James stood trembling, sweat sprouting from every pore. He was going to die. He was stuck, his back against the cold stone wall of the cave, as Kurothrax loomed over him. Desperate, he began to plead for his life. "Please, I'm not a threat. I'm just trying to find a village. I don't know anything about being a hero."
Kurothrax tilted his head with a snake-like movement, his massive eyes narrowing. "You claim to be no hero, yet you wear the form of a dark elf and bear the title of Village Manager. Tell me, what is your name?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder, the sound reverberating through the cavern.
"James Hollaway," he stammered. "I was just an ordinary guy before all of this. I don't understand why you keep calling me a hero."
Kurothrax's eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "James Hollaway... such an odd name for a dark elf. You don't act like any dark elf I've ever met. With a name like that, I suspect you've been spirited away from a distant world, just like my old king." His gaze was intense, pinning James in place like a trapped insect.
James blinked in confusion, his fear intensifying. "Spirited away? What do you mean? And what do you mean by 'hero'?"
The dragon let out a deep, rumbling chuckle that made the ground beneath James's feet vibrate. "Ah, James. You may not understand your significance yet, but in this world, heroes are beings of great potential, capable of changing the fate of entire civilizations. Your HUD system, your role—these are not mere coincidences."
James frowned, trying to process the information. "But I'm just a Village Manager. My god didn't even explain anything properly. He seemed... drunk."
Kurothrax's eyes narrowed with curiosity, his massive form casting a shadow over James. "A hero's god, disinterested and intoxicated? How amusing. Yet, your HUD system can unlock powers and abilities that even he is unaware of. It can help me break through my current limitations."
James frowned, his voice trembling. "Break through limitations? What do you mean?"
Kurothrax settled back on his haunches, his gaze never leaving James. The air felt charged with his presence. "I have reached a point in my growth where I can no longer progress on my own. The HUD you possess can provide insights and strategies to overcome this barrier. In return, I offer you my strength and protection."
The pieces began to fall into place for James, though fear still gripped him. He started to grasp the broader context of his role and the potential he held. "So, if I help you, you'll help me protect the dark elf village and assist in my quests?"
"Precisely," Kurothrax rumbled, his voice echoing ominously. "Together, we can achieve great things. The dark elf village is in dire straits, besieged by threats from all sides. With your abilities and my power, we can turn the tide."
Kurothrax's gaze softened slightly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "You know, you're not the first Village Manager I have encountered. Long ago, when I was young, I partnered with a Village Manager who was wise beyond his years. He taught me much about this world and the HUD—knowledge that even many beings today have forgotten."
James listened intently, his fear palpable, yet intrigued by this revelation. "What happened to him?"
Kurothrax sighed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the cavern. "He grew from a simple Village Manager to become the ruler of a great kingdom, ruling with a steel will and ruthless determination. He was unyielding in his pursuit of power, and I admired him for it. His empire thrived under his command, but even heroes cannot escape the ravages of time. He aged, and eventually, he passed on, leaving behind a legacy of prosperity and power. His teachings have stayed with me, but I have since struggled to find a partner who could match his wisdom and resolve."
James noticed a shift in Kurothrax's tone, a hint of bitterness mixed with the ever-present threat. "And after his death, I grew... tired of the world and its politics. The kingdom meant nothing to me without my king, having only snakes destroy what he built. I watched it crumble and did nothing to stop it. Why should I have cared for a world that remembered him as a tyrant?"
James considered this, his fear only growing. "So, you believe we can help each other as the two of you once did?"
Kurothrax nodded, his gaze piercing. "Yes, well not in the same way. He wouldn't have trembled so much. If you are half as great as he was, you'll do fine. If not, I can always kill you then."
James shivered but began to understand the broader context of his role and the potential power he holds as a hero. He learned that things might be impossible without aerial support for his village; he couldn't wage a war from two sides. Kurothrax offered a deal: help him grow stronger, and in return, he will protect the village.
James weighed his options, realizing that allying with Kurothrax would be his best chance for survival, if not his only chance. "Alright," he said slowly, his voice shaking. "We have a deal. But how do I access these advanced features of the HUD?"
Kurothrax nodded approvingly. "Good choice. First, you must learn to fully utilize your HUD. Close your eyes and focus on it. Command it to reveal its deeper functions."
James did as instructed, closing his eyes and focusing intently. He tried to clear his mind, but his thoughts kept racing. He could feel the dragon's gaze on him, expectant and patient. "I'm trying," he muttered, his voice trembling. "But it's not working."
Kurothrax's voice rumbled softly, almost as if he was reciting something he heard once. "The HUD is not just something to be commanded. It requires internal understanding, a merging of knowledge and experience. You must feel it within you, not just see it as something separate from yourself. As you get to know yourself and the world more deeply, more abilities and options will become known to you."
James took a deep breath and tried again. He thought about his experiences, his knowledge of games, and his understanding of strategy. He tried to connect these elements within himself, rather than directing them outward.
Minutes passed, then hours, and James began to sweat with the effort. Then a spark he could almost see grew within himself. He felt a slight twinge, a flicker of something deeper within him. Slowly, the HUD began to respond, showing more detailed options and menus. It was like a dam breaking, a flood of information and potential pouring into his mind.
Kurothrax observed the change and nodded in approval. "Impressive. The reason you struggled to activate it before is that you were treating it as something separate from yourself. It takes internal understanding to activate its many features. It's knowledge mixed with experience that creates the HUD. It's wisdom, James."
James nodded, feeling a mix of hope and trepidation about the journey ahead. "Let's do this."
Kurothrax leaned in, his massive head filling James's vision. "Do you see the emblem for the Dragon's Roost?"
James focused, the emblem materializing in his mind. "Yes, I see it."
"Accept it," Kurothrax commanded, his voice dripping with anticipation.
James hesitated for a moment, then mentally accepted the emblem. A surge of energy coursed through him, and he heard a voice echoing in his mind, "Level up!" It repeated four times, each surge stronger than the last.
As the final surge faded, James opened his eyes to see Kurothrax smiling sinisterly. The dragon's eyes gleamed with a mix of satisfaction and hunger.