Akiol froze, he truly wondered what he had done to the Slime King. Not only was he teleported to a freezing place. But it was also home to a dragon!
The dragon was huge. Its scales reflected the gold's shine. Akiol was barely half the size of its claws.
Akiol looked up and saw the dragon's eye. The eye was entrancing, he felt himself drawn to it. Those eyes were home to near infinite wisdom. His focus zoomed onto them, as if enlarging a picture's size.
Suddenly everything flashed and he found himself in a burning village. The air smelt metallic and screams could be heard. He looked frantically around, only smoke and fire could be seen. Running through the village he found a woman holding child. The child was screaming and crying. The woman was also crying, but was doing her best to comfort the child.
Suddenly a loud crash could be heard, and a shadow loomed over him. He looked up to see a red dragon looking at him. The dragon slowly opened it's jaw and flames came rushing out. Just as the flames were about to scorch him alive, reality flashed again. As he found himself back in the cave. With the red dragon staring at him.
Akiol had to applaud such a realistic scene. It looked much like his past world's catastrophe. Except it wasn't a village but rather a city. The only reason the dragon had stopped was because Jarvis made a pact with the dragon.
He looked at the dragon again. This time the dragon's eye wasn't so entrancing. So Akiol stared it down.
The dragon made the sound of an engine breaking down. It rose its neck staring down on Akiol. The height of the dragon's neck could be compared to a several story high building. The dragon's full size was on par, if not greater, than that of a football stadium.
The dragon opened its jaw slightly and a rumbling voice sounded, "An interesting event, you have seen the illusion that caused many fear. Many have withstood it, but even then not many of them dared to stare back."
The dragon made the engine sound again, Akiol could feel the vibrations faintly.
"For that I grant a title, accept it well."
[The One Who Stared Back: Grants immunity to any fear debuff from dragons.]
The title was most likely bragging rights. Akiol doubted he would find any other dragons.
The dragon rumbled, "What brings you here? To my home?"
Akiol cleared his throat and answered, "Well to be honest, I came here for the warmth. I was freezing in that snow and would have probably become a statue had I not found this place."
The dragon rumbled again.
"Warmth you say? Another strange answer, for my home is hotter than most places."
Akiol coughed, he had no idea it was hot in the place. He took a closer look at his body and found that he was indeed melting a bit. Just not at the rate of the Shadow Knight's flames.
To cover up the small misunderstanding Akiol said, "I am a slime, so the temperature isn't uncomfortable. So I was here to hopefully recover."
"A slime?" The dragon's eye flashed with a weird symbol. "I see, it's quite rare to see a slime now. Considering most of your kind is now in hiding."
Akiol laughed a little nervously. He could hear a tad bit of ridicule in the dragon's voice. It wasn't hard to figure out why either. Since it seemed like the dragon was a powerful and dominant species. Who would have any respect for a 'cowardly' species?
The dragon rumbled, "You have told me your purpose of being in my home, now I must know your purpose in being in these mountains."
Akiol replied, "I was here for a flame red flower that grows on snow. I was told it might have been called a Frost Cherry."
The dragon's claw clicked the ground. It barely moved but Akiol knew if he was under the claw he would have been dust, literally.
As Akiol began to feel sweat grow on his neck, even though it was probably him melting, he looked at the dragon nervously.
He had a bit of insight on what have may have offended the Slime King. It was most likely the lack of respect. Every time he spoke it almost always had a tad of sarcasm in it. He didn't know why, he never spoke like this in the past. Akiol decided he needed to fix that, but he couldn't do it now. For it could also be offensive to switch to being respectful after already talking to the dragon like so.
The dragon's claw clicked again snapping Akiol back to attention.
The dragon rumbled, "Frost Cherry..? I had picked a few of them because I thought they looked nice with my scales. You wanted one?"
Akiol nodded vehemently.
"Hmm, perhaps I could part with one. However... a trade must be done. I do not give things for free, no matter how common it may be."
Akiol was worried that the dragon would ask for something improbable. He didn't have too much to offer and he would rather not part with Stars.
'Are you planning on trading me for a plant?! Do you have any idea how that wouldn't be worth it? That's such a bad deal?'
Akiol responded, "I am sure a plant I can use is still better than a sword that refuses to be used."
'That's the same excuse you gave last time!'
Akiol mentally ignored the sword's rambling and waited for the dragon to think of something.
It didn't take too long, the dragon rumbled, "Since it is a small plant that I have many of I wouldn't ask for something greater in return. I have everything I need and want, now I live peacefully here. So what I want in return are two things."
Akiol nearly fell over from the statement. He didn't want anything greater in return but yet he had two demands?
The dragon continued, "First, I ask you to show me something I have yet to see. Something fantastical, something I would want. Secondly you shall listen to my story. I have had no visitors ever since I rested here and it has been quite boring. Those are my demands."
Akiol was glad he didn't throw anything, the two demands were simple. He had no losses and got to hear a story. A fantastic win situation.
So Akiol nodded agreeing, "That's a deal, quick question however. Do I have only one chance on the item you want to see?"
"I shall give you three chances. If you fail then the deal is off."
Another three option, Akiol knew that the rule of gaming was in threes but this was slightly ridiculous.
However Akiol did have something that might suit to the dragon's taste. So he brought out Breaker Of Stars.
The voice sounded, 'We're doing this again? So soon? What is it this time-'
Stars felt another overwhelming presence. They truly regretted staying with this slime individual. It was twice now that they had come across beings at the top of the food chain. Stars decided that they would have a long talk with the slime as soon as they were away from the being. Stars looked at the being and saw the largest dragon they had ever seen.
Stars scratched the idea of talking to the slime later. They knew the slime wouldn't be able to keep them from a dragon. The greedy beings.
The dragon stared at the sword. Even going as far as to inch closer to take a look at it. The dragon then rumbled violently.
"You have truly passed! How do you say it... you have passed with flying colors! Such a magnificent item, yet here it is before me. An item nearly one of its kind. I almost want to take it from you. Alas, it would be a waste if I did. Consider yourself lucky slime, had I been any younger I may have killed you on the spot for such an item."
Akiol sweated nervously, thought it was probably still him melting, he had almost lost what may have been a great item, he made a mental note to not show the sword so much.
The dragon rumbled, "I suppose that's the first part of the deal done. Come sit on that chair over there. You might be here a while."
Akiol looked at the chair the dragon pointed at. A chair was an understatement, it was more like a throne. Made of gold and littered with sparkling jewels. He was near positive he could buy a town with that throne alone.
Taking a deep breath he climbed the mountain of gold and treasures. Sitting down in the surprisingly comfortable throne he waited for the dragon to tell their tale.