The Achievement Junkie

"A Winged Serpent… Not bad at all."

"Oh, I haven't seen any of those for a few centuries," Tralon stated. "Due to them having six wings, their unique, scale-like feathers became an item of great luxury during the initial period of peace following the Godly War. They're extremely endangered and cost a fortune for a single beast."

"Are there any laws or rulings that wouldn't allow Kims to have one?" asked Jack.

"In this case, no. The laws were mostly placed over the region where you'll find their natural habitat, in Barzdol. They control what you take into the area and what you bring out. But since you've got some hidden away in here, nothing can stop him from holding one," Tralon explained. "And if anyone dares to confront Kims about it, his new position in the Leisure Guild will help protect him as we're known for being ancient and unique throughout the continent."

"And now that we've got three men over lv. 60 and are reopening the ancient vault, the Leisure Guild's level of influence should again rival a kingdom or even the Trodan Council," Vixus remarked. "Why else would I agree to join? Maybe if it was just me and Tralon I would've disagreed, but with Kims joining then it became too advantageous of an offer to turn down."

"I'm just glad you see things clearly and can be dealt with like a proper businessman. If not, things would've gotten dicey back there," Jack joked, nudging Vixus with his elbow. "It also helped that we've still got some of Vixus Senpai's old stuff in the vault."

"That's the main reason I agreed, sure, but finding this… I'm amazed to find such rare beasts thriving so freely!"

"I'm sure that there are still many rare beasts like this in similar situations, locked up or sealed away in hidden dungeons across Kartonia. One day, I'm sure someone will open them up again," commented Jack. "Look at Kims go!"

Everyone turned their attention back to the one-armed swordsman, surprised to see him still hanging on after five minutes.

"Kims, do you need any assistance?" Vixus shouted.

"This one will be my companion so stay out of it!"

The party laughed as Vixus sighed. They kept watching the show for another five minutes, amazed to see Kims hold out so long with just one arm.

The Winged Serpent also started to notice that something was different.

Being born within the dungeon was a bit different than being raised outside. That Winged Serpent was lv. 64, not the strongest of his kind within the dungeon but still respectable among his peers in terms of strength. There was still the concept of prey and predator, but there was relative peace between the strongest species as they were placed in different regions of the floor since day one of the dungeon. In reality, the sky floor had developed more into a thriving ecosystem than a dungeon for grinding.

Also, this Winged Serpent had never met a human before and didn't know what this thing was that had climbed onto its back. All it knew was that it felt threatened and tried to buck the unusual beast.

However, after failing to throw the strange beast for ten minutes, the Winged Serpent no longer felt threatened. Whenever it looked back to the creature clinging to its wing the serpent could sense something in the creature's eyes. That Winged Serpent began to feel the respect that Kims had for it and eventually started to develop mutual respect for the strange creature's determination and strength.

Kims refused to attack the beast. He simply held tightly and waited.

The party was forced to patiently stand-by, wondering how things would play out and if Kims could somehow tame such a beast.

"Join me outside." Kims smiled back to the beast between his heavy breaths. "Outside you'll be able to fly freely wherever you want."

Perplexed, the five-meter long beast slowed and squinted back at to Kims. It hissed, wanting to somehow communicate with Kims but finding itself unable.

'Let's go outside and race!'

As a voice echoed in the serpent's mind, it started to look about for the source. That's when it noticed Bowzer below. The Winged Serpent began to descend as it conversed with the fox. 'This outside… What is it?'

'Outside is a world so big that you can go anywhere!' Bowzer happily replied with a nod. 'There you'll be able to fly as high as you want and go wherever you want.'

'As high as I want?' The Winged Serpent hovered above the ground and stared longingly at the false sky above its head. 'What must I do to go to this outside?'

'Join us on our journey! We'll take you there. Just make a seal between you and Kims on your back.'

'Kims? Is that what you call these creatures?'

'No, they're humans. Kims is that one's name,' corrected Bowzer. 'My human's name is Jack and yours will be Kims. That way you can come outside with us and travel like I do.'

'Oh… Is that what this Kims is attempting to do? To persuade me to join it?' the Winged Serpent questioned, quite curious about these humans and this outside with no limit to the sky.

Jack and the others easily noticed that some kind of exchange was going on between the fox and the serpent. It was obvious as they kept sharing looks and nodding to one another. But even in that, Kims held firmly to the Winged Serpent, not relaxing for even a moment.

'Will I be limited or contained in any way in this outside?'

'Sometimes you'll be placed inside a ring for a short time, but that also depends on your human. If they really like you, then you'll be able to stay out all the time.'

The serpent blinked, taking Bowzer's words to heart. 'And someone with your bloodline dares to work with these humans?'

'I'm glad to be with Jack, he's great! We travel and work together every day, what else can I ask for?' Bowzer laughed.

'Then… I think I'm willing to try going to this outside. But I refuse to be placed in this ring or any sort of containment unfairly,' reasoned the serpent.

'What's your name?'

'Ssildro.'

'Okay, Ssildro, I'll talk with my human about that.' Bowzer then turned to Jack, grabbing the party's attention. 'Jack, Ssildro wants to go outside and will go with Kims, but he doesn't want to be contained or stored away.'

Jack chuckled and nodded before he looked up and shouted, "Hey, Kims! Bowzer said that the serpent wants to go outside with you, but it hates being contained."

"Then I will never contain it," Kims replied immediately, not wavering in the least. "With my new background, I'll just be called another lunatic from the Leisure Guild, so why not?"

"Great, then come on down! Bowzer will tell Ssildro," Jack laughed.

While Kims carefully released the serpent's wing and hopped back onto what could be called ground, Bowzer told Ssildro the good news, putting a smile on the serpent's face.

Ssildro then descended fully, laying himself across the ground and folding its six great wings against its body. Amazingly, the wings became relaxed and flexible enough to allow Ssildro to coil his five-meter long body like a common cobra.

Jack took out a brush and ink, readying himself to create a seal. "Bowzer, inform Ssildro about the sealing process and that it will be mutual. That way both Ssildro and Kims will be able to communicate with each other."

As Bowzer explained some things, Ssildro nodded and lowered his head toward Jack. It was very trusting of Bowzer, or more specifically of Bowzer's powerful bloodline.

After a few minutes of careful brushwork, Jack finished his part and allowed Kims and Ssildro to finish it with their blood. Now, Kims was finally relaxed and smiling, especially once he heard Ssildro's voice in his head.

'I can call you Kims, yes? I'm Ssildro. I hope we can take care of each other. If not, then I'll eat to increase my level.'

'Ssildro, you have my respect and my promise to take care of you. Whatever you want, just say it and I'll make sure to offer it.' Kims bowed to the beast, not at all intimidated by the threat. He was glad to find the serpent had such an attitude and was curious how it would be on a battlefield.