Cameron
Mere seconds was all it took for the now sentient lizard to go from lying down peacefully to an all out sprint. I felt a surge of panic as it jumped down from a hole in the ceiling of my core room. It rapidly glided toward me so fast that I had no time to react.
I ordered my Bloodthorn Vines to block the descending lizard, but by the time the order went through, it had already landed on my core, nearly slamming into Fabian in the process. The fairy leaped back in panic, tumbling onto the ground as the little reptile lightly scratched at my core.
“I no serve you!”the lizard growled out each word, one by one, as he sent his thoughts to me, “You serve me.”
Uh …
I did not have words to express the complicated mess of emotions I felt. I could send those feelings to the newly awakened monster directly, but I somehow doubted anything good would come of that.
“Does lifespring stone understand?”
Before I could so much as attempt to string together some sort of response, Fabian clambered back to his feet and groaned, “Don't do that. That scared the life out of me. What's going on anyway? What's the problem?”
The Horned Draco's response to him making his way back to me nonchalantly was to bare his fangs and hiss. It was a ferocious sight, and it might have even been intimidating if the lizard wasn't smaller than even the diminutive fairy. Compared to Fabian, he was about the size of a medium to large dog. That did nothing to deter the small reptile, however.
I directed my attention back and forth between the two for a moment, still unsure of how to proceed, but I didn't have the time to hesitate. Making a snap decision, I had the Bloodthorn Vines cover the entrance to the burrow we were in.
“What does lifespring stone think it is doing?”
I do not serve you. I am the Dungeon Core. You are a monster that I created. Do not threaten me or my fairy.
“I no mere monster. I am a dragon!”
You are little more than a lizard as you are now, and even then, you got that power from me.
“I am a dragon!”
He roared that last part, but with his size it came out as more of a squeak.
Maybe you have the potential to be, but that's only with my help. You are nothing without me. I do not serve you. You serve me.
I did not feel any of the confidence that I thought at him with, only letting the feelings of false bravado seep through the weak bond we still shared. I was unsure if it would have the intended effect, but it was clear that I could not back down.
For the lizard's part, he seemed uncowed as he continued to glare daggers at me. He even hissed at Fabian as he confusedly tried to reach for my core again. The conversation was going nowhere.
Look, maybe we can come to some sort of a deal, but you are going to need to let Fabian touch me, so he can join this conversation.
“I no take orders from lifespring stone!”
You will not harm my friend.
Metaphorical sparks flew between us as we directed feelings of strength and anger at each other. My emotions were that of firm resolve and grudging irritation. The lizard's were that of uncontrolled rage and stubborn, overflowing wrath. We locked gazes with each other, and Fabian, unaware of what was going on, slowly and hesitantly, extended a hand once again, tentatively placing it on my core. As he did so, he thought to me instead of speaking, “Cameron, what is going on?”
It was the Horned Draco that responded, “Quiet, bug!”
Fabian blinked a few times in rapid succession, and as confusion emanated from him, he cocked his head slightly and noted aloud, “You awakened. That's not right.”
Then, his eyes shot wide open, and he let out a string of expletives under his breath before shouting in a voice filled with alarm, “Wait, a broken bond!”
“I said quiet!”
Flinching slightly, my fairy thought at me again. This time, I could tell he was taking more care to ensure his words only reached me.
“Cameron, you need to deal with this thing, now. Just killing it won't work. Unlike Vie and Pee, it will come back on its own, and there is nothing you can do to stop it, so either figure something out, or resolve yourself to have your monsters hunt it down every few hours for the rest of your life.”
I did not like the sound of that. Negotiating it was, I decided.
So, a deal?
“Why should I make deal?”
Because you need me more than I need you.
“Lies!”
You need me to make you stronger.
“I get strong on my own. You would be dead with no me.”
I questioned what he meant and where his confidence was coming from for only a moment. Then, I remembered that he had, in fact, saved my life from the orc with the axe. Skipping over the point I couldn't argue, I instead resorted to using reason, the carrot, and the stick.
You could probably level up on your own, but could you do this?
I sent him the potential upgrades I had worked out just prior, and his eyes widened.
“Give me.”
Why should I? I don't serve you, and you are refusing to negotiate.
The lizard gnashed his teeth and hissed. A few moments later he responded.
“What deal?”
You listen to me, and I will make you stronger.
“No deal. I no serve you!”
Irritation pulsed within me, but I pushed the feeling down. I couldn't afford to lose my temper. Things would quickly devolve into fruitless yelling if that happened.
Then, how about we start simpler? Fabian, that magic you used for our pact, can you use it to make a contract between us?
“What pact? Contract?”
It's a magically enforced agreement. It will make sure we adhere to whatever deal we end up making.
“I am a dragon! I no go back on word!”
Then there shouldn't be a problem.
The Horned Draco was trembling in barely contained outrage. I stopped and took that fact in. It was a lesson learned: don't insult his pride. Just from the single sentence, I could feel the resentment rolling off of him.
“Ahem,” Fabian broke in, “Yes, I could use my magic to establish a pact between you two.”
Do that, I thought to him before turning my attention to the lizard, I wish to make a pact with you. Let us discuss the terms. First, you will not harm me, Fabian, or any of my monsters.
“Why should I agree?”
Because we can discuss your conditions as well.
I could see the cogs turning behind the little creatures eyes.
“Make me stronger!”
That is too open-ended. I will agree to apply the changes I showed you.
“More!” he roared.
I will also use the points the Broken Bonds achievement just freed up on you.
“More!”
At that point, I had to pause for a moment, so I could attempt to wrangle my emotions. I did not appreciate having unreasonable demands made of me by someone who was supposed to be my ally.
Okay, but I need more from you too. Unless attacked first, you will only attack individuals that I tell you to. In exchange, I will spend five DP to make you stronger every time I level up.
“No. I no serve you. I attack who I attack.”
Unless you bend on this, I will not be giving you so much as a single stat point.
“More.”
I didn't like how things were progressing. It felt like we were at a stalemate as the miniature winged lizard adamantly demanded endless power and resources from me. Sadly, that was still an improvement, but I couldn't yield. I needed some other way to get the upper hand.
Are you asking for more stat points, or more power?
“More!”
I took another moment to think. Then, I remembered something and an idea struck me.
I'll tell you what, I can't spend any more DP than that on you, but I just got enough experience to level up. I will select Monster Upgrades as my focus this time around, and if I get an option that benefits you, I will take it. If I don't, I will take the next one I see that does.
The lizard growled, “I no attack who you say no attack, but I choose who to attack!”
It was a concession I was reluctantly willing to make but not as it was.
If they are trying to kill me, you will. If I die, I won't be able to upgrade you anymore.
“More!”
What more do you want!? I shouted back in exasperation, I can't give you any more of my DP or perks than that! What more could you possibly want from me?
“Hoard!”
I fell silent for moment at the unexpected answer that I was struggling to parse.
I'm sorry, what?
“I kill. Trophies mine!”
You want mementos from everyone you kill for your hoard, and in return you will defend me?
“Yes.”
Done.
It was a little bit unexpected of a condition, but it sure beat spending any more of my limited resources on the thing.
So do we have a deal?
“No.”
I wanted to scream.
And, why not?
As I spoke to him mentally, even my internal dialogue quavered in annoyance and anger.
“Hoard. I want bigger, better. You make me bigger hoard like you make nest for bug. You pay tribute; fill with shinies.”
I had to replay his words in my mind a couple of times before I thought that I understood the meaning, but even then, I wasn't entirely sure I did.
I'll dig you out a room for your hoard, and I'll give you a coin per day. Is that good enough?
His reply was a grunt. I was tempted to try to ask more of him in trade for those concessions, but with how greedy he was being, I didn't want to risk it.
Instead, I resigned myself and thought, I agree to these terms. Do you?
“Fine.”
Fabian stated, “It's done,” and a message popped up in my field of vision listing out the agreed upon terms.
It was followed by a few more I hadn't been expecting.
[You have gained 700 experience for acquiring a new achievement!]
[You have gained 0 experience for acquiring an achievement you already have!]
[[AAcchhiieevveemmeenntt ggaaiinneedd:: DDrraaggoonn TTaammeerr!!]]
Uh, what?
The third message was doubled over itself making it hard to read. I pulled up the details on it and was met with more confusion.
[Achievement: Dragon Tamer
Achievement: Dragon Tamer
Description: You made a deal with a draconic monster not under your control.
Description: You have tamed a draconic monster.
Reward: You have received 70,000 experience!
Reward: You and your tamed dragon benefit from 5% of each other's stats, and Draconic classes will become available.]
[Error, classes are not available for Dungeon Cores.]
[Error, this achievement is designated for mortal races, not Dungeon Cores.]
[Error, solution not found.]
As I stared at the mess of an achievement description before me, I was quickly ripped from my lack of understanding by an insistent mental voice.
“Now, make stronger.”
Hold on a second.
I hadn't seen so many errors since being ripped out of my life, getting stuck in a dark void, and being stuffed into a Dungeon Core. The few I had received since then instantly sorted themselves out. This one was different, and I was unsure what to make of it.
“No, now!”
My focus instantly shattered as I felt a compulsion I couldn't ignore force me to accept the promised changes to the Horned Draco. I didn't even have the chance to put his free points in fortitude beforehand.
[Waiting for Adraugon to accept or deny proposed Monster Customization.]
I quickly parsed the message, and a realization dawned on me.
Stop! Put your free points in FORT first!
It was too late. My mental shout fell on deaf ear holes.
[You have gained 700 experience for acquiring a new achievement!]
[Achievement gained: Glass Houses!]
[Achievement: Glass Houses
Description: You have customized a monster to be frail to the point that its body can no longer sustain itself.
Reward: The monster has gained the ability Unnatural Survival and one point of health!]
[Ability: Unnatural Survival
Description: You can push past what would normally kill you.
Effect: You are incapable of dying to effects such as blood loss and poison. Additionally, you can survive what would normally be lethal damage with one point of health once per day.]
As the change was made, the already tiny Horned Draco shrunk down further. By this point, it was closer in size to a bug than a lizard. It also keeled over in pain as its body evidently struggled to keep it alive. A moment later, I could visibly see the monster regain its durability. I checked its status and saw its two free stat points gone, two points of fortitude in their place. Evidently, the monster had done as it was told.
Are you okay?
The monster whose status screen told me was now named Adraugon spent a moment breathing hard. Then, he thought to me in a confident tone that dripped with arrogance, “Of course I am! I am a dragon.”
I rolled my disembodied vision, the closest thing I had to eyes. Then, I kicked myself for actually worrying about the little brat.
It doesn't matter, I told myself, I need to check my status.
“More power!”
Just like that, I found my agency ripped away from me as I was forced to change my focus and bring up a menu.
[Experience to next level: 120,312 / 49,000]
Level up?
Yes / No]
I selected yes and was met with my customary three choices. I kicked myself for making that deal.
[Please select a perk.]