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They say fear and excitement can feel very similar the first time you experience them. I don't know if that's true… but if it is, then this tingling in my chest must be a mix of both.
The plan was to stick to the mission, reach the next checkpoint, be efficient, and stay out of trouble. But of course, when you've got a master like Naoka pulling strings from afar and a land dragon tearing up the ecosystem like it's a carpet… who could resist a little extra hunt?
Right now, the sun is just beginning to peek through the mountains, and the mist crawls along the ground like it's scared too—scared of whatever sleeps beneath the earth. Terimaru is sharpening his words more than his sword, Keia ties her hair like she's heading to war, Aethen keeps that suspicious silence, Darel carries his usual stoicism… and me? I'm ready to make history (or at least get a good story out of it).
Today we face something we've only ever seen in books. And even if I'm not sure we'll make it out unscathed, there's one thing I know for sure:
We're about to prove we're not just simple travelers.
We are the ones who walk straight into the roar.
As soon as we set off and began the hike toward our destination, distant roars started tearing through the air. Deep, rough—like a warning written in the sound itself: don't come any closer, unless you want to die, dumbass.
The landscape grew grayer the farther we went. How could a field so beautiful and a forest so full of life start to look so grim the closer we got to the mountains where the dragon rested?
It was definitely going to be an unforgettable experience.
As we climbed the path into the mountains, we started running into strange-looking creatures. Some walked on all fours, with horns as sharp as spears. Others looked like red-furred apes, their bristly hair standing on end like spikes whenever they moved.
A few meters ahead, we spotted a small camp set up next to a cliff. Several guards stood watch, visibly tense.
(In the language of Shunkaku):
"Halt! Who are you? Don't you know the mountain pass is closed? The land dragon has turned this area into a death trap!" one of the guards shouted, raising his hand to stop us as he approached.
"We are warriors of House Valaryon, from the country of Valeria. We are accompanied by the grandson of Master Naoka. We've come precisely to deal with the dragon," Kerl replied fluently.
I didn't understand a single word, but his body language made it clear he knew what he was doing.
I turned my head toward Terimaru and stared at him. When our eyes met, I raised an eyebrow and gestured with my mouth toward Kerl and the guard. He let out a small sigh, covered his face with one hand, and shook his head like someone dealing with a mischievous child.
"The guard asked what we're doing here. Kerl already explained everything… and you, Miki, should really learn our language. Or do you plan on having me as your personal translator forever?" Terimaru said, half annoyed, half amused.
I looked back at Kerl and said nothing. I just gave him a slight nod and a smirk that said, Isn't it obvious that's what we brought him for?
"Then, let me inform my captain. I can't let you through without his approval. Wait near that tree—the nearby logs can serve as seats," the guard said.
"Is everything alright, Master?" Aethen asked, his face serious.
"Yes, all is well, Aethen. Now we wait for that boy's superior to grant us permission to enter the mountain," Kerl responded calmly.
About ten minutes passed before the guard returned. I wondered if it was smart of him to leave his post that long… Luckily, it was us, and not someone with more sinister intentions.
When he came back, he allowed us to pass. Said his captain had been informed of our presence. He wished us luck and warned us about unstable terrain—apparently, rocks had been falling frequently, so we needed to stay alert.
As soon as we stepped onto the narrow path—mountain on one side, massive boulders on the other—we felt small tremors underfoot.
"Do you think these tremors are natural… or is the dragon causing them?" Keia asked, looking around nervously.
"Whatever they are, it'll be a valuable experience for you," Kerl answered calmly. "The first time I faced a land dragon, I nearly died. And three of my companions did die. But don't worry—now I'm a thousand times stronger than I was back then."
"That said," he added with a confident smile, "I'll just be observing. You'll be the ones to face it. If things get ugly, I'll step in. Got it?"
"I bet you defeated it by reflecting sunlight majestically, Master," I said with a cheeky grin.
"Young Yeroy, I had as much hair as you back then… But after that fight, I ended up like this. And I promise you, you're coming with me—HAHAHA!" the master laughed. His laugh sounded so ominous I could've sworn he was cursing me.
Then, right at that moment, a roar erupted—so brutal it felt like the sound alone could devour you. It was deafening, like it wanted to burst your eardrums, forcing you to cover your ears tightly.
GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWR!
From behind one of the massive rocks emerged a yellowish creature with square orange scales on its arms, and a colossal head with teeth so sharp they seemed to cut the air.
Its back was nearly as massive as its head, and its arms were like pillars ending in deadly claws. It had one giant wing… and another that looked like it had been severed in battle. Its green eyes glowed with a fierce feline intensity.
"This beast is terrifying… Everything about it screams we're gonna die if we get close," Darel muttered, sweating.
"Hah! And to think you were the one always eager to fight, and now you shit yourself every time a monster shows up. Maybe it's time to retire, Major Darel," I said with a grin… though I was trembling too at the sheer presence of that dragon.
"Relax, kids. This dragon is small. You can handle it… Seems young, but they're extremely territorial. And now that it's seen us, there's no turning back—we'll have to take her down," the master said casually.
"Master… how do you know it's female?" Aethen asked, eyes still fixed on the dragon.
"Didn't you study dragons? Females have ears that run in a straight line from the brow to the neck. Males curve theirs upward at the eye, like they're pointing at the sky," Kerl explained, as if talking about the weather.
Does he not worry about us at all? Or is he just completely fearless?
Darel frowned. My teasing had shaken something inside him. The trembling stopped immediately.
"Yeroy, you're an idiot… but thanks for clearing my head," he said as he formed a Lysae Sout.
I smiled and did the same.
"Don't worry, Major. If things go south, I'll have your back," I said, as my Lysae surged through me with strength and pressure.
I intentionally forced my breathing to quicken. That way, the Lysae flowed faster through my Semillum, unleashing a wave of energy. I layered at least ten levels from the start, and my eyes sharpened, glowing with a reddish plasma.
Darel, meanwhile, compressed his Lysae so intensely that his hands turned a burning red. The heat distorted the air around his fingers, like fire beneath water.
Behind us, Keia activated her own Lysae Sout, which began to shine softly.
"Guys, I'm giving you my support. Don't go more than 40 meters from me, or any damage you take will be much worse," she said firmly.
"I'll stay by your side. I'll protect you while you support those two hotheads," Aethen replied, frowning.
With everything ready, we launched a test attack. We just wanted to observe the enemy's reactions and movements. Kerl had taught us—or rather, reminded us—of the basic tactics against monsters: something drilled into us at the palace to ensure survival.
We quickly split into a triangular formation. Darel took the left flank, I moved to the right, and Keia stayed in the center as the support axis. Aethen covered the rear, keeping close watch on Keia. Terimaru, on the other hand, hadn't moved or said a word.
The dragon stared at us. As soon as we made our move, its scales began to glow. A yellowish light, mixed with intense orange, swept across its body like living embers. It roared, and the echo shook the whole mountain.
That's when we knew—it had decided to attack.
GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWWWRRRR!
The ground quaked. The dragon slammed its claws into the earth and flapped its wings. Only one wing worked, but it was enough to unleash a blast of air that slammed into everything around us. Rocks above began to loosen. An avalanche was coming.
"Here it comes!" I shouted.
Darel's eyes burned—literally—with live flames. His body tensed, and he leaped forward, channeling energy into his right leg. Lysae wrapped around the limb like a fiery blade, swirling violently around his thigh and calf.
"Descending Flame Blade!" he yelled.
The kick sliced through the air like a burning saber, leaving a flaming arc that struck the dragon's chest. The impact pushed it back only slightly—but now its eyes blazed with pure fury.
From a distance, I launched punches charged with flaming Lysae, each flying like explosive projectiles.
"Come on, come on, you damn lizard!" I yelled, throwing one after another.
But the dragon didn't sit still. With its one working wing, it whipped the air again, creating a gust that deflected my attacks. The wind was so intense it kicked up dirt, snapped nearby trees, and… the rocks kept falling—faster now.
"They're gonna crush us!" Keia shouted.
Then, a figure jumped in front of the group—Terimaru. He pulled out a metallic cylinder with rotating rings and activated it. The device hummed, charging with energy.
"Clear the way!" he shouted, his voice unexpectedly strong and confident.
A mass of compressed water shot upward from the device like a forced wave, forming a liquid wall in front of the team. The rocks hit the barrier… but it only held for a few seconds.
Terimaru dropped to one knee, pressing his hand to the ground. His Lysae spread like a blue aura. He was breathing heavily—pure focus.
"Freeze... now!" he growled.
The wall of water crackled with crystal fragments... until it became a solid barrier of ice that completely blocked the avalanche of rocks.
A heavy silence followed the crash.
"That... was impressive," Aethen whispered.
Terimaru slowly stood up, panting. He only said:
"Don't let my effort go to waste. Finish that dragon."
I resumed the offensive. I clasped my hands, channeling Lysae, and launched myself toward the dragon, forming a hammer of energy as I descended. Darel, not missing a beat, unleashed another brutal attack.
"Double Blazing Blade Descent!" he roared, spinning in the air and launching two swift kicks. Each traced a blazing arc through the air with lethal precision.
I leapt straight at the beast. The dragon reacted quickly, spinning and lashing its tail. The strike met my attack head-on.
"Samue Hammer!" I shouted as I clashed against that monstrous tail.
The impact was deafening. It was like slamming into a living wall, with scales as hard as burning stone.
"Damn you... you shitty lizard," I growled, straining mid-air.
The dragon turned its head, its eyes gleaming with fury. It opened its jaws and a bright light began to glow inside… then it unleashed a barrage of compressed rocks like projectiles.
There was no time to dodge.
"Ugh!" I cried out as the impact shook my body, flinging me violently backward.
"YEROY!!" I heard Keia's anguished voice through the chaos.
I thought I was going to crash to the ground… but instead, I landed hard on a softened liquid surface.
A cluster of water had caught me.
"Thanks, Terimaru!" I gasped, climbing out with effort, steam rising from my body due to the residual heat.
"Hmph…" Terimaru replied with a faint smile.
Looking back at the dragon, I saw Darel still firing attacks from a distance, relentless.
"Darel, fall back!" I shouted.
Hearing me, he quickly returned and stood before us in a defensive stance.
"Any idea how to beat it?" Darel asked, eyes still locked on the creature.
"No. But I'm sure Terimaru already figured something out to pierce its defenses. Got anything to say, Teri?" I asked, turning to him.
"Miki's right," he said, folding his arms. "I've got an idea on how you can take it down, but it'll only work if you aim for its mouth... Its skin is far too thick. And from what I saw of your fighting, you still don't have the power to break through it."
He closed his eyes for a moment, focused.
"Alright," he continued. "I noticed it hesitated when I launched the wall of water and ice… as if it instinctively knew to avoid it. That made me think—maybe earth dragons have a weakness to water. It won't hurt it on its own, but it could soften its scales."
He looked at all of us seriously.
"We need to lure it near that frozen wall, melt it, and soak it. In that moment, if it opens its mouth, you'll have your one chance: launch a combined attack, something that destroys it from the inside before it can shut its jaws."
"Got it," Darel replied, with a renewed spark in his eyes.
"Keia, keep up the magic support. We'll need your full cover," I said, charging Lysae into my legs.
"Don't worry, I've already started focusing energy on the ice. When you give the signal, I'll melt the whole thing," Terimaru replied, holding his device with both hands—a small silver cylinder with glowing blue lines that pulsed with magical intensity.
Kerl watched from a distance, arms crossed, with a barely perceptible smile.
"It's time to move," I said, and Darel and I rushed around the flanks, drawing the dragon's attention.
The creature roared as it saw us approach. Its scales began to glow again with an intense orange-yellow, as if lit from within. It stepped forward furiously, claws tearing into the ground. Then, with a powerful flap of its good wing, it unleashed a gale that dragged dirt, branches, and stone fragments, triggering a landslide from the mountain's peak.
"Now, Terimaru!" I yelled.
The young man didn't respond—he simply activated his device. A deep rumble echoed as the wall of ice exploded into a cloud of steam and dense water that engulfed the area.
The dragon, enraged by the water that drenched it, let out a roar powerful enough to shatter the minds of the weak. Its scales began to shine with even greater intensity, its body trembling, and in a second, it charged at us like a living avalanche.
"Watch out!" I shouted.
Darel lunged first. His fire-wreathed foot traced a blazing arc.
"Burning Slash!" he bellowed, landing a direct kick to the dragon's jaw.
The impact was brutal—but not enough. The beast barely staggered before swinging its claw in a savage, beastly motion, hitting Darel square in the chest. A sharp crack echoed as his body slammed into a stone wall, trailing Lysae through the air.
"DAREL!" I roared.
I didn't think. I activated all my Lysae and charged, hurling myself like a red meteor.
"Samue Hammer!" I shouted, trying to repeat the earlier strike.
The creature twisted and raised its other claw, intercepting me mid-flight. The claws pierced part of my Lysae defense and slashed my chest with overwhelming force. I felt the searing burn of Lysae, bone giving under pressure—and then... a second of darkness.
I crashed onto my back, coughing, vision blurred. Beside me, Darel rose trembling, his uniform torn, his torso raw.
"Ugh... that damn thing's still alive…" he spat Lysae, then smiled. "Guess we're even now…"
The dragon roared again, its mouth wide open, throat glowing with condensed energy. It was about to unleash another attack when a shadow dropped from above like a bolt of lightning.
"NOW, AETHEN!!" Keia shouted, her Lysae still extended around the group.
Aethen's spear, charged with all his energy, fell like a divine thunderbolt.
"Heavenly Fang Spear!" he cried with all the fury of a determined warrior.
The tip lodged straight into the dragon's open throat. A burst of energy tore through the air around it. The roar cut off abruptly. The creature took one step, then another... and collapsed like a defeated mountain.
Silence returned, broken only by our breathing and the distant crunching of falling rocks.
Keia ran to tend to us, her Lysae now in healing mode. Terimaru approached silently, until he stood beside me and said,
"We need to make sure it's really dead."
And as I climbed toward the rock where the dragon had fallen, I only managed to hear him mutter, "What the hell?" before blacking out from Lysae loss…