The news of the arrived dragons left no one indifferent. Although it had been many decades, if not centuries, since the last serious encounters with them, people still retained a deep memory of how terrifying a war with fire-breathing reptiles could be.
Ordyntsev was also far from thrilled. He had only encountered a red dragon once, but those impressions were enough for a lifetime.
That day he realized that the rank of a supreme warmaster was by no means the limit of development in this deadly dangerous place.
Yamato, as he called himself, crushed the surrounding world with such ease as if nothing could ever stop him.
"Oh, Shiro! You've finally arrived; we've been waiting just for you," Jishin grumbled irritably, but Stas ignored his anger. He saw that everyone present was quite on edge.
Many of them were already familiar, like Shin, Uramasa Kensei, and the silent Gash, while others were clearly new, representing the main families. The sensei was also present. Despite the disapproving glances, he repeatedly took swigs from a barrel of sake, and upon seeing Stas, he waved cheerfully.
"What do we know?" Stas asked calmly, taking a seat in the only available space, which was notably next to the clan head. Since no one had taken it, it could be inferred that Jishin had ensured this.
With his leading question, Ordyntsev also demonstrated to everyone his closeness to the "throne."
"Not much," Shin began, looking strange without his eternal smile. He was visibly tired.
"Our scouts in the northern part of the forest didn't even have a chance to react before three adult dragons flew over them. They immediately demanded negotiations between the head of Sumada and their Elders. After that, they flew off, saying they would meet us in the same place but in five hours. We have three hours left until the scheduled meeting."
Having reported, Shin fell silent, allowing all those gathered to ponder his words.
"What could these immortal lizards possibly want from us?" Kensei voiced the question on everyone's mind with furrowed brows. "It's extremely rare to meet even a single dragon, let alone three! Especially their so-called Elders!"
"Maybe they're about to make some demands? And now they're showing their power?" suggested one of the unfamiliar warmasters.
"No, dragons represent power, but three are clearly not enough to impress a Great Clan," Gash disagreed briefly, falling silent as if he had exhausted his limited verbal reserve in a couple of phrases. "They're just messengers."
"Shiro, you've encountered dragons more than any of us here; what do you think?" Jishin's demanding eyes fixed on Stas.
"If the rumors are to be believed, then everything Serpent-san is busy with is hunting down poor dragons," Shin's sly smile and words caused a few chuckles among those who had also heard the rumors.
"Should you, of all people, believe in rumors, Shin-san?" Ordyntsev asked sarcastically, casting a condescending glance at the reconnaissance commander. "I always thought that people of your profession should be much more careful about obtaining information and not believe the first passerby."
"Enough, both of you!" Jishin barked, silencing the debaters. "You can argue later. Now, we all have a common cause. Serpent?"
"My experience isn't all that impressive," Ordyntsev began reluctantly sharing information. "I've managed to survive under the onslaught of a red dragon named Yamato..."
"Wait, Shiro-san," the archivist sitting to the side suddenly perked up. He had once conducted the procedure for choosing the clan head. "Did you say Yamato? If so, I've seen this name in ancient manuscripts."
The old man cleared his throat and recited from memory: "And the heavens opened, and fire fell. And in that fire was he. Death, destruction, and doom. His name was Yamato, the first among his accursed kind."
"So, student, you've had to fight the strongest dragon of their tribe? Damn, why does the tastiest always go to someone else?" Jun smirked under the earthling's pained gaze. "The Kami have made this world unfair."
"Among the things he displayed were immense durability, speed that, despite his size, matched the supreme rank, and blood techniques. He could use his blood to create explosions, enhance flame, or set it on his enemies," Stas explained, eager to get this duty over with as quickly as possible.
"Now we know what the strongest of them is capable of," Jishin decisively concluded after realizing that Stas had finished. "Summon the supremes. Anyone weaker will just be in the way. Prepare the city for a possible defense. Since they didn't specify the number of attendees, we'll bring everyone we can. Let's hope that's enough."
The surrounding warmasters nodded solemnly, agreeing with their leader.
They had little time left.
*****
Stas Ordyntsev was angry, struggling to restrain himself from kicking the ground. While the warmasters around him were inspired by the upcoming meeting, he only felt regret for the wasted time.
Today, he and Satoshi were supposed to check on an especially unusual cultist, whose chaos reserves were so high that he should have long become a spawn of change. Yet, for some reason, this hadn't happened, which was truly amazing.
But instead of this undoubtedly beneficial activity, he was, like a fool, waiting for the arrival of dragons.
To the logical question: "Why is the Serpent even needed here anyway?" Jishin gave no concrete answer, resorting to the vague "it's necessary."
The earthling was also significantly troubled by Kaede's delay. She should have returned long ago. Yet, there was no word from her. Considering the strange behavior of the "visitors," this was starting to worry him.
Fortunately, the dragons proved to be punctual, and their wings flapped when there were still five minutes until the appointed time.
Here, Stas had to throw all extraneous thoughts out of his head.
The imposing group of about fifteen dragons looked too frightening to think about anything else.
Although there was plenty of space in the surrounding fields for landing, several trees on the edge were blown apart by the irritated swipes of tails and paws.
Each time a multi-ton body landed on all fours, the ground trembled a little.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Stas surveyed their own ranks, spread in a wide front.
Jishin hadn't deceived, bringing most of their supremes to this meeting.
Thirty-five figures contained such a volume of prana that it could easily equal a quarter of the entire remaining ordinary population of the world.
This was a force to be reckoned with.
Finally, the dragons moved, forming a sort of wedge, and then advanced. The apex of this 'chevron' was led by a red dragon already familiar to Stas.
Or rather, Ordyntsev did not recognize him, but his size and a certain profound sense suggested that this was indeed the very one.
Exchanging glances, the humans followed suit. Jishin proudly walked ahead. Behind him, the rest of the supremes took their places. Unlike the dragons, the humans were more widely spaced, as they relied more on mobility. And in case a battle started, they needed space to retreat.
To the earthling's greater annoyance, his place was directly next to Jishin, which in turn also put him right in the line of fire.
Interestingly, Kensei, Shin, and Gash weren't here because they weren't supremes. Why the hell he, Stanislav, had been included here, he just couldn't grasp.
However, these thoughts couldn't overshadow his mind for long. When both sides had almost stopped, someone else also decided to make their presence known.
"Shi-i-i-iro!" An unexpected and so familiar cry almost made Stas stumble.
How surprised he was when Kaede, joyously shouting, emerged from behind the dragons' backs, quickly covered the remaining couple of dozen meters, and hurled herself around Stas's neck.
Ordyntsev had to quickly step forward to prevent the twitching warmaster guards from stuffing the feisty yokai with metal or stone techniques.
His neck was gripped by strong girlish arms, and his cheeks received a couple of slobbery kisses.
"I'm so glad to see you! You wouldn't believe what happened to Katsuya and me. We were heading to the yokai, and then, imagine, we came across a real dragon! And then…"
Stas involuntarily smiled at the wave of positivity and energy that Kaede unleashed upon him.
As much as he didn't want to admit it, he missed the spontaneity and lightness of this girl's character.
He inadvertently caught an unfriendly glance from one of the dragons, a copper-colored one. He wasn't the oldest among them, but judging by the look, he disliked Stas personally.
"Kaede, I'm also very glad to see you, but now is really not the time for conversations," Ordyntsev hissed through his smile, nudging the girl behind him. "Go to the city and wait for me there. We have an important diplomatic mission here, after all."
"It's okay, we can wait," a soft laugh made him freeze, and he immediately determined the speaker. An enormous white dragoness was looking at him attentively. "I assume you're the legendary Shiro, whom Kaede-chan has told me so much about?"
"Yes, my name is Shiro, known as the Serpent. Though I don't know what exactly she's told you about me…"
'What, by the devils, did she divulge about me?! Did she let slip about my arrival to this world? Or the memory loss? Or the meddling with chaos? Ether? Intrigues? Curse your long tongue, Kaede!'
"Oh, don't worry," the smile on the dragonness's snout was not something Stas ever wanted to see. Especially when you're only about ten meters away from that "smile." "After her stories, I couldn't help but want to talk to you too."
"You know, Shiro-kun, I'm starting to envy you," the voice of Jishin, who stood a little behind, forced Ordyntsev to let out a resigned sigh. "It turns out that there are legends about you even among the dragons. Go ahead, tell me that the same applies to the yokai, and then you won't surprise me with anything else."
"Well, actually…" Kaede began to stutter but then covered her mouth with her hand under the earthling's warning gaze.
But the damage was already done.
Stas felt the intensifying stares of those around him with his whole back.
"As I see it, we do have something in common after all," the white dragoness remarked with a smirk, addressing not just the humans but the other dragons as well. "So, since the official part of our meeting didn't happen, I propose we discuss the future topic of conversation without such... Large guard."
Jishin's gaze drilled into Stas; the latter looked back at Kaede, and she nodded in agreement.
The earthling nodded to his clan head. He sensed no deception in the yokai.
"Why not have a peaceful conversation?" Jishin smiled, directly addressing the red dragon, who had remained silent this whole time.
"So be it, warmaster," the deep voice of Yamato sent chills down the spine. "You, Melissa, have gotten your way after all."
"What a disgusting disregard for tradition," the black dragon hissed angrily, nervously fluttering his wings. "Humans should know their place!"
There was probably some trick in the dragons' introduction that Melissa, thanks to her play, quickly circumvented.
"Be quiet, Higasius," Yamato was uncompromising. "I've made my choice, and you will obey."
Only an angry snort was the response.
"I understand you, Yamato-san," Jishin sighed demonstratively, casting a contemptuous glance at the grumbling black dragon. "You, like me, are well aware of how annoying it is when every decision you make is inevitably challenged by someone who feels it's their duty to argue with it."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Yamato appraisingly eyed the head of the great clan standing before him.
Would he humiliate Jishin by ignoring his address, or...
"That is our fate as rulers," the giant head of the red dragon nodded slightly. "And therefore, we must carry it with honor."
"Completely agree." Thanks to the short distance, Stas noticed how Jishin breathed a sigh of relief.
The attempt to connect with Yamato was risky, but it worked. Perhaps because the ancient reptile needed the humans for some reason.
At the same time, the beginning of the dialogue was laid. Meanwhile, the bulk of both armies retreated, situating themselves on both sides of the field. The tension that had reigned between them dissipated significantly.
Stas himself stepped aside, deciding to talk privately to Kaede, who, contrary to his order, still stayed not so far away.
"What happened?!" No matter how much self-control Ordyntsev had, the news dumped on him was beyond comprehension.
The destruction of the Secret City and significant losses among the yokai were followed by the loss of the dragons' home, which forced them to carry eggs and young dragons away under the constant pressure of chaos.
And as if all this wasn't enough, the appearance of the Serpent King, who had completely fallen under the influence of chaos, made Stas stagger.
For a moment, his vision flickered, only to fully recover immediately.
The sharp, pulsating pain in his head also subsided as quickly as it began.
'And how am I supposed to help him if he's become a chaos creature?' Stas was full of doubts. 'Maybe it's not over yet? If Kaede's recount is to be believed, judging by how he behaved in battle, it doesn't seem like he was happy with his state.'
"And you're saying they almost fought, just as chaos wanted?" Stas asked incredulously as Kaede finished her story.
"Yeah," the girl nodded gloomily. "Hirui told me about it afterward. While we were saving their children, they believed the other Great Spirits had also sided with chaos. Fortunately, they didn't completely give in to their rage and managed to listen to the Turtle's arguments."
"By the way, who is Hirui, and how do you know that white dragoness? As far as I understand, she holds an important position in dragon society."
"Hirui, that's me," a new voice spoke flatly. "And as you said, the white dragoness, that's our much-respected elder, Melissa."
Stas calmly turned to meet the gaze of the man who had approached. For Ordyntsev, it was not a surprise to see the human manifestation of a dragon. The scrolls clearly spoke of such capabilities of the reptiles.
Both paused, carefully observing each other.
"Oh, this, ha-ha, is precisely Hirui, whom I was just mentioning," Kaede said awkwardly, nervously shifting her gaze from one man to the other. "He helped us a lot when he risked his life to save us from the dungeon the Great Spirits put us into."
"I am very grateful to you for saving my companion," Ordyntsev bowed politely, however, without breaking eye contact. "Such selflessness does you honor."
"Don't mention it," Hirui immediately responded, mirroring the bow. "I couldn't just let such beauty rot in that dungeon. And you, apparently, are the very Shiro the Serpent? I've heard a lot about you."
'We have much to discuss, Kaede. And first and foremost, your loose tongue.'
"I hope those were only good things. However, I still don't understand. If the conflict with the yokai was resolved, why are there only dragons here? Aren't both sides supposed to negotiate a refuge?"
"They just abandoned the yokai," Kaede frowned, causing the dragon to look away in shame. "They said they should somehow make it here on their own. As if it didn't matter that there's a whole army of chaos worshippers in the mountains!"
"Kaede, you must understand, for all of us, the loss of our home was a tremendous blow. And the fact that one of the Great Spirits led the attack..." Hirui tried to justify his kin, but clearly in vain.
"So what?" Kaede challenged, hands on hips and eyes narrowed. "Your elders knew full well that the other yokai were not to blame for anything. So why are they punishing them too?"
Shaking his head, Stas quietly left the arguing couple.
With the information received, he had much to think about.
They all thought they had time to prepare for the impending calamities, but what if they were already too late?
After all, in that case, nothing would save them.