This is an extra-long chapter, containing several emotional and tense scenes, so sorry if it's not very good. I honestly tried to do something good, but I found the Hermes scene a bit disjointed, although necessary. So read it with an open mind.
//
Luki twisted midair, driving his foot into the dragon's jaw and his fist into its throat, blue aura flaring violently. The blows rippled through its massive body, but it barely reacted. He was already moving again.
The dragon struck back with overwhelming force. A claw tore through empty space, its tail sweeping wide and shattering the ground, wings bursting outward to crush everything nearby. Each attack was lethal, yet all missed by a wide margin.
Luki moved on instinct alone, reacting before danger fully formed. He struck again and again, relentless, but the dragon endured, adapting quickly. It slammed its weight down to disrupt him, then lunged with perfect timing, jaws snapping where he would be.
He slipped past by inches, shoulder grazing its teeth as his knee drove into its jaw. Spinning, he brought his heel down with everything he had, but the dragon barely shifted.
It retaliated instantly, tail cutting toward his next move. Luki landed and surged forward again, aura flickering now, strain creeping into his body. Even so, he didn't hesitate, stepping in and striking as the dragon met him head-on, their clash shaking the battlefield, neither giving ground.
All of this, along with dozens of other actions capable of taking the lives of most adventurers, unfolded within a matter of seconds, and Hestia watched it all from afar.
Kneeling on the ground, embracing the cold body of a girl she didn't even know, but who was clearly very important to her lover, Hestia remained impassive, observing everything with an expressionless face.
She was no longer scared, worried, or angry, neither because of Luki nor because of the girl's existence; she simply watched in silence, like someone observing a movie.
Of course, seeing him get hurt in front of her still affected her, but it was something he had chosen, so she would respect his will and simply watch in silence from the sidelines, without interfering.
But something caught her attention. Hestia turned her head, looking toward the wall behind her as if she could see through it. She felt a divine presence approaching at great speed, and she already knew who it was.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a wall burst outward not far behind her, and a silhouette bathed in seven-colored light emerged from it, floating lightly in the air with an ever-carefree smile on its face.
— Looks like I arrived right on time, as always. — Hermes said, stepping lightly onto the ground as his divine power receded.
Behind him, other figures began to emerge, the other gods, Loki's familia, and more.
Hestia raised an eyebrow when she noticed a white-haired girl carrying Luki's sword... Bella, Mell? Whatever. She made a mental note to thank her later.
— Hestia! Thank the gods you're alright, don't scare us like th- What the hell is happening?! — Hephaestus approached, worried, until she noticed the scene in the distance and froze in astonishment.
Not only her, but everyone else stopped as well, their jaws dropping.
— It can't be... the boy is fighting a dragon?
— How is he doing that? He's not just dodging but actually trading blows with it.
— How can someone become that strong?
Words of disbelief spread through the group; even the strongest among them were stunned, including those who had fought him before. It was one thing to evade everything, another entirely to exchange blows head-on.
— Wow, that's incredible! It's like I'm witnessing the birth of a brand-new legend. — Hermes said excitedly as he approached, the smile on his face wide and unrestrained, like a child watching his favorite show.
Hestia silently took note of his reaction.
— Yes, what can I say... that is my son. — She said, her tone restrained, yet filled with pride.
— Yes, yes, your son... tell me, Hestia, wouldn't you perhaps be interested in making a trade?
— Yeah... — she said distractedly, then it finally dawned on her.
— No. Wait, what? — Hestia blinked once, the words catching her off guard for the briefest moment.
Her gaze shifted toward Hermes, her expression still mostly composed, but now with a flick of disbelief breaking through her calm. Of all things to say in a moment like this, that had not been what she expected.
— ...A trade? — she repeated, her tone low and restrained.
— Yes, a trade. You know, that thing mortals do when they want to exchange belongings, I give you something you want and you give me something I want, simple.
— I know what a trade is, what makes you think I would do something like that? Do you think this is a joke? — Hestia retorted in a more offensive tone, glancing suspiciously at Hermes out of the corner of her eye.
Hermes only smiled wider, as if he had just made the most harmless suggestion in the world. He clasped his hands behind his back, rocking slightly on his heels, his attention split between Hestia and the battle in the distance, as though both were equally entertaining.
— Come on, don't look at me like that. I'm being dead serious here. That boy of yours is a rare gem. Who wouldn't want to have him? I, personally, am sure I'm not the only one. So I thought, why not take the head start?
Hestia's eyes narrowed just a fraction, her grip around the girl's body tightening ever so slightly. She didn't answer, but the refusal was already there, hanging in the air.
— You've got some nerve saying that out loud. — Hephaestus cut in, her tone sharp, her gaze flicking briefly to the battlefield before returning to Hermes. — He's not some ornament you can just buy.
Hermes raised his hands in mock surrender, his smile never fading.
— Oh, I know. That's exactly why I'm making it worth her while.
— Worth her while? — Miach spoke next, arms folded as he watched Luki in the distance. — For someone like that… even I can see his value. For a struggling familia, it's hard not to at least consider it.
— Miach. — Hephaestus shot him a look.
— What? I'm only being honest. I wouldn't force the matter. — he replied with a small, apologetic shrug.
— A capable young fighter, disciplined, loyal, already showing signs of Skill or Magic… and with immense potential. It's only natural he draws attention. — Takemikazuchi stepped forward slightly, eyes fixed on the battle.
— I have no intention of taking him. However… if negotiations are open, it would be dishonest to claim I feel no interest. I'm already his teacher, so half a Father.
Hestia's expression hardened just a little more.
— You too…?
A soft laugh cut through the tension.
— My, my, how lively. And to think you were hiding such an interesting boy, Hestia. — Freya stepped forward, her voice smooth, her gaze never leaving Luki.
There was something deeper in her eyes now, far beyond simple curiosity.
— I must admit… I agree with Hermes. Talent like that shouldn't remain where it cannot fully bloom.
Hestia didn't move, but something in her presence sharpened, her gaze turning colder as it settled on Freya for a brief moment before returning to Hermes.
Hermes, meanwhile, seemed delighted, as if the conversation had turned out even better than he expected.
— See? I told you. I'm not the only one. — He said with a grin, rocking lightly on his heels.
— So, Hestia, what do you say? I may not spend much time in Orario, but I'm definitely on the stronger side among the Familias, and I'm sure I have a child you'll like. Man, woman, tall, short, blonde, redhead, black, human, elf, dwarf, beastman… just say the word.
— I won't-
— No, wait, that sounds a bit cheap, doesn't it? Alright, let's make it thre- no, no. Five! I can give you five children. Three frontliners, one mage, and… one with a production skill. Equipment, items, support… everything a growing familia could ever need.
— What do you think? Not a bad deal, right? — His smile remained bright, almost innocent.
— If it's a matter of value… — Freya's voice cut in smoothly.
All eyes turned to her.
— Then I'll make a proper offer. There is no familia in Orario richer than mine. If you wish… I can give you Ottar. — She gestured, pointing at her.
Silence fell. All eyes turned to the man in question, not far away but who had certainly heard the conversation, and unexpectedly, he didn't seem affected by it.
The strongest mortal in Orario, perhaps the world, offered in exchange for a single boy. The shock was immediate, visible on every face.
— My, my… how bold. Trading your champion so easily… I wonder what you see in him. — Hermes spoke first, tone light but eyes sharp.
Freya's lips curved faintly.
— The same thing you do.
For a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them, polite on the surface, but edged with tension.
Hestia looked at them, really looked this time, her composure wavering for just an instant before settling into something firm.
— …You're all insane.
Her gaze flicked toward the battlefield, where Luki still clashed against the dragon, wrapped in blue light.
— He's not something I can trade. Neither now nor ever.— she said, calm and absolute.
— Nothing is absolute. — Freya said softly, her gaze still fixed ahead, her tone as smooth as ever. — If you ever change your mind… you know where to find me.
— Don't worry. I won't. — she replied, her voice calm, but carrying a quiet finality that left no room for doubt.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Their gazes met from the corner of their eyes, and something invisible spread through the air, subtle, yet sharp enough to make the atmosphere grow heavy.
Around them, the others reacted instinctively.
Whether gods or mortals, their posture stiffened, their expressions became serious, footing shifted slightly, as if preparing for something he couldn't yet see.
No one knew what would happen.
But it felt like something could.
GRRRRRRRMMMM-
The ground trembled violently beneath them.
Dust began to fall from the ceiling as cracks spread across the walls, the entire area shaking as if something massive was moving deep below, interrupting the fragile tension before it could fully snap.
— Look. — Miach's voice cut through the noise, calm but firm. — It seems this is coming to an end.
The words drew everyone's attention forward.
— RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!
— AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
In the distance, Luki and the dragon collided once more. His fist drove forward at the same instant the dragon's claw came down, and when the two met, the impact split the air itself.
BOOM!
The ground beneath them cracked outward in jagged lines, the surrounding terrain fracturing under the force of the clash.
Luki was thrown backward, his body boucing through the ground as he slid, while the dragon's massive limb was knocked aside, its weight forced off balance for a brief moment.
Luki rose almost instantly, his aura flaring as he pushed forward again without hesitation. The dragon steadied itself just as quickly, turning back toward him.
And once more, they collided head-on.
— RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!
— AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!
Their blows were about to collide once more, but at the last moment Luki slid beneath the dragon's claws, his knee scraping against the hard stone as he slipped through. In one motion, he drove a powerful punch straight into its chest, forcing the massive body backward.
BOOM!
A sharp grin crossed his face, satisfaction cutting through his unstable state.
BOOM!
The dragon's tail struck from the side, catching him cleanly and hurling him into the wall with crushing force, his body slamming against the stone as if it might merge with it.
— Argh! — Luki spat blood, his body screaming as his insides twisted unnaturally.
With a shout, he forced himself back up. The blue glow surged, flaring brighter as it pushed his insides together, just enough to keep moving.
— …He's reaching his limit. — Miach said quietly.
No one answered.
Luki rose again, faster than expected, and charged. He slipped past snapping jaws, drove a kick into the dragon's side, then followed with a rapid barrage to its neck and chest. His movements were still incredible, but the results were lacking.
The dragon endured through sheer size alone. His blows landed, but without reach or leverage, they barely broke through.
— He is fighting the best he can… — Takemikazuchi murmured. — Using the size difference well. But it's not enough. …Where is his sword? With it, he might still win.
— Bell-chan! Come here! — Finn called.
— Y-yes! Captain Finn! — The white-haired girl rushed over, clutching the oversized sword.
Finn took it without a word and handed it to Takemikazuchi.
— One of mines secured it so it wouldn't be lost.
— A wise decision. — he replied, taking the blade. — If you have time, visit my familia. I could guide you.
— I-I would be honored! — Bell bowed repeatedly before hurrying back, barely containing her excitement.
— RRRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!
— AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
Another clash. This time, Luki met the dragon head-on and was immediately launched upward, spinning before crashing down hard enough to shatter the ground.
— Luki… — Hestia murmured, tension creeping into her voice.
— He doesn't have much left, that power is fading with each wound. You should act quickly. — Miach said, gripping his staff.
Takemikazuchi didn't hesitate. With Luki's sword in hand, he rushed forward.
KRRRSHHH! BAM!
A violent surge of energy erupted right in front of him, a translucent barrier forming in an instant and stopping him dead in his tracks as the force pushed him back.
— What the hell?! — he shouted, caught off guard.
— A barrier… here and now? That shouldn't be possible. There were no traps in that area. — Miach said, his tone tightening.
Chaos spread through the group. Some adventurers instinctively looked around, expecting monsters to emerge at any moment, while others remained focused on the phenomenon itself, realizing this was something far beyond a simple trap.
Hermes didn't move. His gaze shifted past the barrier, deeper into the Dungeon, his usual smile fading just slightly.
'The Dungeon is actively interfering even with this many gods present. Don't tell me… you're also invested in him?'
A flicker of anticipation rose within him as he looked back at Luki.
Takemikazuchi, however, ignored everything else.
Drawing his long katana in a single motion, he struck the barrier. The impact rang out sharply, but the blade simply bounced off, as if he had struck an immovable wall.
He attacked again and again, each strike carried power enough to cut through monsters and stone alike, but the barrier didn't even ripple.
Stepping back, his expression hardened, frustration slipping through his usual composure.
— It's too strong, we won't break it like this. — he said, his voice edged now. — Captain Finn, get your men ready. I want this thing down.
— Everyone, prepare to strike! — Finn's command rang out immediately.
There was no hesitation. Adventurers stepped forward, weapons drawn, magic circles forming across the battlefield as energy gathered from every direction. Blades, spears and explosions of magic collided against the invisible wall.
Attacks that could level small mountains now meant nothing. Even Riveria's magic, as strong as a mini-mini-mini nuclear weapon, dissipated the moment it made contact, swallowed whole without resistance.
— It's not working… — Finn muttered, frustration clear as he wiped the sweat from his brow. — It's absorbing everything like a cushion. I think that even if we used all our trump cards together… it wouldn't be enough.
— Damn it… — Takemikazuchi cursed under his breath, striking the barrier with his fist. — There has to be a way.
For a brief moment, he hesitated, the thought of using his divinity crossed his mind, but that path led to exile, to leaving his familia behind without support. It wasn't a decision he could make lightly. The most sensible option would have been to ask someone else to do it, but he didn't have the nerve to ask.
But before he could think further.
SHIIIIIN!
A seven-colored light burst into existence behind them.
The sudden brilliance forced several to recoil, eyes widening in both shock and awe.
— I've already crossed the line once… doing it again won't change my sentence. — Hestia spoke, her voice calm, almost detached.
Still kneeling on the ground, Lili's body held gently in her arms, she slowly raised one hand.
The air itself seemed to tighten, the world responding to her will and-
— Wait, wait, don't! Stop! Stop! — Hermes suddenly threw himself in front of her, arms spread wide as he cut her off in a panic.
Hestia's arm halted mid-motion, jer eyes snapped toward Hermes, confusion flashing first then irritation quickly following.
— …What are you doing? — she demanded, her voice sharper now, carrying an authority that hadn't been there before.
Hermes didn't step aside. Instead, he planted himself firmly in front of her, arms slightly spread as if physically blocking her path, his usual carefree smile replaced by something more strained.
— Sorry, but I can't let you do that. — he said, tone lighter than the situation allowed, yet unmistakably serious beneath it.
Hestia's brows drew together, anger beginning to surface—
— THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! — Hephaestus exploded.
She surged forward and grabbed Hermes by the collar, yanking him down hard to her level, her grip tight enough to wrinkle the fabric in her fist.
— ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?! — she barked, her voice sharp and forceful, shaking with anger. — YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO STOP HER NOW, OF ALL TIMES?!
She pulled him closer, her glare burning straight through him.
— DO YOU WANT TO WATCH THAT KID DIE?! AFTER EVERYTHING WE DID TO GET HERE?!
Her grip tightened even more.
— BECAUSE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, I SWEAR I'LL-!
Hermes raised his hands slightly, not resisting this time.
— I know, I know exactly what it looks like. But if she does this… it won't just be him paying the price.
— Are you threatening me, Hermes? — Hephaestus asked, slow and deliberate, each word heavy.
Her single eye began to glow faintly, an oppressive heat filling the air as her gaze locked onto him. Hermes stiffened, sweat forming instantly as if he were standing inside a furnace.
'This woman… she's serious.' he thought, trying to pry her hands off his collar.
— Hephaestus, that's enough. — Hestia's voice cut in.
The tension snapped.
Hephaestus clicked her tongue and released him without ceremony, shoving him back.
— Tch.
Hermes stumbled and dropped to the ground.
— Ouch… a little kindness wouldn't hurt. — he muttered, rubbing his neck as he looked up.
— Hermes… — Hestia spoke again.
Only then did he fully turn toward her.
Still kneeling, Lili's body in her arms, she looked down at him. Hermes felt a chill run through him.
— You might want to explain why I would regret helping my son win this fight.
Hermes swallowed, his expression tightening as he realized just how badly cornered he was. This wasn't a game anymore, every word mattered now.
— You see, his is- uhmmm… a delicate situation. It involves things beyond what we can simply step in and fix. Forces that are already moving, already rea-
— You're really saying that to a goddess? — She cut in, her tone cold.
Hermes flinched.
— …Right. Yeah. That was my mistake. — He admitted quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.
— What I mean is… things are deeper than they look. Much deeper. And you don't fully see it yet. If you interfere now, you might be taking away his only chance to awaken something so important and powerful that it could decide the fate of an era, someth-
Hestia's expression didn't change.
— Yes, yes, the turn of an era, unique opportunities, superpowers, all of that is very interesting. — She said in the most disinterested tone in the world. — But I still don't see a reason.
— How can you not? You don't understand, Hestia, but...
— I don't care. — she cut him off, her voice firm now.
Hermes shut his mouth and looked up at Hestia anxiously.
— Hermes, old friend, I will be frank with you. I don't care about these secret plots, I don't care about the advancement of this world, I don't care about the possible return of mortal heroes, and I definitely don't care about any nonsense Ouranos might be whispering in your ear. — She said, placing great emphasis on each "no".
Her eyes locked onto his.
— So if you don't give me a single reason to lower my arm right now, I think you'd better start rethinking your plans. — In a heavy, absolute tone, she said, while a mysterious pressure emanated from her that made everyone around her feel the urge to kneel.
Sweat began to run down Hermes face as his mind raced, faster than ever before. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding slightly as he searched desperately for something, anything that would reach her.
So for the first time in a long time, Hermes, a god, a being of absolute and unquestionable power, found himself needing to plead.
Slowly, deliberately, he dropped to his knees in front of her, head lowered and hands resting against the ground.
— …Please. — his voice came out low, stripped of its usual playfulness. — I am asking you, not as a god but as Hermes, in the name of our ancient friendship.
— Just let this play out. Let things happen the way they're supposed to. If something goes wrong… if anything happens to him… I'll take responsibility. Whatever the price is, I'll pay it. I swear it.
— This is a debt I won't run from. Just… don't interfere. No matter what happens.
Silence fell.
A heavy atmosphere settled over all who watched in silence, especially the gods; seeing a fellow god kneeling before someone was not something that could simply be ignored.
Hestia remained quiet, the weight of her judgment heavier than the world. After a few moments that seemed like an eternity, she said:
— Very well... as you requested, in the name of our friendship, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But be warned, the consequences will not be to your liking.
After that, she lowered her arm as her powers receded.
Vosh! Crack!
The Hestia's Blade in Takemikazuchi's hands flew from his grasp and lodged in the ground beside it, coincidentally or not, very close to Hermes.
— Now we'll all watch and wait for the end, regardless of what happens. — She spoke in the same calm tone as before, exhaling deeply at the end as if preparing herself.
Seeing this, Hermes sighed and stood up unceremoniously, remaining beside her to watch the spectacle; in his mind, a final longing echoed.
'Ouranos, Dungeon... I did everything I could. And kid, you better win, for everyone's sake.'
In silence, everyone watched anxiously from the other side of the barrier as the battle between Luki and the dragon reached its final moments.
...
The dragon's jaws split open and he spewed the hell.
A torrent of fire crashed down, swallowing the battlefield whole. The ground vanished beneath a sea of flames, stone melting, air warping, everything consumed in a single, relentless inferno. Luki raised his arms on instinct, crossing them in front of his body as the blue aura around him flared and flickered.
It was fading away, the heat pressing from all sides, suffocating, eyes blurring, pain screaming, with each passing second in that hell his skin melted and was magically stitched back together.
He couldn't stay there much longer, so he moved, not retreating but advancing. He would never retreat again, no matter the consequences.
Luki drove himself through the flames, each step heavier than the last, his body tearing itself apart just to keep moving. The fire clawed at him, trying to drag him down, but he forced his way through it, eyes locked on the source.
Then he leapt. Straight into the dragon's open maw.
He's body was like a small blue dot rising amidst the destruction, piercing the continuous blast of fire emanating from the monster's mouth. The flames intensified instantly, condensing into a blazing furnace meant to incinerate anything foolish enough to enter.
When he landed with his feet on his gums, the dragon's instincts kicked in, jaws snapping shut to crush.
But they didn't close. Luki's hand shot up, bracing against the upper jaw, stopping it.
For a moment, everything froze. Both were stuck in that impasse, Luki being continuously consumed by the flames and enduring it all in silence.
His eyes sharpened. The blue aura, once wild and uncontrollable throughout his body, surged violently, collapsing inward, compressing everything into a single point. His fist.
The flames bent around him, pushed aside as if rejecting his presence. The light in his hand grew brighter and brighter until it burned like a star trapped in flesh.
Whitout hesitation, he struck.
The punch detonated inside the dragon's mouth, a violent eruption of force tearing through flesh, bone, and flame alike. The explosion ripped outward, shattering everything in its path as the dragon's roar twisted into something broken.
Its massive body convulsed, then collapsed.
Both bodies hit the ground.
The impact echoed through the ruined floor as dragon and man collapsed almost at the same time, the force of their fall cracking what little remained intact around them.
Dust rose, flames scattered. Neither moved.
Then, slowly… they tried.
The dragon's massive form trembled as it forced itself upward, claws digging into the shattered ground. Its body was a ruin of broken scales, many of them cracked or completely torn away, exposing raw flesh beneath. Blood stained its once-imposing figure, dark and heavy, dripping from countless wounds.
But its head had it worse. Its lower jaw was gone. Completely gone!
Where bone and fangs should have been, there was only a grotesque cavity of torn flesh and shattered structure, the inside of its mouth exposed in a way that should not exist. Blood poured from it in thick streams, spilling endlessly, painting the ground beneath it red as it struggled to remain standing. Each movement made it worse, more spilling, more loss.
It was a fatal wound, something no creature should survive. And yet he stood, the rest of its body barely helding together.
Luki was no better.
For someone who had just walked through an inferno, he looked almost untouched. His skin remained intact, unburned, his hair swaying lightly as if untouched by the chaos moments before. No visible injuries marked his body.
But it was a lie. His muscles spasmed violently, refusing to obey him. His body trembled as he tried to rise, forcing himself up, only for his arms to give out beneath him, sending him crashing back down. Again and again.
His breathing came out ragged, his chest rising and falling as if he were drowning on dry land. Air filled his lungs, but it wasn't enough, it wasn't what he was seeking.
His eyes barely opened, hidden behind strands of damp hair clinging to his face.
'…Not yet, this… isn't over. I haven't given up yet!!!' His fingers twitched against the ground.
He tried lifting himself again, his arms shaking as they pushed against the floor.
'Just… a little more... just a little more…'
He inhaled sharply, dragging air into his lungs like a man about to drown, desperate, starving, but it gave him nothing.
The world around him dimmed, as if the light itself was fading, everything growing distant.
Inside him, something clawed, an emptiness, a need, a hungry beast desperate for anything.
It was then, after taking advantage of this power for so long, after being mentally consumed by it to the point of becoming uncontrollable, that Luki instinctively understood how it worked.
He didn't need a divine blessing to explain everything; he was feeling it firsthand, especially now that he couldn't use it.
This power was never his; it wasn't something that came from within, but rather from taking what was outside
Like an ultra-powerful vacuum cleaner, Luki was absorbing the energy around him, whether magical or not, devouring the energy of the Dungeon itself just to maintain his peak state and granting him immense power through its excess, which is why he was constantly glowing, uncontrollable; he was overloaded, so overloaded that he couldn't reason beyond what his emotions dictated.
This matched the description of his Tireless Adventurer skill, which increased his recovery and only worked inside the Dungeon. This only worked because that place was full of energy, so much so that he could easily steal it without even thinking.
But now that he had almost nothing left, he had no way to support himself, and the consequences had finally arrived.
THOOM… THOOM… THOOM…
The sound dragged across the battlefield like a funeral drum, each step heavy enough to shake what little remained intact. It was slow, deliberate and inevitable. A march toward the end.
Even without turning, with his senses stretched in every direction, Luki felt it approaching. And yet he still fel the need to turn his head.
The dragon was walking toward him.
Its body was ruined, drenched in its own blood, half his head gone and yet it kept moving, step after step, driven by something beyond reason.
That sight… did something to him.
Maybe it was fear. Maybe defiance. Maybe something deeper, something he didn't have the strength to understand. But his body responded anyway. His fingers dug into the ground as he forced himself upward, muscles screaming, trembling violently as they refused to obey.
He rose halfway then collapsed. Tried again and fell once more. Over and over, each attempt more pathetic than the last, until finally, through sheer stubborn will alone… he stood.
His body swayed, threatening to give out at any second, but he held it together just long enough to lift his head.
The dragon was already there, towering over him, silent and Still.
Their eyes met. No words were spoken. One no longer had a mouth to speak. The other didn't have the strength left to try. And yet… something passed between them. In the quiet after the storm, in that strange stillness where everything had already been decided, they understood each other.
Not as enemies. Not as hunter and prey. But as something… equal.
As if, in another world, another time… they might have stood side by side instead of like this.
It didn't make sense. There was no reason for it, no special skill or magic bullshit, but it was real.
And it didn't matter.
Luki exhaled slowly, gathering what little strength he had left. His arm trembled as he raised it, heavy, uncoordinated, barely under his control. There was nothing behind it anymore, no power, no aura, no miracle left to call upon.
Still, he threw it. A weak, clumsy punch struck the dragon's chest.
Nothing happened, no impact, no resistance, not even pain. Just a dull, empty contact, like hitting a stone wall in his beginner days.
Luki smiled resigned. Fragments of memory flickered through his mind, one after another, fading just as quickly as they came. And in the end, there was only one thought left.
'…Yeah... it was short… but it was a hell of a second life.'
THWOOOOM!!!
The dragon's tail came crashing down.