As the Speed Stinger leaned into my touch, that soft chime echoed again in my mind—clearer this time.
My vision blurred for a split second as glowing text appeared in front of me, hovering just above the dragon's back.
Notification: Bond condition met.
Dragon recognized you as a trusted partner.
First Dragon Acquired.
I froze.
My heart slammed against my chest as the panel shifted, new information filling in where there had once been empty space.
Dragon: Speed Stinger
Status: Injured (Healing)
Bond Level: 1 – Trust Established
A warm sensation spread through my chest, like something clicking into place—something right. I could feel it now. Not words, not thoughts, but a presence. The Speed Stinger wasn't just beside me anymore… it was connected to me.
I sucked in a shaky breath. "I… I think it bonded with me."
Hiccup looked up sharply. "Bonded?"
Before I could answer, the Speed Stinger lifted its head and let out a low, steady sound—not aggressive, not fearful. Protective. Its tail shifted slightly, positioning itself closer to me without even realizing it.
Hiccup stared at the dragon, then at me, disbelief flickering across his face. "That's… not normal. Speed Stingers don't do that. They barely tolerate humans."
Toothless stepped closer, sniffing the Speed Stinger once before giving a quiet, approving chuff. His ears perked up, eyes glowing faintly as if he sensed it too.
The system chimed one last time.
Warning: Dragon's pack bond detected.
Potential conflict approaching.
My excitement twisted instantly into tension.
I looked toward the open doorway, the wind carrying a distant sound—sharp, fast, and unmistakable.
Multiple sets of claws.
The pack was coming.
And this time… I wasn't just a bystander anymore.
It seemed Hiccup noticed it too—the growing sound of claws scraping against stone, fast and closing in. His expression hardened instantly, shifting from concern to action.
Without hesitation, he sprang into motion. Hiccup vaulted onto Toothless's back, gripping the saddle as the Night Fury let out a sharp, alert chirp.
"Stay here with the injured Speed Stinger!" Hiccup called over his shoulder. "I'll handle the pack. Me and the riders will keep them away from the Edge!"
Before I could respond, Toothless crouched—and then launched himself into the air. The powerful beat of his wings sent dust and loose wood scattering as he soared off into the sky.
A moment later, I heard Hiccup's voice echo across the island, loud and urgent.
"Riders! Incoming Speed Stinger pack! To the skies—now!"
The shout carried off into the distance, followed by answering calls and the familiar sounds of dragons stirring.
I stood there, heart pounding, the injured Speed Stinger pressing closer to me as the noise of the approaching pack grew louder.
Hiccup and the others were buying us time.
Which meant now… it was up to me to protect what I'd bonded with.
As I stood there, the sounds of battle fading into the distance, a sharp chime rang out in my mind.
A translucent panel appeared in front of me, glowing softly.
Notification: First Dragon Tamed
Reward Unlocked: Newbie Package
Status: Unclaimed
At the bottom, a single prompt hovered, pulsing faintly.
Accept Newbie Package?
Yes / No
I glanced down at the injured Speed Stinger beside me as it let out a quiet, uneasy sound. The distant screeches of its pack echoed through the air, drawing closer by the second.
My jaw tightened.
Whatever this package was… I had a feeling I was about to need it.
I clicked Yes, and instantly a blinding light enveloped me. My vision swirled for a moment before clearing, and a new notification appeared, hovering in front of me:
Rewards Claimed:
1x Potion of Healing
500x SP
1x Soul-Bonded Glaive
My heart skipped a beat. This is it… my first real system reward.
I stared at the list, excitement and nerves warring in my chest. Slowly, deliberately, I reached out and clicked on the Potion of Healing first. A small, warm vial materialized in my hand, shimmering with a faint glow. I could feel its magic coursing slightly through my fingers—this wasn't just any potion.
Next, I clicked on the 500 SP. Numbers shot through my vision as my system updated: my SP bar jumped from 0 to 500. My chest tightened. This… this is going to make a huge difference.
Finally, I hesitated for only a second before clicking the Soul-Bonded Glaive.
Immediately, the weapon appeared before me in a swirl of blue-white light. The shaft was sleek but solid, engraved with strange runes that seemed to pulse faintly. The blade gleamed with a sharp, almost ethereal edge. I reached out, and the moment my hands touched it, a strange warmth spread through my body—as if the glaive already knew me.
A whisper of energy tickled my mind: "Bond established."
I grinned, lifting the glaive carefully. It felt… perfect. Balanced. Alive. Like it had been waiting for me this whole time.
The distant sounds of the approaching Speed Stinger pack snapped me back to reality. My hand tightened on the glaive.
Time to see what this thing can really do.
Before I did anything else, I realized I needed to figure out what SP actually was. I tapped the SP bar, and text appeared in front of me:
SP: Can be used in the shop or to update stats.
I blinked, taking it in. So I can either buy things or make myself stronger…
Curious, I opened my status screen:
Name: Austin Smith
Title: None
HP: 100 / 100
SP: 500
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 10
Constitution: 10
Shop: Locked
Dragons: 1
Dimenal Travel: Locked
I stared at the numbers for a moment. I couldn't use the shop yet, so… why not make myself stronger?
I selected Strength and allocated 30 points. Each point cost 10 SP, so my SP dropped by 300, leaving me with 200 SP. The power surged through my arms instantly; I could feel every muscle firing, sharper and faster than before.
Next, I added 10 points to Dexterity (costing 100 SP) and 10 points to Constitution (another 100 SP). My SP was now 0, but my body had transformed—my reflexes sharper, my endurance stronger, and my strength overwhelming.
The system chimed softly, confirming the upgrades. My status screen now read:
Name: Austin Smith
Title: None
HP: 200 / 200
SP: 0
Strength: 40
Dexterity: 20
Intelligence: 10
Constitution: 20
Shop: Locked
Dragons: 1
Dimenal Travel: Locked
I flexed experimentally, a wide grin spreading across my face. Yeah… I think I can handle whatever comes next.
The Speed Stinger nudged my side softly, letting out a low hiss, almost like a nod of approval. My first dragon. My first major power boost. And somehow, I already knew—this was just the beginning.