You should entertain me. Let me enjoy myself, for I am….
…
"I still think Madara would solo!" Jude insisted, voice rising with the fervor of a true believer as he gestured wildly with a half-eaten chip.
"There's a difference between delusion and stupidity, and you're teetering on stupidity." Kai's voice was flat, unamused, his eyes never leaving the game controller in his hands.
"Okay, no insulting Madara stans here." Zeke stepped in, tone lazy but firm, effectively cutting off the brewing rage before he had to slap Kai's head off. The cozy, game-lit living room seemed to hold its breath.
Nobody insults Madara.
Even when the previous line was a little delusional.
And Madara solos
It had been a week since the dungeon raid. Now they were lounging in his mansion's plush media room, air thick with the scent of pizza and cheap soda, arguing about power scaling fictional characters.
Kai just had to mention JJK
Jude hates JJK. In his words: Sukuna is a ripoff of Madara, aura farming his way to kitkating Gojo.
As for Zeke, he gave no opinion—after all, these were rants from noobs. He just enjoyed the chaos from his recliner, a faint, amused smirk playing on his lips.
…
After looting the boss room, they'd left the dungeon, the bright surface world a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness they'd endured. Upon emerging, they were met with the imposing figure of the White Fang Guild Head—Mr. Jae Min, his expression unreadable but his presence a weight of its own.
The White Fang Guild chose to share 15% of the spoils with the Avalon Guild—a political move that tasted of both victory and compromise. Three days later, the dungeon stabilized into a B-Rank permanent fixture, its chaotic energy settling into a manageable hum.
A normal occurrence for any dungeon ranked S and beyond. After clearing one, if lucky, it becomes permanent with a rating of A-Rank or below. All depends on luck.
And the White Fang Guild had lady luck on their side this time.
As for the event of a dragon appearing in a dungeon—only the participants and the higher-ups of both guilds were granted clearance, the truth sealed behind layers of secrecy and non-disclosure agreements.
…
After the battle, Zeke made it his—or rather, Zero's—job to find all information about dragons. It was the perfect avenue for Zero to slip into full professor mode, his digital voice taking on a lecturing cadence.
According to Zero, a True Dragon bloodline starts from having an S-Ranked dragon trait—that alone makes them different from every other creature. With an S-Ranked trait, they're guaranteed to reach 2000 stat points upon adulthood, as well as a lesser version of the buffs Karys had.
For SS-Ranked dragon traits, they're guaranteed 10,000 stat points at adulthood.
And for the overpowered SSS-Ranked trait, one is guaranteed infinite stat capacity and potential—only stopped by death.
Which is where the age limitation comes in.
Dragons have stages of growth, or age gaps: Hatchling, Youngling, Elder, Ancient.
Hatchlings have a limit of 800 stat points and a rank cap of S-Rank—from birth to 100 years.
Youngling, the stage Karys occupies, spans 100 to 1000 years, with a limit of S-Rank and 2000 stats.
Elders, from 1000 to 10,000 years, with a limit of 10,000 stat points and an SS-Rank cap.
Ancients, from 10,000 onwards, have no theoretical limit and reach SSS-Rank.
For lesser-ranked traits, they only have the luxury of being associated with dragons.
…
There have been only two recorded cases of dragons appearing outside the Towers.
The first occurred during a dungeon outbreak—an SSS-Ranked catastrophe. From the records and Zero's speculation, it was a dragon with only an S-Ranked dragon trait. It was classified as an SSS-Ranked monster; for it to have been killed, even with massive sacrifices, meant it was on the weaker end of the dragon spectrum.
The second appearance was recorded by a hunter/tower climber who encountered a talking SSS-Ranked monster in the Danger Zones.
It was the dragon he'd met.
Cliché indeed.
…
"I'm going back to the Tower." Yeon's voice cut through the comfortable banter, carrying a note of grim determination.
"You too?" Zeldris raised an eyebrow.
Zeldris had come to crash their gathering, his massive frame filling the doorway as he waited to announce his own departure—only to be preempted by Yeon's timing. A flicker of annoyance crossed his features.
"I wonder how different the Tower is, that makes you want to run there searching for a power-up." Zeke offered a teasing, knowing smile.
If it wasn't for Yeon announcing her departure, he would've asked Zeldris why he felt the need to announce his to them. They definitely weren't friends.
But he couldn't be biased.
"How would you know what desperation is?" Zeldris retorted, pride still clearly bruised.
"You're right. I can't empathize with the weak."
"You fool." Yeon chided, though she couldn't quite hide her small, appreciative smile at the jab aimed at Zeldris.
"Hmph. When will you begin your Tower climb?" Zeldris asked, changing the subject.
"When they're ready." Zeke pointed a lazy thumb toward the trio, who watched the exchange with keen interest. "I'm only climbing the Tower if they climb it. You should entertain me. Let me enjoy myself, for I am…."
He said the last part looking directly at the trio, a wide, manic grin spreading across his face.
"Your strength won't matter much in the Tower." Zeldris snorted derisively as he turned and walked away, footsteps heavy on the marble floor.
"How do you live with the cope?" Zeke laughed, calling after the retreating S-Ranker.
Then he turned to Yeon, expression softening just a fraction. "So you're leaving. Don't die there. And you should try to learn swordsmanship—emulate Zoro, even a teeny tiny bit." He joked as he spread his arms wide in theatrical preparation for a hug.
"Stfu." Yeon's voice lacked its usual bite as she stepped forward and embraced Zeke—a brief but genuine moment of connection amid their chaos.
"I hope you only find stale bread as revenge for all the times you forced me to cook for you."
"Awwn." The trio cooed in unison, earning a glare from Yeon.
"It seems these little ones need a little sisterly love." Yeon pulled away from the embrace and faced the trio, cracking her knuckles with a predatory smile.
"Arrggh!" They screamed in mock terror, scrambling over each other as they bolted through the spacious mansion.
{Is this a shipping I smell on the way?} Zero's voice chimed in Zeke's mind, dripping with digital glee.
"Your mom." Zeke shot back internally, a reluctant grin tugging at his lips as he watched the chaotic, familiar scene of his found family unfold.