Chapter 35: A gift
Just a few seconds later, Carl began to feel the ground vibrating beneath his feet.
Suddenly, a dragon’s bony claw shot up from the earth and grabbed his legs, holding him back.
"What the hell is that?" Carl had reinforced his body with scales, so the dragon’s grip barely affected him, but he could tell it was strong—almost as strong as a real dragon’s claw.
He glanced at the boy, who only smiled before turning and running away.
"Tsk! So annoying." Carl broke the claw beneath him and got ready to chase, but right then, a dozen undead dragons began crawling out of the ground, surrounding him and cutting off every escape.
"Not bad," Carl smirked, charging straight into the horde. Staying to fight them here was pointless. Undead dragons wouldn’t die or be destroyed no matter what—unless he took down the summoner.
Carl darted past one of them, dropping low and sliding under its abdomen. As he moved, he cast a quick look at the creature’s skeletal frame.
It was huge—closer to a young adult dragon than a hatchling. He guessed its size depended on the summoner’s ability and mana.
"Maybe."
Then, the undead dragons had taken at least three minutes from him, during this time, Carl supposed that the slender boy had fled far distance away from him.
Carl climbed up onto a rock, then to another, scanning the area for any sign of the boy.
"There."
Carl chuckled.
The boy looked exhausted, limping as he staggered forward. Carl figured he’d burned most of his strength summoning those undead dragons.
"Still, it worked... that exit’s close. Once he gets through, I’ll never see him again in this dungeon."
But the boy had made one mistake—Carl wasn’t just some ordinary guy.
Right now, Carl had plenty of ways to stop him without breaking a sweat. He drew his sword and muttered,
"Cobb... go get him."
Carl exhaled slowly, then hurled his sword straight at the fleeing boy. The blade whistled through the air, closing the distance fast. With Carl’s throw, it finally slammed into the ground right in front of the boy’s face, making him stumble back in shock.
"Missed?" The boy gasped, then let out a shaky sigh before twisting his expression into a mocking grin. He shot Carl a taunting look from two hundred meters away.
At this rate, Carl would need at least two minutes to catch him, and the exit was already in sight.
"You bastard... I’ll take your little gift then." The boy licked his lips greedily, eyes gleaming as he examined the dark sword. It looked beautiful, mysterious—something far beyond the reach of someone like him.
A treasure meant only for those far above.
’’I’m so jealous of you, rich old man.’’ He lightly approached, ready to take it and leave before Carl could arrive.
’’It’s mine now... with your power, I’ll be stronger.’’
But as soon as the boy touched it, a darkness of clouds burst out from the handsword and, in just the blink of an eye, it materialised itself into the dragon hand. With ridiculous speed, it clamped around the boy’s throat.
’’Uhhhshhh.’’ The boy groaned in pain, struggling to pry the dragon’s claw off, but it was useless.
The grip was far too strong for such a short, worn-out boy. He felt his throat narrowly squeezed under its force.
’’D-Damn! W-Why always me?’’ The boy spat out his curse—then, after barely a minute, he lost consciousness. The boy’s body went limp and fell down.
While, Carl simply walked toward the boy, no longer worried for anything.
’’Good job, Cobb. You can return.’’ Carl arrived quickly and smiled, reclaiming his sword.
The dragon’s claw dissolved back into a dark cloud and was absorbed into the handsword again. Unfortunately, since Cobb couldn’t appear here to support him, he had to stay behind guarding Carl’s subordinate at the academy. Still, because Cobb had resonated with the sword, he could sometimes appear if Carl willed it—though there were limits.
’’Out of luck, boy,’’ Carl scoffed and assessed the good choice of what he should do at this time.
’’Now, what should I do with you? Kill you? Devour your soul?... No, that’d be pointless. I’ll make you useful to me.’’
***
Just like that, three hours passed.
In the dark corner of the cave near the forest entrance—Carl’s chosen place for his slaughter—he sat waiting.
’’Wake up, boy. I know you’re just pretending.’’ Carl’s voice was cold as he sat nearby, glancing at the boy while enjoying the chicken legs.
’’Don’t act foolish again. My sword beside you will tear you to pieces if you use even a bit of mana to flee or attack me.’’
’’Understand?’’ Carl asked... but he barely gave the boy a chance to answer before continuing.
’’Now! Sign the paper in front of you. Just use your blood and press on it. Then our deal is sealed.’’
The boy still froze and groggy, trying to open his eyes and staring at the paper.
’’A slave contract.’’ He grimaced and instantly snapped of groggy state after reading shameless conditions and asked, ’’If I refuse.’’
Carl chuckled without replying, but the boy already understood what he meant after seeing Carl’s vile expression.
’’Well, I don’t have any choice. I want to live... but I want to add one condition to our contract. If you don’t accept, I’ll just follow my wretched fate.’’
Carl raised an eyebrow.
’’Interesting. I’m listening.’’
’’You can’t stop me from suicide. Even if I want to live, I’d rather die than live like an insect.’’
Carl rubbed his chin for a moment.
’’Your wish... I agree.’’
Then Carl adjusted the contract terms a little, and the boy signed it with his blood. Their deal was sealed.
A contract that no one could destroy.
’’Okay! From now on, your name is Slave No. 1.’’
The boy frowned in discomfort.
’’Fine, then. What’s your name?’’ Carl sighed.
’’My name is Roy. Just Roy,’’ the boy answered.
Carl nodded. ’’Nice name, Roy.’’
Then he added, ’’Now, I’ll give you something. You won’t regret signing my contract.’’
From his [Inventory], Carl pulled out a cube and tossed it to Roy.
’’What is this?’’ Roy eyed the cube suspiciously, even biting it to test its quality.
Carl’s eyelids twitched at the sight.
’’Its ability boosts your dragon soul.’’