Chapter 10: Drayce

In a forest, a figure dashed through the grass, panting heavily, and on his back was a massive rock. The speed that he went wasn't fast, but it wasn't slow either. It was then that he stopped and put the rock down, causing a powerful tremor. He stretched out his body and walked into the sunlight. Vermilion scales, one arm and a spear on his back, this figure was Porr.

"I should be nearing the Dragon Lands by now, so it would probably take a couple of hours of continuous running, but first, I will take a break," Porr said as he sat down, taking his weapon. "Dominance should have some unique function, like a hidden compartment or an extendable point. Maybe it could even talk and make jokes."

When he thought up of that last impossible idea, he immediately dismissed it. The idea of a talking spear was ridiculous.

Time passed, and Porr put the spear on his back then placed the rock over the weapon and began training again. However, before he could get far, he noticed something trailing him. The dragon could tell that the thing following him had no malicious intent but still didn't like the idea of being followed. Thus, he decided to drop the rock and lose it. By cutting the stone, his speed increased three-fold.

Porr noticed that his pursuer kept going and thought, 'What in Tartarus' blazes is following me. No matter how much I go faster, it keeps sticking close like super glue. Guess I have no choice, but to fight.'

So, he slowed down and launched a bright blue fireball, which hit a branch. With a "thud" sound, the pursuer fell from the branch and appeared in Porr's view. He was a young, short dragon about half the size of Porr. Emerald green scales adorned his body

"Ow, why did you do that?" the emerald green dragon said.

The young dragon surprised Porr. "Just a child? What's your name, kid and why are you following me?"

The fact that a dragon half the size of Porr is capable of keeping up with his speed astounded him.

The fallen dragon stuck out his tongue. "Why should I give you my name, you nearly killed me. I also have no reason to tell why I am chasing you unless you apologize."

Porr didn't like the attitude of this dragon, but he could only say sorry.

The emerald green dragon caught Porr's apology and decided to tell him his name and reason to tail him.

Apparently, his name was Drayce, and the reason he followed was that of help. He had quite a few problems

It was then that Drayce invited Porr over to his place. Porr was hesitant about it at first because of time, but he needed to make up for Drayce's misfortune.

Thirty minutes later, Porr and Drayce arrived at a small cave. They both entered and came across a spacious room with basic furniture, a pile of gems and some cave paintings.

"This is my home. Nice, huh?" Drayce said.

"I guess, but what about the small pile of gems? Shouldn't dragons at least have a decent collection?" Porr asked.

Pain shone through Drayce's eyes. "For five years, a powerful bandit group called "Death's Grasp" have been coming here every month. I can't fight very well, so they extort my gems for their leader, Grim. I don't know what he looks like, but he is very dangerous. Although there is only an outpost here, they are still dangerous."

"Then why don't you leave? With your speed, the bandits shouldn't catch up to you." Porr said, sitting on some furniture.

The pain in the young dragon's eyes changed to helplessness. "That's the thing, they are holding my sis hostage, and that if I run away, they will kill her."

"So, you're expecting me to help you?" Porr asked.

Drayce bowed towards Porr, banging his head on the ground. "Yes, please give me a claw! I'm begging you, if you can save my sis, I will follow you and be your servant."

Porr watched as Drayce bowed, all he could do was refuse. Although the idea of a family member held hostage made his heart bitter, he had no obligation to help the young dragon. Plus, the sight of a proud dragon begging him to deal with bandits, filled him with a slight disgust. Later, he got up and walked towards the entrance.

Drayce asked why Porr refused, but the vermilion dragon didn't answer, so he could only try one more thing.

"I overheard that the bandits recently obtained a map," Drayce said.

Porr stopped in his tracks. "What map?"

Drayce noticed this development and continued. "if you agree to help me, I can tell you where it leads to."

Porr refused again and continued to walk.

Drayce, with no more options, decided to spill on what the map is. "Fine, it leads to a tomb."

Porr halted once again. "A grave? Okay."

He didn't know whether the map leads to Vanlith's tomb or some random grave, but on the off chance that it is the former, he would help.

Drayce was ecstatic to hear an agreement. With his speed and Porr's strength, he could finally see his sister again.

It was at that moment a commotion exploded outside as a deep voice reverberated through the cave.

"It's time for payment," the voice said.

Drayce's face fell. "Why is Kyl here? I paid him just last week."

"It appears that your previous payment was not enough, and now he wants more for his boss," Porr discerned that that voice didn't belong to the leader, so naturally, he wasn't scared.

"Whatever, He will be here any moment now, so you need to hide," Drayce said.

He did not understand the reason to hide, so he shrugged his shoulders in agreement and hid behind a couch.

A few moments later, a stallion arrived at the entrance of the cave. Artichoke green fur with long white hair was barely touching the ground and strapped to his side a sharp dagger, sheathed in its scabbard. In his dark green eyes, one could only see sorrow and grief; it looked as if he experienced a lot in his life.

He glared at Drayce. "Time to pay up again."

"Why? I paid you last week," Drayce said

"The boss wasn't satisfied with your earlier payment, so he sent me to get more. Do you not want to see your precious sister?" Kyl asked in contempt

"You better not have harmed her," Drayce said, narrowing his eyes.

"Don't worry; she's fine for now. Do you have the gems?" the bandit asked.

"I couldn't get enough, so no, I do not have the gems. Besides, you cannot do this."

"We're bandits; we do what we" —the robber froze his mouth and sharply looked in the direction that Porr was hiding— "You can come out now."

Drayce showed nervousness on his face, and Porr widened his eyes in shock. He hid his presence well, but that pegasus could still detect him. However, that didn't matter, as he could easily take him down. Facing no other option, Porr stood up from behind the couch, emanating a subtle killing intent.

"I was right, to think that you got some help, not that it would do anything. If you are not going to donate gems, then I will take yours and your sister's life."

Drayce shivered at those final words, and before he could say anything, Porr quickly moved in front of him. Porr then drew his spear and charged towards the pegasus at lightning speed. However, Kyl reacted quickly and drew his short sword, trying to parry with the spear. But the force of the spear, combined with the dragon's strength, suddenly jolted Kyl back.

Afterward, Kyl came to his senses and flanked Porr, letting out a dangerous attack. Porr noticed this attack. He jutted out his spear end, making contact with the opponent's body. The force of the blow blew the pegasus away, smashing into a cave wall as web-like cracks spread out from the impact.

The bandit coughed up blood and finally fainted. Although Kyl had good perception, he still couldn't compare to a trained dragon regarding power.

Drayce's eyes gleamed. "Wow, you are powerful."

"Eh, he was weak, but what I am interested in is their leader. Maybe he has some connection to the Bloody Five." Porr said, picking up the limp body.

While the chances that the bandit group was related to the Bloody Five were slim, it wasn't too far-fetched. With this thought, Porr now had another good reason to help Drayce.

"What are you going to do with the body?" Drayce asked. He was afraid that Porr brutally murdered the bandit.

"I only knocked him unconscious, so I will find a good location to hide his body. His subordinates might get restless, though, but with their strength, they are no threat to me," Porr said as he quietly disposed of the body into a nearby bush.

Now that the situation was taken care of, Porr followed Drayce to one of the outposts of "Death's Grasp."

(*****)

Meanwhile, in another part of Equestria, a griffon worked tirelessly on something in a lab filled with chemicals and other unexplainable things. This thing he worked on looked like a chamber. Inside the compartment were six capsules, each connecting to six vials. The griffon's name was Grover, one of the Bloody Five, and this machine was exactly the Magic Essence Extractor that he built to accomplish his mission.

Grover finished and wiped off his sweat. "Now that everything is setup, I just need the targets. Get going MPA; I await good results."

Standing at the side of Grover, was the MPA that stole the Crystal Heart, cloaked in darkness. If one didn't look closely, they would never know.

"Yes, Master." With a bow, MPA went through a purplish hole and disappeared.

(To be continued)