The Red Dragon's Challenge
“Really, it's Crul's seal. How's Uncle doing?”
The place Belkan led Adel and Hul to was a cave hidden behind a small waterfall at the bottom of Gold Death Gorge.
“Uncle? I had no idea Crul shared blood with a giant hunter... Well, his situation still looks better than yours. At least he's in a big city.”
Adel ran his finger lightly over the moss-covered cave wall as he spoke.
“Uncle always said someone had to take responsibility after the Dragon War. But he didn't have to separate himself from the tribe... He's a stubborn fool.”
“Couldn't agree more. If he'd used that skill for the tribe, Ulan might not control the hills of Gold Death Gorge by now— it could have been the Red Dragon tribe instead.”
“Ahem. Adel, you serious? I know the Meister's gear is impressive, but Nakrang isn't pushover either.”
Hul spoke up, his pride clearly stung.
“Sure, you'd hold your own, brother. But we have to acknowledge Crul's strength.”
Clank—
Shrrrrk—!!!
Adel tossed something silver from his pocket, and with a mechanical whir, sharp spikes sprang out.
“No way... that's...”
“Right on. Kasan, your trap. I asked Crul to make it for me, but never got the chance to use it. Maybe it was fated for you instead.”
Adel pulled out the remaining four traps Crul had given him and pushed them toward Kasan.
“Feels like you tricked Crul into making these just to hand them over... Adel, got one for me?”
“Nope.”
“...Ruthless.”
Hul shrugged and shook his head at Adel's blunt reply.
“Hey, this isn't your playground. If you want to chat, go home.”
“Enough, Belkan. I heard you lost to him. It's only right to respect a stronger warrior.”
“I lost, but Kasan didn't. No reason to stand by while they act rude.”
Belkan glared at Adel, but he tensed visibly at the glint in Kalderet's eyes behind him.
“Kasan, you did well picking a spot without lava flows.”
“Heat's no issue for Red Dragons, but as you see, we have young ones whose scales haven't grown in yet.”
“Lots of kids?”
Kasan shook his head.
“After Karsea died challenging for Dragon Lord and we lost the Dragon War, we were all but wiped out. Only about a hundred hatchlings survived.”
“Hmm...”
“Shan the Black Dragon barely clung to life with grievous wounds, and his Black Hand tribe weakened too.”
Adel listened intently.
“Baekgwi didn't miss the chance. Even with Black Hand weakened, a living dragon kept them safe—so they targeted us Red Dragons first.”
“That's why you're scattered like this.”
“Yeah. The most bitter part? I'm the tribe's top warrior, yet I fled and left my father—the Red Dragon chief—behind.”
Sadness flickered in Kasan's eyes, mingled with self-directed rage.
“Don't blame yourself. Your survival might be what let the scattered Red Dragons regroup.”
“It's all my failing. Sorry to put you in this spot. Red Dragons need heat. Nowhere suits us like Gold Death Gorge.”
“I figured as much. But this is Ulan territory. Ignoring it isn't an option.”
“We have our reasons too—we can't just leave. I have a duty to protect these kids, per my father's dying wish.”
Tension hung thick in the air. No outright hostility since they weren't enemies, but this wasn't something they could overlook for convenience.
“I get the situation now. Ultimately, the Red Dragons need territory to survive.”
“If you're telling us to move, the answer's no. As you see, our young lack scales—they can't retain body heat.”
Kasan glanced at the children playing in the cave.
“Without Gold Death Gorge's heat, their blood would cool instantly. Even reaching here took Karsea's dying grace.”
“It's not impossible. They need heat to live comfortably—that's all. Supply it, and problem solved.”
“How?”
“If I bring that heat right here, would you yield the chieftain's seat to me?”
“Ha, haha!!! You want to bargain for this position?”
Fwoooosh—!!
In that instant, the scale on Kasan's forehead sharpened into a spike like a awl.
Clang!
Clang-clang—!!!
Red Dragon warriors guarding the cave entrance raised their spears toward Adel in unison.
“Belkan told me. You aim for Red Dragon chieftain? A mere human? Bold words.”
“No issue there. I'm Garon's contractor and owner of Rundel's Gauntlet.”
“Exactly. You think that lets you spout nonsense at us? Times have changed.”
Kasan rose slowly.
“My father Rundel contracted Garon, but his gear doesn't make one chieftain. Owning it doesn't qualify you.”
Whoosh—!!!
He drew a red halberd from against the cave wall and showed it to Adel. A dragon emblem adorned the axe blade.
“We follow the Red Dragon.”
Does that mean a mere dragon outranks me, a god?
Fwoosh—!!!!
Garon's flames filled the cave in that moment.
“Whoa!!”
“Awesome!!”
The clueless Red Dragon children cheered at the sight, but true to his title of giant hunter, Kasan stood unmoved before the god, his expression calm.
“I'm not like Crul. You didn't appear as Red Dragon lives faded one by one—we only remember fighting to the death.”
That was a war of dragons. Gods must not interfere.
“Yet you lend power to humans easily enough.”
Humans and dragons differ. A dragon's power alone can reshape the continent.
“Even so, you should have helped us. Our foes wielded god-like might.”
God-like might... Like Crul, you're saying the White Dragon devoured gods?
“Not rumor—fact. I didn't see it, but the Silver Dragon backing the White Dragon surpassed any dragon we knew.”
Losers' memories magnify the victor's strength, not their own weakness.
“...You gods could stand to listen more. Assuming you're always right is your chronic flaw.”
Insolent.
“Just stating facts.”
The mood differed starkly from Crul's talks with gods, despite shared blood.
'Unyielding even before a god. You've got to have that competitive fire to achieve anything.'
Adel found Kasan more appealing than Crul.
“As a leader yourself, think carefully. You can't raise kids in a cave forever.”
“So? Use our children as leverage for your chieftain claim?”
Kasan bared sharp fangs in a growl.
“Human trickery. Refuse, and you'll bring your hunters. Try it.”
“Impressive—worthy of the tribe's top warrior. Defiant even before a god.”
Adel stood before the red halberd.
“I'm not demanding Red Dragon power with just these gauntlets. They're mere tools.”
Thud—
Then, casually, Adel tossed his gauntlets at Kasan's feet.
“Wh-what...”
“Kasan, you're a fine warrior and hunter, but curb the human-bashing. As you said, I am after the Red Dragon chieftain seat.”
“...”
“But I'm not claiming it with some old tribal heirloom like Rundel's Gauntlets. And certainly not kids' lives.”
Adel pointed at the gauntlets.
“They were just the contract token for Garon. I brought them to return Red Dragon property to its owner.”
“...Then how do you plan to seize chieftain?”
“First, secure the other source of heat in Gold Death Gorge.”
Kasan narrowed his eyes.
“You don't mean...”
You mean awaken the phoenix.
“Yes. But this is for the kids' sake, not yours.”
The firebird's heat would sustain even scale-less young.
“Of course, I won't demand chieftain for this. Because Kasan, you're coming with me for the phoenix egg.”
“With you?”
“Naturally. Would a Red Dragon leader entrust the tribe's future to a mere human?”
Kasan stared at the gauntlets before him, eyes trembling.
Adel. Give him all that, how do you claim chieftain? Dragons and humans—take and take, never grateful.
“My way. I'll earn their respect.”
Adel smiled faintly, as if anticipating Kalderet's question.
“Here, ice crystal. Might not need it as Garon's contractor, but just in case.”
Back at the Nakrang camp from the Red Dragon cave, Hul handed Adel a blue stone pulsing with chill at the Gold Death Gorge entrance.
“The gorge heat is brutal—be careful. As you know, the phoenix is a legacy of Garuda, the high god of flame calamity. Means he visits now and then.”
Hul's eyes brimmed with worry.
“Garuda's a high god, but rarely, he devours people—a wicked god. If you meet him, run.”
No worries, brother of Adel. I am here.
“No offense to an ancient god's dignity, but the location's poor. Gorge heat empowers Garuda, while Adel's body will tire in it.”
Hmm...
Kalderet offered no rebuttal, seemingly agreeing with Hul.
Adel. Claim that one. He'll help conquer the desert.
Hul gave a wry smile at the blunt suggestion.
“Let's go.”
Adel jabbed Kalderet's forehead once and headed up the gorge.
“...”
Kasan followed.
“If we get the phoenix egg, Red Dragons owe you a debt we can't repay.”
“Debt? Taking an egg from a nest is easy. Rundel's Gauntlets make it possible—even without, Crul's tools would.”
As they climbed, Adel added casually.
“I got lucky with the gauntlets; you unluckily lost touch with Crul.”
“But I'll say it again: debt and chieftain are separate. As before, we serve only the Red Dragon. No human, even without a center.”
“Kasan, I've been waiting for those words. Wanted to say it in the cave, but too many eyes.”
“What?”
“You follow the Red Dragon—not gods.”
“...So?”
“Following only the Red Dragon means following one it acknowledges.”
Kasan tilted his head at Adel, puzzled.
“What if the Red Dragon lives?”
Adel told him.
“...!!!”