Rising god
Chapter 44: Help

Chapter 44: Help

This land was once known by the name, Land of Slaves.

It was a kingdom not ruled by nobles or warriors, but by slavers. Here, every kind of human misery had a price tag. Slaves were bought, sold, and exchanged like currency, with no regard for identity, background, or age. But what made this place infamous even among slaver territories was the way they controlled their slaves.

They used special chains unlike any other. These shackles didn’t just restrain bodies; they subdued the will. It was said that a slave wearing them would bow no matter their power. Even if they could crush their master with a glance, they would kneel instead.

When their reputation was at its peak, they literally raked in coins to their vaults. Everything was going well until one day, something that had never occurred happened..

A slave broke free.

On that day, everyone died.

Slaves, slavers, merchants, visitors, and beasts, every living thing perished. And when an investigation party finally entered the region, all they found were endless rows of skeletons and a deathly fog that reeked of death.

As time passed, like many ruins before it, rumors spread. Whispers of treasure hidden in the depths. Ancient secrets, artifacts of gods, cursed relics, and unlike the hellish domain of Ashenfall, this place was considered more accessible, dangerous, yes, but it was also a practical training ground for the ambitious youth of powerful families.

The place was then called the mortuary ruin.

Maybe only one person present today knew with certainty that a treasure truly awaited at the ruin’s heart, Baines.

...

It was morning.

The expedition had begun.

The air was thick with tension and morbid excitement. Several groups had already begun choosing paths, forming alliances in hopes of surviving the ruin’s trials.

Among them, eyes continuously darted toward one figure, Baines. They were hoping for some sort of alliance, but no one was bold enough to approach after his previous display.

And in his corner, a situation was unfolding,

"Erm... W-What did you just say?" Todd, Baines’s assigned partner for this mission, blinked rapidly, sweat building on his forehead.

"I said," Baines repeated, "I want to borrow your dragon."

Todd’s jaw tightened; he didn’t know how to respond.

Giving up his dragon just felt... extreme.

There was no law against it because it rarely happened. There was also the fact that, even with his mount, he was no match for Baines.

But he still wouldn’t willingly give it up.

"C-Can I just follow you instead?" he offered meekly. "I mean... I can fly you there myself?"

But Baines tilted his head slightly. "I’m going to the center. Are you coming?"

Todd’s heart sank.

Everyone knew the ruin’s center was the most dangerous. The fog there was thickest and known to have a suppressing effect against those who ventured further. And besides, he knew his limits, he was just going to stay with the others and return when it was over.

Going to the middle wasn’t among his plans.

"Ahhh..." he groaned.

He wanted to say no. But what choice did he have?

"Alright... but please be careful with her," he mumbled.

They walked to the transport beast, a young dragon no more than three meters wide, lean and elegant.

"I call her Smalltooth," Todd said proudly, giving the dragon a gentle pat before handing over the reins.

Baines stepped forward and placed his hand on her neck.

Immediately, the dragon stiffened, ready to thrash. But,

-Stop.

The command echoed in her mind. Not a sound, but in a language. The dragon’s eyes widened. She had heard a human’s voice, not sensed emotion or received instinctual pressure.

No, he had spoken to her?

How they formed deals with their riders was through emotions. The rider takes care of the dragon from its birth, and likewise, it recognizes them as their only friend.

But this was different. This was direct.

However, it wasn’t that surprising to Baines. He had already used it on his warhorse in the Last Front, and then again, wasn’t the Eternal Echo technique created by mimicking a dragon’s tongue?

-I just want to get to the center and return. In return, I’ll teach you this technique.

Smalltooth’s heart skipped. She shivered in excitement as her wings began tapping the ground uncontrollably.

"What’s wrong?" Todd asked, confused by her behavior. She was usually so composed.

-You want it now?

The dragon nodded.

-No, I can’t do that.

He refused. He could readily teach the dragon, and it then ran away.

Responding, a white glow formed around its lower neck.

’Mana Oath?’ Baines recognized this. An oath could be formed using the core of a person, and for a dragon, it was their heart.

Baines nodded, seeing its vow, and beckoned for it to lower its head.

He then placed his hand on her forehead. ’Eye, transfer the Eternal Echo technique.’

[TRANSFERRING...]

Smalltooth groaned as knowledge flooded her consciousness. Her muscles quivered, her claws digging into the dirt.

"W-What are you doing to her?!" Todd panicked but stopped after his dragon flapped its wings at him, meaning he should stay back.

After a while,

[TRANSFER COMPLETE]

Her eyes blinked rapidly, then,

-You... who are you?

As Todd had said, it was a female, and her voice was high-pitched and raw, like a newly tuned instrument. She was speaking for the first time.

-I’ve done my part of the deal. It’s now your turn.

Baines didn’t indulge her curiosity. A deal was a deal.

She hesitated for a moment, then lowered herself, allowing him to mount her back.

With a powerful beat of her wings, they ascended into the sky.

Below, Todd stood bewildered.

"What... just happened?"

...

The forest below was covered in dark fog, an eerie shroud that smothered light and life. The energy pressed down, like a wet blanket over a fire, dampening everything.

Most participants used the expedition to build resistance. To fight amidst death energy, to hone their instincts and fight at the same time, despite that disadvantage.

But to Baines, he was just here to retrieve something.

One would expect Baines to converse with the dragon he just gave a speech to, but he just kept silent.

’Isn’t he going to ask me any questions?’Smalltooth was thinking to herself. She had expected questions that she wouldn’t even want to answer, but he didn’t ask anything.

-You are affiliated with Darkans, right?

"..." Baines didn’t respond.

-You have to save them.

That caught his attention.

Baines turned, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about?"

The Darkan family, from what he knew, didn’t need saving. If anything, they were one of the most stable noble lines remaining.

-Before I tell you, you have to promise to help the Darkan.

"Then don’t tell me." Baines shook his head. He didn’t care in the first place, and someone was telling him to promise to help something he didn’t care about.

How did that work?

-This...This

The dragon was flustered. She expected him to be curious, but he didn’t care. But then again, he was the only one who could help her at the moment.

-It’s beneficial to you, too.

"How?"

Seeing his interest, she quickly spoke.

-I’ll tell you where Lady Darka’s lair is.

That was a name he didn’t expect to hear. Lady Darka was the ancestor ancient red dragon of the Darkans. She was the strongest red dragon to live and the first matriarch of the hegemon Darkan family before they fell to their current state.

"A lair?" he repeated. This was where dragons hid their life’s fortune, and dragons were known to be great collectors. In terms of quality, he could find only a few that could probably rival what he had.

"Tell me where it is first."

-Then you wouldn’t help us again?

"I don’t care what you think, my time is full at the moment. If you want any bit of chance in this deal, you better talk now."

The dragon sighed; she really had no choice at this moment.

-Lady Darka’s lair is in the estate.

She was saying the lair was in the family estate

Baines showed "And no one knows of it?"

-Yes.

’Hmm...I shouldn’t underestimate what could be in the lair, so for now let’s hear her story.’

"I’ll decide after hearing your story."

-Hmm...Alright.

...

Six hours later, they reached the forest’s heart.

What lay before them was not a battlefield, not a fortress, but a temple.

A structure shaped like a fusion of a gazebo and a shrine. Elegant but decaying. Wrapped in vines and covered in ancient symbols.

From it radiated a thick, black miasma. Baine’s eyes turned sharp at the energy radiating from it.

-This... this is divine power, Smalltooth whispered, her voice trembled.