Enemy or friend?

"I don't know what it is, but it's probably bad news for me," I thought as I observed the creature. It was completely black with a long tail, and I believed it had wings. However, I couldn't help but wonder if ostriches nowadays had tails and wings.

"Oh my gosh, I've been totally cheated out of my money," I lamented, feeling pity for the monster, or whatever it was, that was supposed to be my companion according to the system.

"What should I feed it?" I pondered deeply. Despite not feeling hungry or fatigued myself, thanks to the syron stone, I realized the creature needed sustenance. I could go on slashing monsters all night without sleep, but it was a different story for my companion. The only thing I had on me was the stone I had collected from the previous monster.

"Should I try feeding it?" I questioned aloud, contemplating the best course of action.

"Zion, what do you think this creature is? Is it an animal, a bird, or perhaps a monster?" I inquired, seeking his insights.

"Master, if it turns out to be a monster, will you abandon it?" Zion asked, testing my compassion.

"No, I'm not that heartless. Humanity still resides within me," I assured him, determined to do what was right.

"Then prepare yourself emotionally," Zion warned, sensing the shocking revelation to come.

"Okay, just tell me already," I urged, my curiosity becoming unbearable. I wanted to know the truth immediately.

"It's a... dragon. Now, don't tell me you're afraid and planning to abandon it. That would be the cruelest act, and I would abandon you too," Zion revealed with a hint of seriousness.

"Whoa, it's a dragon, really?" I exclaimed, overwhelmed by the unexpected revelation.

"Yes, but it's currently weak. It will grow stronger over time," Zion explained, offering reassurance.

"And how long do you think it will take to reach full adulthood?" I inquired, contemplating the timeline ahead.

"Maybe around 800 to 900 years, or even 1200 years," Zion estimated, emphasizing the considerable time it would take.

"Do you think I have that much time to wait for it to grow up, so it can protect me when I die and lie in my grave?" I questioned, realizing the potential implications of the dragon's lifespan.

"You have a way," Zion responded cryptically.

"What is it? Please, tell me," I pleaded eagerly, my curiosity overriding any doubts or reservations.

"You can feed it powerful stones. The stronger the stones, the more it will grow," Zion disclosed, revealing the key to accelerating the dragon's growth.

"Maybe I have some," I mused, contemplating the stones I possessed.

"Then feed them to the dragon and see what happens," Zion encouraged, urging me to take action.

I handed the dragon the stones I had collected, and it eagerly grabbed them with its mouth from the dimensional pocket.

"Kyung kyung," the dragon chirped, confirming its desire to consume the stones.

"You can't eat any more. I have already given you enough," I cautioned, concerned about overfeeding it.

"Master, why don't you give it the dimensional pocket?" Zion suggested, surprising me with his proposal.

"How can I give it that? It's not something edible," I questioned, perplexed by Zion's suggestion.

"It's okay, trust me and give it to him," Zion assured me, his confidence compelling me to take the leap of faith.

Putting my trust in Zion, I handed over the dimensional pocket to the dragon. To my amazement, it began devouring it.

The dragon rapidly grew in size, becoming truly massive before my eyes.

"Wow, look at its size. It's enormous!" I exclaimed, marveling at its transformation.

I longed to ride on its back, but I hesitated, unsure if it would accept me as its rider. To my surprise, the dragon lowered its head, indicating its willingness.

"Do you want me to climb on your back?" I confirmed, seeking its approval.

It nodded in response.

"Okay, then thank you," I expressed my gratitude, carefully climbing onto the dragon's formidable form. With a burst of happiness, the dragon began moving around, allowing me to enjoy the exhilarating ride.

"Let's go to the second floor," I declared, eager to explore further on the back of my newfound dragon companion.

Climbing to the second floor felt like a wild roller coaster ride. Unfortunately, I was sensitive to smells, and the intense ride caused me to vomit repeatedly, even though I hadn't eaten anything recently. The food from earlier came rushing up, making the experience quite unpleasant.

"I need to find the stone exit," I muttered, trying to regain my composure.

"What stone, Master?" Kio, my dragon companion, asked, clearly puzzled by my statement.

"It's a stone that acts like a golden ticket for the tower. With it, we can enter and exit as we please," I explained, hoping to clarify the situation.

"I see," Kio replied, still unsure of the significance but willing to trust my judgment.

Time seemed to blur within the tower. Its mysterious nature made it impossible to gauge the passage of time accurately. However, I knew of a way to obtain the golden ticket.

The tower was filled with illusions and traps. If you were lucky, you could avoid them, but one misstep could spell doom.

One obstacle we encountered was a scorching lava river. Thankfully, I didn't have to risk crossing the unstable bridge tied with ropes. Kio, with his immense strength, carried us safely across the hazardous river.

"I think we're safe now. Oh, it just occurred to me that I haven't given you a name," I realized, looking at my loyal dragon companion.

"From today onwards, your name is Kio," I declared. Kio jumped with joy, accepting his new name.

"I know it's not a grand name, but I wanted you to be cute rather than fearsome," I explained, patting Kio affectionately.

Soon, we encountered a small door that Kio couldn't fit through. I didn't want to leave him behind, trapped inside the tower.

"Zion, the door is too small for Kio. What should we do?" I asked, concerned about the predicament.

"You don't need to worry, Master. Kio can adjust his size," Zion reassured me.

"Kio, can you shrink yourself so that you can fit through this door?" I requested, hoping for a solution.

Without hesitation, Kio immediately reduced his size, making himself small enough to pass through the door. I was amazed by his adaptability and willingness to cooperate.

Moving forward, we found ourselves in a narrow hallway that resembled an underground bunker. It was so cramped that even a slightly overweight person would have gotten stuck indefinitely. After what felt like an eternity, we finally emerged from the confined space.

I noticed an ancient-looking sign ahead, depicting a circle with a triangle and three dots inside it. Its meaning eluded me, but my curiosity got the better of me. I reached out and touched the three dots, only to lose my balance and fall.

My head made contact with the ground, and everything went black. When I regained consciousness, I was startled by the sight before me. A multitude of menacing sirens and mermaids surrounded me, radiating an air of danger.

You must be wondering why they were dangerous, but I'm afraid I won't reveal it through words. Instead, let me show you their true nature firsthand.

They stared at me with eyes that seemed to judge and observe my every move. Their gaze made me feel like some sort of strange spectacle. It became abundantly clear that these creatures were nothing like the enchanting beings portrayed in fairy tales. The fantasies had betrayed us, for these beings had bodies similar to ours, but their unique features set them apart.

Their skin was adorned with scales, resembling a blend of white and dark blue hues. Their teeth resembled those of a shark, sharp and menacing. And perhaps most strikingly, they lacked the graceful necks that we humans possess.

"What do you think, Zion? Should we be cautious around them or try to establish a friendly approach?" I inquired, seeking his wisdom.

Zion's response was clear and direct, reminding me of the harsh reality we faced.

"Master, they are monsters. If they attack, do not hesitate to defend yourself. But are you waiting for them to attack you? They might see you as nothing more than raw prey," Zion warned, emphasizing the potential danger we were in.