CHAPTER 25 – HARPY DRAGON
JOHNNY WOLVESBANE
As I uttered the unfamiliar word with fervor, a sharp bolt of lightning descended from the skies, targeting the battered dragonoid girl Maggie. The powerful blast created a shockwave that sent the delinquent high school students, including their President Gregory, flying.
In the aftermath, Maggie revealed her ancient true form. Dark green wings spread out, and a cascade of green feathers fell like snow. Unlike other dragons with scales, she was adorned in greenish feathers. Her legs resembled the talons of a phoenix, and razor-sharp claws adorned the tips of her wings. Her long lizard-like tail extended like a fan.
This was Maggie's transformation - the Harpy Dragon. Her crimson eyes now blazed with rage, and her dragon head featured fan-like feathers beneath her horns.
"Shit! She became a dragon!" one of the delinquent students cried.
"Run!" echoed the panicked shouts of the others as they scrambled away, realizing the dire consequences of awakening Maggie's formidable and enraged form.
"RAAAAAAH!" The Harpy Dragon kicked the ground and ascended into the air. It arced gracefully, sweeping down to cradle me gently in its powerful grip.
"M-Maggie?" I stammered, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"This is my true form, Johnny. Thanks to you activating the Vesryn Pulse, I was able to unlock my hidden power," Maggie communicated telepathically within my mind.
"The Vesryn Pulse?" I muttered, still grappling with my confusion. I clutched my chest, feeling the rapid beats, each pulse releasing mana like a sonar with every pump. Strangely, I sensed warmth and comfort, a synchronicity between our hearts.
The Harpy Dragon executed a U-turn in the skies, heading back towards the vacant lot we had escaped from. There, it spotted five high school students attempting to flee. In response, the Harpy Dragon flapped its wings, releasing feather arrows that struck the fleeing enemies in their hearts. One by one, they fell, like swatted insects.
"Maggie! What are you doing!?" I cried out, torn between relief and horror at the unleashed power and the consequences it brought.
"We have no choice, Johnny! They know my secret! They saw your name and your face! If somebody from these dirtbag assholes manages to survive, we're done for!" the Harpy Dragon communicated urgently in my mind.
I clenched my teeth, acknowledging the harsh reality of Maggie's logic. A single surviving witness could compromise us both. There was no reason to allow any of these tormentors to live and reveal what they had seen.
The Harpy Dragon flapped its wings again, releasing gigantic feather darts that rained down upon the area. The open field resounded with the agonized cries of our enemies. Five more high school students perished in the process.
Three survivors attempted to fight back, firing bullets and launching magical sword slashes, but none made a dent on the Harpy Dragon's impervious feathers. She was fully invulnerable.
In a surge of anger, the Harpy Dragon landed on the ground, swiftly squishing one slow enemy with her talons. Then, with a fearsome chomp, she dispatched the next two high school students who had tortured her. The vengeance was swift and merciless, as Maggie unleashed her newfound power.
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Just when we thought all enemies and witnesses had been dealt with, an enraged voice echoed through the air.
"I knew it, you fucking terrorists!"
It was Gregory's voice. Stepping forward, a purple magical circle formed at his feet. The circle crackled with purple lightning, and chunks of earth defied gravity, clustering together to shape a humanoid giant.
"Golem Transmutation!" Gregory roared triumphantly, a malicious grin on his face. With his long, messy black hair dancing in the wind, he stood atop his colossal rock titan, towering ten meters tall.
I was taken aback by Gregory's ability to wield such formidable magic. It seemed almost as if he was at an Erudite level or perhaps just one stage lower. Lysander's image flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder about the extent of the powers hidden within this seemingly ordinary high school.
"I don't care if you're a rogue Dragon Knight with tremendous power! I will not fall here!" Gregory laughed maniacally, saliva flowing from his lips.
"UWOOOOOOGH!" The golem roared, launching a charged right hook with its massive fist. In the nick of time, the Harpy Dragon intercepted the rocky knuckle with both of her razor talons.
Surprisingly, Gregory leaped away from his transmuted golem, locking eyes with me. He brandished a pistol enhanced with lightning magic and fired, aiming directly for my head. It became apparent that I was his true target all along.
Swiftly tilting to the left, I narrowly evaded the shot. Gregory landed on top of the Harpy Dragon's head and continued firing bullets at me. With enhanced reflexes, I deftly dodged each bullet, evading the relentless assault on my life.
"I know a thing or two about the Dragon Knights! All I have to do is to kill the knight, and the dragon will turn back to its human form!" Gregory explained with a cruel smile.
"Too bad, you won't be able to kill me," I muttered defiantly.
Channeling the power of the Vesryn Pulse into both my arms, my fists transformed into werewolf claws adorned with harpy wings. Without hesitation, I punched through Gregory's chest, creating a gaping hole. Blood spilled from his lips, and his eyes slowly lost their spark of life.
As I withdrew my bestial fist, I found Gregory's ruptured heart clutched in my hand. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, blood flowing from the gaping wound. Without a moment's hesitation, I flung the heart away, severing any last connection to the twisted figure who had orchestrated the torment of Maggie and sought my demise.
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After the battle, we set the whole area ablaze, bodies included, using the Harpy Dragon's fiery breath. It was a necessary step to erase every trace of our involvement in the altercation.
As the flames subsided, the Harpy Dragon transformed back into human form, revealing Maggie. Together, hand in hand, we made our escape through alleys and sewers leading to the outskirts of town. The feeling of holding her soft, skinny hand was both familiar and nostalgic. Despite six months passing since our breakup, I hadn't moved on. My love for her still lingered.
"Johnny... I'm sorry for suddenly leaving you like that, six months ago," Maggie confessed with a frown. "I never intended to break up with you."
I shook my head, my heart still heavy with the memories. "I was devastated when you suddenly left without telling me why."
Maggie came to a halt, locking eyes with me. Her crimson dragonoid eyes still held the same captivating beauty that had once ensnared me. Suddenly, she pressed her face forward, delivering a kiss I had longed for, a kiss that reignited a rush of emotions I had cast aside.
"I still love you, Johnny," Maggie confessed, tears welling up in her eyes. "I was just scared that you might get hurt because of me, because of my connections with Neo Arcadia."
"So it is true," I said, my voice trembling. "Maggie, you... you are with the terrorists."
"We are not terrorists, Johnny," Maggie sobbed. "We are defenders of the world. We never despised you humans. We only want the Empire of Alterra to fall."
"Speak no more, Maggie," I whispered, enveloping the love of my life in the warmth of my embrace. "It doesn't matter. I love you. I will support you whatever happens. Let the earth be scorched, as long as we are together, I will not mind."
"Oh, Johnny," Maggie sighed, returning my tight hug.
Under the radiant glow of the full moon, our intertwined silhouettes formed an enigmatic yet sweet shadow, casting a unique presence upon the entire world.