Chapter 3: Dragon Slayer

With the colossal dragon descending upon him, Soujin’s recognized doom when he saw it. He made that remark about being a Dragon Slayer earlier but now he was not so sure of himself. Regardless, he readied his blade and channeed the power of the wind through its gleaming edge forming powerful bursts of gust that tore through the air with incredible speed and force.

The dragon roared in pain as Soujin struck the beast but it shrugged off the damage it took and looked at Soujin with hungry eyes as if to say it found its next meal.

Soujin saw with his own eyes that his attacks were no good. He watched the dragon shrug off his attacks with disdain for the beast. How was he supposed to take this down?

But out of nowhere his mind snapped up an idea. Soujin now had a plan. This plan was equal parts a daring and foolhardy one that may have been one of the worst ideas he could come up with. He doubted that he could pull this off, but as a man tasked with leadership, he knew he had to make it work, didn't he? For his new comrade Muffet, for the village, for himself and for Money. With a deep breath to steady his nerves, he pushed his fears to the back and brought back the hope that danced within him.

“Alright! Watch Super Soujin in Action!”

The dragon swooped down towards him and opened up its jaws wide. This is when Soujin's instincts kicked into overdrive. With a shriek that echoed through the area he turned and fled. His legs were moving on adrenaline as he scurried through the streets with the dragon hot on his heels.

Bouncing up from building to building with all the agility of a seasoned acrobat Soujin narrowly avoided the dragon's fiery breath as it scorched the earth behind him. With each leap he pushed himself to the limit despite his muscles screaming in protest. He fought to stay one step ahead of his relentless pursuer.

Meanwhile from her vantage point on the sidelines Muffet watched with with amusement bringing up one hand underneath her chin.

"What in the world is that fool doing?" she muttered to herself using her eyes to track Soujin's frantic movements with a raised eyebrow.

As the dragon charged forward with thunderous fury Soujin stood his ground. With a steady hand he held out his blade while initiating his plan.

"Kaze no Monogatari was described to be fast, right?" he muttered to himself. “Well we’re about to find out! It’s live or die for me!”

With adrenaline coursing through his veins Soujin waited, his senses honed to a razor's edge as the dragon bore down upon him with terrifying speed. And then at the last possible moment, he moved—swift as the wind itself. He curved himself in a graceful arc and struck with lightning speed. Soujin’s blade managed to rip through the dragon's wing with a precisely timed slash.

With a deafening roar of pain the dragon and its massive body crashed to the ground in a cloud of dust and debris.

"Thank god, I’m alive," Soujin breathed with disbelief in his tone.

Green blood spewed from the dragon's wounded wing staining the earth beneath it. Soujin's gain a sense of victory but with a deafening roar, the dragon's rage ignited like a wildfire as it got up and released a barrage of fireballs in every direction.

"Oh shit.”

Soujin’s eyes darted frantically as he searched for an escape route. Dodging and weaving he maneuvered with the agility of a cat and just barely avoided the dragon's wrath.

"All I did was piss it off," Soujin muttered to himself.

"Hurry up and finish it, Soujin!" Muffet shouted from a distance. It was in that moment that Soujin nodded his head knowing what he needed to do.

Soujin casted aside his doubts and fears, focusing instead on the task at hand. For he knew that the fate of the village—and perhaps the world itself— was on the line, and he would not rest until the dragon lay defeated at his feet. He also had the money to think about to earn in this new world. If he died, he would not gain any money. This was it, he had found his motivations! He was ready.

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Soujin squared his shoulders. Soujin descended to the ground where the mighty beast thrashed and roared in a storm of rage. Dodging the onslaught of fireballs, he observed the dragon's erratic movements, realizing it was blind to his whereabouts, lost in a maelstrom of fury.

In that moment of realization, Kaze no Monogatari surged with power, bathing Soujin in a radiant green aura. Shocked yet emboldened by this new strength, he felt a race of knowledge coursing through him, a technique whispered to him by the Tale itself.

Closing his eyes in concentration, Soujin raised his blade high feeling something he never felt before but was all too familiar to him. With a steady breath, he opened his eyes which now held a gaze of ferocity within their depths with a green glow.

The Dragon calmed slightly, then found Soujin. It was ready to send another attack towards him.

But Soujin stood firm in the face of the dragon's wrath. With a defiant glare he raised his blade high with a green aura pulsating with untamed power.

"No no no! Not today!”

As the dragon attacked with a torrent of fire towards him Soujin's lips curled into a determined smirk. With a swift motion, he shouted the name of his newfound technique: "Galeforce!"

With a mighty swing of his sword Soujin unleashed a massive blast of Gale that cut through the fireball like a hot knife through butter. It dashed forward with unstoppable power slicing with the distinct sound of blowing currents.

The dragon's eyes widened in shock as it was engulfed which lifted it off the ground and sending it hurtling like a leaf in a storm. With a final shriek of agony the dragon was consumed by an explosion of wind energy and torn asunder by the sheer strength behind Soujin's attack.

As a last act of defiance the dragon sent out a black ball which began descending after its destruction towards Soujin.

With lightning reflexes Soujin dodged the incoming black ball with the speed and grace of a seasoned warrior. As the projectile sailed past him he felt relief wash over him knowing that he had escaped certain doom.

Breathless and weary from the intensity of the battle, Soujin collapsed to his knees taking deep breathes while stabbing his sword into the ground.

As Soujin caught himself, a triumphant smile spread across his face. "I did it," he exclaimed with great exhilaration. "I'm a Dragon slayer!"

With a glimmer of energy coming to his body he rose to his feet and basked in the glow of his victory. But the moment he began to dance in celebration, a sudden sense of unease crept over him within his mind.

Unbeknownst to him, the black substance that the dragon sent out was creeping up on him. Before it could reach him and catch him off-guard, a voice declared something from behind—a voice that Soujin recognized as Muffet's.

"Mystcry Arts number 7: Aranate Cage!" she declared with authority.

"Muffet what are you--?"

In an instant a crystalline barrier formed around Soujin encasing him in a protective cocoon of ice. The black substance collided with the barrier and had its momentum halted in its tracks as it struggled against the frozen prison.

Soujin's eyes widened in astonishment as he watched the darkness writhe and thrash against its icy confines with malevolent intent that was thwarted by Muffet's quick thinking. With each passing moment the substance weakened.

Eventually the last traces of the substance faded away. Soujin let out a relieved sigh while letting his shoulders sag with exhaustion. Muffet approached him with a smile, her eyes sparkling.

"That was a close one, but thanks to Mystcry Arts, your ass is saved."

Confusion clouded Soujin's mind like a thick fog. "What just happened?"

Muffet regarded him with a knowing dark smile, her eyes alight with wisdom beyond her years. "When a Senodokidatsu is on the brink of death, some of them will attempt to merge with the one who struck the final blow," she explained with solemnity. "It's a last-ditch effort to cling to life, but it often results in possession of the host's body."

Soujin's eyes widened in horror at the implications of her words. He gasped and then said while pointing at Muffet.

“So you're saying that black substance was trying to...possess me?"

Muffet nodded.

"That's correct. But thanks to Mystcry Arts number 7: Aranate Cage, I was able to create a barrier to contain the dark energy before it could reach you."

Soujin stood before Muffet, his face turning serious and contemplative.

"Thank you, Muffet, for everything. You saved my ass back there and I owe you more than I can ever repay."

Muffet regarded him with a teasing smirk, "Aw, look at you, getting all serious on me, you’re going to make me blush."

But Soujin's remained neutral faced as he reached out to grasp Muffet's hand. "No, I mean it. Today, in the heat of battle, I realized something crucial. I couldn't have faced that dragon alone. It was your guidance that gave me the strength to stand my ground. I know we just met today and things kinda got ….you know, but there is something that I value in others which is a trait that you have. I would like to stay connected with you.

Muffet's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "Oh? 'Stay connected,' you say?" she replied with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows."Are you trying to hit on me, Soujin? Because I've got to say, that's a pretty smooth line."

Soujin's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red."N-No! I didn't mean it like that," he stammered, waving his hands to dismiss the thought. "I just meant, you know, like staying in touch, as friends. Nothing more, I swear!"

Muffet but bursted into laughter at Soujin's flustered response "Relax, Soujin, I'm just teasing you," But sure, I'd love to stay connected. Friends it is, then."

“You know Soujin, you are a Captain. Captains are supposed to be a lot more experienced than this, but if you disregard that for a moment and place your soul in the body of a captains…well… let’s just say your reincarnation is something special. You've got a knack for facing the unknown head-on, and I've got to say, it's kind of exhilarating to watch."

With a playful wink, she squeezed Soujin's hand before pulling away.

"Thanks, Muffet," Soujin said softly while scratching the back of his head. "I guess being reincarnated into this new life has its perks after all."

"Now come on, let's go find someplace to celebrate our victory. I hear there's an inn nearby and I'm itching for a good scare story to top off the night."

Later that night, Soujin and Muffet found themselves seeking refuge in the warmth and comfort of a nearby inn. Weary in mind, body and soul, they entered the establishment hoping to find rest for their bodies.

The inn's interior was cozy and inviting with the crackling fire casting a warm glow over the rustic furnishings. Soujin and Muffet exchanged tired smiles as they made their way to the front desk.

"Two rooms, please," Muffet requested with exhaustion as she reached into her pocket to retrieve her purse.

But as she fumbled for her coin purse, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of Soujin's stomach. "Um, Muffet, about that..." he began hesitantly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Muffet shot him a quizzical look, her eyebrow raised. "What is it?"

"I'm actually broke...? Remember what we talked about 'solving my problems'? Can’t you help me out here?”

Muffet nonchalantly put her hands in Soujins pockets.

"H-Hey! Don't just go digging in my cloak like that!"

Muffet ignored Soujin's protests. After a moment of rummaging, she withdrew her hand.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here," she remarked, holding up a handful of lint and a lone penny with the skin of the coin nearly off.. "Seems like you're all out of luck, Captain Soujin and will have to sleep outside tonight."

Soujin's growled and folded his arms "After all the world-saving stuff I did today you’re going to do me like that? That’s some tough shit. See if I ever lend you any money when I get rich!"

Before Muffet could respond to that, the innkeeper intervened.

“Oh don't you worry about a thing, dearies," she said with a kindly smile. "After what you did for the village today, consider your stay on the house."

Soujin's eyes widened in surprise at the innkeeper's generosity.

"Th-thank you".

The innkeeper waved off his thanks with a dismissive gesture.

"It's the least I can do for the heroes who saved our village. Now, I must warn you, due to the recent Senodokidatsu incident, we only have one room left available and it may be a little small."

"O-Oh..." Soujin said with a blush.

Muffet gave Soujin a mischievous grin. “Looks like we'll be sharing a room tonight, Captain.”

Soujin's cheeks flushed crimson.

"Y-yeah, I guess so," he stammered speaking barely above a whisper.

Muffet turned to the innkeeper and brought out her bright and cheerful side. "That's no problem at all," she said with a wink. "One room will be just fine."

The innkeeper led them to their room. Soujin couldn't help but feel a strange development within himself of excitement and some level of fear. Sharing a room with Muffet was bound to be an interesting experience, to say the least.

Muffet and Soujin settled into their shared room for the night. They began to get some much needed rest for what was to come for them tomorrow.

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Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Divine Blade Society, a flurry of activity went on as the night watchman delivered his report to none other than Captain Will Blackhart, the leader of the organization.

"Captain Blackheart Sir, we've received word that Captain Soujin of Division 3 and Captain Muffet of Division 6 are currently on a mission together.”

Captain Blackhart's brow furrowed in thought as he processed the information.

"Soujin and Muffet, you say?" he mused, his voice low and contemplative. "That's an unusual pairing. It is so unusual in fact that it is troubling... Muffet has always declined any missions where she would be paired up with Male Captains…”

Captain Blackhart's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Send word to the field agents tracking their movements. I want them brought in first thing in the morning regardless of what they may be up to."