Arc 2: The Tower of Power
The Twelve Starkeren
Highlight City — Capital of the fairies, a neutral district, and home to the celestial being of light, Al'Tenas, as well as many lesser and greater fairies.
Highlight is also inhabited by various other races that chose to live around the main city. This influx caused some infrastructure problems, leading the ruling council to order these foreign races to build their homes along the trunks of the massive trees surrounding the city center. This cluster of dwellings became known as the Refugee District, as most of its residents were war refugees.
The Refugee District was created to welcome all races, regardless of their beliefs. Even though it's considered a good place to live, it still faces problems — for instance, the frequent disappearances of both adults and children. Even with the intervention of guardians from the Organization, the issues persist.
Three days had passed since Werner sent out letters to all members of the Twelve Starkeren. He and Aoji traveled to Highlight City to meet with them — though little did they know how difficult that would actually be to arrange.
Throughout the Refugee District, all anyone could talk about was the upcoming meeting. Though unnecessary, security was reinforced with guards from the Organization's Sixth Division. Members of the Organization are colloquially known as "Zeros."
Word of the secret meeting had leaked, and the entire district buzzed with rumors.
"Did you hear? Those people are gathering here,"
said a poor resident to a friend accompanying him on his shopping trip.
"Yeah, I heard. But it's just gossip,"
scoffed his friend, walking toward the alleys where his home was.
It was around nine in the morning. Beastfolk and dwarves danced together in the public square, playing flutes, violas, tambourines, and pipes — singing and laughing, forgetting their differences. It seemed like a normal day, until suddenly, from the distance, came the deafening roar of a dragon.
"What the hell was that?!"
cried a dwarf who had been playing his flute.
Next came the sound of beating wings — like air shattering, sharp and terrifying.
"It's a dragon!!"
yelled a beastman, his cry sparking chaos as panic spread, even among those who didn't know what was going on.
"It's coming! Hide!!"
shouted a long-haired blond elf with pale skin. He looked up and saw a growing shadow looming above him — which soon revealed itself to be, unmistakably, a dragon.
Its skin was crimson, with black scales. It stood between three to eight meters tall, and its wingspan ranged from two to five meters.
As it landed, the earth cracked in every direction. A wave of sulfurous breath spread across the area — a stench almost unbearable. And atop the mighty beast… sat a woman.
"Control yourself, Valakas. We don't want any trouble,"
the woman said aloud.
The dragon growled quietly at the crowd gathering to see it. But once the people realized a member of the Organization — a Zero — was riding it, they became bold enough to approach, gazing in awe at the majestic creature.
"I thought they were extinct…"
"It's beautiful. I've never seen one this close."
"The smell makes me nauseous…"
"Steam's coming off its scales."
"There's someone riding it!"
A guardian, part of the security detail in Highlight, approached — his crimson-lined trench coat marking his rank.
"You can't leave that thing here,"
he said firmly, unaware of who the rider was.
As the woman dismounted, murmurs exploded among the citizens.
"It can only be her…"
"That woman... she's a monster in human form."
"She's kind of hot though."
"She's destroyed entire cities…"
"She's a hero!"
"She protected us during the Dragon Rebellion!"
"M-My apologies, ma'am. I meant no disrespect,"
stammered the guardian, trembling as he kneeled before Asura.
"It's fine. Stand up,"
she said calmly.
"Just tell me — are the other Twelve in the city yet?"
The guard stood, though his legs were still shaky.
"M-My lady... You're the first to arrive."
"Of course I am. Those bastards are never on time,"
Asura muttered. Deep down, she'd already expected this.
People still stared at her, stunned. To some, she was a monster; to others, a hero. But how could someone only 1.70 meters tall strike such fear into so many — across races, cultures, and seasoned warriors?
"Valakas, wait for me at the nearest mountain. Watch for my signal,"
she ordered, then gave the dragon a slap on the snout.
Valakas flapped his wings, smashing nearby rooftiles, and flew south — toward the mountains beyond Highlight.
"Don't mind me. I'll take a little walk,"
Asura said, vanishing in a burst of shadow.
"It's been a long time since I've been here… Some things have changed. Seems more populated."
Running along the rooftops, Asura took in the view of a place she hadn't seen in ages. She remembered that just above — near the central city — there was a tree unlike any other, unique to this land.
But before she reached it, something familiar stopped her: a scent.
The smell of death.
A scent Asura knew better than anyone.
Following the trail, she spotted a man in a damp, shadowy alley. He wore a long trench coat with pink markings and was crouched over something on the ground.
Before he could notice her presence, Asura appeared behind him.
"Hmm… A Maestro?" she said.
"Dissecting a body in a place like this? Turn around — slowly."
She had just caught what appeared to be an Organization-sanctioned murder by a Maestro, a rare and dangerous member class.
"Don't worry. I've got permission to collect specimens,"
the man replied, slowly turning — clearly aware that one wrong move might get him killed.
As he turned toward her, she recognized him instantly.
It was none other than Jay — the Organization's deranged scientist.
A bloodthirsty lunatic, known for valuing no life but his own.
And that sick grin was plastered across his blood-smeared face.
"So it's you, Jay…"
To be continued...