Arc | Chapter. 69: Regrettable Agreement (Patreon)

Chapter. 69: Regrettable Agreement

Being honest, I didn’t know what I had expected after I realized the Dragon of Water had no hostility for me, not until he used his skill. It was… weird, and almost tiresome. I didn’t know how I felt about killing the Dragon of Water, or if I wanted to do so. However, none of that mattered.

Right now, I focused on ensuring the pain within my body stopped by the use of my skill, then I cracked my knuckles as the Dragon of Water backed off. I didn’t know how I felt about killing him, but beating him up was another story⁠— in fact, there was nothing more I wanted to do right now than to beat him up.

I began to walk forward and he hastily backed off.

“W-Wait, I can explain⁠—”

And I punched, my fist dug into his stomach as I felt a rib break, he coughed in pain as he was thrown back. He fell before me, hardly moving as he struggled on the ground groaning in pain as he held his sides.

“What is⁠— no, I shouldn’t be asking that⁠—” He coughed. “What is it that you want from me?”

I stepped forward and met his eyes. “I don’t know yet.”

His eyes widened and then I kicked, my boot struck across his face as his neck nearly cracked. Spit and a tooth flew across the blue plane as he was beaten back to the ground. This time I allowed him to bleed as he struggled on the floor.

Every single hit brought a small amount of satisfaction, it did not match the effort that I was placing into it but it was nice enough for me to continue. And if I added what he had done to me and his asinine behavior on top of it, then⁠—

I stepped forward and kicked him between the legs.

He squealed in pain.

I smiled.

It was very satisfying.

* * * * *

The Dragon of Water never thought he would end up in a situation like this. Perhaps⁠— No, he definitely deserved it. He let out a cough of blood as he was punched in the stomach for the third time. He felt his transformed organs move within his frame as a dull pain traveled throughout his body.

His being jerked for a moment before being thrown and rolling across the frozen ground. He couldn’t feel his mana, his blood sometimes refused to flow out of his body in spite of his injuries which made everything even more painful. And yet during this entire time he hadn’t given up in asking for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry⁠—”

And a kick struck him across the side. A cough of pain left him as he rolled. It was… He regretted it. He had wanted to get her information. But he had gone in the wrong ways about it, perhaps he should have still provoked her but not in such a manner, but what could he do? He was prideful. He was a dragon. He had an ego⁠—

A kick hit his ribs enough to break him out of his thoughts as he let out a screech of pain. He felt his ribs snap in the wrong way⁠— parts of his body were regenerating while others refused to do so, as if they were unresponsive, frozen. That was what they were. His pain and the amount he felt was completely controlled by Arc.

That realization finally hit him.

He had gone about things in the wrong way, and he now was suffering the consequences for things. He hastily stood up, his arm bent the wrong way as he trembled.

“W-Wait p-please let me negotiate.” Arc approached and he shivered. “I’m sorry for acting like a mighty retard⁠— but I’m serious I’ll pay for my life⁠—”

And the fist stopped just before hitting his face. The Dragon of Water winced letting out a small squeal thinking of the pain, but he blinked a moment later.

“I’ll hear you out,” she said coldly.

His face brightened then⁠— a kick hit him. The Dragon of Water felt his brain rattle within his skull as he was thrown back to the ground. For a moment he saw doubles and his brain was disoriented but he still heard what the Heroine of Frost heard clearly.

“However, I still wanted to do that first.”

He shook his head, coughing and regaining his whits. “I-I understand.”

The Dragon of Water stood up, wobbling. He was struggling to not fall over, his entire body was in pain. Was this the gravity of his actions weighing on him? Definitely. But he was certain that  he wanted to live in order to make use of the results he had obtained from pissing Arc off. His little experiment had gone sideways just because of his pride and ego, after all he only respected one hero and it wasn’t Arc.

Though still, right now…

He looked at Arc standing before him, one of her hands relaxed on her hip and her expression annoyed standing before him.

The hero before him was a monster.

“So, what do you have to say for yourself? You’ve broken plenty of trust so…”

“Right, I understand.” The Dragon of Water nodded. “The solution is simple. Very simple actually, please listen carefully…”

Was he going to regret this…?

Probably…

More than likely…

He took a deep breath as the Heroine of Frost raised her brow, she seemed confused, bemused maybe? It didn’t matter to him, he just let it out.

“I can become your slave for as long as our deal lasts.”

And she frowned. “You really think I’ll trust you?”

“I have a solution⁠—!” He winced as her boot stopped before his face. Arc lowered it and regarded him evidently waiting for what he had to say. “I am in possession of an S Tier Slave Collar.”

“You’re SS Tier, will it work?” She asked coldly. “Brutal honesty or I will kill you.”

“It will theoretically work if it’s enhanced with numerous blessings of other elders,” the Dragon of Water said hesitantly.

“Do you have it with you or is it in your lair?” Arc asked, her expression unchanging.

The Dragon of Water briefly gulped. “I have it on my person…”

“Bring it out.”

He…

He was going to regret this wasn’t he…?

The Dragon of Water swallowed and slowly moved his hand towards his body, finally he felt the flow of his mana ⁠— even if incredibly slowed ⁠— it allowed him to use his storage skill. His arm reached into his torso, passing through like water and a moment later he produced a bead of water.

He felt Arc’s hostility from there as his mana came to a stop again, and very slowly he placed the bead on the ground.

“It’s going to burst and show the item…” The Dragon of Water said gulping.

Arc nodded and the bead began to shake, then it exploded⁠— and it stopped. The water stopped mid air as the slave collar lingered, flying in space. His eyes went wide, but it seemed correct. The Heroine of Frost took a step forward and snatched it, the water resumed and sprayed away and then, she offered it to him.

“Wear it.”

“Now?” The Dragon of Water blinked.

There was no reply, only a glare of death. He… fucked up really badly didn’t he? Swallowing, he grabbed the collar and cracked it open before placing it around his neck with trembling hands. Then a moment later it clicked.

For a moment, he felt intense humiliation before that feeling turned to apathy and defeat. He didn’t want to die. With a sigh he spoke.

“You just have to place your mana on it…”

He felt the Heroine of Frost nod, and extend her hand over his head. The mana within the air shifted, and a moment later the Dragon of Water felt it click on his neck another time, invisible mana threads dug into his skin with a tinge of pain, but it wasn’t that bad… yet.

“So now the blessings are applied, correct?”

With humiliation he nodded at Arc’s question.

A moment later, Arc spoke, pointing her finger at the collar. “[Gift of Frost], [Blessing of the Ice God].”

At that moment the mana threads stabbed harder around his neck, but the Dragon of Water just kept his head down as he sensed the dome in the surroundings begin to dissipate. Regret washed over him.

“You will honor our agreement right…?” The Dragon of Water asked hesitantly.

“Who knows,” Arc said apathetically.

A sigh left him as he accepted his fate, his head hanging down.

* * * * *

Yasin hardly understood what happened, one moment the Dragon of Water was essenitlaly the apex predator of life itself, and the next a large dome encompassed the arena. The other dragons had been sidelined as they regained their senses and began to discuss things amongst themselves.

And all Yasin could do was watch and observe. This continued for minutes as his excitement began to die down, before it eventually dissipated. His heart was no longer beating, the arena was practically empty. Yasin understood that the place was probably surrounded by guards, but he didn’t want to leave not… yet.

He wanted to know what would happen within the dome, but… how?

His thoughts lasted for another ten minutes before finally he realized that, perhaps it wasn’t going to happen⁠— and the dome began to dissipate at the top. Yasin’s heart skipped a beat, the dragons jolted straight into offensive positions, not transforming yet, and then they all waited.

Excruciating seconds passed as the insides were revealed with a frosty mist. Then, within the smoke Yasin saw a kneeling silhouette, his hat evident, and looming over him was the silhouette of the heroine.

It was…

The smoke dissipated and he saw the slave collar around the dragon’s neck. His heart skipped as Yasin reaffirmed the realization he had just a moment ago.

It truly was over…

* * * * *

Malz had wanted to immediately go give Arc a hug, but what she saw stunned her. The collar she saw was new to her, but what it said was clear.

[ Ice Blessed Slave Collar. Tier: S ]

The Dragon of Water had lost and badly. Malz felt no sympathy but what she saw still shocked her. It was the first time she had seen the Water Dragon use that SS Tier skill, and she hated to admit it, but it was terrifying.

Not only her but all of the elders agreed with the assessment that the Dragon of Water was extremely dangerous, and perhaps even the strongest among them now. Even if no one truly wanted to admit it. However, now, the same dragon they had been worrying about taming was now kneeling with a slave collar around his neck.

It was… unbelievable…

Arc turned to her, Malz took a breath of surprise, but before she could say anything the heroine spoke.

“Can you use your blessing on the collar?”

She hesitated, but ultimately nodded. Slowly walking to the Dragon of Water, Malz stood before him. The man did not even look up as she began.

“[Blessing of Shadows].”

Her dark mana enveloped the item and that was that.

Arc nodded and turned to the rest of the dragon elders.

“Can you all pour your blessings onto the item?”

There was some hesitation, but ultimately everyone nodded agreeing to the request. Malz did not feel bad, but wished she could’ve helped Arc in some other way.

Then again… I’m so much weaker than her…

She shook her head and pushed herself to do the things she could do.

* * * * *

The Dragon of Water simply accepted things, the collar progressively tightened over his neck. The dragon elders looked at him with disdain while doing so. He was in pain, but he didn’t even have the energy to grit his teeth. In the end, it was just acceptance.

Finally came the Dragon of Earth, who stood before him as well. However, contrary to his expectations he was held by the chin and made to face up.

The Dragon of Water met the gaze of the Dragon of Earth.

“You fucked up.” He didn’t answer. “However, does that mean you have no pride?” The Dragon of Earth shook his head. “It’s not something you have to reply to, but keep that in mind. You should owe to your actions rather than accept your fate, instead strive for a better future.”

For some reason, the Dragon of Earth’s words shook him. He felt… humiliation.

"Shut up!"

Shaking his head away from the hand, the Dragon of Water turned back to look at the ground while gnashing his teeth. He didn't want to hear that—

"If you choose to let shame and other negative emotions consume you then just know that not only will you disappoint a lot of us, you will disappoint yourself."

Those words rattled his core, he trembled but before he could reply back, the Dragon of Earth spoke once again.

"[Blessing of Earth]."

The mana threads fully stabbed after those words, the magic filled the slave collar and at that moment the Dragon of Water felt excruciating pain.

He knelt on the ground, his neck being stabbed, his a spine suffering from a chilling ache that made him thrash. The feeling of pins being stabbed all across his body overwhelmed him. His brain banged against his skull for a few moments before it… stopped.

At the bottom edge of his vision he saw the the collar, now evolved.

[ Elementally Blessed Slave Collar. Tier: S]

It was done…

His freedom was gone and so was his— and he stopped himself, the words from the Dragon of Earth ringing within his ears. Even now he considered what he learned to be worthwhile information for his goals, and yet he was acting as if all things were hopeless.

That was kind of dumb wasn't it?

The pain lingered throughout his body but now he no longer felt the same way. How he truly felt like he could move past all of this and take accountability for his mistakes.

The Dragon of Water stood up.

Even if he was a slave he was still a dragon elder and a being commanding of respect, this unfortunate situation didn't make him any worth less.

He turned to Arc who seemed to be talking with the Dragon of Shadows, and after nodding she turned back to him.

"Alright, let's test the collar."

The Dragon of Water shivered for a moment, and then accepted it. This was just an obstacle in his life, a hurdle that he had to get past for his goals and ambitions. He was the Dragon of Water after all, a proud being that wouldn't be disrespected easily.

Arc nodded.

"Command: Slap yourself at full strength."

The Dragon of Water shivered, his arm instantly came to his face and hit him sending a rocking pain across— he stumbled to the ground, his jaw dislocated as he let out a small groan of pain.

Arc laughed, satisfied with herself. "This is just great."

That… was a small setback. The Dragon of Water thought. I can move past this—

Arc smiled. "Command: do it again."

And his hand slapped him, the world spun around him as he wondered.

Could he really move past this…?

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What did y'all think? I really liked it lmao.