Drageria

Ch.20: Invasion, part. 3

Without warning, Ladon charged towards All Might with vicious velocity and speed that he certainly underestimated! Taken by surprise at first, but still managing to dodge his serpentine movement strikes. His teeth snapped widely as poison dripped from his mouth and threatened to splatter on his body! Once All Might managed to gain some ground, he charged up an attack and hit the chameleon dragon with a powerful slap! Ladon was sent off to the side but managed to pull a tricky maneuver on the hero.

Ladon hooked his front leg into the ground and used the force from the slap to make his body move in a sharp 180-degree turn. Causing his tail to spin like a bat and slam right into the hero! Luckily all Might managed to grab the tail and almost gloated at the failure until he was lifted off his feet and slammed into a skidding slide across the ground by the tail. All Might was whipped off into the air where Ladon grabbed him with his tongue and flung him to the ground!

After the crash, All Might had to roll away quickly as Ladon tried to squash him under his hung clawed hands! He smacked the ground multiple times, trying to flatten the hero, but always missing! Eventually, he got tired of trying to smack him, and since he was so close to the ground, biting wasn't an option. So ladon did the next best thing and tried to pierce the hero with his huge facial horn! All Might continued to roll out of the way from the nose sword until he finally rolled backward and popped to his feet. Though this left him open to a charge attack from Ladon.

The dragon arched his back and came directly at him with his nose horn ready to strike! But as usual, All Might managed to outmaneuver the animal and let it fly past him and pierce a building! The horn sunk deep into the structure and Ladon was unable to pull himself free! The dragon wriggled and clawed at the ground trying to break free, but it was useless. All Might nodded at his handy work and slapped off his hands while casually walking away from the stuck animal. He looked out towards the two children he was about to save and saw them running away. Just before he could dash after them, he heard a very loud cracking and crashing sound, soon followed by the force of a building collapsing down behind him.

He turned around slowly and saw that the building that had trapped Ladon was now in pieces, with ladon free though not entirely.

A huge chunk of the house was stuck still affixed to his horn, and despite his lanky appearance, Ladon managed to easily hold up his head with the huge chuck. Then he did something All Might should've expected. He lifted his head back and sent it slamming forward, causing the huge house chuck to crash hard into the ground and sending chunks everywhere! If All Might wasn't hit by the debris, then he would've been hit by the sheer wind pressure from the impact and sent flying away! Ladon repeated this process several more times until he wasn't only exhausted, but the chunk had been smashed to bits! All Might saw his chance and decided to escape while grabbing the kids on the way!

Just as he started to run off towards them, Ladon got his second wind and started to follow in hot pursuit! The dragon went from running across the street to crawling rapidly along the side of the buildings! Even managing to catch up and pass All Might! The dragon eventually gained enough of a lead to jump out in front of the hero and roar at him, and just in the nick of time as he was about to snag Izuku, who was still running with Eri!

All Might jumped back and took note of this. The dragon wasn't trying to attack him but defend the kids. Izuku stood behind Ladon, afraid if he tried to flee, All Might would pull a fast one and scoop them up. Ladon kept his head low and hips up with his wings spread and teeth bared with both his telescopic eyes trained on him. All Might moved to the left and so did his Ladon, he moved to the right and the same thing appended, leading his theory to be true. If he grabbed the kids now and simply tried to flee, there is no doubt that the dragon would simply track their scent…..he looked like he could do just that. He had to beat it and then flee.

Though that was easier said than done as Ladon suddenly changed color perfectly and disappeared. All Might thought he had left, but then he dodged an incoming tongue attack from the left, then jumped out of the way from a bit attack on the right, and followed quickly by a tail strike to the back that he could dodge! Several more attacks from every direction and he managed to either move out of the way, counter or even take the least amount of damage possible. All Might finally jumped over a sliding open-mouth bit attack and saw the building next to them explode with no movement coming from it after. Even Izuku assumed the same.

All Might though the huge creature managed to knock itself out seeing as nothing happened from the collapsed structure for a solid few minutes. He turned his attention back to the kids and only took one step forward when a glob of poison was shit at his feet! Followed up by another aimed at his face and body, which he managed to dodge. A whole volley was sent after him and he was forced to take cover behind the collapsed building! He heralds the shot fired, splatting, and then sizzling as they sat on whatever they touched. Even his measly cover was starting to melt away!

He had to think up something quickly, and he did. He didn't know where the shots were being fired but he did know the direction. So he read back his arm and shot Carolina Smash! Causing a whirlwind of dust to fly off towards the shots! His plan worked well and the dust-coated over the animal as it was still camouflaged, seeing it clung upside down from a building like a sniper. Ladon dropped his camouflage and readjusted himself on the building to sit upright. There he shot out a beam of pure concentrated poison that he shot in a line at All Might! All Might flee as he witnessed the stone streets around him melt in seconds, zigzagging to throw off its aim, but the beam was always on his tail!

Eventually, the beam stopped and Ladon tried to snag All Might with his tongue. But the hero grabbed the muscle and pulled the dragon down towards him. Ladon flew towards the man and was given a strong blow to the chin! All Might then grabbed Ladon's horn and spun him around before throwing him as hard as he could! He knew this might be his only chance to grab those kids, even if it meant fighting the dragon in a not-too-distant future. So once he threw the dragon he once again went after the children who had stood there in frozen fear!

However, this wasn't the end for Ladon's defense, and the dragon managed to regain its composure mid-flight. After shaking his head and seeing what All Might was about to do, he roared and dove down while releasing another poison ball! After releasing the poison, his mouth started to produce a thick fog-like substance that began to blanket his body and tail behind his descent. Luckily the poison ball managed to fall right at All Might's feet and he once again fell back to avoid it! Ladon shot out the fog from his mouth and it spread like a fog machine all over the place! Then it landed in between All Might and Izuku, skittered towards Izuku in a lung, looking like he was gonna squash him with his body!

All Might assumed this and tried to either grab the kids or punch the Dragon, but once Ladon landed on the kids he once again disappeared! All Might knew about his camouflage, and still went through on his punch! But when he did punch the spot where the dragon landed, he hit nothing. Nothing but the fog moving at the force of his movements. It was almost like he had gotten completely turned around in this fog.

Even though he growled in a straight line, he swore the dragon didn't land anywhere near a building, so why was he in front of one punching the air? Also, why did the lights grow so dim? It was midday and now it looked like the evening with the fog. The fog was heavier than he anticipated. When he moved his hand through it, it barely moved, and it had a strange order that made his head feel fuzzy. Why was this happening so suddenly?

Izuku, who had shut his eyes upon seeing All Might chase after him and Ladon dive bomb them, finally open his eyes to see what had happened to him and Eri. To his surprise and relief, he and she were not dead and completely unharmed. The next surprising thing was what they were under or rather who. Izuku instantly recognized the body shape and color, knowing it to be Ladon! The dragon wasn't trying to crush them, it was trying to cover them in his body like Izuku had done so many times for Eri. Izuku looked around until he saw Ladon's head tucked under himself halfway; one half looking at them, the other peeking outside. Izuku also wanted to know what was happening and managed to see a small space between his arm and body by the armpit.

He managed to look through, like an old keyhole, and just managed to see All Might aimlessly walking around in some kind of fog. Izuku suppressed the urge to gasp at seeing the man walk by him, but that's what he noticed. He walked by without noticing….why? Then he saw something that made sense of it all. Ladon's top scales had changed color to blend it. Although he was visible from the inside where he was, he was gone from where All Might was. Izuku hoped that All Might would just leave, but he never did. He just stood around as if waiting or trying to find them, but always going in circles around where they were.

Even Ladon was getting impatient with this and decided to act on his own. He waited until All Might aimlessly walked in front of where his tucked-away head was and had his back turned to him. When that happened, Ladon made his move. Ever so slowly he started to unfurl his body, moving his head out slowly and carefully. Lifting his body and spread his limbs apart from their shell-like defense. He moved with such slowness and carefulness that he didn't even make a sound, not even the dust was disturbed. From Izuku's perspective, it is like watching the build-up in a silent horror film.

Ladon's camouflage top side and his normal underside were like night and day. A disorienting collage of colors that boggles the mind. Even though the whole process took several minutes, Ladon finally got to a point where he was standing at his normal height. Head positioned far above the unknowing hero, eye locked onto him, and muscles taught with anticipation! Ladon slowly opened his mouth, revealing his sharp needle teeth above All Might, making sure not to breathe on him. Still moving slow and quiet.

It took every inch of Izuku's being to not cry out to All Might, but he knew better. All Might was gonna take him away. In this situation he wasn't the hero, he was the opposite, and Ladon was the real hero here. Doing whatever it took to keep him and Eri safe, even if it meant killing his idol. Izuku knew he couldn't watch what would happen next, so he decided that once the Dragon struck the greatest hero, he would turn away before it happened. He wouldn't be able to handle it otherwise, no matter what he felt now.

Then he saw the muscles on Ladon's neck tense up and he knew it was coming! Without a hiss, screech, or grunt, Landon descended on All Might from above and Izuku turned away from the horror that would happen! However, this never came to be. Even though All Might was in a daze in this fog, he was still pro for a reason and the greatest one at that! He never expected, let alone sensed the huge creature from behind. But he did sense when it lunged at him, and instead of panicking he turned around and reached out to grab for his life! Which worked out in his favor as he managed to intercept the horn and lower jaw before it could bite down on him!

Ladon pushed and shook against the man, digging into the ground to knock him off balance, but only skidding across the dirt himself! He tried to bite down, but his jaw was wedged open! He tried to slap him with his tail or wings, but they wouldn't reach him! Ladon had to try something else quickly since All Might was already eyeing the kids.

Izuku was still hunched over with his eyes closed and wishing he could shut his ears as he waited for the sickening crunch followed by the hero's silent death. But these sounds never came, and instead, she heard the sound of something pawing against the stone ground. He unfurled himself, opened his eyes, and looked towards the front to see All Might holding back Ladon as he tried to advance aggressively on him! He then saw the cogs in Ladon's brain begin to turn and the dragon switched from physical attacks to breathe attacks, reading to spray All Might with poison!

All Might as the great hero he was, saw this happening and made a counter move to avoid the oncoming attack! Holding back the dragon by his horn, he used his free hand to strike him in the face! Ladon roared at him but received another and then another, and another until the Poison attack had been canceled out due to the pain and vertigo! All Might then trusted the dragon towards him, knocking it off balance, and giving a hard punch to the gut! Ladon cried out once again and crumpled to the ground! But All Might took advantage of this and grabbed him up by his bruised body and flung him with all his might across the area!

Ladon flew through the air like a limp noodle and landed on the ground with a sickening crash like a rag doll! All Might be just as quick to a follow-up attack and jumped after Ladon began to fall. Once he was on the ground, All Might descend from above with a punch at the ready! Ladon only managed to get out one more cry before All Might came down on him with a powerful punch strong enough to knock him out completely! Ladon lay limp on the ground, and although All Might felt an overwhelming rush of relief and victory, he couldn't help but shake the feeling that something was still amidst. Though he kept it on the back burner as he turned his attention back to Izuku and Eri, who was once again trying to flee from him.

All Might ran after them and closed the distance in seconds just like the other times, but yet again another obstacle blocked him away from them. This time in the form of a huge tidal wave that washed across the city streets, hitting their path, swallowing up All Might, and missing the two kids altogether. All Might swam to the surface and found himself swirling around in what seemed to be a whirlpool on dry land! Even though the rest of the tow was dry and remained unflooded, he seemed to have been caught up in a local event. No doubt the work of someone that could control water. And as such, All Might's thoughts were rectified as Apalala rose from the edge of the whirlpool and roared at the man!

Before All Might could think to fight back or even act, Apalala breached the surface with his whole body, mouth wide open, and came straight down on All Might! Within a moment, All Might was snatched up by the animal and dragged below the water! With All Might out of the way again, Izuku continues to flee without looking back, thanking the dragons in his head for their sacrifice.


Meanwhile in the lower stratosphere

Tachibana's ascension finally came to an end alongside his child-like form. Once he managed to regain his senses, flying aloft, his body began to reaffix itself back to its original age. Going from child to adult in a few seconds. Once he was stable and his body fixed up to normal, he shook his head to clear it up from the haze. Once his mind was clear it was quickly filled with controlled anger; biting his lips and tightening his fists as thoughts of violence filled his soul! With that, he began to monologue before his attack.

"Okay All Might, you want it to be like that, eh?", he asked no one while cracking his neck. "Then that's fine by me!"

Tachibana then soared down towards the earth at breakneck speeds, feet first and aiming to where he knew All Might be using foresight! As he fell faster and faster for his deadly kick to make contact, he saw Ladon unconscious and a large wet area surrounding the blond hero facing off against an injured Apalala. This made him grow even more furious and he soared to him even faster! All Might could hear the breaking of the atmosphere in his ears and he turned his head up just in time to see Tachibana zooming down toward shim with murderous intent in his swirling eyes! All Might reacted fast to this and managed to catch the leg meant to strike him down!

However, it came at the cost of being pushed back for several hundred yards, creating a deep trench as he skidded across the stone ground by his feet! Eventually, the force of such an attack came to a stalemate with his strength and they both stood off in a contest of pure determination! Tachibana was still trying to drive his leg into All Might while he held back the limb! This could've gone on for much longer until All Might employed some strategy and used the intrinsically force of the kick to throw Tachibana away from him.

Tachibana flew away for several feet, off balance, and regained his footing before facing off against an exhausted-looking All Might. Even Tachibana felt himself growing a bit tired after exerting so much unnecessary energy, even after he picked me up from Eri. But he sure wouldn't show it at this stage of the game. After they both regained enough energy and air to speak, Tachibana was the first to throw shade at the blond hero.

"I'm tired of playing cat and mouse with you All Might. The only reason you're still standing is that I've allowed it. Give up! You have no chance.", he gave him his threatening offer.

Al Might grit his teeth at this and begins to proclaim, "SO LONG AS JUSTICE PREVAILS, I WILL NEVER GIVE INTO THE LIKES OF AN EVIL DOER LIKE YOU!"

"God, you are so pretentious.", Tachibana huffs in annoyance in a small voice before counting off his misdemeanors, "You invade my home, destroy my property, injure and attempt to abduct my citizens, and attack my children. What line of thought in that painfully thick blond head of hair of yours does that sound anything like your so-called 'justice', hmm?"

"DON'T TRY TO TWIST WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MAKE YOURSELF LOOK BETTER IN-!", All Might tries to defend himself, only for the Dark God to quickly interject.

He waved him off dismissively and told him, "Oh save it aristocracies., I've had all I can stand of not just you, but also this whole little charade that you and your heads of Government have so graciously put on for my people. I was a fool to let it drag on this long instead of toying around with you. I should've taken care of it myself, and I have no one but myself to blame. So, I'm gonna take care of it now, and you!"

He said as his eyes turned fully black, wings spreading behind him before launching himself into the air. High above All Might, with the man craning his neck to look up, he tapped into the minds of every person standing on Drageria and announced with a booming voice.

"People of Drageria, hear me!", his voice rang out in all minds, causing all activity to cease at once, allowing him to continue with undivided attention, "Do not fear these hoodlums that have invaded our wonderful home. For they are nothing more than holders of a fake power. They have none as they hide behind their so-called heroes, weapons, bombs, and armor. But behind that, what are they? NOTHING!"

The fleeing civilians all turned their heads to the now dumbfounded Japanese military still chasing them. Then a shift in the atmosphere could be felt from these words and all still stood to listen.

"We have the true power! We have a true heart! We have the true spirit! They have nothing!", Tachibana reiterated in their minds before booming to them in a seemingly softer tone, "So I implore you to stand up against these pretenders and fight back with all you have! Fight not only for Drageria. But for yourselves and the lives you all want to live! Fight for your freedom, fight for all!"

Now all the citizens had begun to turn around and face the soldiers before grouping up and facing off before them. The Japanese military became unnerved by this turn of events as a feeling of dread began to sink in. Almost as if they knew those words in their head spoke true. Or maybe they were convinced it was. Either way, the civilians quickly began to rally in counter to their attack with many of them voicing their rallying pep talk.

"Lord Tachibana is right! We have the numbers and the power!", one man agreed.

"All they have is smoke and fire!", a woman voiced.

"We all have quirks or can use weapons, we can fight!", exclaimed another person holding up a pitchfork.

"Let's stop our running and take these invaders down and out of our country!", yet another person proclaimed while activating their quirk.

"For Drageria!", another person shouted while jumping on top of some rubble.

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!", the whole crowd shouted alongside every other separate crowd in the ruined city!

In mere moments the tables had completely turned with the civilians now being the ones chasing the soldiers, and they weren't half as merciful as they were! The heroes tried to intervene or even save a few of the military, but could hold back the huge swarm of angry people up in arms all around them! The best thing they could do, without physically hurting what they thought to be mind control victims, fled!

Back with All Might and Tachibana, the winged man nodded his head in satisfaction and fluttered back to the ground with a flabbergasted looking All Might.

"There, that should end things a bit slower than I could have.", Tachibana proclaimed with a smug look.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?", All Might asked with confusion and fear as he heard the rallying war cries of the civilians echo all around him.

"Put a stop to this invasive little invasion of yours. You've lost All Might.", Tachibana answered as if it were obvious.

All Might turned his head to the floor and made an angry sound between grit teeth. Without looking up at the man he said in a lower tone, "IF YOU WANT TO TALK SO PROUD AND HIGHLY…..", he trailed off as a tack mark appeared on his head and his hands tightened into fists. Then without warning, he launched himself at a speed he hadn't done in years while reading a punch, yelling at him, "THEN WHY DON'T YOU JUST END IT!"

The punch flew fast as he did and even harder, connecting with his target!...but not in the way he wanted. When he looked to see his handy work, he saw his fist in the grasp of Tachibana's hand. The man did not even move from his spot or arched back, instead standing perfectly erect and almost relaxed. The only part tense was his hand that tightened its grip over All Might's fist. His face was cast over it in a shadow, but when he moved it enough to hee seen in the light, he was met with a very scary look in his multicolored eyes. A look that was so dark and primal that it made All Might shiver and recede back or at least try to under the intense glare!

Then he asked the frightened hero in a seemingly calm yet ominous tone, "End it? Are you sure? Because if its power you want to see so badly.", he said while tightening his grip further, making All Might feel the stinging pain as he tried to pull away. He then showed off his sharp teeth in a manic smile and spoke in an overlapped demonic tone, "Then its power you will witness!"

Suddenly the winged man began to change right before his eyes! His wings doubled in size before wrapping around him in a sphere, with only the arm holding his own still sticking out. The sphere of feathers began to grow in size until they finally unraveled and showed Tachibana in his godly form! His black body twinkled with white spots, his face lacked any detail and only held two white orbs instead of eyes, regular eyes of different colors that dotted his six huge wings and around his body in three interlocking rings. A set of horns that encircled his head like a crown, six strong arms, and smoky legs, all while being much much larger than All Might himself!

The hero was in shock and awe of the creature before him, quickly that feeling shifted to fear as he was lifted off his own feet! Forced to dangle by his arm and look into the cold eyes of the godly being! Without a single word from Tachibana, the god lifted one of his six arms and pressed his middle and thumb together while pointing it at the man's chest. Then….he flicked him…and All Might was sent flying! Flying and flying back to the docks where he crash-landed in the area between the land and sea! Embedding between the wood and the stone where nearly all of the heroes and a few scattered soldiers were retreating to the boats they came in from, the angry mob of civilians still chasing and swarming the stranglers! All encroaching fast with little room for anything else. The heroes looked on in shock after the dust cleared, seeing their greatest asset being flung through the air and crashing into the earth like a booger flung from a finger!

"All Might?!", one hero exclaimed in gasp!

"Are you okay?!", another asked as they helped the surprisingly still conscious man still stand up from the self-created hole.

Once All Might was pulled from the hole he coughed a few times and in the smallest voice he's made in his heroic form, said, "Leave."

"What?", the hero holding him up asked.

All Might spit out blood from his mouth and exclaimed more forcefully, "LEAVE. WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE. RIGHT NOW!"

A soldier of a higher ranking, who was staying with the boats, came up to All Might and rapidly asked him in confusion, "But-why, how? What about-."

Before he could finish, the booming sound of several hundred people all shouting at once rang across the area. Turning his head he saw a huge crowd of very angry-looking people all up in arms, chasing down other soldiers and heroes alike! Some even get swept into the mob!

"Oh my god! What's going on?!", the higher-ranking soldier demanded.

"It's the people, after that Tachibana guy spoke in all their heads, they've been trying to attack us! I think they're mind controlled!", one of the heroes standing by answering.

"We have to leave, now!", another hero told him while trying to pull him by his shoulder.

The higher-ranking soldier slapped him away and demanded angrily, "What about my men!"

Then a new hero, who had been running away from the mob, ran up and grabbed the soldier, pulling him up to their face and yelling, "They're all dead! The people slaughtered them, and were the only ones left!"

The higher-ranking soldier could only stand there in taught disbelief. Body slack, mind empty, and hope extinguished. Unable to think of anything to do.
"GO.", said All Might suddenly while standing upright without the other hero supporting him.

"Huh?", practically asked everyone nearby.

"GO NOW. ALL OF YOU. BACK TO THE SHIP. I'LL HOLD THEM BACK.", All Might reiterate between breaths.
"But All Might!", the hero who helped support him tried to argue.

Only for the higher rank soldier to grab him and push him towards the boats while yelling to everyone nearby, "You heard the man! He can take care of himself!", just before he left, he clasped his hand on All Might's shoulder and told him in a serious tone, "Don't be long."

He nods in acknowledgment to the man and turns back to the mob as the other heroes climb into the remaining boats and speed back to the half-destroyed war vessel. Once he hears the engines come to life and start to leave ear shit, he begins to wind up his next attack. One that would disperse the mob without hurting them. And since he was already hurt, they wouldn't receive too much backlash from it. He cracked his neck and shoulders, loosened his arms, brought them back, and shouted out his move.

"CALIFORNIA, CLAP!", he talked while clapping his hands together!

Altogether a huge shock wave was expelled from his finger and the encroaching mob was flung back by sheer force with many of them screaming as they flew away or into one another, causing a kind of pile-up. All Might hissed out the air in a regretful manner as he saw how much extra he put into that attack, despite ever set back.

Then he look up to the sky and saw something that sent a chill down his spine! It was Tachibana, flying aloft in the air and looking down at him or so he thought. He was standing still, ominously, as if waiting for something. Then he moved with warning and blitzed out of sight before suddenly appearing right in front of him! Before he could react, the Dark God swiped at him with one of his six arms and sank his claws deep into his abdomen!

All Might cried out in pain and grabbed the limb to keep it from going any deeper! Once he could think somewhat clearly, he noticed the position and location of the attack. It was in the same spot his life-threatening injury was located but on the opposite side. He knew about his weak spot and yet…. didn't hit it…on purpose.

Through grit teeth and painful breaths, he asked the stiff-faced god, "YOU…..YOU MISSED…..WHY?"

"If I wanted you dead, then you'd be dead.", Tachibana replied in his low booming overlapping tone, then inching closer to his ear and following it up with, "As I said, that quirk of yours needs to be passed on. But once it is…you're free game.", with that he pulled back and in a much louder tone proclaimed, "Now…..Don't. Come. BACK!"

With that, he blasted All Might with two green orbs from two hands and once again sent the man flying out!

As all of this went down, the heroes managed to get back, and were on the ship, now waiting for their number one to return. Though they didn't have to wait long as All Might flew towards them in a trail of green before hitting the side of the ship so hard that it not only caused him to embed himself into the metal hull but also caused the whole ship to jerk from the force!

One of the heroes ran to the side where All Might was just hanging there in his indent and exclaimed, "Holy shit! Is that All Might?!"

"Are you blind?! Of course, it is! Now help me pull him up before he falls into the ocean!", another hero yelled at the other while trying to grab the man as he started to unstick himself.

The two heroes managed to grab and haul the extremely big and heavy man off the hull and onto the main deck where he lay his unconscious form. Several heroes surrounded him and all put forth their comments about his current state.

"Holy crap! He's injured!", one hero started with a shock.

"I didn't even know he could get hurt.", another cringed at the thought and sight.

"He's still a man.", another scolded the second one's comment.

"Enough talk and take him to the infirmary!", cried out the voice of the captain who was now on the flight deck with the heroes, breaking up their circle.

Within moments, a pair of infirmary workers rushed in with a large wheeling stretcher and hauled the man away from the group and into the ship. Once the hero was gone and things were somewhat at peace, the captain looked to the higher-ranking soldier and asked him in a dreaded tone, "Now where are my men?"

"G-Gone sir.", the soldier stammered out.

The captain's face went pale as he asked in a small tone, "All of them?"

The soldier gulped and stammered out with tears, "Y-Yes sir…..a-all of them. Only the-the heroes are left."

"My god.", the captain whispered to himself while taking off his cap and placing it over his heart.

Though the moment of silence and respect was cut short as someone yelled, "We got one!"

All eyes turned to the voice and two soldiers were restraining Arete, who was desperately trying to fight free of them! An angry look adorned her face, looking ready to pound their heads in!

"Everyone stands back! We managed to grab one of the people.", one of the soldiers exclaimed as people started to get closer to them.

"Excellent work boys!", the captain commemorated them.

One of the heroes tried to get close to Arete but she lashed out at him before being held tighter by the soldiers.

"Geeze she's feisty.", exclaimed the hero while practically jumping back.

"Poor woman. Being mind controlled like that.", commented another hero as Arete glared daggers at them, making them flinch.

"Mind Flayer, can you free this poor woman from her torcher.", another hero asked a woman in the small crowd.

With that, a female hero dressed like a psychic with long tentacle-like hair moved forward. She reached out with her moveable hair and touched the wriggling Arete's head in several spots. Almost immediately the woman went limp and calm as Mind Flayer did her work. Within a few minutes, she stopped back and pulled away with a shocked expression on her face. Everyone around looked on with confusion, expecting some kind of result or response, but got neither.

Mind Flayer breathed rapidly a few times and half-heartedly said, "Nothing."

"Huh?", a few people asked her.

"She's not-.", Mind Flayer tried to explain herself until Arete made her move.

The silver-haired busty woman attacked the hero with the heel of her stiletto, driving it into the woman's jugular! As Mind Flayer choked on her blood while grabbing her neck, several heroes tried to assist her as the two soldiers holding Arete loosened up a bit. Using this chance she drove her heel once again through the boot of the soldier holding her right side!

The man screamed out in pain and let go of Arete to tend to his foot. The soldier on the left tried to pick up the slack but Arete spun around and used her other foot to drive the toe of her stiletto into his jugular! She then used him as a footstool and brought herself above his head! There she back flipped off to the soldier with the foot hole and drove her heel into the back of his head! Also using him as a solid point/springboard!

There she jumped off him and performed several backflip cartwheels towards the front of the ship! There she flipped onto the very nose and stood there in defiance with her bloody shoes! Several heroes all tried to chase after her or stop her attack or even save the now dead soldiers, but couldn't!

Once she stood at the ship's nose, one of the heroes tried to reason with her, pleading, "Ma'am please stop! You don't know-."

But they were cut off as Arete achieved her rapier and pointed it at them in threat! With their silence and undivided attention, she announced, "No! It is you who doesn't know anything! How dare you attack our peaceful country and attempt to kidnap its people! You should feel lucky that our leader did not decide to simply kill you all! You were given a chance and you threw it away!"

The heroes said nothing in return as they all stared at her, and waited to see what she would try next. Hoping to be able to stop her this time.

She grits her teeth and through her pursed lips she proclaimed boldly, "Hear me now you cretins! Consider today a lesson for the future. If you ever decide to be so stupid as to try something like this again, I can assure you that neither the people nor our great leader will show you even less mercy than the blond baboon of yours!", then did a chance stance with her sword while taking a step back and warning them, "This is your last warning, don't ever come back."

With that, she performed another backflip off the ship! Several heroes ran towards her to try and grab her, but when they looked over the side, they saw the most unusual sight! Arete was not in the water but above it! She was flying on the back of what looked like a hippogriff! The creature screeched loudly as it flew towards the shore, Arete not looking back at them!

Once things had settled down a bit on the ship, the entire situation hit everyone on board at once! A sense of fear, confusion, and anger ran through the people! They had just lost every soldier that wasn't operating the ship and about two heroes with absolutely nothing to show for their hard work as the one person they did manage to save ended up running away! Panic ensued quickly as loud talking became screaming matches! While the heroes and soldiers panicked, the captain is the only one to stay quiet, but that is only since he was in pure shock and on the verge of a breakdown. He just stood there, eyes glued to the horizon, and his mouth dropped open.

"We have to get out of here.", he spoke in a small tone, but even with this the panicking crowd went silent at his words and tried to ask what he meant. Before anyone could ask, he suddenly shouted, "WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!"

From here he began to shout orders and push people into actually getting things moving or just getting out of the way! Within some minutes, the ship had been put back into operation. It turned around after what felt like forever, but eventually blared out its air horns and went full steam ahead on the horizon! It took about fifteen minutes, but the giant war vessel eventually sank out into the distance, Showing that Drageria had won….but at what cost to who?


Hey everyone, so sorry I haven't updated in a hot minute. Work and life and general disitesrt and stuff. Anyway here a new chapter, hope you ,ike it, hopefully the next one will come out sooner since it'll be shorter. Or maybe it wont, I have a big project coming up with my Elysium Asylum story. Anyway, hope you have a good day and Plus Ultra.