it will be the other way around!”

Regis’karr blinked, and then an explosion of ice engulfed everything. Blasting all of the other elders from the top of the gigantic mountain. And as he fell, Regis’karr heard an echoing voice full of hatred.

“Submit or die.”

And another explosion of ice shook the mountain peak in reply as a bloodied battle began.