Getting my feet under me, as I try to think of a way out of the flames path, I stagger two steps out of the corner before the drake unleashes its breath attack. As the flames boil out of the drake's mouth I realize I have no way to survive other than to use my trump card.

'Dash!'

DP: 360/410

Everything slows down as my speed doubles, the drake's flames are moving in slow motion. It looks like special effects from a movie as I clear the distance to the drake in a flash. As the flames pass over my head I move under the drake's body and target his weak points.

Thirteen times I stab with Blitz before dash runs out and everything returns to normal. The drake realizes my position from the damage and bends his head down so that his flames flood underneath him. I am weary from dash and don't react fast enough to avoid the flames.

You have suffered a breath attack!

Fire damage 317! (296 Resisted)

HP: 573/1763

I dive out from under the drake and roll repeatedly to smother the flames. As I stagger to my feet the drake has already moved in pursuit even as it is roaring in pain and anger.

You have suffered a claw attack! Damage 219 HP!

HP: 354/1763

Falling with the hit allows me to reduce the damage and dodge the second swipe at the same time. As I roll back to my feet I am forced to immediately jump back to dodge the next attacks. As the claws pass me by inches I decide I need to counter attack.

'Zap! Zap!'

DP: 340/410

The increased range of zap makes it perfect as a counter attack when dodging. This way I can damage the drake without taking any more damage, which is important since another good hit will kill me. Unfortunately, the drake isn't stupid and stops attacking, it even backs off.

The drake continues to back away as I advance, trying to get in range to use zap again. I quickly notice the drake has made a mistake, it isn't used to retreating, all its attention is on me, not where it is going. I increase my pace to keep the drake focused on me so that it won't notice until it is already backed into a corner.

As the drake nears the corner I suddenly break into a charge right at the drake. The drake responds by moving backwards as fast as it can, right into the corner of the room. The moment of surprise when the drake's back hits the wall is the moment I strike.

As the drake's head rears back in surprise I turn my charge into a leap. I am aiming for the weak spot where the jaw connects to the head, my hope is to either kill the drake or make it unable to use its breath. At the moment Blitz hits the weak spot I activate zap for that little extra damage but I get a pleasant surprise.

'Zap!'

DP: 330/410

Critical! Blitz has enhanced the lightning attack!

I was hoping to injure the jaw, but thanks to the unexpected critical damage the drake's lower jaw is almost completely destroyed. With that much damage there is no way it can use its breath weapon again. With no ranged attack it has to use melee attacks where I can counter with Blitz.

Previously the drake would roar in pain or anger, but this time it mewls in pain making me feel bad. The drake is obviously severely wounded and close to death, my anger fades and now all I want to do is end its pain. The drake lowers its body and lays on the floor, it seems to be giving up.

I approach slowly, cautious of a trick, but the drake doesn't move. I raise Blitz and aim for the drake's eye, I want to pierce the brain and kill the drake painlessly. Just before I strike the drake's gaze meets mine and in that gaze I see gratitude.

Who knows how long the drake has been trapped down here alone, after my time trapped alone in the pit I sympathize with it. I suddenly don't want to kill the drake, I want to free it and take it outside. But that isn't possible, especially since I have no healing skills and would just prolong its suffering.

In a flash Blitz pierces the drake and the light fades from its eyes. I have won but I don't feel like it. At this point I don't even care what the rewards are. I just want to leave this place and rejoin my friends.

Seventh Trial Complete! Reward: Skill Book: Supreme Swordsmanship!

First Clear Bonus: Skill Book: Making a Skeleton!

As I stand staring sadly at the drake's corpse two books appear on the ground at my feet. What a weird reward, I've never even heard of skill books. But I can't bring myself to look at them right now, I am too busy fighting back tears.

I get the feeling that the drake would have been an amazing friend, and I can't help but wish I had been born in this world with the ability to tame monsters. Wanting to stop thinking about it I walk over to the wall and sit with my back against it and try to enter meditation. Then I have an idea and throw myself back to my feet and rush to the drake's body.

'Create Soulscape!'

As I had hoped, the drake's soul is still lingering and I am able to pull it into the soulscape with me. We both appear in the small clearing beside the stream, surrounded by forest and bathed in sunshine. The drake is astonished as it looks around at all the things it has never seen before, it shows no interest in resuming our battle.

As the drake is looking around I add more details, a soft breeze carrying the scents of the forest, and the warmth of the sunshine. I hone my imagination as much as possible to make this the perfect recreation of nature. I want the drake to truly experience what the outside would have felt like if it wasn't trapped in that horrible room.

This is my way of apologizing for killing it, I respect the drake and feel sorry for it. It was definitely a worthy opponent and as I watch it looking around I start to feel its emotions. It is happy, and feeling wonder and gratitude towards me.

"What are you waiting for? Go! Explore! Enjoy!"

The drake turns his head and looks at me for a minute, then he seems to grasp my meaning and walks away into the forest. I can easily maintain the soulscape for a long time, I want to let the drake roam and explore to its heart's content. I lay back on the grass and relax, I may as well enjoy myself while waiting for the drake to return.