Chapter Forty-Seven: Duty

As the Obsidian Dragon emerged from the shadowy depths, an overwhelming sense of dread filled the air. Its massive form, covered in black-scaled armor, towered over everything, casting an ominous shadow across the cavern. Each step it took sent tremors through the ground, molten cracks spreading beneath its claws. The very atmosphere seemed to grow heavier, weighed down by the dragon's oppressive presence. Its glowing red eyes scanned the group coldly, as though it were passing judgment on them, far beyond their power to resist.

The once eerily silent cavern now buzzed with chaos. The proud Vulcan Dracotaur, who once held their heads high, flickered nervously under the weight of the beast’s immense aura. The dragon’s scales seemed to absorb light, drawing the life from the space. Every breath felt like inhaling thick smoke, and even the bravest among them felt their hearts tighten with fear.

Two Vulcan Dracotaur warriors sprang into action, charging at the dragon with a battle cry. But the dragon barely acknowledged their effort. With a swift flick of its tail, razor-sharp scales severed them in half as if they were mere insects. Another Dracotaur cried out in anguish, “No! Not again!” He rushed at the dragon, only to be caught in its enormous jaws. The dragon bit down, tearing the warrior’s head from his body and swallowing it whole, as though it were nothing more than a snack.

At the forefront, Yozora stood, utterly unfazed. His mind raced with strategy, but his expression remained calm. He turned to Nuri, the Fire Hawk hovering nearby, its fiery wings a stark contrast to the suffocating darkness brought by the Obsidian Dragon.

“Nuri,” Yozora began, his voice steady amid the chaos, “why can’t you just take this thing down? With all that power, why not end it here and now?”

Nuri, who usually radiated with pride and fiery arrogance, seemed subdued in the dragon’s presence. The flames that always burned brightly on his body flickered and dimmed, his tone quieter, almost distant.

“I... cannot interfere, Yozora,” Nuri admitted reluctantly. “I am the guardian of this realm, meant to protect against external threats. But this dragon... it was born from within. It is not my place to stop it. My duty is to defend against what comes from beyond, not what festers inside.”

Yozora blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the weight of Nuri’s words. "So you’re telling me this thing’s an internal threat? It’s a part of this world?"

"Yes," Nuri confirmed, his voice now solemn. "The Obsidian Dragon is the result of the corruption within this realm. It’s born from the land itself, and as such, it is not my enemy to destroy. That task falls to you, Yozora."

Yozora sighed, taking in the full gravity of the situation. Without a second thought, he took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll bear that burden. I’ve got strong enough shoulders for it, didn’t you know?” he said with a smirk, rolling his neck and loosening his shoulders. Turning toward the Elder, he added, “Watch closely, or you’ll miss the lightning strike. Oh, and have Calida prepare another round of soup.”

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With that, Yozora casually floated up towards the towering dragon. As if reacting to the threat, the dragon swung its massive tail downward, aiming to crush Yozora. But in one swift motion, Yozora caught the tail mid-swing, holding it firmly in his grip.

“Hey, at least ask for my name before going for first base,” Yozora quipped, tightening his grip on the dragon’s tail. The dragon struggled, trying to pull its tail free, but Yozora only gripped harder, his strength unmatched. With a smirk, Yozora yanked the dragon’s tail to the side and darted toward it, his fist clenched. “If you wanted a kiss, you should’ve asked!” he shouted, delivering a devastating punch to the dragon’s ribcage.

The dragon roared in agony, but its pain only fueled its rage. It opened its massive jaws to unleash another roar, but Yozora was quicker, appearing in front of its face and slapping its mouth shut.

“Don’t you have any manners? You’re waking the kids,” Yozora scolded, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Nuri and the Elder watched in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the sheer ease with which Yozora was handling the fearsome creature. They exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing: That could’ve been us.

Yozora’s expression shifted to something darker, more menacing. His lips curled into a slight smirk as he relentlessly battered the dragon, each blow harder than the last. “How many Vulcan Dracotaur have you killed? It’s time to beat that corruption out of you,” he muttered, his tone cold.

Forming his hand into a piercing gesture, Yozora whispered, “Zaichi Fumi, Form Dragon Slayer: Devourer of Hearts.”In a single, swift motion, Yozora plunged his arm into the dragon’s chest, ripping out its heart with brutal precision.

The massive beast let out one final, anguished roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

For a moment, Yozora stood still, the dragon’s heart still in his hand. His usual cocky demeanor faded as a wave of emotion washed over him. He felt the dragon’s suffering, its pain. Slowly, tears welled up in his eyes, and he stood there, crying softly. To the others, he appeared as though he had gone mad, but in truth, he was shouldering the weight of the realm’s sorrow—a burden too heavy for any one being to bear alone.

“I remember now...” Yozora murmured to himself. “Why I was so closed off before. Why I seemed cold. The weight of being the strongest... it’s too much. For those with immense strength will always feel utterly alone, burdened with the hopes and dreams of everyone they protect.”

He gently placed his hand on the dragon’s body and whispered, “Your remains will go to good use.” As he spoke, Yozora absorbed the dragon’s very essence, its scales, heart, and all its power, merging it with his own.

When he finally stood up, he turned to face the remaining Vulcan Dracotaur, his face full of grief. “You all must become stronger. It’s not up to beings like me or Nuri to fight your battles. After I face your Lord, you must learn to carry your own burdens, defeat your own enemies, or die trying.”

Turning away from the stunned crowd, Yozora called out to Nuri. “Forget the soup. I’m done here.”

Nuri exchanged a glance with the Elder, who nodded grimly. “He’s upset,” Nuri said softly. “He knew he couldn’t fix the corruption inside the dragon. But we must let him bear that burden.”

Nuri flew up to Yozora, hovering by his side. “Are you ready to head further toward Lord Ignarok?”

Yozora, his expression still heavy with sorrow, gave a faint nod. “Yeah. Let’s go.”