Dragon says "Collecting a set of armor is only the beginning. Once you have completed the first set, it will merge with your soul and become a part of your soul's defenses. After completing the first set, you will be considered to have a defense of level one. Then you can start collecting a second set."

  "Levels of soul defense?! Wait, what level is your soul's defense at?"

  Dragon says "Mine is at level eighty-seven."

  "Meaning you have collected eighty-seven complete sets of soul armor?!"

  Dragon says "Correct."

  "Is that also something permanent that will stay with my soul? Or does it reset when I die?"

  Dragon says "If you have built a soul palace then it will be permanent. If you die before building your palace then it will be reset. Oh, also, any incomplete set pieces will be lost when you die. Only those you have merged with will be kept."

  "Okay. So, I really need to build my palace before I do anything else. You said there were materials for making armor. Is there any difference between a made set and a found set?"

  Dragon says "Found set pieces are all the same. Made set pieces can have either a lower or higher defense value based on the materials used."

  "Good to know. Is it just like forging normal armor?"

  Dragon says "Actually, it is quite a bit easier. Since they are soul materials, they can be manipulated by your soul. You don't need to know blacksmithing for them. All you really need is the materials and a pattern for the armor piece you want to make."

  "Yeah, that does sound a lot easier. So, where do these materials come from?"

  Dragon says "From the worlds behind the doors, but you need either a special skill or a lot of luck to come across them."

  "What kind of special skill? Is it something that I can learn, or buy?"

  Dragon says "That, I can't answer. I have never been interested in digging around for minerals. I either buy or take what I need."

  "Alright. I guess I will ask around when I reach the city. By the way, what language do they use there?"

  Dragon says "It is souls communicating with each other that transcends language."

  "Oh, good. That means I don't need to learn another language. Oh, right. What about the other door? The black one?"

  Dragon says "That door leads to a battlefield. One where there is an eternal war going on. It is also a source of materials that get sold a lot in the city. Especially angel and demon cores."

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  "Angels and demons? Is this battlefield connected to the upper and lower planes?!"

  Dragon says "Yes, it is. Although the battle isn't only between those two forces. There are a lot of other beings who go and kill both sides and anyone else they happen across. The entire space is filled with chaotic battles. If you go there, you have to be very, very careful."

  "Sounds fun!"

  Dragon says "I figured that you would say something like that. Just try not to die, I've spent a lot of effort on you."

  "Don't worry. I am really good at surviving my own crazy ideas. Wait, if angels can enter the battlefield, does that mean I can get to the higher planes through the battlefield?"

  Dragon says "Yes, you can, but why would you want to?"

  "Well, if my soul can get there, then I can learn where the plane is and gate my body there. Then I can hunt angels for their cores!"

  Dragon says "Why not just hunt them on the battlefield?"

  "Because souls don't drop cores."

  Dragon says "Ah, I see. You are wrong in this case. Angels, demons, and some other races do not have souls that are separate from their bodies. When angels and demons enter the battlefield, they are actually there."

  "Oh! Then I can farm cores in the battlefield. That makes me want to visit it even more!"

  Dragon says "You can also buy their cores in the city, along with the parts of their bodies that make good materials."

  "Do I have to explore the doors along the way, or can I skip straight to the white and black doors?"

  Dragon says "You can go straight to them, but you probably shouldn't."

  "Why not? I want to at least check out the city and see what is for sale and what I can afford. I also want to see the prices so I know what to aim for."

  Dragon says "Because I know you, you won't be able to resist checking out the battlefield."

  "A quick look shouldn't hurt."

  Dragon says "For anyone else, that might be true. For you, no way it will be that simple. With your luck, you will step through and immediately draw the attention of something powerful and hungry."

  "Could be, or maybe I will be the powerful and hungry one!"

  Dragon says "Um, you are aware that there are both angelic and demonic dragons, right?"

  "What?! Really?!"

  Dragon says "Yes. Dragons roam through most realms and when we are born on a realm we take on the characteristics of that realm. So, those dragons born in the higher planes become angelic or celestial dragons. Those born in the lower planes become demonic or nether dragons. There are almost as many types of dragons as there are planes. Even I don't know all the species of dragons."

  "Those kinds of dragons should be fairly rare, right?"

  Dragon says "Yes. Extremely rare! Even I haven't met one yet. I have only heard stories about them occasionally showing up in the battlefield and committing a slaughter. However, with your luck, that is exactly what you would walk into."

  "These dragons should be high rank and therefore intelligent, right?"

  Dragon says "Of course they are."

  "Well then, maybe I can talk myself out of trouble."

  Dragon says "That doesn't seem to be one of your skills. Talking yourself into trouble on the other hand, is."

  "Oh, ha ha. If you have that little faith in me, then you should teach me the dragon language! If I know the language, the dragons should be less inclined to eat me."

  Dragon says "You really want to learn our language, don't you?"

  "Yes! Yes, I do!"

  Dragon says "Well, you have grown stronger, you might survive learning it. Although, your chances of living are still really low. How about you make a deal with me then?"

  "What deal?"

  Dragon says "If you fulfill three conditions, I will teach you our language."

  "What are the conditions?"

  Dragon says "First, stay out of the battlefield. Second, raise your soul by one more level. Third, complete your next evolution. Do those three things and I will teach you our language and how we use magic. What do you say?"