Chapter 5: The Dragon of Alexandria
It's been six months since Eta joined Shadow Garden. I have to admit, among our colorful cast of larpers, she's got to be one of the funniest, entertaining people I've met. If not for her interest in how we cure Possession or the slime suits, she likely would have just gone back to her little hovel and sleep for the next century or so. She's the elf equivalent of a sloth, I tell you. She gets along with the rest of Shadow Garden for the most part, though Beta's mentioned how Alpha gets occasionally irritated with Eta's laziness. I don't see much of the girls as much as I used to.
A short while after we recruited Eta, Alpha told me the girls wanted to go their separate ways. Officially, they said they were going to reach out to the neighboring kingdom of Oriana and the Velgata Empire to seek out new opportunities. I understood the meaning as, "We're done playing." I knew the day was coming, but I really wanted to play with everyone a little while longer. It's no fun being an eminence in shadow if you don't have people to share your success and wealth with. Thankfully, it turns out I worried over nothing! The girls came back every once in a while, and with new buddies too. It seems like they went on a recruitment drive of some kind.
As usual, Alpha and the others are seriously dedicated to expanding Shadow Garden and our lore. I have no idea how in the world they convince these girls to partake in our fantasy, but I'm not going to complain. I'm starting to get a little worried, though. Why? Because so far, all the girls Alpha and the others keep bringing in are beautiful! I want to be a cool, mysterious, and seriously badass shadowbroker, not the protagonist of some shitty harem story that inevitably goes nowhere!
"—Haa…" I sigh in discontent, lazily hanging my head in my hand while staring out the window. My room doesn't have the best view of Midgar sadly, but it does give me a good look at the city below. The capital hasn't been much fun as of late. The mysterious cult Zeta worked for hasn't shown itself in a while, and criminal activity has taken a serious dip ever since Iris graduated. King Klaus gave her permission to form her own order: The Order of the Scarlet Knights. Each member is handpicked by Iris and put through its paces. Alexia mentioned wanting to join the Scarlet Knights after graduating.
Iris looks more and more like the perfect hero antagonist to my story, what with her dedication to protecting the kingdom and all. She's even been raising a stink against the palace nobles and ruffling more than a few feathers in the process.
Still, I wish that girl would slow down! I'm so bored out of my mind! I'm almost tempted to go back to my Stylish Bandit Slayer days and go on a rampage somewhere!
"Is something the matter, Lord Shadow?" the silver-haired elf in glasses asks me.
"I'm fine, Theta."
Oh yeah, this is one of Shadow Garden's newest members. Supposedly, I saved her life in the past but I don't really remember. I've gotten so used to being around beautiful girls that they all look like normal NPCs to me at this point. The charm kinda wears off at some point, you know?
With Shadow Garden deciding to expand its operations across the rest of the continent, Alpha and the others decided they would separate their group into a sort of hierarchy: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, and Eta were the Seven Shadows, the top-brass and Shadow Garden's elite. Think of them as my "underbosses" if we were a mafia. The rank-and-file members are known as Numbers. As their names imply, each member is assigned a number that represents when they joined our group. If they have sufficient power and prove themselves, the Seven Shadows will take on Numbers as their personal subordinates and make them "Named" Numbers.
I've been told Theta was No. 34 before Alpha took her under her wing. Coincidentally, I've heard from Beta that Alpha and Theta are supposedly childhood friends.
I'm not sure why Theta asked to join the palace as a maid, but I'm not going to complain. I like having someone listen to my occasional badass and cool monologues.
"Do you have any news?" I ask curiously. Beta has been leaving the palace more often, hence Theta's presence here, and it's been a while since I've seen anyone else from the Seven Shadows. Whatever they're doing is making them pretty busy.
Theta produces a small notebook from between her breasts. I should also mention that, ever since Theta became a maid under my direct employ (courtesy of Beta), she's gotten several men and teenage boys here at the palace asking for her hand in marriage. I honestly have no idea if it's because of her looks, her slightly buxom figure, or that she purposely wears her maid uniform in a way that exposes a fair amount of her cleavage.
"We are currently halting our recruitment efforts at the moment to focus on locating a new base of operations, as well as increase our training regimen with the current members. Lambda and Gamma are overseeing the training efforts, although…"
"Although…?" I urge Theta to continue.
She sighs. "I'm afraid we may have become a tad overzealous in gaining members. The abandoned town in the Kagenou baronry Epsilon pointed us to has been serving us well, as is the dilapidated factory at the northern edges of the capital, but at this rate, we run the risk of being exposed. Lady Delta and Lady Beta are spearheading the search for a potential new base, one that will hopefully house most of our new members."
Wait, seriously? How many people have you guys been recruiting? I'm almost tempted to ask, but I refrain in the meantime. So the main problem we have is overpopulation, huh? The most logical conclusion would be to "cull the fat" so to speak, weed out the useful from the useless and restructure Shadow Garden appropriately, but that won't solve the housing issue. The abandoned town Theta mentions is a ghost town I personally cleared out shortly after Epsilon brought it up to me. The bandits there were great for grinding money, and I managed to get my hands on more slime in case I needed to make adjustments. It was pretty sizable, but if we we're already straining at max capacity there…
"As I thought. The ancient shadows that lie beyond the fog of uncertainty…"
…What? Don't judge me! Do you have any idea how long it's been since the last time I was able to say something totally cool and mysterious?!
X x X x X x X x X
The dilapidated factory is not exactly up to standard, but it serves its purpose well. The area in which the factory is located so far away from the main capital that rarely anyone save the desperate and foolhardy dare approach. That the northern edges of the capital are also subject to rumors and ghost stories regarding strange disappearances is another worthwhile boon. Per Alpha's orders, the interior was to be remodeled to accommodate them once Shadow decided to make it their base.
In the past, the large and empty spaces echoed loudly with the sounds of sparring between Shadow Garden's initial members. Now it sings with the sounds of battle. Numerous girls hone their abilities, be it magic power or swordmanship. Watching them and occasionally shouting disparaging remarks or words of encouragement is a gold-haired therianthrope with feline features.
Gamma was the third person to join Shadow Garden following its inception. The circumstances behind her recruitment are known only to Shadow, Alpha, and Beta, and Gamma herself is not keen on sharing her past with people she hardly knows. The only exception is Delta, though she can't really bring herself to share her story with her fellow therianthrope.
Currently, Gamma oversees the training of dozens of Numbers. Lambda is handling her own group in the abandoned town within the Kagenou baronry, though their reports are similar. The girls are making good progress, but they are recruiting too fast. It is not the quality of the girls' abilities that concern Gamma, but how quickly they are expanding. It is only a matter of time before they are no longer able to hide their presence without risking the Cult of Diabolos discovering them. For that reason, Beta and Gamma have been searching for a new, much larger base.
There are a few candidates, but perhaps the most promising lead Gamma's found yet is an ancient city that lies somewhere in the Abyss Woods. The city itself only exists in folklore and legends, and Gamma has yet to confirm the validity of this information, but in her opinion, it is the best options. The Abyss Woods are known to be dangerous, well-hidden and famed for the dangers lurking within the billowing mists. The only real concern is the poisonous fog native to the area.
Coincidentally, Delta was the one who brought up the Abyss Woods as a potential new base. It was far away from the kingdoms and well-known for its dangers that made it the perfect hunting ground for pray. It was quite like Delta, but it was one of the rare moments where her idea had merit. Alpha is receptive of the idea, but they need proof of the ancient city first.
"I have returned," Beta announces. It is unnecessary in Gamma's opinion since she sensed the girl coming seconds before she spoke. She is one of the best trackers in Shadow Garden for a reason.
Gamma and Beta get along well enough, though the therianthrope sometimes feels unsettles by her near zealotry toward Shadow. On more than one occasion has Gamma heard her proclaim him a messiah summoned by Goddess Beatrix. While she's almost certain there is a higher power behind Shadow, Gamma feels her companion takes it too far. She's fanatical, and often tries to impose her views on the others. It's one of the many reasons why Beta and Alpha don't get along. Delta is thankfully too simple-minded to understand what Beta says, Epsilon is sufficiently creeped out, Zeta barely interacts with her to have any real opinion, and Eta… Well, she was Eta.
Gamma is also privy to Beta's past as the Saint, which seems to be the major point of contention between Alpha and Beta. While she does not know the specifics, Gamma at least knows that the Templar Order, the "sword" of the Church, has put countless Possessed in the ground. The crux of Alpha and Beta's issues, in Gamma's view, is Alpha's unwillingness to forget this fact whereas Beta is happy to let bygones be bygones.
"Any luck on your end?" Gamma asks her companion.
Beta sighs in disappointment. "The area I proposed is not feasible. The mountain range that sits between the Velgata Empire and the City-State Alliance sits too close to Orum. Furthermore, one of my old contacts in the Church has reported suspicious movement. It seems that the new Templar Order is also investigating that area for some reason."
Gamma narrows her eyes. "A new order?" After the Saint's departure from the Church, the Templar Order fell into disarray. Without a leader to rally around, its fanatical members succumbed to infighting. The order was disbanded two-and-a-half years ago per the orders of a high-ranking clergyman named Archbishop Corvo. It was a boon as far as Gamma is concerned, seeing as how the Templars at the time were the greatest threat to Shadow Garden. If someone reinstated the order, they would have to take precautions. "Any idea what's there in the mountains that warrants their attention?"
"Just some dusty old ruins, though I'll keep investigating things on my end. One more thing, Alpha wants us. It seems Theta has something to report."
Gamma nods. She turns to the trainees on the ground level and shouts harshly, "Alright, you weaklings! Take five! I'm meeting with the rest of the Seven Shadows. It shouldn't take too long, so don't get comfortable. And no slacking off, got it?!"
"Sir! Yes, sir!" the Numbers shout back in obedience.
Gamma and Beta arrive at their destination. It is a secret room hidden within the very walls of the palace. It was first discovered by Shadow, no doubt having searched for it in his efforts to uncover the Cult's existence prior to creating Shadow Garden. As Gamma expects, everyone is present.
"We miss anything?" Gamma asks.
Alpha shakes her head. "No. We wanted to hold the meeting when you arrived. Before we start, Epsilon has something to report."
Out of everyone in Shadow Garden, Epsilon is perhaps one of the few besides Alpha that Gamma considers a genuine equal. Despite having joined six months ago, her skills improve by leaps and bounds, and her swordsmanship has reached the point where she is virtually undefeated. Even Delta, a literal beast once provoked, finds herself struggling to overwhelm her. It also helps that Epsilon takes her duty as the sworn knight of Prince Cid Midgar very seriously. Much like Beta who accompanies Shadow wherever he goes, Epsilon is not far behind with her jet-black sword at the ready.
"I overheard a conversation between Count Herschel and Duchess Menagerie the other night," Epsilon begins. "It seems there's a new political faction in the palace."
Currently, there are three factions in the palace.
The first is the Scarlet Faction, named after Crown Princess Iris Midgar. They support the first princess and view her as the ideal leader of the country after years of frustration with King Klaus' continued neutrality. The Scarlet Faction formed not long after Iris' talent with a sword was discovered, but it grew exponentially as she began collecting achievements, especially when she emerged victorious in the Bushin Festival. The success of the Scarlet Knights only serves to boost their powerbase and opinion.
The second is the Silver Faction, named after Princess Alexia Midgar. They support the second princess, though their power is lacking compared to their rivals. Theirs is a slightly smaller group and mainly consists of noble ladies from lower-ranking houses, all close confidants of Alexia. While Alexia's achievements and skills are often found lacking in comparison to her older sister, some nobles took to supporting the young princess. Alexia's popularity with the younger nobles has them slowly, but steadily gaining influence.
The third faction is the White Faction, named after Duke Kaiser. Once a supporter and close friend of King Klaus Midgar, the monarch's stubborn refusal has driven a wedge between them to the point the duke openly believes King Klaus is no longer fit to lead the Midgar Kingdom. As a former war hero, he is considerably popular with the military leaders and generals, many of whom have close ties to the Velgata Empire. Of the three, it is this faction that worries Shadow Garden the most given the Empire's close relationship with the Cult of Diabolos.
"Who are they?" Beta asks immediately. Her serene expression is nowhere to be found; instead, there is only a look of apprehension and danger. Like Alpha, Beta believes Shadow's safety is paramount and is her foremost concern. It is why she personally elected to protect their leader from any nefarious characters in the palace, especially those with ties to the cult. Jack S. Adist's actions have only made her more driven to weed them out from the palace.
Epsilon's answer is surprising. "They call themselves the Black Faction, as they support Lord Shadow, or rather Prince Cid Midgar."
"So the pack is getting bigger?!" Delta asks excitedly.
"Not quite," Theta replies with a terse expression. "And I hesitate to call them allies. The Black Faction is led by Baron Shirley Albrecht. While the Albrecht baronry holds considerable influence for someone of their status, they are not well-liked. There are numerous scandals and rumors surrounding him, many of which involve corrupt high-ranking officials in the military. Of particular note is Lieutenant Zachary Schneider, the disgraced son of Earl Schneider."
Gamma narrows her eyes. Earl Schneider is one of the palace nobles associated with the Cult of Diabolos, and thus Shadow Garden considers him a priority target. They have targeted him in the past, but to their disappointment and chagrin, the earl is nothing if not paranoid. He rarely leaves the palace and is accompanied by two soldiers, both decorated officers. Beta's attempts to assassinate the earl have all ended in failure on account of his paranoia.
"My preliminary investigations suggest Zachary and Earl Schneider had some sort of falling out involving a marriage contract that ultimately went nowhere. Lieutenant Zachary is described by his fellows as a womanizer who frequents the tavern near the garrison on the western side of the capital, and has accepted bribes in the past. There's also a rumor going around that the lieutenant achieved his position by poisoning one of his rivals, though I'm still investigating that one."
"Officially, they support Lord Shadow because of his 'unique' status as the child of a noble and a commoner," Epsilon adds with a frown. "Duchess Menagerie is one of the progressive noblewomen who's been advocating for more meritocratic systems to where commoners can have more influence in political affairs if they have the capability and strength necessary to have such power, though she's also quite unpopular because of such views. Most of the palace nobles are elitists who value the purity of their bloodline."
Alpha scowls. "And unofficially?"
"Baron Albrecht wishes to make Lord Shadow a puppet ruler. Like Duke Kaiser, the baron is angry over King Klaus' neutrality in certain political affairs. He seems to think that commoners and lower-ranking nobles might be more willing to listen to Lord Shadow if the child of a royal and commoner becomes king."
Eta scoffs. "A fool's delusion… Lord Shadow was recognized as family…to the king…but his title of prince…is for show."
"Baron Shirley's confident the court and the civilian council will overlook that fact if Lord Shadow collects certain accolades and achievements," Theta replies. She looks no less pleased with this news than the Seven Shadows, who all save for Delta look out for blood. "What are your orders, Lady Alpha? Lady Beta?"
Both women look at each other. While Gamma does not know what unseen conversation passes between them, they share a look of solidarity and frustration as they nod and turn to Theta. "Have No. 79, 22, and 56 maintain observations within the palace, but see what they can find out on Baron Albrecht's allies," Beta orders. "Figure out which are the weaker links. If this Albrecht thinks he can manipulate Lord Shadow, he is in for a very rude awakening."
"I fucking hate these court politics," Gamma grunts. "I get the usefulness and necessity of cloak and dagger stuff, but it really is annoying."
"Agreed," Epsilon sighs. "Unfortunately, such is the woe of being a noble. If it makes you feel any better, Gamma, it seems there are some genuine supporters of Lord Shadow among the Black Faction. We might be able to use them to our advantage."
"Pass me the names of everyone associated with the Black Faction," Zeta requests. "I'll see which ones are affiliated with the cult."
Theta nods.
The discussion of the Black Faction and how to deal with them continues for a short while before they eventually move on to the main topic of discussion and the purpose of the meeting.
"Our pack has over three hundred people!" Delta says with excitement. Her bushy tail waves back and forth as if reflecting her joy. "Some are super weak, but Lambda's whipping them in shape!"
"Unfortunately, that number is also becoming a problem," Alpha sighs. "We need a new base. So far, it seems like the Abyss Woods are looking to be our best option, but I'm still concerned about the poisonous fog and the creatures there."
"We don't have to worry!" Delta tells Alpha. "They're all super duper weak. Delta hunted plenty!" She suddenly pauses as a thought occurs to her. "But, something's really weird about the monsters there. The Abyss Woods are super poisonous, right?"
Gamma nods. "It's one of the reasons why few adventurers go there. The poisonous fog is damn lethal. Accounts say breathing the stuff is a death sentence. It's too fast acting for an antidote to take effect. Why? What's up?"
"The monsters are super weak, but they're not poisonous," Delta explains. "They're stupid, too. Some kept going into the fog. It's like they haven't adapted to the poison!"
Alpha narrows her eyes. "If they haven't adapted, then…"
"The fog is likely…not natural to the forest," Eta surmises.
"If that is the case, then something there is responsible. The question is who and what."
Gamma takes the moment to provide her own findings. The topic of something being responsible for the poisonous fog and acting as a seeming "guardian" reminds her of a specific detail in the region's folklore. "It might be the Mist Dragon." Alpha turns to her in curiosity and surprise. "I've been doing some light reading on the Abyss Woods. Supposedly, somewhere past the forest is an ancient city called Alexandria that fell to ruin millions of years ago. According to the legend, the leaders of the city entered into a pact with a mighty beast that's said to have defended Alexandria by enshrouding it in impenetrable mist."
"Alexandria…" Alpha repeats thoughtfully. "You believe this city exists?"
"It may very well might." Gamma blinks. Theta is smiling widely. "Before I came here, Lord Shadow said this to me: The ancient shadows that lie beyond the fog of uncertainty. We must dispel the fog and claim the answers dwelling within."
In an instant, the atmosphere changes. The Seven Shadows are beaming with excitement, none more than Gamma. As expected, Shadow is a step ahead of them. They kept him in the loop about finding a new base, but he already had one in mind. He may very well have pointed Delta in the right direction to get them started. He also must have known Gamma would seek out information on Alexandria as well.
Sheesh. One day, we'll catch up to your level, Lord Shadow, Gamma swears to herself.
X x X x X x X x X
Elsewhere, in the shadows lurking within the capital city of Midgar, a group convenes in a room accessible only to them. In that room is a round table with twelve seats. Only three are currently occupied.
"How rare of you to join us, Nelson."
"Hmph. I'm only here because of your incompetence, Fenrir. It's laughable to know that the fifth seat is occupied by someone so lacking."
"You are one to talk, Eleventh Seat."
"Enough, both of you. We are not here to discuss failings. We are here to talk about that group of upstarts."
The three men glare at each other darkly. Initially, they thought little of Shadow Garden. Many have opposed them in the past, and all eventually fell at their hands. It is the indisputable fact that the Cult of Diabolos, this ancient order of sanctity and power, controls the world. It will continue to control the world. Those who raise their hands in defiance. are met only with despair and death.
And yet, for reasons none of them can fathom, that fact is being challenged. Shadow Garden is no meager upstart, but a juggernaut who's done the impossible. For the first time since the cult's creation, their nose is bloodied. This unknown group continues to be a thorn in their side despite their best efforts, and recent events only make them more anxious to be rid of this group. Possessed, one after another, are stolen right out from under their very noses. Their recent operations in Oriana also suffer from numerous setbacks; none quite as severe as what's happening in Midgar, but setbacks nonetheless.
"What do we know of this Shadow Garden?" Petos inquires. Of the three, he is the most composed and level-headed. "We know they showed up three years ago, but do we have any concrete information?"
Fenrir scowls angrily. "None. Some of our bases and facilities were attacked by an unknown assailant, but the reports at the time indicated it was a single individual. We think that might be Shadow Garden's leader, Shadow. Right now, we suspect Shadow either somehow stumbled onto our operations or is a traitor. I'm inclined to believe the latter."
Nelson skeptically raises an eyebrow. "A traitor? How did you come to that conclusion?"
"How else has he been able to dismantle so many of our operations in Midgar? Our selection process is careful. Unless one of you fucked up, there's not a chance in hell some nobody could have found out about us, much less possess so much power. Whoever this Shadow is, he is no weakling. He has experience."
Petos drums his fingers along the edge of the table. Truthfully, he considered that possibility as well. It is highly unlikely information of their existence leaked, but if that is the case, who is Shadow really? Surely not someone in the upper echelons; none of the Seats would dare consider betraying the cult, even with their continued ploys and attempts to garner more power and influence while undermining their rivals.
"It doesn't matter who he is," Nelson argues. "We need to kill him and destroy his organization. He's ruining everything we've worked for!"
Petos quickly interjects. "I believe we should capture Shadow." His fellow Seats look at him as though he is a madman. "We have confirmed Shadow possesses the means to cure Possession. That means Shadow has a much deeper understanding of the Diabolos cells than we initially assumed. If we can learn his methods and obtain his research, we can use them for own benefit."
It doesn't take long for his compatriots to realize what he's talking about.
"…What about the Posssessed in his care?" Fenrir asks carefully.
At this, the Tenth Seat shrugs. "We can always use a few more guinea pigs. We haven't had a chance to see what happens if someone cured of Possession suffers a relapse, have we?"
"Tch. As always, you're a creepy bastard," Nelson scoffs. "But, I see your point. On the subject of Shadow Garden's Possessed, we should deal with Shooting Star as quickly as possible. Up until six months ago, it looked as if Shadow Garden was struggling to find our holdings, but now they're hitting us left and right!"
It is a legitimate concern, Petos supposes. While Karen von Herzog may not be very high up, she is still a Named Child. That position, as well as her former status as one of the Seven Spellblades, gives her certain privileges that other Children aren't afforded.
"We shouldn't worry too much," Petos says after a moment of consideration. "We're already in the process of reorganizing our facilities and staff as we speak. In the meantime, there is one more matter to discuss." His face turns dark. What little pleasantness in Petos evaporates into vapor. "That liability in the palace is overstepping his bounds. What's worse, he's somehow convinced Albrecht to support him."
Fenrir shakes his head. "Forget about him. I've already spoken with Kaiser. He'll keep that idiot in line. If he does get too unruly, we can always have Yoru handle it." The Fifth Seat suddenly turns pensive. "If Shadow Garden does get too uppity, why don't we sic Yoru on them? No matter how strong they are, they won't handle a candle to our hound."
"I concur," Nelson nods in sincere agreement. It's one of the rare instances when he is in total agreement with his rival. "He's the crown jewel of our efforts. Once the modifications are complete, even that so-called 'war goddess' won't be a problem should she ever turn her blade against us."
"Is that all, then?"
Silence.
Nelson rises from his seat, giving his cohorts one last warning look as if daring them to cross him before he takes his leave. Fenrir also moves to leave, but stops when Petos gestures for him to sit back down. "A moment of your time, Fenrir," he says. "I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?" Fenrir smiles like he's just heard a joke. "From the Tenth Seat? Awfully dangerous of you."
Petos schools his features and wisely restrains any choice words he has for Fenrir. Loathe as he is to admit it, he is fully aware he is not cut out for the ranks of the Round Table. The only reason he now serves as Tenth Seat is because of his predecessor's unexpected demise in the aftermath of Shooting Star's betrayal. He is weaker than all the others, weaker than even the likes of that damnable braggart Nelson. He hates how he must lower himself before Fenrir, but he does so because he knows the Fifth Seat. Of the Twelve Knights, he is the only one Petos knows he can rely on.
"The risk is well worth it," Petos replies smoothly. "Do you recall Viscount Grease?"
Fenrir nods. "I know of him. He was in charge of the Bride, wasn't he?" The Fifth Seat scowls as he remembers that particular failure. He considers it one of the worst blows Shadow Garden dealt them. "We were so close to figuring out why her Possession was so different compared to the others. Her compatibility with the Diabolos cells was unlike anything we'd seen before."
"Would you believe me if I told you we found our runaway Bride?" Petos smiles, now having Fenrir's full attention. "Would you also believe me if I told you she is now the sworn knight of Cid Midgar?"
X x X x X x X x X
"I feel bad invading their picnic, but what else am I supposed to do? There's only so much of my cousins I can take here!" I silently rant to any trees willing to listen.
Earlier this morning, Beta arrived to tell me the Seven Shadows would be leaving for the Abyss Woods along with some of the Numbers. While she was pretty vague on the details, I knew immediately they were going out on a picnic. Why else would you go to a forest?
I will say they have some strange tastes. A thin mist, monsters the stuff of nightmares, and discolored fog that kills anything that so much as catches a whiff of it. I mean, granted, I've heard of worse places to have a picnic, but it's still an odd choice. I'm almost positive Eta has something to do with this. I did consider leaving them to their devices, but boredom and dealing with Alexia drove me to follow my beloved Shadow Garden. I keep my distance so as to not disturb their outing.
Along the way, they encounter all sorts of monsters. They all die pretty easily, which is to be expected of my badass group of larpers, though as always, Delta is goddamn messy when it comes to killing. Body parts and intestines go flying everywhere, and she does it all with that happy smile on her face. On any other girl, she would be adorable. On Delta, who's covered in blood and viscera, she looks more like a serial killer in training.
I will say this at least, the Abyss Woods isn't boring. I don't care about the local wildlife and fauna, but the magic power seeping around the place has my interest. The mist in these woods isn't natural, nor is the poisonous fog. They are both byproducts of magic. I can feel the traces of magic swirling. The girls don't seem to notice it, but it's understandable why they can't. The magic itself is so faint you would have to look really, really hard and know exactly what you are looking for.
I go ahead of the girls in search of the source of this magic, careful not to clue them on my presence. I especially make sure neither Gamma nor Delta catch a whiff of my scent, though that's mostly because I really don't want to deal with Hurricane Doggy right now. That girl has no restraint!
The source of the magic is easy to find since it's stationary. It sits languidly on the forest floor, not noticing or sensing my presence. The space around it is entirely devoid of mist and fog, though the magic producing both seeps from its wings.
"Oh my god." I can hardly contain my excitement. Why? Because it's A MOTHERFUCKING DRAGON! HOLY SHIT! A REAL-LIFE DRAGON!
THANK YOU, ISEKAI! LONG LIVE THE ISEKAI! ISEKAI BANZAI!!!!!!
…*ahem*.
The dragon doesn't have the stereotypical aesthetic of a western dragon where it is bipedal with arm-lie wings or arms and wings. Rather, the dragon's lower torso is serpentine and partially fish-like with the fins along its sides and tail. It has burly arms and sharp claws that look like they can cut through mythril as well as fairy-like wings that constantly change color in the reflecting light. It's scales are brightly colored, almost a chromatic white. Four long "whiskers" flow from either side of its snout.
I'm half-tempted to go up and fight the dragon and lay claim to its treasure, but I can't risk exposing myself just yet. The girls are still here. It's only a matter of time before they find it or the dragon senses them. Either way, a fight's brewing, and I want the best seat in the house. It's a good chance to see how far my Seven Shadows have come. There's no doubt in my mind this dragon is strong, maybe the strongest being we've met so far if it's magic is any indication.
I'll intervene if things look dicey, but for now, I want a good front-row seat. Now, where should I… Aha! That branch looks pretty sturdy!
All I need now is some popcorn, and we're good.
…I really miss Beta. She makes some of the best fucking popcorn ever.
X x X x X x X x X
"Oh, gross! Delta, how many times have we told you not to go overboard? You're covered in guts!"
"Ehehe… Sorry, Boss Gamma."
Ordinarily, wolf and cat beastkin do not get along. Some may joke it's the ever-recurring and natural, universal law that dogs and cats can't and will never get along, but that is not the case for Delta and Gamma. Shadow is the boss of the pack. He is the alpha, and his word is law. The Seven Shadows are the betas who lead the Numbers, who are the omegas. Having a mini-pack is a sign that you are a beta.
Delta is awesome because Delta is both a beta and an omega. She has her own mini-pack, and she herself is part of Boss Gamma's mini-pack.
This is Delta's thought process and how she views Shadow Garden.
When Delta first encountered Shadow Garden, it was after her father and tribe cast her out. Her father tried to kill her, but Delta evaded him at every turn. No one could beat her in a game of hide-n-seek. The only one who can beat her is Shadow. The first person she met was Gamma. An encounter between therianthropes will always begin with hostilities, and in the worst case, a fight to the death. Delta, running on adrenaline and willing to kill everyone she met in order to survive, attacked and picked a fight with Gamma without bothering to listen. Delta prided herself as being the strongest and fastest among her many, many siblings, but it did her no good against Gamma. She ultimately lost.
Delta at first bared her neck to Gamma. As the loser, the victor had the right to take her life. Instead, Gamma scolded her and asked for answers. Delta, obeying the winner, complied and explained all that happened to her at that point. Shortly after that, Gamma made her part of the pack. Shadow arrived shortly after. It took exactly one second for Delta to realize Shadow was Gamma's boss and the alpha before she laid on her back and exposed her stomach in an act of submission.
Compared to Delta's tribe, Shadow Garden is a marked improvement. Shadow is benevolent and kind, but sometimes his acts confuse Delta. She knows she has little understanding about human society and their obsession with blood ties, and so she rarely listens to the meetings since Shadow or Gamma will dumb them down for her to understand. She finds human society's rules annoying and feels everything will be better when Shadow becomes the alpha of the World. He's strong and he knows what he's doing. There's no one better to lead.
(Ironically, this simplistic view is why Shadow tends to act so casually around her, not bothering to put on his usual "Eminence" act.)
In any event, Delta's job with the pack today is to find a new place for them to live. She wishes they could live in the same fancy place Shadow does, but the others tell her it's impossible and would just invite suspicion and trouble for Shadow. She drops the idea because she doesn't want to cause trouble for him. Luckily, Delta found this place during one of her regular hunts. As far as hunting grounds go, it's lackluster, but she at least appreciates the overall atmosphere. Sometimes the wind would hit her fur just right and she ends up falling asleep.
There's something different about the Abyss Woods today, however. Delta's not sure what to make of it, but the further in they go, the more her fur stands on end. She feels her senses being distorted, like something is messing with her head. It fails because her therianthrope instincts and magic resist whatever is trying to screw with her.
"Something's wrong," Delta informs the rest of the pack. "It's like something is trying to tell Delta which is left and which is right."
Gamma nods, feeling similar effects. "I feel it too. Is this…magic?"
"Could it be the effects of the mist?" Theta suggests. "I remember reading some accounts that adventurers tended to lose themselves in this place fairly easily. It's possible the Mist Dragon is warping our sense of direction."
"That must mean we're getting close," Epsilon says. She looks at the Omegas behind them and frowns. She leans over to Alpha and lowers her voice, obviously not wanting the others to hear them. Delta hears her because of her enhanced hearing. "If this dragon does exist, I don't think the other Numbers, much less the Named ones, are going to be much help."
Delta agrees with Epsilon. Even if she's a new beta, she cares about the pack and realizes which ones are the weaklings. The Numbers are way too weak compared to them, and while Delta could not care if they died, she didn't want to imagine Shadow's face when he learned what happened to them. The alpha looks after the pack, and Shadow is the best alpha of them all.
Alpha understands Epsilon and gives out new orders. Lambda, who Delta considers a very scary woman, relays the order to the rest of the pack and retreats. The only one who stays behind is Theta, one of the new pack members and a member of Beta's mini-pack.
"Try to stay as far away from the fight as possible," Beta orders. "If the worst case happens, send a flare. The others will see it and will inform Lord Shadow what has transpired. Am I understood, Theta?"
"Yes, Lady Beta!"
With that, they move further into the Abyss Woods.
Suddenly, Delta stops dead in her tracks. Every hair on her body goes ramrod straight and her nerves tingle. Her senses are telling her to turn around and run away. She sniffs the air and finds an unusual scent further in, a scent so strong and potent it nearly overwhelms her senses.
"There, up ahead! Something's up ahead!" Delta bares her fangs and takes off running. She hears the pack shouting at her from behind, but her instincts have taken over. She's found a threat to her pack, and as a beta, it's her job to kill it before it kills them. "Delta will hunt them!" She follows the scent into a small clearing and eventually finds her quarry: a large shiny lizard.
Without wasting any time, Delta leaps and crosses the distance in a split second. Her magic wraps around her claws and sharpens them to where they can cut through steel-plated armor. She brings them down on the lizard's head, expecting it to rip open.
"—ngh?!"
Delta's eyes bulge. Her claws stop dead in their tracks, unable to pierce the lizard's scales. The lizard stirs and Delta backs off, realizing her sneak has failed. The rest of the pack catches up in time. The lizard opens its strange blue eyes and slowly raises itself up from the ground. It spreads its wings and…
Oh.
Oh.
That's…not a lizard.
"WHO…"
Delta realizes her mistake too late. The dragon is angry.
"WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?"
X x X x X x X x X
My eyebrow twitches madly at the absurd sight of stupidity that just happened in front of me. I want to scream and shout, but in the end, all I can do is sigh and let my head fall into my hands.
"God dammit, Delta…"
You see, this is why I call her Suicide Weapon. This girl has absolutely no sense of self-preservation. She just goes rushing in, guns blazing! No plan at all! I mean, okay, sure, it works most of the time, but you can't just win with raw power. You have to play it smart. Delta's the type to just try and brute force everything.
I've tried to teach her, but, well… Yeah…
"WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLUMBER?" My rant toward Delta is immediately forgotten in favor of listening to the dragon. I love it when we have talking dra—wait, this isn't going to be that recent cliché where the dragon turns out to be a loli or a chick, right? I fricking hate that trope! "WHO DARES TRAMPLE MY DOMAIN?"
The rest of the Seven Shadows plus Theta arrives in time to hear the dragon speak. Delta is frozen on the spot, now realizing she's picking a fight she has no chance of winning. Gamma quickly steps in front of her with her chakrams at the ready. Alpha stands with her, sword drawn.
"That's…" Theta stares in a mix of dread and awe. "The Mist Dragon?"
Oh? Is that what this guy is called? Kind of lame, but it suits him.
"THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE CALLED ME BY THAT TITLE," the Mist Dragon says. "AND THEY HAVE ALL PERISHED, BOTH LOST TO THE MISTS AND IN THE SANDS OF TIME."
"And…does that include the city of Alexandria?" Theta asks. The Seven Shadows look at her in surprise.
The Mist Dragon's annoyance from being woken up is briefly swept away as he stares at Theta in curiosity. He leans forward, as if to get a better look at her. "TELL ME, ELF. DO YOU NOT FEAR DEATH?"
"I would be lying if I said I didn't." Well, at least she's being honest. "However, we came to this place to learn more about Alexandria. To know what became of it."
"How are you being so calm right now?!" Zeta hisses. Her hands are trembling. "This thing could attack us any second, and you want to talk history?"
"…VERY WELL, THEN."
"…what?"
Big dragon say what now?
To our surprise, the Mist Dragon acquiesces. He leans back with a loose posture. Despite this, his flow of magic doesn't abate or weaken. He prepares himself for a surprise attack, as if he expects them to strike while monologuing.
"DO NOT MISTAKE THIS AS LENIENCY," the dragon tells them. "YOU WILL DIE… HOWEVER, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE MET THOSE PURSUING THE TRUTH. MOST COME HERE SEEKING DEATH OR GLORY. FEW COME IN PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA?"
"It's said to have been the crown jewel of the Kingdom of Midgar," Alpha says. "Tales differ as to how it fell to ruin. Some claim you destroyed Alexandria and razed it to the ground whereas others say you made a pact with Alexandria's ruler before betraying him and engulfed the city in poison mist."
The Mist Dragon looks amused when he hears this. "IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, BOTH TALES CONTAIN THE TRUTH. LISTEN WELL, CHILDREN, AND HEED MY WORDS. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER HOW YOU MAY SURVIVE ONCE I FINISH MY TALE. HEAR ME AND LEARN OF ALEXANDRIA'S FOOLISHNESS."
The dragon speaks of Alexandria's history, of its humble beginnings and its eventual demise. While I'm not a huge fan of large exposition dumps, I'm also a sucker when it comes to the background lore, so I listen carefully to the Mist Dragon's story.
The king of Alexandria made a promise with the Mist Dragon. In exchange for granting the king his blessing and vowing to defend Alexandria and its prosperity, the king and/or his descendants would one day have to fulfill their end of the bargain. The Mist Dragon didn't elaborate what that condition was, but ultimately the vow was forgotten. Years went by and the people of Alexandria became corrupt and greedy. So many years passed that they eventually forgot about the pact between Alexandria's king and the Mist Dragon.
Their mistake cost them their lives. The Mist Dragon was angry the king's descendants forgot about the pact, if not violating it entirely. As recompense, he covered the entirety of the city in poisonous fog. Not a single soul was spared. Women, children, the elderly; all faced the Mist Dragon's wrath. I want to say he went overboard, but I'd be angry too if someone forgot to uphold our promise. Still, at least he showed restraint. If he killed everyone with poison, it meant Alexandria was mostly intact still.
It wasn't just the corruption and greed of Alexandria that infuriated the Mist Dragon, however. Apparently, the big guy has standards when it comes to people it makes pacts with: The king of Alexandria was strong and possessed strong virtues and morals. Traits that were necessary, if not important to any king worth their salt. The king's descendants became lazy with their power and failed to strive for greater power. They became complacent with the times of peace and prosperity, all the while gorging themselves on their lust of political power and comforts. They had none of the virtues their ancestor had.
Honestly, I feel a little bad for this guy. He must be around millions of years, and spent thousands of those years looking forward to the king's descendants doing great things. Instead, all he saw was them squandering his gifts and forgetting the promise made between him and their ancestor. Granted, I think he went a little overboard killing everybody, but I understand where he's coming from.
The Seven Shadows, though…
"You destroyed Alexandria?" Alpha looks at the Mist Dragon aghast. "Because they failed to meet your standards?"
"Tch! All that give and take you keep ranting on about just makes you an arrogant bastard," Gamma spats scornfully.
Rather than be insulted, the Mist Dragon laughs heartily. "SUCH IS THE NATURE OF THE WORLD, THERIANTHROPE. THE CONCEPT OF "GIVE AND TAKE" IS THE SOLE RULE." The Seven Shadows tense when they realize the time for talk is now officially over. The Mist Dragon's stance doesn't change, but that's because he doesn't need to. The sudden increase and flux in magic flowing around his body is proof enough that he's ready to fight. "YOU CHILDREN, WHO COME HERE IN SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH, WILL BE GIVEN NOTHING. AND IN EXCHANGE, EVERYTHING SHALL BE TAKEN FROM YOU!"
The first to attack are Epsilon and Alpha. The swirling mass of magic exploding from the Mist Dragon's body erupts like a geyser and comes flying down like magic missiles. The blonde-haired elf and knight both pour magic into their swords and start swinging. To an observer, they move so fast they can only see blurry motions and the glimmering streaks of their sword. Between the two, Epsilon's magic is stronger, bearing an almost dark tint in its hue.
Successfully defending themselves from the first volley, the rest of the Seven Shadows spring into action and start wailing on the dragon from all sides, hitting it with everything they've got. Theta, meanwhile, hangs back and watches from a distance. Her magic isn't anything to sniff at, but she's nowhere near her superiors' level. If anything, she's a liability if the Mist Dragon sets his sights on her. Thankfully he doesn't and instead focuses on the Seven Shadows.
It's been so long since I've seen the girls in action together. They've really improved in the last six months, so much that their teamwork is more seamless than before. While Eta isn't as active in the fight as the others, she takes advantage of every opening the Mist Dragon presents. Delta and Gamma attack him with ferocious intent, striking him from every side and hitting as hard and as fast as possible. Of the Seven Shadows, they're the most agile. Alpha and Beta, meanwhile, fight with a sense of grace. Their movements are totally in sync as is their magic, one sends crescent slashes of magic while the other attacks from the dragon's blindside. Epsilon rotates between attacking and defending. If she sees an opportunity, she takes it and starts slashing away. If the dragon targets one of her comrades, she moves in and defends them. Zeta coordinates with Epsilon and Beta, taking the middle-ground so to speak and following up their attacks.
The fight goes on for several minutes, and the girls put on an amazing performance. My chest swells with pride and joy to see my group of larpers become honest-to-god badass asskickers. With them at my side, my dream of being an eminence in shadow is but a hair's breadth away.
Unfortunately, it's around this time that the girls realize something very important. Namely…
"How thick is this thing's skin?!" Zeta complains as she leaps away and avoids a claw slamming down where she once stood. "I've been hitting the same spot, but his scale's don't have so much as a dent! Is he reinforcing his body with his magic?!"
"He isn't," Eta sighs. "It's natural… A iron-like body…with no augmentation."
Epsilon sprints and darts around the clearing, spinning her body and swinging her sword-arm and cutting down incoming magic missiles coming her way. The Mist Dragon raises his tail and brings it down on her. She blocks it with her sword. The ground shatters under her from the impact, visibly struggling to keep the tail from crushing her. With a grunt, Epsilon pushes the tail back and jumps back, evading another strike from the tail. Gamma and Alpha both shoot past her and slash at the tail, only to find their attacks ineffective.
"Guh!" Delta whimpered. "This prey is tough… Where's Bossman when you need him?"
The Mist Dragon observes Shadow Garden with curious eyes. "IMPRESSIVE… THROUGHOUT THIS BATTLE, YOU'VE AIMED FOR MY VITALS AND NOTHING ELSE. HOWEVER, SUCH PALTRY ATTACKS FALL SHORT BEFORE MY SCALES."
"Hey, Eta!" Gamma shouts. "Do dragons have any weaknesses?"
The slovenly girl sighs depressingly. "None."
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Boss Gamma, look out!" Delta's shout comes none too soon. In a surprising burst of speed, the Mist Dragon is right above Gamma and prepares to eat her whole when she suddenly dashes out of the way, avoiding becoming dragon food while putting some distance between them.
Well, it's just about time for me to make my… Hm?
X x X x X x X x X
Claire Kagenou, or rather Epsilon, grits her teeth as the Mist Dragon continues its assault. I don't believe it, how can something like this thing exist?
The disgusting feeling of helplessness, the feeling that haunted her for the last five years, slowly creeps into her body. No matter what they do, the Mist Dragon is unaffected. They hit it with everything they've got and then some, but they can't pierce through its skin. Its like cutting a wall of solid stone with butter knives. Even when Epsilon pours all the magic she has into her attacks, she fails to make such much as a scratch.
She feels useless, that she's dragging Shadow Garden down. That she's failing Cid.
She hates it.
The Mist Dragon opens its maw. From it is a burst of primal magic that burns the very air. There's no surviving it if it hits them directly. Epsilon digs her heels into the earth and creates a mana blade, condensing and hardening until its as strong as her obsidian blade. A layer of slime coats her swords as she laces them with her magic power. With a herculean roar, she swings her swords in the direction of the magic beam. The opposing forces collide. The sheer power of the Mist Dragon's attack threatens to overpower her, slowly pushing her back. She hears her obsidian sword cracking.
"Don't!" Epsilon grits her teeth and pours all the magic she has in her body into her weapons. "Underestimate!" She pushes back and screams. "Me!"
A wave of black erupts from her swords and cuts through the beam. The Mist Dragon's head recoils. A bleeding red scar decorates the left side of its mouth.
It's only a scratch, yet Epsilon takes pride knowing she managed to cut the dragon's scales before anybody else.
The Mist Dragon gently brings one of its claws to its face and traces the wound. "…IMPRESSIVE." It's words are sincere. "HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE SOMEONE MANAGED TO CUT THROUGH MY SCALES? AND THAT MAGIC JUST NOW…" The Mist Dragon narrows its eyes and stares intensely at her in judgment. "TELL ME, HUMAN… ARE YOU THAT WITCH'S DESCENDANT?"
Witch? The dragon's words confuse Epsilon. Is he talking about one of the Three Heroes? Wait, then does that mean… Has this thing met them? Does he know about the Cult of Diabolos?!
"NO MATTER. EVEN IF YOU ARE RELATED TO THAT WOMAN, YOUR POWER PALES IN COMPARISON. A MEAGER SCRATCH AS THIS IS—"
The Mist Dragon cries out in pain as bright liquid spews from its back. Alpha's sword cuts all the way down to the hilt and carves open the dragon's back. Epsilon cheers along with the rest of the Seven Shadows.
"Lady Alpha managed to sever it's spinal chord," Zeta says with a relieved smile. "Even a dragon can't possibly endure an injury like that!"
Alpha jumps off the Mist Dragon's back and prepares to attack once more. Before she can spring into action, however, the dragon suddenly rears its head back and laughs. The sight both baffles and worries the Seven Shadows. Alpha succeeded in slicing open its back and cutting its spine, and yet it laughs like there's nothing wrong.
"OUTSTANDING. HOW SUPERB. TO THINK BEINGS SUCH AS YOU EXIST IN THIS ERA!" the Mist Dragon guffaws. "BE PROUD, CHILDREN. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR STRENGTH! THERE ARE NO ORDINARY BEINGS IN THIS WORLD WHO COULD MATCH YOUR POWER." The dragon calms its laughter. The air suddenly grows heavy as the magic around the dragon begins to grow in power. The very air around the Mist Dragon crackles with energy. "HOWEVER… KNOW THIS. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE STRONGER THAN YOU, SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD. CARVE THE SIGHT INTO YOUR MEMORY, THE PINNACLE OF POWER!"
"Hoh? So this is the summit, then?"
—Slice.
A geyser of greenish-blue blood erupts from the dragon's back. The build-up of magic disappears in an instant like it was never there at all. The dragon does not cry out in pain, the attack having occurred so quickly and suddenly he doesn't realize he has been cut until his blood drips to the ground below.
A figure clad in black-and-gold stands before the dragon with his back turned. A cool wind passes through the Abyss Woods, causing his coat and hair to move with the breeze.
"LORD SHADOW!!" The Seven Shadows all cry in joy and jubilation. Epsilon's almost certain Beta screams the loudest of the lot and looks the most euphoric to seeing their leader.
The drop in morale is reversed in a second. The girls are tired and exhausted, but the sight of seeing Cid in front of them with a bloodied sword and an injured dragon behind him reinvigorates them.
Cid looks over his shoulder and looks scornfully at the Mist Dragon, who in turn stares back in disbelief. "You call yourself the strongest, and yet you willingly languish in the shadows of these sleeping woods, lost in your own idle history."
"YOU…" The Mist Dragon stares intensely at Shadow. "HUMAN. WHO ARE YOU?"
"I am Shadow. I hunt down the shadows, and lurk in the darkness. You wretched creature, playing games to relieve the boredom of your perpetual existence. You put on quite the show for my Shadow Garden, haven't you? It's only fair I repay your kindness by ending your life with my sword."
"Lord Shadow," Alpha whispers in awe. "Did you…come here to save us?" She shakes her head, then turns to the rest of the Seven Shadows. "All of you, support Lord Shadow! Do not let the Mist Dragon retreat!"
"There will be no need for that, Alpha," Cid says coolly. He extends his free arm and opens his palm. Magic power coalesces and extends from his palm's base until it forms the shape of a sword. The shape solidifies, becoming a semi-solid weapon with a blade. "This is my stage."
Epsilon wants to argue. Why do you insist on keeping us at an arm's length? Why won't you let us help you? Internally, she and the rest of Shadow Garden knows the answer. The reason ShadoCidw tells them to stay away is because he's the only one capable of fighting this monster. They couldn't harm it no matter how hard they fought, and even Alpha's surprise attack proved meaningless in the long run.
No, Cid is the only one who can fight the Mist Dragon. The rest will only drag him down. Uselessness claws at Epsilon's chest. It frustrates her to know she can't be of any help.
A hand reaches for her shoulder. "Come on," Zeta says. "Believe in him."
Epsilon bites her tongue. It is not that she doesn't believe in Cid, it is that she's failing to be of any real use to him. That she's letting him fight all alone. Cid's stronger than her and she knows this, but even so…
I want him to rely on me.
Claire wants to act like a proper "big sister" at least once in her life…
X x X x X x X x X
The Mist Dragon stares at the young man before him. Despite his youthful appearance, Shadow's face overlaps with another; a man with ebony hair and eyes the color of rubies. For just a moment, he thinks his old friend has come back from the dead. This Shadow character's words shatter that illusion before it can overwhelm him. Whereas his friend was humble and soft-spoken, Shadow speaks with confidence and a sharpness rarely found in youths his age.
The dragon stares a while longer and realizes this "child" is no mere child at all. Those eyes do not belong to someone wet behind the ears, but of a warrior climbing to the top of the mountain with the weight of the world on his back. The way he holds himself and his swords is that of a master, not a novice.
Something in the Mist Dragon stirs. The wound on his back aches in a way he almost forgot. Despite himself, he smiles and unleashes a magical barrage, far stronger than the ones he used against the other children. The magical missiles rain upon the clearing, wiping out everything in sight. A lesser opponent would outright die from such a mighty bombardment. The magical bombardment continues for a few more seconds until the dragon feels his reserves dipping. He pauses his assault and searches for his new foe, only to frown. He cannot sense their magic signature at all. Was his opponent all bark and no bite? Was his previous attack just luck?
Pain suddenly erupts across his shoulder as a sword made of pure magic enters his field of vision, wielded by that boy in black. The Mist Dragon hisses through his teeth in pain, but refuses to let it distract him. He swishes his tail at an angle to knock the brat out of the air. The boy maneuvers his body to where the tail misses him by a hair's width and counters by slashing at the appendage, drawing more blood. The Mist Dragon whirls around and reaches for the boy, only for him to suddenly burst through the air in the opposite direction. His sword drags along his forearm, creating another wound in his otherwise impenetrable scales.
He's fast, the Mist Dragon thinks excitedly. And his control over magic is unlike any I've seen. To create a sword from magic is no easy feat. Who is this child?
A thought occurs to the Mist Dragon. It is impossible thought, so ludicrous it is beyond belief and not worth considering. And yet the thought lingers in his mind. His friend's face overlaps with Shadow's.
Is it possible…?
He gathers magic power into his maw and releases it, creating a beam that cuts through hundreds of trees and scorches the earth in its wake. At the same time, the Mist Dragon unleashes another barrage of magical power and focuses it all on the boy. Against such an onslaught, even someone as talented as him will have trouble defending.
"Shall I tell you a story, Mist Dragon?" Shadow says suddenly. "In a land far from here, there was a man called Oppenheimer. He was an ordinary man who possessed not a hint of magic, nor had he ever picked up a sword. He was a man of science and the written word who lived an ordinary and mundane life."
Shadow leaps above the beam's path. At the same time, his arms move and deflect the barrage of magic, outright destroying the projectiles or redirecting them. The Mist Dragon is taken aback by how easily the boy overcomes his efforts, but this only encourages him to fight even harder. He roars and increases his output. Mist swirls around him like a storm and grows into a tempest. With a single mental command, the whirlwinds rocket into the air and swivel around like worms diving through the earth before converging towards Shadow.
"One day, his country asked Oppenheimer to build them a weapon capable of ending a war. He agreed and created the atomic bomb, a weapon so powerful it was only used twice. The first use killed 140,000 people. The second killed 70,000. Over two-hundred thousand people died in the span of a few days."
The winds tear apart everything in their path. The Mis Dragon expects them to reduce Shadow to shreds, but instead, they are pushed back. Shadow's magic power increases and flows through his weapons, which prove to be more than a match for the twisting gales. With a grunt, he slices through them and kicks up a gust of wind that explodes throughout the whole clearing, kicking up dust and dirt in the process. The Mist Dragon winces as some of the debris hits his eyes, blinding him for a brief second.
"When Oppenheimer saw the potential of his weapon, he was horrified and in awe of what he built. Now, I am become death, he said. Destroyer of worlds. I trained long and hard to discover how to defeat such a weapon. How could I do it? What could I do to save myself in the face of a weapon that scarred a nation? Eventually, I discovered the answer. To defeat a nuclear bomb…"
When he opens his eyes, he finds that Shadow has disappeared. He doesn't have to wait for very long as he felt a hand pull on his horn and yank his head back. Shadow stares at him from atop his shoulder, one hand firmly holding his horn while the other holds a black sword. It's then that the Mist Dragon feels a rapid build-up of magic power. It swells and swells, gradually rising until it surpasses his. A purple light shines around the boy, the source of the rapidly building magic.
"You become the nuclear bomb."
Bright blue eyes stare at wine-red ones.
"YOU… YOU ARE NO ORDINARY HUMAN."
Shadow smiles widely. "Indeed. But I'm far beyond your comprehension. I'd brace myself, if I were you. I haven't gotten the hang of this just yet."
I—
Soon, the magic expands outward. It's on the cusp, quivering and trembling. The air itself is charged with power, struggling to be contained. Shadow flips his sword into a reverse grip and slams it straight down into the nape of the Mist Dragon's neck.
—AM—
The air grows silent. For a moment, a single moment frozen in time, all is silent as if all the sounds in the world turn deaf.
And then—
—DYNAMO
Everything turns white.
X x X x X x X x X
As the light fades, Theta and the Seven Shadows stare at the scene in pure awe. Without any real thought into her actions, Theta digs through her cleavage and pulls out a little notebook. In the span of three seconds, a rough sketch of the scene is drawn on a blank page.
A crater sits where the clearing once stood. There is no smoke, no burns or scars marring the surrounding earth or even the crater itself. The ground is perfectly carved and smooth. In the center of the crater is Shadow and the Mist Dragon, the latter lying on the ground in defeat. Its once illustrious and brightly-colored scales are burnt beyond recognition. Their leader, meanwhile, stands victoriously without a single injury on his person. It occurs to Theta then that the scene before her is the perfect opportunity to draw a portrait.
She curses the fact that she has neither a canvas nor paint anywhere on her person. If she did, she would immortalize this scene for future generations. She would paint a scene worthy of a prince.
"Yay! Bossman won!" Delta cheers excitedly.
"Not unexpected," Eta shrugs. Despite her words, however, there's a familiar manic gleam in her eyes. "That magic explosion… Incredible… How did he do it…?"
The other Seven Shadows express similar sentiments of joy and curiosity, but for Alpha and Epsilon, the scene invokes feelings of inadequacy and lights a fire in their chests. Both women knew they are weaker than Shadow by a large margin, but the sight before them is proof they are absolutely nowhere near his level. If Alpha were to make a comparison, they are but novices in the face of a god. They are now acutely aware of the gap, the chasm between them.
Alpha wants to become stronger, to stay closer to Shadow's side.
Epsilon wants to become stronger, to protect Shadow.
Shadow's victory here inspires them, igniting a driving fire unlike any that came before it.
Shadow glances at the defeated beast behind him and starts walking away, only to abruptly stop when he senses magic behind him. Shadow Garden ceases its celebration and looks on in shock as the Mist Dragon slowly, shakily rises into the air. It trembles in defeat, but otherwise manages to retain its regal countenance.
"N-no way," Gamma stammers. "You mean, even after all that, it's still alive?!"
"As I thought," Shadow says quietly. "That technique wasn't enough. It seems I still have quite a long ways to go."
"…answer me this, human." The Mist Dragon's voice is different compared to before. It's booming authority is subdued, its arrogance effectively erased. "For what reason do you pursue strength? The power you hold… After experiencing it for myself, I can say this with absolute certainty. You are, without question, the strongest being to ever exist in this world. You could conquer the world with your power, so why pursue greater strength still?"
"Because I have not reached the peak. Because there is something I must fulfill," Shadow replies sincerely. "I have an objective. A dream. To make that dream a reality, I need power."
"And how will you use that power? What do you desire that drives you to claim even greater power?"
To Theta's disappointment, a gust of wind suddenly rolls through. She doesn't hear Shadow's answer. Judging by Gamma and Delta's looks, they could not hear it, either.
The Mist Dragon stares at Shadow. After a long, tense moment that lasts for what feels like hours, it opens its maw. Shadow Garden tenses and prepares to defend Shadow, but the dragon's actions are not hostile. Instead, it blows a cloud of rainbow-colored mist in Shadow's face. The mist swirls and clings to him like a mantle, radiating power.
"A blessing?" Shadow surmises.
The Mist Dragon leans back. "Long ago, the King of Alexandria and I made a pact. He asked for prosperity, and in turn, I asked he remain strength and grow ever stronger. I dreamed of the day when he and his country would change this world." His gaze turns sorrowful. The look in his eyes reminds Theta of someone who lost someone dear to them. "In the end, however, the pact remained unfulfilled… You could never hope to understand it, Shadow. The nature of this world denies us dragons. It denies us our deaths."
"Um, guys?" Delta suddenly says. "Is it just me, or is the mist getting thinner?" Just as Delta says, the mist is slowly fading away. More and more of the Abyss Woods' odd, but wonderful splendor begins to reveal itself. They spot something in the distance, a structure of some sort hidden in the receding mists.
"A true victory over a dragon is to have the power to kill it," the Mist Dragon continues. Theta swears it's smiling. "The pact I made all those years ago was to obey those who would have the power to kill me. I have nearly experienced death only but thrice. The first when the man I came to consider a friend nearly robbed me of my neck. The second was when I met that witch. And now, after so long, I've experienced it yet again at your hands. To think the day would come when I would see my pact renewed…"
Theta notices the choice of wording. "Renewed." What did he mean by that?
"Shadow, you who will one day grant me the death I yearn for…"
The mist recedes in full. Beyond the lush woodlands is a sprawling city that stretches on for miles. A grand castle sits in the very center, as great and majestic as the Midgar Royal Palace. Although the elements have reclaimed the city, there is little damage to the buildings themselves, as if the mist carefully preserved the city on the day its people perished for their hubris.
"I look forward to the day I experience death at your hands once more." The Mist Dragon ascends into the air and flies off, vanishing deeper into the Abyss Woods.
Shadow Garden gazes upon the city in the distance. Alpha joins Shadow at his side, a wide smile on her face. "So, this is Alexandria," she says as she takes in the breathtaking sight. The bright blue sky above them and the grassy hills in the distance create a beautiful scene, one she commits to memory. "It's much grander than I anticipated."
"A city worthy of Shadow Garden," Beta says.
Gamma shakes her head. "You mean a city worth of Lord Shadow. Still, this is a lot bigger than I was expecting."
"Agreed," Zeta nods. "With this, we won't have to worry about getting too big. If the pact Lord Shadow made with the Mist Dragon is the same as the one he made with Alexandria's king, then the mist will protect the city from prying eyes. It will be difficult for the Cult to find this place."
"I wonder what experiments I'll be able to conduct here," Eta mutters under her breath. A yawn escapes her. "Ah, I'm tired… I call dibs on the first bed…"
Delta gawks at Shadow Garden's resident mad scientist. "What! No way! Delta gets first pick!"
Alpha looks to Shadow. "So, Lord Shadow… What now?"
The young man smirks and looks up at the sky, at the new opportunities waiting for him. Unbeknownst to Shadow Garden, however…
Fuck . I can't think of anything cool to say! What a shitty cliffhanger!
One chapter closes as the dawn fades, and a new chapter begins as the shadows settle.
And so, two years pass…