The Ballad Of A Semi-Benevolent Dragon

Chapter 32: The Princess Is Lucky

Antaria no longer screamed when Doomwing's construct carried her high up into the air and then dropped her. No, screaming wasted air, and she needed air to think. It had taken her multiple falls and no shortage of bruises, broken bones, and other injuries to finally master a lesser rune of gliding.

The fact that it was a lesser rune thrilled her. Basic runes were already powerful, and lesser runes were a step above them. Better still, it was a rune associated with flight. Admittedly, gliding wasn't the same thing as flying, but it was very close. Supposedly, the next step up would be floating followed by actual flight.

Rather than flail around like an idiot and then crash into the ground, Antaria activated her lesser rune of gliding and spread her arms and legs. She had taken inspiration from some of the squirrels that lived in Daphne's tree. They had flaps between their wrists and ankles that allowed them to glide.

Antaria didn't have those flaps, but that didn't matter. When it came to runes, Doomwing had explained that intentions were often more important than practicalities. She was changing the story of the world, but the story wouldn't change if she refused to believe in those changes. So she pictured those squirrels in her mind, spread her arms and legs like they did, and believed she could glide.

And she did.

What should have been a terrifying fall followed by an impact that added another crater to the ground was instead turned into a pleasant glide through the air. She was even confident enough to do a few tricks before finally touching down with a flourish.

"How was that?" Antaria asked, puffing her chest out and accepting the congratulations of the various animals who'd come out to watch. Sure, they had originally delighted in her failure, but they were now revelling in her success. Daphne was there too, and the dryad clapped politely. "Pretty good, right?"

"It was acceptable," Doomwing's construct said. "You will soon be ready for a rune of floating."

"Can we do that today?" Antaria asked. "I'm just bursting with energy."

And she was. Regardless of how brutal her training was or how exhausted she felt when she crawled into bed, she felt energised and ready for more in the morning. According to Doomwing, it was due to her improved magic circulatory system and the increasingly dense ambient magic that filled through the area. Even the daily agony of learning to control her magical circulatory system better was manageable. Sure, it hurt, but the benefits were obvious and growing each and every day.

The monsters under her command were also pleased. Many of them had ascended further, with some of them attain some particularly intriguing forms. For example, the wolf pups, who were now as big as she was, had turned into what Doomwing's construct called wind wolves. Apparently, they could now harness wind magic to run faster and augment their attacks. In time, he was hopefully they could ascend further, perhaps into sky wolves that could actually fly. Their mother had actually already reached that point, and the female wolf had delighted in flying circles around Antaria during her many trips to greet the ground with her face.

Doomwing believed that Antaria's increase in power had affected the monsters under her command. Supposedly, monsters typically ascended in ways that reflected their situation or the abilities of their 'boss'. Since Antaria was in charge of them, it wasn't surprising that their magical affinities had come to resemble hers.

If only she could have gotten the ability to fly first oh well. She'd get there soon, and then she'd show the mother wolf who was boss.

Probably the biggest surprise had been a giant boar creature the villagers had taken to calling him a hell boar due to his enormous size, spiky hide, and gigantic tusks who couldn't fly but who could launch himself like a boulder from a catapult, soaring up and then crashing down into his foes to devastating effect. It looked absolutely ridiculous, but the boar seemed to enjoy doing it, and the damage was undeniable. Daphne had banned him from using the attack anywhere near the fields after he'd almost damaged some of them.

The boar had bristled and refused right up until Daphne had pinned him to the ground with roots while several of her tree folk threatened to turn his insides into his outsides. It was strangely gratifying to see the dryad demonstrate her ability to terrify people when necessary. Hmm Doomwing must be rubbing off on her.

"Not yet. There is something else we must do. My actual body will be arriving soon, and then we will be departing for your kingdom. To add to our prestige, I wish to bring along several monsters. However, Daphne pointed out that bringing some of the larger monsters might give the wrong impression."

"That we're evil and want to kill everybody?" Antaria loved having the wolf pups around they were so cuddly and adorable but she could also see how they would terrify normal people. The wolf pups were as big as she was and perfectly capable of turning the average person into a bloody smear in a matter of seconds.

"Yes. To solve that issue, Daphne suggested we use some of her animals. Apparently, there are some amongst them who also wish to ascend and who have now attained the power and wisdom required to do so. They merely need a catalyst to spark their ascension."

Antaria turned to eye the array of animals on Daphne's branches sceptically. "What if we just end up with giant squirrels with burning eyes and swords for tails?"

"There are ways to preserve their general size and shape while still allowing them to gain power. This will provide us with minions who are both formidable and adorable." The construct nodded sagely. "Such creatures were quite popular in the Sixth Age. Indeed, Elerion was most displeased when he was unable to secure enough badger warriors for an actual squad."

"Badger warriors?" Antaria asked.

"Similar in size and appearance to normal badgers but capable of wielding magic and far, far stronger in combat. Elerion was only able to find three, and they all refused to join. Just one of them would provide you with a decent challenge although I think you would be victorious more often than not."

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"Is that so?" Maybe it was the blood of her great ancestor flowing through her veins, but now that she'd heard about them, Antaria kind of wanted some badger warriors too. "So, wait, how are we going to do this?"

"The process is simple. However, the outcome will also rely heavily on luck."

"Luck?" Antaria asked.

"Yes." The construct nodded. He motioned for her to follow, and they walked over to where Daphne had dug out a large pit. In short order it was filled with pure water, and the dryad's roots began to pour glowing green sap into it. The mixture of sap and water shimmered, and Antaria took a wary step back as the pool began to radiate power. "This is a Pool of Ascension."

A number of animals had gathered at the edges of the pool, and they all peered into its opaque depths. More than one of them looked as if they might jump in, but Daphne reached out to catch them before they could try their luck.

"How does it work?" Antaria asked.

"A normal animal can ascend into a monster once certain conditions are met. These animals, by virtue of consuming copious quantities of fruits and nuts from Daphne, have been able to meet most of those conditions. What they lack, however, is the raw power required to make the jump. A Pool of Ascension is made by infusing pure, magically receptive water with a special kind of sap that only dryad's can produce. You can think of it as incredibly dense life, nature, and growth magic. Dryads specialise in that and are arguably more skilled in altering living things than anyone else." The construct paused. "A gift, you could say, from Mother Tree who played the part of mother to countless creatures over the years, helping them to grow and achieve out their best."

Daphne smiled. "I only developed the ability to make it recently, which is why we haven't used it before."

"It also wouldn't have worked for you," the construct said to Antaria. "As a human, your path to greater power is not the same as an animal's. You would likely have been afflicted with severe hallucinations followed by multiple organ failure and then death. Alternatively, the waters of the pool could have left you in an inebriated state that would make drowning incredibly easy."

"" Antaria took another step back. "And they're going to be okay?"

"Yes. They are animals, and their long-term exposure to Daphne's power via eating fruits and nuts from her tree means that their bodies are naturally receptive to her power."

"So do we just let them drink out of the pool?" Antaria asked.

"No." Doomwing's construct shook its head. "We put them in the pool and then hold them under until they drown."

Antaria gaped. "What? Are you serious?" She rounded on Daphne. "Look, I get that they can be pretty annoying, but are you really okay with this?"

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Daphne patted the raccoon in her arms affectionately. "They won't actually die. It's just that in order to force the ascension, they have to be on the very verge of death. In that state, their body will attempt to absorb all the power it can from their surroundings in a desperate bid to survive."

"And if they can't get enough, or it doesn't work?" Antaria asked.

"Then we pull them out and use magic to heal them," the construct said. "You aren't actually dead for a while when you drown, so there will be no complications." The construct nodded at the animals. "They have all been informed of the risks, and they have agreed to try at least once. Should they fail, they will be resuscitated, and we can try again later. If they succeed, they will ascend into monsters while keeping their general form and receive powers." The construct's expression darkened. "Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to predict what powers they will receive."

Daphne sighed. "Each animal has a set of powers they are predisposed to. However, which set they'll get seems to be random. In other words, it all comes down to luck."

Doomwing's construct made a disgusted sound. "There is one amongst the primordial dragons Stormbringer that has made a pact with a powerful dryad, one of the First Daughters. They both find this process so amusing that they decided to work together to make the largest, most powerful Pool of Ascension in the world. They routinely throw in animals of every kind to see what powers they'll gain."

"How many animals have they thrown in?" Antaria asked. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know, but the whole thing was just so bizarre.

"During the Sixth Age, I would estimate the number to be in the tens of thousands or more. It is likely why the forest she rules over in conjunction with the dryad goes by two names the Forest of Storms and the Forest of Monsters." Doomwing's construct scoffed. "I regret telling her about the process. During the Sixth Age, she even sent missives to the rest of us primordial dragons detailing the luckiest outcomes. She was particularly proud of a monkey that ascended into a supreme simian sorcerer who was capable of using magic up to the twelfth order."

"That I don't even know what to say to that." Antaria grimaced. "But what does that have to do with me?"

"Despite her madness in throwing in so many creatures, Stormbringer at least had the decency to keep track of the results. Upon examining those results after repeated badgering, I realised that who throws in the animal or holds it under has some influence on what powers it might receive. That is why all three of us will be trying our hand at it. Keep in mind that this process will only work for animals with a close bond to Daphne, which is why only animals who live in her tree are here. The dryad I spoke of earlier got around this restriction by going out of her way to feed as many animals as possible."

"That's probably a good thing." Antaria could already picture the chaos that would erupt if just any old animal could be thrown in. "So who goes first?"

"I think I'll go first." Daphne walked over to the edge of the pool with the raccoon. "Uh I'm sorry in advance, but I'm sure you'll do well."

The raccoon in question gave her a jaunty salute, seemingly unbothered by the fact that she was about to drown it.

"Proceed," Doomwing said. "I have healing magic at the ready."

Antaria had to turn away when the raccoon thrashed underwater before finally going still. However, a burst of light had her turning back as the raccoon leapt out of the water with a triumphant cry. The creature's eyes were now glowing a radiant green, and a twig flew up from the ground and transformed into a gnarled staff.

"Interesting." Doomwing's construct activated its magic. "He appears to be a druid of some kind. Excellent. He can help supervise the tree folk and assist in growing crops. With his aid, you will also be able to spread your influence even wider."

Daphne hugged the raccoon tightly. "I'm glad you're okay."

The raccoon nuzzled her back, and then patted her cheek with his little paws before hopping onto her shoulder and brandishing his staff. A burst of green light came from the end of the staff, and flower petals drifted through the air.

"As you can see, the increase in power and utility is swift and impressive. Although such creatures typically are not suitable for frontline combat, many of them are quite useful in other ways, which is fine since tree folk are generally better fighters anyway." The construct picked up a squirrel with telekinesis and dunked it into the pool. "Let us see what I get."

The result was a squirrel who could store items in some sort of folded space that allowed it to carry stuff around with relative ease.

"Not the best result," the construct grumbled. "But passable. At present the folded space occupies a volume of perhaps a cubic foot. With time, however, it should grow. More importantly, the weight of objects in the folded space is massively reduced to the point that the squirrel can carry even a cubic foot of rock with ease."

"I guess it's my turn, now, right?" Antaria said. She walked over a raccoon who had frequently bet on her succeeding unlike most of his peers. He gave her a cheerful smile and what passed for a thumb's up. "Well best of luck, little guy."

She held him under the water and looked away. A few moments later, he burst free of her grip and landed nimbly atop her head. Then he vanished only to reappear next to Doomwing's construct before reappearing on one of Daphne's protruding roots and then one of her branches.

The construct stared at the raccoon and then turned to give Antaria a glare. "It would seem that you are especially fortunate. The raccoon has been blessed by the pool."

"Oh?" Antaria wasn't sure why, but she felt rather happy about that. "What did he get?"

"He received two powerful abilities shadow walking and tree walking. Shadow walking allows him to travel through shadows while tree walking allows him to travel through trees. The former has obvious application whilst the latter does not refer to simply leaping from tree to tree. Instead, if he is in contact with a tree, he can travel through it to any other part of that same tree or to a nearby tree."

Daphne's eyes widened. "Then he could travel from my trunk all the way to where my roots end?" The raccoon struck a pose, preened, and then did exactly that, vanishing and then reappearing before collapsing in a heap.

"Naturally, both abilities incur a certain cost, and his reserves are not yet so large that he can use them freely. He will have to work hard to increase them if he wishes to take full advantage of his abilities."

Antaria sighed. "How come I didn't get any awesome abilities when I got stronger?"

"You are human. Humans are not blessed with many innate abilities unlike monsters. However, the path that monsters walk is far less flexible. Almost every single thing that the raccoon learns as he ascends further will be tied to those two abilities. His skillset will forever be narrower and more focused than yours ease of use and immediate power at the expense of versatility and choice. Moreover, his progress will be much slower than yours since the Pool of Ascension is a forceful process, bringing into the present what would have been gained in the future. I believe the First Gods gave this ability to Mother Tree and dryads to help them when they were young since a young dryad is neither mobile enough to avoid danger nor strong enough to easily fight it off. Being able to quickly raise helpers is undoubtedly quite useful."

"I guess" Antaria grinned. This was kind of fun. "So we're going through the rest of the animals here, right?"

"That is the idea."

By the time they had finished, perhaps half of the animals had managed to ascend. Doomwing's construct considered that a remarkable result, likely driven by the close bond between Daphne and her animals. It was confident that the remainder would also ascend with a few more attempts. However, the construct was not totally pleased by the results not because the ascended animals had failed to gain any useful abilities but because the animals the construct had thrown in had been the least impressive by a noticeable margin.

"Bah!" the construct grumbled. "I will do better next time. Besides, this isn't even my real body. I'm sure my real body would do better"

"Maybe you're just not as lucky as me," Antaria said. "But on the upside, we got a bunch of suitable minions to bring along, right?"

"Yes," the construct conceded. "We shall take a dozen of the most suitable. My real body will be arriving in two days. That should be sufficient time to train them to a decent standard since usage of their abilities is mostly instinctive anyway. As for you we shall try a rune of floating. Consider it a reward to go with your good fortune."