The Red Wolf bared its large fangs. They were large enough to look like short swords, and Dragon knew they pierced like them. He had the scars to prove that fact. Dragon stared at it as it pounced at the slaves, who were trapped to one another by their binds. Several ran in opposite directions, so their ropes were pulled taut and they fell inward towards one another. The beast snapped it’s large jaws at one of the slaves, but found nothing.

Dragon kicked it across the side of it’s face, having leapt in the blink of an eye. Though his binds made it difficult, he could still fight some. The beast flew back, though it’s claws dug into the ground to stop it from slamming into a tree. It’s eyes flashed to the injured Dragon.

Dragon could feel the warmth of his body increase, and his heart pounded with effort.

‘Damn it…’

Brow thickened upon his brow. The injuries he had sustained earlier were still plaguing him and he was unable to recover due to the conditions he had been kept in.

‘This will be… awkward…’

The Red Wolf could sense his vulnerability, that much was obvious. It pounced at him. Dragon feigned to strike it and it’s jaws clamped across his stomach, though it didn’t pierce.

Iron Body.

Even in his injured state, and whilst running on low ki, Dragon could still defend himself. Now that the beast was trapped, he spun and struck at the creature’s jaw with his knee, striking the same spot he had earlier.

The creature yelped in pain and let go, only to find a downward heel kick striking it at the top of its skull, slamming it into the ground. Unfortunately, Dragon lost his footing as he did so, the impact wasn’t quite so harsh.

Dragon gasped for air, his body screaming. It allowed the wolf a moment to retreat, a moment Dragon couldn’t afford to give. He didn’t want to give it the time, but he needed to take a proper breath to centre himself.

His vision blurred once he had.

‘I don’t have long…’ His thoughts raced. Whatever seconds he had, he couldn’t waste it in thought.

The slaves had managed to gather themselves and fled. They followed some of the slavers who were leading them away. They were precious merchandise after all, so the slavers needed them alive.

The girl, who was alone, remained behind him not too far away. He was vaguely aware of her presence, her hopeful gaze piercing his back.

The gaze spoke to him. It entrusted, to him, her life. This feeling he had felt before, the same feeling that caused dark memories to flood back into his mind.

‘I know…’

He didn’t intend to betray her expectations. Dragon crouched down, feet planted wide. He inhaled deeply. “Hey… What are you waiting for?” He asked the wolf, cracking his neck to the side as he stretched it. The wolf snapped a bark in response and then charged him. A Red Wolf would never deny a chance to assert his dominance

Dragon didn’t have much ki left. Iron Body would have been useful, but…

The fangs pierced through his skin, the sharp pain flood through him as hot crimson started to shoot out of his side. In that moment, his knee caught its side. It was black, as if it had come from the void. His skin was torn apart as the wolf disappeared, slamming against the tree. The ground under him cracked from the force of his explosive strike.

He heard the wolf splutter and soon was upon it, flipping forward and another downward heel struck it’s windpipe. It spluttered out its last breath, and Dragon fell backwards as he coughed up blood. As his eyes rolled back into his skull he could see the little lady rush over to him. At her sight, he stopped falling back and planted his feet onto the ground. At least he would die standing.