After Ciana decided to come with me in my journey as my [weapon], we suddenly met Ciana’s fellow [Constellation Deity], [Aries]. She asked to show her a [Crimson Dragon] in exchange for Ciana’s dagger so we decided to find one while we’re on the [Crimson Forest]. Just before sun down, we finally found a baby [Crimson Dragon] but a group of [Monster Hunter] caught it before us, with plans of killing the monster to get its rare loot.

“Ciana...those four...” I asked with a stern expression.

“Yeah. It looks like those four only have ordinary weapons but their boss has a [beast weapon].”

“Get him!” Issho shouted to the three and the fight started.

“[Ciana]!” I called.

“Leave it to me!”

She then transformed into a sickle on my left hand.

Just before I got hit by a sword, I managed to block it just in time.

“Die!” the other one said and tried to hit me behind using a staff. I somehow elbowed it using my free arm.

“Haaah!” I then shouted and over-powered the guy with the sword in a single slash, making me free once again. I then delivered a roundhouse kick on the staff guy, making him kneel on the ground.

“You’re finished!” the other two shouted and attacked me at both sides using their hammers.

*pow*

But because I ducked completely, they ended up hitting each other.

“Wh-what was that for?” the guy angrily shouted at his comrade.

“It is your fault for standing there! Wait! You hit me too, right?” the other complained.

“Leave the in-fights for later!” I said and swung [Ciana] while rotating 360 degrees. Both of them got knocked out completely.

“Wait, that’s…” I whispered with a slight surprised face.

I think I now know what to do in order to obtain a strong [physical attack].

“It’s not yet over, punk!” the sword guy shouted and prepared to slash me.

Shoot! I’m defenseless on my right side!

“[Teleport]!”

Because of my sudden shout, the guy with a sword stopped from attacking.

“…”

“…”

“…”

(Raiki…you can’t use that move right now.)

“I forgot that [Ciana] ran out of Magic Power!” I shouted with wide opened eyes.

“Y-you…you…you clown!” the sword guy shouted with an extremely embarrassed face.

He then swung his sword back and forth but luckily, I managed to dodge all of it.

“W-why you! Jose, now!” the guy with a sword called.

“Right!” the guy with a staff replied and thrust his weapon towards me. I managed to avoid it by jumping up.

“!”

“!”

With the momentum from the jump, I circled in mid-air and delivered a slash on the guy with a staff. After landing on one knee, he collapsed face-first on the ground.

So ‘that’ is stronger the faster my rotation is.

“Die!” the sword guy said and swung his sword towards my face. I managed to block it with the blade of my sickle.

I then kicked him on his leg and he accidentally dropped his weapon on the ground.

“Too bad!” I shouted and slashed him as hard as I can, this time, without rotating.

“Arrgghhhh!!!” he screamed.

“So a rotation really strengthens the attack!” I said and punched him on the stomach to knock him out. He fainted after that.

Ciana, how’s your current level?

(It increased by one. I’m now at level 12.)

“Great!” I reacted with a smile.

With a shocked face, Issho couldn’t help but stand there without moving.

“So you’re the last one,” i muttered while looking at the last standing enemy.

*ruuu~* the dragon moaned weakly.

It looks like the baby [Crimson Dragon] can’t even move.

He then let go of the baby [Crimson Dragon] to the ground and charged towards me.

“Don’t be so arrogant, kid!” Issho shouted furiously.

(Be careful, Raiki. His sword is already at level 14!)

*clang*

Both of our weapons clashed. Our strength is just even…or so I thought.

*spark*

After a while, he over-powered me and managed to cut my cheek a bit.

(Raiki!)

“It’s just a light bleeding so don’t worry!” I replied and pounded my sickle once again to Issho’s sword as hard as I can. Then, our exchange of slashes continued for quite some time.

“What’s wrong, kid? Realizing that you’re about to lose?” he asked with an arrogant smirk.

“Of course…not!” I said and swung my sickle but got blocked by his sword once again.

*clang*

“Then, how about this!” he said and slammed his sword on my sickle’s blade.

*clang*

“Arrghhh!” I reacted, trying my best to not get pushed back.

What strength! I’m really losing!

“I’ll congratulate you for surviving this far. But…” Issho whispered.

Suddenly, his blade got enveloped by fire.

“…this is where it ends!” he continued with a victorious smile.

“Arrrggghhh!” I reacted, clenching my teeth.

(Raiki! Watch out!)

“[Flame Burst]!” Issho yelled.

After shouting, his sword suddenly exploded, sending my whole body flying a couple of meters away. I then landed on the ground and slid painfully.

“So…I’ll be taking this [Crimson Dragon],” he said and grabbed it once again on the tail.

The baby [Crimson Dragon] is so weak that it can’t fight back anymore. It looks like it took quite the beating before we even got here.

“These useless fellows... I’ll be taking the credit alone then. I’m sure that I can get a good price out of this thing’s [rare loot],” he said and laughed happily.

“N-no…” I whispered weakly.

“What the…” Issho reacted, surprised.

Even though I’m completely lying flat on the ground, I managed to utter that word.

“You…” Issho muttered, shocked about the fact that I can still talk.

I can’t let him kill that baby [Crimson Dragon]. I’ll…I’ll…

I then tried to stand up but there’s no success. I can’t even lift my body.

“Do you really want money that badly?” Issho asked.

“O…of…course…” I responded, almost not audible.

“Jeez…” he reacted with a disappointed face.

“O-of…course…I…don’t want any money!” I shouted as loud as I can.

After hearing that, Issho got surprised.

“I…won’t let you kill that baby [Crimson Dragon] just for money. Even if he’s a monster, he’s still alive. He has the right to live. Someone like you who takes monster’s life without feeling anything can’t understand him so don’t you ever take his life without knowing anything. I won’t let you kill him just for your self-satisfaction!”

“Then, are you saying that you can understand this thing?” Issho asked, irritated.

“Of course I don’t. That is why…I want him to decide on his own.”

“Huh?” Issho uttered in a confused look.

“You, are you fine to be killed? Will you just let him kill you without a fight?” I shouted to the [Crimson Dragon].

*ruuu~* the dragon replied weakly.

“If you want to live, fight!”

Suddenly, the life on the baby [Crimson Dragon]’s eyes came back and it bit Issho on its arm.

“Ouchhh!!!”

“Go, [Crimson Dragon]! You can do it!”

“You pest!” Issho shouted and swung his sword on the baby [Crimson Dragon]. The monster got hit and fell towards me.

“I’ll kill you this time for sure!” he continued with an extremely pissed face.

Darn it! I can’t even move! I want to protect this baby [Crimson Dragon]. But…but…

Suddenly, the baby [Crimson Dragon] slowly crawled towards me.

“What are you…” I reacted with a puzzled face.

He then jumped on top of my head and rested there.

“So you want me to be killed together with you…” I whispered, surprised.

For some reason, I ended up smiling after that.

“If only…I have the power to…protect you. This…won’t happen,” I continued and bit my lip out of frustration.

Darn it!!!

*Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!*

“Huh?” Issho reacted.

Suddenly, a very bright crimson light lit the area.

“What the heck is this?” Issho reacted while covering his eyes.

After the light disappeared, Issho uncovered his eyes and got surprised from what he saw.

“I’m now...fully recovered!” I shouted and made a fighting stance with [Ciana] on my left hand.

Our stamina and magic power completely recovered thanks to this dragon. It looks like its ability is to [heal] others. Now, I won’t lose to him!

“How did you…recover?” he asked with a shocked face.

“It’s all thanks to this baby [Crimson Dragon]. Leave the rest to me. This time, I’ll protect you,” I said while looking at the completely exhausted baby [Crimson Dragon] lying on the ground.

*ruuu~*

“That monster…healed you? Are you for real?” Issho asked, confused.

“Let’s see if I can finish you for real!” I said and dashed towards him. I covered the 15 feet distance between us in a flash.

“!”

“Haaah!” I shouted and slashed him.

“Gwaahhh!!!”

I then delivered a kick to his leg, making him stumble on his footing.

“You!” he said and swung his sword to me but I somehow blocked it.

*clang*

“It looks like it is now time to use my new [physical attack],” I muttered with a smile.

“Wha--” Issho said.

“[White out]!” I yelled and a very bright light flashed.

“Ahhh!!!! My eyes!!!” Issho reacted.

He then swung his sword around, hoping that it will hit me but no luck.

After a while, he recovered and looked around but…

“Where…is he?” Issho asked, couldn’t find me anywhere.

“Here!” I responded with a shout.

When he looked up, I am now descending from the sky.

“What?”

I then rotated as fast as I can to strengthen the final attack.

“Bring it on!” he shouted and prepared to slash me in half.

“[Wheel Blade]!” I screamed. Then, I landed on his sword’s blade and continued the rotating saw-like attack.

“Urrrggghhh!” Issho muttered, trying his best to push me back.

*clangclangclangclangclangclangclangclangclangclangclangclangclang*

“Arrrrrrgggghhhh!!!” he shouted, desperate to block my attack.

*slash*

With the last rotation, I managed to send his sword flying and deliver a deep slash on his chest, strong enough for him to finally lose his consciousness and hit the ground.

After I landed on the ground with one knee, I stood up and asked a question to the last guy, the [weapon] that transformed back to his original form out of exhaustion.

“You still want that [Crimson Dragon]?”

He then ran as fast as he can away from us.

Guess…that’s a total win.

Ciana transformed back and said, “You finally have your own [physical attack], Raiki. [Wheel Blade], huh. It’s really cool! Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I replied with a smile. “But it’s all thanks to you and that baby [Crimson Dragon].”

I then went before the baby [Crimson Dragon] and gave him a smile.

“You’re now safe.”

*rruuu~”

“Here,” I said and gave him the last [banapple] on my bag. It can recover one’s [stamina] but not the [magical power], something I bought in the [Genesisia Town] before leaving.

He then bit a little and became energetic again.

“So this is really effective even to Dragons,” I muttered to myself after learning something new.

The baby [Crimson Dragon] then chewed the remaining [banapple] and completely recovered to full health.

*ruuuuuu!!!*

“Hmmm~. I see, I see,” I replied with an amused face.

“Raiki, you can…understand what its saying?” Ciana asked with a slight surprised face.

“Not really…but…I think I can feel the meaning of what he wants to say.”

“I…see,” she said and smiled.

Afterwards, the baby [Crimson Dragon] jumped on my arms and started licking my face.

“Hey…hahaha. That tickles.”

“It looks like this baby really like you now,” Ciana commented with a smile.

“Congratulations~,” someone suddenly said, sitting right above us on a tree.

When we looked at the tree branch of that dried-up tree, we saw [Aries] there.

“[Aries]…” I whispered.

“Didn’t I say earlier to call me Seira?” she asked with a pout.

“Seira?” I repeated.

“Good~ Anyway, here,” she said and threw the dagger towards us. Ciana somehow caught it with two hands clumsily.

“You showed me a [Crimson Dragon] so you passed,” Seira continued.

“A-aren’t you going to get its [rare loot]?” Ciana asked with a surprised face.

“I didn’t said to ‘get me a [Crimson Dragon]’, right?”

Just as I thought.

“Seira, you know that some [wielders] are currently hunting for monsters and you got worried that they might kill this baby monster, right?”

“What are you trying to say?” she asked with an amused smile.

“If you want this [Crimson Dragon], there are plenty of times to get it, you know. You just want me to save it from those men, aren’t you?”

“Do you think I’m that nice?”

I then gave her a smile and replied, “Maybe. After all, kindness lies in everyone’s hearts.”

Her eyebrows furrowed a bit and whispered, “That kindness will become your weakness someday.”

Did she say something?

Afterwards, she stick out her tongue and said, “Behhh~. You’ve got a long way if you really want to be invited in the [Deity Tournament]. Later.”

She then jumped from tree to tree so fast and disappeared from our sight.

“I wonder if she’ll tell the higher-ups that she found me,” Ciana muttered with a serious expression.

“Well, all we can do is to continue our journey and see what will happen. All I can say is I’ll protect you with all of my strength,” I replied with a smile.

“You’re right. Let’s just be cautious from now on,” Ciana replied with a smile.

“Anyway, Ruby, thanks for healing us earlier,” I said with a smile to the said dragon.

*ruuuuu!* the dragon responded with a smile.

“Ruby? That’s a cute name,” Ciana commented. “Now that we settled everything that we need to do here, should we now get going?”

“Well, [Sagittarius Empire] is already near and I think it will be just an hour to reach the exit of this forest so let’s go before it gets totally dark. I heard that there’s an Inn right after the exit of this forest so let’s stay there for the night.”

“Okay,” Ciana answered with a smile and placed the dagger she’s holding inside her robe.

“So Ruby, take care,” I said and placed Ruby down on the ground.

*ruu?*

“Don’t let anyone caught you again, understand?”

*ruuu~*

“Hey. Don’t be sad. I’m sure that you can survive just fine. You’re a [Crimson Dragon] after all,” I said and smiled.

*ruu! ruu!*

“That’s the determination. I’m sure that you will grow strong. So…goodbye,” I said and stood up.

After that, we Ciana and I continued walking. As we walk towards the exit of the [Crimson Forest], all I could think of is Ruby’s gaze from far away. Then, after hours of walking, we finally got out of the [Crimson Forest]. For some reason, I stopped on my tracks and looked back to the forest.

“You’re already missing Ruby?” Ciana asked with a smile.

“I think you’re right. Let’s go,” I said and started walking once again when…

*ruuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!*

When I turned around, a familiar dragon jumped on my arms and started licking my face.

“Ru…Ruby?” I reacted with a surprised face.

*ruu!*

“It looks like Ruby wants to go with us, right?” Ciana asked to Ruby a smile.

“Is that true, Ruby?”

*ruu!*

“Jeez. Okay! Let’s go!” I said enthusiastically and ran while Ruby is riding my right shoulder.

“I think this is really the good outcome,” Ciana whispered to herself with a smile and chased after us.

Just like that, we gained a new member: the baby [Crimson Dragon], Ruby.

After some days, Seira arrived in front of the master, the mysterious individual who is after Ciana. Right now, Seira is just standing with a smile while the master is sitting on his usual chair.

“So why did you call me here~?” Seira asked.

“Seira, I heard that you gave back Ciana’s [monster weapon]. Is that true?” the master asked in a serious tone.

“Can you still call that a [monster weapon]? The ‘orb’ is at Vii’s castle right? That means that it is just an ordinary weapon right now,” she answered, still smiling.

“That’s not my point. Since when did you learn the fact that Vii is alive?”

“Just recently,” she answered and turned around. “If that’s all, I’m gonna take my leave.”

“Seira, you’re not planning to oppose me, aren’t you?” the master asked in a serious voice.

Seira then looked at the master and with a smile, she answered, “Maybe. Is that a problem?”

The master then smiled and followed, “No. That’s an interesting turn of events too after all.”