"Ok, are you all serious?! I mean, come on guys, I'm fighting for you here! You don't have to screw me over like this!", the little dragon yelled.

"Over here bucko...so you were gonna kill me, huh?", Lass approached menacingly.

"What the? How?! This was not in the job's description!", the little dragon yelped.

"What now?", Lass provoked him.

The little dragon grunted, "Ok so be it...by the way, trying to sound all badass and stuff while holding that specific blade on you is a no-go, at least for me.", the dragon replied with a smug face.

With a flick of his fingers, Lass's sword flew off his hand and onto his tiny hands. The blade was almost twice as big as him but he held on to it just fine, now pointing it directly at Lass instead.

"Heheh, I'll never get tired of this! So...it broke a bit after all?", the little dragon laughed.

"Who the hell even are you, and how did you do that?", Lass said, surprised.

"Name's Yuno, the magnificent guardian of the legendary sword Excelsior, the 'Gate of Eternity'.", Yuno said in a pompous and formal way.

"More like a tiny guardian. So how about pointing that thing away from me now?"

"Nuh-uh, I don't feel like it! How about you come with me to my village instead? I'm sure you'll love it."

"Nuh-uh, I don't feel like it either.", Lass replied angrily.

"Too bad, I have a sword, you don't, so move it."

"Fine. Let's go then.", Lass submitted, "That's right, moron. Take me back to them and I'll snap your neck right after.", he whispered menacingly.

With that, the tiny dragon kept pocking Lass with the sword, slowly driving him all the way to his village.

"Yay, we're here.", Yuno said with a blank expression, "Wait while I convince the guards not to stab you while coming in. And don't even try to run away, the forest won't allow you to anyway."

With that, he convinced the guards not to attack Lass. He pulled him again all the way through the village while multiple other colored little dragons like him gathered around to see Lass. They all kept giving him angry looks and stares, almost as if had brought them nothing but disaster. There were multiple buildings, small and big in size, housing them all. Some of them were partially destroyed as they went further into the village. There was a non-running fountain at the centre of it all and marble roads connecting what appeared to be proper, wooden houses with even small yards with decaying flowers and shops with goods that appeared adjusted to the habitant's sizes. Besides the destruction of it all, it looked as if proper infrastructure existed deep within this torn village, secluded at the forest centre. Injured little dragons started to appear laying down as others tried to assist their wounded. Lass began to realize that everything was not at all as it seemed, once he saw one of the more gravely injured dragons in his eyes. The little dragon's mighty heart held strong, as his angry look pierced, not Lass, but Yuno standing behind him, his eyes not connecting for a moment with Lass's. They were eventually brought up to a massive house, not looking too different in terms of materials from the other small ones, but its size was definitely one to make it stand out completely from the rest. Symbols and drawings seemed to be carved on its doors outside. Heading inside the building, even more, drawings were present on the walls, detailing what appeared to be a story as they went along from the walls next to the doors, all the way to the back of the room. Decorations from all over the world were seen on pedestals, lit not by electricity, but fire lit candles, with a set of massive staircases on both the left and the right of the room, leading up to a second floor that seemed equally as massive as the one bellow, going further inside the house, making it look larger on the inside than the outside, which covered both it's a side with lush, green trees. In front of him, where the drawings ended, was a massive, grey dragon that was sitting down before them. Its face was covered with two white, long moustaches hanging down from its snout, fluffy long ears like those found in the smaller dragons around the village and a pair of firmly placed glasses close to its eyes. Its horns on its head, however, were much larger than the one's found on the other's and it waited with what seemed an inviting expression for its guests to arrive.

"Elder! I've found the One!", Yuno yelled.

The large dragon spoke in a calm, relaxing manner, "Very well, Yuno. Greetings there One. My name is Weis, and I'm known as the Kaisa village's elder. A 'leading figure' I guess you could say. What may One's name be?", Weis calmly said.

Lass seemed to be relaxing in front of the grey dragon's presence, "Name is Lass Reiden. And what the hell is all of this? Why am I here, and why was I dragged here like this? Also, why are you calling me 'The One'? What was all that we heard and saw in the forest and where are my friends?", he kept on asking.

"Hey, show respect to the elder!", Yuno angrily said.

"Yuno. I have told you, formalities are not required. Weis is my name. And you should also relax, my young anxious friend. The greatest form of respect, for anyone as old as I, is to be able to have youth freely talk to us, without being gatekept by mundane things such as our difference in experience, age and titles.", the old dragon chuckled, "And for as small as this one may be, he surely grew bigger. His presence certainly lifts the spirits of these old bones up.", he happily looked at Lass.

"I...am not sure how to handle this situation at all.", Lass looked at Yuno, trying to force him to say something else to escape his awkward scenario.

"Hey don't look at me, I'm just following orders to not get my ass kicked by general Vigo out there.", Yuno shrugged.

"Thank you for your help, Yuno. Now please leave me alone with the One. And his blade, of course."

"No freaking way, I'm not leaving you here with the so-called "One"! He is a demon, a monster like those things, with a lust for blood and a blade to act upon said lust! His aura heavily betrays him!", Yuno angrily said.

"Yuno, please. I can sense his intentions. He has no reason, nor will to cause harm.", Weis reassured Yuno.

Yuno stuttered before giving in to Weis's plead, "Fine.", he said as he looked all around, slowly. "I'm watching you.", he pointed at Lass.

"So...what the hell is all of this?", Lass finally calmed down, putting the broken sword back in its sheath.

"What is what?", Weis replied, trying to make conversation.

"You know. The guy that just stole my blade with psychic abilities, the hostility and everything? Not to mention that a couple of weeks into my epic adventure, where I am the luckiest guy ever, I meet a god, the richest girl on the planet, find out I'm this and now see some big, mystical dragon? All in an era where there are flying warships with laser canons that can wipe buildings in a blink of an eye. They said something about a 'main character syndrome', but I doubt that's the case here, given the streak of luck this has been.", Lass sarcastically said.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Weis chuckled again, "Why would a story not follow a main character? Isn't that what a story is supposed to do? And if so, isn't that story pruned to make itself interesting by following the most special character it could find? That way, the story too, can be special."

"Please, don't start with the philosophy. I can do it all day but now is just not the time. Especially when there's an entire town outside that's full of injured and hostile...citizens? Pets? Whatever, tiny dragon things."

"Ah, forgive me One. When the part of Excelsior was taken away from Kaci, the barrier it provided against the gods disappeared. One part missing is enough to make the entirety of its power fade like a chain losing a singular link. The gods then assaulted this place and ravaged our village. Supplies and villagers alike were taken away. The villagers then linked the One as the person that brought them that calamity instead of salvation.", Weis frowned.

"Wait...that means...man. You can't be serious.", Lass thought for a moment, "God dammit Anya, I knew it.", he whispered, "When you say supplies and villagers were taken, what do you mean? Why did they take them and who took them?"

"The ones we call Shadowers did so. They're another creation with which calamity strikes, and they needed the supplies and people to add to their numbers so that they can prepare to bring war upon the world. The way they do so is more brutal than you could ever imagine. They insert themselves into their victims using their life force and Obsulyte energy as a means of controlling and taking them over. The hosts die in the process and their souls are used for their army.", Weis answered with sorrow, "As much as I want, I am paralyzed in the face of this danger, I wish I could help. However, with dwindling powers, I am more of a relic in time, waiting to be dusted away, than a protector of my people."

Lass sighed, "Look, I'm really in a rush to find my friends, but like that stupid thought for a 'hero' that I am, I want to help. Truly."

"That you will. As I know many creatures who walked this world, from stories of all the souls waiting to pass to the Beyond through the Elysian Plains, you are the One to help those in need. And I can see it in your eyes. The title of a hero does not fit well on you, no. A hero is to be admired and idolized for qualities those around him decide when they witness it. You...you are not a hero. And yet, I can see that you are willing to do what is right. And right, like good and evil, fluctuates in one's eyes. And what's wrong, is sometimes best. 'Just' is applicable to you, not because you ceased your rebellion, but because you will enact one with justice.", the old dragon rambled on.

"I, uh...ok?", Lass didn't know how to react.

"Oh, apologies for the rambling, One."

Lass replied politely, "It's fine, I guess you're just saying everything I think of, just out loud. Now, back to the point, do you have any idea where they are doing this stuff? The 'bad guys'?"

"Northwest of our village lies their camping grounds, by the old town's mine, where no one dares to approach. Our numbers and soldiers mean nothing to them. That did not stop several young and brave souls with boiling blood in their veins from trying to get their loved ones back. Their end is most sad and unjust indeed. We can't attack them without giving them more to add to their numbers. And every day, they grow stronger. Yuno too, risked his life, for a soul, I think he is most certainly attached to."

"I guess him being riled up is somewhat excusable then.", Lass looked at Yuno in another way.

"He did not do anything out of malice, because he too, learned love, not in a romantic way yet, but in the same ways of empathy many young souls, tired with conflict and hatred surrounding them today."

"I guess so. Can those things you said to move in the same way you guys do? Able to navigate through the forest without being affected but whatever magical sh-tuff this is?", Lass corrected himself, respecting the elder.

The elder laughed, "Speak freely, the language that tired youth carries today is fiery, strong-willed and provocative, to turn the looks on your voices that are being forced to quiet down."

"I...I don't think I will be here. No offence. Although I think I almost made one."

"You indeed view the world differently. To answer your question, yes. The creatures born by darkness can only see through such darkness."

"Then that means that if Anya and Risa were out there, chances are they're either fighting for their lives or captured."

"In their total unwariness, and because of our mistaken illusionary efforts, it is likely that the ambush predators that are the Shadowers jumped them from behind, forcing them to faint briefly as they feasted on life itself from their bodies. Death does not follow so briefly, as those beasts need time to engrave themselves on one's body."

"That means I have some time on my side. Can this thing, 'Gate Of Eternity', Excelsior or whatever help me in any way? Even if it's broken, if these things didn't want to approach it, that must mean they will surely hate to face it."

"Ah yes, the legendary blade that only the One chosen by it and its Guardian, or Link as they began to call them, can use. I suppose that this might be the answer to our issues. But I'd like it if you also took Yuno with you."

"The guy who keeps on calling me a demon and poked me with this until I got here? Forget it.", he sighed.

"The guardian of the sword is supposed to be the Guardian of the One the sword chooses. Your bond is linked as life is to die. So please, do try to get along. You must be together to unleash each other's full potential. Yuno please come in.", he addressed Yuno behind the closed door.

"Gah!", Yuno dropped to the floor, "I heard everything! And come on Elder, you can't be serious! This guy will end up backstabbing me or something! For all I know, he could be like the demons, or monsters, or whatever those Shadowers are that also took Lili! I can't be his Guardian on top of everything else!"

"Eavesdropping now?", Lass scoffed, "I don't even know why you're calling me a demon. Get out of your basement and realize we're not playing a game of Demise, where you're constantly hunting demons as the Demise Guy. This is serious. Hell, were it my choice, I could tell you to piss off and be on my merry way before you knew it. Don't you want to help your people?", Lass angrily replied to Yuno's comment.

"Of course I do...that way they can stop treating me like this.", Yuno said with a frown.

"What do you mean?"

"After the fragment of the sword got stolen and the barrier was destroyed, everyone blamed me for losing it. They treated me horribly as if I wanted all this."

"You made a mistake.", Lass said, "Not really...god dammit mutt.", he whispered, "And it's all up to you to fix it. I bet if I can find my friends, we can all help you."

"Soothe me as you will, trust isn't built in a day, buddy. I have way too many issues on my hands right now."

"I'm just saying, they should've tried to work this out instead of dividing themselves from you and trying to look for a scapegoat while going solo. There are mistakes on both sides here.", Lass pointed out.

Yuno sighed, "Damn right there are mistakes. Who are your friends by the way? Because I did see two individuals being carried towards the Shadowers camp.", Yuno asked.

"Was it a demi-human wolf girl and a petite-looking, brunette girl?", Lass said, hiding his worry about their well-being.

"Was the wolf girl carrying a chainsaw?"

"Yes."

"Was another one wearing some sort of dress suited for battle?"

"Oh no...", Lass facepalmed.

"Yeah, I did see them. One of them felt quite weird. Her aura with her Obsulyte signature was extremely familiar, at least to me.", Yuno wondered.

"Yeah, it should be extremely familiar.", Lass put his hand behind his head.

"Listen, right now, we might have some time, but not a whole lot. Are there any other conditions I need to know about?"

"Nothing...important.", Lass avoided answering.

"I can see past the lies. You're not a good one at it either. Come on spit it out! Whatever you say is within the norm of what I'm used to."

"Yeah, this one ain't normal for most people."

"What even are they? She's a queen or a scholar or even a Sentinel-level Obsulyte user? Hell, what bugs you so much you can't tell me? For all, I know it could be the Goddess of Life who entrusted me with this Guardian mission."

"Bingo.", Lass whispered.

A small moment of silence filled the room, as Yuno suddenly burst into a rushed state.

"You've got to be kidding me! We need to get there right now! Move it!", Yuno worryingly said.

"Of course we do, I ain't gonna let them get hurt! But why are you suddenly so eager to do it? I thought you said we had time!"

"If she is the Goddess, Ikarisa, then we don't have any time! She could be being sacrificed as we speak! They get their hands on her for that...", Yuno tried to keep himself together.

"Yuno is right, you must rush there at once. If one of the monsters decides to use the goddess's body to add her to their numbers, the results could be catastrophic for the entire world! Who knows how much life force and power the goddess holds...please save them both!", Weis said.

With that, they both busted out of the Elders' house and rushed toward their location. This was a mission that they couldn't fail in. The last thing Lass's mind would come to think of would be the danger of losing both his friends and for things to escalate in a such volatile manner, and so quickly in their journey. All because of an innocent prank. But he knew, deep down, that they were strong. They wouldn't fall so easily and neither would he. Everyone would hold it together...