“That is true,” Raffyr said. “But do not forget. This young one blames me and Viola for everything that has happened to him. Even before we were all knocked out, he was muttering about the Alliance of Light and the ‘damn Phantom Lord’ who’d sent him to this time.”
“He sounds kind of delusional, doesn’t he?” Nyx said. “Even if you were an Evil Overlord, why on earth would you go after a guy like him? He has no significance to you.”
“Either way, let us keep him her for now,” I said. “Freya’s bonds of light will not let him loose, so there is no danger of him attacking us. And I believe there will be benefits to be reaped if we keep him. After all, he’s an expendable resource.”
Everyone stared at me.
“What?” I asked.
“Those are some harsh words, Phantom Lord,” Irmeia said, an amused smile on her face.
“But he is expendable to us.”
“True.” Her eyes sparkled.
The others were still silent, and stayed that way till we got atop our Volcanic Forest Bears once again. Freya for some reason, decided to take Oris with her this time, instead of letting him ride with me.
Is it because I said he was expendable? I asked.
“I think so,” Nyx said. “I mean, those were some harsh words, calling him an expendable resource.”
But it’s TRUE, I said. Between everyone here, if I had to pick someone to die, it would be him every time.
“You could also pick yourself to die and then just resurrect to life,” the spirit chuckled.
“That is not the point being made here, Nyx,” Acnologia spoke. “And Diablo, there is much to think about regarding your usage of words.”
What? You too? I asked, maneuvering my bear around a rock, and heading down the forest path.
“Indeed,” the Dragon said, with the unnerving silence of the forest accompanying his words. “Do you really think that is something the Zoran Diablo from a few months ago would have said?”
Maybe? I frowned. A few months ago I didn’t even know who I was, so I doubt that’s a fair standard of comparison.
“Very well then,” Acnologia said, in a tone that sounded less like ‘You’re right’ and more like ‘This conversation is over’.
And by the way, I said. If we’re speaking about out of character things, we should talk about that little stunt you pulled back there.
“What?” the Dragon asked
“Oh yeah,” Nyx said, joining in. I knew he was as curious as I was about what happened. “You know,” the spirit said. “That cool silver flame thing you did.”
“Ah. That was a standard battle procedure,” Acnologia said. “Just one of the ways I attack my foes.”
“Whatever it was, it has a hell of a cool punch line,” the spirit chuckled. “Limiter Off. Damn, does that sound cool.”
The Dragon kept silent.
What was the limiter thing, Acnologia? I asked.
“That was a…last resort.”
Seemed like it, I said, making a standard check between the trees around me as we moved forward.
“It also seemed like you activated a hidden mode or something.” Nyx was still on giddy mode. “What was that all about?”
The Dragon sighed, and I could tell he was done now.
Nyx, let’s not push further on this, I said, well aware Acnologia could hear my words.
“But I’m curious,” Nyx said.
“There is a…limiter on me,” Acnologia continued.
We’d guessed that much, I said. The only question is why?
“Do you know why the Dragon’s fought each other, Eternal?” Acnologia asked.
They were bored or something? I asked. That with the Eternal Dragon War finally done, they still felt the need for something more. And that was when they started fighting amongst each other.
“That is a part of the story,” he said. “Within the other part lies a darker truth. Dragons are wise creatures, and their years added onto their collective wisdom. However, one must not forget that we are also beasts.”
I frowned.
“The Eternal Dragon War was the first time we ever fought to the death with an opponent,” he said. “That awoke something in a lot of us. We gave way for our more carnal desires to take a hold of our minds.”
“I think I can see where this is going,” Nyx said.
“I am not proud of it, but I am such a Dragon as well,” he said. “My low level right now is partially because of the familiar contract I have with you, but also because I have a limiter on myself.”
It cuts down your powers? I asked.
“Indeed,” he said. “I haven’t done it after you resurrected me, but today was quite a push. Polaris is a match for even the strongest dragons. It is a shame he pursued only knowledge. Or rather, I should say it is a shame for the Dragon Clan. For himself as an individual, he made a good choice, to stay away from battle and maintain his sanity.”
“So what does the Limiter do?” Nyx asked.
“It lowers my level and suppresses my desire to kill.”
“Wow,” the spirit said. “How strong are you actually then?”
Acnologia chuckled. “Strong enough.”
A roar thundered through the forest, and we all froze. The Volcanic Forest Bears we were on trembled.
Dragon? I asked.
Acnologia nodded. “I would know that cry from a mile away,” he said. “Do not press forward.”
I got down from my bear, and signaled to the others to stay put. However, Irmeia ran toward me, with Freya right beside her. Another roar sounded, this one weaker, but also different in pitch.
Two Dragons, I realized.
“Indeed,” the Shadow Dragon said. I did not know what exactly the cries meant but Acnologia did not sound happy, or calm for that matter. The Dragon’s voice had tension wrung within it, like a storm that had arrived, but was yet to be seen.
I inched forward, toward the sounds that had rattled us all. Acnologia followed close behind, with Freya and Irmeia at his side.
A small explosion sounded before us, and a wave of flame surged through the trees, only to disappear in a mere instance. Laughter ascended into the night sky — loud, and maniacal. A strong breeze blew through the leaves of the forest, and a stifling scent traveled alongside it. A scent that I knew well.
Blood.
I hastened my pace, with my walking turning to running immediately. The Dragon and the others matched my eagerness, and kept at my heels as we made our way through the trees. In seconds, I heard heavy breathing mere yards ahead.
I put my hand up, stopping Freya and Irmeia from advancing any closer. I’d hoped Acnologia would stop as well, but he had heard those Dragon cries, and they meant more to him than they did to me. There was no asking him to stand down in this situation, even though I was worried he might act rash.
I looked through the trees at a small clearing before us. The night sky shared its moonlight, lighting up the area. A man stood before us, wearing armor that was solar-gold, with emerald streaks studded along its surface, decorative, yet threateningly sharp.
His head was tilted back, and laughter exploded from him. I shifted my gaze to the right and my eyes froze over.
And again.
Two dragons lay on the ground — one a light gray, and another an ocean blue. Pools of dark blood sat under their mutilated bodies. Dragon bones and muscle protruded from their wings and limbs, and the grotesque sight was too much for me to handle all at once.
“You poor, pathetic creatures,” the man cackled once again and thrust his palm forward. A spear of ice emerged out of nowhere and shot to the beasts. The freezing tip sank into the Dragon’s leg, impaling it whole, and the poor beast roared in pain.
That was when I understood something. What I was hearing were not just roars.
My fists clenched. They’re screams.
Rage built within me, and anger boiled through my very blood. I reached for Dawnbreaker, ready to pull out my blade, ready to sin
k it into this man.
And then a hand grabbed me by the wrist.
Freya stood before me, one hand on me, the other in front of the Dragon’s face. If I thought I felt rage, then Acnologia was a volcano. The Dragon’s eyes were more than just blood-red, they were murderous. I had wondered if he would feel pain or anger in a situation like this.
The answer was anger, I thought. Anger one hundred percent
The great beast glared at the elf, and I could tell he was not going to play nice.
“Diablo,” he spoke to me, and his voice already sounded terrifying. “Ask this creature to move. It is not the time for restraint.”
I looked at Freya, realizing these were words that echoed within my thoughts as well. But before I could say anything, the elf spoke.
“I know how you feel,” she said. “Believe me.”
I blinked, taken aback at the choice of words.
“This is not our battle,” Freya continued. “I know what is going on is inhumane. It is wrong. It is dark. Yet, this is not our battle to fight. We are beings of the future. We should remember this. Changing events in the past is something we are not allowed to do.”
The Dragon kept his gaze on the elf, and so did I. I could feel the vengeance within me calm down, but only for a moment.
“Oh well,” the man in gold said. “I’ve had my fill of fun. Thank you for an entertaining evening, you two.”
He raised his hand into the air and circular rune emerged in front of his palm. A blast of golden energy shot forward, and struck the dragons. I heard two weak roars summon once more, and then there was silence.
I looked through the bright flashes, and saw not two dragons, but two sets of skeletons. The beasts had been broken down to their most basic form. I turned to the man, just in time to see him snap his fingers and disappear in a flash of light.
Acnologia burst through the trees, breaking branch and trunk as he shot toward where the man had been. But there was no point. The Dragon had leapt seconds after the man had already disappeared. He was not going to catch him. Not today.
I placed my hand on Freya’s shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered softly, and walked past her, up to the Dragon.
Acnologia looked at the ground, and didn’t take a single glance at the dead forms of his comrades. I gazed at the beast, and somewhere in my heart, I felt exactly what Elizah had been so mad about.
“Those Dragons are children, Diablo,” Acnologia said. “They are younglings that have just learned of the world.”
Rage carried in the dragon’s tone, but there was sorrow present underneath as well. I had expected as much. What we saw before us was nothing simple. Even I felt a complex wave of emotions, and I didn’t even have as much emotional investment in this as the Shadow Dragon.
“That elf,” the Dragon muttered.
“Before anyone says anything,” Nyx spoke. “I’d just like to say that this is an emotionally scarring event for all of us, and that we should all make sure our minds are clear before we say anything. Especially if it is something that could damage friendships.”
The dragon stood silent, and then he sighed. “You know, spirit,” he said. “Sometimes you say sensible things.”
“You’re welcome,” Nyx said, reverting back to his snarky tone.
“Acnologia,” Freya walked up to us.
“There is much that has happened, Freya,” Acnologia said. “However, I understand why you wanted us to stay back. I respect your confidence in standing against an Eternal and a Dragon in a situation like this.”
I opened my mouth to be the Shadow Dragon’s muse, but one look at Freya’s smile and I could tell she’d somehow understood him.
Not his words.
But his feelings.
“Let us head back,” Irmeia said. “The others will be anxious for our return.”
I nodded, and turned around, with Acnologia and Freya following me. My eyes looked through the trees as we walked and I caught sight of the Volcanic Forest Bears ahead of us, standing still between the greenery.
Only, there were just four of them now.
I shuffled forward, coming to where we had split apart, and my eyes immediately widened. Raffyr lay on the forest floor, blood running across his white robes.
“RAFFYR!” I yelled, running to his side.
The old man’s eyes looked at me, and I could tell he was almost unconscious. He had lost too much blood.
“They took Viola and Oris away,” he mumbled. “They took them away.”
“Who?” I knelt down.
He looked at me, his eyes strengthening for one last instance.
“Dragon Imps.”
***
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The old man’s eyes rolled up in his head and he dropped to the ground, letting his hand fall limp to his.
“Raffyr!” I yelled, but it was no use. He was out. I reached out to grab a health potion for him, but there were more important things to do.
“Freya, take care of him!” I said. “Irmeia, Acnologia. Spread out. We need to find Viola. Immediately.”
They nodded at my words, and I charged off, picking a random direction and heading forward. Dragon Imps, I thought to myself.
“I don’t recall seeing such creatures before,” Nyx said.
If they exist in this time period then we must have seen them at some point in time, I said. We probably just forgot.
“How strong are these creatures to take away Viola and Oris like that?” Nyx asked.
Viola and Raffyr are not the strongest when it comes to levels, I said. And if Oris was still knocked out then there’s a high chance the Imps literally just carried him away.
“Dragon Imps are sly creatures, Eternal,” Acnologia’s voice echoed, even though the great Dragon was far from me.
I’ll keep an eye out, I said.
“It would do you well to do so,” he said. “Those creatures may share the Dragon name, but our code of honor is something they do not.”
Ouch, I thought, but knew Acnologia was right. A race of Imps wouldn’t have any kind of loyalty system in place, even if they did have a Dragon prefix to their race title.
“Why do you think they attacked us?” Nyx asked. “There’s no obvious reason that I can see here.”
“There is no obvious reason required,” the Dragon said. “These are primal creatures to their most basic instincts. There is rarely any logic about them.”
Wow, you sound like you hate the imp. I jumped over a fallen log as I moved deeper into the forest.
“I do not appreciate when another race takes the Dragon name,” he said. “Especially if the race is nothing like the Dragons.”
How strong will these creatures be? I asked.
“I haven’t the faintest clue. But I doubt we will find it hard to take them out. Even if it was one of us versus them all.”
Okay, that’s better than what I assumed. I pushed forward.
The canopy above me was covered with thick leaves, and the darkness before me was causing even more trouble than before. It was getting to the point where my Night Vision skill wasn’t helping much. I could see well into about twenty yards around me, but nothing beyond that circle was visible to me.
I caught something in the corner of my vision. Wait. I stopped. I stepped to a nearby tree and looked closer. I touched its surface, and felt the sharp grooves struck into its wood.
Acnologia, I said. Do the Dragon imps have three-finger talons?
“Yes,” he said. “Why?”
I think I found a lead, I said, pushing forward.
“What?”
A tree with three deep gashes in its surface, I said. All perfectly parallel.
“I’m making my way to you,” the Dragon grunted.
DING!
Congratulations! Your skill — Tracking — has increased to Level 5! You are now more perceptive of objects in your surroundings. Chance of encountering a tracking element is increased by +5%.
I dismissed the sc
reen and moved forward. I used my Night Vision to keep a check on my immediate surroundings, but also kept an ear out for any sounds that came from further away. A part of me wished Raffyr had mentioned something about when this had happened, but the old man had fallen unconscious before I’d gotten to that part.
Honestly, we were fortunate he was able to tell us what happened to Viola and Oris in the first place. I couldn’t imagine figuring out something like this on my own if all I saw was an unconscious Raffyr and two missing people. It would have been pretty hard to arrive at this conclusion from just that image.
The wind brushed past me, running through the narrow corridors between the trees. I still smelled the scent of sickly blood, but I knew it wasn’t from here. This was something that was just in my mind, lingering from that incident with the dragons.
Though just labelling it an ‘incident’ wasn’t the half of it.
I should have added Viola to my party, I muttered as I ran through the forest. It would have been each easier to find her.
A Party system allowed each user to access additional information about the people they were partying with, and one of those additional features was the knowledge of where each party member was at all times. They just showed up as a different colored dot on a person’s map. Such a thing would have been the most useful resource for me at the moment.
“Wait wouldn’t Raffyr and Viola be in a party together?” Nyx asked. “I’m assuming they would, given they are so close.”
They probably are, I said. But the old man is likely still unconscious. If he isn’t, I’m quite certain Freya has the presence of mind to ask him for that information and send it to us.
The wind blew past us once again, but oddly this time, the scent of blood was thicker.
And different.
My eyes widened. It isn’t just my mind. I rushed forward. I glanced to my sides and saw more claw marks on the trees — three-struck gashes wrung into the barks around me.
A high-pitched cry came from ahead, and I rushed toward at the sound. I lifted Dawnbreaker out of its sheath, with the blade of midnight black blending into the darkness, and the purple jewel at the base keeping its presence distinct.
The Eternal: Transcend - A LitRPG Saga (World of Ga'em Book 3) Page 14