Irise Delegnere (ALIVE'S Book 3)

by Faulina Arif

  That soldier died together with the werewolf that killing him.

  Those young soldiers were never went to any battle, but now they must face many terrifying monsters at their first mission. All of them was shocked, some of them have shortness in breath because of panic and fear.

  "I will show you where the peak of this chaos is," Said Zafar.

  No one answered. Even those 2 soldiers that before insulting Zafar was now silent. All of them immediately following Zafar.

  After 15 minutes walking fast, Zafar and those soldiers arrived at the place where Zafar meant. Those young soldiers fazed and gulped when they saw that giant dragon. All of them let out some cold sweat and could not stop trembling.

  That dragon walked toward a woman that no other than Aria.

  Aria at that times grimacing in pain.

  An invisible creature that catching Aria putting her down to the ground. And how surprised Aria was when she saw that creature revealing its body. That figure turned out to be Berial, the giant creature that had fought Aria which she thought already dead.

  Zafar saw at Berial and he was also surprised. He fell silent for a long time because he weren't believing if Berial is still alive. He was convinced before that he already kill that giant creature. And what he surprised the most is when Berial is helping Aria. Zafar rubs his eyes, feeling if that was impossible to happen.

  The dragon that aware of Berial intimidating presence wanted to shoot its giant lightning bolt. But because one of his horn was broken, there's nothing to balance the power output of that giant lightning bolts, the lightning sphere at its mouth suddenly exploded. The dragon screamed while moving around in panics because it felt pain around its mouth.

  Berial running fast toward the dragon together with its giant sword. It did not feel intimidated even the size of that dragon are several times bigger than it. With one attack, Berial managed to cut its front right leg and leave a shallow wound but it still made that dragon felt pain and annoyed.

  Aria looked at everything that happened in confusion. She can’t comprehend why Berial appeared and helped her. That giant creature is still alive and she did not expect that it taking her side. Is that means, Evan are also still alive? Does what Berial did at this time caused by Evan orders?

  Aria cast a glance around her looking for someone. Then where did Evan hide? A strange feeling fill Aria minds. She didn't know why, but when she thinks that Evan is still alive, it giving her a feeling of relieve. Shouldn't Aria feels unhappy? She hated that man that playing with her feelings and tricking her.

  The dragon in front of Aria growling angry, shattering Aria reverie. That dragon creating a few small sphere of lightning around its body, suddenly that sphere turned into small lightning bolt and strike directly to Berial body. But there's no effect. Berial keeps walking closer.

  That dragon frustrated. It flaps its wings, generating a wind blast that attacking Berial and made its body dragged backward. Berial protect its head from the wind blast with both of its hands.

  That dragon jumped to its left and then whip its sharp spiky tail toward Berial.

  Blocked by Berial thick armor, that attack didn’t leave any wounds to Berial. But because of its tremendous force, Berial flew far and breaking through a building. It tried to wake up.

  That dragon landed. Its massive legs destroying some cars around that area, some of that cars is still filled by peoples.

  Aria that saw Berial flew far could not stayed quiet. She will not let Berial fought alone. She now was certain if Berial are now at her side.

  Aria ran forward with full speed.

  Looking at Aria reckless charge, that dragon lifting its front legs and slowly moving its finger. Then it pointed one of its finger toward running Aria. All of sudden a lightning bolt rained down toward Aria from the black cloud above the sky. Those lightning targeting Aria.

  Aria that was prepared, instinctively could feel where the lightning will strike. She dodged those lightning while keep running forward. She jumped and swing her giant sword as strong as she can toward that dragon finger. But it had no effect, only metal clanging sound could be heard.

  With its other front legs, that dragon caught Aria. It face come near Aria while keeps gripping Aria body.

  Aria struggles wanted to release herself, but the more she tries instead she was unable to move, she becoming weak and lost her powers.

  Suddenly that dragon screamed loud. Berial managed to cut that dragon tail end and made that dragon releasing Aria in reflex.

  Aria fall down to the ground. She coughing blood.

  That dragon switched its view toward Berial. This time it hitting Berial with its large claw and made Berial flew far away more than before. Then that dragon stares at Aria while at the same time flapping its wing, causing a wind blast that made Aria pushed back and rolled in the ground.

  Suddenly Zafar along with 18 soldiers firing their weapon to that dragon. All of them shooting their weapons non-stop.

  No effect was occurred from those bullets but it's enough to made that dragon feels annoyed. That dragon turn its head toward the soldiers. It moved to approach those soldiers that now was scared, and stopped to fire, and instead they are crying like a baby.

  That dragon extends its long neck to the front and opening its mouth wide, eating some of those soldiers that could not move because of fear.

  At the times when that dragon enjoying their friend flesh, the remaining soldiers running away in a flash.

  Zafar keep shooting at that dragon. His heart beating hard feeling an incredible fear. Even so Zafar will never escape, he was promised to himself to stop being a coward.

  A leg was fall from the dragon mouth. That leg belong to one of those soldiers that been eaten by dragon. Ignoring that piece of leg, that dragon looked at Zafar and moved its head near to him. Then its opening its mouth wanted to eat Zafar.

  Clang! Clang! Clang! Aria giant sword repeatedly hit the dragon head, makes that dragon retracting its head to the back.

  Aria pulls Zafar to step away. "What are you doing in here?!" Aria shouted to Zafar.

  "I wanted to help you," Zafar answered.

  "Are you insane?! Go now! You can’t fight this thing!"

  "Aria!" Zafar shouted loud. He weren't listening to Aria and suddenly pushed Aria body to the side.

  Aria fall down to the ground. She looked toward Zafar while opening her eyes wide with sadness. "Za-Zafar!"

  The dragon claw ripped Zafar body and leave a deep wounds in it. Zafar body fell crashing to the asphalt.

  As if it still not satisfied, that dragon wanted to step at Zafar body with its front legs. But its intention was halted because it noticing something was approaching. A loud shrieking sound reverberated across the sky and then and explosion occurred, that dragon managed to activate its barrier and made those artillery shell exploded outside its barrier. Feeling intimidated by those artillery shell, that dragon looking around, searching from where those shell was fired. Suddenly it jumped to the air and flew away from Zafar.

  Aria immediately approaching Zafar. She pull his body to the side road.

  "What are you doing?!" Aria shouted with trembling voice

  Zafar grimaced in pain. "S-Sorry, I forgot that you are immortal."

  "You fool," Aria insulted.

  Zafar faintly smile, made Aria feel very sad and could not say a word.

  Aria stares at the large deep wound in Zafar body. The man in her lap could not be helped anymore. She know what happened next, something that she truly hate.

  "You know, everyone betraying me. My lover, my friends, and now . . . My life changed to 180 degrees." Said Zafar in soft and trembling voice.

  Aria only quiet, not replying to Zafar word as she always did.

  "I wish I could be closer with you Aria," A sadness was seen in Zafar eyes.

  "Do you want to marry me?", Aria let out a jokes, she intentionally said that to ease her painful heart.

  Zafar smiled again. "That was a brill
iant idea."

  Aria and Zafar fall silent for a moment.

  This is not the end that Zafar was hoping for, but Zafar still would not regret this even thought his past self will tell him if all of this are foolishness. Regardless of many things, in Zafar eyes, all this time Zafar always think that Aria is a woman that worthy to be protected, not protecting. There is an ultimate satisfaction filling Zafar minds, at last he can become a useful person that not always depends on others. This what he always wanted, to sometimes could protect Aria, not always being protected by her.

  "Tell me what's your real name?" Zafar whispering softly.

  Aria quiet for a moment. She and Zafar stares to each other for a long times until finally Aria says, "Irise . . . My name is Irise, Irise Delegnere."

  Zafar looked at Aria with teary eyes. A faint smile more than before decorating his pale face. "Strange name," Said Zafar in low voice with his last power, and then he closing his eyes forever.

  Without Aria realized, a tears fall from her eyes to Zafar lip. A torturous regrets piercing deeply through her soul. In the end Aria could not protect Zafar. That man must die because of her, same as what was happened to Zafar father. Again, unintentionally she makes people close to her died.

  IRISE DELEGNERE

  Ichsan was still trapped inside the group of soldier that he follow. 10 werewolves runs toward them with a quick speed. Because of circumstances, Ichsan helped to shoot those werewolves. He was given a weapon from one of those soldiers.

  Goddess of fortune was still favoring Ichsan, he meets with experienced soldiers that capable to adapt to any situation. Those soldiers were never underestimating their enemies and their awareness is top notch. With only using a normal weapon those 17 soldiers could easily kill 3 werewolves.

  When their distance was 10 meters left, 3 soldiers throwing their fragmentation grenade toward a group of 7 werewolves. 5 of them died because of explosion. 2 was remains and their distance becoming closer, only 4 meters. The soldiers at the front ordering their friends at their back to split their group to left and right. Then some of soldier at the rear which already prepared are shooting those 2 werewolves that remains with hundreds of bullets.

  When the battle was still occur, Ichsan eyes was diverted toward a sugar factory building that now was quiet and dark. Ichsan remembers with the location map that he got in Elysion. At that sugar factory, they also had a secret entrance to Elysion main facility in underground.

  Ichsan clucked and muttering inside his mind. What the hell did I do? Didn’t he wanted to find a strong evidence about the government involvement? But when he arrived at level 6, Ichsan could not get anything and instead trapped in the battle between National army and Elysion guards.

  Right, with this great chaos, Ichsan was certain a lot of citizen already know the truth. But still, they were never know if government and that cursed organization is in cooperation and along with them they made this great chaos altogether. When the situation calmed down, the government will try to find a way to silent the media and peoples. They will publish a false news to cover the truth. Ichsan will not let them. Ichsan sense of justice demanding him to return to level 6.

  Ichsan then separating himself from those soldiers and jumped across the sugar factory fence. He entering that factory and looking for a way to get back to level 6. He wanted to find information as much as he can. Those evidence will be used by him to push the government.

  IRISE DELEGNERE

  Reyn bullet was spent. He together with 2 soldiers at his back run toward the empty building to hide from 3 werewolves that pursuing them. Reyn entering that nearly destroyed building through the broken window. But how surprised he was when he manage to enter, he found 2 werewolves have a feast with the corpse of building security guard.

  Noticing if there was some people coming, those werewolves looked at Reyn. They hissing, showing their bloody tooth, they intimidating Reyn because he disturbing their feast.

  Reyn immediately ran away by looking for another path. While the other 2 soldiers that following him been pounced by those werewolves.

  Reyn breath was short but he keeps running and not stopping, his eyes wondering around, making sure if there has some weapon that lying in the ground to protect himself.

  Far in front of Reyn, an angry scream of the dragon had been heard by his ear. Reyn goes toward that scream to see what was happened. He was sure if Iskandar or Aria was around that dragon. They certainly battling to defeat that dragon.

  200 meter from his destination, Reyn saw the dragon fly at the sky.

  That dragon dive and destroying several building in its line. Then that dragon intentionally dropped its super heavy body to the group of tanks that formed a row. 10 of those tanks had been destroyed and the crew automatically died.

  5 other tanks that still operational immediately distancing itself from the dragon while directing their cannon toward it.

  Reyn could see Iskandar. That man standing 100 meter from the destroyed tanks. Reyn intend to run toward Iskandar.

  Dozens of soldiers around that area approaching the dragon, all of them firing their weapons blindly.

  That dragon getting down from the destroyed tank. It extends its neck to its right side and devouring some soldiers. While eating, that dragon lifting one of its legs and stepped at a few soldiers that stands at 20 meters near of its front legs.

  Seeing a lot of their friends have died, the remaining soldiers become panicked. They stopped to fire and run away.

  Reyn become hesitant. The horror that he saw made his legs stopped to move. He frozen staring at some soldiers that screaming in fear, trying to escape from the dragons wrath. Without Reyn realize, the dragon tail that had length of 60 meters moved to whips the soldiers that running toward Reyn.

  Almost immediate Reyn turned back toward where he was coming before. But the blast of winds that created by the tail whip are also hits Reyn and suddenly he was flew along with those soldiers. Reyn body fall crashing to the ground and rolled for several times then he fall on some building rubbles, his back pierced by a steel frame of buildings and penetrated to his stomach.

  A fresh blood came out from Reyn mouth. His body becoming stiff and could not be moved anymore. He felt an extreme pain at his stomach. His eyes and his face becoming red and all of his part of body cold sweated holding the pain. Reyn moving his head slowly toward the dragon, watching the dragon that still rampaging.

  So, is this the end? Reyn said inside his mind. Maybe this is a karma that been left by my parents . . .

  The shadow of past memories emerges at Reyn minds. A memories when David always spoiling him and reading him a fairytale when he wanted to sleep. It was a lie if Reyn said if he forget all of it. Reyn remember that memory well. Where Reyn can still feel happiness. All of that was only his dreams when he was still a child. Yes, only the dream of innocent children that knows nothing. Reyn doesn't know if his childhood dreams makes his father become so obsessed and misunderstand of everything. David thinks, Reyn wanted an incredible power just like what the prince from fairy kingdom had.

  I wanted to be more like him dad, not that prince . . . But . . . That dragon prince. Said Reyn whispered to himself and he draw his last breath together with tears.

  That is what Reyn wanted in his childhood. He are truly admiring the dragon that possess a sincere loves toward the princes until his last breath. But seems like all of it is only a nonsense. Reyn could never found those things inside his empty life's, and instead he must dwell inside a well of misfortunes.

  Destiny, Karma and a choice. They said if life is a choice, but in our life's we sometimes didn't have a chance to choose. They said it was a destiny, someone was forced to accept it without being able to change. They think a misfortune is Karma, so they had no choice but to accept the retribution without being able to refuse. Everything is nonsense, life's were not always ended as what we hope.

  IRISE DELEGNERE

  15 minute before Reyn death.

  O
nce again Marsha sneaking inside an empty building. She tried to evade some werewolves that roaming around. Every time Marsha meet with soldiers, Marsha joined them. And every time when there are some werewolves appeared, Marsha leaving those soldiers and go hide. Because she had too much hiding, Marsha was fall behind from those soldier. What else can she do? Marsha are too scared to fight those monsters that keep appeared. Seems like their number are endless.

  Blaaar!!! The sounds of explosion was heard.

  Marsha taking a peek from the small gap of building. 8 soldiers are now fighting 2 werewolves. They killed those werewolves using a grenade.

  Marsha waited, after those werewolves died, she immediately come out from that building and following those soldiers. Marsha walked in 3 meter distance behind those soldiers that still unaware of Marsha existence.

  At the time when they are nearly arrived at the 3-way junction, 3 werewolves appeared from the building at their left side. Marsha immediately run away leaving those soldiers. But one werewolf saw her and pursuing her.

  Marsha screaming hysterically in fear.

  2 soldiers that saw Marsha immediately come to help her. They firing their weapons toward the werewolf that pursuing Marsha.

  That werewolf turned toward those 2 soldiers.

  Marsha keeps running not caring about what happened behind her. She turn to the right at 3-way junction and keep running. At that times, she accidentally see Reyn in the middle of running with 2 soldiers. Marsha wanted to call his name but she was discouraged because she know if Reyn had being pursued by 2 werewolves.

  Marsha holding herself. She following Reyn in far distance. Sometimes she hides when she saw some werewolves. After it left she came out and continuing her journey.

  An angry scream of the dragon could be heard by Marsha.

  Marsha heart jumped from her chest. Marsha was hesitant whether she go forward or go hiding. She think, Reyn intend to go to where that giant monster is. For a person such as Marsha, not many she could do, or even nothing she could do. She was too weak to be useful in this kind of situation.