When POV is not mentioned, that means the story is told from Bruce's perspective.

I still can't believe my eyes… What was I thinking? Did I make right decision? Scenery in front of my eyes still makes it pretty difficult to believe. I am not in middle of movie shooting, am I? Nope. I don't see any camera crew nearby. I see only red scales around me. When I look around, I spot massive wings. I look below. I see a face… with long mouth protruding out. Yep. No mistake. I am above a massive giant red dragon. I look in front again. Buildings are in ruin, and fire is everywhere. It is like a warzone. Then, there is this weird amalgam of robot or machine whatever.

"So that is your true form." I hear robot voice from there. Is that thing speaking to me? Why am I asking this? I asked for this. I confronted that thing and spoke pretty cool lines before this. I am like this because I still can't believe this is real.

Then I see a transparent sphere within that machine. Four girls are helplessly captured. Their arms and legs are shackled with machine. I remember them… I guess it's all my fault that they are in that situation… I feel… guilty…

Flash back.

My father told me to help others. Look after poor. Those words are engraved in my mind especially after they became his last words. Certain wounds take long time to heal or never heal at all. In my case… never… I guess. My father was a firefighter. I was very proud of him, looking up to him everyday. Always risking his life and rescuing people from fire… so it was not unusual to see him blackened. He kept saying that smile of people were rewards. He didn't encourage me to become a firefighter.

'Just become a beacon of hope and help others.'

Yes, he said that I can become help in other way. I miss days when I admired and listened his story… Yes… he is no more… he sacrificed himself to save others in big accident. From what I heard from the survivors, he never hesitated going back and forth into burning place. It couldn't be more heroic than that. Before collapsing debris could hit him and the last survivor, he threw away the girl and got buried under. People mourned for him. I was among them. I am still one of them. Here I am. Still, daydreaming in school cafeteria. Just normal day, nothing special.

"Bruce, are you still daydreaming?" It's Selena who shakes my shoulder and calls me. Yeah, she is my friend… not a girlfriend though. I am not much into romance.

"Yeah I guess. I am still far behind step of my father." I sniff and answer.

"Are you still stuck on the past? Look. No one is pressuring you to feel that way. You help everyone around you in different way. Your father would've been proud of you."

"I see why you came to me. Another homework?"

"Yep! I still have hard time on this part," she points at a certain section in calculus book.

"In this case, you should…" I explain in detail. It's like I am programmed to do so. It comes off natural I guess.

"Yo, Bruce! Do you know what the next test will cover?" Brandon comes in and asks. Man. I guess I am too popular. Give me a break. But I guess this counts as helping others.

"Man. You really better pay attention during class instead of falling asleep. The test will cover from chapter 5 to 9," I said casually.

"Brandon. Bruce is helping me right now. Just wait for your turn," she stares at him.

"Bruce, can you help me with my homework after you are done with these two," another guy pops up. Annoying? Kinda. Satisfying? I guess because this is helping others. But I hope they don't rely on me too much or they won't improve themselves.

After that, other students gather around for similar reasons. I guess I earned it. My father's will is so deeply engraved in my mind that I can't just ignore others in need. Unfortunately, we are all given limited resource, and that is time. There is limit how much I can help during lunch time, so…

"Alright, guys. Lunch time is almost over, so contact afterschool," I tell everyone around me as I finish helping fifth guy and eating my chicken Caesar salad. I try to prepare my own lunch.

I am an alright student. Nothing special. Just an average Joe. I guess I attract lots of people for an average Joe.

"Hey, James! Wake up! Ms. Nicole is asking you!" I whisper and shake my classmate next to me.

"Ugh…. Oh shit! …Hey, Bruce… what did she ask?" He abruptly wakes up and asks me.

"The answer is nitro sulfide…" I sigh as I gave him the answer.

"N-nitro sulfide!"

"I know where you got the answer, James. Don't expect Bruce to babysit you all the time," she sharply remarks. Her words pierces his heart. Oh dear, I kinda feel bad for him.

This happens everyday. I always feel obligated to be a watcher. The way I act makes pretty less arrogant, but more humble because I act out of compassion. If I see someone being left behind, I try to encourage him as much as I can. Just like that, the school ends, and I keep the promise as fast as I can before going to work. I take care of disabled people at hospital. This is the best I can come up with when it comes to earning money and helping others at the same time. Still, I pale in comparison to my father. Should I really aim for firefighter? But my father told me that I can be whatever I want. He even said I can surpass him. I am not sure, father. I will do my best anyway.

"Here. All done," I said, putting a patient on his bed.

"Thank you, young man."

He has Parkison's disease. Even if there is no hope, it doesn't mean he should be abandoned. Any human being deserves good treatment. But reality is cruel and sad. And I try to oppose such harsh reality as much as I can. Well, that's the last of them. I dress back to my regular clothes and get out of the hospital.

"Oh, it's full moon," I look to the dark sky with awe. River reflecting moon light greatly enhances mood for me. Nature… no matter how simple and mundane it looks from daily view, I can't stop appreciating simple stuff. Then, I wonder… is this good enough to prove that I can be as heroic as my father was? Deep inside… my heart and mind say no although people around me keep telling me that I am so much like my father.

"Full moon light shines the river. And a couple riding a boat over there gives romantic feeling. I love it." Yeah, I love when others are happy. There are cases of me connecting love birds. Others' happiness is like fuel to me. I guess this is what others keep telling me. Just be myself. My father would be proud they say.

"Huh? What's that?" I saw a strange looking fish swimming toward here. Carp? But I don't think there is a carp of that size. And what is that shiny object on its head? Jewel? Then I see the reason why the fish is rushing toward me. Behind it, there is a series of waves and ripple. I see some kind of tentacles trying to catch the fish. Before it can be caught, the fish shoots its head jewel at my head. I didn't see that coming. I was totally caught off guard since everything happened almost in blink of eyes.

"Argh!" That really hurts. Probably one of the most painful experience in my life. I roll over and desperately touch my forehead. I keep moving around in agony and try to get the thing off me.

"I want to be alone."

"Huh? Who is speaking?" I wonder in midst of enormous pain. Then, I realize that I am being dragged by those weird tentacle thingy. "Shit!"

"Why can't anyone leave me alone!?"

Damn it! Is something speaking to my mind? Well, that would be the least of my concern at the moment as I am drowning. I feel enormous rage flowing through me. Something is filing and expanding my body… as I turn my head to right, I see my right arm tangled in mechanical tentacles. Then, something red start to pop up from my arm… measles? No. Literally more like scales. Scales? What the hell? What's happening to me? Why is this machine targeting me? There is no way to find the answer. My right arm begins to grow at exponential rate. Same with my left arm when I turn left. With that my consciousness slowly fades away…

Alice POV

Lots of patients, but not enough hands. Oh boy. It's a lot of work. At least, I should be glad that Bruce works here. He really got the jobs done fast and efficiently. I can't lose to him. I better work harder. I am organizing important equipment and items. Then, I hear strange sound. It is definitely coming from outside.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaa~!"

What the heck is that sound? Roar? I rush to window and witness source of the noise.

"Oh my god!" I can't believe my eyes! I can't put my jaw back. A giant red dragon? Probably 360ft I guess. Apparently, it is struggling against some kind of wires. Was there supposed to be movie shooting here? I never got such notice. No way any movie company can make such huge prop model to film. As the dragon struggles, its each step causes tremor. It tries to fight off and cut moving wires around it, but those wires are relentless. They won't let the creature go. The dragon is forced to trip. The impact causes huge earthquake.

"Jesus! Run!"

"Aaaaa!"

"Call the police! No call national guard!"

I hear other people shouting and screaming in terror. But unlike them, I keep watching the fight scene out of curiosity. I don't know why, but it's like my mind is fixated on the scene. Then, I see some kind of robotic arm spawning from the pool of wires and hitting the dragon.

"Kaaoooo!"

It looks to be in pain. I can tell that by sound of its roar. And I see waves of machine spawning from the same spot. Missile launchers? Cannons? What is this? Skynet? It is literally warzone.

Bo-boo-boom!

Kaboom!

Explosion from missiles and cannon fire blocks sight. When smoke clears bit, I can see silhouette of both beings. The dragon swings its claws to shake off grip of the wires and slash those weapons. One powerful attack seems pretty effective against cluster of machine as the machine mass falls back. The dragon is without single scratch. But it doesn't seem interested in revenge. It rather turns back and tries to flee as it opens its wings. However, the machine stretches out its wires and catches and wraps the wings.

"Grrrrr!"

Even its snarl is loud enough to be heard from here. It looks really pissed off. It turns its head back to the machine because it realizes that there is no choice but to fight back. This time, the machine creates a massive gun. I see light gathers at the gun… is it actually charging shot? Is this real? On the other hand, the dragon is glowing hot… like a miniature sun. Showdown with all they got? I guess… but that's bad news. I don't know what got hold of me, but I feel frozen. My body won't even budge. I helplessly watch the glowing dragon charges right at the gun barrel.

Booooooooom!

Impact of the collision is tremendous. With flash of bang, shockwave destroys most of the hospital, and I was blown away. I got scratch all over my body, but reason nothing hits my head from above is that the shockwave was powerful enough to send upper floors far away. Despite pain, my sight is fixed on the fight scene. A giant sphere popped up out of nowhere. It must have been side effect of the clash… both the dragon and the machine are partially engulfed in that sphere. Then, suddenly, the sphere rapidly expands, devouring them. Next, there came blinding flash. When I managed to open my eyes, only large crater remained.

"Oh dear… I hope nobody got hurt… otherwise, I will be too busy with patients in already messed up hospital." Then, I remembered something… *gasp* "W-wait. Wasn't Bruce walking there like usual on his way home?"

I tried to call him, but no response.

"Oh god… I hope you are okay…"

C-Sha POV

I decided to take Rom and Ram on hunting trip. Since Blanny was busy with writing her novel, she asked me to take care of her siblings, so they wouldn't bother her. I really wish she spend more time with these two cuties. On the other hand, this gives me opportunity to be their guardian angel… or sister. I guess this is how it feels like to have little sisters.

"Just watch how I hunt my prey, girls," I give them halt sign and crouch.

"Oh wow! C-Sha is now like a tiger waiting to pounce on its prey!" Ram shouted cheerfully.

"I cannot wait. *pitpat pitpat*" Rom smiles right next to me with sparkling eyes. Oh man… I better not disappoint them in my first show off to them.

"Girls. Please quiet down. The prey will run away if you make noise."

*Chirp chirp*

Sound of bird reminds us that we are not alone in this snowy forest. It is proof that we are in wilderness. But that doesn't distract me from my target. I got it in my sight. No mistake. It's definitely a retro deer. I drool bit with anticipation of its juicy meat. Still, I approach it silently. Rom and Ram shut their mouths up and watches me from distance. I calculate distance from the target and mark where to hit. It is peacefully grazing on grass and leaves. It has no idea what's coming. I ready myself, but…

"Kabooooom!"

Sudden sound of explosion alarmed the prey, ruining my hunt.

"Damn it! I almost had it! …besides, what was that noise?"

"Look at there!" Ram pointed at far sky. There seems to be some kind of dimensional breach followed by huge explosion.

"Something is falling from there!" Rom added.

"There are actually two falling from there… one falling to… Lastation I think… the other…" I try to look carefully to calculate trajectory.

"It looks like a dragon."

"And it looks like it is coming this way!"

"You are right, Ram! Girls! Get down!" I quickly move and embrace them. This dragon accidentally mows down huge chunk of forest as it falls down. If I were bit late, Rom and Ram would've been pancakes.

*Crack crack*

*Wham*

After series of wood breaking sound, there was pretty big quake. It was definitely sound of that thing crashing.

"Girls, I am going to check what crashed there. Just go back to Lowee and inform Blanny."

"I don't want to leave you going to risky place all by yourself, *sniff sniff*" Rom is clearly worried about me by look of her teary face.

"We can protect ourselves. Don't treat like babies! We are coming with you!"

"*Sigh* alright… I doubt I can persuade you two to stop following me. Just stick to me closely. We don't know when that creature will wake up."

"Roger! *smile smile*"

"You can count on us!"

With that, we march through the broken forest. Broken trees show clear path to the target. I doubt I can take care of that thing based on its huge size. It's okay… we are just going to check it, not engage it.