Smoke rises. A broken carriage, with each piece burning. The beastly roar echoes. The surrounding groans. None of this wakes Renkai, only the gentle, disgruntled dwarven voice.
"...ssy. Missy. You... need to get up."
Renkai opens her eyes. She is met with Daegon, one of his arms raised, shielding both of them from a large fallen tree.
"Missy, quickly. I can't... hold it up much longer."
Renkai slowly crawls away, her body slightly drained of its energy. When Renkai moves far enough, he drops the tree and quickly lunges away.
"Daegon, where are... the other two?"
"I couldn't tell you. You were the nearest one I could protect."
Renkai glances around. The surrounding area, once lush with vegetation, is now reduced to flames and ashes. The horse that pulled the carriage is now nothing but a flaming corpse. Then, she hears a groan and points in that direction.
"Daegon... over there."
Daegon carefully picks Renkai up and follows the direction she indicated. He spots a broken piece of the carriage with a pair of legs visible underneath. She gestures for him to move it aside. After gently setting her down, he shifts the debris. As he does, Grey and Clea come into view, both visibly injured.
"Grey, Clea, are the two of you still kicking?"
Clea responds with a groan, while Grey opens his eyes. Both of them are dangerously injured, Grey clearly being the most injured from covering Clea. His legs are twisted beyond repair from the attack, as well as from being crushed. Despite his condition, he reveals a small smile.
"This... isn't enough to get rid of me... so easily."
His voice is forced, trying his best to stay conscious despite his injuries. Daegon lifts the two of them and sets them next to Renkai. Grey glances at Renkai, slightly confused at how little she was injured despite being the first one to feel the flames.
"How is it... that you're barely injured?"
"The dwarf is quite the guardian. Took most of the flames for me."
Renkai begins to get up, stumbling slightly as she does. Daegon hesitantly readies himself, unsure if she needs help or not. As Renkai stills herself, she glances around once more. Again, the surrounding area is nothing but flames, but she notices something larger, redder. The dragon. Daegon and Grey notice it as well, and Grey's eyes widen in terror.
"A r-red dragon? What is a red dragon doing on this side of the kingdom?"
"It must have fled during a subjugation attempt."
The dragon turns its head, sensing a presence. As it turns, it catches a glimpse of Grey, then the rest of the party. It roars menacingly. Renkai turns to Daegon.
"Daegon, have you seen my greatsword?"
"I couldn't tell you, missy."
Grey looks at Renkai, as if he heard her wrong.
"You're planning on fighting something like that? You're just going to get yourself killed!"
Renkai glances at Grey, and Grey notices a look in her eyes. He can't tell what it is, but it's something dangerous.
"Would you rather have me sit here until my death arrives or fight until my dying breath? If you ask me, fighting is a better choice."
Renkai turns back to Daegon, and Daegon immediately understands her intentions.
"You want me to hold back the dragon, correct?"
"Yes."
Daegon gives Renkai a serious look.
"You're asking a difficult request. Can I trust you?"
"Do you have any choice?"
Daegon lets out a sigh, obviously knowing not.
"I can hold the dragon back for no longer than a minute."
"I'll hold you to it."
The two of them immediately split up, Daegon picking up his great hammer and charging at the dragon while Renkai sprints in the opposite direction searching for her greatsword. As Daegon gets closer, the dragon begins to wind up its claws. Daegon winds up his own arms and slams his great hammer into the oncoming claw. As the two collide, Daegon is overwhelmed, being slightly flung back, barely managing to catch himself on his feet.
Renkai runs around the area, searching for her greatsword. The sounds of Daegon's hammer and the dragon's claws clash as she does. She searches underneath pieces of the carriage, underneath fallen trees. She can't find it. Before she knows it, Daegon is flung in her direction. That's when she sees it. Her greatsword is on the other side of the dragon.
Daegon gets up, pushing himself once more.
"Daegon, how many swings do you have left in you?"
"T-two more missy."
"I need you to use one right now."
"As you wish."
The two of them dash towards the dragon. Grey watches the two of them, his face filled with terror as he speaks to himself.
"How...how can the two of them continue fighting against it? A red dragon is basically invincible on this side of the kingdom."
As Grey mumbles to himself, Clea begins to wake up. Grey notices this and shifts to the side, letting her peel out of his arms.
"Clea, are you okay?"
"W...what happened? What's going on?"
"The dragon attacked us. It's a red dragon."
Clea's eyes widen, fear clearly striking them.
"A-A red dragon? Why is one on this side? W-what about the other two?"
Grey looks back up towards the dragon and the other two. Renkai managed to slide under the dragon's claws while Daegon was taunting the dragon.
"Renkai is rushing towards her greatsword. Daegon is taking the dragon's attention from Renkai."
"W-what? They're actually trying to fight it?
"Daegon believes Renkai has a plan, so he's putting his life on the line for her.
Clea's eyes soften while a small smile grows on her face.
"Grey. Let's leave them."
Grey looks at her in disbelief.
"What are you talking about? We can't just desert them."
"Grey, we're going to die if we trust them. Please, Grey, I don't want to die yet."
Grey looks down at his legs. Clea follows his gaze and gasps, covering her mouth.
"I couldn't run even if I wanted to. If you want to run, I won't stop you. However, I will never speak to you again."
Clea hesitates, but reluctantly accepts the fact that she'll run away alone. She begins to run towards the untouched forest. She looks back one more time, apologizing to Grey. As she begins to turn her head back, she notices Daegon yelling at her.
"CLEA! DUCK!"
Before Clea can register his words, she watches as a wave of flames approaches her. Grey and Daegon watch helplessly as she's burned to nothing. Grey's eyes begin to well up.
"CLEA!"
He gets no response. Clea is gone.
"Daegon! I need you to focus!"
Renkai's words snap Daegon's attention to the situation at hand. Renkai managed to get her greatsword and is sprinting back to Daegon's side. She can barely carry it, but she can at least run. Daegon begins to wind up his last swing to keep the dragon's attention, but Renkai stops him.
"Don't waste that swing!"
Daegon manages to dodge the dragon's claws last second, his chest receiving a slight scratch. It's not a dangerous injury, but it has a lingering sting. Renkai finally manages to get back to Daegon.
"Missy, you can barely carry that thing! What do you plan on doing with it? You can't possibly cut through the scales like that!"
"Daegon... I need you to launch me into the sky."
"Are you crazy? What sort of reckless plan do you have in mind? Killing yourself?"
Renkai gives Daegon a serious look.
"Daegon. Do you trust me?"
His eyes widen for a moment, but then he lets out a sigh, knowing full well he has to.
"So this is why you had me save my last swing."
"I need you to launch me as high as possible. As high as the clouds, if possible."
"You're putting a lot of pressure on me, missy."
"Sorry, but that's how it's going to be."
Daegon lays his great hammer flat, allowing Renkai to stand on its head. He grabs the hilt, ready to swing.
"Are you ready missy?"
Renkai closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, then slowly exhales. She reopens her eyes, and a serious look escapes.
"Always."
With all the force Daegon can muster, he swings his great hammer upwards, launching Renkai far into the sky.
"I'm trusting you, missy!"
Renkai watches the ground slowly move farther away as she ascends into the sky. She looks off into the distance, getting a wonderful view of the land around her. She looks back down, focusing her gaze on the dragon below.
I'll finish this here and now.
As Renkai slowly halts in her ascension and begins to descend, she lets out a loud yell.
"IDEN!"
A voice emerges in her mind.
"Is it finally my time to shine?"