Ren died.
His body flew like a toy across the roof, making a sickening wet sound as it rolled across.
Even if the blast didn't kill him, there was no way he could survive that fall.
I couldn't even blame myself for that..., that attack.... I'd never seen it do anything like it.
And I warned him, I told him I couldn't block direct attacks.
His daughter was still beside me, and I couldn't help but feel sorry she had to watch that.
"I'm so—"
The words hung in my throat.
She didn't even look concerned in the slightest.
Her focus was on a drop of blood the size of a palm— examining it as though nothing had happened.
She didn't even get distracted when the dragon roared at us, eagerly seeking a new victim.
"Keep it distracted for me." The girl said, her voice sounding low and distant.
What was she planning?
The orb split into many tiny crimson balls orbiting her like planets round the sun.
It was such a small change but I felt immense danger.
She looked like a witch, ready to cast a deadly curse.
'Maybe this wasn't a failed attempt after all.'
I raced towards the dragon, stacking barriers in advance— ready to stall for time
Regardless of the outcome, it couldn't hurt to try.
After all I could always try again.
The Dragon's eyes were immediately focused on me, its jaws leaking blood and a frosty air.
I only had to remain alert for any attacks I wasn't already familiar with.
Using my barriers as platforms, I launched myself from place to place— flying around as a distraction while being chased by bolts of blood stained ice.
It was like shooting bullets at a fly, a desperate attempt to end things quickly.
But unfortunately for it, this fly was dangerous— and my target was hard to miss.
Invisible bars shot at the monster, some pointed, aimed at the eyes, many were blunt, simply making it dance and squirm in the air.
A huge push threw me closer to the monster—within grabbing length, as I analysed the gaping wound in its neck.
'Hmm....'
It was too small— tiny enough to be covered by a single palm.
Panicked that I was out of sight, the dragon roared, carelessly searching around for me.
I pushed myself a distance away allowing it to notice me and charge recklessly, golden blurs of claw furiously tearing wildly into the sky.
Beside me, a barrier spun in place, its edges sharp like a saw.
It wasn't hard to weave past its attacks, especially since I could change directions at almost any time.
One became two, then two became three until I had more saws than I could count on one hand.
'Wait for an opening' I thought, as we broke into a dance, one I was very familiar with.
The most frustrating thing about the fight was just how loud the dragon was being.... did it really think it could catch me if it roared loud enough?
The dragon's bloodshot eyes regarded me with an intense fury, and once it opened its maw I threw a bar into its teeth— further pushing them out of place.
In retaliation, it charged, planning to ram into me and smother me with its scales and claws.
A quick sidestep brought me to its side, facing the gaping wound in its neck.
And I immediately unleashed the saws.
Sparks erupted as they drilled into hard scales, some tearing into softer skin— further ripping open the wound.
I could barely hear the sound of the blades over the scream that followed.
Now was the time to run.
Launched myself, I flew all the way back to where Karin and I once stood, if she hadn't finished her preparations by now then there was nothing else I could do for her.
We've pushed the creature too far now.
Karin stood ahead, a large sheet of blood hovered in the air like a curtain.
Wrapping myself in multiple Barrier coatings, I pushed downwards throwing myself out of the range of whatever attack she was planning.
Cold.
It suddenly became incredibly cold, and the mist seemed to be ten times thicker now— I could only see my own hands.
A shrill shriek caused my body to completely tense up but I didn't.... couldn't let myself stop moving.
I stacked up protection, but all of a sudden the fog receded.
'Huh?'
'That's new....'
I slowed myself to a stop, gradually crashing while protecting myself in soft coccoon-like shieldings.
After a long crash-landing I finally came to a stop, walking out of the rubble.
The ground shook suddenly, almost throwing me upwards.
The sun was above me, intense and bright, allowing me to see just how large the roof was for the first time.
All the people that were washed off huddled together, a few lying on the floor as though unconscious.
Far in the distance I noticed Ren's body— obvious from the brutal state it was in, trails of blood clearly visible even at my distance.
It took all my strength to resist the feeling of nausea and instead give a small nod of respect, and a quick prayer for his sacrifice.
Behind me, Ren's daughter stood—a couple feet away from the dragon's collapsed body.
It was..... dead?
Completely soaked in its own blood as more blood rushed out like water.
But the strangest thing of all was the fact that its blood was turning black and fast.
'Dear God.'
I tried taken deep breathes but It only worsened my situation as I inhaled a thick bloody smell.
I let out a cough as I approached, I had to find out if it was truly dead.
The dragon's body was oppressive— intimidating even in death, but the fear I felt was of the girl, barely the size of its head.
As the creature lay on the floor, drained and unresponsive, fog started to leak out of its skin.
And slowly, the corpse started to shrink.
"Did we do it?"
"Is it really dead?"
"It's bleeding so much"
All around us, those washed into mist were starting to come around.
"So what next from here?"
"Don't let the mist touch you!!"
"The smell is horrible."
"It's not dead."
A chill ran down my spine as everyone turned silent.
It was the healer woman that spoke.
"What do you mean it's not dead" I asked, as everyone quickly distanced themselves from the blood and mist leaking from the creature.
If it still wasn't dead, then what would it take to put down this beast. I glanced at everyone.
Ren's daughter was suspiciously absent.
The fog, peaceful at first started to thicken— making an audible whooshing sound as it coalesced.
In a second the dragon's body became invisible, completely enshrouded in fog.
I fled.
Not willing to risk my life on what would come next.
But no matter how fast I ran, nothing could have prepared me for the ferocity of the beast reborn.
Unfortunately for me, It held tightly unto grudges.
What came out of that fog was not a dragon.
Not a mighty beast to be fell.
But, a savage creature nonetheless.
I stared face to face with a child in scale armor.
Its eyes were the same gold the dragon had and its hair was white as snow.
And I.....
I was locked in place, held up by chains made of ice.
Fear.
It must have been written all over my face.
In my prisoner's eyes I only saw hatred.
My body shook feverishly as my hands and mouth were bound, hanging me in an iron cross.
The ice begun to dig deeper and the uncomfortable cold bit harshly into my skin— drawing blood.
My shaking only made my position much more painful.
My mouth was locked shut in ice, forcing me to swallow my screams.
Suddenly a blur crashed into the dragon-child.
The impact of the attack left me shaken as the child was thrown backwards, leaving a deep scar on the ground.
Standing where the child once stood was a man, black haired and tall.
Until now he always had a way of blending into the background despite his muscular frame.
The child instantly popped up to its feet but its motions and posture were unsteady.
The man kept up the offensive.
He burst towards the dragon-child, covering the distance in less than a second.
"Amazing... his speed"
I couldn't even completely see how and where he attacked, but the way the dragon kept getting knocked back made it clear.
It was losing.
The Ice holding me in place cracked, releasing me in a puff of mist.
As I dropped, I remained on high alert— my body still shaking.
The ice must have cracked because the dragon was occupied in its fight.
That means, it's not capable of maintaining its powers under certain conditions.
'Meaning we still have a chance.'
I moved quickly, my body still shaking from fear.
But I knew the dragon was not all powerful.
I could hear its shouts in the distance, But none from the man.
Once I drew close enough I watched the fight, analysing how they violently knocked each other backwards with each blow.
I stood still, waiting for an opportunity.
The dragon let out a bestial scream as it was repeatedly pummelled by the man.
It looked half dead already with blood pooling down its head.
More scales formed on it's body as protection, but most of it was broken with crack pieces littering the floor.
Each of its attacks were desperate swings, only managing to touch his opponent with pure speed.
Watching at the fight made me feel pity for the creature.
The second it noticed me, it flung itself in my direction with an enraged cry completely forgetting its opponent.
I didn't even need to do anything.
The man caught it mid-leap, a twist on it's neck turned its cry to a whimper as it crumpled to the ground.
With a sudden jolt, the roof disappeared, replaced by wooden walls and a familiar long table.
Disoriented by the feeling of the ground suddenly ripped from beneath me, I stumbled towards a chair for support.
Out of the corner of the room walked the same cursed Owl creature—Ael.
"Congratulations, and welcome back" It said, Its eyes and beak curling into a smile.