Vol 1 Chapter 1.5 (2/2)
“… … … …”
With that, I slowly and silently turn around. There –
A dragon is approaching.
I thought I misjudged at the onset. However, looking at silhouette from the block wall looking into the alley, it’s obviously not human and more like an abnormal giant reptilian head. The skin, reflecting the moonlight, is covered with numerous scales, and a goggling eyeball is looking pointedly at me. It’s nose is merely two meters from me.
My mind blanked for a moment. Am I looking at a vision? Am I going mad? No, I’m only dreaming. Only a fantastic creature would only confirm that I am in a dream.
*dragon growling*
Dragons are revered, whether in games, manga, or movies. Sometimes they led the heroes, sometimes they fought alongside heroes, sometimes they stand in the heroes’ way. I think it would take many boyhood experiences in exchange for being in a hero’s position.
Then what was the relations.h.i.+p when it met us? In this case it’s neither “guide”, nor “ally”, nor “enemy”. I cannot see any sense of intelligence looking at its inorganic eyes. The eyes are the only organs useful for locking on moving objects. Our relations.h.i.+p is more primitive, that is: 'hunter and hunted'.
“Wh… what’s this thing?”
I was suddenly snapped to my senses by a girl’s voice. My white field of vision became clear. The next instant ---
“---- !!!”
The dragon opened its large mouth, its head thrusting into the alley! I instinctively jumped back, grabbing the girl’s shoulders and diving for the ground! Taking the full brunt of the girl’s weight, we tumbled along the asphalt.
“Ouch, ouch…!”
I can say it’s awfully painful, but it’s nothing compared to being eaten by the dragon. I was certain the dragon’s fangs went for my ankles. Any slower, and I’d be caught by my ankles. From a hopeless position I’d be dragged along and swallowed whole.
*dragon growling*
Furious that it didn’t catch me, the dragon roared. My skin and eardrums vibrated like from an electric shock. Thank G.o.d for the narrow alley. With the mammoth lizard caught in the fence, it couldn't reach us by a few centimeters.
“Ne! What is the meaning of this!? Is this really real…!?”
“There’s no way this is real. This is must be the dream’s creation.”
“But it looks real…”
“Ah… at this moment, you could say it’s the 'real thing' in this dream”
“Which way!?”
“I don’t care! Anywhere would be fine. Anyway ---“
*dragon growling*
The dragon further pushed itself in. Cracks are running on the concrete walls at both sides. s.h.i.+t…!? “RUN FOR IT!”
Determined, I turn my eyes away from the terror. Turning my back to the dragon, I grabbed the hand of the confused girl and ran.
*crash* --- I hear the sound of crumbling rubble behind me. The fence must have been quickly demolished. Nevertheless were still in a small alley. There’s no way a behemoth can go in ---
“It’s coming --- !”
As I reply to the girl’s screams, the approaching dragon’s body leapt into my vision as it destroyed the fence!
“s.h.i.+t! s.h.i.+t! Hurry!”
“You don’t have to say hurry!”
Our stamina’s different, out steps are different. The dragon’s quickly approaching!
Tap-tap, the dragon’s footsteps are lighter than I thought. Its movement’s quicker than what I typically imagined for dragons. As we listen to the approaching scream, we ran without hesitation, without looking side to side.
Just ahead of the alley lies a private house’s fence. We’re going to jump into the streets, …
“Head right!”
I stopped in a pinch. With the power forced onto me by the girl, her legs turned to the right without stopping.
“Hyaaa --- !”
However, the girl tumbled forward and ran from the alleyway. Immediately after that …
*slam*
An attack came from my flank, and I felt a floating sensation! My vision blurred and flowed from left to right. And then another cras.h.!.+ I hear a sickening sound from within my body. If I could feel it myself, I was tumbling onto the ground.
*coughing*
Feeling something warm blocking my throat, I coughed. Large amounts of zinc tasting like liquid began to overflow from my mouth. The rich smell numbed my nose. It can’t be…blood?
“Sakuya --- !!!”
A voice calling my name. That girl --- is Akeno calling my name?
I got it. I’m in no case lying down. I’m perfectly awake. So run on ahead of me… I thought, but I couldn'tt say it. A whistle-like sound escaped from my mouth.
s.h.i.+t! I can't hear why my body’s saying. This is way different from the time Akeno hit me. Not even close. Somehow, I could only move my eyeb.a.l.l.s.
“………………”
Soon I saw the dragon beside me.
Within the swirling dust, stepping on some fallen block fragments, the elephant-sized lizard looked down on me. Indeed, I might be charged on and blown off.
*growling*
With the dragon’s growl, its opened mouth suddenly covered my vision! I instinctively put out my right arm to protect my head. And then that arm’s bitten.
“Ga .. ah?”
The sharp fangs plunged onto my arms! And then my body was dragged along, and lifted into midair…!! With gravity pulling me down, the monster’s fangs won’t let me go. The sinews in my arms are tearing apart. Blood dripped from where the sinews were torn apart onto the ground below.
“Stop it…! Stop it! Let go of him!”
Akeno’s bitter screams called my fading consciousness back. She still standing there! You idiot, run. Run away!
I’m not worried about myself. This is a dream. If I get myself killed in a dream I don’t really die… I want to think that way. Or should I say, let me wake from this dream! Or grant me superhuman powers. If all else fails… somebody help me!
“… ya! Stay tight, Sakuya!”
“…………………………………..”
*crash* goes my body as it fell down. I think I was let go, this is the moment I’ve been expecting for.
*dragon growling again*
Going through a nerve-wracking pain in my right arm, my body again felt light. The dragon’s once downward pointing mouth is now pointing up.
Ah, I got it. This is the way crocodiles throw their prey into their mouths. I then fall, being sucked into the opening void. The warm night swallowing me ---?
*dragon screaming in pain*
I thought my eardrums were split open by the loud sound. My vision, that should be gone by now, is somehow perceiving the moon (a bit bigger than a half-moon) above.
My body was. .h.i.t severely, by this scraggly flat … asphalt? Did the monster disgorge me?
It must be either good or bad luck that it ended without me dying. I must have fallen from two meters, my body still in one piece. My ribs are dislocated to my left shoulder, my right s.h.i.+n … I know here and there my bones are broken. The blood in my throat, I can’t help but vomit it out.
My head was alive with a thumping sound. The ground before me is still swaying. d.a.m.n dragon, releasing me almost dead, just what the h.e.l.l is it doing?
“Sakuya! Are you all right!?”
I thought if I heard a voice beside me, it must be Akeno peering at me.
“…. I’m alive…”
I answered, because I don’t even have the courage to bluff I’m all right. Along with my words, my blood vomited out.
“…!? Hang on! What to do? What can I do…”
“… the dragon… is it…”
Since Akeno rushed to me, does that mean the dragon’s threat is receding? Even if I can immediately hear its roar…?
“It’s all right… look.”
I can’t trust Akeno’s reply. For my uneasy, doubtful eyes, I turned to the direction of the sound. Only my eyes moved, locking on what the girl is following.
There, I saw a battle maiden.
The battle maiden, garbed in a feather-plumed helmet and fantastic-looking armor, danced in the night.
In both of her hands was a golden lance. Its spear tip was like a loop enclosing a cross, glistening in the moonlight just like those divine halos in Christianity. Flas.h.i.+ng in the moonlight, it easily went through the monster’s hard scale, leaving a straight red line in the behemoth’s body.
*dragon screaming in pain*
Even with the dragon’s rage, its awful fangs could not reach the woman. She easily flowed from left to right, making fun of the dragon, and the dragon could not land a hit. And then ---
“----- !”
With a short scream, the battle maiden unleashed her weapon to the sky. The lance, streaking through the night sky like a meteor, pierced right into the monster’s forehead!
*dragon again screaming in pain*
The dragon reared up, its forelegs raised high up. It let out another scream into the night sky.
But it's on its last legs. Its power suddenly gone from its large body, it was pulled down by gravity, and it went down to the ground with a loud crash. There it remained still.
With her back on the dragon’s spine, the battle maiden landed softly on the earth.
With her elegant dress,
with her long hair fluttering about in the wind,
with her clear eyes sparkling in the moonlight,
--- with her hot figure, I ---
held my breath,
my eyes blurred,
the pain in my tormented body forgotten,
--- as I could do nothing but watch her in awe.
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