GVS2: Battle Revolution
Conceived By: Lone Wolf SIX
Written By: Lone Wolf SIX
Lone Wolf SIX does not own any of the games/animé/manga/magazine/whatsoever inside this story. He does, however, own all the original characters conceived in this story. So, don't 'play-play' with him and own them without his permission, ne?
Also, Lone Wolf will try to update this story as quickly as possible, probably every week or so.
x-x-x-x-x
Chapter 31: Awaken
Part 1: Sorrow
The gangs of Gensoumaden Saiyuki were having very much time to talk and fight with, especially after they hadn't met for a very long period of time. Goku, especially, were very excited at the fact that he finally had the opportunity to win the duel against his archrival Kougaiji. Sanzo, as usual, had trouble dealing with the mischievous Lirin whom always called him 'bald monk'. Gojyo and Dokukaguji were, instead of fighting, decided to share their experience of being dumped into the universe of Guilty Gear. As for Hakkai and Yaone…
"Ara, even Hakkai-san got involved in this craziness, ne?" asked Yaone as she attempted an attack on Hakkai.
"At least, I'm not like those two," Hakkai spoke, referring to Gojyo and Sanzo. Yaone looked at the two people said by Hakkai and couldn't help but to giggle.
"Sou…"
"Ne, Yaone-san," Hakkai called her, "while we're at it, why don't we have a talk for a while? It's been a while since we last met."
Yaone looked at the ex-demon and smiled. "Yorokonde."
"Hey, no fair!" Both looked at Lirin, at that time whining and trying to escape Sanzo's arms. "You two have time to talk with each other, while I can't do anything but to fight this bald monk!"
"Urusai…" Sanzo growled, veins popping on his head.
They looked at other direction and watched the battle between Goku and Kougaiji, in which the two gallantly fought in attempt to outdo each other. "Except for Goku," Hakkai added. "Ever since he vowed to avenge the Chinese chef's decease, he's been fighting very hard for her sake. She's like a sister to him, anyway."
"Poor Goku," Yaone commented.
"Yeah," Hakkai replied. "But whatever it is, we're still enemies, right?"
Yaone giggled. "Though our rivalry is the weirdest people have seen."
"I second that." They looked at each other and bowed to each other, before resuming their delayed battle.
"Oi," Gojyo called, "stop fighting for a while and have sake with us."
"Yeah, it's been a long time since we last met," Dokukaguji insisted. "So, Gojyo, have you managed to impress the two girls you said earlier?"
"Almost," Gojyo spoke, "but they keep on dumping me. And you know Sanzo, right? He keeps telling to shut up every time I complain about Dizzy. Sheesh, what is he? A Lolicon or something?"
Dokukaguji laughed out loud and slapped his little brother's back. "That's the spirit, boy. Don't ever give up on that."
"Heh, you still haven't changed ever since," Gojyo replied and laughed.
x-x-x-x-x
Mriya couldn't believe it. Right before her eyes, a robot in the Holy Knight uniform came from nowhere and snatched Zofeah and carried him to safety. She summoned Chaos Drones and commanded them to attack the interferer, yet he was too far for the drones to catch.
"Fool! Nobody dares to defy my will!" Mriya roared and executed a gigantic Falken Sworden. It completely missed the escapees and she grew furious by it.
"Your will ends today in the name of God." She turned around and saw a person in the same Holy Knight outfit the robot wore standing before her, facing her with his Fuuraiken in his hilt.
"And who might you be, human?" Mriya demanded.
"The name is Ky Kiske," Ky pronounced. "Ex-leader of the Holy Order, currently serves as International Police Force officer. I had led the Holy Crusades against the Gears, and I must say that you are among the corrupted beings whose objective is none other than to destroy the world."
"I'm corrupted, you say?" Mriya insisted.
"And to know the fact that you even wish to see Hikki die," Ky spoke and pointed Thunderseal at the woman's face, "I cannot forgive the kind of sinful act. By the name of Holy Order, I shall punish you today."
"So, you're the famed Holy Knight everybody is talking of, eh?" Mriya mocked and began powering up. "Let's see how well this holy boy is."
.
Standing before him, Justice groaned in pain, his body armour breaking into pieces. The Command Gear glowered at the Holy Knight with an absolute anger in his eyes. "I can't believe it… I've been defeated again," the Gear groaned.
"That's right! Evil has no place in this world!" Ky answered.
Justice hissed. "Evil…? How dare you call me evil! I fight for my own existence. No more, and no less…"
"That can't be your reason for waging war on humans!" the Holy Knight insisted.
Justice was silent. His burning eyes still glared at the man who defeated him. Then, "…Look at my body. I was created by humans to kill humans… I'm a weapon. Yet, the same humans that created me never thought about my mind, or soul." He grinned afterwards and hesitantly stood up, facing Ky. "I'd have been used as a tool… and if I refused, I'd have been dismantled!"
Ky seemed reluctant to answer. "…I…"
"Ask yourself," the command Gear spoke. "Can you truly blame me? I was born into this world as a slave… and now you're here to destroy me. I know humans loathe me violently… and always will. I could do nothing but live on, if for no other reason than to scorn my creators! But what do you think I've been living FOR? My duty. My assigned role! I was created to kill, and so I do. It's justice!"
"That's a delusion!" Ky insisted. "What God ordains and wishes for… the order of the world! THAT is justice!" He frowned, clenching the hilt of Thunderseal tightly. "If anyone or anything attempts to deprive the world from its freedom… I'll defeat them all!"
"I see… you should meet the man who created me. I wonder if your unwavering faith in justice would continue if you did…"
Ky's eyes widened. "Who… who's that?"
Justice grinned before he suddenly shivered. The damage he sustained was beyond repair. He glared at the Holy Knight for the last time. "Heh… my time to depart from this world has come. But remember well, young Knight, even if I die, the Gears will not! As long… as long as that man… still… lives…" Falling on the floor, with a rattling chuckle, the ultimate Gear breathed his last, leaving Ky in total delusion.
"No… you can't die yet! Who…?" Ky looked up to the sky and sighed. "Wasn't I doing the right thing, Lord?"
.
Ky sighed. The unwanted memory of his past duel with Justice came alive in his mind. And it had reminded him of how similar the situation he was facing now. Yet this time, it was different. Mriya may be a command Gear, but she would never give him the same feeling of Justice. After all, unlike Justice who was created to disrupt humanity, Mriya's existence is nothing but a disturbance to Hikki, though she is as corrupted as Justice was.
(background music: Holy Order –Be Just Or Be Dead-)
"So be it," Ky spoke and braced himself, generating electricity in the blade and focusing it into one point. "STUN EDGE!" An electric projectile was unleashed from the sword and flew toward Mriya in high speed. Ky immediately chased the projectile and made a Stun Dipper as soon as the woman blocked the Stun Edge, knocking her off her feet. Ky immediately fired a Stun Edge Charge Attack as she tried to wake up, causing her to stagger.
"You have no right or whatsoever to live on this soil!" the knight shouted and spun his hand in circular motion, denoting the startup movement of his overdrive. "SACRED EDGE!" Five sharp-edged projectiles hurled away from Ky's palm toward the command Gear, causing her to be stunned and dragged halfway backward. Ky proceeded with another Sacred Edge, this time sending Mriya to a complete paralyze.
"O force of lightning, grant me power to protect the one I love and care!" he declared and dashed toward the stunned Mriya. "RIDE THE LIGHTNING!"
Zofeah saw the attempt from faraway. "Ky! NO!" Yet Ky was already in the movement, and he was unable to stop.
x-x-x-x-x
Hikki woke up, startling Yuu who was sleeping peacefully beside him. "Hikki?" the girl asked.
"I must go…" he half-whispered and jumped off the bed. "Little brother… is in danger…" He walked toward the door, but halted when Yuu snatched his hand. "Please, Yuu… I must save little brother…"
"NO!" Yuu cried and pulled him into her embrace. "Please… don't go… I beg of you…" she whispered, clinging onto him. Hikki didn't say anything for a while, before he turned around and lifted her face. She stared at him. "Please… don't risk yourself again…"
"I'm sorry, Yuu… I know you're very worried of me, but…" His eyes were showing pain the moment he spoke 'very worried'. "Thinking of that almost everyday… leaves only pain in my heart. I'm so sorry, but you must let me go."
There was no answer from Yuu. The girl, later, buried her face on his shirt, breaking into tears. "You idiot… you always go and risk yourself… but you're just plain idiot…"
"Yes, I know I'm idiot," he spoke and lifted her face, "but because of I being an idiot, I live till today." He bent forward, reached her tender lips and pressed his lips against it. Yuu was brought into a momentary shock, and could do nothing but to submit to the kiss, letting her tears flowing down her cheeks. Heart pounding wildly against her chest, it was if she wanted the kiss to last longer when she returned the kiss with the same passion as his.
Hikki pulled himself off the kiss and stared at her watery eyes. "Please, Yuu… you must understand what's going on. My brother needs me right now and… just let me go. I promise I won't get hurt this time."
"Will you?" asked the girl.
"Do whatever you want to me if I fail to keep the promise," he spoke and kissed her wide forehead. "I have to go."
"Please… be careful…" she begged.
x-x-x-x-x
To Ky's surprise, Mriya reversed the overdrive. The command Gear had somehow relieved herself from the paralyse status and reacted seconds before Ride The Lightning arrived. Before he could even react, Ky was already sent flying to the air. Mriya had used the infamous Time Revolt reversal against the Holy Knight, and Ky was experiencing the true ferocity of the Chrono magic.
"Feel the wrath of Imperial Revolt!" Mriya cried and unleashed heavy-hitting laser from the shoulder-mounted cannon. Ky, already unable to tech out from Time Revolt, got struck by the laser and was sent flying to the air. The energy wave generated from the overdrive was so strong that it managed to cancel all fighting sprees.
"Mister Ky!" Dizzy cried in horror. She tried to interfere, before Hotaru and Rock stood in her way. "But I must save Mister Ky! I must!"
"Have you got any idea of how dangerous Mriya is?" Zofeah insisted. "She's already dangerous in her command Gear mode, and combined with the Chrono magic she's a killing machine!"
"I don't care!" Dizzy insisted, her ruby eyes burning in desperation. "Mister Ky is in danger, and I must save him no matter what! Onegai; let me go!"
They saw Ky falling to the ground, directly toward Mriya. She looked above and opened her palms wide, igniting Chrono-generated gale from it. A very demonic glint was noticed from her eyes, as she lifted her palms upward.
"Chrono…"
She waited, as Ky fully became visible in her sight…
And she brought one palm to the ground.
"STORM!"
The Raising Storm-lookalike overdrive erupted both from the ground and the open sky, trapping everyone within its range. The daredevils were brought into surprise by the incredible force the overdrive possessed, and had to Fortress Block its destructive power.
It didn't end there. As soon as the overdrive completely annihilated the entire arena into nothingness, Mriya executed yet another Chrono Storm, more powerful and more vicious than before. This time, it Ky got trapped inside the violent Chrono-powered gale vortex, mercilessly shredding and cutting every inch of his body. His cry of distress and pain was drowned by the noise of the storm, and before long he fainted.
It ended. Chrono Storm ended its destructive duration. The Holy Knight had fallen, and Mriya stood victorious. She showed no sign of fatigue at all. Knowing that her opponent had lost, she glared at the rest of the daredevils. Opening her arms wide as if in Testament's Warrant stance, she mockingly grinned and demanded another challenge from them. Robo Ky was already stepping forward in his iaijitsu stance, followed by Terry, Rock, Iori, Justine and Athena. Sol took no reaction, although Kagura suggested that he should at least fight the new command Gear. Geese, offended by the villain, stepped forward, telling the lone wolf and its cub to step back and let him deal with the woman.
"Stop it."
The voice was unmistakable. Mriya looked behind her and saw the owner of the voice. She couldn't help herself but to grin at it. "Well, if it isn't the foolish Chrono himself. How unfortunate of you to be here."
"Just stop it," Hikki pleaded. "Stop torturing these people just because of me. Just stop it, damn it…"
"Oh?" Mriya asked, slightly offended by the plea. "Then why don't you come and face me instead? For someone with the pride of Falken clan, you are nothing but a hindrance."
Hikki frowned. He had his fists clenched tightly, and he could feel his Chrono force enraging inside of him. "You've hurt Ky… and you even hurt little brother… how can I not be a hindrance when you torture these people with purpose? How can I not?"
"Your voice sickens me from the very beginning," Mriya insisted and generated a light blade from her palm. "And the fact that you're my sibling also sickens me. Therefore I must exterminate you."
Hikki glared at her, his eyes burning in despair. "Why do you hate me, oneesama? What sin have I done against you? And… why do you involve other people? Why?"
"It's not that I hate or despise you," she coldly answered, "but the fact that your existence means nothing to me. I am born merely to accomplish the will of Falken clan."
Hikki flinched by the speech. "Stop it!"
"And I have been chosen to be the truthful owner of the Chrono magic-"
"Stop it!" again he demanded, snarling in dismay.
Mriya chuckled. "Look at you. You're weak; you're pathetic; you're a cry-baby; you're despicable; how can you inherit the magic if you don't even know its significance?"
"I SAID STOP IT!" and Hikki fired a tense Reppuken at the corrupted woman. It was weak, yet it was fairly enough to surprise her. He held his hand and shivered uncontrollably, groaning in a low, menacing voice. "You make me sick…"
"It seems that the blood is going to awaken," Mriya spoke. "But even if it does, how can you use it for your own benefit? You're still weak, and you'll forever be a weakling. I'm disappointed at you."
"I SAID YOU MAKE ME SICK!" the teen shouted and tossed a Double Reppuken at Mriya. The woman easily deflected the projectile and dashed toward Hikki, ready to land the Falken Schneider on him. Hikki saw the oncoming charge and opened his arms in blocking position.
"Your tactic will never work against me, Chrono!" she shouted and slashed the teen downward. Hikki didn't react; he just blocked the light blade with his bare hands, enduring the pressure applied against him. "See? I have told you it won't work with me!"
"As if you expect it to happen," Hikki replied and grabbed the command Gear. "Weak or not, I will fight against my opponent with all I've got, even if the opponent is my own sister!" He brought her to the ground and slammed her hard on it, causing her to bounce off the ground.
"Your Chrono Storm is weak! I shall show you the original power of the storm!" With that announced, he slammed both fists on the ground in his Rising Crescent stance, but instead of the crescent-shaped storms, a pillar of vortex appeared, trapping both him and Mriya inside.
"You said it's weak?" Mriya roared and broke off the overdrive. "You haven't seen the combined power of Chrono magic and Gear yet!" With that, she counterattacked with another Chrono Storm. Hikki evaded the overdrive and fired torrents of Reppuken at the woman, all of which were deflected by the storm's barrier. Hikki, then, executed Chrono Install and dashed into the Chrono storm and fired another torrent of powered-up Reppuken at her. The time-stopping effect of Chrono Install counteracted with those of Chrono Storm, causing the entire dimension to alter and deteriorate.
"The time space is distorting!" Zofeah shouted. "Quick! Everybody, execute Faultless Defence!" They did as the organizer told, and was saved from the time distortion. Zofeah looked at the two warring ones, and clenched his fists in despair. "Brother, please…!"
The Chrono Install ended, and Hikki was caught in fatigue. Mriya seized the opportunity and landed Falken Jagger, launching the tired teen to the open sky. The variation of Beta Blade couldn't be counterattacked as Hikki had run out of energy, and he was sent floating in midair.
"I shall kill you!" Mriya roared and executed Falken Sworden, slicing Hikki's body across. The teen cried in pain and crashed on the ground, bleeding all over his body. Zofeah jumped between the two, facing Mriya who was by now executing her instant kill duration.
"Stop it, sister! Don't hurt him!" he begged.
"Step aside, you'll be killed later," Mriya demanded.
"Stop it, please! He's your brother! Don't do this to him!" he pleaded.
Mriya was offended and grabbed the organizer's neck. "Then I have to kill you first," she spoke and pierced a blade into his neck. Hikki saw the murder and cried in horror to see his brother murdered before his eyes. Zofeah tried to say something before he choked. There was no movement from him, and he presumably died. "Pathetic," the woman uttered and tossed the lifeless body aside.
"You… you killed Zofeah…" Hikki responded.
"What? You expect me to grant him a painless death?" she spoke and summoned Chaos Drones. "There shall be no escape for you." She, then, commanded the drones to hold Hikki up, while she jumped to a distance and summoned twin light blades. The blades were glowing faintly at first before they flashed brightly in an intense whiteout. "Don't worry, you'll meet your brother in the afterlife soon." Mriya dashed toward Hikki who was held in crucified position, leaving the same faint cross behind her. At that time, Terry, Rock, Robo Ky, Hibiki and Zero already dashed toward the scene, racing against time to rescue Hikki from becoming the victim of Mriya's destroyer move.
Out of nowhere, a girl jumped before him, arms wide open, fearlessly faced the oncoming instant kill. Hikki was blinded by the intense brightness of the twin blades that he could not recognize the girl. At that time the command Gear was already closing, and there was no escape from the instant kill.
"Hikki, you idiot."
Hikki gasped. That voice, he knows it very much. He looked at the girl. He was shocked.
"Y-y…"
"Die. Saint Anger."
The bright light flashed. Hikki could neither see the command Gear nor the girl. All he saw was two light streaks colliding and forming a cross, all becoming a whiteout that almost blinded his sights. He thought that he would be dead, until the girl reappeared from the whiteout, still standing in front of him. The girl turned around and stared at him, her eyes showing no regret.
"Y-YUU!?"
The girl smiled before blood gushed out of her body. At the same time, the whiteout disappeared and the scene returned to the battlefield. Hikki snatched her before her body touched the ground. "Yuu!? What the hell are you doing!?" he exclaimed while holding her bloodstained body.
"Hikki…" she struggled to speak before she coughed of blood. "I'm sorry for doing this mindless act… I'm so sorry…"
"Why are you doing this!? Why?" he demanded.
She smiled at him and cupped his cheek with her bleeding palm. "Sometimes… people will do crazy things just for the sake of their beloved one… right? I-I guess I'm among those people…"
"But not like this! Please, Yuu, don't die! Don't leave me alone!" he pleaded. "Damn it, I've already lost Zofeah, and…"
(background music: Hinata versus Neji -Naruto OST II-)
"I'm sorry, Hikki…" Yuu apologized, gasping for air and coughed of blood again. "Please, forgive me…"
"Don't apologize at me, damn it! You… you're idiot! You're so idiot for doing this!" he yelled.
Yuu looked away, breaking their eyesight. "Why… why did you call me idiot?" she asked, breaking into tears.
"Because… because I love you, damn it!" Hikki was startled. Was he just confessing his feeling? "Yuu… I…"
"Idiot." Yuu simply answered. "You're so idiot for risking yourself… and you're so idiot for loving me…" She looked back at him, her supple cheeks now moistened by tears. "You're just plain idiot… that's why I'm in love with you…"
"Don't say it again, please!" he cried and embraced her tightly. "It's my fault for being an idiot… you can punish me if you want to…" he sobbed. "God, is this the price I have to pay for my life…?"
"Hikki, my body hurts…" Hikki released her off his hug and saw her coughing even more blood and gasping for air. "I can't take it any longer… it hurts so much…"
"Yuu, no! You're not going to die! You hear me?" he told her. Yuu merely gleamed and brought his face toward her. Struggling to keep it idle, she pressed her trembling lips against his, surrendering to the kiss which could be their last. Hikki could do nothing but to respond to the kiss, unable to contain the sorrow in his torn heart.
"Promise me, Hikki…" she spoke as the two broke the kiss, "promise me to live… even without me…"
Hikki shook his head in disagree. "No, Yuu, I can't…! I just can't…! Don't you realize how important to me you are? I need you badly… I can't afford to live without you…"
"Hush…" she put a finger on his lips, smiling at her lover. "Yes, Hikki, I need you too… I once wished for the two of us to be together forever… it was a lame wish, I know… to love somebody not from among of us…"
"Hikki…" she called him, "I feel my time's running out… I can't bear this pain for much longer… promise me, Hikki… promise me…"
Hikki seized her hand and stared at her auburn eyes. "I…" he struggled to answer.
"Hikki, please, hurry…" she begged and coughed even more blood, staining her already bloodstained dress.
He gathered his strength to let out the answer from his throat, "I-I promise you…" He saw the wide, generous smile carved upon her weakened face. "I promised you, right?"
"Thank you, Hikki… farewell…"
Hand dropped to the ground, her eyes slowly shut. Hikki felt her heartbeat slowing to a halt. Effortlessly he jiggled her body, before he embraced the girl. "Yuu… I'm sorry…" he whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks, dampening her clothes.
Slowly, Hikki laid Yuu on the ground, giving her his final respect. Silent as he was, he later stood up and faced Mriya. "You're not Mriya. You're a demon in disguise, and you purposely played my and everyone's emotion for your greed. You arrogantly demand everyone to bow before you, how can I not be angry with you?" he spoke in calm yet enraged tone. Mriya was about to answer when she got pushed by an invisible barrier. She looked at him and saw an apparition of dragon wings appeared from his back.
"What is this feeling…?" the woman uttered as she watched at his emerald eyes, by now burning in a passionate anger and vengeance. It was nothing special to her, but later she realized something. "It can't be…!"
Hikki lowered his stance, crossed his arms as in his Chrono Install startup movement. When she expected him to execute the powerup overdrive, he glowed in metallic blue aura and trembled violently. The dragon wings grew bigger, shadowing the area by its silhouette. Mriya was caught in fear she never felt before, and could not do anything to dissipate the fear.
He lowered his arms, breathed out and emitted a deafening cry that could shatter an unprotected ear, unleashing all power hidden deep inside of him. The cry was different, because it was more of an ancient beast than of a human.
"The cry of an awakened dragon," Kagami commented. "The same cry I heard while fighting Kaede. It seems that a dragon is sleeping in this boy's body, and it's been awakened by the sorrow he has to endure."
The cry lasted as if for eternity, shattering and shuddering every living being who heard it. The daredevils could only watch in shock and awe, as the shape of a dragon finally took place, staring down at the human. It later shrunk and retreated into Hikki's body, as the cry came to a complete halt. Silence followed afterwards, and the people were staring at the teen.
"Insolent human who misuses the Chrono magic for fulfilling their greed," Hikki broke the silence with a speech they could've sworn not of a human's. "I shall not allow the magic to be used by any and all kind of beings." He later looked at Mriya and pointed a finger at her. "And you are the lowest of all lowlifes I have met. Toying with your siblings' feeling as if they're nothing but a burden to you, you shall be punished."
"Who… who are you?" asked Hibiki.
Hikki looked at the iaijitsu warrior. "I am Nagalintar, the guardian of Chrono. I have been put into sleep inside this child's body from the moment he was brought into this world. Have no worry, young warrior; I exist only to punish those who misuse the magic."
"Hikki, behind you!" Responding to Rock's yell, Hikki turned around and saw Mriya charging toward him with Falken Sworden deployed. He waited until the overdrive was close to him, and he immediately reversed it, tossing the command Gear faraway.
"You shall never defy me," Hikki spoke and tossed a Reppuken the size of Napalm Death at the falling command Gear. "Kami Reppuken." The gigantic gale projectile hit Mriya and caused her battlesuit to crack apart. She crashed on the ground, groaning in pain and tried to stand up before she fell onto her knees.
"Curse… curse you…" she hissed, gasping breathlessly. She saw Hikki approached her, with the gale raging in blue/green mixture, ready to be released at anytime. "Even though you're the guardian of Chrono, I'm still the absolute owner of the Chrono magic. I shall not repent my action, and I shall not bow before you!"
"I have no intention of letting you to bow before me," Hikki coldly spoke, "I exist to guard the Chrono magic from all living beings, and I shall punish those who break the law of the Chrono. You are no exception." He later halted and looked at Hibiki. "Young warrior, this is one example of how greedy a human's desire can be. In order to achieve their desire, they will do anything and never think of regretting their acts. Think of this for your own good."
Hibiki seemed reluctant. "…I…"
"Take everyone from this place, including the fallen ones," Hikki spoke. "This battlefield has gone too dangerous for any of you to face. I alone am enough to face her."
"But Hikki, what about you?" Hibiki asked.
"Don't worry about this child, young warrior," Hikki answered. "As long as I'm inside his body, he shall not be hurt. You can have my words." Hibiki didn't say anything afterwards. She looked at the awakened dragon and nodded, and walked away from him. Terry and Rock helped in carrying the dead bodies, and they immediately fled to a safe distance, followed by everybody else. Hikki watched at the people before he looked back at Mriya.
"Have any last words before the judgement takes place?" Hikki uttered.
"I shall kill you…" Mriya insisted. "I shall…"
Hikki, unaffected by the threat, simply grinned. "So be it."
x-x-x-x-x
Lone Wolf looked at the sky. He saw the dragon apparition rising up to the edge of the heaven and descended back to the earth. "Oh, no. It's begun already." He looked at the weapon he had obtained from Nik Hasta, which looked nothing more than a dagger concealed in its beautiful leather sheath. He clenched its hilt and quickly ran toward the direction of the dragon he saw. "I hope it's still not too late."