Chapter 264: Of course we have to run after digging up the treasure
"What is your purpose?" Smaug grew interested. "Tell me."
Aaron froze, momentarily unsure how to respond.
"To take your Dragon life?" He certainly couldn't say that, or it would immediately lead to a confrontation.
"To take the arkenstone?" He couldn't say that either; it was no different from pulling teeth from a Dragon's mouth.
As if sensing Aaron's predicament, Bilbo immediately spoke up: "Smaug possesses unparalleled wealth. We merely wish to behold your majesty, to see if you are as great as the ancient legends claim. We don't believe those stories..."
Before he could finish, Smaug moved, emerging from the vast piles of gold, revealing his true form before them.
"And now?"
Bilbo looked at the colossal Dragon body before him, dozens of meters wide even without its wings. His legs trembled uncontrollably, and he struggled to suppress the urge to faint, stammering out a compliment: "It's true! Those stories and songs barely convey your ferocity, Smaug the Dragon!"
"Yes! It's true." Aaron was somewhat awestruck, wondering if his future Dragon hatchlings could ever grow this large. But he was also delighted, because there was indeed a small patch on Smaug's left chest not covered by Dragon scales—a fatal weakness.
"Well-flattered. Since you came with a Dragon Speaker, I can spare your life."
"That's wonderful." Bilbo let out a sigh of relief, but Smaug's next words sent his heart directly into his throat.
"But I need you to answer a few questions." Smaug sneered. "You are very familiar with my name, yet I have never smelled your kind of scent.
If I may be curious, who are you? Where do you come from?"
"Bilbo." Aaron showed him the compass in his hand; the needle pointed in front of them, presumably because Smaughad moved the arkenstone with him.
The two exchanged glances. Bilbo would stall for time, and Aaron would search for the arkenstone.
"I came from below the mountain." Bilbo tried his best to regulate his breathing. "I traversed thousands of mountains and valleys to get here."
"Admirable." Smaug circled Bilbo, the golden current moving with him.
Aaron sadly realized the needle had wavered again, pointing beneath Smaug.
Damn it, stealing food from a Dragon's mouth—does it have to be this exciting?
"What other titles do you have?"
"I am... Lucky Number, Riddle-maker."
"Charming titles, continue." Smaug pressed his face close to Bilbo, his fangs reeking, making one want to vomit.
"Barrel-rider."
"Barrels, increasingly interesting." Smaug chuckled mockingly, his massive body moving again.
This time, however, the compass needle pointed beneath their feet. Through the golden cracks, a milky white glow was faintly visible. They were almost certain the arkenstonewas there.
"And what about your little Dwarf friends? Where are they hiding?"
"Dwarves?" Bilbo feigned confusion, shaking his head. "No, no, no, there are no Dwarves here. You've made a mistake."
"I have not made a mistake." Smaug fixed his gaze on Aaron. "Dragon Speakers have been few and far between for several ages, but each one has been a wise prophet among humans, a prodigy with exceptional learning talent."
Aaron:...Oh, this... I'm flattered, truly flattered.
Bilbo also looked at Aaron with sudden understanding. No wonder this child knew so much and was impossibly strong.
A prophet, a prodigy, personally certified by Smaug the Dragon.
"Dragon Speaker, you should know they are using you.
They sent you to do bad things while they hide outside." Smaug said, "Don't think of deceiving me, and don't think of stealing a single coin from here, or I won't spare even you."
"You are truly mistaken, awe-inspiring Smaug!" Bilbopraised respectfully.
"For a thief and a liar, you are quite polite." Smaug said quite bluntly. "But I know the scent and taste of Dwarves. I know better than anyone, and I know they come for gold.
They love gold like flies love carrion. I knew this day would come; those hypocritical Dwarves would climb the mountain one day."
As Smaug spoke, he slammed a claw down.
Gold coins scattered, and the arkenstone appeared before them for the first time, but the next moment it slid down the steps.
Bilbo instinctively wanted to chase it, but Aaron held his arm tightly.
"Ah!" Smaug looked at them playfully. "It seems you've found the Heart of the Mountain.
You want to help Oakenshield, that detestable Dwarf usurper. He sent you to get the arkenstone, didn't he?"
"No, no, no..." Bilbo quickly said.
"Yes." Aaron shrugged, looking at Bilbo's confused expression, and explained, "At this point, let's not play coy. Dragons aren't fools; they have wisdom comparable to humans."
"Hmph! I had already guessed his schemes.
But it doesn't matter. Oakenshield's plan will not succeed. Darkness is coming, engulfing every corner of the world."
"Necromancer Sauron?"
"You know?" Smaug looked at Aaron with some surprise. "Yes, of course you know.
However, Sauron's magic has not fully recovered; he can only dwell in Dol Guldur to regain his strength.
But his vanguard will soon depart, and Erebor is their first stop."
"Aren't you in Erebor?" Aaron asked, puzzled. "Do they dare come?"
"They certainly wouldn't dare." Smaug gave a cold sneer. "But I have no need to stop them, and I'm too lazy to stop them, as long as they don't touch my treasure."
"Heh!" Aaron shook his head. "Gandalf was right; you really will cooperate with them."
"Gandalf? When did a mere Gray Wizard dare to meddle in my affairs?"
"Who knows? The guardians of the world always seem to like worrying unnecessarily."
"You've been used." Smaug mocked, "Cowardly Oakenshieldhas measured the value of your lives; you are worthless."
"No, you lie." Bilbo couldn't help but say.
"What did he promise you? A share of the treasure?
As if the treasure were his."
"We know." Aaron chuckled. "Before coming, we knew what we would face. To be honest, the person next to me fainted when he heard he might meet a Dragon.
But Thorin didn't hide anything from us, allowing us to withdraw midway. And just now, a Dwarf advised us not to push ourselves, saying we could turn back if we didn't want to, and it wouldn't be shameful."
Smaug paused, then looked at them meaningfully. "To see Oakenshield's Pain!, I thought about letting you take the gem, so I could watch the gem destroy him, devour his mind, and drive him mad."
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances.
"Is the arkenstone that ominous?" Aaron frowned.
"Thrain was a wise monarch before he obtained the Heart of the Mountain, but after obtaining it, he quickly became arrogant, disdainful of everything, even feeling that he was high above all and should receive homage from all directions.
If I hadn't occupied Erebor, he might have gone to war with the Elves, because he didn't intend to return the white gem to them.
Do you understand? The arkenstone has no magic, but its influence might be even more terrifying than Sauron's One Ring."
Aaron instinctively looked at the ring Bilbo was holding in his left hand. "Is that the One Ring? What does it do?"
"Try it on and you'll understand." Smaug said temptingly. "But now I've changed my mind; the little game ends here.
The arkenstone is right there. If you don't take it, you can leave safely. If you do, I'll..."
"Accio Gem." Aaron decisively used Accio, and the arkenstone flew out from a pile of gold coins, caught in his hand.
Not take it? What a joke!
The first system quest was this broken stone. If he didn't take it, all the suffering of the past six months would be in vain. As an aspiring young man about to realize his ideals, he couldn't swallow that indignity.
And the second system quest was to slay a Dragon! They were bound to come to blows sooner or later, so why be so polite now?
"So this is the arkenstone!" Aaron smacked his lips. "I heard it was dug out from underground. It feels pretty good to the touch, and it certainly looks big and white.
But to put it simply, it's just a glowing stone!"
"Aaron." Bilbo poked his arm, swallowing with difficulty. "I think we should run. Immediately, like, right now."
Bang!
Smaug pressed a claw onto a pillar, blocking the stairs with his massive body, eyes narrowed as he watched them.
"You've made your choice, haven't you?"
"Obviously." Aaron tossed the arkenstone in his hand. "A contract willingly signed must be fulfilled; that is one of our family's ancestral teachings."
"What a pity." Smaug sighed regretfully, a reddish glow appearing on his abdomen, the scorching temperature extending up his neck. "A Dragon Speaker should be a Dragon's most natural ally, but you didn't seize the opportunity."
Roar!
Fierce Dragon flames erupted from Smaug's mouth. Aaronswung his right hand forcefully, and the gold coins beside him formed a golden torrent that struck its left cheek.
The flames deflected by more than ten degrees, shooting to their left.
But even so, the scorching heat made them both feel a deep dread.
"Wizard." Smaug roared in anger, his slit pupils coldly fixated on Aaron. "Your magic is somewhat different from the others. Who are you?"
"Uh... that's not important." Aaron said awkwardly.
"You're right, it's not important." Smaug retracted his neck, opening his mouth to bite down with extreme speed.
"Petrificus Totalus."
Aaron decisively cast Petrificus Totalus, but a pale red light striking Smaug's head only made him pause for an instant.
"Damn it! That magic resistance is too high." Aaron cursed under his breath, but his hands were no slower, pulling Bilbo to narrowly dodge the Dragon's fangs.
"A little Pain!, feels like a woodpecker." Smaug mocked, "But my armor is indestructible, impervious to blades and arrows."
"I can see that." Aaron gave a self-deprecating laugh. He was still too weak. If his strength could increase another level, perhaps he could inflict some damage on Smaug.
Smaug bared his teeth, slowly spread his wings, and then flapped them forcefully.
A massive storm rushed towards them, blowing them dozens of meters away, landing on a pile of gold coins.
"Hahahaha." Aaron quickly got up, unable to suppress the smile on his face. "I am very satisfied with this Dragon."
"You can still laugh! You should be thinking about what to do!"
"What can we do? We've got the item, so of course we run." Aaron said, casting a Disillusionment Charm on himself. He only had half his magic left and wasn't foolish enough to confront Smaug directly. Testing its strength was enough; the real battlefield wasn't here.
Seeing this, Bilbo also hastily put on the One Ring, moving cautiously in the direction they had come from.