Dragons Can Fly With Wings, Huh?

It seems the beast has yet to notice me as I approached it with sublime sneaking skills.

'Tis truly a shame you will die without knowing what had happened but let us not forget who trespassed in my lair...'

I continued to tread closer without being noticed.

'Ha, child's play! Do curse your fate for being so weak and unlucky enough to meet this great one~'

The only sound that could be heard was the rattling of the gate as the monster tried to free itself from the room.

'...How foolish can one be? The only way the gate will be removed is by defeating me! Not that one could defeat a fine specimen such as I~ I, Alain Cyr Du'Font, last of the Progenitors and claimant to the Fallen Throne! My revenge all begins with you, little one. You will nourish my very being for days~'

I was now within a mere few steps of the monster and could practically smell his blood from here.

Finally, my freedom would be assured and a new dawn will soon begin.

As I crept close to the monster ready to sink my teeth in, suddenly it happened.

"Raahhh!"

I was suddenly petrified by the beast's sudden roar.

'What... What is this? My body... it won't move!'

I could only look in utter shock.

'What did this beast do to me... Was that roar something especially powerful?!'

[Roar] is a common skill among both animals and monsters. When a being uses this skill, the opponent that hears it will be forced to cease movement and gets a defense debuff. The debuff and time the opponent spends frozen will increase as the skill's owner levels it up more.

'...I-Impossible! For a weak beast such as it to be able to stop me with its roar... It must be fairly powerful... But that is impossible! No matter how I look at it, it only looks weak in my eyes! I must... get out of its range before I am dealt its attack again...'

However, it was far too late for that.

"Graahh!"

"Un!"

The monster had already sent the vampire a powerful punch which sent him flying into the ceiling.

Within moments--

'Oh! The gate! It's gone! Woo-hoo! Yeah! I don't have to worry about trying to eat my way out of here now... Ugh! I can still taste that metal! Bleagh! Ptooie! 0 out of 10 stars! Would not try again!'

I was finally free at last.

For some reason, the gate had opened up after a while.

Maybe, it was set to a timer?

Well, whatever! Now I can get out of here.

I did want to retrieve the treasure out of that wooden chest but I don't want to risk getting trapped in the room again.

I will just come back for it some other time.

I say my farewells to the room but as I leave I think I hear something.

I turn back around to make sure but the room is just as quiet and still as it was before.

'Huh? I guess it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. Not like there was anything else in that room aside from me. Pretty lame for a Boss Room to have no boss~ It is lucky for me though. I don't think I could easily take out a boss as I am right now anyway.'

I continued forth down the path that led me here.

Eventually, I found myself back at the crossroads.

'Although I do want to explore the right path, I think I'll pass for now. I've had enough dungeon crawling for one day. Besides, my mother and father are probably wreaking havoc on the world while looking for me as we speak... I better hurry then...'

I hurried back home but decided a little chat with Vivi along the way couldn't hurt.

'Hey, Vivi? Can I ask you something? I just want someone to pass the time with for a bit.'

[Oh, brave adventurer! What would you like to speak with me about?]

I forgot how formal Vivi was.

'Well before that, could you not call me brave adventurer? I have a name, you know.'

[But, currently, your name is blank. Until you get a name, I can only call you that.]

Wait, I don't have a name in this world?

Oh right, I guess that is true. And my parents only seem to refer to me as 'little one'.

I guess I never noticed as no one asked for my name since my first arrival here.

That Goddess has been referring to me by my old name as well.

'I guess you are right about that Vivi... I guess for now just keep calling me brave adventurer until I get my name, alright?

[Of course, brave adventurer! And you may continue to refer to this one as Vivi! I have grown quite attached, you see...]

For some reason, I felt like Vivi was blushing.

Does she even have a face that can blush?

A question for later, I suppose.

'I wanted to know about the game mechanics brought my world to this one. The leveling system, the point system, etc. Tell me everything you know so I can at least be much more prepared going forward.'

There was a long pause before I finally heard Vivi respond to my questioning.

'Was there something I wasn't supposed to ask in there? I hope I wasn't too pushy. I don't want to scare away the only being that can understand me... Vivi?'

[My apologies, oh brave adventurer. I am ashamed to tell you that there is much I do not know myself.]

Huh?

But you are the most knowledgeable Vivi-chan! If there are some things you do not know about then what can I do?

That dang Goddess must have gotten lazy and only filled my precious Vivi with useless information! I will never forgive her if that is the case!

[But do not fret for I will tell you what I know!]

Just as I was about to go into a fit of anger towards the Goddess, Vivi spoke.

[I will shower you with knowledge of the system with which you are most familiar!]

She must be talking about the game mechanics from Arcadian Records.

So that's why I have been seeing many things found in Arcadian Records. That Goddess did send me to a world like Arcadian Records.

I wonder if everything is the same...

[The way you grow in level is the same as you did in Arcadian Records! You level up by slaying other beings including monsters, humans, and even other dragons!]

Well, that's a relief! I can just level up by slaying monsters, humans, and other dragons--

Wait, humans and dragons?

I don't think I feel right killing humans with me used to being one and dragons? You can forget it.

I won't let these claws harm one of God's precious creatures.

I swear on the name I do not have!

[You can also level up skills by using them often or spending SP! The amount of SP needed to level up a Skill will increase with every level! The same goes for the amount of experience you will need to level up as well.]

Alright, that makes sense.

I'm used to grinding anyway so it should be a piece of cake to level up.

[You will also earn more experience points if you fight against higher level enemies!]

Hah?

Of course, it was going to be something like that.

I don't want to die so easily so I will probably stick to the regular way of leveling up, thank you very much.

I think I probably won't need to do something so drastic until I'm desperate for experience.

[You will gain stat increases with every increase in level though you may also eventually gain skills that will increase stats as well. With certain restrictions, of course!]

'Restrictions? Elaborate for me, please.'

[Certain restrictions may include limited uses, time restraints, or bodily harm!]

'B-Bodily harm?'

And why did you so so happy saying that?!

[Some skills may require the user to take a certain amount of damage to take effect. Sometimes some skills may not even come into play until after the owner's death!]

Death?

Death?!

I don't want those skills! Not one bit!

Who in their right mind would implement skills in a game that don't work until the user is dead?!

What kind of... Goddess!

I don't know what kind of game she wants to play but keep me out of it!

If I wanted to be transported to a death game, I would have played Monopoly!

Ugh! I still remember how badly my little brother wanted that railroad... Never again...

'Vivi, please tell me there is no other crazy mechanics in place that I have to watch out for!'

[Of course not, brave adventurer!]

'Whew~ That's a relief because for a sec-

[Well, except for that one...]

'...'

[Just kidding!]

Maybe I am destined to be alone...

I finally arrived back home.

Well, after I get past this sharp incline then I would be officially back home.

'hold did I manage to clear the climb down that cliff in the first place...'

[You climbed down!]

'...Thanks, Vivi... What would I do without your brilliant insight...'

[Hee-hee!]

Why do I get the feeling she doesn't understand sarcasm...

Well, anyway I still have to figure out how to get back up there.

Hm. I guess if I climbed down I could climb up?

Let's try it.

I grab a foothold and make my way up to the next one.

I grab another foothold and eventually I find my way to the middle of the cliff.

Not bad.

Not that I expected less. After all, I did go to that rock-climbing gym once on a field trip.

I recall I was pretty much a pro by the end of the day.

Though, I guess I never did go back.

Well, this would be a good chance to shake off the rust, right?

I reach for another foothold but--

W-Woah! It's crumbling!

I feel myself falling back down to the bottom again.

I feel weightless for a few seconds.

It's kind of cool until I hit the ground.

'My back... Wait, no! My HP! It's gone down some!'

[It appears you have taken damage, brave adventurer! Are you alright?]

'Y-Yeah... I think I'm good. But...'

I look back up at the point on the cliff I made it to before I fell.

It somehow looks even higher now.

How am I supposed to get up there now that climbing's no good?

I don't want to lose any more health.

I also don't want to experience starving to death for the first time either.

What to do...

[Would you like some assistance, brave adventurer?]

Oh yeah! I'm not alone on this. I'm sure Vivi can figure out a way for me to get up there.

'Yes! I would love some assistance right now. Lay it on me.'

[Fly!]

...Huh?

'What is it that you had said, Vivi? My hearing isn't so good. I thought you said to--'

[Fly!]

'You did say that!'

Vivi must be insane, right?

She's telling me, a dragon, to fly! That has got to be the most...

'Vivi, are you a genius?'

[Hee-hee~ Stop it~ You're making me blush!]

So she can blush!

Wait, that's a story for another time.

'Vivi, you said I should fly, right? How can I do that?'

[You can fly using the skill!]

I guess I should have known she would give me advice like that.

But I guess Vivi did say it was possible so that is good enough for me.

Crap. There's no button to press or online community to help me out right now.

The task is daunting but the body is ready!

Alright, how about I use some trigger words and phrases to use my skill.

Fly!

Use skill!

Up! Down! Left! Right! Left! Right! A! B! Start!

Dang! So not even the Konami code works here, huh?

Now what?

[Brave adventurer, I think you are forgetting something. You are a dragon, aren't you?]

'I mean, yeah I am. What's your point, Vivi?'

[Use what all dragons use to fly! Wings!]

...I do have those, huh?

'Thank you very much, Vivi...'

[You're welcome!]

I glanced behind me at the two wings on my back.

I guess it's time to figure out how to use you guys, huh?