I feel the cold wind blowing at my face, nearly sweeping my hat away. We, me and Alan, are following a distinct set of footsteps – three talons with claws at the front and one at the end. It is, without doubt, a sign that a dragon was here and, judging by how fresh the footsteps were, it wasn’t far ahead. 

I suppose, an explanation about the dragon species is in order. You see, even though we refer to them with the word “dragons”, those creatures are more akin to dinosaurs in their anatomy. It means, no wings or fancy fire breathing. However, some sub-species are to known to have both secreting a relatively strong toxin or stomach acid, concentrated enough to melt stone. However, this is only the conclusion I reached after reading historical books about dragons: I’ve never seen one before.

At least, we can chalk an outcome where they will simply fly away instead of facing us head-on. It would also be hard to fight an opponent who moves in three dimensions as opposed to normal two. Overall, we have pretty good chance to win, and our pair is also pretty balanced with me acting as a support and the idiot as a tank.

“Hey, Marie. Do you think dragon meat tastes good?”

If only he stopped stopped talking, this day would certainly become better. It took me about two hours to recharge my reserves, a time Alan used to stuff himself with food, while trying to persuade me into making him a boxed lunch to eat after taking care of the dragon problem.

“I honestly don’t know Alan. I’ve never tasted reptiles before”

I think he has a point there. I will harvest some of their meat later, even though Alan will be the one eating the most. I wonder if it’s tough or tender since we still don’t know much about how active dragons’ life is, or whether they are carnivorous or omnivorous.

I hear a strange noise from the bushes, and the figure of a dragon appears. It is creature size of horse, covered in dark scales and with sharp yellow fangs. I prepare my staff and hear how Alan’s sword leaves its sheath.

“Don’t move. I want to see whether it’s aggressive or not”

I meet creature’s gaze with my own. Slowly, we start circling around each other. Its moves are surprisingly elegant. I wonder if it even understands who we are. In an instant, I am captivated by this animal from another world. No, of course it doesn’t. At least, not in the sense that sentient creatures do. I see neither good nor evil in its eyes.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Despite common people’s superstition about them being inherently evil, I cannot see the creature before me as anything more than an animal. I think it won’t attack us as long as we remain motionless. However, a distressed roar shatters the stillness between us.

The dragon starts to slowly retreat and, after gaining some distance, runs away, following the call. It looks like something bad happened with its mate. I gesture Alan to move and we run after the dragon. I hope we will get to the point of the problem.

We reach the forest clearing, and a horrible picture opens before me. I see bodies on the ground, about four of them, all 

mutilated to the state so horrible they became almost non-recognizable. I…

One of them is smaller than the others.

It’s horrible to watch. I hear Alan softly mutter something behind me.

What scares me even more is the creature responsible for this.

I see the dragon in its clutches. I have read about those things before. Created as an ideal weapon by magical means, they were used in previous war against demons as heavy infantry. However, in times of peace they usually hibernate until either next demon lord appears, or some poor soul accidentally awakens them only to be instantly killed.

If dragons can be called innocent in the sense that they are animals, those thing are cruel. They don’t hunt for food since they use mana around them as a source of nourishment, but they still do so for their own amusement.

Its disfigured parody of limb snaps dragon’s neck, and throw it away: it found a more interesting toy to play with, it seems. I 

don’t have to describe this grotesque creature that looks like a crime against the nature itself.

It is called…

[CHIMERA]

[MONSTER: D-RANK]