“–as long as you don’t rush in and attack, we will be alright Aki”

“That’s assuming it won’t attack us first.”

“If it does then I can get us away quickly.” Pinoki puts in

“This all seems counterproductive, why bother ‘surveying’ anything, we should be prioritizing slaying that dragon and calling it a day.”

“I thought you were smarter than this chief, you don’t really expect us to brute force a dragon do you.”

“Obviously not,” Aki replies indignantly, “Do I look like a woman with brute force strength? No. I fight tactical, and we should too, instead of going to look for ways to reverse the draining we should be looking to capitalize on any opening or chance given that it is hibernating.”

“If an opportunity like that makes itself know then we will take it alright?”

“Don’t patronize me, I’m the one leading us here.”

“Well actually it is I who knows the way.” Interjects Pinoki again only to be ignored by Aki

The trio now out of the asylum’s grounds navigate through the foggy ruins of Furlheim on their way to the looming threat…..

….

“I never thought I would meet somebody more unfriendly than Lyra.” Sighs Pinoki

“I have heard that name before, I think that’s one of the people with Kage right now?” inquires Shiryu

“Yeah, Lyra is one of the strongest people I know.”

“Chh, she is not.” Scoffs Aki

“I fought her before, the girl has potential magic-wise but strong? No.”

“Come on Aki you can’t compare other’s strength to yourself, she is probably strong compared to regular people,”

“To put it into context, why I think she is weak,

I did not fight the girl alone, it was a six on one, Lyra, Kage, Apollo, Karina, Claude, Amelia,

I barely had any trouble with them.” Aki doesn’t even say this gloatingly, just as a matter of fact

“Well, I imagine they were going easy on you.” Pinoki disputes

“They were fighting for their lives; you can ask Claude if you want.” Snaps back Aki,

An increasingly awkward tension grows between Aki and Pinoki they don’t seem to be quite fond of the other…

Shiryu on the other hand, gets along with the little man as if they were childhood friends, despite only be a little over a week they’ve known each other

“What does it matter whose weaker or stronger anyways?” Shiryu quickly interjects

“We all can grow stronger helping each other.”

(What the hell am I talking about)

“Shut up Shiryu, you don’t mean any of that, focus on searching for love or whatever you stupid thing you’re after.”

“Chief of attitude.” Shiryu mumbles under his breath

“What was that?” she catches it

“I said, how very Chief-like of you.”

“You did not..

Matter of fact, I don’t care carry on.” Aki drops it surprisingly, though it was only because she didn’t want to desync with Shiryu’s ability and lose her current strength…

...

...

Crrrrcckk♪

The broken ground crumbles slightly as the three cross over it,

Bwooh♪~~

The ambient sound of the still wind cutting through the fog and in and around the dilapidated buildings ring through the air like a grand bell,

“Shhhh, in these parts,” whispers Pinoki,

“Those monsters that hang above are alert here, make too much noise and they’ll drop on our heads,”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Now firmly north into Furlheim City they area here resembles that of a warzone, not that the rest of the city didn’t already, but this area to an even greater extent, the ground is charred black and from fire along with any building still on ground, a scorched wasteland in other words,

Pinoki gives the area a quick forlorn glance before hurrying up behind Aki, she leads the group despite knowing nothing of the city’s layout

By the overwhelming lust of hunger radiating from the dragon, anyone could find it without directions…

…..

…..

…..

(So this is the–)

Baadumt♪

“uhng.” Shiryu clutches his chest, looking up at the black-red creature the length of semi truck and size of a small house it’s spikes jut out murderously as if trying to cut the air itself,

Vraua–huhh–vrauhh–huhh!

The entire monster’s body stands with the stillness of a statute but its stead growling breaths flood the area,

(My heart hurt for a second there)

“Now do you see what we’re dealing with?” Pinoki taps both Aki and Shiryu who had been staring up the beast entrancedly

“Look how thick it’s scales are, brute forcing it wouldn’t work, we need to find a way to reverse the draining on the dragon.”

“mmm,” Aki grunts

“I think I could still kill it right now,

All I need is a spear and some magic stones,”

“Your joking, right?” coughs Pinoki

“I’ll strap a stone onto the spear and toss it into the it’s nostril, conjure some explosive gas right down with it, then, ‘boom!’ it will blow open the dragon’s face which I will toss a few more magic stones down and more of my magic, ‘kaboom’ it’s entire insides explode,

Your dragon problem over.” finishes Aki quite pleased with her idea

“What if it doesn’t die?” Shiryu pessimistically asks

“I never said I was going to do that yet, that’s just me explaining how I would prefer to kill it,” Aki rolls her eyes,

“Can we move?” shudders Pinoki looking up

“I don’t like the thought of that waking up any moment now,

....

On the bag of the monstrous being are the spiky black tentacles in exchange for wings, they of course spread long and far throughout the city, but along the back of the dragon and through it’s massive tail a single cord flows out into the ruins of building behind the creature.

“This used to be the adventurer’s guild,” Pinoki cautiously guides then in, his voice barely audible

“This is where you could say the dragon was born–huh-umn!” he jumps down into a large hole inside the guild the other two follow…

…

“And here is the source of my nightmares,” Pinoki stops a good distance away from what he points,

The black cord that flowed off the dragon leads all the way down here to what looks to be a seat, of thorns sticking out from every possible angle,

“The dragon king’s requiem.” Aki recognizes at once, “My granddad often spoke of this throne of thorns.”

“The dragon out there is still connected to it,” Shiryu notes

Badump♪

His heart thumps hard again

“agh!”

“Is something wrong Shiryu?” Aki notices this one

“I… I–my chest hurts, I don’t know why…”

“Is it the throne?”

“Mayb–”

–furrkkllllllrrrckkk!♪

Before Shiryu could reply the spiky seat begins to move towards the group!