CH 470

Only Haky and a Rider could fight the Gatekeeper.

"So only Haku can go past here?"

Allen asked, just to make sure. He remembered some bosses having conditions in games too.

Some required the main character to be in the party, or others were only for the rest.

The Gates of Trials had similar conditions.

'Yes, as there's no Rider with him. The Gate of Claw is quite lenient though, an infantile dragon should put up a good fight'

Apparently the first Gatekeeper was weak.

"A good fight? So you think he can win?"

'He'll probably lose. No infantile dragon has ever gotten through the Gate of Claw.'

"Can he try again if he loses?"

'That's not usually allowed.'

"He can't?! Then he shouldn't fight! I won't let that happeeen!!!!"

Kurena stepped in on their conversation.

She sounded protective over Haku.

(Haku is still an infantile, he'll only grow up after 100 years.)

Dragons could live up to thousands of years, but it also took them a long time to grow up.

"We've been here for almost a month! Why didn't you tell us sooner!!"

Cecile was also riled up. She was trying to hit Megadeth, the servant of a God, so Sophie had to hold her back.

Allen noticed Megadeth grinning at Cecile, and there had to be a reason for that..

"Why did you guide us all the way here?"

(Even if he manages to defeat the Gatekeeper, the next ones will be impossible.)

Haku had just reached Level 60. His Skill could grow a bit, but he did not carry weapons or armor, so he would not get much stronger soon.

'Mm…well, I just assumed the Dragon King had already told you.'

Megadeth's playful attitude was still present.

"So what will you do for us now?"

Allen felt like Megadeth was going to offer something. His eyes slowly moved to Kurena.

'Hmmm, if you want I could make one of you a Rider. How about Kurena?'

The servant of the God of Space and Time could conduct a Talent Change.

"Really?! We can fight together then! Do it!!"

Kurena's mood took a complete turn.

"Could you explain exactly what becoming a Rider entails?"

Allen did not want to make any rash decisions.

'It's just giving her the Dragoon Talent. Humans can get that one too, so it's simple.'

That Talent only appeared in one of ten million humans. Ten times less than amongst dragonkin.

"How does it compare to a Talent like Sword Saint?"

Allen assumed it had to be close to a 3 Star Talent considering its rarity.

'It's rare, but it's only comparable to Swordsman.'

(1 Star, so Kurena would lose 4 Stars.)

That would be really disadvantageous for Kurena.

"Just in case then, can she turn back to Sword Emperor after the fight?"

(He seems intent on nerfing Kurena, is there a reason for that?)

Allen was hoping it would be a momentary change for the fight.

'No, she'll become a Dragoon Knight.'

"Umm, what?"

The reply was not what Allen expected, Dragoon Knight was a 2 Star Talent.

Megadeth explained a bit more in detail what being a Rider entailed.

'As I told you before, these gates were placed for a dragon to enter the Divine Realm.'

"Yes."

Allen listened attentively to not misunderstand anything, knowing this had to be important.

'Every gate you cross brings you closer to the Divine Realm, and also awakens a new power.'

There was a bigger reward than a piece to open the Gate of Judgement.

"A new power?"

'Put simply, Haku will become a species more powerful than a White Dragon, and the Dragoon will become a Dragoon Knight.'

"I see."

Conquering a Gate rewarded the Challenger and Rider with more power.

That was a bigger reward than that given to Helpers like Allen and the rest.

The White Dragon could go up 3 species by crossing the Gates.

The Rider could undergo 3 Talent Changes.

That meant Kurena would end with a 4 Star Talent, one less than her current one.

'So what's your choice?'

"Hmm…"

Allen usually gave instant replies, but now he was lost.

"I'll become a Dragoon!!"

But Kurena gave a loud and energetic reply.

"Wait, hold on."

Allen tried to stop her. He had been in such situations countless times in games.

He had failed many times by making hasty choices without knowing enough.

Since sometimes a Skill or Talent could not be changed, he had needed to create new characters from scratch many times.

He even had to give up characters with names he was attached to sometimes.

But in this world such a mistake could not be amended.

Allen was still suspicious of Megadeth, and this could risk losing both Kurena and Haku.

'You know, Kurena's strength should be enough to pass the Gate of Claw. And who knows, you might obtain something even better at the next Gate.'

"Something better?"

'Yes, this isn't just a punishing trial. The Gates of Trials were made by the power of the God of Space and Time Desperado, and his wife, the Goddess of Magic Isiris.'

"Hm?"

(Oh right, I think those two gods are married.)

He had learned that while studying the Gods of this world.

It was similar to Japanese and Greek mythology, with Gods getting married and having children.

'The reward for overcoming these trials is immense.'

Megadeth had said Desperado had tasked him with watching over the trials.

Desperado already had to watch over three realms, his wife helped with that as well.

So apparently there could be items blessed by Isiris in the next levels.

Megadeth claimed Helpers like Allen could also get big rewards.

"Items from the Goddess of Magic…"

Cecile gasped.

'You're a mage, right? I think I saw an item that would fit you just perfectly~'

Isiris had created Digragni, granted magic related Talents, and was the original creator of magic devices, so her items were incredibly powerful.

"?!"

Cecile gasped even more, but then looked away in disgust, trying to hide her excitement.

(I really have to decide. Maybe he knew we would want to finish the trial and that's why he didn't say anything until now. Kurena is also in Extra Mode so…hm?)

"Will she remain as an Unbound?"

Allen almost forgot to ask something important.

He made sure to use the word Unbound, as that was how everyone called Extra Mode there.

'Of course. No one can remove the power granted from a God so easily.'

Megadeth knew Kurena was the only one in the party in Extra Mode.

But that also made Allen even more suspicious of him.

"Could summons go along with them?"

Allen asked more about the conditions to challenge the Gatekeeper.

'Summons can't go. The Gatekeeper challenges the power of only the dragon and Rider. Any form of assisting magic won't have an effect there.'

Only equipment and items could be taken to the fight.

Allen looked at his friends. Cecile and Sophie believed he would make the best choice as their leader.

'...'

"Hm? Is something the matter, Spirit King Fabre?"

Allen noticed Fabre did not look very energetic.

"Huh? Oh, um…it's nothing."

Fabre was held in Luck's arms, and just averted her gaze.

But Allen still felt like she looked strangely lonely.

"It's fine, Allen. I'll defeat the Gatekeeper with Haku."

While Allen was still looking at Fabre, Kurena beamed a smile and told Allen to let her do that.

"Are you sure you want to take all the responsibility like that?"

Kurena really wanted to do that, so Allen decided to allow it.

In part, her decision weighed more than Allen's opinion either way.

"Yeah! Just leave it to me!!"

Allen felt like it had been a long time since Kurena smiled so happily.

He felt like he had relied on her many times before, but somehow this seemed more special to her.

'Alright, I'll do the Talent Change right now before you change your mind then. Woohoo!!'

(Why is he saying woohoo all of a sudden?)

Megadeth flapped his wings, which began to glow in rainbow colors, and the same light appeared around Kurena.

Pop

"Somehow I don't feel any different. Did I really become a Dragoon?"

Kurena still looked the same.

"Yes, your Talent is Dragoon now. Also, you're back to Level 1."

Allen verified with his Grimoire.

Kurena had become a Dragoon to be able to challenge the Gatekeeper.