Chapter 27

  Cut off from the others, the remaining men quickly closed in, trying to encircle Ves and Yujiro. The gnoll seemed preoccupied with maintaining the vortex of air as he stood at the sidelines watching. Unfortunately, they were still outnumbered two to one even without the gnoll joining the fight directly.

  One of the men let out a shout, drawing Ves’s attention as he charged, weapon raised. Forced to defend, Ves raised her arm as the man’s sword clashed against her black carapace. Her arm shook as she could feel the outer shell crack, thankfully, it held. The man's eyes went wide, likely surprised she could stop the blow, but before she could retaliate, he leaped back, causing the swipe of Ves’s claw to miss harmlessly. She may have caught the first few off guard, but things would no longer be so easy. All of them were at least low-level cultivators from as far as Ves could tell.

  Ves’s two opponents began to cautiously close in, one always trying to get into her blind spot, forcing her to step back to keep them both in view. It was clear they were done underestimating her.

  A short distance away, Ves could see Yujiro was busy with his own fight, keeping his opponents at bay with wide swings of his giant axe. Not that he was hitting anyone, but it created a stalemate at the very least. Still, both of them were stuck on the defensive. If the gnoll joined the fight, they would be screwed.

  “Nell, I’m gonna try something risky, be ready.”

  ‘Don’t worry, we have a spare heart now, go wild.’

  “Who the fuck are you talking to?” One of the men asked, the same one who cracked her arm.

  Ves didn’t bother to answer, instead, she charged. Charged with no care of the consequences, which was clear in the man's eyes as she impaled herself on the man's sword. The steel running right through her stomach and out the back. He stared back at her in shock, realizing a moment too late that her actions were on purpose. He tried to pull his sword free and jump back, only for Ves to clench her muscles, locking the sword in place. That moment of delay was all she needed to plunge her claw into the man's side.

  Seeing him cough up blood was all the confirmation she needed to know she had hit something vital. The man's eyes began to glaze over as he lost grip on the hilt of his sword, his body falling limply to the ground.

  One down, one to –

  “Ves!” she thought she heard Yujiro shout her name as sharp pain shot through her back, looking down to see the tip of a sword dripping in her black blood rammed through her chest. Before she could react, the man behind her pulled free the blade, doing just as much or more damage on the way out.

  Ves fell to her knees as a sudden lightheadedness washed over her. The sword had pierced one of her hearts clean through. Damaging a lung on the way out. Ves tried to pull herself to her feet only to stagger over again as she vomited a mouthful of blood.

  ‘Ves hold on!’

  In the corner of her eye, she could see the man standing over her, blade raised, ready to take her head. She was resilient, but even she doubted they could survive decapitation.

  ***

  Yujiro swung his axe back and forth. The weapon was a marvel. Better balance and sharper edge than he had ever seen, enchanted, he had to guess. It was also likely the only reason he was able to keep his attackers at bay. One on one, he liked his chances, but together, playing for time was the best he could do.

  His real concern was Ves and Nell. Strong as they were, they were total amateurs in a fight, ones that overly relied on their near comically effective ability to heal. The combo made them reckless and prone to mistakes. One of which he was watching play out before his very eyes.

  Ves had let herself get impaled just to take out one of the men. Which worked, but she completely forgot about her second foe, whom he saw closing in on her from behind.

  “Ves!” he tried to call out to no avail as the man plunged his sword through her back. The idiot was about to get herself killed. He had to move now, but how? Their foes had spent the whole fight keeping the two separate, and Yujiro doubted Ves even noticed. He supposed it was his turn to try something reckless.

  Rather than swing simply to keep his attackers at bay, he followed up with an overhead slice. The man managed to block it, as expected, but the force was still enough to make them stagger. Giving Yujiro his chance to break through and rush to Ves’s side. As he did, his second attacker lashed out, landing a slash across Yujiro’s back. Thankfully, it was only a shallow cut despite how much it hurt.

  He could do this, Ves had saved his life and that of his clan. He refused to fail her now. So with all his strength, he screamed, charging the man with the sword looming over Ves, ready to take her head.

  ***

  The blow never came, Ves had thought this was the end, instead she heard the clang of metal overhead, looking up just in time to see Yujiro’s axe snap through her attacker’s sword before cleaving the man in two.

  “On your feet, Ves, it’s not over yet.”

  “I was stabbed in the heart,” she moaned as she accepted Yujiro’s offered hand.

  “Bah, Nell already told me you have two.”

  As Ves got to her feet, she was feeling slightly better, Nell having started emergency first aid. She also noticed that, despite his bravado, Yujiro himself didn’t look good. The man was deathly pale.

  “Yujiro?”

  “I’m fine, focus on the fight.”

  While her attackers were dead thanks to Yujiro’s help, his own foes were only mildly bruised. Let alone the gnoll, who still had yet to take action aside from maintaining the air shield.

  “Boss, they're tougher than they look,” one of the two remaining men told the gnoll.

  “Fine, let's wrap this up quickly. Wouldn’t mind taking the bitch’s claw as a trophy anyway. Should still be worth something dead.” The gnoll finally decided to join the fight himself. Ves frantically looked around, hoping that would cancel out the air shield and let the others enter the fight. Her hopes were in vain, though the vortex of wind still held, though it did look unstable.

  The two men stepped out of the way as the gnoll approached, unsheathing a giant halberd from his back. Ves tried to take a stance as Yujiro held out his arm, stepping in front of her. His breaths were labored, something was wrong.

  The gnoll smirked, “Got nicked, did you?”

  Before Ves could ask what was wrong, Yujiro charged only for the gnoll to casually slap him away with the back of his hand, sending Yujiro flying as he bounced across the ground before rolling to a stop.

  “Yujiro!” Ves screamed out, but before she could do anything, the remaining men piled on Ves, forcing her to her knees. Strong as she was in her weakened state, she couldn’t break free, not to say her foes had it easy.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “She has been run through twice. How does she have this much fight left?” one of the men complained.

  “Hold her arm out, I’ll remove it before she can cause any more trouble. I’ll hang it up as a trophy and reminder to anyone who thinks they can fuck with us in the future.”

  Ves struggled but couldn’t break free. Watching in horror as the gnoll leader raised his weapon into the air.

  The gnoll smirked as his weapon was held aloft, “You reap what you sow. This is for all the men and women you left to burn.”

  Ves closed her eyes and braced herself before she heard a shout.

  “Ves!”

  An arrow then suddenly struck the gnoll in the arm, causing him to lose his grip on the weapon before he could swing. Behind the gnoll, she could see Hiroko charging, as Ryuko fired off another shot. They looked bad, covered in wounds, having forcibly pushed themselves through the Air shield.

  “Get away from her!” Ryuko cried out as her next arrow nailed one of the men straight in the eye. Between that and the surprise attack, Ves was able to shake free of the attackers and rushed to Hiroko and Ryuko’s side.

  The gnoll snarled as he ripped the arrow from his arm.

  “Fucking lizard, you will regret that.” He shouted as he reached into his pouch, pulling out a small glass orb. “I really wanted to save this for larger prey, but I think I need to make an example of you three.” He threw the orb at Ves and the others. It hit the ground at their feet as a cloud of yellow powder exploded in the air around them. The three tried to run, but before they took more than a handful of steps, they dropped to their knees as their limbs tingled and grew weak. Within a moment, the three were lying on the ground, paralyzed. Ves could see that several other Dragonewts had stormed out, but unlike Hiroko and Ryuko, they were not strong enough to break through the shield.

  After the powder had settled, the leader walked towards them with a twisted smile. “I’d say this wasn’t worth it, but I’m pretty sure the bounty on bloodline branded will well make up for today’s losses. And don’t worry, we will be sure to send the rest of your friends to join you in meeting the goddess.”

  He raised his axe yet again, “For now, though, I’m taking that arm.” Before he could swing, a deafening roar raced through the clearing. So loud it hurt, and more than that, utterly terrifying. The roar even dispelled the air shield as the gnoll stumbled forward, hardly able to catch himself as a massive beast landed behind him.

  A Dragon.

  The dragon had a slender body with four legs and a long whip-like tail. With dark green scales, almost black in hue. Its massive wings spread out in a threatening manner. The webbing a more vibrant shade of green, fitting in with the forest around them. At least sixty feet long from snout to the tip of its tail.

  “BEAST!” he bellowed as he raised his axe high and charged. In an instant, he was on top of the dragon, swinging his weapon. “DIE!”

  Before the blow could connect, the dragon casually smacked him with its front claw, sending the goll crashing into a tree. He was coughing up blood as he tried to stand.

  “How rude,” a voice echoed out.

  All eyes turned back to the dragon, realizing it… she was the one who spoke. Her voice rumbled with a power that struck at Ves’s very soul. Her very presence seemed to command, no demanded respect.

  Using the tree for support, the gnoll managed to pull himself back to his feet. “Damn you, lizard.”

  “Name calling now? You invaded MY lands, this is simply your just rewards. What was it? You reap what you sow?” the dragon scoffed. The gnoll began to laugh, or at least tried to as he coughed up blood. If the dented armor was anything to go by, his ribs were likely shattered. “That’s right, ‘your’ lands, not the lands of your elders. We know the elder dragons left you and your vile kin behind.”

  At the gnoll's words, the dragon snapped her tail against the ground, the sound thundering out like a colossal whip.

  “Are you done?” the dragon said curtly. Hard as it was to read a dragon’s facial expressions, Ves was pretty sure the gnoll’s words struck a nerve. She didn’t get a response, as the gnoll was slumped against the tree, dead. Dead but with a smile on his face.

  “Damnable vermin,” the dragon muttered to herself before she turned to look back at everyone else.

  With a glare, “Now what to do with all of you?”.

  Elder Setsu then emerged from behind the protections and carefully walked towards the dragon. Its jaw large enough to likely devour the woman in only a handful of bites if it so choose. Everyone else was in too much of a state of shock to move. Dragons were beings of legend, not something a normal person would meet in their lifetime.

  For her part, Setsu gracefully kneeled before the dragon and bowed, “Fair skies to you, Lady Dragon”.

  “Good, some proper manors.” The dragon chuckled. “Good skies to you as well. Now tell me newt? Why are you and yours in my lands? My flight will largely ignore the occasional traveler, but that does not look to be the case with you,” the dragon spoke as Ves could see her looking over their humble home.

  Still keeping her head low, Setsu responded, “That is correct, my Lady, we have traveled from far to the south where war has driven us from our own ancestral lands. We have lost many on the way, and our clan is but a shadow of its former self. Still, we seek your protection and permission to stay and start a new life in the shadow of your flight’s mountains.”

  “That verifies my guess. I have been watching your clan for some time now. Trying to take your measure. I had intended to continue to do so for some time, but the attack by that flea-ridden gnoll forced me to take action,” the dragon responded. Then, with a somber sigh, “I’m afraid, though these lands are not the refuge you seek.”

  “Is this in regard to what the gnoll spoke of?” Setsu asked.

  “Unfortunately, I had thought it a secret, but apparently not. It is true the elder dragons who once ruled these mountains and were able to put the fear of the gods into any nation have ascended”.

  Setsu looked up and gasped, “The elder dragons have passed?”

  The dragon shook her head, “No, you misunderstand, I didn’t mean that as a euphemism. They have ascended to godhood and now fight alongside the pantheon, who lay claim over this world. Unfortunately, the results are nearly the same as if they were dead, as they can no longer take direct action in this world without Perithia’s permission.”

  “That is troubling news, my lady dragon,” Setsu said in response.

  The dragon sighed, “Enough of that for now. Out in the open like this is no place to talk, and,” Ves noticed the dragon glance her way. “I feel as though we have much to talk about. But first, I think you should say your goodbyes. He does not have long.” The dragon spoke as she pointed to Yujiro, who had barely managed to lift himself to his knee.

  “Firstly”, the dragon waved her claw towards Ves, Hiroko, and Ryuko, still semi-paralyzed and lying on the ground. The dragon whispered words in an unknown tongue as a gentle green light enveloped the three, washing away the effects of the yellow powder.

  The three of them immediately ran to Yujiro’s side.

  “Brother, what’s wrong!” Ryuko cried out.

  “Weapons, pretty sure they were poisoned, Wyrm’s Bane, I'd bet.” Ryuko’s eyes went wide.

  Ves had no idea what to do. She turned to Hiroko, hoping he had an idea, but the man simply clenched his fists as his eyes turned away, tears forming. In desperation, she turned to the dragon. She had cured them of the paralysis with ease. Surely she could do something. Desperate, she ran towards the beast, falling to her knees, begging.

  “Great dragon, please save him! He can’t die like this.”

  The dragon sorrowfully shook her head, “I’m afraid there is naught that I can do. He was poisoned with Wyrms Bane. Despite centuries of effort, not even my kind has found a cure.”

  Ves was about to plead again when a weak voice called out behind her, “Ves, it's ok. Come here for a sec, would you?”

  Wiping her tears, Ves walked towards the dying man held upright in the arms of his sister.

  “Come on now, why the long face? This isn’t the first time you have seen me on death's door.”

  “That’s not funny.” Ves protested as tears clouded her vision.

  “No, but it makes my point, Ves, Nell. I would have already died had it not been for you two. I would have never gotten to see my friends or my little sister again, were it not for you saving me. Let alone rescue them.”

  “Brother,” Ryuko cried as she held him close. His face was now white as a sheet, with dark bags under his eyes, which looked to be a struggle for him to keep open.

  “Now, now, Ryuko, I need you to be strong. Do as you have always done and protect the clan. I’m proud of you, who knew the snot-nosed brat that always hid behind me would grow up into the greatest hunter our clan has seen in a generation. If mother and father could see you now, I know they would say the same.”

  “Yujiro,” Ryuko cried into her brother’s chest.

  “Hiroko, keep an eye out for my Sis, will you?” Hiroko just nodded as he tried and failed to hold back his own tears.

  “Ves, Nell, I don’t regret for a second what happened in the fight. We saved the others, and that’s all that matters. But if you don’t mind me asking a favor?”

  “Anything, just say it.”

  “Protect them. When I’m gone, you three will be the only ones strong enough to protect the clan. Can you do that for me?”

  Ves and Hiroko nodded. While Ves could feel Nell affirm the same.

  “Brother, don’t go! You’re the only family I have left!”

  “Ryuko, you’re not a little girl anymore, you’re a grown woman with a bright future ahead. Look, we even found the dragons. It will be alright now.”

  “Noo!” Ryuko cried harder as she clung to Yujiro’s chest.

  “Come on, Sis, can you at least send me off with a smile? Just let me see your smile one last time before I go to the goddess side.” At that, Ryuko slowly pulled herself away, wiping her face with her arm before showing her brother the warmest smile she could muster as the tears continued to run free.

  “Thank you.” Those were his final words as Yujiro’s body fell limp in Ryuko’s arms. He died with a smile on his face.