Seraphim Online: Afterlife

[Butterfly Effect Achieved]

‘I’m telling you guide, the amount of EXP makes the risk worth it. Turning down fourteen levels just like that for the chance of friendship is a waste of time.’

[Does Sera not realize it’s more logical to level at a steady pace? 14 skill points and not a single ability to spend them on is pointless.]

‘I’ll still get to upgrade stamina, magic and health though. Sorry guide, I’m unconvinced. We’re going to do this.’

It’s only logical to take this chance. If I’m ever to reach max level, I’ll need to do everything I possibly can to reach that goal. While this dragon remains weak, it’s the perfect time to try this.

For all I know, she could’ve spent her entire life burning down villages and causing mayhem. Not sure why I’m trying to justify it, it makes sense to act now. In future, if I need friends or allies, I’ll just have to make sure they’re EXP trash.

“You still haven’t responded, Sera. I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped, it’s just that I’m curious on who you are.”

“It’s… complicated. Look, left it long enough, but my bladder is starting to betray me. Once I’m done, I promise I’ll reveal all.”

“Oh… okay dokey then!”

For the sake of appearances, I leave my sword on the ground and casually walk on by, making my way outside the cave… or that’s how it seems.

As soon as I’m behind her, my inventory lights up. All I’ll have to do is strike and that’s it for the purple-haired woman. I may live to regret killing her, that’s a concern for another day.

[This guide STRONGLY recommends you don’t do this, Sera. The consequences will be dire when you mess this up.]

‘Advice taken, but ignored. I’ll be pissed if she’s not a dragon, Guide. Here’s hoping I get a huge sneak crit multiplier from this.’

Equipping my dagger is as easy as dragging it into the slot and it attaches to my waist. Now, one swift stab into the woman’s neck and that’ll be it. To think I’ve not even been here a day yet and I’m already resorting to killing.

And so… I do it. The knife stabs into the back of her neck, a hit capable of killing anybody. Or so it should…

‘Hang on, why the fuck is she still alive!?! I just stabbed her in the freaking neck!’

Sitting there with my dagger prodding out of her, I can’t begin to describe the blank look her face shows when she stares at me. It’s a mismatch of disappointment, despair and anger, all combined into one.

[This guide would’ve gone into more detail if you weren’t stubborn, Sera. Damage is solely based on numbers in this world. Your stats and equipment are abysmal, so even after hitting a critical area, the damage you've done barely scratches a dragon.]

‘You didn’t think to tell me this before I attacked her!?’

[This guide did inform you this is a terrible idea, but you weren’t listening. This one is on you, Sera. Embrace death because this is what you deserve.]

“*Sighhh*… thought you were different. My parents say I'm too naïve... guess they were right.”

The entire cave begins to shake while rocks fall everywhere as the hidden dragon releases her true form in a place too small to do so. The sheer power that radiates and lights up around me is astonishing, I just decided to stab that creature.

‘Oh shit… fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!’

Not even getting the chance to find my blade, the dragon’s teeth come straight for me. With no chance to flee or defend, it’s safe to say I’m fucked.

‘Argh! Why the fuck did I do this…’

__________

“So… what now? I just don’t get it! Why even bother giving me food if she was going to do that!?”

After dealing with the attacker, crunching the treacherous crimson elf to a bloody powder, the dragon just sits there in the dark with crossed arms trying to make sense of what just happened.

“So, she really was an evil otherworlder? No wonder why everyone hates them if they’re like that… hrm! I kinda liked her.”

Still wallowing in a pit of despair, depression and elven blood, the dragon eventually decides to leave this bad memory behind. Albeit, making sure to bury the place so no one will ever find the tomb that now holds the remains of the elf. Forgotten to history, it's as if she never existed...

The first destination of the solo dragon is to head to a nearby town that borders a human kingdom. Even after her brief encounter, she’s still willing to stomach the mortal species. It’s just now, immediately trusting them may be an impossibility.

‘Damn… dinner will be wolf again if I don’t get some coin.’

Money is an obvious problem for the dragon so what does she do to get by? Why, adventuring of course! A job that asks no questions, pays upon completion and is full of fun! And risks. Maybe a courier job would be the safer bet but as they say, the house always wins…

Being able to fly is a huge benefit as long as she’s able to keep her species to herself. Every quest she takes, all are completed in record time and she starts to build up a reputation. The weeks pass on by and eventually, she’s tasked with a quest taking her to the far reaches of the swamp.

‘What’s going on over there? Are those... slavers?’

While collecting several bottles of tainted water used for alchemy, a strange site catches the dragon’s eye as she sees a group of people transporting a human bound in chains by boat.

Creeping through the dense flora of the swamp, she slowly makes her approach, quiet as the first snowfall as none are wiser to the dragon.

And then, pounce! The dragon jumps straight into the path of the boat!

“I-Is that… a f-freaking dragon!?”

“Shit, I can’t swi-, *gurgle*!”

“The prisoner! We can’t afford to lose another one!”

All fall overboard, including the prisoner who can barely keep herself afloat with her arms bound behind her back.

It takes but a moment for Lena to slash her claws, crunch her jaw and swipe her tail at the surprised slavers. All are unable to defend themselves, making it as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.

With time to spare, she plucks the drowning slave out of the water and carries her away from the endless swampy river inside her mouth. Once they get to land, Lena puts the terrified woman down.

“*Cough cough cough*P-Please dragon, d-don’t eat me!”

“…”

Not knowing what to say, Lena just stares blankly at the petrified human and can’t help but roll her eyes at her.

‘What is it with humans always worrying about being eaten? Have you ever tried raw flesh? It’s disgusting!’

“*Cough*… I-I have money! P-Please, just get me home a-and you’ll have all the s-shiny coin you want.”

It just so happens, luck landed upon the adventuring dragon. The woman who she rescued just so happens to be a princess of the human kingdom…

__________

“Sister! How many years has it been since we last spoke in the same company like this? You’ve been gone for so long!”

“It’s been quite a while. Father is ill again, like usual. She the one who saved you?”

“Yes. Without her... I'd have been sent to the desert.”

The two siblings of the princess happily flock to her side upon her return, she can’t help but shrug them aside though. The youngest of the three siblings and practically an outcast, the lack of golden hair being a stereotype that unfortunately effects the princess to this day.

If she could choose, she’d rather spend her days with her saviour than continue with the constant assassination attempts that come with royalty… if the dragon would allow company. Lena walks a lonely road, the only one she has ever known…

Regardless of this, the dragon is rewarded handsomely by the king for bringing back his daughter. Chests filled with gold, property by the palace, land, servants, even an honorary knight’s role. Lena happily accepts the gifts, but could never call the kingdom home.

Unfortunately for Lena, the dragon never fully recovers her trust for mortals and decides to move on sooner rather than later. Someday, she’ll return to where she was born and even the elf's tomb, not just today though. That feeling of betrayal may take a hundred years to heal.

Even as the legendary adventurer Lena ponders to herself on top of her mountain, she still struggles to understand the reasoning behind the attack. The scar on her neck being a constant reminder.

‘Even after all these years… I still can’t forget her face…’