Hand stained in red blood, the commander of the enemy army stood there by the lifeless corpse of Kageshima Tsurugi. The kill had been performed lightning-fast in one swift movement, stretching from the other side of the battlefield.
"That's one down."
The formidable ones must go down. If not, the continued existence of the dragon-kin would be in danger. Therefore, the priority would be to eliminate the stronger and experienced fighters.
Behind him, the waves are rapidly approaching. Hard and heavy. Like an unstoppable tsunami, it advances without pause, ready to crush anything in its path.
The lone dragon-kin turned towards the fleeing soldiers and readied himself for the next round, but at the sound of something piercing the air, his senses scream out, every muscle tensing in anticipation.
Looking at the source of the sound, coming from above him, he is too slow to react. A tinging pain arises from his chest. Small droplets of red seep out. Though the wound is shallow, his scales had been cut through nonetheless.
A feeling of confusion and an arising fear is fluctuating within him. Before the dragon-kin stands a lone man with shoulder-length silver hair and a matching longsword, its tip painted red. His attire is something completely unrelated to battle- a suit vest adorned in golden roses. An outfit more appropriate for ceremony, not murder.
The light-blue eyes of the attacker are filled with a miniscule smidge of anger, but more fundamentally, they hold simple bloodlust. Immediately after grazing the dragon-kin's flesh, the attacker moves in once more with lightning-speed. His white-gloved hands thrusting the longsword forward.
Completely taken by surprise, confusion and fear, the commander is late in reacting once again, resulting in his left shoulder receiving a wound of its own. He leaps tens of meters back to create some distance between them, but this would not be allowed.
He registered a new presence. From behind, another opponent approached, fast. He twisted his body towards it, raising his scaly arms to defend, focusing Ki into them. The slash that hit him, flung him back to Siegfried, creating only tiny cuts in his forearms.
Still in a state of confusion, the dragon-kin looks back and forth between the duo. The first that was mentioned before, and an old Azuman warrior in bright red and two katanas at his waist. One in his hand and another in reserve.
This man's eyes were filled with boiling rage while also being extremely calm. Like a killer suppressing impulsive emotions.
It wasn't before now, that he first noticed that the surroundings had grown quieter. Realizing why, he turned his head quickly towards his army, the crashing waves.
There, in the not so far distance, he saw many of his men falling to the ground. Arrows protruding from their backs.
...
On the mountain, watching over the chaos underneath, under a veil of invisibility, Siegfried stands. Their forces have started to fall back and the archers can soon begin their barrage on the enemy.
All is going well.
The fighting had gone for longer than he appreciated, but Daiji had told him that it would be necessary to fight a losing battle to properly trick the enemy. Even though he didn't like it, he tolerated it.
He undid the veil hiding them, now that it was obsolete and was going to immediately head down when he noticed a flash of dark green. Headed straight for Tsurugi. Before he could decipher who or what it was, it had already reached its destination and drove its claws through the man.
Fuck!
With a single thought, Siegfried focused magical energy into his leg muscles and kicked off the ground, straight down to where Tsurugi was.
At the halfway point between the peak of the mountain and the bottom of the valley, he opened a rift in space from which he pulled out his silver longsword. His grip was hard and firm, and with one downwards movement he cut through the scales of the enemy commander. Landing on the ground with a boom and a dust cloud.
When he tried to escape, Daiji came up from behind and knocked him straight back. Cornered between the two, all the dragon-kin could do was desperately defend itself.
While these three were fighting, all the other forces had already set the ambush into motion. The exhausted troops were switched for fresh ones and from the heavens there rained arrow-fire.
Siegfried readied himself again, focusing magical energy into his sword and legs. Leaping at the enemy, he was blocked by the dragon-kin and received a counter that forced him to dodge backwards.
The confusion that had been a powerful presence in the lizard eyes had vanished. At this moment, they held no hint of hesitation. Knees bent and palms open in front of him. The aura around him bubbled up as the beast's focus continually grew and emitted an emotion of strong bloodlust, accompanied by the strange emotion of the dark ring.
This is gonna be harder now.
He glanced back at Daiji, a little concerned for him. The cause: the death of one of his most loyal vassals and retainers that had lived alongside him for a larger part of his life. But in contrast to Siegfried's concerns, Daiji was suppressing his impulses, focusing only on the enemy in front of him. Refining his blade and muscles with Ki.
Since Siegfried was actively aiding the army with a majority of his magical energy, he could not perform any quick and powerful magic attacks. Therefore, only focusing on his swordsmanship and physical augmentation would be the optimal choice.
Every attack the duo launched were either narrowly dodged or countered with martial arts at the same level of a proper master. The barrage continued on, and the power they released created a strong gust of wind blowing everything in their vicinity away.
As time went on, all three of them received more and more grazes, their stamina steadily running out. Vast amounts of sweat ran down Siegfried's face and body, his throat extremely dry. Blood veins became more pronounced and every muscle flexed to the max. The high-level intensity made his heart kick into overtime. Pumping red-hot blood filled with delicious oxygen to his pressured body.
Despite the strained state of his weakened body, Siegfried wore a gleaming grin on the handsome but sweaty face.
Hahahaha, this is super crazy!
He had to give the fight his absolute all. One mistake would result in a grievous wound.
Daiji and the dragon-kin however were in a much healthier state than him. In contrast to Siegfried who primarily used magic, the two of them had seen many deadly battles in their lives. Each requiring the utmost from them and each time allowing them to further grow.
The emotions and intent of each contestant was loaded into their attacks. Unleashing them over and over and over again as the fighting continued never-endingly into eternity. Slicing away at their bodies and stamina. Pushing them further towards death.
Fuck this. I need some artifacts.
In between one of his slashes, Siegfried redirected all his magical energy and weaved it into his right fist. Quickly and shoddily refining it, he created a dense ball of energy. Putting all his power behind it, he landed a critical hit in the dragon-kin's side, cracking the scales and knocking himself backwards with the same force.
"I'm taking a breather! Take over!"
He distanced himself a couple of tens of meters from the fight. Far enough to not be disturbed, but close enough to step in again.
Time to bring out the goodies.
...
While the fight against the commander was underway, the two armies charged full speed against each other. The vassals met the dragon-kin soldiers head-on as the the masses crashed into one another. Like opposing waves in a heavy storm.
One of them, a young man with long black hair and dark iron armor, stood at the forefront. With a katana in hand, the youth cut down the soldiers flocking to him from upon his hors. His eyes and body held a strong determination. While he was young, he was still skilled with the blade. Each slash was performed fast, with another following the former in rapid succession. The Ki he weaved, nicely honed for the blade and body further increased his killing capacity.
The air was heavy and the atmosphere thick, making it hard to breathe. Fighting against the people and the atmosphere, he was able to wield his full strength in spite of the heavy burden that was placed on his body.
Though he wanted to be with his uncle, he was forced to stay back with the other strong fighters. It didn't matter what he wanted, it was "too dangerous". Daiji's nephew, Iiyama Haruto, bathed his cold, black armor in the blood of his enemies.
Not a single one of them could scratch him. All they could do was offer their red paint to color the young master. But even if they couldn't harm him, they continued to relentlessly attack, even when terribly hurt. Each slash had to be fatal for Haruto to advance.
Dripping from their generous red offerings, Haruto looked over the men with a watchful eye.
Their smiles are filthy beyond measure. How can people like these exist? Relishing the battle to this extent. Even their own deaths are inconsequential. Aaah- I want to be with uncle and Siegfried.
Distracting himself from his underlying disgust, he inwardly cursed his lack of luck. He could only briefly cast glimpses towards his uncle and Siegfried battling the enemy commander, but even then, their extraordinary battle was shielded by a cloud of dust.
In frustration, Haruto continued to amass a heap of corpses in his wake, scraping away the enemies together with the various vassals on horseback. They were all there for slightly different reasons that could all be blended into one. Displaying their magnificent skill with the blade as they cut and slashed.
After the ambush had started, the mass of their army had hit that much greater when they collided with the others. Steadily pushing them back after the first impact, a trail of red was left behind as more and more enemies fell.
"Aagh-!"
But even so, nothing is set in stone. Any momentum, however great can be halted by well placed traps. In this case, the traps were the dragon-kin hiding among their allies. Suddenly leaping out of their thickets and dragging the vassals down from their high horses.
On some, their claws and scales crushed the armor and bones of those on the receiving end, while on others it either ended in a draw or defeat. And young Haruto would not be left out of the fun as a flash of green leaped at him, pushing him off his horse.
He had managed to spot and defend against the attack, though that resulted in him being demounted. He kicked the foe away and raised himself to his feet quickly. His watchful eyes were like those of a hawk, focusing on its prey. Not averting them in the slightest.
He readied his sharp blade, the culmination of all his hard effort, and leaped forward into the fangs of the enemy. As he closed in, the dragon-kin brought his right arm down upon his head. Haruto quickly reacted and defended by almost cutting of the dragon-kin's arm.
It dangled there, barely attached to its elbow. Being more bothersome than if he had lost it completely. Then another slash gouged his scales and dug into his flesh. Anger flared in its eyes. Seizing the moment, he focused much Ki in his left fist and punched.
This time too, the attack was rendered useless, the same as his right arm, receiving a deep cut in its wrist. He clenched his teeth and thrust his head forward, mouth wide open, brandishing his shining fangs. The action took Haruto by surprise and had his left arm bitten before cutting into the enemy's neck. Exhausting their life so much that it could only lie on the ground, dying.
"Damn bastard. That hurt!"
In his left arm, the teeth had broken through the armor and punctured his flesh. Red blood was leaking out and the physical pain was perhaps the worst he had ever felt in his life so far. However, not allowed a moments rest, more enemies pounced on him. Swinging their weapons wildly, their movements were stiff and unnatural.
Trying to ignore the intense pain, Haruto continued to cut down the enemy in front of him each time a replacement came along. The wound had weakened his strength, but their simple motions enabled him to seen through and counter with hawklike eyes. Using his right arm to swing the katana and the left to push away those close with his elbow. Forced to retreat backwards to his other allies, keeping up his attack, slashing away at the soft flesh of his enemies.
...
Through a crack in the air, white liquid seeped out onto a barren ground. In the distance it smelled blood. Delicious nutrients. The liquid hungered. And the liquid crawled out of the circle devoid of all conventual life and towards the screams and smells of death.
...
Going back to Siegfried and Daiji, their fight was still going strong. As Daiji kept the enemy commander occupied, Siegfried was rummaging through a leather doctor's bag that he had pulled out of a rift in space.
Suddenly, he stopped searching and took his hand out of the bag. As he closed the it, a curved dagger with a glass-like blade rested in his hands. The handle was a golden-like color and one had to strain their eyes to acutely see the blade's shape.
It emitted a very faint white glow, like the white of the sun, and left behind a thin trail from the tip whenever Siegfried moved it.
"Time to get to work."
Daiji and the dragon-kin were launching all kinds of attacks while doing their best to defend against the other. In the middle of the barrage of death that was dealt, the dragon-kin wondered why Daiji only used one of the two katanas at his hip.
That momentary distraction allowed him to be cut where Siegfried had damaged him earlier.
"Ugh..!"
A strained face came over the dragon-kin as he endured the incredible pain. The punch Siegfried had landed earlier had certainly weakened him. Fighting to a draw against a man past his prime was most he could do right now.
In anger, he threw his fist out wildly, missing Daiji completely and receiving a new cut- however, from below, his leg shot out and knocked Daiji a ways backwards. The blow blocked but the shock received.
It wasn't just him who was exhausted, Daiji too was breathing raggedly and sweating buckets. His aging muscles, shivering from the strain put on them. The battle was intense. The opponent was giving it his all, surviving on sheer willpower while Daiji was still holding back.
Touching his second katana, he wondered if he should use it, even if it had a troublesome ability. It really was a double edged blade. If he drew it, the fight could go either way.
Just as he was considering it, he noticed Siegfried dashing towards them at full speed, clearly ready for more.
In the last second before impact, the dragon-kin noticed Daiji's reaction and turned to attack. Slashing with his claws at the unusual dagger, Siegfried responded with a slash of his own against the incoming hand.
As the two attacks collided, the clear dagger cut through the dragon-kin's hand like soft butter, cauterizing the wound as it cut through. Leaving only two fingers behind. The rest, including the finger bearing the dark ring fell to the ground before Siegfried made a thrust with the dagger.
This time, instead of attacking, the dragon-kin instead jumped high into the air, dodging Siegfried's attack.
His eyes were wide in shock. Unable to understand what had really happened, he just looked at his half hand in disbelief.
"What the hell is that!?"
For the very first time, the dragon-kin spoke, gracing Siegfried and Daiji's ears with sound. His voice was agitated and was like listening to scraping stone.
"Ah- nothing. Your hand kinda bugged me off. Especially that ring. ~I wonder what it does~."
Siegfried teased the dragon-kin with a sarcastic sounding voice, further enraging him. Both of them knew full and well what it did. He looked over to his army where they stood in their places, disoriented and confused.
None of them knew why they were here and they each had a gap in their memory which hindered them from remembering anything. Their strange behavior in turn confused the Iiyama warriors who halted their ambush.
Why would an entire army suddenly stop and act like they knew nothing?
With a more serious expression, Siegfried posed a question in a tone so cold that he seemed like a whole new person.
"Now... Who gave you that ring?"
Unfaltering and indifferent eyes that pierced through anyone, awoke an emotion of slight weakness. They accepted no lies, no weakness and no fear.
"There's no way you Dragon-Kin could make something like this."
A cold sweat ran down the dragon-kin's back. His heart pumped louder. And his eyes had unfathomably begun quivering.
"Speak up or die."
"..."
The words wouldn't form, the sound was silenced.
"Uaaaaagh!!"
Instead of answering, the dragon-kin let out a earth-shattering cry that made the air itself tremble. A fountain of Ki sprouted from within him, reinforcing his body to the furthers point so far. In the face of the powerful instinct of "flight-or-fight", he roared to make his body forget the fear and pressure exerted by Siegfried's ice-cold presence.
Like a wild, rabid beast, he kicked his speed up to an even higher gear than his previous highest. The strength that filled his body overpowered the fatigue that had continually built up. All the pain had disappeared even though he wounds were still present.
It was as if he had been reborn.
Daiji quickly came up from behind, slashing across his wide open back. But in contrast to expectations, the blade was repelled by the hard green scales. Leaving not a single scratch.
Siegfried leaped between the two and parried the counterattack with the white-hot dagger. Now however, the blade only burned the scales instead of completely melting them.
The dragon-kin was smiling. The new emotion that now occupied his eyes was confidence. And with that confidence, he started a barrage of powerful attacks.
"Hahaha!"
He laughed manically as he assaulted Daiji and Siegfried. Chasing them when they tried to escape. Completely outclassing the two in raw power. Each fist filled with Ki, creating craters in the ground and low pressure in the air.
Siegfried defended the best he could against the devilishly strong attacks, receiving grazes and some deeper wounds occasionally. Instead of the dagger, he used his silver longsword to the best of his ability.
Compared to Siegfried, Daiji was faring much better, as he was accustomed to these types of situations. He focused the Ki in his body on defense, leaving the minimum necessary amount to sharpen his blade and repel the incoming barrage.
They were holding out... but how much longer before their bodies break down?
"Tch."
The dragon-kin clicked his tongue, annoyed by Daiji's persistence. To completely pulverize him, he focused his attention on Daiji, diverting all his attacks towards the old warrior. But even now, he couldn't fatally wound him. Daiji was surviving off pure willpower just like he himself had done a little earlier. This was also why he knew how difficult such an opponent could be.
Each punch was met with a sharp blade. Nothing was working. The anger inside the dragon-kin was rising more and more. "How could he still stand?" he thought. How can such aged muscles exert power this great?
His scales roared with anger as their power to pulverize any ordinary living being was rendered useless by one old man.
"Just DIE already!!"
The attacks continued. He used everything: claws, fists, arms, legs, tail, mouth. Every tool of murder his body was equipped with. Each attack was either blocked or could only graze the wrinkled skin of Daiji.
Sweat ran down both their bodies. Daiji's body screamed out in pain, while the dragon-kin could feel none. Punch, kick, claw, swing, bite. Those were the only things that filled his mind as he drew closer to victory slowly but surely.
Just a little more and his claws would gouge out Daiji's organs. Just a little more and he would finally win.
"Right back at ya."
The words quietly and coldly permeated through the air.
The next moment, the dragon-kin fell to the ground.
"Wh-what...? What happened?"
He looked back and saw Siegfried, the one he had ignored, now standing over him. The face of the man was like the face of death itself. Speaking calmly and coldly. No emotions ruled his expression, only truth.
He tried to stand up again, only to stumble once more.
Why?
Looking back one more time, he saw a white-hot blade coming out of his lower back.
Why why why why why why why why why WHY!?
Confusion ruled.
He felt no pain. He couldn't sense the dagger. And he could not feel anything at all in his legs.
"N-no... This can't...!"
The calm and composed right-hand man of Kagutsuchi was starting to regress back to their time of fear, confusion and hate. Reliving the hell of when they were on the Dragon Continent.
"You were so busy you didn't even notice me slipping the blade deep into you."
"You-!"
Then suddenly, the pain finally made its existence known.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
His insides were on fire. His arms were screaming so loud. His heart cried from the abuse he had perpetrated. The only thing he couldn't feel, was the pain in his lower body.
He couldn't think. It hurt to think.
His body told him that it hated him. It would no longer listen to him. He who would bring every fiber of his body so close to death.
He was abandoned by even his own body. What could he do...?
Escape.
He had to escape from the two demons. Somewhere else, anywhere. His eyes, the only thing that hadn't given up on him searched in a raging frenzy. Scrutinizing everything he could see. Every person, every detail, every molecule.
They found it...?
The death that stood in front of him had a tense expression upon his cold face. Death felt a small shiver of dread and excitement as it noticed the presence of That.
...
A white puddle approaches in the distance. As it drinks the bloodstained ground, it grows.
Consume.
The only thought that existed for it. The only need. The only joy and the only sadness.
It's liquid grew more solid. Like white dough, it tumbled forward, crashing like waves as it continued its never-ending consumption.
Not just blood, but flesh as well. Cleanly sucked off the bones of whoever was there. It couldn't know. For how can something without eyes see. All it could do was sense. Blindly chasing whoever it was that emitted that sweet smell of blood and death.
So let's change that.
A slit formed somewhere on it. Scarlet blood trickled through it as it slowly widened. A white sphere drenched in red emerged. And as the red washed away, a single crimson eye was unveiled.
Now, it could see the large mass of people in front of it. Wearing metal and brandishing sharp weapons. Bathed in the blood of each other. Frantically retreating away from it. Mouths wide open. But no sound. For it could not hear.
But let's not change that. It's not necessary for this one.
With its new eye, it could see the meal it most desired. A green lizard-like figure, lying on the ground and oozing "Life Essence".
But it seemed so far away. It would take some time to reach it even as it steadily grew bigger from the lesser people's Life Essence.
So let's fix that.
From its pudgy body, a single sharp column extended lightning-fast and pierced the lizards innards. The sharp tip poking out of it, dark red.
Thank you for the food.
...
In the east, a large scaly figure watches the western horizon as the sun reaches its highest point. His long ashen hair flowing gently in the wind.
All their brethren are fighting for their continued existence. He too, has to contribute.
Looking in the direction of his closest friend, he ponders. A ominous presence is in the same place. What could it be?
"Don't die on me yet- Leonard..."
Muttering to himself, the figure kicks hard off the ground high above the clouds. Beneath his feet smaller clouds form, allowing him to walk as he hurries westward.