(Tess's POV - still)
The harpies slowly descended from above with the weaker monsters that roamed the sky parting out of the way for them. All we could do was prepare for the attack and I was going to do my very best to protect Kiera.
'Kiera is in a critical state, if they hurt her more then she will most likely die.' I thought as I created a bow of water.
'I can try and shoot them. Deal as much damage as possible before they reach the ground.'
Multiple arrows were created from my water magic and were drawn back in my bow. I aimed at the closest harpies to myself and prepared to fire.
"Humans, put down your weapons. We aren't here to hurt you." The harpy at the front told me.
She was probably the best looking out of all of them and therefore the strongest, or that's how it was recorded but I wouldn't know unless I tested their strength myself.
"Then what are you here for?" Scarlet stepped forwards once the harpies landed.
"The dungeon boss has been defeated and now we have no master to serve. Harpies follow the strong and that human there, the one who fought that ogre and still clutches to their life, is the person we have chosen to follow." The harpy that spoke before replied to Scarlet.
"You dungeon monsters cannot leave this plane though? How will that work?" Scarlet pointed out after thinking a little about what they said.
"When she wakes up, she will decide." The harpy said, sitting down cross legged next to Kiera.
"She won't be waking up for a long time, she is on the verge of death and we need to exit the dungeon to get her properly healed by the royal knights." Scarlet protested.
The harpy looked up, irritated,
"That is not a problem. This human has incredible regeneration and will heal quickly."
"She won't recover her consciousness though during that time."
"She will and we are willing to wait."
"*yip*"
"The fox gets it." The harpy smiled.
"How do you understand the fox?" Scarlet asked out of curiosity.
"It is a thing I've been born with, since birth I have been able to understand every creature that lives in this dungeon."
"What did Angel say?" Catherine spoke up.
"She said "Kiera will wake up in no more than a day. Harpies, you can stay for the time being." So I said that the fox agreed with us."
Everyone turned their head to Yuki.
"*yap*?"
Everyone looked at the harpy.
"The fox said "What are you looking at?""
Nobody answered Yuki's question and stayed silent.
"Let's set up camp here and we will wait for Kiera to recover then." Scarlet sighed and started collecting wood for a fire.
"Do we need a fire? We are at a volcano." Iris pointed out.
"Oh yeah."
..
(Kiera's POV)
'I must've fallen unconscious.' I thought as I looked around.
It was the same as always. Whenever the goddess and I spoke, it would be in the soul realm or in my mind and only when I was asleep, unconscious or in a critical state.
"Hello, darling, it certainly has been a while since we last met~" the goddess called out as she appeared before me.
"Hello, Persephone."
"Oh~ so serious my darling~" the goddess spun around with happy laughter.
"*sigh* I've been so busy in the heavens, can't you lighten up a bit?" She spoke in a teasing and expectant tone.
"Is it necessary?"
"Yes. Yes it is. I prefer you when you're all caring~"
"Why should I be caring to you? You're much stronger than I am."
"That doesn't mean you can't care for me." She began looking at me as if I was stupid.
"How would you like me to care for you then? Since you've had such a 'rough' time in heaven."
"First, I want to be your friend." She leaned forwards a bit, "second, call me Kore, I'd prefer that to the stiff old Persephone you call me." She turned her head slightly to the side and said something unexpected, "third, I want a hug. Or a lap pillow. Preferably both."
"Well, I can do them all but.. do you really want me to do tha-"
"Absolutely positive, my darling~"
"Right, okay. I'll be your friend then, Kore." I said, looking down slightly as I said her name. "I guess I'm friends with a goddess now then."
"Don't treat me like a goddess, treat me as your close friend~" she hummed as she took some steps closer to me.
"You wanted a hug, correct? Can I ask for what reason?"
"You're still stiff." She sighed, "Recently, some.. things have occurred. I'd rather not speak about it to you just yet as it could send the gods after you, I don't want that."
"Have those things upset you?"
"You could say that."
"Okay then. Come here." I spoke, opening my arms.
"Really?"
"I've already said it so I won't repeat but yes."
Kore swept me up into a big hug. Her arms coiled around me as she held me tight so I wouldn't and couldn't escape.
"You're surprisingly comfortable to hug." She said as she reluctantly let me go. "Am I allowed to-"
"Yes. You can have the 'lap pillow' as well but how am I supposed to do that?"
"Kneel down."
"Okay." I said as I knelt down, "now what?"
"That's it."
"…"
"…"
"Really? Just that?"
"Yep~"
"Sure, whatever."
Kore shuffled back a bit and then laid down, resting her head on my lap and looking up at me.
"Still, I must say my darling, you are very comfortable." Kore said proudly.
"And why do you sound proud of that?"
"Various reasons."
"Which are?"
"That's not something you need to know~" Kore chuckled.
"Right.."
We stayed like that in silence for a while before Kore spoke, "You almost died."
"I should be fine, my regeneration is very fast."
"You sure sound confident there~"
"That's because I calculated it once I finished fighting. If I wasn't confident I'd live then I wouldn't have said I was to Tess, I would have told her that this would be the last time we would speak."
"Well you are correct, you would have survived. I was thinking about jumping in to save you again but there were too many witnesses."
"Save me again?"
"I saved you once before, your first dungeon."
"That was you?"
"Yes."
"Thanks then, I guess."
"You're very welcome~ though I would like a reward for that."
"Another thing you want?"
"Yup~"
"What is it?"
"I want to address you by a nickname." Kore said resolute.
"Okay."
"I didn't think you would've agreed so fast." Kore said a little taken aback.
"Why would I have said no?"
"Well…. Doesn't matter. You're now going to be addressed as Kii."
"Kii?"
"Yup, it's easy to say."
"Sure. Whatever you wanted, I would have agreed with only a few that I wouldn't have agreed on so I don't mind."
"And what would that be, Kii~"
"Killing someone I care about.. and.. that's it. I think."
"I should've went for something more." Kore sighed. "Well I'm still happy so thank you, Kii, for cheering me up a bit."
"I didn't really do anything though?"
"You did more than you think." Kore said, closing her eyes in peace.
"If you say so."
..
Time passed quickly in my soul realm with Kore and might I say it was quite nice. Interacting with her seemed so.. I don't know.. easy? I don't know how to explain it but it feels like I've known her for way longer than I remember.
"You've relaxed a little, Kii~ are you enjoying my company?"
"I'm not sure." I replied truthfully.
"Our time together seems to be ending sooner than expected, you're going to wake up pretty soon." Kore said sadly.
"Is that so."
"Oh, by the way, there are some harpies waiting for you to wake up. I just wanted to let you know so you won't be startled when you wake up."
"For what reason are the harpies waiting for me?"
Kore closed her eyes for a second and reopened them. "Since you've killed the dungeon boss, they wish for you do be their new leader."
This raised an issue, "I won't be able to stay in the dungeon and the harpies cannot exit the dungeon either so how will that work?"
"If they recognise you as their leader and you accept the position then the dungeon, since you're a dragon, will allow you to stay. If it were a human then it would be impossible for that to occur."
"That's interesting. What do you recommend I do?"
"I'd say stay in the dungeon. The time spent in the dungeon, if you spend a year inside, will result in only one day spent outside. If you put this to use then you can train inside and get stronger extremely fast. I addition to this, there are many monsters inside for training and you can utilise their knowledge, since you can understand them, and use that knowledge for multiple things. This is an opportunity I would take, remember though, this is your decision."
"I think I'll accept the offer. I'll keep Yuki with me as well and not much time will pass outside making it great for training mentally and physically. Speaking of Yuki, have you ever seen her before?"
"Yea, I have. There is only one heavens divine nine tailed fox alive at once and the thing is, once the current heavens divine nine tailed fox dies, it'll be reborn, kind of like a Phoenix but as it gains more tails it also gains its memories from previous lives along with power. Once they get their fourth tail they gain the ability to transform into a beast human form and the fifth tail they get a full human transformation then the sixth tail means they can transform into any being they wish like elves, dwarves, animals of any sort. Peculiar creature, really."
"I see. Never heard of that before."
"Well, I'll see you another time, and of course, whenever you wish to meet me, Kii~"
"It's time?"
"Yes, my darling~ farewell~" Kore called out as my vision faded and my eyes reopened.
"She is awake!!" I heard a voice that I didn't recognise call out.
..
Name:[Kiera]
Age:[6]
Race:[Black elemental wyrm]
Gender:[Female]
Level:[6/250]
EXP:[983/2500]
HP:[1002/1034]
MP:[1324/1324]
SP:[1099/1099]
..
Strength:[1031]
Intelligence:[1158]
Endurance:[1089]
Mental force/power:[ERROR]
Agility:[1046]
..
Skills - [Scratch] , [Thrust] , [Inspect] , [Bow mastery] , [Perfect aim] , [Elemental breath] , [Bloodlust] , [Elemental master] , [True dragon] , [Copy] , [Spacial storage] , [Sword mastery] , [Fire blade] , [Transform] , [Chef] , [Scythe mastery: 41%] , [Wind enhancer] , [Inferno] , [Poison manipulation] , [Fire resistance] , [Telepathy], [Override], [Limit breaker], [Black flames], Skill set: [Flames of destruction],
..
Passive skills - [Night vision] , [Mastered spacial awareness] , [Steal] , [Regeneration] , [Elemental resistance] , [Polyglot]
..
Armours - [Armour bent from the flames of death],
..
Body modifications - [Armoured scales - activated]
..
Titles - [The anomaly]
..
Blessings - [Blessed by goddess of reincarnation] , [Blessed by goddess of space]