Chương 6: Chapter 6 - Sargaroth The Crimson

[Life and death are no other than a mere manifestation of one's soul. Some might walk a countless age, but next to thin air. While others might leave today but live a hundred more.]

Finally, after a swift and eventful expedition, Rein and his men are ready. They took with them the most sophisticated weaponry. They wield no swords nor armors except those that were made by the Sunforge. Magic-imbued ballistae that have been blessed by the mages of the Arcane Tower are also planted in every post. They had been given everything they asked for. Because tonight, failure is not an option.

Rein stands up in front of their men. Looking all of them in the eye, before he closes his own. The chilling wind and the hissing trees swept away all their previous merriment. Anxiety is starting to emerge on their faces. It is normal. Fear is what makes us human.

" Every soul shall taste the death. But if the Holy Mother would let me choose... Then tonight will be my answer. "

Everyone is listening in silence. Looking at the demeanor of a man who was appointed as the lord commander even though he is less than a hundred years old. The youngest man to ever hold such rank in all of the kingdom's history. If it were to be compared to the human in the lower world then he would be around 23 years old.

" For tonight, we don't fight for ourselves... We don't fight for praise. We don't fight for recognition. We don't fight for ranks nor title. "

" We don't even fight for the king. "

His sable eyes stare sharply. Yet it wasn't of fiery spirit, but rather those of the most earnest plea. His jet-black knotted hair and fair complexion alone could tell the others of his devotion and sacrifices for the kingdom.

" Instead, we fight for the very soul of Edessia itself. For our parents, our sons, and our daughters... We fight for the very future of our people, for the next dawn and all of its breeze. Now tell me, is there anything worth dying for more than a fight to seize our own light? "

Soon after he finishes his sentence, a flare of light rises up in the sky. So bright than it could be seen from afar. The light is a means to indicate the coming of the dragon. It was a signal code that they had agreed upon beforehand. Rein and his party that stayed in the last post look up to the sky, bearing witness to the omen of the coming inferno.

" Although we may fall here... The brightest sky surely shall open its doors for our souls to return... "

The flares swiftly coming up one after another. It was already the third flare. The sounds of scream and the burnt smell already seeps through their noses.

" Rise my friends! Stand now and let your valor be known and sung by countless generations to come! "

Men and women of the last post stood up and arms themselves. The fourth and final flare finally came up and they were ready in their own respective position. Rein stands alone in the middle of flat grass land, acting as a bait to give an opening for the others to fire away all of their arrow and bolts.

They waited for the showdown, waiting for the legendary beast to appear before their very eyes. But strangely, after all the noise and fire that they had just heard and smelled coming from the previous posts, things have gone very quiet.

There are literally no sounds at all. Nothing but the croaking of the frogs and the chirping of the crickets in the bushes. They keep waiting and waiting yet still, nothing happened.

" Could it be possible that the dragon has been defeated by the fourth? "

They are starting to question themselves and whispered to each other. It is at this moment; the wind is howling as if it was screaming. The ground is shaking and their body feels very heavy like they were pressed by a humongous object. In truth, it wasn’t just them, but also the trees, the grass, and everything in between them.

" W-What kind of power is this?! "

The pressure isn't getting weaker, it's getting stronger and stronger instead. Until their body finally gave in and completely pressed to the ground. All but Rein, as the lord commander can resist some of its pressure and stay still on his knee. The frame of the magic ballistae was still in-tact, but their rope has been snapped, rendering them useless.

In the midst of the terrifying fettle, suddenly a gigantic object falling down the sky at high speed and crashed into the ground, creating an enormous impact. The surge of wind alone wipes out nearly half of the trees in the area along with everything that hides within it. Even Rein was pushed for a hundred meitel.

After the dust has finally subsided, they all can see the beast that they've been thoughtlessly waiting for. It is literally a jet-black monster in a size of a palace. It is so big that Rein is just barely as big as one of its teeth. Its barbed wings slice even the air, while its claws are sharp enough to cut the branches and logs which it unintentionally stepped on in ease.

The mighty Sargaroth stares at the only human before him that struggles to stand even when the others are completely swept away by the gushing tempest. The dragon slowly moves towards Rein. Each step that Sargaroth takes is enough to create a tremor with its ridiculous strength. Rein can barely see anything; his vision is still blurry after being hit by the debris. Before Rein could get a grasp of the situation, Sargaroth let out a roar right before his face.

He finally knows the true terror of the monster who was called the bane of mortals and immortals. The twin majestic horn was like a pair of spears drawn on him, ready to pierce through his body. The word 'terrifying' doesn't do it justice, with all the gigantic fang and the scale on its throat that gleams in bright violet indicating the powerful heat that is generated within.

Yet none of its feature that is scarier than its own evil-looking vengeful crimson eyes. The eyes instilled fear more than anything else, enough to make the one staring at them end up either wanting to gouge their own eyes out or simply kill themselves.

" Greetings, mortal. "

Much to his surprise, the dragon greets him rather than chewing him alive already. But Rein was still frozen in place. The overwhelming fear has crushed his brave heart to pieces. Every cell in his body was screaming to flee, but his body won't move. The most powerful and distinguished knight of Edessia peed on himself before the presence of the dragon.

" Three seconds. If you are unable to collect yourself, then you shall bid farewell to this world. "

The dragon breathes in and the scale on its throat gleams even brighter. The edge of its mouth is already overflowing with fire, ready to burn down everything in its path. Death is the only outcome for those who are caught within the deleterious burst of flame.

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