Captain Freeman and Monte tried to gain enough altitude to outrun the spell. In the half second or so they had, they failed in that task.

Sound cracked and popped as a loud boom shook the docks. The brilliant flash of light blinded the local combatants. The skies stayed dark as the sounds of thunder rolled in. Summoned by the massive expenditure of mana.

Monte's body went limp and began to fall into the water. Captain Freeman, to Trillia's surprise and horror, jumped off the back of the dying gryphon and landed on the ship. The barrier had failed in the presence of Trillia's aura.

The man's gleaming armor had a scorch mark on it. There were burn marks running along his face. But he was still standing.

As Trillia watched him and began charging another spell, she felt a heavy hand grab her back and yank her down. Three arrows narrowly missed her head.

Captain Highwind shook her. "Turn off the aura! Damnit, Trillia. The crew is going to get slaughtered!"

Robert rolled over into a standing position. He raised the odd wand at his sound, and a loud bang was heard. The projectile fired slammed into Freeman's chest, staggering him back. "Leave this asshole to me! Capture Illana and kill the other riders!"

As the crew began to follow directions, Trillia watched her mana plummet by the thousands as everyone instinctually used mana. Her own mana lashed out to disrupt their spells. Trillia knew for a fact that the battle would be long over in an hour. She jumped to her feet and ran to cover. Illana's arrows never came. Trillia peaked over to look at the dock and saw Simon standing behind the elf. A dagger in his hand plunged into the woman's side.

A twisted snarl came from her lips, and she whipped around with her own dagger in hand. The speed at which she moved with no mana shocked Trillia. The weight behind the blow tore out an eye and sent the goblin flying. Illana yanked the dagger out and hurled it at Taz, who unceremoniously dove into the water to avoid the strike.

As three members of the crew descended on her, she used her own dagger to parry their attacks. She watched the skills she knew so well happen. Parry, Lunge, Riposte, Counter.

All without a single point of mana being spent.

In the span of thirty seconds, three crew members lay dead.

The deck of the ship rumbled and yanked Trillia's attention from the deadly elf to the two Captains. Captain Freeman only had a small war hammer at his disposal. But the crushed skulls of two more crew members and Robert's broken saber were enough to know he was dangerous.

Trillia realized that without skills, their raw stats alone were enough to defeat most of the people around them. Robert was locked in a dance of avoiding blows and striking with a dagger when possible.

Trillia's traits gripped her mind and focused her. Her aura needed to vanish.

She labeled herself an enemy, as well as Captain Freeman. She ran over to the man and dumped seventy percent of her remaining mana into a [Chain Lightning].

It was an honest, innocent mistake.

It was a mistake born of naivety and a lack of fundamental knowledge of mana.

As millions upon millions of mana with the intent to kill left her body, the skies split open with rain and lightning strikes of their own.

Trillia's bolt hit Freeman and blew a hole through the man's chest. As the lightning coiled around his body and sought its next target, Trillia felt the wind get knocked out of her.

She watched the remaining millions of mana vanish in an instant as her health plummeted to zero and her mana absorbed the remaining damage. She was left with a few hundred thousand mana. A feeling of exhaustion hit her, and she slumped to her knees.

You've defeated a [Golden Gryphon Captain]!

Experience greatly increased for defeating an enemy many times your level!

Experience greatly increased for dealing most of the damage!

Captain Freeman's body hit the ground. Trillia's health ticked up a few points into the positives as her mana fell. More and more people continued to use their skills. Partially on instinct and partially because Captain Highwind had called out for them to do so.

But Trillia's honest, innocent mistake had come to fruition.

Another notification popped into her head.

A flashing red notification that seemed to tremble at the words it had to convey.

You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! Skill effectiveness is reduced by 99%!

You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! Healing reduced by 99%!

You're in the presence of the Dragon Quetzalcoatl! You must have a derived stat that equals or exceeds 150,000 to use any offensive abilities!

Stolen story; please report.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating lightning mana! You cannot use lightning mana skills or abilities.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating wind mana! You cannot use wind mana skills or abilities.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating water mana! You cannot use water mana skills or abilities.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating storm mana! You cannot use storm mana skills or abilities.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating healing mana! You cannot use healing mana skills or abilities.

You're in the presence of an adult Dragon capable of manipulating radiant mana! You cannot use radiant mana skills or abilities.

Everyone froze. Everyone got the notification. Trillia watched as a body that filled the harbor slowly descended from the skies. Lightning cracked and streaked off of the creature's body.

It landed in the water that was easily twenty to thirty feet deep. She could still see its legs. Its wings spread wide, covering most of the port from the wind and rain.

The mana in the air groaned as its wings lit up. Trillia could see the crackling electric energy flowing from its body to its wings.

The port was covered in a flickering blue light. The creature's head leaned down to look directly at her. Beautiful blue and grey scales covered the dragon's entire body. Eyes that seemed entirely composed of lightning mana danced in it's eye sockets.

The creature's head was so large that if it opened its mouth, the Argo could sail right in.

Every combatant around her dropped their weapons. Every person in the harbor fell to their knees.

Trillia felt their mana return as hers hit zero, and her aura stopped. Her regeneration quickly began to refill her mana.

Trillia watched as every person in the harbor began to pray. The only ones naive enough or stupid enough to not fall to their knees were Layla and Trillia. Both incapable of doing anything but staring.

Trillia's mind groaned under the pressure but simply couldn't keep the dragon's mind out of her own. It spoke in the orc language. Its eyes stared at her unblinking.

"Who are you? To expend so much mana in such a vile and destructive way?"

Trillia's eyes began to water from the pressure on her mind. "An orc. Trying to save my friends."

Trillia wasn't sure if she should mention Arlyss. The last thing she wanted to do was anger a dragon with the wrong words.

"Oh? Someone so eloquent in avoiding the honest answer. Typical of pirates. Scan me. Whelp. So that you know not to lie in my presence again. Lest this port be wiped from Alirast for your foolish words."

Trillia activated [Divine Mana-Sight]

[Adult Dragon - Storm - 7912] Radiant Storm Mana Manipulation

Notable Traits

Dragon

Forced Revelation

A Thousand Years of Truth

Walking Catastrophe

Devourer of Leviathans

Devourer of Dragons

Edge of Oblivion

A Thousand Years of Freedom

...

Some of them were obvious, but most of them were not. "It has been over a thousand years since I last told a lie. It bothers me greatly when lesser creatures lie in my presence. Now. While you have not lied to me yet. I won't tolerate your dishonest nature. The truth. Now."

Trillia glanced around at the others, none of whom dared to even look at the creature. Layla had also begun kneeling and praying to Ora'sys.

"I will tell you. If you take me from this place and leave these people alone."

The dragon snorted. Peels of lightning streaked across the Argo and the surrounding docks, blasting apart board and stone alike. "You'd make demands of me?"

"No! I would not make demands of you. I am only offering you a trade. I will answer any and all questions you have for me. But only if I know that this harbor and these people will not suffer because of my words."

The dragon tilted its head and looked around. After a moment, it turned its head back to Trillia. "Fine. What is it that is gnawing at the edges of your mind? You don't seem to fear death. So why are you worried about leaving?"

"My deity has tasked me with delivering something to the dwarves. We were in the midst of a battle to defend that cargo. I am trying to stop whatever is blocking other deities from seeing the central continent. I'm also worried that my friends will lose this battle if I leave."

The dragon's eyes crackled, and she was immediately aware she was being scanned.

"I see. Then let us make a deal, young orc. You, your acolyte friend, and your cargo will come with me. You will answer all of my questions. If you do not lie to me. I will bring the other orc and your cargo to the dwarven lands myself. If you lie to me, I will destroy both of you and the cargo. I will ensure that no more fighting takes place in this harbor for a period of one month. In addition, if you tell the truth and I deliver the other orc and the cargo. You must enter one year of servitude to me. A price for my patience and gentle nature in this matter."

Trillia bowed her head. "I accept."

You've accepted a Divine Geas from the Dragon Quetzalcoatl!

Breaking this geas will result in your death!

The dragon looked into the skies, and she felt waves of mana flowing from it. The dragon's mana was a beautiful bright blue, nearly white. It flowed into the rain and up into the clouds.

Within a few seconds, two much, much smaller dragons descended from the clouds and landed on the docks.

For the first time, she heard the dragon's words verbally. She watched as her mana plummeted back to zero. When it spoke, it had the same eerie effect that deities did. Where it was speaking every language all at once.

"Guard this harbor. If anyone attacks another, destroy them.

For the next month. There are to be no battles and no instigation of battles. Doing so will result in your death."

It spoke to the younger two dragons as much as it spoke to the harbor. Lak'Lorn appeared from below decks with the crate in hand. The dragon gently lowered a claw to poke it. As soon as contact was made, the crate vanished. The dragon brought a wing over and laid it on the dock. Everyone on the dock dove into the water to avoid being crushed. Trillia and Layla were both given the command to climb on.

Neither cared to ignore it. Trillia glanced at the city, hoping that Andromeda was at least ok. She knew that Illana wouldn't attack anymore. Not only would the dragons ensure a swift and brutal death, but the cargo was no longer there.

The second that Layla and Trillia were on the dragon's wing, a bolt of lightning struck its head, and they all vanished. Trillia was suddenly thousands of feet in the air. She briefly looked down to see most of the ships in the port being sucked into the giant hole that had appeared where the dragon's body was.

Closing her eyes, she grabbed Layla's hand and squeezed. She prayed to Arlyss and Ora'sys that she wouldn't get her friend killed and fail her mission.