[CONTENT WARNING]
> this chapter contains graphic violence and forced drowning
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I'm being hunted.
With a sharp snarl, I abandon the clouds, invert my wings, and dive. Red lightning streaks past Haunt as he rams the black and gold lindwurm; I rematerialize just before I hit the ground and slip into the Overgrowth. With only a quick glance backward, I catch sight of the shadow on my tail.
Damn it. Damn it. This isn't good.
They've already adjusted their approach.
I whip through the vines as fast as possible, hissing spells to shift the Overgrowth around and behind me, trying to cut this fucking amphithere off. No matter what I do, he just keeps burning his way through. I can't get away, I can't hide, I can't hinder him, and I'm running out of options. All that's left is a direct clash, but I don't know who this is or what he's capable of.
I shouldn't engage without an advantage.
But I need this draco gone. Or I can't help the others.
So, I shoot skyward again and cut eastward over the ocean. My pursuer follows. Once we have some distance, I arc upwards in a wide loop toward the stars and the moons, and the world of Avi turns upside down. With that arc, I can see him trailing me with ease, just a lift of my head.
There. That's all I need.
In a bolt of red, I shoot backwards and make impact. We crash against each other, butting horns with him as the two of us fall twisting and turning out of the sky. My tail lashes at him and his jaws snap shut onto my neck and our wings beat at one another but I realize in the midst of it that I do have an advantage. It's a big one.
Legs.
With hooked talons.
The serpentine amphithere has winged arms just like I do, but the rest of his body is snake-like. He's trying to use it to constrict me, but I have my hooks into his underbelly. And even though he has me by the neck, his fangs are caught on my dorsal plating. We're about to hit the water but I know how I'm going to win this fight.
With my hooks, I rip out his guts.
The water greets us with force.
It kicks the air right out of me. The two of us struggle and thrash and fight to get to the surface. Somehow I get my head above water and gasp down a breath. I don't know if he managed it, so I dive under and force him down with me. I'm bigger. I'm heavier. I'm stronger. He can't overpower me. He can't stop the bleeding. He can't breathe.
He can't breathe.
Gritting my teeth, fighting the rancid horror welling up in me, I keep my claws and talons grasping tight, using my wings to push us both deeper and deeper into the dark waters. Something in me is screaming. Some distant part of me. Young. Naive. Innocent. Afraid. She wants me to stop.
But I can't. I will not. I refuse. I can't go back.
I can only go forward. And this is my way forward.
So, as I eviscerate and drown this amphithere, a man I've never met before who has done nothing to me personally, I shut my eyes and picture myself as a fledgling, too young to understand any of this. In my mind, I begin singing to her.
Come now, little nestling, you can spread your wings and fly. It matters not if you need to try and try and try. However many tries, one day you'll touch the sky, and there I will be waiting to welcome you up high.
He's still struggling. Fighting. Thrashing.
So come now, little fledgling, there's so much to be explored. Up there with the clouds, you can see so much more. Oceans, seas, and shores, mountains, plains, and moors, I will show you everything I'm sure you'd adore.
I use my claws to make something crunch.
So come now, little fledgling, won't you spread your wings with me? Together, side by side, we can go where you please. So happy you will be, overjoyed with thrill and glee, and anywhere you go, you will always be free…
It's done. He's dead. Nothing but food for the sea serpents.
The fledgling little girl in me is peacefully asleep.
And I have murdered another draconid in cold blood.
This deep beneath the waves, the black water is still.
I let myself rest in peace. For just one quiet moment.
But I have a woman to get back to.
Leaving the amphithere to his watery grave, I pull with my wings and rise to the surface, breaching it with a gasp. The night is flooded with light and fire, burning all different colors as the coastline is demolished by titans fighting in the dark. Shaking the water off, I take flight and rejoin the battle.
First, I hit the primary target–a black lung dragon named Legend Shilin–freeing up Plutoryl. Second is the violet and red kirin, Legend Falx, freeing up Alabaster. Third is the indigo and silver hydra, Legend Nairex, who takes all three of us and Vander to kill. That leaves the pale blue quetzal, Legend Yrr, who is our designated survivor.
We go through the same procedure as we did with Chrysalis.
Yrr says more or less the exact same things she did.
And then I'm with Haunt, being brought back to the Hells.
Not long after, I fall into the hot springs with Umbra. Being under the hot water brings it all back. I'm glad that the abyssal ocean was so dark I couldn't see him die. But I felt it. I felt him fight for his life. Felt him slow down as he lost. Felt him go under.
I, instead, am lifted above.
Umbra hugs and kisses me, crooning sweet nothings as she showers me with affections I can't get enough of but can hardly feel right now. A frigid chill has settled into my core, and no amount of hot water or tender doting can reach it. I'm not sure why she's even trying.
"My little hero," she purrs, kissing me some more. At least her smile is as pretty as ever. But it slips off her lips a moment later. "Haunt tells me you were attacked. Directly."
"Mhm." I cling to her, desperate for more of her affections regardless. "An amphithere. I don't know who. But… You didn't make the mortals summon any amphitheres, so…"
"No. I didn't." She lays back and floats, holding me tight. "Which means someone else did."
I nuzzle my head into her palm as she softly pets me, murmuring, "You don't think…"
"No. Not one of us. It can only be them." She continues petting me, which is helping this wyvern to be a happier wyvern. I'm utterly enamored with my Goddess. "Which means… Yes. Chrysalis delivered the message. Aurora is now aware of your… role. In these engagements. And has adjusted accordingly. I thought I had eliminated all her contacts in the Summoner's Council… Or perhaps she simply sent more of her own volition. My deepest apologies, Crimsy. I am the one responsible for this mistake."
"It's okay, Umbsy." I curl up smaller on top of her chest, loving this sweet attention she's giving me. "I killed him. He was fast, but not half as strong as I am. And I'm not worried about any others. The only draconids that can possibly keep up with me now that I have your blessings are the fastest of the amphitheres. And unless they have stronger magic, they cannot stop me from killing them."
"Until there are two next time," Umbra whispers, still petting me. "Or three. Or four. Yes, it's unlikely you'll be caught by one. But multiple will coordinate. Blindside you. Entrap you. I can't risk that. I will not."
"Wait. Wait, no." I quiver, crawling up to the top of her chest and looking down at her serene face. "No, no. Don't–You can't take me off the–They need me. Vander, Plutoryl, Haunt, Alabaster, they need me! I don't want to stop fighting for you! Please!"
"Slow down, little rose." She takes hold of me and caresses my face in a hand before lifting her head to kiss me, soft and sweet. "You misunderstand. This trick of ours has run its course. Aurora knows what we're doing. Therefore, it's time we do something different."
"Wait. What?" I frown at her in secret, because she can't see it. "So soon? We're changing plans after only two runs?"
"No, no. You're a researcher of your own sort. Have you ever heard the saying… Once is an isolated incident. Twice is coincidence. Thrice?"
Realization dawns. "Ohhh. Thrice is data."
"One more run. I will join you up there."
"Hells, Umbsy. They won't stand a chance."
"That's the idea, Crimsy."