Clang, clang, clang…
The cheerful jingle of a tricycle ice cream cart rang down the empty street in the late evening. Behind it was the round, beaming face of a portly vendor, brimming with joy. He had saved for over four long years to finally open his own little business. Today was his dream come true.
"Ice cream! Ice cream! First day of sales today! Took me four, five years to perfect the recipe—kids, I promise you won't find anything tastier!"
The good-natured man pushed his cart further along the quiet road toward town, waving and calling out with a broad smile at two figures in the distance.
Unfortunately, he didn't notice what those two schoolboys were actually doing.
They weren't customers—they were locked in a beast duel, facing each other like gunslingers in a Wild West standoff.
"Draeger… Rock Bullet!"
"Mond, dodge—quick!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Stones blasted from the jaws of Karua's four-legged, wingless earth dragon, hurtling like cannon fire. They smashed straight into the poor vendor's cart, splintering it apart. Cones shattered, bread scattered across the ground, the ice cream barrel burst open and spilled, one wheel cracked loose and rolled away into the river. His business was ruined before he had even sold a single scoop.
"Nooooo! My ice cream shop! Four years of savings—gone in an instant!"
His cry split the air, despair etched across his face.
"Karua! Enough, you bastard!" Ray raised his hand, stepping forward. "Stop this here. Let's fight somewhere else—away from innocent people!"
Above, his own white diamond dragon, Mond, swooped and banked to evade Draeger's stone barrage.
Karua's mouth curled into a shadowy grin. "Heh… fine by me, Ray. Even better if I can kill you… with no witnesses."
With a flick, he recalled Draeger into his magic bag. Ray followed, calling Mond back as well.
Ray pointed toward the dark treeline. Karua gave a sluggish, sleepy nod, and together they walked into the thick forest—leaving behind the poor ice cream man, who collapsed onto the road, sobbing as he hugged the mangled barrel of his ruined cart.
"Why… why my shop…! My dream…!"
Karua ignored him, digging a finger in his ear, while Ray scratched his cheek with guilt. He quickly jogged back, crouched, and pressed a wad of coins into the man's trembling hands.
"Here—take this for damages, uncle. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have fought him here. Please, take it."
He gave a wide, sheepish grin and bowed deeply. The man stared, stunned, as Ray turned on his heel, clenching his fists, and followed Karua into the woods.
The old vendor looked down at the money—it was twice his initial investment. His tears shifted to determination. "Win, young man… please, win."
Deep in the forest, near the Academy grounds
"You're vile, Karua," Ray snarled, fists tight. "You destroyed that man's dream and didn't even pay for it."
The sun was sinking. Shadows stretched through the thick forest, birds flocked back to their nests. The last orange light of dusk fell across Karua's pale, sunken face. His black hair whipped across his eyes, which glimmered with a dull, unsettling madness.
The bespectacled boy licked his lips, raked his hair wildly, and grinned with a twisted expression.
"Heh… Ray, I never wanted to kill someone as good as you. Really. You'd make such a fine friend… or rival. But—" his voice cracked into laughter, "—but you're the fastest path forward for me… the only one."
Ray glared. "What are you even talking about? What do you want from me!?"
"What you cannot give. So I'll wring it out of you… squeeze until I get what I need. Heh… should've killed you the first day we met. Would've been easier. Draeger—come forth!"
From his bag burst Karua's beast:
Name: Draeger
Species: Gaiadrake
Level: 30
HP: 15,000
MP: 300
Element: Earth/Nature
Rarity: Rank S
An Earth Dragon said to dwell in solitary caves, it commands rock and soil itself. Among dragons, it is famed for its toughness and endurance, able to wait decades without rest or food for its prey.
Skills: Rock Bullet, Stone Armor, Dragon Claw, Stonefang Blade.
Ray drew in a breath. "Fine… Mond, let's do this!"
His Diamond Dragon burst forth, gleaming like a living gemstone.
The two beasts—earth and diamond—faced off once more.
Karua snapped his fingers. "Dragon Claw—Draeger!"
ROOOOAR!
The green-scaled dragon launched forward, its muscular forelimbs tearing into the ground. Earth erupted in its wake, the forest floor cracking and leaves scattering as it lunged with claws raised high.
"Diamond Armor!" Ray commanded.
Mond curled its wings around its body, forming a flawless diamond sphere.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Sparks and shards flew as Draeger's claws hammered against Mond's shining carapace. Blow after blow rang through the forest, but none pierced the diamond shell.
Karua's lips curled. "Dragon Claw again!"
Draeger pounded relentlessly, its talons sharper each strike, honed by battle.
Ray's heart pounded. So that's it… Draeger's claws sharpen as the fight drags on. If this keeps up, it'll cut through Mond's armor.
He could've swapped Geed, swift, perfect to slip beneath Draeger and strike its weak belly—but Ray clenched his teeth. No. Mond needs this fight. He needs to grow.
Besides, he had new skills to test.
[Diamond Armor] – Encase the body in diamond scales, immune to physical and magical attacks, but cannot strike back.
[Diamond Wings] – Razor-sharp wings that cut through foes without mana cost.
[Final Light] – Convert all mana into compressed heat and pressure, releasing a devastating beam of pure white energy.
Ray's eyes narrowed. Mond's defense is perfect for a tank. But his speed is low, his offense limited. Final Light is risky—it has to hit or it's wasted. Still…
"Fly, Mond!" Ray shouted.
The dragon burst upward, scales flashing in the dusk.
Karua smirked, eyes gleaming. "As I predicted. Draeger, use the trees as footholds—Dragon Claw!"
The earth dragon hurled itself from trunk to trunk, each landing shaking the forest, trees snapping beneath its weight.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
With a final push, Draeger launched skyward, claws arcing.
CRASH!
Its talons raked across Mond's back. Diamond shards shattered, scattering like falling stars.
Ray's breath caught. Draeger wasn't just powerful—it was cunning.
"Stonefang Blade!" Karua roared.
Draeger conjured a massive stone sword in its jaws, spinning midair and cleaving down.
"Diamond Armor!"
SHATTER!
The impact exploded, slamming Mond into the ground. Dust blasted outward.
Karua licked his lips. "Not bad, Ray. Covering the belly—every dragon's weak spot. If not, Draeger's blade would've gutted your beast clean."
Mond staggered upright, bloodied and scarred, while Draeger landed with thunderous force, towering in grim triumph.
Karua sneered. "You can't win. Draeger's skills barely cost mana, his defenses are unbreakable, his weak point is beneath him, not exposed like flying dragons. You've already lost."
Ray clenched his fists, forcing a smile. Lost, huh? We'll see. His eyes flicked to the glittering shards of Mond's broken armor scattered across the ground.
"Mond, back three steps."
The diamond dragon obeyed. Ray's grin widened. Perfect.
"You think I've lost, Karua? No… it's you who's trapped. I'll show you. Even though this is Mond's first real battle—I'll win."
Karua's laughter grew unhinged. "You're delusional! Draeger—kill them both! Stonefang Blade!"
Draeger lunged, stone sword flashing, aiming at Ray and Mond together.
"Faster than light, Karua? Mond—Final Light! Target that tree!" Ray pointed.
Mond roared, body igniting in blinding radiance. The air quaked as every ounce of mana was compressed and unleashed in a single colossal beam.
FWOOOOSH!
The beam shot not at Draeger—but at a tree behind it.
Karua's eyes widened. "What!? You missed! You've lost—"
But Ray's smile never faltered.
The beam struck a diamond shard embedded in the trunk. Light ricocheted.
PING!
It struck another shard on the ground.
PING! PING!
Like mirrors, the scattered fragments bounced the beam, refracting, splitting—until the forest was alive with searing white lines zigzagging unpredictably. The Final Light became a living storm of lasers, weaving like serpents of brilliance.
The last reflection converged—straight beneath Draeger's exposed belly.
BOOOOM!
The explosion rocked the forest. Draeger reeled, blasted skyward.
Karua's jaw dropped. "Impossible… using my own assault… turning your broken shards into a prism trap… That's insane—yet… so beautiful…"
Ray's eyes blazed. "Mond! Finish it! Diamond Wings—strike the belly again!"
Mond's lone intact wing sharpened like a blade. With a roar, it slashed upward through the air, cleaving into Draeger mid-fall.
CRASH!
The earth dragon slammed onto its back, unmoving.
The ground shook. Silence fell.
Ray raised his fist, grinning innocently at his fallen foe. "Guess I win."
Karua's voice rasped, awe-struck. "Not even a true dragon… yet you wield it with a dragon's heart. Who… are you, Ray…?"
Ray scratched his cheek. "Don't know myself, really. But you—what do you want from me? Speak. You lost."
Karua's lips quivered. "…Phoenix… tears…" His body collapsed, exhausted, malnourished, delirious.
"Dammit!" Ray groaned, running a hand through his hair. "All that—just for this!?"
On the ground, Karua mumbled feverishly. "…Kana… I'll break your curse… I swear…"
Ray stared down, then sighed heavily. With a weary shake of his head, he hoisted the frail boy onto his back.
"You're a real pain, Karua…" he muttered, trudging toward the Academy infirmary.
The forest fell silent once more.