AC: This chapter was done for a while, but I'm not 100% sure of how you'll like the outcome. I can only hope you like it.

Chapter 26: Heart Of The Dragons

Halberd looked at the dragons and the humans in front of him. He put his hand on his throat and massaged it for a few seconds while he organised his words. He then let his claw on his side and started talking, "Before I explain everything, there is something I need to let out about our kind."

"What is it now?" Ironchain grunted annoyed.

"What is it?" Tasuku asked.

Halberd gave him a small glance before he started, "There is something extremely dangerous about every dragons that existed in the different worlds. It's something that rest inside of us and could go all out at any moment if we are in an extreme stressful situation or violent one."

"You're talking about the dragon bloodlust right?" Jackknife asked.

"Dragon bloodlust?" Kuguru asked.

"It's when dragons turn berserk and we destroy everything without them. It's something we dragons fear," Drum answered.

"Yes. During the war against the Danger world, we were sent on a mission to destroy a dangerous weapon," Halberd started.

"Drum already explained that," Gao said.

Halberd lightly smiled and said, "Good. Things will go faster then," he grunted before continuing, "During the mission, we encounter heavy resistance. The soldiers of the Danger world were numerous and the battle occurred during one day. The fight didn't stop until we destroy the weapon and... Defeat every soldier."

"I remember that fight. It was a hard one. We were 200 dragons when we attacked the village, in the end of the fight; we were only 43 dragons still alive," Jackknife commented as he lowered his head and closed his eyes, thinking of what happened after.

"Yes. I was covered in blood with many of my enemies. I was cleaning it myself, now that every enemy were defeated. It was then that I heard a feral scream. The battle just ended and I was confused about it. Once I reach the source of the scream and...I saw dragons killing the civilians of Danger world and the children. I was surprised and didn't know what to do, but this wasn't a part of the mission and it was a... monstrosity. Jackknife reacted with words, but they were too much bloodthirsty and wanted to murder more civilians."

"That's horrible. How can you do this?" Kuguru asked Ironchain.

"It's not something we want Kuguru. As he said, it's something that could dangerous in certain situations, especially when it's in long-term. Like during that battle for example," Ironchain replied.

"I was their superior and ordered them to stop this. They turned berserk and their lust for blood was too strong for my words to end it. I faced a choice back there, either do nothing and let them satisfied their bloodlust, or stop them by brute force. The Danger world was the enemy, but killing the innocents and habitants of any other worlds who just want to live, I couldn't stand it," Jackknife explained. He sighed and lowered his head, "I made my choice. I saved the innocents and I have to kill a few of my own kind to end this. I have their blood on my palms until the end of my existence."

"If he didn't do it, many innocents of the Danger world would have died," Halberd concluded.

"This is still treason! No matter what you said!" Ironchain yelled.

"Killing your own kind cannot be accepted under any circumstance!" Drum yelled.

Jackknife looked at them and said, "I made my choice and I am aware of the consequence. I did what I feel like- No. It was the best thing to do. After this, they weren't berserk anymore and arrested me for treason. I was brought to the Dragon world for judgement."

Halberd looked at Ironchain and said, "I helped Jackknife escape that night. He then ran away to this world."

Ironchain face lightly turned red with anger, "Even then, you were a traitor! I... I-" he couldn't say anything else.

Halberd tail was flat on the ground while he looked sadly at Ironchain, "Ironchain. I-"

"Don't talk to me!" Ironchain yelled before grunting loudly and avoiding eye contact with Halberd.

Halberd forced himself to trap his emotions inside. He knew and understood why Ironchain felt that way, while the other's ignored the reason and could see him as a jerk. The eyes of the blue dragon screamed treason to his very heart and soul.

Halberd grunted and cleared his throat before continuing, "I saved him because he would have been killed for doing the right thing."

"I don't care about your motivation. You are also a traitor. You helped a dangerous criminal," Drum grunted.

Halberd replied, "You weren't there Drum. You weren't," before shaking his head and pointed his finger toward Drum, "I have a question for you Drum. What would you have done if you were in Jack situation?"

Drum tilted his head.

Halberd looked at the children and said, "Please. Leave us alone. I'm going to say things that you shouldn't hear. I'm going to give much detail you shouldn't hear."

"I have to hear it," Gao replied. He looked at Halberd and said, "I want to know why Jackknife did it."

Tasuku lightly smiled, understanding that he wanted to know why his friend did it, "I'll stay too."

Baku and Kuguru looked at each other's and replied, "We won't let them hear the true alone."

Ironchain grunted and said, "Fine. I wasn't there too."

Halberd looked at them and replied, "Fine. You are going to regret it. I won't enter in too much detail, but that will already be too much." He warned them. He waited a few seconds to see if anyone changed idea, but it wasn't the case, "Drum and Ironchain. Imagine what we saw in the battlefield. Because what you know and what we saw are two different things. Imagine the village in question just after the battle. It was badly damaged with broken houses, some on fire and only a few were lightly damaged. The villagers were trying to run away outside the village when the dragons went berserk because of the battle."

"Why didn't they leave sooner?" Baku asked.

"I do not know that and I still wonder why," Jackknife replied. He added, "I guess they didn't want to abandon their village. It is their home."

"The berserk state turned dragons from violent to vicious. The dragons saw the villagers and children of the village as simply target... and one or two as... meat. They couldn't tell the difference between a warrior and a child in their state," Halberd didn't say anything else. It was enough for everyone to imagine what happened, "Jackknife had to take a fast decision. Words couldn't work, so execution was the only ways to save the civilians who weren't fighting us," Halberd looked in the eyes of Drum and Ironchain, "Tell me. If you were in Jackknife place. If you have to make a decision in a few seconds between letting this bloodbath or killing some dragons to prevent it, what will you do? Will you let the dragons under your command killing and eating children or stop them by killing some of your own kind?"

Ironchain and Drum watched Halberd and said nothing. They looked at Jackknife and seriously thought about it.

Drum raised his claw and wondered if he could handle the blood of innocent on his palm, or the blood of his kind. He hesitated to reply, before looking at Jackknife. How did he take such a choice so fast? But...Is it true? He looked at Ironchain and asked, "Do you think Halberd is honest?"

Ironchain grunted and replied, "Halberd doesn't lie. He only keeps things to himself. That bastard," he added.

Drum once again looked at Jackknife. If I was there, in such a situation, what would I have done? He imagined himself watching the innocent about to be slaughtered. He imagined what he would do. He knew the answer and replied, "I... could let my own kind do that. It's just killing without any reason."

Ironchain nodded and replied, "Neither would I. You were in something like that. I didn't know that. This is completely different from what I've heard."

Jackknife looked at them and said nothing while Tasuku smiled.

"See. You didn't know Jack. Just as I told you," Tasuku said. He then looked uncertain and asked, "What about now?"

Drum tightened his grip around his drill and walked closer to Halberd, Tasuku and Jackknife. Gao looked at his dragon friend and didn't pick a spellcard. Baku, Kuguru and Ironchain said nothing, waiting to see what was about to happen.

Drum continued until Halberd stood in his way with his spear in his hand.

"I won't let you arrest Jackknife. We all know what his punishment will be," Halberd warned Drum.

Drum looked at Halberd and said, "Out of my way Halberd."

Halberd looked in the eyes of Drum and said, "Fine. Do not hurt Jackknife," before walking out of his way.

Drum walked until he was in front of Jackknife. He knew Halberd was close behind, ready to act at anything.

"What is it Fang Slade?" Jackknife asked.

Drum took a deep breath before asking, "How did you make a decision so fast? I don't understand how you did it."

Jackknife replied, "It happened faster than how I perceived it. I felt like I had all the time. Also, each second lost means one more execution."

Drum nodded. I don't really get it. He felt like he took more time to think than reality. How? I don't understand that. Jackknife, you aren't what I imagine you to be at all after treason. You didn't hurt Gao when you were close to him. Tasuku obviously cared a lot about you. I can clearly see it now. I might regret this, but this is what I believe is right. Drum raised his drill and showed it to Jackknife. His hand opened and let it felt on the ground, "Knowing this... I cannot arrest you for doing something that was right. If it wasn't from what you've done before, I wouldn't believe it and still fight. It might be against the law and it might be treason, but I would have made the same choice. What's happening to you is unfair, but I cannot change their decision."

Tasuku lightly smiled and replied, "Thank you."

Ironchain scratched the back of his neck and replied, "Wasn't expecting that, but I couldn't watch something like that either."

"What now then? If you don't arrest him and you protect him, you're going to become traitor too," Baku remarked.

No one had an answer. They heard a loud sound in the sky and they raised their head. They saw a helicopter flying toward their direction.

"That's the police force," Kuguru noticed.

"We have to hide before they spot-" a flash of light lightly blinded Drum before he could say anything else, "-us."

"-This is the Commander. I ask everyone to remain where they are. I need to talk with you.-"

Tasuku recognised the voice and said, "The Commander? It's him."

"Who's the Commander?" Ironchain asked.

"Well-" the helicopter landed near them before Tasuku explained. Once they sound started to die out he continued, "He's a high rank in the police force and...the one who rescue me after Jack hid from them."

Only the Commander walked out of the helicopter and said, "Hello dragons and kids. I am the Commander. I need to talk with everyone about what happened since you came here."

AC: This is the end of this chapter. Only one more epic fight before the first season comes to an end.

Chapter 27: Can We End This?