-Afternoon. Raiga's POV-
It has been a sunny day with a soft breeze that should be stronger to mask the bird noise and make the perfect afternoon for napping. After the powerful wolf did something inside our bodies and left, we went back to relaxing under the shade of the swaying tree branches. Although the unusual happenings stressed me enough to stay awake, big brother, on the other hand, was fast asleep, so I keep guard as instructed laying down with my head over the crossed forelegs by the lair entrance.
Big brother is more used to the strangeness of little brother than me... Why didn't he tell us the giant wolf would do something to us? Well, she was patient enough to let us know the intentions weren't bad--I think...but being around a beast that is normally our enemy and can kill me effortless triggers every instinctual alert my body can produce. I disapprove wanting to complain.
"Fhuuu..." I exhaled frustrated once more when a distant roar reached my ears.
"Ghuaaaahhh!" Little brother's desperate cry sounded closer to human lands.
Hm? What is it now? Is it another test? I question waiting for another sign and identify the location.
After a moment waiting, nothing else sounded again, and the forest turned quiet in the suspicious direction which denoted danger.
No... It doesn't look like another trick of his...that can't be good. Little brother is stronger than us and never asked for help before, so that call must be because of something he couldn't handle which probably involves humans just as he warned us. Hmm... My instincts tell me that going there could needlessly put us all in danger and staying hidden is the correct course of action since his sacrifice drives the danger away. However, rationally thinking as Nefiru wants, I see that surviving without him will be difficult, and we have the option to alert the powerful wolf from earlier, but I'm not sure how to convey the problem on time. I judged getting up and face the sleeping dragon on the right.
"Brother, wake up!" I call out walking closer as there is no response.
...We own much to Nefiru already, and I'm not a dumb dragoness anymore to abandon our little brother again or deny his value as a beast. Hu-hum... It's my little secret that I admire him as a sister and wish to impress little brother sometimes while as a female, I wouldn't mind laying eggs for him after awakening. Perhaps for leaving the nest early, he doesn't feel related like Reylus, and it's better to spend the season with a male that won't hurt me, but I can't even sense the elementals to reach Rank 1. Well, we have both grown to like him, but even if we were not related, and he didn't treat us like his children, I'm not good enough... Nefiru deserves a powerful dragoness or a beast with great potential...I can't tell how far he'll go, but I know he'll leave me behind soon. Still, it's a good thing father didn't kill him for that reason since we are in his territory and he should feel threatened by little brother's rapid advance unless he can't admit it... I reviewed relationships approaching big brother's head.
*Tosk! Tosk* I nudged Reylus awake with my head.
"GHUO?" He waked up in alert looking around and relaxed after seeing no danger. "GRAAaaa!" The sleepy beast stretches his limbs thinking it's his turn to keep watch.
Hah... I should meet other dragons...it's for the good of our species, or so I was told. But...it's shameful being grounded with a broken wing...I want to fly! I'm meant to soar through the sky... I asserted waiting for the dragon to face me.
"Little brother. Danger. We help." I informed.
...Can't let little brother die like a common beast in some ditch or taken by mere humans who are beneath him. I reaffirm with resolve to risk our lives.
"Danger?" He asked.
I don't know what type of danger or how we can help, but I can't analyze the situation from here and time is running out...need at least confirmation before alerting the wolves. I affirmed tilting my head and blinking the eyes twice.
Reylus nodded.
Let us go then... Though...I'll bite harder if it's another trick! I decided, moving to the entrance of our lair.
I recalled the direction of little brother's roar, then calculated the location by the sound and the distance before sprinting.
*THuRUm! Shurush! THuRUm! Shurush!* We dash through the forest in a straight line towards the location avoiding only trees.
The smell of humans intensified, so we slowed down our pace and approached carefully until we could hear them. We find bushes to hide behind and sneak from one patch to the next until Nefiru's body came into view and we shivered seeing his condition.
...W-waaah!!!? That's...little brother?? What did they do to him?! I puzzled while big brother looks at me nervously.
Normally, it's difficult to tell the strength of humans by smell alone, but the ones capturing little brother haven't taken a bath in some time which he would be able to detect.
Calm down, you! They smell strong, but that's in magic terms...we are dragons! What would other beasts think if we just turn tail and run from humans? Especially that giant wolf who follows brother around like she's in heat...she might kill us! I glared at him rebuking before turning to inspect the area.
There are seven humans in metal armors where one seems to be giving orders, and two in soft garments which appear to be magicians while another black-haired in animal hide, but there are no signs of battle or smells like they fought little brother. The men are busy tying brother up with ropes and making a contraption under him while others are poking things into his body.
Those people didn't do that...something happened that he came seeking refuge in the forest, and it involved strong foes since these are no match for him... Maybe brother killed his opponent and more appeared...humans are really troublesome! I analyze the situation crouching in the bushes. Still, underestimating weaker creatures have been painful lessons, and we have the element of surprise, so an ambush should be quite effective. If we can take out that one who looks like the leader, they'll lose organization just like a pack of wolves...but I'm not sure if there are magicians wearing armors... I conjecture before speaking to brother in a low voice.
"You kill leader first. Me ambush behind." I instructed our roles as I'm the most agile for mine.
The large dragon looks over the enemy until he identified his first target, and nodded before backing away, then moving right towards snake territory across the road where bushes are abundant. I sneak left to where the sun rises doing a wide circle behind shrubs that could hide me with light steps while big brother stalks his prey. I wait in position for Reylus outside the people's line of sight until his head poked out of a bush and exchanged stares with me. I nodded blinking once and he got into a pouncing stance with the human in a straight line covered with vegetation.
*Thuru! Thurump!* He dashed towards the unsuspecting human running through leaves.
The noise alerted the humans, but the role of the big dragon is divert attention and cover the sound I'm making while sneakily approaching from the south.
""$&##%$&&$!"" The people become noisily just like weak prey unable to see the predator closing in.
...Low rankers are reluctant to probe, and their range is short...must be around Rank 3. I identified recalling our lessons.
*Swrooshhh!* Big brother ran through the shrubs and jumped on the man wielding a large blade.
"Eh!?-UAK!" The man sounded before was knocked down. *CRUNCH!* Reylus' forepaws squashed flat the person along with the armors and bent the large blade out of shape.
"OH! #$&^%%$$$%Dragon!" A person yelled excited.
...Humans value us greatly for our potential, and these seem prepared to capture brother, so they won't harm us if possible which will be their undoing! I asserted observing the fight through the trees and bushes further south of Nefiru unconscious body.
*SWISHH!* The gray dragon swings his large left paw at the closest armored warrior.
"UAAHH!" Cried out the man flying through the air. "Thunk! Brash!" He impacted a tree and feel down broken while losing his armament.
The humans keep moving out of the way and take cover behind trunks while preparing magic and ropes around trees as the beast advances towards our unconscious brother.
*Swish!...Thuak!* Reylus swing his tail but trunks obstruct him. *Creeack!* He clawed at a human only to scratch the tree blocking the way.
Big brother's legs suddenly sink into the ground while rock starts forming on his tail, but he managed to pull out the right foreleg and swings the tail at the earth casters.
*BLAPF!* The tail smacks onto a trunk and missed the target.
"GHRRUU!" Big brother groans annoyed.
He tries to pull his body off the ground, but the soil becomes soft, then hard to trap him further while ropes start landing on his body. Meanwhile, I identified the important magician's locations and aimed to take them out of the battle first in a single rush.
Little brother says killing the casters takes priority since they die easy and cause the most damage in a fight...merely binding Reylus greatly decreased his combat potential. I confirmed the tactic remaining hidden.
"GRROAAAARRR!" Big brother growls angered of being immobilized.
He pulled the right foreleg off the ground again and grabbed a few ropes coming from his right before yanking them to him.
"WUOoo!" A human uttered being pulled as his legs were tangled and fell closeby. "Oh no..." He muttered crawling away.
"%$##&&!" Another man carrying a large metallic object yelled while rushing.
*WAUP!* Reylus bit down on the crawling human.
"UR-rrgh!" The person emitted being lifted.
*BANG!* The large human being smacked the big dragon only to shake him.
*Creaak! Crunch! Crack!* Big brother chews the armors along with the person inside into a bloody mess. *Brash!* He dropped it before trying to bite the other human close.
""#$%^%^&!"" More yells sounded around.
However, two more people holding shields ran in front of the large man swinging the bunky object at brother's lower neck section.
*BAMM! SRRrrshhh!* Reylus impacted the group before sliding them on the ground uprooting the grass.
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"""Wohooo!""" They rejoice.
"GWRROROR..." The big dragon grunted frustrated as he was unable to harm more humans.
After a moment of struggle, the humans stop all four legs of Reylus with earth while the wind magicians focus on attaching more ropes around him to completely seal his movements.
They are relaxed and concentrating on magic again... Now's the time! I noticed advancing sneakily to the east of little brother before extending my magic.
I arrive at the back of who should be the wind magician wearing armors behind a tree as he turned around after noticing me, but reacted too slow to my approaching maw.
"WHA--" The man uttered with eyes wide open inside the head protector.
*Whap!-Wruak!* I bit his head off and kept it in my mouth before lashing once more.
"#%^$ Dragon!" An earth magician binding brother called me out while running away.
I swallowed the head before quickly moving past the second earth magician to my left, knocking him down while extending my neck to the point it was painful and managed to reach...
*SHRUCK!* I grab the human by the middle, and my fangs continued to apply pressure.
"AHHHH!" He screamed loudly before my jaws close tightly.
*CRACK! KRUNK!* I felt the upper body in my mouth being crunched.
I probed the location of the other earth magician getting up and wasted no time to kick forward with my left hind leg, connecting with the person trying to take cover behind a tree.
*BAM!-Shuk! Cruuush!* I impaled the man with my rear claws against the trunk while destroying his insides.
"...Urgbhl..." He emits holding my paw.
Two men holding shields arrived around the trees already while another two secure the ropes and nets binding big brother, but they are too late...the magicians are dead which leaves only four of them alive. I sensed their location and kicked back with my left hind leg to throw the impaled magician towards the aura user.
*Fwoooh!-FWAK!* The corpse flew through the air and impacted the shield protecting the armored man.
"Ough!" The man parried my attack before observing my doings. "Duluagos!" He said something backing away from the range of my tail.
I turn my attention to the front, and the other armored man also retreated around the trees. I chased but the trees on the left impeeded my movements, so I had to hold a trunk with my left paw and do a sharp turn left before lashing out at the running person.
"Onoro Duluago!" Someone yelled again in alert.
*Whapp!* My jaws close without anything inside as the human dodged but his location is revealed with magic and lowered my neck. *Plaf! Klarsh!*
"Omph!" The man uttered driven to the ground covering with a shield.
The large person swings a metallic object aiming for my head, but I dodged in a hurry to the left which freed the human under.
*THUMP!* The large object made a crater in the soil larger than my paw.
Instead of retreating, however, I extended my right foreleg and held the man arms firmly...
"Nghaaa!? %#$$#!!" He struggles to break free of my hold.
With a man secured, I throw bites at the person crawling away along with the dirt and grass getting into my mouth. However, in a moment of carelessnes, the person from early tied my tail to a tree while a net land on my back which further seals my movement.
Oh NO! I panicked fearing my tail getting chopped. Must...reduce their numbers! I affirmed trying to grab the crawling person.
"URGH!" The human uttered being held on his lower body.
The armored man who tied my tail starts pulling my left foreleg while the human on my right starts kicking my neck, but big brother struggles to free himself...
*Snap! Snap!* The ropes break under Reylus strength.
"GRUUAAAA!" Big brother growled before lashing out at the man being held by my right paw. *SHRUK! Creaaak!* He snapped his jaws at the legs.
"AHHHH!* The large man does a piercing scream, and I let go of his hands while keeping the metallic object.
*Crunch! Crunch!* Big brother chews while slowly dragging the man into his maw.
"AR-rrrgh! AH-ck!" He sounds trying to hold big brother's jaws from swallowing him.
I watch the dying man disappear into the mouth of Reylus with a horrified face that even I am able to discern, then he became a large bulge sliding down the neck and soon after, the mana wave confirmed his death.
"""AHHH!""" The three humans alive screamed, but only two ran away.
Nefiru severely warned us the dangers of letting humans get away after seeing us, so I threw the metal in my paw towards the running men.
*Swiishh!* The object flies through the air. *Tong!* I hit the armored person on the back.
"GAH!" He cried out falling down.
"HAAA!" The person I'm holding down yelled while stabbing me with his blade.
*Kling! Tlak!* The sharp object meets scales until it managed to find its way inside. *Shaak!*
Owww! He stabbed my mouth! I noticed the man keeping my jaws from closing shut.
Meanwhile, Reylus untied himself further and reached my side dragging his bindings and lashed at the human who injured me.
"UWAAAAAH!" He screamed inside the mouth before we pull apart.
*Creeeak! Riiiiip!-SHRUAHH! Slosh!* We split the person in half and his insides are now outsides red-coloring the grass.
He's still moving...but I don't think it can go very far. I observed yanking my tail.
Big brother pulled the net covering me before I twist my body and remove the tail bindings, then sprinted in the direction of the two running men when I hear a noise behind me.
Agh! Stop having fun and help me! I complain at the dragon snacking during battle.
"GHUROU!" I call out to the glutton giving him a glare.
I resume my chase after the two remaining humans fleeing east until I reach the unknown part of the woods which are human lands.
Argh! This isn't getting me anywhere...I want to use magic! Even these weak creatures are giving me trouble... I affirmed dodging small trees one after the other. They are running in the short woods on purpose...it's slowing them down, but me even more! I realized and headed out to the tall grass with a large square structure. That is...Shaila's home... Okay, no time to be impressed must capture the two runaways. I asserted speeding up like my life depends on it.
*WHOSHhh!* I sprint on a straight path mowing down the tall weeds.
I kept visual of the men running through the forest, and after chasing for what it feels half a day, I caught up with their pace and swung my tail on the left aiming for the legs once they were in range.
"GAHH!" The armored human uttered while flipping in the air. *THUD!* He landed on the back. "Ack! Ahuueeem!" He complained writhing on the ground.
I mowed down the small trees chasing the man wearing animal hide, but he finally used magic to hide and ran towards the mountain on the north judging by the smell.
"HUFF! HUFF!" I pant catching my breath thinking what to do next.
With no choice but to let the slippery human go, I returned to the other one crawling on the ground with his legs broken.
"Nonono nout to comeru! UWAA!" He screamed watching me approach.
*CRUSH!* I stamped his head flat and carried the corpse in my mouth, then turn towards the large building afar.
I'm curious about visiting the place little brother spends a lot of time at, but safety first... I surmise heading back into the woods.
I use the thick smell of blood permeating the woods and quickly returned to little brother before dropping the prey I'm carrying to inspect his body.
Hmm... This...this looks even worse up close. Nefiru's breathing is very slow and lost a lot of blood that soaked the ground, but the humans appear to have stopped his bleeding with this strange method of binding the wound using thin ropes which actually helped him. I examined before sniffing all over his body. The smell indicates several humans and these bloody sticks which were in his flesh carry different scents too. So, over thirty people attacked him, but how strong were they to shatter his scales like this and make him use up all the Mana? I ponder sending a probe inside. Aha! The humans in his stomach confirm he was attacked! I reaffirmed looking around for big brother.
I waited for any signs of the big dragon and decided not to call out in case of enemies come instead, but time passes in the quiet section of the forest.
Urrrgh! What should I do? What should I do? I ask myself pacing around little brother. Umumu... He won't last very long like this...he needs magic care... I need to warn the wolves, but that human who ran might come back with more. Ugh! Where in woods is big brother? I wonder when the sound of trees pushed aside calls my attention.
I turn around and wait for Reylus to appear behind some bushes carrying the missing darkness user who ran away.
"Slow!" I protest.
Well, at least, that problem is fixed...the human probably ran out of magic. Now help me think of something! I demanded with a troubled gaze.
*Thud!* The big dragon drops the chewed body before reporting.
"Tracked smell. Chased." He informed approaching Nefiru. "Brother?" He asked.
"Bad. Bad. Bad." I convey shaking my head with eyes closed to indicate the terrible condition.
"GWUuu..." He whined nudging the blue dragon with his muzzle.
No... He's not dead yet. We still have time. But how to move him? We could carry him on Reylus back since dragging will injure him further--WAIT! I analyzed before realizing.
"STOP!" I commanded Reylus who's biting the ropes tying little brother.
The large dragon stops and looks at me puzzled.
That's it! We can pull that contraption! But how does it work? Let's see... I can do this! I did help build our log lair... I motive myself inspecting the device. So, the two logs under him are both the support and the part that drags on the ground, but if we are to pull...then it has to be these ropes by brother's head. Hmm... It's not designed for us to pull though. I deduced, then bit the two ropes together.
*Srrrrsh.* I pulled the wooden structure a short distance before they slip out of my mouth.
"GWUO?!" Big brother noticed and struggled to bite the ropes.
The tail will drag, but he won't mind... Still, I'm not sure we'll make it to the wolves in time. One of us needs to alert them while the other pulls this closer up north. I concluded.
After trying to pull using the ropes, big brother got fed up and bit where the two logs unite by Nefiru's head.
*Srrrrsh.* Reylus lifted the contraption by the tip and dragged carving two lines on the ground.
Well! That's better! Or lazy...it seems easier and faster to move now, but will also tire him sooner. I assumed taking the other job.
"Tell wolves!" I informed my role thinking how to communicate.
I got it! A human body part will be proof enough. I discovered a method.
*Rrraaack!* I rip a human arm holding a blade and carry it in my mouth while sprinting north on the road which little brother uses typically.
After running for some time, the sun moved down in the sky to the left which indicates I could make it to wolf territory by nightfall at the current pace before tracking down the large wolf.
Haah! We don't have...that kind of time! The snakes become active at night, and they could smell the blood...need more speed...I'm supposed to be the agile one...can't help little brother like this. I affirmed getting tired and losing speed. Faster! Faster! FASTER! I ordered my body.
The wind pressure in the front generated from the high speed suddenly decreased as if my body was slowing down, but the blurred trees confirmed that it was not the case. Before I knew it, I WAS going faster!
*SWOOSHH!* The wind moves around my body smoothly while raising a dust cloud behind.
Hm? What!? W-what's happening? I question alarmed and stopped to inspect. M-my body is turning green!!? It doesn't hurt but looks weird all the scales darkening and changing shades of green... AAAHH! the awakening brother talked about!! I'm...Rank 1...the elementals, I feel them coursing through my body and all around me... Finally a Magical Beast! A MAGICAL BEAST!! I'm...happy!? But I'm also an adult dragon now, so my life just got more complicated... I realized. But no time to celebrate with a life in peril. I must reactivate the ability used instinctually before now. Alright, just like I practiced...sense elementals, and feed them mana, then command them to control the wind for movement... I concentrate on making the magic effect work again.
*SWOOOSHH!* I speed up in a straight line outside the curved road.
I crossed wolf territory borders and followed the scent of the powerful wolf to a river when the mana drained completely, and my body became heavy with muscles incredibly sore. But I still managed to find the earth beast lying down half-way inside the entrance of some round structure while basking in the sun. I look around for a way to get closer from land since the water could harbor dangers and find isolated stones leading to the rocky lair.
Humumumu... What an uncomfortable feeling approaching against my instincts... Little brother said they are allies now, but it doesn't feel like it, and there is no guarantee they won't turn on us. I know I would if there's no other food, or they upset me at high rank... Does that make me a cruel beast? Brother doesn't like cruelty if others don't deserve it, but he struggles to uphold that value...the living should appreciate life--is what he says. But I suppose being unreasonable like father is not admirable for a highly intelligent beast...perhaps for a common animal dominated by primal instincts is okay. I conjectured and decided to complete my mission.
"GWURUAA!" I called the shiny creature from the river bank.
She perks the ears and look at me surprised, then tilts her head wondering my purpose here until her gaze rested on the human arm in my mouth along with a blade. The giant wolf got up and leaped over the stones while I back away towards the grass, then she slowly approaches while observing if my reactions allow it. I drop the human arm in the grass before adopting a submissive posture to prevent any aggressive action, and the beast sniffed the human limb before my body, then raises her muzzle.
"AWOOOoooooOO!" She howled a long tune.
The she-wolf stopped and licked my head before sprinting south following the general direction of my trail.
What was that about? I wondered before a noise gets louder.
*Gosu! Gosu! Gosu!* A large number of wolves appear from all directions converging on me.
H-huh!!? Eiiiiii Don't eat meeeee! I crouched down and closed my eyes thinking the worst.
However, the beasts only passed by my side and headed south perhaps following the high rank who called them.
Uhhh... I-I don't think a hundred wolves are necessary...to mobilize these many wolves for brother... Then again, can a single magician fix him? I wondered sprawling on the grass.
"Fuuu... Tired." I spoke with my neck extended towards the river.
After calming down, I turn to look at my scales again.
Hmm... My affinity ended up being wind...or did I have high chances to acquire it under the circumstances? Although it's not bright like Mother, and brother said wind is an easy magic, my control seems pretty good, so it must be...medium talent.... I asserted and fell asleep while admiring my new color.