Chilalea

-The Next Day-

I woke up from a deep sleep, yesterday left me exhausted but now I feel a hundred times better.

"Hmmm..." I stretched a little. "System, stats please."

{Certainly.}

{Name: Asazel ---}

{Age: 142} {Physical Age: ~13} {Mental Age: 17}

{Race: Human/Shapeshifter}

{+}

{Strength: B-}

{Agility: B+} - {Up From B}

{Dexterity: SS}

{Charm: A+ (SS)}

{Mana: --}

{Skills:} [Shapeshifter] [Hunger] [Fear][Lesser Fire Skill]

'Only one rank up from that whole fight! That's disappointing, and why do I not have any ice magic?'

{That material is only imbued with ice powers, so they don't have any skill.}

'Yeah, that makes sense, I guess. I should continue walking.'

{You should take a piece of meat with you, so you don't get hungry again.}

"Ugh, I would rather starve than eat that again."

{As you wish.}

"Oh, right, I have a few questions. First, why were the mantises attracted to that parasite inside me?"

{For you it's only a source of food, but for them, it has a whole lot of benefits, mainly reproductive.}

"So the mantises were a couple? That's a shame, but at least I got the parasite so I'll be fine when I arrive. You don't reckon it's possible to be human this whole trip, right?"

{Only if we find any more parasites.}

"Right."

I looked down.

"Also, where are my clothes?"

{They got dissolved while you were inside the centipede's stomach.}

"Oh..."

*ROAR* An enormous creature was heard from a distance in front of me.

"Oh hell naw, that's a dragon."

{How do you know it's a dragon, you never encountered one before.}

"Bitch I know a dragon when I hear one, and I hear that it will shred me up so bad that I will lose all that extra time I gained."

{It's coming towards you.}

"..." At this point, I put my palms on my face and started sobbing. "Why god, why is it always me? I never did anything that bad..."

{It's 150 meters from us... 100... 50...}

"Oh... I should get some of the chitin to make armor." I ran back to the centipede and put my hand on it. "Make me some nice, protective armor so I don't die, please."

The chitin started melting then crawled up my body, almost entirely covering me, before it got molded into actual armor. The bone platings fused with it and came out from the armor, making it spikey. It also made me a shield that I could easily move around my body, its outside was embroidered with some of the ice material, while it still left me with enough for a blade.

{25... 15... It's here.}

Above my head, a massive creature came into view, it was easily longer than 20 meters with a wingspan of around 30. It was black with some purple and light blue, while its eyes were dark grey with a hint of blue, like a lightning storm.

The monster just stared at me for a moment while I was getting ready to fight it, but then it spoke.

*Who dares enter my territory?*

Only the sound of its voice made me tremble and fall to my knees.

'What is going on... Now that I think about it, there is a dragon-born species, so dragons are their ancestors? It makes sense...' I looked up at it. 'I should be respectful, maybe it will let me go.'

"I am sorry for bothering you with my presence, sir. I am on a journey and didn't know this is your territory."

*Hmm...* The dragon grabbed to one of the trees then climbed down, its head slithering with its steps, it analyzed me, seemingly curious and amused. *And you were getting ready to fight me in that armor? Pathetic! Hmmm?* As it neared me it seemed to realize something.

*Are you perhaps a shapeshifter?*

I was surprised at what it said, this implied that it came across more people... things like me.

"Yes... sir. Are there more like me?"

*Like you? No. You are by far the most civilized one I met. All the other ones tried to fight me the moment they saw me, trying to get my scales.* The dragon calmed down, me being a shapeshifter seemed to get his interest.

"Oh, that's because I am half-human."

*Absurd!* It screamed like it heard something impossible. *Those creatures are not smart enough to reproduce between themselves but with humans? That is simply impossible!*

"It's true." I melted away my helmet and some of the overprotective armor and let the material fall to the ground.

*It's hard to believe, but perhaps some things truly aren't impossible. Your species is a tricky opponent, their biggest downfall being their intelligence. But you... Would you perhaps be willing to talk this out at my home?*

"... Sure, I don't see why not."

*Smart man.* The dragon leaned down for me to climb on its back, I did, then it took off, the trees in its vicinity being torn to shreds like they weren't there.

*Hold tight...*

"Wh... Ahhh!!" It took off at an incredible speed, that I don't doubt isn't even its full speed. The monster soared through the sky like it didn't have any care in the world. Which I can't really argue.

From up here I could see the full forest, even the mountain where I'm supposed to go, which I couldn't help but notice is where we are headed.

"Excuse me, sir! But could you please refrain from telling the people that live there that I am a shapeshifter?"

*You don't have to worry, that old bastard won't even believe me! And I know people are your main source of food, just don't eat any that I like.*

"I won't, I try to only consume the people that are more monster than me."

*Interesting, you have much compassion for a man-eater, how did you get this way?*

"Actually... I lost my memories a couple of days ago, and I don't remember anything before that."

*Are you aware that you have a parasite living near your heart?*

"Yes, I put it there as emergency rations. Since it satiates me just like humans."

*Ha! What an interesting person I found, I hope we will make good friends!*

"I hope so too." 'Damn, did I just make friends with a dragon?'

{It appears so.}

'You know, system. Your replies aren't really needed, you just agree with everything I say and don't add anything to the conversation. If you're going to speak, speak with purpose.'

{You are hurting my feelings, host, but I will keep your feedback in mind.}

Before too long, we arrived to the top of the mountain, and the dragon landed near a house made of wood, where an older man was chopping wood outside, in the freezing storm, topless.

"Oh, Chilalea, you're back, how was the trip..." The old man noticed me. "And who do we have here?"

*He can speak for himself.*

I got down from the dragon and shook the hand of the man before introducing myself.

"Hello, my name is Azazel, I was sent here by William but was brought here by the dragon."

"Ha! My son sent you here? He must really like you!"

I remembered the time he threw me into the forest. "I don't think so."

"You say? Come in so we can have a chat, you must be freezing out here."

"Sure."