Chapter 256

Shut up.】 "Yes, yes. My apologies. Anyway, after that, you..." The old tales continued. The two ancient dragons forgot their desperate situation and shared memories. Having wandered the world together for decades, they had plenty of stories. Alibriehe said, "People often see the birth of a multi-headed dragon as an enormous omen of good fortune. Far rarer than one with multiple wings. Looking back now, in my youth, I felt honored just that you deigned to associate with me." 【You were different from the other fools.】 Azidahaka affirmed. Indeed, Alibriehe was one of the few he deemed a match for himself. He had been the greatest genius of their kin from the start. "I'm grateful you say so. Do you remember when we went to see Lady Navardoje during our wandering days? Not to kill her as now, but to ask what we should do with our lives." 【Vaguely... I think so.】 "Do you remember what she said to you then?" Azidahaka fell silent at the sudden question. It was so long ago that his memories were fragmented. She had stroked his head and said something. 【No.】 "I remember clearly. She said you would become a great king to save and lead countless kin, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or a wicked evil dragon to make the world tremble. To me, your current state seems closer to the latter." 【...

What are you getting at?】 "Just curious. How did someone so noble end up like this?" Alibriehe asked. Silence descended. His increasingly heavy eyelids signaled approaching death. Since it was the end anyway, spilling it all and dying cleanly didn't seem so bad. After a long silence, Azidahaka spoke. 【...

I hated being second.】 "Hm?" 【I turned Adren into a city of gold. I restored order and built an environment where my kin and servants could live comfortably. I swear, I never once neglected the destiny of rule bestowed upon me.】 "No one can deny that. The prosperity of the dragon city is your achievement." Alibriehe nodded emphatically. Indeed, dragons began profoundly influencing the world and becoming objects of respect and fear under the second Dragon King, Azidahaka. 【Yet my subjects and people revered the Mother of Injustice more than me. I didn't like that. So, I tried to remove her.】 "...

Frankly, that's a bit hard to understand. You knew reverence for Lady Navardoje was inevitable." Alibriehe furrowed his brow. It was far more petty than he had expected. To think he allied with the Nebula Klaj for something like this. "And the majority of kin and subjects respected you deeply. Embarrassing as it is to say, you were a pretty decent king." 【I know. I knew, but...】 Azidahaka forced out the words. His blurring vision had long been shrouded in darkness. In a world where even sounds were fading, he spoke. 【I didn't want to lose to that 'inevitable'...】 "Hah." Azidahaka's head drooped as his words trailed off. Alibriehe sighed softly. His lips twitched one last time before his head slumped completely. How much time passed like that? Azidahaka, who had been out cold like the dead, spat blood and opened his eyes. 【Keheuk-!!】 "Tch. I told you." Alibriehe clicked his tongue. He dodged nimbly but still got drenched in a basin's worth of blood. Azidahaka stammered in a mix of panic. 【Kugh, kuh...! What's this all of a sudden...!】 Suddenly, his stalled senses returned, and pain spread from his side. The faint water sounds grew louder. His sharpening vision revealed the squalid sewer once more. Thud! Thud! Vibrations from explosions rocked the air somewhere. The gradually intensifying pain soon turned into unbearable agony. His teeth ground so hard they cracked audibly. Azidahaka writhed, twisting his neck like an earthworm crawling onto mud in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rain. Watching, Alibriehe chuckled dryly. "Looks like someone's treating you from above." 【Kuh... Treating?】 "No need to act surprised. You were a good king. And apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so." Azidahaka's eyes widened. Come to think of it, he felt his torso moving. Vines-like things gently wrapped around his necks, pulling him. Alibriehe's form receded gradually. He had so many questions for his old friend, but the pain was too much to speak. "Farewell. Think hard about why you were born with two heads." 【Ali... briehe...!】 "I, for one, don't think it was to harbor twice the hatred and jealousy." Alibriehe waved. As Azidahaka regained composure to speak, boom! The pulling force intensified, and the scene changed. His three necks yanked free onto the surface. 【Heuk!】 Azidahaka gasped. Cool air swept his lungs. Massive vine plants bound his upper body tightly. A familiar voice echoed from behind. "Phew! My god..." "Are you alright?!" Azidahaka turned. First he saw the Steel Dragon Naransonia, flanked by a dozen subordinate dragons. 【What...!】 They held the vines connecting to his upper body in their mouths or claws. It seemed they had pulled him from the sewer and treated him. Grasping the situation, Azidahaka looked down. A gruesome scar marred his side—hastily healed from the giant's strike. Naransonia said, "Your Majesty. We did all we could, but the wounds were too severe for full recovery. Please transform into a human or small creature and escape Adren." 【...

Escape?】 "Yes. That giant from before seems intent on crashing Adren entirely. He's targeting the central flotation stones." Naransonia's left wing was cleanly severed—from his beam. Crashing Adren? Azidahaka asked, unable to hide his shock. 【What do you mean? You all...】 "We must protect the servants. We'll buy time as best we can, so escape now. Fortunately, he's paying us no attention." Hearing that, Azidahaka looked up. Far off, Duaru hovered, hurling spears at the ground. On the surface, pale giants roamed, massacring. Surviving dragons fought them, but the tough, numerous foes overwhelmed them. 【I...】 Azidahaka's mouth opened slowly. His sewer talk with Alibriehe swirled in his mind. Great king or evil dragon? He couldn't even tell if it had been real. As he tried to speak, Suddenly, the fainted third head opened its eyes. 【...

What? Did I pass out?】【You bastard.】 The center head—now middle—glared. The third head scanned silently, grasping the situation instantly, and spoke emotionlessly. 【Hm... This won't do.】【Won't do? What?】 Suddenly, two wings unfurled slowly. Thankfully intact, their senses remained. After a pause, the third head spoke. 【No chance of winning. Retreat and plan for later.】【You heard Adren's falling. And if I flee now, who protects those left behind?】【That's for them to handle. You know we can't beat it.】 The middle head's face hardened. The dragons, including Naransonia, said nothing. The third continued. 【Besides, who knows. Navardoje might kill it. With her personality, she'll intervene. Strike when she's weakened after.】【...

You're serious?】【Of course. Don't ask twice.】 The third head stated firmly, looking down at Naransonia. 【You all buy time. At least your head works.】 "...

Yes, Your Majesty." Naransonia nodded. It aligned with her own suggestion—no objections. Then, the silent middle head called. 【Hey.】【What?】 He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed to know what to do. As the third turned irritably, crunch! The middle lunged, biting its neck. 【Krahak! What are you doing?!】 The third roared. The middle tightened jaws instead. Crunch! Sharp teeth pierced scales, blood spraying. 【Kuh...!】 The middle groaned in pain. Different egos, same body—the agony transmitted fully. Still biting, it spoke. 【I was foolish. No matter how much I wanted to surpass Navardoje, I shouldn't have let you in. Vanish here!】【Kuh... Fine, fate decreed this. You've spared me the effort...!】 The third twisted, biting the middle's nape. Two claws gripped horns and face with skull-crushing force. 【Keuk!】【Fool. Don't you know this body is mine now?!】 The third cackled. As expected, controlling the body gave the advantage. All the middle could do was endure and bite deeper to hold on. Dignity as king was long gone. Subordinates watched their lord fight himself, at a loss. As balance tipped toward the third, an indescribable sensation poked the first head's nerves. 'This...!' Familiar since hatching. The middle head's lips curled. 【...

The fool is you.】【What?】 The third narrowed eyes. Judging it a bluff, it gripped harder. The groaning first head spoke again. 【Not even counting—】【Your own heads.】 Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed from behind. The third's scales bristled. As it whipped around, crunch! The right head lunged from blind spot, tearing the pale nape. 【Kyaaaak!】 Blood flew skyward. A wretched scream rang out. The third instinctively loosened jaws and claws. The middle seized the chance, free, and bit under the third's jaw. 【My mistake—】【I correct here.】【W-Wait! Don't you want to defeat Navardoje?! With our power, we can! Remove that freak, and nothing blocks us!】 The immobilized third pleaded desperately, a far cry from before. The middle responded coldly. 【No more need—】【For that.】【Wait...!】 As the second finished, the two biting heads yanked back simultaneously. Slash! The pale neck tore from top to bottom. The third head ripped free.

"Y-Your... Majesty...!"

The dragons' eyes bulged. Massive blood soaked the ground. Now the left head, the middle shook its head. Thud! The mangled third rolled. 【Heuk!】【Ugh...!】 His pallid torso regained golden luster. Excruciating pain nearly felled him, but no time to rest. Bang! Wings exploding open, Azidahaka soared skyward. His resounding command echoed over Adren. 【Hear me! All in the dragon city, obey my command!】【Slay the intruders! Prevent Adren's fall!】

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "G-Get away!" 【Back off!】 Asel screamed, flailing his arms. Invisible force repelled the light giants. But not lethal—they rose quickly.

"Groooar!"

A massive black tail crashed over the regrouping giants. Boom! Where it lifted, only misty light trails lingered.

"Th-They're coming nonstop! What do we do...!"

Asel whimpered. Shortly after Duaru's feathers ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scattered, dozens of giants surrounded them. Desperately resisting with remaining mana and Orse's protruding tail, their limits neared. 【Looks like this is it.】 Truly hopeless now. Endless giants despite kills tightened the encirclement. Orse, swinging tail busily, spoke resignedly. 【Pity, mage. If you'd abandoned me, you might've survived alone.】 "H-How could I...!" 【Any reason you couldn't?】 "W-We fought together... I could never abandon a comrade..."

Hah! Orse snorted. A mere human equating to a dragon—insolent, yet not unpleasant. 【Comrade, huh.】 Orse smirked. Knowing sooner might've led to more fun—regrettable. Giants closed in. One punch crumbled stone walls earlier—gentle death unlikely. Adren's fall imminent anyway made horror inevitable.

"Eeeek...!" 【Kraaa-!!】 As dragon and human braced for death, slash! Dozens of red lines slashed across the giants.

"...

Gro?" "Huh?" Giants froze. Asel and Orse's eyes widened. Realizing wrong, giants turned—boom! Lines expanded, bodies exploding apart. 【This is.】 "Grooo...!" Giants dissolved into light, mirage-like. From fading glow, a youth emerged. Asel's eyes bulged. "Ro-Ronan!" "You were here." The beloved face. Tears welled in Asel's eyes. Blood-soaked Ronan's looked graver than ever. Silent, he swung his sword. Slash! Aurora-hued strike cleanly severed matter-magic bonds. Their prison shattered. "Ack!" 【You...!】 Thud! Freed Orse flopped. Asel, atop, bit his tongue—limbs unresponsive. Ronan spun his sword. "What are you two doing here? Pathetic sight."