Solo Panicking

25

The days passed in a blur of dungeon runs and baking, blending together in a rhythm of leveling up and skill refinement. Between clearing raids with Jinwoo and Jin-Ho and spending time at the bakery, you'd recently hit level 65. Ignis had grown alongside you, his abilities and size expanding at an impressive rate. Watching him grow brought mixed feelings—pride in his progress and a twinge of worry. The little dragon was now slightly below your knee and had begun picking up some curious skills on his own.

To your surprise, Ignis had figured out how to turn on the TV and open doors when it benefits him. Jinwoo had caught Ignis slipping out of the apartment by himself; apparently, Ignis could jump up and use his wings to give himself a boost, pulling the door open with his little claws.

'That's why he was out of the apartment when they picked me up.', you'd realize with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

But now, in the echoing quiet of your current dungeon, Ignis stood alert at your side, eyeing the creatures around you with a new intensity. This was the last of the nineteen dungeons Jinwoo needed to clear for Jin-Ho. The cavern was littered with stone golems and mineral-rich walls, gleaming with magic crystals. Shadow soldiers, elves, and the trio of Igris, Iron, and Baruka tore through the rock monsters with practiced ease, leaving Jin-Ho and a few shadows to gather the fallen crystals.

Ignis was transfixed by the shadows' precise movements, his head cocked as he observed the fighting styles of Jinwoo's top soldiers. Igris's strikes were precise and quick, each swing of his sword calculated to maximize damage. Iron, slower but resilient, took a more defensive approach, deflecting strikes before delivering powerful, crushing blows. Baruka, ever the assassin, used swift, debilitating moves to disable his foes before finishing them off.

"I guess you're wanting to fight?" you asked Ignis softly, glancing down at him.

The little dragon looked up, meeting your gaze and giving a determined nod, his crimson eyes shining. He let out a short huff, which you interpreted as a yes.

"Oh, so now you're talking back too?" you teased, but warmth bloomed in your chest. Ignis was clearly learning from his surroundings and eager to grow his own skills. He was already heavier and bulkier than before, his scales now a deep crimson that shimmered under the dungeon's eerie light. His horns had also darkened to a rich yellow, almost gold. You'd have to be cautious whenever he tried 'playing' with furniture or stray objects around the apartment—his increased strength meant things broke a bit too easily.

For now, though, Ignis seemed content observing. His eyes remained glued to the unfolding battle. The clash of shadows and golems reverberated through the cavern as Jinwoo stood at the sideline observing his army with an air of ease. You admired his control over the shadow soldiers and the way he seemed unfazed by the chaos surrounding him. A faint smile played on his lips as he took in the scene, a trace of satisfaction in his gaze as his soldiers felled the last few golems with ruthless efficiency.

Jinwoo goes over and stands next to you and catches your attention. Ignis, who's now eyeing Jinwoo with rapt attention, let out a little growl, clearly eager to jump into the fray himself.

"You think he's ready for a bit of action?" Jinwoo murmured, looking down at Ignis, who returned his gaze, resolute and unblinking.

You shrugged with a grin. "Well, he's certainly got the attitude for it. Though I don't know if my furniture would agree."

Jinwoo laughed softly. "Fair point. But we can't keep him on the sidelines forever, can we?"

The thought settled into your mind. Ignis was learning quickly, and with you leveling up much more than before, perhaps it was better he learned under controlled circumstances like these rather than in the midst of unexpected chaos. Your baby is growing up too fast