"I guess I can only summon two at once, for now. I can at least soothe your pain while you talk."
Large sapphire eyes seemed to smile at Rune as a pair of blank priests appeared beside them. One knelt beside Rune, the other beside the dragon. Without so much as a command, they began to heal the two.
"They'll last ten minutes or until death... and if they don't die, they return to my inventory. Cool."
The dragon huffed slightly.
"You are a curious human. Could I ask for your story first? You intrigue my worn mind."
She seemed to watch in wonder as Rune nodded. Leaning his head back, Rune could feel Marisa's hair on his cheek.
"Mae, Marisa... Miss Dragon?"
"Serra, Holy Dragon. Dubbed the Guardian of Serro, I am it's namesake."
Rune nodded again.
"Then I'll start. I'm not from here."
"Not many are. A majority come from- sorry. You were talking."
Rune could only smile.
"I'm from another world. Summoned here, to be a hero. That fell through pretty quick when the king turned out to be a perverted prick."
Serra blinked slowly.
"A hero? Then these two ladies, they are?"
"Something like a summon."
"Like the golem from before then. Please continue. How, no why, were you summoned?"
"I died."
Rune began his story, recapping his torment and death. Continuing through to his summoning, system and experiences in this world so far.
"Hmm. A similar ranking system is incorporated in the guild's strewn across the land. Yet a SS in Focus? No wonder you felt no fear in battle."
Rune was a little confused.
"Fear? I was terrified! Golem's like that and even you, they're fantasy and folklore where I'm from. My world didn't even have magic, let alone magical creatures."
Serra let out a small rumble in her throat.
"Let me revise that then. You weren't hindered by your fear. Focus allows your mind to break free of it's shackles. You are only bound by your desires, rather then the world around you affecting them or yourself."
Rune could only nod as her words weren't wrong. He hadn't felt hindered in this world, even when Garren spoke of the fear effect in the Slave Den, he hadn't felt it. Only a sticky sensation.
"What about you Lady Serra? You still wanna tell your story?"
Raising her head, she lifted her arm and dug around in her mouth. Rune was confused, though he had never met a dragon before.
"Here she is."
Between her claws, Serra pulled out a rather large egg. Rune's torso was roughly a similar size.
"This is my daughter. The reason I was unable to fight to my utmost. I was trying to keep from harming her."
Rune realized that Serra had injuries all over, everywhere except for her head and mouth.
"Her survival was my priority, and why I failed to fight off the third summon from that deviant of a human. The first froze by scales, the second shattered and lacerated my body, the last... well you saw what happened."
Serra let out a noise that could only be considered a sigh.
"I don't have long left. Rune, hero of another world, I wish to come to an accord with you."
Serra placed her daughter's egg next to Rune.
"Can you claim her as a summon? I wish for her survival. Please, raise my daughter to be a great dragon?"
A large tear formed in the dragon's eye, but a notification appeared before Rune's eyes.
'A prospective summon had been offered to you. Super Rare, Holy Life Dragon Rosa.
Do you accept?'
"Rosa?"
Serra blinked rapidly.
"Your system is quite knowledgeable. It would be fun to pick it apart, but yes. Her name is Rosa. Named for the rose colored eyes of her long lost father."
Rune raised his hand, feeling Serra's eye following his movement. As he touched the egg, the notification was accepted, giving Rosa to Rune.
"How long until she hatches?"
"She is a dragon. It can vary. I, too, was raised by a human. Once I outlived her, I found Rosa's father. He was unnamed, but he was a Life Dragon. Covered in nature and life. I wished for my daughter to have someone like my old friend, so i guess this is where she and I will part."
Her claw touched Rosa's egg lightly, mere inches from Rune's hand.
"I will raise her to the best of my ability... but how long do you-"
Serra laid her head down, her eyes falling closed.
"Not long. I ask of thee, what is your goal in this life? To seek revenge against the king?"
Shaking his head, Rune gave Serra the only answer he could think of. An answer filled with determination.
"I want to live. To survive and grow with my summons, my friends. I want to meet every last one I can, and if he tries to attack them..."
Serra opened her eye, noticing the strange level of bloodlust coming from Rune.
"Protect them, and they shall protect you. Survive and make your mark on this world. By the power of my last breath, I grant you my blessing as well as my body. May they bring you strength in your days to come."
Serra had a bright light flash from her eyes, piercing Rune's chest.
'You have been blessed by the Holy Dragon, Serra.
-All fire, holy and breath attacks will be more powerful. Anything with a draconic attribute will be more powerful when wielded by you. Dragon's will be more friendly when you meet them.
Congrats! You have slain the Holy Dragon, Serra! An entity approaching the divine.
The system will now collect the remains... error. Too much to carry. The system will now transform excess remains into the user's power.'
Rune's jaw dropped.
"I-I didn't kill her! Don't treat her as my kill!"
'User has acquired-
Dragon Scale x99
Dragon Leather x99
Dragon Heart
Dragon Soul
Dragon Claw x20
Dragon Fang x50
Dragon Eye x2
Dragon Holy Breath Sac
All excess or useless pieces will be transformed into the user's power. Would the user like any of the rewards to be turned into more power?'
Rune clenched his fists and his teeth. His eyes fell on Serra's soul, giving him an idea. A hopeful idea.
"System, you, absorb her soul into you."
'...
...
...are you sure?'
As the smoke began to clear, Rune only said one word.
"Yes."