I take one step forward.
Tap.
The sound echoes throughout the void despite there being nothing beneath my feet.
At least I know I can move around in here. Whether that is going to help me escape is another question entirely.
The approaching footsteps suddenly stop.
I freeze in place as well.
Nothing appears ahead of me. The darkness remains exactly the same no matter how hard I stare into it.
Are you still there?
No response at first.
~Moving around recklessly is not advised.
Then tell me what I’m supposed to do or what is in here with me.
~Remain calm while I stabilize your condition.
You keep saying that like it’s easy. Something is in here with me and apparently my body is still dying somewhere outside of this place.
I look down at my arms but there aren’t any injuries.
No blood stains my clothes and the hole the dragon made in my stomach is completely gone. Even the pain from absorbing its essence has disappeared.
Nothing about this place appears to be real in the slightest. I really do want to understand where I am.
I raise my hand and press it against my chest.
Ba-dum.
My heart is still beating so I’m also here physically in a sense.
But the beat feels distant, almost like it belongs to someone standing on the other side of a wall.
Ba-dum.
A second heartbeat follows the first.
That one doesn’t feel like mine.
I quickly pull my hand away from my chest.
What the hell was that?
~The dragon essence is attempting to integrate itself into your body.
Huh?!?! I thought it has already been a part of me this whole time since I first absorbed it.
~The amount you absorbed exceeded what your body was prepared to withstand.
So I really am dying because I took too much.
~That is one way to describe the situation.
You couldn’t have warned me before I absorbed it?
~I did warn you that the pressure was pretty intense.
I clench my fists.
Why am I surprised that I get that as my answers over anything else.
The darkness ahead of me shifts slightly.
At first I think my eyes are playing tricks on me, but a faint red shape begins to form several feet away. It is barely visible, yet it is enough for me to know that something is standing there.
The figure doesn’t respond to my presence.
Its body looks strange.
Parts of it resemble a person, but its shoulders are too wide and one of its arms hangs much lower than the other. Torn pieces of something trail behind it as it slowly takes another step towards me.
Tap.
More of its body becomes visible.
Dark scales cover parts of its chest and neck. Deep cuts spread across the rest of it as if it has been attacked countless times. One side of its face is hidden beneath cracked scales while the other almost looks human.
Almost.
A single red eye stares directly at me.
My hand reaches for my sword but there is nothing at my side.
Right... I don’t have a way to fight back in this place.
The figure tilts its head slightly.
"Valtor..."
Its voice sounds broken.
It is deep enough to remind me of a dragon, but I can still understand every word.
"How do you know that name?" I ask.
It doesn’t answer.
Instead, it begins dragging itself closer.
Tap.
Scrape.
Tap.
Scrape.
One of its legs appears more damaged than the other. Every movement looks painful, yet it continues forcing itself towards me.
~Do not allow it to touch you.
I’m glad you do know how to give proper warnings when you want to. This would also have been nice to know sooner.
I take several steps back.
The figure picks up speed.
Its damaged leg begins twisting back into place with every step. Scales spread over the wounds along its body while the torn flesh underneath starts repairing itself.
It is healing... Actually it isn’t. That thing is changing.
The human parts of its body are slowly disappearing beneath crimson scales.
What is that thing?
~A complication.
That isn’t a helpful answer if I’m being honest with you.
~It is the remaining will carried within the dragon essence.
The dragon?
I stare at the creature as another layer of scales forms across its face.
I killed it. It shouldn’t be able to do anything now.
~Its body is dead. Its essence still contains fragments of instinct, power and memory.
And now it is trying to take over mine?
~Correct.
The creature lunges.
I throw myself to the side as its claws tear through the space where my chest was a second ago.
There is nothing around us for it to destroy, but the force behind the attack sends a violent ripple across the darkness.
The empty floor beneath me briefly turns red.
Images flash through the void.
A burning forest, broken houses, and bodies scattered throughout the grass.
Astien.
The images disappear before I can focus on them.
Why did I see the village? That doesn’t feel like it was something I should see.
The creature turns towards me.
Its body is larger now. Two horns are beginning to emerge from its head while a long tail forms behind it.
"Give..." It begins to speak.
It takes another step.
"Give it back..." It demands as it continues.
"Give what back?" I ask.
It opens its mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
"Mine," It speaks with no answer to my question.
So that’s what it is about. Unfortunately for this thing, I didn’t survive that fight just to hand it back.
I lower my body even though I still don’t have my sword.
The Valtor stance feels incomplete without a weapon, but standing here and doing nothing won’t keep me alive.
~Engaging it directly is not recommended.
Do you have another plan?
Silence.
Exactly what I thought. Don’t recommend anything if you don’t have a solution.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter