High atop the building's roof, Liam settled himself on the edge, one hand braced against the rough concrete for balance. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a crumpled cigarette. He placed it between his lips, then flicked the lighter, the flame catching briefly before he lit the cigarette. He inhaled deeply, the smoke filling his lungs before he exhaled slowly. Behind him, a grim mountain of bodies loomed, soldiers, lifeless and stacked haphazardly. The sight was a stark contrast to the calmness in Liam's demeanor. He closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze brush against his face as he took another drag.
"What's taking them so long…?" Liam muttered, his voice low and tinged with impatience.
"Who knows… Maybe they got lost," Ruya replied without looking up. He was sprawled stomach-down on the rooftop, his sniper rifle steady in his hands. His eye remained fixed on the scope, his breathing even as he squeezed the trigger. A faint magical shimmer trailed the bullet as it streaked through the air, striking a distant soldier square in the forehead. The man crumpled instantly, collapsing into the ground below.
"This is your what… 78th headshot?" Liam asked, curiosity lacing his tone as he held the cigarette near his lips.
"No," Ruya corrected, adjusting his grip on the rifle slightly. "77th. I don't count the shots from the jaw and down." His voice was matter-of-fact, his focus unwavering as he scanned the horizon through the scope.
"Very well then," Liam said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Just then, Hano emerged, dragging the body of the soldier Ruya had just shot. She heaved it onto the pile with a grunt. She exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the cool air.
Liam glanced at her and let out a laugh. "Hahaha! Well, look at you!" he said, turning slightly and gesturing toward her with the hand holding the cigarette. "How do you feel about being the garbage man on this mission?" His tone was teasing, his grin wide and playful.
Hano crossed her arms and turned her head away, her lips pressing into a thin line of annoyance. Liam chuckled softly, taking another drag from his cigarette before exhaling a stream of smoke.
"So far, our part of the mission has gone smoothly," Liam said, his voice shifting to a more serious tone. His eyes softened as he gazed out over the horizon, the weight of their task settling over him. "We've kept all the soldiers away from Zaria's villa." He paused, the cigarette dangling between his fingers. "But…" he added, his brow furrowing slightly. "Eventually, they're going to notice that some of their men are missing. And when they do, they'll get suspicious."
He took one last puff from the cigarette before flicking it off the roof, watching as it spiraled down into the darkness below. "We don't have time," he continued, his voice firm. "The S.D.F. will be here in about 25 minutes. Them, the S.M.F., and the Royal Patrol combined… that's something we really don't want to deal with."
Liam turned to face Ruya and Hano, his expression hardening. His eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity, a commanding presence radiating from him. "Don't let me down," he said, his voice steady but carrying an unspoken weight. The rooftop fell silent, save for the distant hum of the wind and the faint rustle of fabric as Ruya adjusted his position, his finger hovering over the trigger once more.
Kajin's hands shattered the chains binding Vanessa's wrists and ankles, the cold metal falling to the ground. He caught her limp body as it slumped forward, cradling her gently in his arms. "She isn't waking up…" he thought with worry. Carefully, he laid her down on the hard ground, her pale face illuminated by the dim light filtering through the room. Kneeling beside her, he placed a hand on her chest, his fingers pressing lightly as he closed his eyes, focusing.
A surge of anger coursed through him as he sensed the faint flicker of her mana, barely there, like a dying ember. "What the?!" he muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes snapping open. His fist clenched involuntarily, nails digging into his palm. "Why is her mana so low?!" His mind raced as he scanned her body for answers, his gaze landing on the raw, red marks circling her wrists. The skin was inflamed, almost burned.
"This…" he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. He grabbed the broken chains, holding them up to the light. His crimson eyes narrowed, burning with a fury that seemed to ignite the air around him. "The chains must have been sucking the mana out of her," he realized, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Leaving just enough to keep her alive…"
Guilt and anger crashing over him. With a roar, he slammed his fist into the metal floor, the impact reverberating through the room. The force of his blow left a gaping hole in the ground, the edges jagged and smoking. His breathing was heavy, his chest rising and falling as he stared down at Vanessa's unconscious form.
The dark sky stretched above. Rhyver and his five soldiers soared through the night, their dragons cutting through the silence with powerful, steady strokes. Rhyver's dragon led the formation, its massive frame dominating the center, while the five soldiers flanked him in a precise pentagon shape. The air was thick with tension. The soldiers' faces were pale, their eyes darting nervously, their fear palpable. Rhyver's presence alone was enough to send shivers down their spines.
The soldier to Rhyver's right clutched the reins of his dragon tightly, his knuckles white. He couldn't bring himself to look directly at the general, instead keeping his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I think I'm going to be eaten…" he thought, his mind racing. "Ever since we took off, there's been something off about him…" He stole a quick glance at Rhyver, his heart pounding. The werewolf's eyes were squeezed shut, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might crack. His fur bristled unnaturally and his uniform was torn in places. "The werewolves I know don't make me fear for my life…" the soldier thought, swallowing hard. "I feel like I'm going to get shredded into pieces if I try to get near him…"
He glanced at the other soldiers, their faces mirroring his own terror. None of them dared to speak, the only sound the steady whoosh of dragon wings cutting through the night. Rhyver's hand suddenly shot up, clawed fingers digging into his face as he groaned, a low, guttural sound that made the soldiers flinch. "Ugh!!!" he growled, his voice strained. "No more…" he muttered, almost to himself. "I can't control it anymore…"
Then, something snapped.
Rhyver's eyes flew open, glowing a fierce, predatory red. The light pierced through the shadows, visible even through the fingers covering his face. Slowly, he turned his head, his gaze locking onto the distant city of Slavara, now shrinking behind them. "I can feel something…" he whispered, his voice low and guttural. "I can feel him…" His chest began to expand, the fabric of his uniform straining until the buttons popped off one by one, clattering to the ground far below.
"G-General!" the soldier to his right stammered, his voice trembling. "Is everything a-alright?"
Rhyver didn't respond. His claws elongated, sharp and glinting in the moonlight, while his muscles bulged unnaturally, tearing through what remained of his uniform. "I need… blood…" he growled, the words sending a wave of terror through the soldiers.
Before anyone could react, Rhyver stood abruptly on his dragon's back, his glowing eyes fixed on the city. With a roar, he launched himself into the air, his claws ripping into the dragon's scales as he pushed off. The creature let out a pained screech, veering wildly from the force of his leap. The soldiers stared in stunned silence, their dragons faltering in the air as Rhyver plummeted toward the ground.
He landed with a thunderous crash, the impact sending a cloud of dust and debris billowing into the air. When the smoke cleared, Rhyver emerged, his uniform now in tatters, only his pants remaining. His body was fully transformed, a monstrous figure of fur, muscle, and rage. Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, his claws tearing into the earth as he charged toward the city of Slavara like a beast unleashed.
"KAJIN!!!" he roared, the sound echoing across the landscape, a primal call that sent chills through the soldiers still hovering in the air.
The soldier who had spoken earlier turned to the others, his face pale. "Shit… Everyone! This is an emergency! General Rhyver has lost himself!" His voice was urgent, but beneath it was a note of despair.
Kajin stared quietly at Vanessa's body, his expression unreadable. "What should I do..." he wondered, his voice barely audible. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her skin as he began checking her body again. From head to toe, he carefully examined her, his movements deliberate. "Her knees are wounded and infected..." Kajin thought, his eyes narrowing as they focused on the inflamed cuts. He reached for his small waist bag, its strap frayed at the edges, and opened it to pull out a first aid kit. "Good thing I didn't use this up until now," he muttered, his tone tinged with relief. He cleaned the wounds meticulously, applied a thin layer of ointment, and wrapped them with bandages. "She's in terrible shape..." he thought, his brow furrowing as he gently lifted her body, supporting her back with one arm while placing his other hand on her chest. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling, and closed his eyes. "I hope this works..." Kajin whispered, his voice barely carrying. Mana began to gather in his hand, forming a faint, shimmering glow. Slowly, the mana particles flowed into Vanessa's chest, spreading like a soft, radiant light. "Hold on just a little longer..."
A flashback flickered in Kajin's mind. He was back in the Royal Castle, training in the tower under Anastasia's watchful gaze. She stood by the open window, the moonlight casting a pale glow over the room. Kajin's muscles strained as he pushed through another set of push-ups, his bare torso glistening with sweat. Anastasia chuckled softly, her laughter light and airy, before turning her gaze away. "What's so funny?" Kajin asked, his voice sharp with irritation. "Your mana was very low today," she remarked, her eyes returning to him with a faint smile. Kajin hesitated, his jaw tightening, before replying, "Yeah? Well, maybe it's because I didn't eat anything all day," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Anastasia laughed again, the sound warm and melodic, before stepping closer. Without warning, she pushed him off balance, sending him tumbling to the ground. "Hey! What was that for?!" Kajin demanded, his face flushing with anger. But Anastasia remained calm, her expression serene as she knelt in front of him. Kajin stared at her, confusion replacing his irritation as she placed her hand on his chest. A soft, golden glow emanated from her palm as mana gathered and flowed into his body. "Huh?! What's this?" Kajin wondered aloud, his eyes widening at the sensation. "This feels... weird... My body feels more relaxed..." he admitted, his voice softening. After a moment, Anastasia withdrew her hand and stood up, brushing off her robes. "I gave you some of my mana, so you should be thankful to me," she said, a playful smirk on her lips. "How did you do that?" Kajin asked, his curiosity piqued. Anastasia giggled briefly, her eyes sparkling, before replying, "I've got some tricks up my sleeve." She paused, her expression growing more serious. "This is a process I like to call Dinomagic. I learned it from the Elves. It's a spell that allows you to share mana with someone else, but it has its requirements." She crossed her arms, her tone shifting to one of instruction. "As I've told you, our mana is different. No one has the same mana, it's like blood. But just like blood, it can be transferred if the types match. This is the same with magic. We have the same mana type, but yours is both better and worse at the same time," she explained, her gaze steady. Kajin's brow furrowed. "How?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "It's simple," she said, her smirk returning. "Because you're a hybrid, you possess both dark and light magic. You can give mana to basically anyone you desire. The downside is that... the only one who can give you mana is another hybrid. Someone who possesses both light and dark magic, just like you," she declared, her words lingering in the air. "But how can you give me mana?" Kajin asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion. Anastasia remained silent for a moment, her expression faltering slightly, a shadow of something unspoken flickering across her face. Then, she chuckled softly, the sound light but carrying a note of mystery. "Well, I can't tell you that," she said, her lips curving into a faint, enigmatic smile. Kajin stared at her, his eyes narrowing as his expression filled with suspicion, his gaze searching hers for answers she seemed determined to keep hidden.