The land flew past underneath them, covered in forests and green hills. The sun warmed their backs as they soared high above the landscape, leaving Collport behind.

"Not a bad view, eh?" Nova called down.

"What?!" Anny's voice barely carried against the rushing wind.

"It's not a bad view!" Nova tried again, raising his voice to compete with the air rushing past them.

"...What?!" Her reply was even fainter this time.

(I said you're heavy.)

Anny's response came immediately, laced with amusement. (You're right, it is a nice view.)

Nova couldn't help but smile at her antics. (How much do you think a drop from this height would hurt you?)

Anny's mental laughter tickled the back of his mind. (I've got a pretty good grip on your footsies.) Her confidence was unmistakable, and indeed, her grasp around his ankles was secure enough that he'd have trouble shaking her loose even if he tried.

(It feels like we're having two different conversations.)

Nova banked slightly, adjusting their course to follow the coastline. The sea stretched to their right, a vast expanse of deep blue that seemed to merge with the sky at the distant horizon. Fishing boats dotted the waters near shore, looking like tiny toys from this height.

(Struggling to keep up?)

(This is going to be a long trip...) The thought held a tone of resignation.

(Was that one of those messages you didn't mean to send?)

(No, I fully intended to send that one.)

(Meanie.) The childish retort was accompanied by a mental impression of Anny sticking out her tongue—something impossible to convey with words alone.

'I knew there would be drawbacks to making these rings…'

He struggled to admit, even to himself, that he was enjoying the banter a lot.

(I've gotta say, I didn't expect you to be thinking in the language of this world.)

(I've gotten used to it. But I can quickly swap to our old one.) Her mental voice shifted mid-sentence, going back to the language of the New World.

(I kind of like this one. It was easy to learn.)

They passed over a broad river, its surface glittering in the sunlight. A wooden bridge spanned its width, with travelers crossing in both directions. From this height, they looked like ants marching along a twig.

(Yeah, the writing isn't all that bad either. Maybe you can join the children in class, so you also learn it?)

(...)

(Wow, how did you send that?)

Nova's response came along with a sigh that was lost to the wind. (...A looong trip.)

Nova was easily capable of flying at a hundred kilometers per hour, but it still took them an entire hour to get to the city of Bergrott.

It wasn't all that different from Collport, except it wasn't a coastal city. Instead, they seemed to rely on farming and trade for their food. The buildings were constructed of sturdy gray stone, clustered around a central marketplace. In the distance, mountains rose like jagged teeth against the sky.

'They probably have plenty of gold due to the dungeon. And maybe even a few decent blacksmiths.'

Nova felt eager to dive into the dungeon, but there were things they had to take care of first—like gathering information.

(You think that thing at the center there is the dungeon?) Anny asked once they were closer.

Nova focused on a massive structure that dominated the center of Bergrott. It looked like a temple, but darker somehow, with black stone that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. A steady stream of people moved in and out of its entrances.

(Probably. The city would have formed around it, after all.)

(Should we land outside of the city?)

(Why bother? We're planning to make an impression.)

The outer districts passed beneath them, with modest dwellings giving way to more substantial buildings as they neared the center. Market stalls dotted the broader streets, giving color to the otherwise dreary black rooftops.

(...You want to land right in front of the entrance?) Anny's mental tone carried mixed amusement and disbelief.

(Sounds like fun. But maybe at least one of us should be in adult form?) Nova banked slightly, circling once around the plaza to survey the best landing spot.

(Sure, I'll do it... As long as you don't mention my weight again.)

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

(I would never.) Nova's response was innocent, though he couldn't quite hide the hint of mischief through their connection.

(Harrumph.) The mental equivalent of an eye-roll rippled through their bond.

Nova felt Anny's transformation begin as they descended. Her grip on his ankles strengthened as the change spread through her body, still high enough that few people could see the details of her transformation.

A small crowd had gathered below them now. People stood back from the plaza's center, creating a natural landing zone. Some pointed excitedly, while others drew back in obvious alarm. Guards along the plaza's edge stood at attention, with hands resting on their weapons.

Anny let go a few meters above the ground, landing heavily on the stone tiles. A small cloud of dust puffed up from between the stones, swirling around her clawed feet.

Nova continued hovering for a moment as he assessed the gathered crowd. There was more curiosity than hostility in their expressions. Merchants clutched their wares protectively, while children ducked behind parents' legs, peeking out with wide eyes.

Then, struck by a moment of playful inspiration, Nova thought it would be funny to land on her shoulders, so he did. His wings dissipated into motes of light as he settled atop her, feeling the warmth of her scaled hide through his clothes.

And it was funny. Especially since the backpack went in front of her face, covering her view completely. Her drakeling features disappeared behind leather and canvas, leaving only her horns visible from the front.

(...What are you doing?)

(I'm tired. Your turn to carry me.) Nova projected back, arranging himself comfortably on her broad shoulders. He felt her scales shift beneath him as she straightened her posture.

(I thought we were supposed to look strong?) A hint of amusement had crept into her mental tone despite her protest.

(You do.) Nova's confidence in her was absolute. Even half-blinded by his pack, she cut an imposing figure that commanded respect from the gathered crowd. She was the tallest person around.

The onlookers maintained a respectful distance, forming a rough circle around them. Many were adventurers dressed in armor and carrying weapons, but most were civilians or merchants.

Finally, a man stepped forward from the crowd. He wore the leather jerkin and well-worn boots of an adventurer, with a guild medallion hanging prominently around his neck. His expression was a mixture of professional interest and personal caution as he approached.

"Uhh, welcome, dear travelers!" He spread his hands in a gesture of greeting, careful to keep them visible and non-threatening.

Anny sighed loudly enough for everyone to hear, shifting the backpack slightly so she could peer around it.

"We're here for the dungeon," Nova announced from his lofty seat, wearing a casual, almost bored expression. "Could you direct us to someone knowledgeable?"

The adventurer cleared his throat, visibly trying to compose himself at the unexpected scene. "Of course! The Dungeon Guild can help you prepare. My name is Elias. Allow me to guide you there myself."

Before following, Anny pushed the backpack over her head, forcing Nova to put it on his back if he wanted to see anything. She didn't seem to mind being used as a mount, though.

As Elias led them through Bergrott, Nova noticed how quickly whispers spread among the locals, many of whom stared openly at their unusual entrance.

(Do you think we made too dramatic an entrance?) Anny's mental voice sounded amused and slightly embarrassed.

(Just dramatic enough, I'd say. It's only a taste of the amazement they'll feel when we start diving through the dungeon.)

The guild building soon loomed ahead, a sturdy structure bustling with adventurers of various sizes and races. As they approached, Elias turned to them with curiosity lighting his eyes. "May I ask, are you perhaps aiming to challenge the deeper levels?"

Nova smiled lightly. "Let's just say we didn't come all this way to sightsee."

Inside the Adventurer's Guild, the atmosphere buzzed with activity. Weathered adventurers gathered around wooden tables, comparing maps and trading stories of recent expeditions.

Elias led them toward a tall, imposing woman standing near a large desk covered with maps and scrolls. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight braid, and a scar ran along her jawline. Her armor was practical yet finely crafted, marking her as someone important.

"Guildmaster Senna, a couple of interesting guests just arrived in the main plaza," Elias began, stepping aside to introduce them.

Guildmaster Senna eyed Anny and Nova carefully. Her sharp gaze lingered particularly on Anny's imposing drakeling form before settling on Nova perched casually on her shoulders.

"Interesting, indeed." The usual yellow glint of the assess-skill shone in her eyes as she attempted to gauge their power. "I can't even see how strong you are, little child."

'Oh, but she can se Anny's Soul Power, meaning she's probably close to ten thousand. That's what my soul sense is saying as well. I'm improving.'

"We want to go into the dungeon," he stated simply, not bothering with pleasantries. "Are there any restrictions?"

Senna crossed her arms. "Well, not really. We do try to educate divers on the dangers they might face before going in, but I can tell you two won't die on the first few levels. If you need a room, there are plenty of inns nearby."

Nova leaned forward slightly. "Can we enter one by one?"

A flicker of concern passed over Senna's face. "...Kid, I know you're strong, but you should never underestimate the dungeon. People rarely go below the third floor, and those are experienced adventurers, usually in groups of ten or more. It's not just a matter of strength, as the dungeons are part of the system itself. Each floor has a new restriction that might counter you perfectly."

"But the potential reward is doubled, right?"

"Sure." Senna nodded. "But I'd say the risk quadruples."

"What kind of restrictions can be put in place?"

Senna leaned back against the edge of her desk, settling in for an explanation she'd clearly given many times before. "All kinds of things. Some prevent barriers from forming, some make weapons lose access to their special effects, some make gravity doubled, some prevent all light from existing, and some stop essence from regenerating." She counted off each hazard on her fingers. "The worst ones combine several restrictions at once."

"Oooh, sounds like fun!" Anny grinned, showing off her sharp fangs.

"That sounds fine," Nova replied, more intrigued than scared by the warnings. "What else should we know?"

Senna sighed, looking around the guild hall. "Once you enter a dungeon level, the only way out is to beat the floor boss. The way to get to the boss varies, but it either involves straight up searching through rooms of monsters or solving puzzles or finding the right key."

She pulled out a crude map from the stack on her desk, showing a maze-like structure. "No two journeys are exactly the same—the dungeon rearranges itself for each group."

"And how strong are the monsters?" Nova asked, studying the map with professional interest.

"Floor one, you'll meet the common ones. Salamanders, goblins, stuff like that, all in the range of ten to thirty Soul Power." Senna traced the upper level of the map with her finger. "Then it basically follows the tiers, with tier two having anything from thirty to a hundred, tier three anything from a hundred to three hundred, and so on and so forth."

Nova quickly ran through each tier in his mind. "So… Tier ten is three hundred thousand Soul Power to a million?"

"Yeah, exactly. And that's for common monsters on the floor." Senna's voice dropped lower, almost reverent. "Not even the king has dared to go further than tier nine. And you don't want to know how much power he has." She straightened up, rolling the map and returning it to its place on the desk.

'...I don't think we will get there either. But we will have to see. Maybe a new record will be set before we leave.'

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