As the trio made their way out of the tent, Bella covered her eyes from the sun's light.
"How long was I out?" She asked.
"One day." Draegor answered.
"I'm just happy you're feeling better now." Lilly chimed in with a smile.
"Draegor, I need to know: What did you do to Lilly back in the castle?" Bella didn't look at Draegor when she asked.
"I know you are not blind, old woman. You saw exactly what happened." The masked man answered.
"You know what I mean! What did you do to her?" She shouted, putting stress on her healing wounds.
"Lilly is very unique. I am quite pleased to have her as a part of my collection for the time being." Draegor said with a dark pleasure in his voice.
"You sick bastard. How could you do something like that to my niece?" Bella cursed.
"She was always able to do that."
"What?" Both Bella and Lilly looked to Draegor confused.
"More specifically, it is something she could only do under the condition that she is in currently." Draegor clarified.
"So you're saying that because Lilly's a Duel Monster, she can turn into that fire creature?" Bella crossed her arms in anger.
"Yes she can, and so much more. The more I look into her unique ability, the more possibilities open up to me. The Fire form you saw was only the beginning. There will be more to come." Draegor sounded like he was enjoying himself.
"There's more?" Bella almost choked on her words."
"You are a Light Attribute. I understand your negative impression towards my kind, however, Lilly is of the same is she not?" The dark man asked.
"It's different with Lilly." Bella protested and hugged Lilly, who had only been able to listen to this conversation.
"I… I felt… powerful." Lilly said as she looked at her hands. "But I wanted to burn everything." She added with a scared tone.
Bella watched a few of the townsfolk pass by and nod politely. She hoped that Draegor would stay true to his words and reverse what happened to Lilly someday.
"Why are we heading straight for the mountains? We should be going East towards the Wind Country. It's the safer option to take as the opposite path with lead us into the Fire Country to the north-west, and the mountain itself is impassable unless you've lived in them or can fly." Bella asked with a gruff.
"Then there will be no issue." Draegor answered bluntly.
"You're impossible." Bella sighed. "Fine. I'll go and see if any of the folk know how to pass through the mountains."
"You waste your time." Draegor claimed.
"You have any better ideas?" Bella huffed.
"Yes. We walk until we reach the mountain chain. After that, we cross." Draegor answered bluntly, then started to walk out of the town.
"You idiot! The dragons there will eat you alive. Do you want to get shredded to pieces?" The elder elf panicked. Some of the townsfolk looked towards them with curious eyes.
"It is only you who needs to worry. Stay by my side and such worry will not be of any issue." The masked man claimed with a hard, confident tone.
Bella wanted to continue to argue with the man, but someone else suddenly spoke up. "You must be really experienced with the mountains, or an arrogant fool to try and pass." A large, humanoid lion-man growled as he walked up to the group.
"My thoughts exactly. There are so few who can cross the mountains alive, and even fewer who can do it with ease." Bella added on.
"Your concern is wasted on me." Draegor said with a sigh.
"Is that so? Then perhaps you could prove your strength with a Duel? I am known as King around these parts and I'm among the strongest of Beast-Warriors." The creature challenged.
"King, you said? I am Draegor, however, we do not have time for this. I am following this elf to a safer location."
"A safer location? What are you hiding from? Though I'm not surprised. It is like the Darks to run and hide when things don't go their way." King laughed with a roar.
"It is not for my sake, but the elf's." Draegor answered firmly.
"He's right. My niece and I were sold as slaves to the Light Country many cycles back and we only recently escaped." Bella explained.
"Interesting. So the Lights are just a bad as the Darks?" King laughed again.
"Yes. I happen to be along for their travels." Draegor added with a slightly bitter tone.
"Well, my challenge remains the same. The quickest way to the other side of the Earth Country is through the mountains, but it's also the most dangerous. So if you can best me in a Duel, then I'm sure you'll be able to handle yourselves out there." King said with a menacing smile.
"Fine. I can tell you will not have it any other way, and this will not take long." Draegor said and got himself ready.
"You will all need to fight me." King declared.
"Wh-Why?" Bella asked.
"The creatures won't just go after one of you. If you're all to pass through, you'll need to work as a team." The creature stated.
Draegor looked to Bella. "If you know what is good for you, then be sure to not get in my way." The masked man warned. Bella could feel his cold breath reach her bones.
"Listen, I may not be as strong as you, but I can still fight." Bella argued.
"And how would you fair against King, especially in your current state?" He asked with a dark tone.
Bella was about to speak up, but then she stopped herself. Against the beast, she was no match for him, and her wounds didn't help.
"Let us begin this Duel, King." Draegor called out to the beast.
"With pleasure." King said as he drew out his battle axe.