Chapter 413: Crunching Numbers and Monsters


    So, what did you think of Lyra after finally talking with her? Derek asked Ste as they walked toward the entrance to the Dragon kennel. Lyra had already turned her head and was back to resting, or whatever it was that she was doing.


    She is an amazing beast. Ste said. Lyra is the perfectpanion for Avery.


    How do you mean?


    Well shes a very intelligent being, Ste replied.


    Which means? Derek asked with a chuckle, knowing where she was going.


    Well Avery isnt dumb or anything, but when he fightsactually fightshe gets wrapped up in thebat and doesnt always think things through. Lyra seems to be the exact opposite of that. She can keep him from going overboard in a battle. Its like he somehow picked out a beast copy of nah as hispanionits such an odd coincidence.


    I dont really think it was <em>that </em>much of a coincidence, Derek said. When we were fighting, and he was looking for apanion, he noticed Lyra right away. She was the smallest amphithere out of all of themactually, she was the smallest dragonkin in that entire trial as far as I know. But she stayed back,manding all the other dragonkin, which caught his eye. Once he noticed her, I think it was pretty much a done dealunlike Edgar and Blitz. I think Edgar saw fighting Blitz one on one as more of a challenge than anything else.


    I see, Ste said. So, because of his time spent with and around nah, he was drawn to Lyra and decided to make her hispanion. I guess that isnt such a coincidence after all. How many dragonkin were in the trial?


    Hundreds, Derek said. Im sure there was probably more than a single dragonkin with psyonic or other mental-type abilities, so him choosing her is still a bit of good luck. It seems that you never really know what kind of personality a bonded beast is going to have until after the fact, he exined, thinking that he would have never been able to guess what Silvi was going to turn out like. Then again, most of the dragonkin were your basic earth, fire, wind, and water elements. Even Blitz was a fire wyvern before Edgar bonded with it.


    I can understand that. You see those elements in sses much more often than you see others. It was lucky that Lyra was even among the others, Ste said as they grew closer to the kennel. Speaking of Lyra, what did the two of you talk about, anyway? she asked Derek.


    Youre right that Lyra is smart We were talking about bonds and what would be best for the remaining dragonkin once all the ones that are already spoken for are taken. She seems to have a very good understanding of bonds based on what limited information she has, Derek answered. What about you? What did the two of you discuss?


    We talked mostly about Avery, actually. We seem to have the same opinion on him, Ste replied with a half-chuckle. But I also asked her what she thought I should do regarding the dragonkinwhether I should bond with one or not, and when I should bond with one if I choose to do so.


    And what did she say? Derek leaned in to asked, he was interested in Lyras take on the question. She had already told him that she thought Ste would make a goodpanion for one of her kin. So he wondered what she had told Ste. If she were to ask Derek, then he would most likely tell her to go for it. He hadnt regretted bonding with Silvi at all.


    She told me not to rush into things, she replied.


    What do you mean?


    Well she said that it may be possible for me to tame one of the amphithere right now if I really wanted to and was willing to put in the effort. She also said that she would watch over me if I tried, so I wouldnt need to worry about things going badly. But she also thought that it would be best if I waited until I was stronger.


    She told me about the ss upgrade from epic to legendary that Avery received, even though he was already at max level. That was something I didnt know was possible. As I am right now, Im closing in on my final upgrade. I actually would have most likely hit it while partying with Rayna and the others, if not for the war. Im not sure if my epic ss will get that upgrade at level 200 to legendary, but odds are that it wont, she exined.


    Oh, I see, Derek said. So if you dont get the legendary ss upgrade


    Then I may be able to bond with one of the dragonkin like Avery did sometime after I hit level 250. Now, Avery has been level 250 for a long time, so I would need to work on my skills and such for a while after I hit it before I tried, to get the best chance possible, but its an option that I didnt have before, Ste exined. Before, I was more than happy with an epic ss of my own so early on in my levelinglike Avery. But now, it seems like there are more possibilities that I hadnt imagined.


    Maybe youll get a legendary upgrade when you hit level 200 and you wont have to worry about it, Derek said. I dont know how long its been since you reached yourst ss upgrade level, but Im sure you have leveled up tons of skills since theneven if they are supplementary ones to do with cooking and management. You never know what the system is going to see and reward you if thats how it works.


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    Maybe, Ste replied with a sigh. But I doubt it. I think that my focus on all the other skills may actually hinder my chances of getting a legendary ss. Its not like that rarity is easy toe by. If it were, then you would see more than a few people each generation with the rarity, but you dont. Actually, since you appeared here, there have been a lot of strange things happeninglike Avery getting an upgrade or Walter being let out of his familys soul contract. You certainly bring interesting situations with you.


    I dont know about that, Derek said. But I dont think all those other skills you have will hurt your chances in any way. I think that youll be given a lot of new options for entirely different sses instead, and maybe even some hybrid choices from your life skills andbat skills. Like a Combat ountant or something.


    Yeah, Ste snorted. Crunching numbers and monsters all at the same time.


    Exactly, Derek replied with augh. You have thebat part, which is something you said you really enjoy and are good at, then you have the management part, which is something that I <em>know </em>youre amazing at. I dont see why something like a hybrid upgrade cant be a possibility.


    Who knows? Ste said. Once nah gets back and everything is back to normal again, Ill have to work on getting my level and otherbat skills up.


    I would offer to power level you, but you know the importance of focusing on your skills first, Derek said.


    I do, Ste said. You dont have to worry about me, she continued. Ive had the path Im going to take nned for some time now. I may need to adjust it some, now that were allied with the other kingdoms. I imagine that will bring ess to a ton of dungeons that I didnt have before, and Im not afraid to lean on nah to get that ess.


    Nor should you be, Derek said. In a world like this, you have to do what you can to grow powerful, or youll be left behind or left for deadneither of those options are good.


    Within reason, Ste corrected. You dont want to end up like Gerald Torith or hisckeys.


    Well, yeah, Derek replied. That goes without saying.


    The two continued walking for a short amount of time, until they finally arrived at the stable areas for the dragonkin. The first set of stables held the smaller dragonkinthe amphithere. Once again, Derek marveled at the ck obsidian-like material used to create the stables. This time, he remembered to use Identify, and he received the name of the material: Shadowsteel.


    Wow, Ste said from the side. The Walking Forge really went all out with these stables, didnt he?


    Why do you say that? Derek asked.


    This entire thing is made of equal parts Shadowsteel and Abyssal Iron, she exined. Do you remember the Dragon-Formed Obsidian that our buildings in Savannah are made out of? she asked.


    Yes? He could distinctly remember her not wanting him to punch the wall to see exactly how durable it was.


    Well, these two materials are around two tiers higher than that, Ste said while shaking her head. The Shadowsteel had amazing durability against magical damage, and the Abyss Iron is the same, except for physical damage. I always wondered how rich The Walking Forge was, and this just makes me even more curious.


    Huh Derek ran his hand over the Shadowsteel and was surprised that, though it looked pretty rough, it actually felt like smooth ss. It makes sense, he said. Tyrons at the point where he only makes weapons for trades instead of money. And, he goes out and gathers a lot of his materials himself because of how powerful he is inbat, Derek continued. Its not hard to imagine him finding veins of amazing ores and other materials and just mining it. <em>It will be even easier now that he has Rocky with him, </em>he thought.


    I guess Ste muttered as she, too, felt of the materials in front of her.


    Plus, Derek started. Its not like hes not going to be getting all of this stuff back. These dragonkin arent going to be held here indefinitely or anything. In fact, there are only two beasts that arent already spoken for, and I dont think it will be hard to find someone to bond with one.


    Thats true. Ste nodded her head, then moved around the stable to the front, where she could finally see the amphithere resting inside. Thats interesting, Ste said as she looked upon a winged serpent.


    What is?


    It seems rxed, she said. Like its perfectly fine with being captured.


    Lyra actually exined all that to me before, Derek said. He then went on to tell Ste about the dragonkin all basically being newborns and infants, and how they were all just living by their instincts at this point. So, the only thing they really want or need is food, and they are getting that in droves.


    That is interesting, Ste said. That also makes dungeon breaks, and monsters that slip out just before a break, make more sense. With a dungeon break, the monsters just attack everything they seeno real thought involved. Its different from say a beast thats been living in a forest or something for multiple years.


    Exactly, Derek agreed. Now, was there a dragonkin that you had on your mind that you may want to bond with? he asked. Avery thought you would want an amphithere, like Lyra, so thats what we captured for you, but there is also a drake that isnt taken. It also doesnt seem like nah has any ns to bond with the wyvern she tamed. I dont know how those contracts work, but I guess it would be possible for you to bond with that if nah really chooses not to.


    Im not sure if I would be able to even bond with a wyvern without already having a legendary ss, Ste said. At least, it would be much harder, maybe even impossible, for me to do.


    Thats true, Derek said.


    From there, Ste walked through all the stables with Derek following her. They caught the eye of Lindsay, but the Beast Tamer only nodded at him and didnte over. Finally, after looking at the biggest beastthe wyvern that was captured for Brandithey stopped.


    Theres only one wyrm? Ste asked.


    Yeah, Derek said. We didnt get too many of those. Just RockyTyrons bondand a nature element, one that would be easy for Jacks to fight and contract with if he wants it. Which is why that was the only one you saw. Of course, you could talk with Jacks or Rayna, or even Brandi if you wantedyou all dont have to settle for the dragonkin that we picked out for you. You may find that the wyrm suits you and Jacks may like the amphithere, who knows?


    They really are magnificent beasts, Ste said.


    Yup, Derek replied. Just like Blitz.


    But I truly dont know, Ste said. Ill have to talk with nah once she gets back. I am definitely leaning toward the amphithere, though.


    I know what you mean, Derek said. Lyra really leaves an impression, doesnt she?


    Yes, Ste said as she turned her head to where the massive winged serpent was resting outside. Yes, she does.