Afternoon sunlight spilled over Omnilith like warm honey, pouring across mountains, forests, deserts, and oceans in one stitched-together world. To most people, it was just the world. To scholars and mages, it had a heavier name:
Omnilith.
Far from the cities and kingdoms, in the middle of a lonely grassy plain with no road, no village, and no traffic, something stood that had no right to be there:
A single diner.
A wooden sign creaked lazily on its hinges, swaying in the warm breeze.
THE DRAGON'S DEN
Inside, the only employee danced between tables with casual perfection.
Pearl was a dragoness carved from molten color. Deep red scales glowed with lava-like patterns that pulsed when she was annoyed—or smug, which was often. Pale armor-smooth plates covered her chest and underbelly, contrasting with her long, powerful limbs and elegant curves. Horns swept back in a regal arc, framing bright emerald eyes that gleamed with intelligence and a dangerous sense of humor. Silvery-white spines ran down her neck like a mane, and her large wings, folded neatly at her back, faded to smoky embers at the edges. A long tail ending in a metallic blade ticked gently against the floorboards like a metronome.
She glided through the empty diner like a ballerina on a mission, wiping tables until they shone, aligning chairs, and polishing the counter with obsessive precision. There were no customers in sight; just the soft clink of glass and the late-afternoon sun streaming in through spotless windows.
It would have been a scene of perfect poise.
If her stomach weren't very clearly occupied.
"MMMPH!!"
Pearl jerked as a bulge rolled along her abdomen under her apron. A flush crept under her scales. She pressed one clawed hand into her belly and exhaled slowly through her nose.
"Will you stop?" she muttered.
Inside the dragoness, someone was very much alive, very much angry, and very much trying to fight their way out with fists, feet, and sheer aggression.
An oni.
Pearl's eye twitched.
"If you think I'm giving you indigestion points for effort, think again," she grumbled, picking her rag back up and working at a perfectly clean spot on the counter. "You ate almost my entire inventory, tried to dine and dash in my restaurant, and now you're shocked you ended up as lunch? Honestly."
Her stomach bulged again as the occupant kicked hard.
A muffled voice roared up from inside her.
"MMMPH!! I'M GONNA WRECK YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT, YOU SCALED FRAUD! LET ME OUT AND FIGHT ME FOR REAL!"
Pearl looked around at the empty seats and the golden light slanting in from the windows. Not a soul in sight. Just her, the afternoon sun… and the screaming oni.
Her lips curled into a tight, irritated smile.
"And you're loud," she sighed. "Great. Gluttonous, broke, and loud."
She straightened, claw still pressing firmly into her midsection.
"H–hey! Quit squirming," she snapped aloud. "It's not my fault you walked into my establishment, devoured half my pantry, and then tried to bolt without paying. This is what we call… house policy."
Her stomach walls flexed, giving a gentle, warning squeeze.
"So stop being so unruly and accept your fate as my meal. O-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!"
"HOUSE POLICY?!" the muffled voice shrieked. "WHAT KIND OF HOUSE POLICY IS 'EAT THE CUSTOMER'?!"
"The only kind that matters when the customer eats the house," Pearl shot back.
"YOU COULD'VE JUST… I DON'T KNOW… CHARGED INTEREST?!"
"I did," she said sweetly. "You're the interest."
The bulge braced again. Pearl felt it a heartbeat before it hit.
Static prickled beneath her scales.
"Oh, don't you—"
A blast of electricity exploded against the stomach walls.
"GHHH—!!"
Pearl stumbled, grabbing the counter with her free hand as hot, tingling pain shot through her insides. Sparks of mana flared where the shock met draconic tissue. Her tail blade slammed against the floor with a sharp clang.
"YOU—!" she snarled, eyes blazing. "You dare attack me from inside?!"
"STOP CALLING THIS AN ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SPECIAL IF I'M THE SPECIAL NOW!" the oni yelled.
"That joke was terrible," Pearl wheezed. "You deserve to be digested just for that."
"OH YEAH? COME DOWN HERE AND SAY THAT TO MY FACE, LIZARD!"
"You are inside me," Pearl snapped. "This is literally the worst time to challenge someone to a face-to-face."
"HOW ABOUT A GUT-TO-GUT?!"
Pearl sucked in a sharp breath, then slowly pushed herself upright, shoulders squaring. The afternoon light rimmed her in gold, turning her scales into molten metal.
"I'll make you regret stepping foot in my restaurant," she said, voice low. "You are going to stay inside me whether you like it or not, and you're going to learn exactly whose stomach you're in, understood?"
"Your stomach is terrible customer service!"
"My stomach is a five-star enforcement system," Pearl snapped.
"I'VE SEEN BETTER SERVICE IN TROLL CAVES!"
Her eye twitched dangerously.
"Oh, that's it."
She curled her right fist, muscles coiling beneath the scales. Veins stood out faintly as she drew in a breath—
—and drove her fist into her own stomach.
"NGH!"
Inside, the world shook. The oni slammed into the opposite wall of flesh with a grunt.
"HEY! FOUL! TIME OUT!"
"No timeouts," Pearl grunted, both hands moving to clamp down on her midsection. Her stomach muscle tightened, compressing the chamber with terrifying control. "You want to dish out hits? Then learn how it feels when the restaurant hits back."
The fleshy walls hugged down, strong and unyielding. The struggle inside slowed under the crushing embrace.
"Oh, now you remember basic biology," the oni muttered.
"I remember basic boundaries," Pearl shot back. "And you've crossed literally all of them."
"I AM NOT BASIC ANYTHING!"
"You're basic indigestion."
"…I suddenly hate you more than taxes."
Pearl smiled, finally feeling the internal squirming fade to a more manageable level.
"Finally," she sighed. "Some peace and—"
The bell above the door jingled softly.
Ding-a-ling…
She froze.
The door swung open and afternoon light spilled into the diner, stretching long shadows across the floor.
"Hello… is this restaurant still open?" a calm male voice called.
Pearl reflexively released her stomach and straightened. Her wings twitched; she smoothed her apron, adjusted her hair-spines, and turned to face the newcomer with professional poise.
Her heart jolted.
The customer who'd stepped in was small by adventurer standards, closer in height to a dwarf than a human knight—but his presence tugged at her attention like gravity. His features were soft yet striking, his eyes warm and gentle, his aura relaxed in a way that seemed almost out of place in the wild empty afternoon outside. Sunlight framed him from behind, giving him an almost halo-like outline.
Inside, the oni grumbled.
"Who the heck is that, a lost kid?"
Pearl's cheeks heated.
"Nnnngh—shut up," she hissed under her breath, then forced her expression into a professional smile.
"I apologize for the delay," she said, voice smooth again. "Yes, we're still open. What can I get for you, sir?"
"I'll start with a glass of water and a menu, if that's all right," he said, offering an easy smile. "I'd like to take my time deciding."
Pearl nodded quickly.
"Of course. Please, have a seat."
She glided behind the counter, her stomach still uncomfortably warm and occupied, and poured a glass of water. The afternoon sun reflected off the surface in little shards of light. She set the glass and a menu in front of him.
As she leaned forward, the oni inside gave a petty little shove.
Her hand twitched.
"Thanks," the young man said, taking the menu. "And feel free to take your time with your… tummy situation while I browse all these exotic dishes."
Pearl froze.
Her gaze dropped involuntarily toward her midsection.
Inside, the oni snorted.
"Oh ho? He noticed? This is awkward for you, isn't it?"
"If you don't shut up I'm upgrading you from 'meal' to 'compost,'" Pearl muttered under her breath.
Aloud, she replied stiffly, "Yes… my stomach issue. Nothing to concern yourself with."
She straightened, enforcing a polite smile.
"Please enjoy the menu. I'll be back to take your order shortly."
She retreated a step, wiping an already spotless table just to give her hands something to do.
The young man let his eyes wander around the diner: the warm wooden interior, the carefully arranged decor, the faint scent of spices still floating through the air.
"By the way," he said, glancing back at her, "I really like the atmosphere of this place. But… don't you think it's a little lonely, having a restaurant all the way out here by yourself?"
Pearl paused mid-wipe, then looked out at the empty afternoon plains beyond the window—sea of grass, sky huge and open, no roads, no smoke, no civilization.
"Isolation has its advantages," she answered. "No noisy crowds. No nosy neighbors. Fewer distractions. It lets me focus on what really matters—the food, and the service."
She turned away, muttering to herself, "And it's easier to get rid of bodies when no one lives nearby…"
"What was that?" he asked.
She stiffened.
"I said, it's easier to get rid of… bothering flies," she improvised smoothly. "You know. Pests. In the kitchen."
Inside, the oni cackled.
"Liar. You absolutely meant corpses."
Pearl pressed a hand into her stomach.
"I will turn you into soup stock."
The young man just chuckled softly.
"Well, either way, your manners are very hospitable," he said. "You're a very elegant dragon."
Pearl felt her chest swell slightly with pride.
"Thank you," she said, standing a little straighter. "I maintain a certain standard here. It sets my establishment apart."
He suddenly scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed.
"Sorry, I forgot to ask your name."
Pearl tilted her head, amused.
"My name is Pearl," she replied. "And yours? It sounds like it should be interesting."
"Mercer," he said. "Mercer Bloodheart. Also… 'Pearl' is a pretty funny name for a fire dragon. I was expecting something like 'Blaze-Destroyer' or 'Flame-Murderer the Third.'"
Inside, the oni snorted.
"He's got a point."
Pearl's eye twitched.
"That's very rude, coming from someone digesting," she muttered down at her stomach.
To Mercer, she answered with a thin, controlled smile.
"'Mercer Bloodheart' is quite dramatic," she said. "As for my name, I chose it myself. I prefer elegance over theatrics."
"Oh, I didn't mean it in a bad way," Mercer said quickly. "If anything, the fact that you chose your own name instead of just accepting whatever dragon society wanted makes it more special."
Pearl blinked, caught off guard.
"…You're surprisingly perceptive for someone who just walked in here," she admitted.
Inside, the oni grumbled, "Oh, he gets praise?"
"You get stomach acid," Pearl whispered. "Because you stole my entire afternoon."
Mercer chuckled.
"I actually picked my name from a bedtime story," he added.
Pearl leaned in a little, curiosity sparked.
"A bedtime story?" she echoed. "Do tell."
"It was about someone who risked everything to hold the world together," Mercer said, eyes turning distant. "Even while it tried to tear itself apart. In the end, they sacrificed everything to give the world a new chance—something brighter, happier."
Pearl listened in uncharacteristic silence. The late afternoon glow softened the edges of the diner, making the scene feel… strangely gentle.
"That's… admirable," she said softly. "Sacrifice like that comes hard. Most people cling to what they have, even if the world is rotting around them."
Inside, the oni muttered, "…Sounds stupid. But… noble stupid."
"Since that person was a magic-user," Mercer continued, "I started studying magic too. Trained under different teachers across the lands. Eventually, I reached the rank of magician. I'm hoping to become a sorcerer… or maybe a wizard someday."
"A magician, hm?" Pearl said, eyeing him with newfound interest. "Climbing the ladder, chasing after arcane perfection. Ambitious."
"Ehh, it's not just about power," Mercer replied. "I also do research, experiment with spells. But my real goal is to open a guild. A huge guild. A place where all races—from every corner of Omnilith—can come together. For survival. For friendship. For unity."
Pearl went still.
Inside, the oni gave a tiny, skeptical grunt, but for once didn't interrupt.
"A guild for all races…" Pearl murmured. "You're talking about monsters, humans, dragons, demons… everything… under one banner?"
"Yep," Mercer said, smiling gently. Afternoons like this made his expression look almost golden. "Shadowy creatures are starting to appear again—just little incidents, here and there. People attacked. Strange sightings. It feels like the opening act of an old legend, you know?"
Pearl's expression hardened slightly.
"So you want to prepare," she said quietly. "Before the real calamity hits."
"Exactly," Mercer replied. "If the darkness is returning, waiting is the worst thing we can do. Bringing people together now means we'll be ready later."
He closed the menu.
"And that's why I came here, actually," he added. "I'm looking for someone."
Pearl's stomach dropped for reasons that had nothing to do with digestion.
"What sort of 'someone'?" she asked, voice a touch too tight.
"Well," Mercer said, "the reports mentioned a red monster with horns and a spiked club. Supposedly it has a terrible temper and keeps attacking people who wander into its territory."
Pearl stared.
Inside her, the oni whispered, very clearly:
"…Oh no."
"…Oh no," Pearl echoed internally.
Outwardly, she pasted on a smile barely this side of convincing.
"A red monster with horns and a spiked club?" she said lightly. "Sounds like a scary bedtime story. I haven't seen anything like that around here. Perhaps your sources are exaggerating."
"EXCUSE YOU?! I'M RIGHT HERE!" the oni roared from inside.
Pearl flinched as Kurohana renewed her assault, pounding the stomach walls with furious blows.
"DON'T YOU 'BEDTIME STORY' ME, YOU WALKING FURNACE! I'LL—"
Pearl slapped a hand to her midsection, scales flushing.
"I need to excuse myself," she blurted. "Kitchen. Important kitchen things. Very urgent. Don't go anywhere."
"I literally can't," Mercer said, glancing out at the empty plains. "There's nowhere else to go."
"Good," Pearl said faintly, then spun and pushed through the kitchen door.
The afternoon sky outside continued its slow descent toward evening.
Inside the back, the real fight began.