The Surface and the Slave Trader.

Aaron began his walk around the surface. He appeared to have walked out into a city. A great way to start learning about this new world, their currency, and the economy.

He walked around the market which was taking place. He saw a few people who looked like adventurers, with nothing on their bodies to protect them, and iron daggers being their only weapon. They were going to be killed down there. He was met with glances of uneasiness, but that as simply due to his armour, making him seem like a cold and uncaring person. When it came to business, he was. Not on a normal occasion though.

He looked around for any noticeable buildings, or landmarks, to help identify places later on, and he saw a large building which looked somewhat like an extremely large church. Definitely where the Holy Church was situated.

He began to walk towards it, but was stopped along his way by a small holding a black cane, with a black top hat upon his head.

"Hello, Adventurer. You appear to be working alone. Would you care to gain an assistant?"

Aaron was extremely sceptical about this, but he looked around, and saw that there were monsters following humans around the city. He wondered why, and this midget might be able to inform him.

"Elaborate on assistant. I'm not looking to get into too shady of a business deal."

"Oh, don't be daft. This is quite normal around here. Enslaved monsters and demi-humans are slaves to the human race. You surely know that. I'm here to offer you a deal", the cane holding merchant said, chuckling a bit.

"I don't have any money on me, but I can get you something valuable. Want some Basilica Scales?"

"Oh, those will do just fine. Let me guide you to out vast selection of monsters and demi-humans."

Aaron was then lead along by his armoured hand to a large circus-style tent. Inside the tent there were at least a hundred of cages, each one varying in size, containing either monsters or demi-humans. Each one had its own cage.

Aaron was directed over to the monster section first, where he saw a large selection of monsters.

"These are strong monsters, Adventurer. Each one can serve by your side with complete loyalty. They would have no choice in the matter."

Basic bears, a wolf, some spiders, nothing too intense. Nothing there interested him.

"Sorry, nothing there really suits what I'm looking for. I can do what they can do, but better, using my wings of magic."

DEFINITELY not a part of his body. No way.

He was then directed over to the side with Demi-Humans.

"These filthy demi-humans aren't as powerful, but they possess intelligence, conversational abilities, and can do many things a normal monster can't. Too bad they were born as demi-humans though.'

Aaron went strolling along them. It must have been terrifying for the demi-humans in the cages. All they saw was a suit of armour with wings pacing up along them, like he was choosing one for their death.

He saw one that caught his eye. It had clawed hands, with black material covering half of their body. It was a female, although it didn't matter to Aaron.

"I'll take this one."

"Ah, an excellent choice. Is there any other thing you would like to purchase?", the merchant enquired.

"Actually, yes, there is. Would you be able to show me your most powerful monster?"

"Ah, I see that you are only interested in the exceptionally rare. Follow me."

Aaron was dragged through a curtain, where a singular cage lay. Inside the cage rested a dragon, which was covered in a white glow.

"This is called 'The Dragon of Light'. A rare monster with special powers. They can manipulate light to a certain degree, and they can fly", the merchant said, showcasing the dragon.

"Well, I believe I shall purchase this. How much would the total cost be?", Aaron questioned. He needed to know how many Basilica's he needed to skin.

"Well, since you are paying in pure Basilica Scales, which are a pain to get, due to them being fully attached to the Basilica, I'll drop the price a bit, but I'd say you'd need around two hundred and fifty Basilica Scales."

"Alright, give me a few minutes. I'll be back with 250 Basilica Shells."

And with that, he disappeared right in front of the merchant, who stood there, shocked. Had the adventurer turned invisible, or even teleported?!

The latter was correct. Aaron had teleported to his cave. He wasn't bothered to go find, and skin, a few Basilicas, so he activated the part of his telekinesis ability, and added an objective.

[Kill three Basilicas and teleport their undamaged scales to me.]

[You have killed Lv. 14 Basilica x3]

[You have gained 740 Exp]

[Teleporting...]

Infront of him, a pile of 375 Basilica Scales appeared, and he placed his hand on the pile. He then teleported back, bringing the Basilica Scales with him due to teleport contact. He wouldn't bring any ground with him because that would just be annoying.

"I've got 375 Basilica Scales right here."

The merchant was staring slack-jawed at him. Did he have a stash nearby? Surely there was no way he could have killed and skinned the Basilicas that quickly.

"O-oh, that w-was quick."

The merchant then gave himself a shake, as he prepared to check the authenticity of these scales. It shocked him to find out they were one hundred percent real.

"Alright, I've checked their authenticity, and they are real. Congratulations. You are now the owners of a Dragon of Light and a Demi-Human. I shall go put a slave crest on them so that they will only be able to obey you."

The merchant went and grabbed the female demi-human Aaron looked at earlier, and pulled her into the room. She looked malnourished, and appeared to have tons of scars on her arms. The merchant came over with a sort of tattoo, with a unique crest on it. He placed it onto her skin, just above where the lungs were, and then Aaron was asked to say his name.

"Aaron Stone."

The crest glowed purple, as a notification came up from his system.

[Forced Party]

[Party Members: Aaron Stone, Yua Tsanru]

The same crest was then applied to the back of the Dragon.

[Party Members: Aaron Stone, Yua Tsanru, Light]

"And that is our deal done. Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Aaron. I do hope we will do business again."

Aaron left without saying a word back to the merchant, as the dragon, Light, and the Demi-Human, Yua Tsanru followed behind him.