“We need to run!”

Jumping to my feet, I look into the direction from where the cry originated, a cold feeling running down my back.

The air became heavy, my world started to turn blank... what is happening?!

Confused I look around, the world seemingly melting around me. Confused and scared, I only return to reality when Anna's and Alice's worried shouts pulled me out of my trance...

Regaining awareness, I noticed that sweat started to permeate my skin as my heart palpitated, causing me to hiccup. This pressure isn't normal!

“I... “ Nearly panicking, I look at the two of them, trying to convey what my instincts are screaming to me over and over relentlessly.

They, seeing my desperate eyes, both freeze on the spot, their expressions turning serious.

“We... we need to go... NOW!” Squeezing that out between my heavy breaths to calm my heart, the two girls don't dawdle around and immediately stand up, deploying their domains as they prepare to run. However, unlike them, Sumi remained sitting on the ground, her gaze vacant yet terrified.

She must feel the pressure too... The moment I try to touch her, her eyes suddenly returned to reality and look at me, terror visible in the depth of her gaze, her body shaking in fear.

“Arin... this... we can't win...” Among tears she tells me, her eyes focused solely on me. However, I don't know how to answer this, as even I can tell that whatever is releasing this pressure is definitely far beyond our league.

Yet even with this pressure, I will not fall! Clenching my teeth, I pick up Sumi in my arms which caused the latter to yelp in surprise. Following which I pick up Anna and Alice with my tails, before breaking out into a sprint, forcing my trembling legs to use their power and run!

One step at a time, my speed increases more and more, the pressure following us from behind causing me to put all my strength into this run.

Yet as I can feel the wind rushing through my hair while it wails beside my ears, I don't get the refreshing feeling coming from it like usual and instead feel myself becoming more desperate. Why can't I go faster?!

Even as the city wasn't that far away, it couldn't be a longer distance in that very moment.

Even from behind, loud screeches of endless blood-lust and rage assaulted our backs as I ran. It was all aimed at us, the screeches causing my scalp to itch and grow cold as my breathing hastened.

“SCREEAAAHHH!!!”

Over and over those screeches arose, with the volume of it increasing every time, telling us that the owner of that screech was coming closer. Feeling my back grow colder from this, I try to focus solely on the city, ignoring the ever-increasing loud noises our attacker made.

Sadly, just as I ran my instinct suddenly flared on, causing me to jump to the side, sweat permeation my forehead in surprise. The place I was just about to reach had been blown to smithereens by a small explosion, tongues of fire licking out of the hole in the ground as the heat rose from the earth.

Shocked, I turned my head in fear, only to witness a sky filled with huge red fire-balls the size I had never seen them before. All of them were larger than any I created before, and looking at them I felt as though they could crash down on us at any moment. Desperation... I believe I now know how it feels...

Watching them grow bigger as they close in on us, my breathing hastens while my body froze, making me unable to move, even less run... what is happening?!

Looking at my certain doom, my mind drifted towards countless memories I experienced... why did this have to happen now, now that I finally found some happiness...

Suddenly my shoulder hurt badly, causing my gaze to break away from the attack closing in on us...

Looking over, it was Sumi's hand that was holding on to my shoulder, her hand clenching itself subconsciously as her eyes stayed focused on the incoming attack, her nails digging into my skin.

However, thanks to this my mind regained some clarity, my thoughts finally able to react to my screaming instinct, my body breaking out of its frozen state. Yet precious time passed, the attacks were already about to hit...

In my panic I didn't even think of putting up a shield, as I solely ran, hoping I could outrun those large fireballs. I couldn't do anything except run, so I put my everything into it, sometimes dodging attacks approaching us with a wide angle.

However, this tactic cost me a lot of my momentum, and every time we dodged, the screams of the girls sitting in my tails rose, their expressions ashen in the face of those relentless attacks.

Yet, Alice seemed to relax after the first few attacks, even when her hands were still nervously grabbing the fur of my tails. She, circulating her Magic-Power once more reopened her domain that collapsed from the previous surprises, causing it to flow out into the surroundings.

Sadly, the Magic-Power was oftentimes too thick for the two of them, causing the domain to be small, but especially stable. Using her fire-element, Alice then focused in diverting flames that got too close, allowing me to dodge without losing my momentum.

Still, noticing this behavior I also wanted to do something, but another thought came to mind. I was currently the only one capable of running like this with the others, and was I truly so mistrusting of my friends that I can't let them do the fighting for me?

Faced with such a question, I suddenly realized that I am not the only one training to become stronger, and the girls also decently knew how to utilize their talents.

For this reason, and my already weak mana-pool due to the seal of the World-Tree, I focused more on increasing my speed using magic, strengthening my body to remain steadfast.

I was sweating from concentrating like this, yet even under the rain of fire, I could feel the will of the girls to help me, allowing me to put my trust in them as I solely focused on getting us out of this.

In the meantime, Anna also regained some calm, and nervously deployed her domain as well, this time barely managing to cover me and Sumi, as well as Anna and herself on the tails. She then used her light and wind to make us lighter and purify the air, my speed increasing once more.

I ran directly forward, sometimes correcting the course a bit when my instinct kicked in, yet before we knew it we were about to enter the city where the large formation would protect us.

My body was already tired the moment we stopped playing, yet now with all the fleeing and seeing some hope, I suddenly had a small relapse of attention, my guard dropping for just a moment...

It was in that moment that all my movement suddenly halted, and using everything I had I made a large jump back. I didn't even have the time to fully react as my instinct took over, my free tails rushing in front of me to protect both Sumi and me.

In front of me, at the place I stood not even a second ago, large towering flames the size of a castle-wall shot from the ground, rising into the air with abnormal speed while breaking the ground beneath them.

Like an explosion, the shock-wave shot me back together with the girls, soft cries escaping them as they are thrown back. Unlike them however, I suppressed the urge to scream, as burning hot pieces of rocks and stones flashed past me or into my tails, causing my fur to burn and strong pain to travel up my spine.

Falling to the ground, the impact shook my vision, my hearing ringing loudly as I lie on the floor.

...

What... just happened?!

Panic taking over, I try to raise myself even under the pain assaulting me. It is painful, yet even as I was disoriented, my darkening vision caught sight of the other girls as they removed themselves from my tails, Sumi even holding me in her arms as she tried to speak to me.

However, even as I could see her mouth opening and closing, I couldn't hear even one word, my ears only ringing as a stinging pain invades my head. The only sound beside the loud ringing was the noisy thumping of my heart, every beat sounding like the beat of a drum right next to my ear...

Moving my eyes, I caught sight of Anna and Alice as they stood near me, talking about something while using their domains to divert the closest fireballs to barely avoid us.

In the meantime, behind us a huge wall of flames rose from the ground, the heat washing over my body, causing my throat to dry.

What exactly happened? I still didn't fully understand, beside the fact that an explosion pushed me back, while burning rocks shot from it, singing my fur and injuring my tails. The pain still traveling up my back being proof of this, making me feel uncomfortable.

Luckily the seemingly vacuum silence slowly receded, causing the loud noise of explosions, the worry-filled shouts from the girls and the crackling noise of fire to assault me all at once.

Raising myself while trying to ignore the dull aching coming from all over my body, I then proceed to shake my head for a bit, trying to dispel the ringing in my ears. It is confusing... what exactly happened back then...?

I remember noticing a rapid current of mana flowing through the ground, and before I knew it all my senses screamed danger and I jumped back... Was that a special way of attacking...??

Still feeling the searing pain coming from my tails, I wince. Additionally, the headache wasn't gone yet, and with the pain coming from both my tails and ears, I quickly push my ears down on my head, whimpering as I clench my teeth.

I really hate pain already...

With my hearing slowly restoring, I finally manage to catch some of the words Sumi was desperately trying to convey to me...

“..rin... a.. yo... a..right?! Pl...e be o..ay!... pl..se.!” Even with her words being disjointed and incomplete, I couldn't help but feel confused. The whole world was still swimming around me, twisting with darkness in every corner of my vision...

However, as my vision cleared up again, and my hearing regained its full function, I finally managed to return from my dazed state, becoming once more aware of the bad situation we are in.

“W...what ha...” I can't even speak right...! My throat feels parched and hot, yet just as I was trying to complain, suddenly Sumi hugs my head for a second, her sad voice echoing in my ears...

“I'm glad you are okay Arin... please don't do this again...” She was crying, yet her voice was also laced with fear...

I must have worried her... but I... I can't even refute that it was dangerous...

Feeling down, I look around, easily noticing the huge firewall blocking our exit-route, Anna still desperately trying to blow a hole through it. However, everything still felt so detached, so out of place... How did we exactly get into this situation, how come we were suddenly attacked...?

Taking a deep breath, I accidentally breathe in the smoke hanging in the air, causing me to cough for a moment. Not having planned for that, the surprise finally managed to wake me from my thoughts, allowing me to regain control over my body.

Having regained my connection with reality, I stand up with Sumi's help, raising myself to become witness to the desperate situation we found ourselves in.

The sky above us looked like the heavens themselves were mad at us, a whole sea made of fire-based attacks scattered as they reached for us, bringing swaths of killing intent and destructive will with them.

“BROAAAMMM”

The crackling of fire as the attacks raced towards us caused the air itself to shiver, a sound like continues thunder closing in on us.

However, as fear began to grip my heart, something deep inside me reacted, wanting to burst out of me. It felt as though my blood began to boil when watching this, and before I knew it, my head was thrown back, my throat felt hot, and like thunder, a roar escaped my mouth, causing the girls nearby to jump in surprise.

“ROAAARRR!!!”

It felt like a challenge, a cornered beast that will bite back...

Instinctively, my tails raised themselves to the highest point, swaths of mana channeling themselves into my tails before shooting towards the sea of flames like spears.

However, thanks to the pain coming from the tail-injuries I didn't lose my head, I know I can't win... we have to hold out until someone comes to help us... please... Uncle Black... Saria… Anyone!

With said thought and a tiny glimmer of hope, suddenly the swaths of mana glistened and burst apart, a glittering blue film of mana forming around us, shaping a shield-like structure. However, as the shield surrounded us I felt myself grow weaker rapidly, my mana-reserves already becoming thin, the world-tree's leaf denying me full access to my mana-pool.

Before I could lament the lack of mana, the first attacks managed to reach us, thundering as the flames crashed against the shield and steam continuously rose from the collision of fire and water.

Around us the apocalypse arrived, outside the shield the whole field began to burn, fire spreading like wild. For us on the other hand, the shield was rammed against by countless attacks over and over. At first it was tolerable, yet the sheer amount of mana required to repair the shield again every time quickly sapped me dry, my head ringing from the fast loss of mana.

Even as we were defending with the shield, the hailstorm of fire didn't relent, masses of fire crashing into the blue film again and again, causing the whole shield to shake in its place.

Yet even under unstoppable attacks, even while losing its glimmer, the shield held true and reformed itself dutifully under my control, shaping itself to strengthen the points where the most impacts occurred.

Though even with that, mist continued to pour from the shield as the fire boiled the water creating the shield, clouding our vision of the outside-world. Even inside the shield, steam rushed inside, which was then disposed of by Anna who used her domain of wind to send it outside.

Still, with the steady increase in bombardment, my legs were already shaking, my mana-reserves running on fumes while the shield began to show signs of weakening.

Desperately I hold on, sweat pouring from all over my body.

Yet just as the shield was about to collapse on one side, suddenly countless rocks of varying sizes floated from the ground, shaking mid-air for a second before shooting off towards the carpet of fire above, causing some of the attacks to explode prematurely as the heat and shock-wave brushed past the shield.

However, I don't remember anyone using earth-magic in our group, so curious as to who helped us, I quickly spotted a rather tall figure push through the flames around us. It was Larso who was looking after us before the chaos.

Though, knowing that he was still out there and that I completely forgot about him in this situation, I felt shame creep up my face.

Yet, Larso didn't even react to this, and instead closed in on the shield while keeping the flames away from himself, mana running along his body like an avalanche.

Like a steady giant, he stepped past the flames until he reached the shield., where he then waved for a moment, his loud voice just barely audible over the crackling of the flames.

"Hey, still got space in there? I like saunas, yet it is a bit too hot out here." Hearing the rather relaxed tone of the man, my heart also calmed down a bit, allowing me to focus for a second so that Larso had no problems passing through the screen.

The latter, not waiting long immediately passed through and arrived beside us, his stature nearly tall enough to hit his head on the shield's roof. Still, his disposition was serious, a cold light flashing in his eyes as his voice boomed beside our ears.

"Young one, I commend you for defending until now, yet just turtling like this isn't always the best defense, especially in your case right now. Anyway, I will ingest my own mana into the shield from now on, it should lessen the burden on you.

As for you girls, I don't know your specialty, yet please prepare something we can do in order to signal the more powerful beings and Sir Geyser our position, something like a light signal or anything similar." Larso's voice wasn't as gentle as he was before, and instead contained power and authority that could discipline people.

Listening to his commands, the girls immediately began to work on a signal as they were told, while I myself continued to watch the flames slowly cornering us. However, small rocks continuously floated off the ground, flying towards the fire-attacks before disturbing those and causing them to explode early.

Still, as I was already worrying about the impact on the shields, suddenly I felt another source of mana connect to the shield, injecting something like a murky substance into the mix. I first tried to expel it, worried that it may damage the shield, yet Larso's voice which spoke out beside me caused me to stop my actions.

"Don't resist! If I am not wrong you have balance attribute, so just keep it steady. It won't bring harm to you." Nodding silently, I stopped trying to control the murky mana and instead let it mix with the mana of the shield itself, causing the shields glimmer to dim, yet its power to rise by several notches.

Surprised by said change, I finally let out a breath in relief, some of the tension leaving my body.

However, just as I was thinking about it, I remembered something important…

The flames previously exploded from the ground! I don't know how the attack worked, yet if he did the same thing again while we are still within the shield?!?

Suddenly I feel a bad premonition rise up in me, and not losing any time I turn towards Larso, telling him my thoughts.

He however shook his head, saying that it is very hard to defend against mana-guidance attacks from the ground. As one of the only counters would be injecting great amounts of mana into the ground below them as that would disperse the mana-attack itself.

However, neither he nor I, the only two who could use real mana here were able to do so, so we could only pray for luck that such an attack didn't occur again.

Unlike expected however, it was Sumi who reacted this time.

"If it is dispersing mana, my chaos can do that… what should I do?!" Sumi's lips were quivering, angst and fear still showing on her face, yet there was also a determined light in the depths of her eyes, giving her a valiant look.

Unlike me however who couldn't think of something on the spot, Larso didn't bother waiting and instead immediately gave out orders.

"In that case, try to inject your chaos into the ground below, then try to enlarge the field to the size of the shield in order to prevent underground-attacks." His words were commanding, carrying a pressure with them. Yet they didn't appear overbearing, so Sumi, even though she was a little shaken, quickly went down on her knees and planted her hands on the floor, a gas-like substance emitting from her body. Like a winding snake, chaos channeled through her arms and entered the ground below, the grass that wasn't yet trampled or dried off quickly falling apart as though rotting in high-speed.

It was a strange sight, as the earth itself turned black before spreading along the ground, coloring everything in a dark and deep black. However, as the darkness spread along the ground, colorful wisps of light rose from the darkness, giving the whole thing a surreal-vibe.

Sumi didn't stop it there, as the darkness spread faster and faster, running past our feet before covering the whole ground within the barrier, the strange darkness seemingly cutting off our connection with the ground itself.

Yet I didn't feel uncomfortable, it was more like I was standing on top of squishy foam...

I can't describe it in detail, yet before I could immerse myself more in the feeling, Larso called me back to attention.

“Don't lose focus yet kid, our attacker is coming closer, my earth-shards won't be able to prematurely trigger the attacks much longer without great mana-expenditure.” Hearing Larso's words, I face back towards the front, where still swaths of mist covered out sight from the previous collisions.

Not able to see anything, I focused more on my hearing, the eternal buzzing of mana flickering in the air and the thunderous explosions from the fire-attacks being the only thing resounding nearby.

Even the repeated screech of our opponent was gone. Actually, on that topic I once more turned towards Larso.

“Larso... who, or what is attacking us anyway... those mana-levels, they are on par with Uncle Black...” I noticed my voice beginning to shake, the fear of the pressure returning ever so slightly.

“I am not exactly sure, yet it may be, if the legend is true, the last phoenix.” Larso's voice was filled with awe when speaking about our opponent, yet a deep hint of crisis was also present.

I do know what a phoenix is, as we had that topic in class, as well as the things that Illois told us. Yet, I though they were extinct, how come there is still one alive here? Especially after all those years...

Having those thoughts run through my head, I suddenly returned to reality when I noticed the lack of explosions.

Around us the area became silent, deadly silent. Though the pressure from the constant bombardment was gone, all my hair and even my tails were standing on edge, my instinct telling me that something is definitely wrong.

Looking around, the area around the shield was fully covered in white mist, covering our vision. Unable to see what was happening outside made me nervous, even Sumi and Larso kept looking around.

However, no attack occurred even after several seconds, and if it wasn't for the crackling of the towering flames behind us I would even think that everything until now was a lie.

“We are finished preparing!” Just as I wanted to relax, Anna's bright voice came from my left, causing me to jump in fright.

“What...” I was confused, what was finished? Just as I thought about it, I remembered that Anna and Alice tried to make something capable of signaling those in the city our position, and it seems they did find a way.

Before I could ask, suddenly a bright flash of light exploded in my sight, before said ball of pure brightness sped past the shield and into the sky, flashing in regular intervals as it continued to ascend.

“Uaah, please notify us before you do something like that!” Having had the bright light literally explode in front of my eyes, I felt a strong burning sensation, causing me to turn blind for a couple seconds.

Only after the pain subsided did I dare to open my eyes again, and even then, sparks of colors continued to dance in my vision, leaving me disoriented.

“Sor...Sorry, I didn't mean to...Aaaaaaah!!!” Anna immediately tried to apologize, realizing her mistake.

Yet before she could finish her sentence, her voice broke down into a scream of panic, as she pointed outside the shield with wide open eyes.

Alice and Larso also immediately opened their eyes wide when staring outside, while I could barely recognize anything.

My vision luckily adjusted quickly and I finally found the reason for the fearful reaction of everyone...

It is huge! That was the first thing running through my head when I saw it, standing there hidden by the mist, illuminated by the ball of light flashing high in the air and the flames dancing around it.

A huge bird the size of a building stood outside, its huge red eyes filled with rage staring at us with murderous intent that seemed to choke me.

I couldn't see its whole body, yet seemingly displeased at being discovered the huge bird suddenly moved towards us.

BOOOM!

Before any of us could react, the bird already arrived in front of us, its large beak which was burning with fire slamming into the shield while its massive wings brushed away all the mist like it was nothing.

The whole shield shook, the attack causing tremors to run through the earth that nearly threw us to the ground.

At that moment I noticed, I was nothing. I wouldn't be able to attack this, my senses telling me to prepare for death.

Looking up at it, all my instincts screamed at me to flee, far away and out of reach of that massive bird.

Yet even as I despaired, unable to fully understand the reason for its attack, its giant beak and talons continued to rush against the shield, the latter cracking and nearly bursting under the pressure.

Over and over, its beak and wings crashed against the shield, flames fully covering the surroundings.

However, as its attacks continued raining down on us, both me and Larso had to use up all our mana to keep the shield stable. Though even with us supplying continues mana to it, the shield started showing cracks from the point of impact, the cracks running down all over the shield, the mana having trouble keeping up with repairing.

As sweat started to gush out, I grabbed deep into my inner self, grabbing as much mana as I could in order to feed the shield, yet it was useless. My mana-reserves were able to relax a bit after Larso arrived, yet with those attacks I was already running on empty again.

Like a drained rag I felt my body become weak, my mind turning livid as my eye-lids became heavy. Yet I continued staying awake, mana supplying itself to the shield, trying to hold on as long as possible.

Yet even I didn't have enough power to hold on much longer, and before long my vision darkened as I fell to my knees.

Even Larso next to me was already on his knees, his previously avalanche-like mana only resembling a small stream now.

Even now, mana was supplied, yet before long it ceased, my whole body falling to the ground, unable to move.

All around my body, my muscles ache. My mind and thoughts are chaotic, a strong urge to close my eyes and sleep overtaking me.

If it wasn't for Alice supporting my collapsing body, I might meet the earth beneath, yet I didn't even have the strength to thank her anymore.

While my power was fading away rapidly, I could only keep my eyes open, looking at the massive figure of the bird attacking us while roaring in frustration, releasing several attacks against the shield at once.

However, the shield who wouldn't hold out much longer having lost its source, suddenly began to show signs of collapse, tiny holes already opening up from which extremely hot air drifted into the interior. Feeling my breathing turn hot and my throat parched, I continued staring at the massive bird.

I know I could have fled using space-magic... And when I was still supplying mana, I really felt like doing so, yet I just couldn't.

Wouldn't that be no better than abandoning everyone else?

While my thoughts started to drift in different directions, I suddenly saw the bird look up in vigilance, releasing a loud screech that caused my ears to hurt before taking off the ground. However, not before long, mana started to gather in front of it, before it cast a fire in the shape of itself in our direction, its speed and power surpassing the previous attacks.

Yet, I could only watch the attack close in on us, unable to truly register the danger. Only my instincts still trying to cry out.

Mom... Anna... Alice... Sumi... I can't do anything... I'm sorry...

Uncle Black... please help me!

Despair coming from the depths my heart, I only heard the panicked screams of those around me, letting me know that the attack will probably hit soon.

Yet even from the murky abyss that was my current state of mind, I still witnessed the attack coming ever closer, a fire-attack in the shape of a bird that was traveling extremely fast.

And I am fearing the impact, the result or just… death? Can't anything be done?!?

Yet I couldn't even move a finger...

Despairing and silently praying for help, suddenly the fire-wall behind us exploded as a huge blue figure landed in front of us, threatening growls coming from its maw.

The huge frame suddenly covering for us turns out to be a large blue dragon, several horns decorating the dragon's head as four large wings hang on its back. Like a tsunami, large amounts of mana exploded from the dragon's body, covering us in protection.

Yet at the sudden change in the situation, Larso, me and the girls were unable to react, dazedly watching the blue giant covering for us.

Yet even though I have never seen this dragon in this form, I knew that help had arrived, and I know who it is…

Saria... thank you…

…

♦♦♦

I was sitting together with the royalty within a room inside the center of the palace-tree, a place where seemingly no voice can reach.

Currently I am speaking to the three of them, trying to figure out what exactly keeps each of them from taking the throne, and honestly, I am surprised that each and every one of their reasons are so whimsical.

One doesn't want to rule since he can no longer do his experiments, the other only wants to fight strong people and leave the island, and the last and most probable candidate is continuously blabbing on about his wife and farm, causing me a headache.

Even at the banquet this morning he continued to yell around about this, and from my point of view as a thousands of years old virgin dragon, I feel very uncomfortable with his behavior around his wife. He acts like a fool, and I feel pained and somewhat envious every time I spot him 'sweet-talking' with his wife.

For that reason, I am currently feeling rather vexed. Two are near impossible to force on the throne, and the last one is an idiot in love who won't listen to reason...

This whole situation is a mess, and I hate the World-Tree for burdening me with the job of fixing it.

Yet, just as I was about to force myself and try to convince the eldest prince to take the throne, a sudden flash of light exploded behind me, illuminating the window to my back.

Something is wrong!

Immediately turning around, I froze at the sight I witnessed.

Beyond the city-walls, towering walls of fire rose into the air, smoke billowing into the sky.

Yet what shocked me most was the giant flare high in the sky, shining brightly as if breaking through the smoke. Though that wasn't what froze me, it was what I caught sight of on the other side of the flames...

There, huddled together within a watery-shield surrounded by mist, Arin and the girls, as well as an elf were trying their best to survive under the onslaught of a giant fire-bird...

A phoenix? I realized that it must be the bird of legends, or at least related to it...

That wasn't stopping me however, as at that moment I saw how Arin collapsed, sweat pouring out of his body, blood seeping from his mouth, nose and even his tails...

He... he was wounded...?!

“ROAAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!”

Without thinking much I smashed through the tower-window, and within the free-fall from the palace I immediately turned myself into my largest possible form.

This Phoenix... its level threatens even me...

However, Nobody Is Allowed to Hurt ARIN!!!

Wind and Lightning surged around my body as I flew across the city, the air itself exploding beside me from the speed.

However, I didn't care. My vision turned red, fire and smoke assaulted my body, yet I didn't stop, for I saw despair...

Just as I was about to reach, I saw as the Phoenix drew upon its essence-power, burning its mana while an attack in the shape of itself flew from its body, crashing towards Arin and the others...

This insane bastard! How dare he!?!

I realized quickly, yet I wouldn't be able to save them in time, the attack being faster than even my body under the full support of wind-magic. I could only watch the attack closed in on them at break-neck speed, my thinking stifling at the sheer thought of the result of this attack...

Yet just as the attack was about to hit, the flames behind the children burst apart as the blue figure of Saria landed in front of them, mana wildly gathering around her.

How did she?

I wasn't able to analyze, yet I feared she would die as well, causing fear to rise up my throat...

Please everyone, you can't die! Isn't there anything I can do?!?

Panic was taking over, yet that fucking bird nearby even began to laugh, its screeches filled with schadenfreude causing me to snap.

“SCREEEEEEEAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHa!!!”

(Die Human Filth, no one can save you now, not even you, Dragon! Hahahaha!!!)

Insanity glistened in the bird's eyes, yet so did it in mine...

YOU DARE?!?

Rage taking over, I didn't even think anymore, my thought process cutting short as the ancient instinct I repressed so long once more surfaced, my throat burning hot as a Roar unlike any other escaped me.

“ROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!”

With earth-shattering volume, my roar traveled in all directions, causing the insane bird to look into my direction with a shocked expression...

Yes, fear me! For you are not worthy of mine, harming my SON!

I didn't even think straight, yet all my Anger and rage exploded as my whole body rushed towards the insane bird, my wings spread far while my mana was wildly rushing through my body.

“ROOOAAAARRR!”

DIE, YOU BASTARD!

I only saw red, my thoughts ceasing to exist. Yet that didn't hinder my combat-ability which was ingrained into this body since young.

Without waiting for the bird to regain its calm, I swung my claw at it while coating them with deadly lightning. Yet it reacted quickly enough, flying up so that my claw just barely rushed past its neck.

This bird was fire, so it wouldn't be much use against it, so I changed all my attacks to use wind and lightning, its wild sparks running along my body.

Like snakes, the whistling wind ran along the bird, slowing it down and preventing it from fleeing. However, I didn't stop there and using the momentum from my missed claw immediately attack with my tail, throwing the bird off.

However, it covered itself in flames in time, preventing most of the damage, so I quickly followed with my other claw, trying to rip into its wings.

I have to prevent it from fleeing... I have to get rid of the wings...

Thinking such, I was about to charge up my lightning-breath when I had to retreat a bit to prevent the bird's massive beak from ramming into my head.

This Bastard!

Anger taking over, I open my maw again and release my mana-charged breath, swaths of wind and lightning blasting from my mouth towards the bird.

Yet the bird seems experienced as it effortlessly dodged my breath while using its talons to counter-attack.

Having those sharp things rip into my left arm, blood sprayed from the wound while the smell of burnt flesh rises from it. However, using said moment, I quickly strain my muscles and hold the bird's talon there for just a second.

One second, or even half of it, is by far enough!

Not waiting any moment, I swing head around, using my massive jaw to rip into the birds large left wing. However, I didn't let go and instead used my tail to curl it around its neck, a wicked grin forming on my mouth when I saw the shocked expression of the Phoenix.

That wasn't enough however, as scorching flames began to burn the inside of my mouth, the bird trying to shake me off.

Yet, I am larger than you, and fire is also my forte. You are finished!

As though reading my thoughts, the bird’s body suddenly grew in size, its wings and body releasing a huge amount of heat while fire visibly exploded from within. Yet even as my mouth hurt from the burns, I just began to heal them slowly using magic, not bothering to let go. You have to bring something more powerful to the table if you want me to let go, Stupid bird!

I wanted to roar, yet I refused to let go of its wing, so instead I swung around my body so that my hind-claws were able to dig into the phoenix's flesh, ripping away at its feathers while blood sprayed in the air before evaporating.

The bird didn't cry out in pain, only looking at me with that gloating expression, its eyes sometimes darting to somewhere else...

Yet I didn't dare look away, no, I didn't want to...

No matter what, I don't want to see Arin, Saria or anyone else become hurt...

But I also don't want to see the result of my incapability...

In my sadness, I slightly lowered my strength, my grip loosening. I only returned to reality when the bird began to take advantage of that, suddenly shrinking back to normal size while trying to get away from my claws.

And, it broke free. Though deeply wounded, it took distance from me, laughing wildly while flying away, fire spreading through the air as though covering its tracks...

But letting it go, now that it did this to me?! NEVER!!

“ROOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!”

THIS ENDS NOW! I released all my mana, called upon the flames and winds, the light and lightning, causing the mana around me destabilize, the world looking like a haze under the power of mana.

I didn't hold back, and using all my power I shot myself through the air, flying at a rapid speed that even impeded my ability to follow my own moves.

However, what I tried succeeded, and before I knew it I crashed into the stupid bird at full speed, the immediate area exploding around us before we both crashed down onto the ground, causing dust and earth to be thrown into the air.

Even though I was bleeding profusely from my wounds due to the rapid acceleration, I felt exhilarated, my body seemingly filled with endless power. This lust of a fight, I haven't felt that in a long time, yet watching the wretched eyes of that bastard in front of me, the excitement quickly died down, anger and rage taking its place.

I was standing there, looking down on the wounded figure of the bird, its eyes wide open when it looked at me, a hint of clarity returning to them.

Yet I didn't care, and I didn't know if it was my anger over Arin and the others ending in this state, my instinct as a dragon or something else, yet at that moment before anyone could stop me, my still barely functioning right claw fell down on the bird's head, its life extinguished after a short series of cracking noises.

It was done... the bird was dead...

However, as I bathed in the afterglow of the battle, I felt a deep emptiness within, a dull pain making itself known in the back of my mind, and it wasn't from the wounds or my aching muscles...

Facing it, I raise my head, looking into the direction of Arin and the others.

Yet what I saw shocked me. With smoke rising from her scales and two deep burnt trenches continuing beside her, Saria stood there, her claws and body coated in ice and darkness, flames still flickering along the trenches and walls beside her.

What happened?

I was confused, but not for long, for a pair of eyes was weakly looking at me, shock and surprise reflected in them as their gaze switched between me and the fresh corpse beneath my feet.

It was Arin, though he seemed to fall into a coma any moment, he was there...

He must have seen everything, just like the others who were staring at me with shock while drawing back...

Looking down on myself by moving my massive head, I realized the reason. My once black shimmering scales were dyed in blood, my whole body still breathing heavily from the fight just now, with my whole being still remaining prepared for battle...

But for Arin to see me like this... I don't want that, I don't want him to realize yet what it means to take a life, he isn't prepared for that yet...

Looking up in worry, I once more spotted the pained figure of Saria who was guarding the others, as well as that gaze that was staring straight at me. Eyes clouded in disbelief, shock and even fear, glowing in a bright emerald green color. However, that gaze, that gaze filled with fear was the one thing I didn't want to see...

“Arin... I...”

I was trying to string together some words, something I could tell Arin, yet nothing was able to form. I didn't even manage to say anything, as the moment I finally was about to open my mouth again, a shriek came from Alice who was holding onto Arin.

He fell unconscious, his eyes closing while his body lost all strength...

In the end, I couldn't even tell him...