Undisclosed Location

10:20 p.m. 19th Banem 1092.

*cough* *cough*

Hektor wheezed and coughed as he crumbled to the ground, bloodied right arm, desperately clutching onto a bone spear. The young warrior felt like he'd just been steamrolled by a herd of rhinos, unable to move a single muscle.

"Your basics are lacking, but with time we can fix that."

Hektor trembled and groaned as he looked up at the stone-faced sword spirit. The young man eye's shook with equal parts fear and anticipation. Throughout the fight, the sword spirit had kept its strength similar to his, but Hektor lost terribly nonetheless. However, despite his loss, the warrior could feel himself getting 'faster'. It wasn't so much speed, as it was his judgment. He was slowly getting better at judging incoming attacks and responding in the appropriate manner.

"Rest time's over," Razz the sword spirit announced, causing Hektor to wince. Razz waved its hand, and a vial flew out of the mountain of corpses. It tossed the bottle to Hektor, and then ordered, "Heal up."

Hektor wanted to cry, but no tears would come out. This Razz was a real slave driver! Even the instructors in the army known for their unreasonable strictness were no match for this embodiment of evil training! Groaning, Hektor took the vial that hand landed on his chest, and poured its contents into his mouth.

Hektor's face scrunched up as he swallowed the disgusting potion, but his expression soon softened to bliss as the healing potion worked its magic. The warrior's injuries quickly healed at a visible rate, and his lifeforce was replenished, becoming even more vibrant than before.

Hektor stared at the empty vial, and then at the mountain of corpses. Just where did these people come from? In Destia, potions these potent were very rare, and difficult to come across, but it seemed every corpse here had at least ten or more of these on them. They must have brought them expecting a tough battle. Unfortunately, they perished before even getting a chance to use them.

Not that Hektor was complaining. The corpses' loss was his gain. He now had a near endless supply of potions, which allowed him to continue his training with the sword spirit. Of course, him needing the potions, also meant that he continuously had to fall into near-death level of injuries.

Hektor bemoaned his bad luck, but still rose to his feet with a vibrant look in his eyes. Even if it hurt like hell, as long as he got stronger, he would go on till the end. The young warrior gripped his bone spear, gaze brimming with battle intent as he said, "I'm ready."

Razz looked at the young warrior with interest. It seemed this child's will was stronger than most. "Put down the spear. I am done testing the limits of your basics. We will continue training after this."

Hektor looked at Razz with a doubtful gaze, but complied with the order. He set the spear on the ground and then asked, "What are we doing?"

Razz asked as he stabbed its sword into the earth, "What is the difference between a Summoned and Resident's methods of gaining strength?"

Hektor's brow rose, not understanding the point of the question, but looking into Razz's cold, red eyes, Hektor did not dare question him for fear of joining the corpses. Luckily, as part of the Hopeful Maggots, he had come to understand a lot about how Summoned gained their strength. The young man sucked in his breath and then looked up at the sword spirit. "Summoned grow stronger by killing monsters and completing quests. They gain something they call Experience Points which helps them cross levels. With each level, their strength increases."

"There are a few details missing, but that is indeed the general idea," Razz commented, and then said, "What about Residents. How do we gain strength?"

"Through Breathing and Meditation techniques," Hektor answered. "Our strength increases through each level breakthrough. Sometimes we hit a bottleneck, and need to engage in battle to push through to the next level. Oh, and stronger breathing techniques increase our strength gain in each level breakthrough."

Ki warriors utilized breathing techniques to increase their strength and ki, whereas mages used meditation techniques to increase their mana. Some techniques had specialties in certain fields, like Agility, or an element, thereby boosting that particular field.

Techniques, like weapons and armor, were ranked from Common to Legendary, plus the enigmatic Divine. Most residents practiced Common breathing techniques, which was why bandits were usually so weak. Every now and then someone might get their hands on an Uncommon technique and become a local tyrant. Bandit leaders were usually this sort.

Royal families usually gave their most trusted Knights rare techniques to practice, keeping the Epic grade for themselves and their most trusted bodyguards. Legendary techniques were few and far between on the continent, and those who found them usually became akin to small gods.

As soldier recruit, Hektor was taught an uncommon technique. On its own, he should not have gotten as strong as he currently was, but sometimes someone of extreme talent could pull out more from a technique than others could.

Froy's technique which turned his entire body into flames was an example of an epic grade technique. Unfortunately, the man himself was not talented enough to draw out the full extent of the skill, and as such his life ended prematurely.

Hektor ran through all these thoughts in the blink of an eye, and then asked, "Why are you asking? Everyone knows this."

"Because I need to correct a misconception you have," Razz stated. "There's no difference between how a Resident and Summoned grows in strength... Apart from the quests. And even then, if you join a Summoned's party, you too can benefit from the quests. But that is beside the point." The sword spirit shook its head and then continued, "Right now, you see battling as a way to breakthrough bottlenecks, but let me ask you, have you ever experienced a bottleneck since meeting Kashi?"

Hektor froze, wondering how this spirit knew about Kashi. But then he recalled that Rider brought him here, and that man had a strange relationship with the daeben. Thus, Hektor attributed the sword spirit's knowledge to Rider and pushed the matter to the back of his head as he refuted, "No. Now that I think about it, I haven't."

"What's your current level?"

"152," Hektor honestly answered.

"What was your level when you met Kashi?"

"Just above 30."

Razz raised his brow as he looked at Hektor. "Do you know why your level has risen so rapidly in the past year?"

"Isn't it cause of the mana increase?" Hektor challenged with a confused frown. "I heard everyone's leveling faster ever since the Summoned arrived."

"There is indeed that," Razz admitted with a nod. "However, the most important reason is that you've spent most of the past year in battles. Residents are yet to realize this, but constant battling greatly shortens the time taken to reach the next level. Also, the constant exertion draws more out of your exercises, which in turn squeezes out more strength through each level."

Hektor's eyes widened as realization dawned. "Is that why I've been getting stronger so quickly?"

"Yes, it is." Razz stated with a nod. "This world is fair. Residents have just as much opportunity as Summoned to grow stronger. In fact, on average, Residents should be stronger than Summoned."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because Summoned practice the most common breathing technique, and as a result, their strength increase remains stagnant for the rest of their lives," Razz revealed. "This is why most Summoned need to form parties to take on Uncommon technique practitioners like bandit bosses and army generals." Razz folded his hand and then said, "But like I said, the world is fair. Summoned can close the gap by either practicing breathing techniques they find in this world, or by engaging in numerous battles without dampening the pain or relying heavily on their system's assistance. Either of the two increases their power outside their regular, static level increases. These are the kind of people who eventually become 'monsters' among the Summoned."

Hektor paused as he thought of Kashi, Syèl and Shokō. After a few moments, he looked at Razz and despondently said, "So, if I want to close the gap with those monsters, I need to find an Epic or higher breathing technique and fight nonstop?"

"Exactly," Razz stated. "As it stands now, even if I beat all my fighting skills into you, a Summoned at the lieutenant level would still pummel you to the ground with their superior stats.

Hektor frowned and then glared at Razz, "Why are you telling me this? Do you think it'll make me give up? Tch, so what if my breathing technique is the lowest of Uncommon techniques?" Hektor's voice rose, bright red eyes burning with passion. "I'll just have to work harder than the Summoned then. If I'm ten levels ahead, I can put up a fight can't I?"

"Sometimes, hard work is not enough," Razznik rebuked. "Sometimes, all the hard work in the world can't prevent the inevitable from occurring."

"I don't believe you," Hektor refuted. "I'm only here because I never gave up when clearing the floors above. I would've died if I gave up for even a moment up there!"

"Maybe so," Razz agreed, but then added, "But it still does not change the fact that no matter how hard you train with your current technique, you will never be able to stand side by side with Kashi on the battlefield. You are still too weak for him to entrust his back to you, and you will forever be at this rate."

"..." For the first time, Hektor faltered, having been struck where it hurt the most. The young warrior's eyes brimmed with tears, gaze hot as he angrily shouted out his frustration. "Ya tink I dun know dat! Why d'ya tink I came here in da first place! I almost died! Many times I almost died! Over and Over again! My bones broken, bleeding all over. Still I don't give up! Because I thought it would get me closer to him, even if just a little. I've come dis far. Endured so much! And yer gonna tell me it's for nothing! I'm never gonna be someone he trusts! Ya think I came all dis way for dis!?"

Razz listened, gaze straight, as the young man screamed out his inner fears through a curtain of tears. It waited for Hektor to cool down and then said, "Good. It is important that you know the reality, before attempting to shatter it."

Hektor blinked back hot tears as he glared at the sword spirit. "What?"

"I am saying, you need to be aware of just how difficult the task you wish to undertake is, before you begin to embark on the quest." Razz said as it raised its right hand to prevent Hektor from speaking. "I will now teach you the Dragoon Breathing Technique. This is classless technique currently only practiced by one soul on Destia."

Hektor quickly wiped his tears, ears perking up in excitement. Any technique from this sword spirit had to be something extraordinary. However, the term classless quickly caught his attention. "Classless?"

"Yes, classless," Razznik stated. "It's class depends on the type of dragon you bond with. A regular dragon will result in a strength slightly stronger than an Uncommon technique, but a Divine dragon will result in a Divine technique. It's that kind of technique."

Hektor's excitement rapidly deflated as he realized a damning truth. "I do not have a dragon though. This technique is useless to me."

"Do not worry about that," Razz stated and then drew the sword. It cleaved through the air with the sword, someone tearing open a hole in space itself. The sword spirit reached into the hole and pulled out an egg larger than a man's head, pulsating with tremendous life-energy. "I have been holding onto this for this exact moment."

Razz held out the egg, and Hektor fearfully and carefully accepted it. The young man gazed at the egg with shock and wonder as he felt the powerful life force brimming within the egg.

Unbeknownst to Hektor, Razz' eyes turned somber and solemn as it regarded the egg. However, the sword spirit's gaze returned to its steely state a few moments later as Hektor raised his gaze. "I will now teach you how to form a pact with a dragon. Once this pact is formed, the two of you will share life and death together. You will gain some of the skills of a dragon, while it will learn empathy and the ways of the world from you. You will watch over each other, and face everything this world has to offer side by side. You will never betray your pact, and one day, you will come to view this dragon as more than a powerful ally, but a true friend you can rely on."

Hektor nodded. "I understand."

Razz regarded the young man. It could see that Hektor did not fully grasp the severity and importance of a pact. But Razz knew that Hektor would understand in time, and thus he continued, "In that case..."

Razz proceeded to teach Hektor how to form a bond with a dragon. As usual, it involved a bit of bloodletting, magic symbols and chants.

Hektor pricked his thumb with the spear and then used the bloodied finger to draw a magic circle according to the sword spirit's instructions on the egg. He then placed his palm on the symbol and made a solemn vow. "If you would accept me, I Hektor, son of Fontaine and Nasil, solemnly swear to give you my life. My will shall be your will, as your will shall be mine. I shall respect and honor you as family, and never harm you of my own volition. Should I break this vow, shall I be struck dead by the heavens."

Hektor winced as a bright red glow emanated from the egg. It grew brighter with each passing moment, and soon, Hektor began to feel his hand being pushed from the egg as if it was rejecting him. At that moment, a massive tattoo running up Hektor's right arm lit up with blazing flames.

The egg seemed pleased with the strength emitted by the god's mark as it suddenly stopped pushing the young warrior's hand. The blinding glow suddenly enveloped the hall, forcing Hektor to shut his eyes. Seconds later, it disippated, revealing the egg sitting in place, but with a new mark on its shell.

Hektor looked at his palm, and saw the same mark on it. However, he did not have time to ponder on its meaning as a terrible force suddenly crashed through his bloodstream. The young man let out a panicked shout as he fell to the floor, clutching his chest.

Hektor's heart felt like it had gone into overdrive, pumping out blood ten times faster than normal. What's worse, the blood it pumped was hotter and more ferocious, tearing through his body like a lava tsunami.

"Good," Razz praised as he watched Hektor writhing on the ground. "You convinced the dragon to accept you. Now, you must be feeling all sorts of pain. Do not worry. This is the dragon's ki and mana reshaping your body to fit the requirements of a Dragon Knight. I'll teach you the Dragoon Breathing Technique when this is over."

Hektor's eyes trembled as he gasped for breath. "How long?"

Razz's eyes flashed as the slightest hint of a smile tugged the edge of his lips. "Three days minimum. Try not to die, kid..."

A/N: A bit of insight into how Residents level up. It's something I've been asked a couple of times but never got the chance to answer in the story, mostly cause it revolves mostly around Summoned protags.

Also, Hektor's power increase is finally coming! But what is that dragon, and why did the heartless(?) Razz have such a reaction to it? 

Many questions to be answered in the upcoming battle arc.