Eventually they had arrived at a large clearing around a lake. Dragon had been led out in his bonds. The lady was left behind, and this was the furthest he had been away from her.

He was led inside the large cave where several other slavers awaited. With the way they carried themselves; their haughty expressions, the way they eyed him up, their malicious grins, Dragon knew that they weren’t quite as soft as the other slavers that had led him here.

His eyes then drew towards a throne made of rock, jagged along the edge, though it didn’t seem to bother the large man, that looked more like a lion with hair that was like a mane, and a beard that flowed down to his chest. He was slightly dirty looking, his hair rough. Dragon noted the large sabre hung loosely at his side.

“…” Dragon just glared at him as he always did to pretty much anyone.

The lion man stood from his throne and the slavers that led him in dispersed, though their leader remained behind him.

A low growling sound grumbled from the lion man’s throat. “Why did you bring this one?” He started to walk around Dragon and eyed him up.

Dragon remained standing there. He was still heavily injured, and outnumbered. It didn’t matter though, he didn’t have the intention to fight anyhow.

“He’s strong.” The leader replied simply.

“Strong?” Lion man replied.

The leader nodded. “He took’n ah Red Wolf.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Alone, wasn’ so hot eitha’.”

“Oh yeah?”

The leader nodded towards the lion man.

The lion man then turned to stare at Dragon.

“I like the look in your eye too. Sure, you can join in.” The lion man grinned.

Dragon continued to glare silently.

The lion man cocked his head to one side. “What do you say, huh? You don’t really have a choice.” He roared with laughter. The others joined in, causing the cave to echo with the cacophony of laughter.

Dragon continued to glare, remaining still.

The lion man walked up and stared into Dragon’s eyes. “See, the way things work here is…” Then he punched Dragon against his gut, causing him to wince and bow, there was no need to spend any ki here. “I command and you obey.”

Dragon slowly returned to standing tall, only to be struck across the face. He stumbled back, but remained on his feet. He spit out some blood, but otherwise didn’t react. It was then the lion man continued to beat on him, pounding the injured fighter.

“So, what’ll it be? Will you start following like a good little pup? Or do I need to keep convincing you?”

Dragon spat up some blood and then stood up once more, half bowed. It took a moment, but he stood tall and glared at the lion man once more.

The lion man stepped up and as he threw a punch. However, as he did so, Dragon stumbled forward and hopped up.

Dragon aimed a kick towards his opponent, but unfortunately for Dragon, this wasn’t the first time his opponent had tangoed. His heel struck steel, and though it almost shattered the blade, causing it to shudder, he didn’t meet his target. Lion man struck Dragon and he fell to the ground once more, spitting up more blood.

As he was beat on, he heard the steps of others arrive before a slight gasp and whimper. He looked up to see the little lady.

“What’s with the girl?” Lion man stepped away from

“She’s a noble’n, but they’re ah pretty pair.” The leader replied.

Lion man looked at the girl and then Dragon. “A pretty pair? Well one of you aren’t so pretty anymore. Let’s make both of you not so pretty.”

Lion man walked up to the girl, sabre drawn.

As he did so, Dragon tensed up. In his bleeding form, with several broken bones no doubt, he could feel a deep coldness grip him. He could feel what little ki he had burn up before his blood started to grow hotter within him. His eyes filled with blackness, his sight starting to blur and disappear.

The coldness turned to warmth, but the dread remained. As it flowed through him, there was a change in the wind. However, before his consciousness eluded him, there was the sound of wind picking up, and then a roar.

“DRAAAGOOON!” Roared a familiar voice.

He paused. He looked up, his eyes no longer filled with blackness, going back to normal.

“…”

‘Alright.’ He thought.

Dragon then fell unconscious.