Rage building up inside the human boy that had finally grown overboard, catalysed by the assassin leader himself as he stood there watching the boy regenerating a stab wound.
The man looking at the glowing blood red eyes of the boy didn't even notice being hit by the dark flame covered fist of the human boy.
Thrown to a distance, the man stood shaking his head and forcefully placed the dislocated bones of his jaw together. Barely keeping himself, surprised, as he was met with another huge blow straight to his chest resulting in the daggers of his to fall on the ground.
While the first blow came as a surprise to him, he was ready to counter the second blow of the human boy, thanks to his decades of combat training and battle experience --- he didn't get any fatal injuries this time as he managed to twist his body just in time trying to be as flexible as he could get and met with minimum force.
Taking a few steps back, the man said letting out a cough with his raspy voice,
" That's the limit of my patience boy! I think I have to give up on taking you in as my student. Alas! It has come to this. Sorry I have no choice, but to kill you. "
August heading towards him with his dark red flame covered fists downright ignoring the surges of pain running throughout his entire body. Closing the gap between August, was about to greet him with another blow of his filled with rage when the man quickly drew another pair of daggers.
Glowing daggers of his, with the skills hoaned by the veteran assassin over countless battles --- the human boy was nowhere near the level of skills compared to his opponent. Using the speed of August to his own advantage, the man easily dodged the attack of the human boy. After cutting and slicing him at various parts he ultimately managed to put his dagger straight through the chest of the boy piercing his lungs.
As for the other dagger, he tried to confirm the kill by using the wound from the first one as a decoy. Waving the dagger through the air as it was about to slit the throat of the human boy missed the mark just in time leaving a cut deep enough for the trail of blood to come through.
With the rage-filled strong, but reckless attacks of the human boy, it was clear that he couldn't have moved on his own, the boy who seemed to regain his consciousness, held August back as though trying to snap him out of his mindless state.
If Noir hadn't managed to move the human boy out of the way just in time he would've lost his life there. Letting out a beam of dragonfire, Noir knew the man was gonna dodge but there couldn't be a more efficient move to keep him at bay and stall for time.
The window was short and the human boy —surviving through countless life threatening blows with literally glowing red eyes was oozing with bloodlust and continuous painful surges were making it more and more difficult for him to take control over his own body.
Taking a few steps back in realisation, rubbing his forehead with a dumbfounded expression he said,
" Ah.. my anger took the best of me " uttering more to himself than anyone else , " these are just kids, may I really confront them myself? "
Rolling his eyes, he leaned against a nearby tree and waved his hand signalling his subordinates to take over. Noir as much as he liked August to wake up from this state, couldn't help but feel nervous sensing these many strong presences surrounding them.
Noir was already struggling to hold August back, maybe it was August himself who subconsciously knew not to attack Noir and he had to wake up.
Therefore as the last resort he pinned August on the ground and the impact was enough to jerk him off that berserk mindless state. Suddenly in control of himself August felt many strong presences closing in.
" Are you back? " Noir shouted.
" Calm down! " He replied, noir let go of him "and why are you shouting? "
" You're really trying to piss me off? What was all that? " Noir lashed out. " It's not time to joke around."
" Okay! I'm sorry, i don't know either, i wasn't able to think properly " August said as he stood up " we can't fight this many, not in our present state. We have to make a run, you got any plans? "
" I have but it's not much of a reliable one " Noir said easing his tone " we won't be able to cover much distance do you still wanna risk it? "
" Do I look like someone afraid of taking a risk? " He replied with a wink.
" Forget I said that " Noir nodded as he received a sense of comfort and security with August's gesture
" Hold them off for a moment "
" As you say king of the dragons " sarcastically bowed as he sat on a knee placing one hand on the ground and locked the gaze with the assassin leader who was leaning against a tree with care free expression " until we meet again "
" Think you can escape? Boy! " Said the man with wry smirk sheathing his daggers and glancing left and right on his subordinates who were preparing offensive spells while closing in on the two boys " there won't be any next time "
" Trust me when I say that " August said sending a circular ripple along the ground " until we meet again "
The ground began to lift upwards in a circular fashion around the two boys startling the enemies.
" Now " August shouted as a signal and Noir began to transform in his true form.
While the transformation of a veteran fully grown wyvern was a raw one, the dragon transformation was somewhat different from that something more refined.
There was a gathering of red and black mass which could only be assumed as dragon mana. Noir surrounded by that mass got lifted up in the air while the mana revolved around him in a circular fashion.
Ripping, which felt more like enlargement of his muscles formed a huge shape in the air.
Huge body covered with majorly red and minorly black scales. Four red horns bust out like huge daggers making the beast seem like wearing a crown. A set of huge teeth visible to August just above the mandible.
Four legs bearing white scythe like sharp claws. Two huge red outside and black inside-- cartillagenous wings. A long serpent-like tail of the beast which was elegantly covered with red and black scales shining along with other scales of the body in the bright moonlight.
The huge but not fully grown creature felt like a mythical beast rather than a ferocious monster. There was a certain touch to its beauty which made the dragon feel closer to a saviour god than a life threatening violent creature.
Captivated by his beauty August for a second stood there admiring but snapped out immediately when noir with his head gave a sign to hop on his back.
Without wasting any more time August sat on the back of the mighty creature and thus flapping his giant wings the dragon jumped up a few feet into the sky. Moving above the giant which looked like never ending forest August heard loud noises as he saw two huge wyverns chasing after them.
It was already difficult with the air pressure to hold balance on the dragon's back but the escape would have been in vain if they allowed enemies to chase after them just like that. Looking down in the dark forest he saw a light flickering which seemed like some kind of signal.
Letting the air around him carry his words to the dragon August told him to go high and Noir did that without a question. when they were in close proximity with the two wyverns floating just below them surrounded by the clouds August managed to strike them with a bolt of lightning. While this trick didn't do any much harm to the giant creatures, it certainly helped the two boys to escape from their sights as the dragon now on his limit flew down towards the light signal coming deep within the forest.
Noir just before reaching the ground got transformed into his human form. Now they were falling into the forest a few feet above the ground. Luckily they got stopped midway by the dense network of vines just before hitting the ground. August tangled in that mess looked above the two confused Wyvern trying to find them.
" Are you okay? " he asked noir letting himself loose in a state of rest for a second " hey dragon king? "
" I am alright! " Said the boy from below tangled in the forest vines " just trying to be free from this cage "
" Don't try to move too much otherwise your relatives will hear us" August lets out a chuckle " the mighty dragon king is caged like a sparrow. Do you like some worms to eat little birdy? "
" It's not funny " Noir let out a sigh, finally stopping the worthless struggle to free himself from the network of giant vines. looking at the moon above
"well, the sparrow part is just a little"
After a second August giggled and Noir followed they forgot everything for a second, living in the moment they laughed to their hearts content.
Noir :—" ahh... So how are we supposed to get down from here? "
"—no idea—"
"—ah.. yes No idea—"
Shouting "—the hell with no idea—"
"—chill out will you? Otherwise your relatives will find us—"
Pissed off "—i told you they aren't my relatives—"
——
While having this light hearted conversation with Noir, August saw someone in the darkness approaching them and immediately made the dragon boy aware.
Stuck in those vines a few feet above the ground, there wasn't much the two boys could've done. Physically tired, deprived of any energy in mana and caged in the rope like vines above the ground even self defence was difficult. Facing an unknown danger devoid of any plans, strategies and in this case one could say bare handed because to use the winter sword while not being properly recovered from the previous backlash would've meant certain death faster than the enemy approaching.
A situation where their survival was totally in the hands of the enemy.
Finally the enemy got closer and said, " seems like you had it pretty rough huh? "
Surprised to see when the unknown flames got closer lighting up the identity of the person underneath the robe August was equally relieved and overjoyed to see his companions.
" As you can see I'm still holding, Red "
" You haven't forgotten me have you? " A feminine and familiar voice said accompanied by the man.
" Of course not " August said as his smile got bigger to see another companion once again " I can't forget you even if I tried, Renier " struggling to move " it's difficult to talk like this so will you please let us a hand "
Reuniting with his companions in adventuring August felt a kind of relief that he even had forgotten,existed.
After they set up a camp in deep forest away from the wyvern scouts August explained the whole situation regarding the dungeon, Noir and Wyverns to them. He also came to know that Red and Reneir set out immediately in search of him after the effects of time bound spell broke.
" Wait! How can you be this calm after knowing the situation? " August asked the two of them with genuine curiosity " are you not surprised to know when you wake up six months have gone by? "
" What is there to be surprised about? " Red replied waving his hand, " time gap dungeons are as common as people dying in this wilderness "
" What kind of comparison is even that? " August and Noir shared surprised glances " I guess we are the weird ones here "
" Well that's true " Reneir added " time gaps occur in many dungeons therefore many adventurers avoid those with larger range, but this isn't true for all dungeons. Most of them share the present timelines.
Now! I think that's enough talk about the dungeons for tonight. I'm really glad that you are safe August. "
" So am I to see you both " August replied.
The night went by quiet and soundly without any disturbances. August and Noir had time to recover properly by resting without having to look out for danger. Also they were pretty far off from the grasp of the enemy. After a night of peace and recovery, it was finally time for the first light of the next day to shine.
—————