[The Dragon-Guarded Temple]

The five of them were now inside a cart, all wearing their adventuring gear. Touka now clad in her new thin-looking silver armor, her right arm now inside of a large dark blue gauntlet with ornate golden accents scattered around it, along with a claymore stored on her hip. As Airi now wielded a rapier similar to her old one that was broken during their raid on the cultist mansion.

All the while Haru was still very much sleepy, despite this whole trip being his idea more or less. Struggling in vain to keep himself awake as his eyes blinked. And at the same time, he was dreading having to go there considering they have to fight at least one dragon each.

On top of that he had no clue why he was even told to go there aside from Drodia telling him that she wanted to meet there and tell him something, just what was so important that he was told to go there. Haru was originally going to wait around a month or so before going there, wanting to enjoy his time in the new kingdom and rest.

But, of course, he and Celica's encounter with that man happened. Forcing his hand into heading to the temple, secretly hoping that whatever was inside the temple and what the goddess had to say that needed them to a temple guarded by literal dragons would be something that would make him stronger.

Suddenly, the cart stopped, waking Haru up from what otherwise would’ve been a power nap for him. The girls looked outside the cart, wondering why it did so.

Elf Knight: We’re here, this is as far as I can take you.

Celica: I see then. We’re on our own going forward.

The four of them then got off, finding themselves in a vast and very green field, with only a few trees to be seen. The cold winds providing a bit of comfort, since they all felt quite sweaty during the ride. Haru was last to get out, falling onto the soft grass as he was still in the process of waking up.

He gets up, though with some resistance. Dusting himself off and walking towards the girls, who asked if he was ok considering his fall, worrying that he might’ve damaged himself. To which he reassured them that he was fine, and that he didn’t even fall that hard

Haru then spots a large mountain in the distance, which they were told is where the temple is. Once more dreading, considering the walking distance, completely forgetting that they had a dragon of their own who could just fly them all over there.

Forgetting that fact until Elleth herself took it into her own hands and transformed into her dragon form, telling the rest of them to get on her back. They held on tight as she began to float off the ground before flying off towards the mountain. They found that the mountain was surrounded by cliffs on all sides, which meant that riding on Elleth’s back was one of the few ways they were able to get there.

Elleth: Huh? What is that?

She saw someone standing on the base of the mountain as they were approaching it, then suddenly, a massive gust of wind blew them back, the figure suddenly disappearing as well. The gust was strong enough to damage Elleth’s wings, the winds acting like blades and cutting into her wings, causing her to cry out in pain.

She ended up having to make an emergency landing on top of one of the cliffs that surrounded the mountain. As Haru had to tie everyone on her back, including himself using {Bone King} so they wouldn’t accidentally fall off and end up injured, or worse, dead.

They quickly got off as Elleth began secreting her Repair Virus, using it to repair her cut up wings. She flapped them a bit after it was over, they were still usable but it was really painful for her to flap them even slightly. She turned back into her human form since she’d rather not risk them getting cut up again by whomever launched that attack.

Now the five of them were back where they started, although now they were closer to the mountain than before. So it wasn’t that bad, all they needed to do was figure out a way to get there without being attacked. The obvious answer would be to have Haru create a bridge for them out of his bones.

And they would be right, he was already about to do that anyway, his hands already on the ground as he gets ready to create said bridge. But he hesitated to do so, and considering what just happened to Elleth, you can’t blame him. He stayed that way for a while, his hands on the ground, skill activated, and ready to build the bridge.

Then he finally gave in, the black bones violently coming out of the cliff face and quickly impaling itself into the base of the mountain they were trying to get to. Haru made sure to create many layers of support and platform underneath it, wanting to make sure it was secure and wouldn't be blown away so easily.

Haru: I may have overdone this, but it’s better than risking it. Oi, you four! C’mon now let’s get going!

He had turned back, calling to the girls and getting their attention. They walked over to him seeing as the bridge was now completed.

Touka: Good work, but-

Haru: Run like hell, I don’t know where that gust of wind came from but I’d rather not risk it.

Touka: R-right. We’ll head on first then, okay?

Haru: Got it, I’ll be right behind you guys.

They then rush off along the bridge he had created towards the temple, their skills active just in case someone were to attack them like they had done to Elleth earlier. While Haru was in his Carrier form, having already sent out his planes to scout around them and act as a defense.

Their efforts were worth it as they finally reached the temple, or at least the ornately carved stone entrance of it. Catching their breaths as they had just expended a large amount of their energy running for their lives out of rightful fear that they’ll be suddenly attacked.

After a little bit of rest they went inside, walking through the ancient and moss-filled stone brick hallway towards the main chamber of the temple, where a pure white statue of a certain woman was set in the middle, its cleanliness contrasting against the dusty and old appearance of the rest of the room.

Celica: She seems familiar but I can’t seem to put my finger on it……

Haru: That’s Drodia, the goddess your kingdom worships. She may look dignified and all that but she’s surprisingly casual.

Elleth: You say that as if…Oi, don’t tell me that-

Airi: Dear, there's no way that-

She and Airi turn around to look at Haru, his face carrying a neutral expression. It was enough to get his point across, leaving the two girls speechless. How the hell did he even manage to meet a literal goddess, the two thought, genuinely curious to find out how he got in contact with one.

Celica: That means you were the one our goddess chose, right?

Haru: Yes, but that’s all I know. I don’t know what she’s going to make me do, sadly.

Celica: But still, it is quite an honor to be chosen. Is it not?

Haru: I guess you could say that.

In reality, he feigned ignorance. Still trying to hide the deal he made with the goddess out of fear that he’ll make them worry. Even if almost everything he knew about them told him that they would be able to understand. It was him being selfish more than anything.

And not even a moment later, the girls were trapped inside glowing light pillars. Similar to the ones Touka, Airi, and Haru were engulfed in prior to being transported to this world. They panic as they have no way to get out of there, even with their skills. As Haru, who’s switched into his Battleship form, tries desperately to free them by shooting at the pillars while ignoring the warning from the danger sense that {Hunter} gave him to focus on this.

He was about to activate his Sovereign form, the black bones already starting to form the armor, when he was suddenly hit by a drill-like blast of water. The blast sent him flying into the stone wall behind him, the impact from hitting the wall having winded him. This left him on his knees and hands, struggling to breathe as footsteps could be heard.

A man revealed himself from out of the shadows as Haru regained the ability to breathe normally. The man had pale blue hair styled in an undercut and was wearing a pair of black square-framed glasses. He was clad in a navy blue dress shirt, its sleeves rolled up and with a gray vest overtop. The vest itself had long coat tails. The man also wore a pair of matching gray pants to complete the outfit.

Elleth: Oi, don’t tell me that’s-

???: So this is the boy Lady Drodia chose for that mission? That single attack of mine was able to knock him struggling to breathe, quite pathetic I must say.

He referred to Haru’s current state, with said boy having just recovered after getting the wind knocked out of him thanks to that man.

Touka: Bastard!

Elleth: Wirbelsturm, did you do this! What’s this about a mission!

Wirbelsturm: Shut up already, will you? You four should’ve been tele-

And on cue, the four finally teleported off, leaving only Haru and the man now known as Wirbelsturm inside this main chamber of the temple. Haru tries in vain to attack him by shooting his bones from out of the ground below. Only for them to be quickly swatted away as if they were nothing by his partially transformed arms.

The arm’s navy blue scales almost shimmering in the dim temple as he casually walks over to Haru, picking him up easily as if he were a soft organ-filled pillow. Before chucking him out of the temple, the boy crashing into the bridge he himself had created.

He managed to get up after struggling for a bit, with Wirbelsturm letting it happen and remaining neutral. Wanting to at least give Haru, the one chosen by the goddess of this temple, a chance to prove himself, even if he personally thought that it would be a waste of his precious time.

Meanwhile, in Drodia’s personal area of heaven, she smiled. As she was watching all of this unfold on one of five holographic screens. Each showing a different pair of opponents meeting each other for the first time and starting their fights.

Drodia: So it’s begun, this is going to be quite entertaining. I might have messed up a bit by actually teleporting the girls a little too late, but oh well.

Her gaze then quickly shifted towards Haru, who was beginning to transform into his Sovereign form. Along with Wirbelsturm, who had decided to transform into his full-on dragon form as well. Eager to show off the devastating power of the Hurricane Dragon to the boy he had deemed “pathetic”.

Drodia: But I do hope he goes easy on him, I still need him functional enough to fight that wraith. It’s my only chance to get any answers from that stubborn skeleton.

The two then begin to fight as the goddess sighs, everything’s going smoothly, for now at least.

At the same time, Elleth found herself in a massive and open cave, big enough to fit multiple full-sized dragons with room to spare. Almost as if it had been dug out to serve some purpose. Chains could be found strung up above the ceiling of the cave in various states, from lightly used to really rusty to even completely new with some.

The chamber itself was lit up by various means, torches, lanterns, natural light coming from outside, and etc. It was a room Elleth was quite familiar with, having visited it in the past hundred years or so. Noting that it was still the same as when she had last visited.

And as she thought, the owner of this room was also in here. She looked at the other end of the cave. There stood Locolus, the Zombie Dragon, who was Elleth’s best friend. And in her usual outfit, purple negligee paired with knee-high socks and whose long sleeves went past her hands quite a bit, which flopped around every time she moved her arms.

Topping it off with old and torn-up brown robes over the negligee. She was quite the eccentric girl on her own, thinking of herself as a military general, and oftentimes using military jargon in her normal speech. She was more or less the troublesome and delusional little sister Elleth had to deal with.

Locolus: Great General Locolus welcomes you back!

Elleth: It’s nice to see you again, but what exactly am I doing here?

Locolus: You don’t know!? You’re here for our reunion party, which will commence now!

Elleth: Eh? Hold on I-

The pale green-skinned girl then snaps her fingers, summoning her army of undead soldiers, as she likes to put it, from out of the ground. The army was made up of soldiers from various kingdoms and eras, wild magical animals, and a certain familiar face. All undead and under Locolus’ full control. Some even carried holy swords, as they were previously heroes in their past before they were killed by her and subsequently added into her army.

Locolus: Ah, this one, I picked this little one up when I was wandering around and found a banged up mansion. Do you happen to know her?

She walks over to the undead Velia, the arm that Haru had chopped off back then was now replaced by that of a beast’s arm. Likely transplanted by Locolus herself to make sure her “new” soldier was fully functional.

Elleth: Know her? She was the one who nearly killed me!

Locolus: Ehhhh? So I scored another really strong one then? Amazing! Now then, go have fun with them.

The horde of the undead raised their weapons and gave out a loud warcry, as Locolus flew back to where she was. Not wanting to be involved in the fight aside from giving out orders, at least for now. They started relentlessly attacking her right from the beginning as Elleth began to fight back the undead in her hybrid form.

Locolus: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they still have the skills and powers that they did from when they were alive.

The undead Velia comes flying in from behind, wielding a gigantic sword. Attempting to slash at her with said sword, only for the attack to be stopped by tendrils Elleth had created, clearly having been influenced by Haru’s. The tendrils then began to rot away the sword, leaving only the hilt left as she kicked Velia’s corpse away with a single kick.

Elleth then fires off a Draconian Howl, cutting through a massive portion of Locolus’ army. Before taking a weapon that one of the zombies had dropped, which was a spear, as she continues to fight them off. Limiting herself to hopefully improve her close range combat skill.

Though it wasn’t long until she had backed herself into a corner, her stamina wasn’t exactly able to keep up with the hundreds of zombies and the spear she had picked up was now broken. There, she laughs to herself a bit, as she hesitantly begins to release her Rot Virus and condense it into her arms until it becomes almost like a pair of gauntlets.

Locolus sighed, almost expecting that she would be forced to pull it out sooner or later. Now she had to prepare herself, seeing as how at the rate Elleth was going at, it would be inevitable that it would end with the two of them having a one on one fight.

Now Elleth was having the time of her life. Blasting, or more accurately, rotting through the hordes of zombies with ease. Even getting some revenge on the now undead Velia, punching a hole straight through her chest, her arm coming out of her back as the virus began rotting it from the hole outward.

But just as about to finish her off she suddenly disappeared, the same was happening to the other corpses, the blood on her arms disappeared as well. Leaving only her and Locolus, who decided to take matters into her own hands and start their one one one duel. She then went into her own hybrid form as Elleth releases her Rot Virus gauntlets, returning her arms to normal. Locolus’ purple scales looked as if they were already beginning to rot away, her tail had already deteriorated to the point that bone was visible, and her pale green wings were torn up.

The two dragons then ran towards each other, both attempting a powerful right hook at the same time. Their fists collided, creating a shockwave that echoed throughout the room. While their eyes had an excited look to them, both fighters backed off and fired a Draconian Howl at each other. Elleth’s purple beam clashing with Locolus’ lime beam in the same way as their fists did earlier. And out of the almost blinding light caused by their blasts Locolus appeared from out of nowhere in front of Elleth, catching her off-guard.

Locolus: Catena Talorum!

Chains made out of green energy wrapped themselves around her arm and her knuckles, all before using said arm to pummel Elleth into the ground. The ground itself cracking beneath due to the amount of force she’d put in. She stood over Elleth, waiting if she would be able to do anything or if this was it for the Virus Dragon. Unknown to her, Elleth was already doing something.

Suddenly, explosions erupted from out of Locolus’ chest, shoulders, and back. Throwing her head and a good portion of her upper torso across the room. Elleth stands up, dusting herself off as the remains of Locolus’ body, that being the lower torso, arms, and legs walk over to pick up her head and upper torso. Casually putting herself back together as Elleth looked on, unfazed by the scene unfolding in front of her eyes.

Locolus: An explosive virus…I haven’t seen that one in a while…

Elleth: That’s because you’re the only one that can actually take it head on, other creatures would die instantly if I used it on them.

Locolus: That’s true. Now then, shall we start the main event, Elleth?

Elleth: Yeah, way ahead of you.

She begins transforming into her dragon form, Locolus following suit with hers. It was similar to her hybrid form, rotting scales, skeletal tail, and torn up wings, but with an exposed ribcage, showing her organs which were encased in a fiery green sludge, her heart and lungs not functioning at all.

Locolus: Mugire Gravis!

She breathes out the fiery green sludge onto Elleth, searing and burning into her scales, acting almost acidic, as Elleth releases another strain of her viruses that she hasn’t pulled out in a while in the form of a cream-colored gas surrounding the both of them. Her former signature move, Hijack Virus. And as its name suggests, it allows her to forcefully “Hijack” the body and mind of those around her, to put it simply it is a very potent form of mind control.

Locolus: Hey, don’t tell me this is-

She then gains crimson vein-like patterns near her eyes and throughout her body, her movements stopping suddenly as Elleth gives a smirk in her dragon form, now having taken control over Locolus. And allowing herself to get several free hits in, namely using her Rot Virus to completely rot away her wings, and letting her fall to the ground.

She charges up purple energy in her mouth, letting it build up heavily, before firing it off as a more powerful Draconian Howl. With Locolus breaking free of the mind control just before the blast hit, letting her feel the full force of the blast and burning away at the flesh on her head, revealing her old and cracked skull.

Smoke and dust covered the floor as Elleth made sure to watch closely, not wanting to take any chances. Chains made of green energy shot up from the smoke, Elleth managed to dodge them up until one chain caught her wings and began to tighten and pull her downwards as she struggled to get it off, even with her Rot Virus. As she got closer and closer, Locolus flew out, biting into Elleth’s neck and using her sharp talons to stab into her as her wings and the flesh around her skull began to regenerate. Causing Elleth to cry out in pain.

As Locolus bit harder and harder into her neck, Elleth needed to do something, and quickly. She could use her Rot Virus, but with the distance between them, it would damage her as well. Her scales and outer skin were able to handle it well, but her internal organs? Completely out of the question. Explosions erupted out from her neck and on Locolus’ mouth, the two began to fall to the ground, crashing into it and causing a crater.

Both dragons were laid on the ground extremely worn out, especially Elleth since she also had to fight that army of hers earlier, and she didn’t have the same pain and damage tolerance as Locolus has. As expected of the Zombie Dragon. But still, she coated herself in her Repair Virus, forcing herself up at the same time. She then came face to face with Locolus once more, this time in her human form, watching her as she got up.

Locolus: You…pass….

Elleth: Huh? What do you mean by that?

Locolus: Don’t worry, just follow me.

Elleth reluctantly turns into her human form as she follows her, reaching a seemingly normal wall, which Locolus opens using magic and revealing a dimly lit hallway, torches strewn about its stone brick walls. Meanwhile just outside of the mountain itself, a more one-sided fight was occurring. Or more accurately, continuing on.

Haru was facing off against Wirbelsturm in his dragon form. Which was a long eastern dragon with navy blue scales and a pale blue underbelly, his four limbs each ending with extremely sharp talons while his head resembled that of a hammerhead shark’s.

Wirbelsturm: Strom Ertränken!

A powerful stream of water accelerated and enhanced by gusts of wind fires out from his mouth, sending Haru, who was directly below him, crashing through the bridge he had created and down into the bottom of the cliff, his Sovereign form’s armor barely protecting him from the sheer force and pressure exerted by the stream of water as it quickly floods the entirety of the cliff.

Haru deactivates {Fleet} as he struggles to breathe, basically being drowned at this point. Soon, Wirbelsturm finally stops, turning into his human form and landing smoothly on the base of the mountain, as the last few air bubbles come out of Haru’s armor, floating to the surface while his body remains at the bottom.

Wirbelsturm was obviously disappointed, he gave the boy ample time to prove himself, but just wound up dying without any struggle as far as he knew. He wondered what he was going to say to Drodia, after all, he did kill the one she chose for that mission. A mission that was completely unknown to even them. The five dragons that were contracted to her.

Assuming that Haru was dead was completely wrong of him, however. As, in the bottom of the flooded cliff, a black cloak of fiery mana manifested around his body. The clear bug-like gray eyes began glowing, showing more signs that he survived, the berserker autopilot kicking in at the last moment.

Haru, who was now in the spiritual version of his room, was laughing his ass off. The Grim Reaper who had now taken over for him and saved his life was now about to make his appearance known. The Reaper slowly stood up under the water, making sure it was able to move before letting out a small growl as black bones began violently shooting out around him.

The black bones suddenly coming out of the water caught Wirbelsturm off-guard, causing him to fall down in surprise. A slight smile appeared on his face as he went into his hybrid form. The Reaper comes out of the water, bone tendrils that came out of his back held him above the water as it dripped down from the armor. His mana cloak blowing in the wind.

Wirbelsturm: Good, good. For a second there I thought that wa-

The Reaper fires out a Hundert Pfähle, hundreds of black bones come out from the palm of his hand aimed directly at Wirbelsturm. He crosses his arms in an x shape to protect himself against the bones, the brunt force of the attack pushing him as he did so. This manages to block most of them, as some do get through and impale his legs and shoulders while the rest miss completely.

This took his eyes off of the Reaper, a big mistake as he suddenly appears right next to him. Before Wirbelsturm was able to fully process his appearance next to him, he was immediately delivered a powerful front kick from him. This sent him flying, landing in the water of the very pit he had flooded. The Reaper closely followed behind, now wielding his scythe in his left hand about to deliver a blow.

Wirbelsturm: Arktischer Orkan!

But instead of landing a blow with his scythe, the Reaper found himself inside of what seemed to be a tornado. The winds of which were strong but not enough to knock him away, not this time. Though that wasn’t the point of Wirbelsturm’s attack at all, as he would soon find out. His body started to become encased in ice, and soon he couldn’t move his arms or legs.

By the time he was finished, letting him fall into and float on the water, he was almost completely frozen. With his head was the only thing left unfrozen by the cold winds. The Reaper growled at Wirbelsturm as the man began to charge up a frosty blue energy within his mouth.

As the energy built up, the Reaper began to break out of the ice as evidenced by the cracks that were beginning to appear. Then, it broke, the chunks floating in the water as the Reaper lunged at him. Unfortunately for him, Wirbelsturm fired the frosty blue Draconian Howl from out of his mouth at the same time, the force of the blast slammed the Reaper into the side of the mountain, burning into the armor as he snarled at Wirbelsturm while the blast itself pinned him there.

Though it wouldn’t just let himself be pinned there, as he moved his arms so that they’d be angled towards the sides. Before violently sending out dozens upon dozens of bones, all of which headed straight for Wirbelsturm. And with him focusing mostly on his current attack he wasn’t able to defend. He then found himself also pinned, this time to the side of the cliff just behind him by the black bones.

The blast he was using to pin the Reaper into the side of the mountain slowly faded away, having used up all the power he had charged up for it. Revealing that the Reaper’s armor, specifically the one on the torso which took the brunt of the blast, was burnt away, smoking as Haru’s shirt could be seen.

It seemed like he had been defeated, for a couple of seconds, as the Reaper awoke and its armor began to repair itself. Still leaving him pinned to the side of the cliff, the creature shambled as it was approaching him. When he finally got to him, Wirbelsturm just smirked. Turning into his dragon form once more, breaking the bones that kept him in place along with using his tail to create a whirlpool in the flooded cliff.

While the Reaper was disoriented by the intense whirlpool, Wirbelsturm caught him with his tail and began to fly upwards, gaining speed and momentum before hurling the Reaper higher, who was getting his bearings back and was about to perform an attack.

Wirbelsturm: Gletschersturm Kerker!

But this was stopped by Wirbelsturm, as a large cyclone forms in his mouth, one larger than his whole dragon form. Which created intense cold winds, similar to what he had done to the Reaper earlier. Trapping him in the eye of the cyclone itself, the sharp blades of wind and shards of ice that hit him caused massive damage to the armor, slowly reforming after each hit only to be damaged again almost instantly.

Wirbelsturm: Let’s see how you plan to survive this!

He proceeds to charge up for another Draconian Howl, all the while intensifying the cyclone he had him trapped in. Pouring all of his power since it’s been a while since he’s last shown off this much. And with an opponent like this it would be a waste not to.

Wirbelsturm then fires it off, as the Reaper was in a very vulnerable state by this point. At the same time the Reaper used one of its techniques, Kobraschädel and had the snake-like skull wrap around Wirbelsturm’s dragon neck as he was being blasted, attempting to strangle him.

But it didn’t hold for too long as the spinal column that allowed the Reaper to control the skull eventually snapped, thanks to the many shards of ice and blades of wind that had impacted it. And just like before, the blast of frosty blue energy faded away, with the Reaper left immobilized and burnt.

Wirbelsturm soon released him from the cyclone, albeit hesitantly since he didn’t want to take any chances despite the attacks taking a lot out of him, letting him fall back down. Splashing into the flooded cliff, the still hot bones being cooled by the water and creating steam in the process.

Wirbelsturm followed behind, going from his dragon form to his hybrid form as he landed on the water. Standing on it as if it were normal land. His breathing was heavy, you could tell he was on the verge of collapsing and was just forcing himself to keep going.

The Reaper, or now unconscious Haru’s body was now floating in the water. The armor was no longer on him. Wirbelsturm looked at him for a few seconds debating on what exactly he should do at this very moment. He sighed, walking towards his body and picking it up.

He dragged him behind his back as he made his way back into the main chamber of the temple. The moment he entered the chamber, Haru woke up, coughing heavily as Wirbelsturm let go of him. Walking over to one of the walls of the chamber, using magic on it and opening up a door to a hallway lit up by torches.

This was similar to the one that Locolus and Elleth were currently walking across at this very moment. Now having turned into his human form, Wirbelsturm walks back over to Haru. Who was once again on his hands and knees, still reeling from having been nearly drowned.

Wirbelsturm: Get up, we still have somewhere to go.

Haru: Just a second, I’m having a bit of trouble breathing over here. Thanks to you jackass. Wait, what are you-

Wirbelsturm reluctantly picks Haru up, carrying him over his shoulder, his lower half behind his back. With Haru completely giving up, not even bothering to put up any sort of resistance whatsoever, since his condition said enough as it is. His whole body felt sore, seeing as the Reaper pushed his body to the limit while he was out.

He then takes him through the hallway. Heading farther and farther away from that supposed main chamber. Down a flight of stairs before continuing to walk in a straight line. Leaving Haru completely in the dark as to where they were going along the way.