Encounter with Gaya (part I)

-- POV Freya --

The next day, I decided to go west. The sun was shining in the azure sky, the birds were flying around singing the arrival of the heat. Being taller, I had no trouble observing the surroundings and directing myself. My eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, I could see for miles if I took the time to concentrate. My new stats and powerful legs had no problem propelling me through this great forest. I spun in the wind, sometimes leaving traces of ice where my paws had rested.

*Freedom is wonderful.*

While continuing towards the west I took the opportunity to kill some thorny rats that were in my path to make my breakfast.

*It's only 500 EXP but it doesn't matter, I'll take it!*

Hours passed and I finally managed to kill enough beasts to get to level 11. Yes, it's fast, but I'm far from ordinary.

Time passed but I still had no way of finding out where I was or even conversing with anyone other than Kira.

*Don't tell me I'm the only intelligent animal around here!*

[There's no way to tell, just keep exploring and you might find the answer to your questions].

Following the advice of Kira, who had become more of a makeshift companion than a system these days, I kept running west. Before I could even realize it, I had arrived at the foot of a titanic mountain as large as the one seen in Titania's kingdom. It seemed to dominate the world for centuries, imposing and covered with ancient runes.

[Freya-sama, be careful, I detect a strong concentration of mana in the mountain.]

This warning from Kira only made my heart beat faster and the questions in my mind quicken. Why was there so much mana? I could feel the power emanating from the mountain myself. What was so dangerous inside?

I was not suicidal but the curiosity was too strong, the prospect of discovering what was hidden there was exciting. I felt in my heart that I had to venture further, I felt that something important was going to happen.

*Kira, use "analysis" on these runes*

[ Ancient runes - grouped sealing magic - weakened ]

*Eh? Grouped?*

[This means that several beings are behind this magic. Given the strength of the spell, it can only be so. Furthermore, as marked during the analysis, the spell seems weakened. ]

*It's even more interesting, I'm definitely going to stick my nose into this story.*

Smiling and showing my sharp fangs, I began to look for an entrance, however small, in the side of the mountain.

After walking along the mountain for hours, I saw a cave that seemed to go deep inside. Cautiously moving forward, I began to use my eyes to get used to the darkness. This was easy since I was now a Wolf Demon and no longer a weak and pathetic human. Soon the darkness was no longer a problem, so I began to move forward into this cave that was actually a tunnel only to discover that there was nothing...not a single living thing.

The tunnel was full of dust and the rocks stretched as far as the eye could see. There was not a sound, not a movement, not a breath as if this place had been frozen in time.

As I went deeper and deeper into this mountain I could feel the surrounding mana thickening. Using "Demonic Aura" I had the idea to consciously wrap myself in a cloak of aura to protect myself from the thick pressure of the mana.

-- PING --

[ You have acquired the skill Demonic Cloak (lvl 1) - allows you to put on a cloak made from your aura to protect yourself from magical attacks. Acts independently of the "demonic aura" skill. ]

*Kufufu ~ Now that's good news! Whatever happens, I didn't come all this way for nothing. Let's continue!*

As I continued to move forward, the notifications kept ringing. The more I progressed, the denser the mana became, which caused my new skill to reach level 4 before it stopped changing the moment I reached a dead end.

[Your Demonic Cloak skill has reached level 4.]

*What a cheating skill!*

Snickering slightly, I turned around to face that dead end again. There was no other way, and huge rocks made it impossible to follow the path. But a question was running through my mind...was it natural? Certainly not.

Summoning 3 ice picks, I backed up a few steps before crashing them against the rocks blocking the way. Nothing.

*It seems to me that these small stones are stronger than they look, but it's not enough to dare destabilize me.

Using 15 ice picks simultaneously this time, I repeated the same movement.

*Disappear from my sight*.

Explosions could be heard inside the cave as ice and rock clashed. It was in these moments of destruction that I felt the best, enjoying the display of power and the joy of being the author.

In the end, not a trace of the wall that had stood before me remained, clearing the way. Behind it was a huge room with a ceiling set with gems glittering like diamonds...it looked like a starry night. There was nothing in the room except an altar in the center where a...

*DRAGON ???*

It wasn't fear that spoke, but the excitement of having such a supposedly powerful being chained in front of me without being able to resist. "Kill", "torture", "power": were the only words that echoed in my mind as my eyes began to glow with a dangerous and savage glow.

As I approached, I could see that this dragon was very weak, yet elongated despite its enormous size. It seemed to be 5 meters high with wings of 3 meters, its scales were of crimson colors and in bad condition. The chains were holding his neck, as well as his four legs holding him down, tearing off his scales where the chains touched him. I didn't know how long he had been there, but it certainly wasn't since yesterday.

*Kira, is it possible to analyze this dragon?*

[I'll try.]

__________

[Race : Earth Dragon

Element : Earth

Lvl 28/70

HP : 21 000 / 85 000

MP : 200 / 42 000

Strength : 200

Defense : 215

Agility : 160

Stamina : 196

Speed : 145 ]

________

*Its HP are quite low, almost at the same level as mine. Can I kill it? Should I kill it?*

As I was once again lost in thought, the mysterious dragon opened its eyes. Amber in color, they looked tired and weary of this life that was not a life.

Suddenly, a woman's voice, different from Kira's, was heard in my head. She was more mature, powerful and the way she spoke the words sounded like she was singing.

"Who...who are you? How did you get in here?" Asked the dragon.

"So you can talk?"

As I laughed at her, the dragoness straightened slightly and stared at me for a long time with her eyes as if she wanted to read my soul. After obviously not succeeding, she spoke up.

"Of course I can talk, wretched creature ! I am a dragon: great master of the skies and ruler of....."

[ Earth Dragon - HP 19 893 / 85 000 ]

"Aaaaaaarrgg"

Before she could even finish her sentence 1 ice spike came down on her tail that had been left behind. Looking at her smugly, I raised my voice in her mind.

"If you dare to speak to me in that tone again, the next one will land in your throat. Now speak up and tell me who you are if you don't want to end up on a skewer!!! "

You could see her momentarily shocked by my voice much more powerful and authoritative than hers. After a few seconds of hesitation, I could hear her voice again, though this time with a much less dismissive tone.

"You...how did you conjure that ice out of nowhere? This...this shouldn't be possible!!!"

[Freya-sama I suggest you don't let her ask too many questions.]

*You're right. Right now I need to have my questions answered*.

I then turned to the dragoness and glared at her.

"Shut up! I'm the one asking the questions here. Who are you and what are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Fine! My name is Gaya and I have been sealed here for I don't know how long. You are the first and probably the last person to come and visit me."

"Why the last?"

"I don't know if you noticed but the dense mana on this mountain belonged to me. I have been sealed here for far too long by these chains that are imbued with sealing magic. As a result, my mana is continually leaking out of my body. I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out, maybe two or three weeks at the most."

"I still don't understand why you are losing your life."

"A simple creature like you doesn't even know that?" That's what Gaya seemed to want to tell me, but dipping her eyes into mine she knew I wasn't the type to give second chances. I had only spared her at first because this was my first conversation with a living being and she might give me some information about this world.

"I am losing my life because my mana circuits are damaged. My mana is leaking so I lose my MP, but as soon as I lose them they regenerate creating a loop that over time damages my health. I can't change anything. But if I may, can I ask you a question?"

Intrigued by her question, I nodded.

"What exactly are you? I have lived many years, I know every species that populate this forest but I have never seen a being like you. You can even use the ice element without incantations. "

*Kira, it seems that here when you want to use an element you have to say an incantation*

[It seems so]

"I can't reveal anything to you but since you explained your situation I can simply tell you that I came to this world to conquer it. I will be the empress who will march on the humans, burning their cities and killing their soldiers. I will stand on top even if I have to climb a mountain of corpses. "

Gaya's eyes glowed brighter and brighter with each word I spoke. I could see her head jerk up piqued with curiosity.

"You haven't told me your name, may I know it?"

"My name is Freya."

Closing her eyes and softly pronouncing my name as if to engrave it in her soul, she suddenly straightened her head staring at me again with determination.

"Let me come with you!"

"I refuse. What's in it for me? Besides you are weakened and stuck in this cave, how can you even think of following me?"

"I...I THINK I KNOW HOW YOU COULD FREE ME!"

"Ara ara ~ and you think I'll take your word for it? How do I know you won't betray me once you're out? Even though you're weakened, I'm not foolish enough to trust you."

"I..."

"..."

"It's true you're not wrong, but hear me out please. I know a way to get out but I can't get anything to stop me here. You're the only one who can help me and if you think I would betray you I have a way to prove you wrong. Please..."

At that moment I thought about my goals in this world, what I had been reincarnated for in the first place. I had a chained dragoness in front of me who was desperately asking for my help.

*Kira! You heard the conversation, right? Give me your opinion on the situation.*

[Yes, I heard everything. In my opinion you should accept the proposal, you came here to help those who are not human so why not start now? Besides, it might be useful for you in the future. Don't forget that she is stuck here and can't move, at best you succeed and gain a powerful ally at worst she will stay locked up until she dies].

*Kufufufu Kira have you become insensitive?*

[Your interest comes first Freya-sama]

*It's true, dragoness or not if she can't help me or prove to me that I can trust her, there's no point.*

Even though I was in this world to help the oppressed races, it didn't mean that I was a saint...quite the opposite. I was not yet powerful enough to have subordinates, but my meeting with Gaya had caught me off guard.

She was there waiting for an answer, chained, hurt and alone for so long. I knew better than anyone what loneliness was like after being a victim of it for years. Then..I said the sentence that would change both of our lives.

"Okay I accept, tell me how to do it and I will set you free!"