At my weary laugh, the dragon asked, "What's so funny?"
I shook my head. "Nothing, it's just I thought I heard you say 'kill me.' I know I must be hearing things."
Maybe it was inner feelings making themselves known. The desire to exterminate this monster before me as a hunter warring with my need for survival. Then it would be understandable.
"Enough with the farce, human." The dragon spoke forcefully. "Do not mistake my empathy as a sign of friendship. I will kill you should you fail to accomplish the task."
"Wait!" I held up my hand, confusion evident on my face. "You really mean it? To kill you?"
"Yes."
I couldn't get a read on the dragon's emotions. Was it lying? Playing with me? Or being sincere?
Why? I wanted to ask, but looking at his face, I knew that would be a grave mistake.
What do I do?
That wasn't much of a question when facing the threat of death. I would have to comply with the monster's needs and pluck hearts for him. And then...
I shook my head to refocus on the task ahead of me.
Alright, climb the ceiling and remove the heart. How hard can it be?
As it turned out, pretty hard. The walls were spotless, lacking even a single groove. At first I thought if I had a weapon I could maybe carve out some rough patches, but my assumptions turned out to be wrong when I realized just how extraordinary the wall was.
Let alone me, I doubted even top B-Rank, probably even A-Rank hunters would be able to put a dent in it. That only left me with a single option: pillars.
The obelisks didn't connect all the way to the ceiling but instead ended about a quarter of the way through. I could climb atop them, but the ceiling would still be unapproachable.
I decided to express my concerns to the dragon. In return the monster replied, "Jump."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Jump from the pillars and grab at the crystal mid-air."
"But I would die if I hit the ground."
At that height, my innards might not turn into mush, but the trauma would be enough to send me into the afterlife.
"Not if I catch you." The dragon suggested. Just as I was feeling relieved, the monster added, "though only once. You win or you lose. You'll only get one opportunity, human."
The knot of tension settled back into my gut. Yeah, this was a real life and death situation. I might not be as afraid as I used to be, but the feelings remained.
I breathed in, eyes closed, and breathed out. I had a task to accomplish, a wall to break. But I would only be getting one shot at this. I had to make it count.
With my renewed vigor, I opened my eyes and regarded the obstacle before me.
Walking up to the pillar, I had to squint my eyes from the intensity of the light. When I asked the dragon if they could be dimmed slightly, its answer was, "If you can't even handle a slight glare, how would you stand tall against those stronger than you?"
Figures, I shook my head and started my climb.
The engravings in the pillar weren't exactly rough, but my enhanced strength allowed for a stronger grip. Due to the intensity of the light, though, I had to feel around most of the time.
The climb took longer than I had anticipated, but when I finally made it to the top, I was wheezing like a dog dying of thirst. Because I may very well be.
Healing and resurrection didn't seem to have reset my hunger levels.
Standing atop the pillar, I could now share a level-look with the monster rather than looking up. The height only served to highlight the size of this absolute mammoth of a dragon.
It made no comment even as I shared a glance with it. I took a moment to calm my breathing and then looked up.
The ceiling was roughly two meters above me, with the heart lodged right in the center. I estimated it to be about five meters away from the pillar.
Normally I wouldn't be able to cross the distance. Even with 28 points in agility and 9 in strength, there just wasn't enough juice to launch me all the way. Normally, that is.
I took my position near the opposite edge of the pillar and bent my posture. In that very moment, the world disappeared; the thoughts and worries, everything vanished. I was alone, with a goal in front of me, waiting to be conquered.
And I ran.
Using every drop of mana inside my body, which my intelligence at 10 points afforded, I activated the Sprint.
My body bolted like an arrow cut loose, and I jumped with the added ferocity and determination like a lightning streaking through. I drew an arc in ascent, my hand reaching out toward the crystal.
My fingers made contact, and the smoke coalesced around my arm. All the giddiness left me as the plumes of roiling mist coiled around my body and surged into my orifices.
I fell. With the crystal stuck to my hand, I fell. The smoke didn't relent, pouring into my shut eyes and mouth. A stinging pain flared all over my body.
I knew I shouldn't have trusted that bastard.
Heat, prickling and stabbing heat, erupted from every corner of my being. Not just my flesh, but somewhere deeper. I cried.
I didn't register the feel of magic cushioning my body, dispelling the buildup of energy. I didn't even register a claw poke at my chest and stab deep.
All I knew was pain!
Every bone in my body must have turned to dust, every fiber of muscle ground into paste. My blood must've boiled off, and my soul must be stoked above the blaze of infernal fires. Because that was exactly what I was feeling.
And then it was gone.
Just like that, I wasn't feeling pain anymore. In fact, I wasn't feeling anything anymore. A numb dissonance enveloped my whole body, a resounding wail ringing in my ears. My eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, unfocused; so blurry was all I could make out.
Was I breathing?
Was my heart beating?
Did I live to tell the tale?
"Remarkable." A gruff voice sounded in my ears. At first I didn't move. Couldn't move. But the feeling returned, the cold receding ever so slightly. Unfreezing me.
And I was breathing again. I could hear my heart beating louder than ever.
Thump. Thump! THUMP!
I shot up with force, my hand held against my chest.
My heart? I peeked down apprehensively and felt the blood drain from my face. This isn't my heart!
My heart didn't glow a purple light. Not inside my chest at least, and definitely not giving me a view of my own ribs. I could make out the scar in the shape of a blooming flower right in the middle.
"What did you do?" There was no doubt in my mind as to who the perpetrator was. I looked up at the grinning face of the monster and asked, "Why?"
"A gift, human." It replied. "For what you're about to bestow on me. Consider it a blessing from me."
I blinked, my face blank. Everything felt so confusing since the moment I stepped foot in this chamber. I couldn't understand the thoughts of this dragon before me.
"What's going to happen to me?" A human with a dragon heart. I couldn't even begin to fathom the trouble it would stir should it become known.
"That's for you to find out."
I called up the log of notifications.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Your heart has been replaced with the core of an ancient dragon.
Compatibility at 68%...
Strength +10, Agility +5, Vitality +8, Intelligence +5, Perception +3
Race evolution not available.
Looking at how my attributes had risen by 31 points, I inhaled a cold breath of air. But then I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
"Your compatibility is still low."
"What do you mean?" I sought further clarification.
"Once it hits 100%, you will be asked to evolve your race. If you go through with it, then that's when you will receive the true benefits of a dragon heart. Of course, you can also refuse and just enjoy extra mana reserves."
That was a stringent requirement for enjoying the real benefits, but I would cross that bridge when it appeared. For now, I needed to get out of here.
"Now, it's time for you to deliver on your promise."
At its words, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. No matter how the dragon had behaved, it had done me nothing but good. It saved me from dying twice and even brought me back to life, if its words were to be believed.
Now, it had even saddled me with such a gift.
And in return I had to kill it.
"For my words are etched in stone."
Or it would kill me.