The Dragoness' surprise attack had bought her a fair amount of time, enough to gain a significant amount of distance yet she was still dispirited that it had only injured, not killed, one of the biggest threats chasing her.

"Not enough." The dragoness' four, reptilian legs, covered in shadow-like fog, dragged along the ground as she stumbled forward. "The odds are still against me."

Stopping to catch her breath, the reptilian-like shadow, with what appeared to be the tattered remains of two wings hanging listlessly at her sides, couldn't help but lean against a rocky outcrop as she gasped for breath as the shadows that encompassed her body started to fade.

Intricate, black scales, in the same of a reverse teardrop that was as captivating as they were beautiful, gradually surfaced yet, along with her features, the dragoness' many grievous, seemingly life-threatening wounds were revealed.

To even the smallest, most ignorant child, it would be evident that the creature was in a great deal of pain and, without help, wouldn't survive for long but, in stark contrast to this, the dragoness' bright amber eyes were burning with absolute resolve.

"Just a little more. I need to balance the scales..." she hissed audibly, even though the dragons scaled lips hadn't moved.

The storm continued to thunder above, the rain running down the dragon's impressive body like small, raging rivers yet, even in her weakened state, she gave of the bearing of an immovable mountain as she took deep, steadying breaths as the last of her protective shadows dispersed.

Shaking her sleek, reptilian head that had six spikes, three each side, sticking out before curving to the back, in an attempt to clear the haze that was gradually falling over her mind, the dragoness couldn't help but think about how her life had come to this point. "So, this is it? This is how our primordial bloodline exits this world? Wiped from existence by vermin and their pathetic gods? No... it's not over yet. Not until the last of us fall."

"They paid for their actions in blood but not nearly enough..." A ferocious, cold-blooded snarl appeared on her features as the water running off her body rapidly heated.

But, as quickly as her rage had appeared, it vanished, and even with her reptilian features, it was easy to tell that the dragoness' expression was grim. "If only those cowards stood and fought instead of running with their tails between their legs, we would have stood a chance. Curse their primordial ancestors, they would be ashamed..."

The dragoness' words turned into incoherent mumbles as he vision started to flicker and exhaustion seeped into her muscles.

Luckily for her, a loud clap of thunder overhead brought her back to her senses and, with a low growl, she pushed herself away from the rocks and began moving towards a cave she had spotted when approaching the mountain.

Even though the heavy rain and darkness, using her dragonic eyesight she had been able to see the faint glow of the caves' faintly glowing stones, imbued with the essence of earth, and without any other options, decided to make it the place of her last stand.

Back at the place, she had been resting, the rocks she had lent against displayed stains of thick, red blood which had flowed down and pooled in the impressions made by the dragoness' eight. The amount of blood, for the short time the dragoness had stopped, was shocking. It was unclear how the wounded monster was still conscious and standing, given the size of her body, yet still she persisted as lightning continued to flicker overhead.

With her sharp, dagger-like teeth gritted, the dragoness finally made it to the cave's mouth and, after ensuring it wasn't the start of a dungeon or lair of anything that could threaten her in her current state, she wiped some of her blood on each side the entrance before quickly entering its depths.

Moments after she disappeared the first pursuer appeared, analysing the place where the dragon rested earlier and quickly following the trail to the mouth of the cave before stopping, a grim appearance emerging on his face. "Fuck."

"Found her?" A thick, gravelly voice appeared beside the man as the air shimmered and revealed a man in brown leather armour, a variety of daggers, and sharp weapons tied to his arms, chest and legs.

"Shes in the cave," responded the first man, his brown robes drenched with the torrential rain.

"Fuck indeed," responded the leather-clad man. "As the saying goes, a warrior can fight a dragon on the ground, a king in the sea or sky but only a madman would fight on in the depths of the earth."

"Not only that but she's wounded," nodded the other man, noticing a few more figures appear in his peripheral. "and now cornered. Even a cornered goblin is dangerous..."

Grim expressions appeared on the gathered figures faces before a plate wearing warrior spoke up. "Why don't we just get the Elder to collapse the mountain? We only need to kill her. Nothing more."

"No," sighed the assassin. "We need to ensure the egg the dragon carries is destroyed as well. What if she has hidden it somewhere as she fled? Without proof of destruction, we will need to capture her and discover its location."

"Drop the fucking mountain on her and be done with it, we can double back and check everywhere she has been since fleeing the Dragon's Peak. Dragon's might be mighty but they are not gods," interrupted another robe wearing man.

"Enough." Boomed the voice the Elder as his body flickered into existence near the Cave's entrance. To many, it appeared to be teleportation, but to the agile assassin, he knew it was a movement technique imbued with mana. "I want either her or the egg, alive. I don't really care which but the preference would be on the egg. If you act accordingly, I will overlook what happens to the valuable remains that the dragoness will 'drop'."

The nine others looked at each other uncomfortably. A dragon's core was worth a small fortune, just as were its bones, skin, organs and flesh, especially if put up for auction. Various artisans would go crazy in an attempt to get such rare and valuable ingredients.

"I will aid you, but I won't touch the remains," said the clothed brown man, the reluctance in his eyes aimed at his own words.

The eight others nodded towards the man, not willing to argue a point that would cost them money.

"Right, then prepare yourselves. This isn't going to be easy," nodded the Elder as he started shifting various potions around his body for easy access.