I'm still alive, just super busy, details are at the end of this chapter.


Wyatt chapter 3: Unwelcome guest

The next day after the failed attempt at rescuing the captured villagers, the freed villagers that are tower are currently discussing their next move with Veronica and Wyatt being part. There have been ideas of heading back to the Order-controlled cities but most people are hesitant about going back to the people who made them leave them in the first place. Another idea was to head back to their village and rebuild but many points were made as they have lost more than half of their people and would be very vulnerable to any more attacks or raids. Anymore more talks about heading back to their village were put on hold as Veronica told them she has sent a pair of Chimtaurs to check out the state of their village before they make a final decision. At this point, Wyatt informs the villagers he'll allow the villagers to stay here a while longer until they make a decision. The talks afterward became what-ifs and what next so Wyatt leaves the group as he has more important matters to get back to, namely the tower.

Wyatt is nearly finished with the third level and has plans of making the fourth level to be much more open than the other floors to serve as a lookout and storage area. He starts forming the last of the rooms and the needed supports but an hour later the two scouts Veronica sent have come back with grim news. When word of their return reached Wyatt's ears, he figured he better go back to the villager's discussions and see what's next.

When Wyatt rejoins the group, he arrives just in time to hear the scout's report, "We were about to enter the village but we saw a large group of pig-looking girls scavenging the entire place. They were taking everything and it seems like they were halfway done. I don't think there'll be anything left when they are done picking through it."

Hearing the devastating news, the villagers' morale is really low with some of them starting to cry as they not only lost half their friends and family but now their home is basically gone for good. Despair sweeps through the group but out of the blue a voice asks, "Can we stay here Wyatt?"

All eyes turn to Wyatt while Wyatt looks around for the person asking him until the owner of that voice walks up to him. It was Madison as she looks directly into Wyatt's eyes and she repeats, "Please Wyatt, can we stay here?"

"Aaaahh…well." Wyatt struggles to think of what to say as he looks around seeing everyone looking at him, waiting for an answer. Instead of an answer, a question comes to mind so he asks, "But aren't you all wary of the Chimtaurs and Abby? Why stay with a village full of monsters?"

The villagers look around or at each other instead of looking at Wyatt as if they are either ashamed or embarrassed but Madison kept a steady focus as she explains, "Because these Chimtaurs you called them have not only saved me but the people who stand with me and have put themselves in danger last night when they tried to free the rest of my friends. They haven't been malicious or predatory towards us instead some of them have provided aid to some of the people here who have been injured. As for Abby, it is unfair for her to be blamed for all that has happened to us, and she has been kind to me when all of you went to free my people from the last caravan. Please, we have nowhere else to go."

"I…I…" Wyatt conflict between the options of yes or no as both has pros and cons that'll greatly determine the progress of his village and the tower. If he says yes: they'll get more manpower to do more various chores but they have limited food at the moment so if they join then all the remaining food will be quickly consumed. If he says no: they wouldn't have to worry about running out of food but the villagers may become hostile or at least hold a grudge against him. There would also be lasting regret that he had to turn away a group of unfortunate people. Wyatt already has enough guilt to last a lifetime so he really doesn't need to add more.

Wyatt was about to deliver his answer but someone else decided for him, "You all can stay with us as long you behave." A loud voice draws everyone's attention to Veronica as she looks toward the crowd and strides closer to join them.

"To those who don't know me, my name is Veronica and I lead the Red Claw Tribe along with Wyatt so I give my approval to anyone who wishes to join us. What do you say, Wyatt?" Veronica and now everyone again looks at Wyatt with anticipation.

'Well, I guess that settles that then.' Wyatt then declares, "I say yes, everyone here can join our rapidly growing village!"

All the villagers cheered loudly enough that all the Chimtaurs outside of the tower stopped and gaze upon the tower with intrigue. Once all the cheering dies down, Veronica talks loudly, "Ok, I want everyone to approach me one at a time and we'll figure out where you'll go next!"

The new villagers obeyed Veronica's directions as the people formed a line with Madison being in the front as she explains her role in her old village. Wyatt leaves the group and heads to the third floor to resume his work. Abby was also in the room but stayed in the shadows as she was eavesdropping on the whole discussion and felt relieved to hear how Madison doesn't see her in a negative light.

For the rest of the day, Veronica listened to every person's profession which turns out unsurprisingly to be most of them are farmers. Wyatt finished the third floor but didn't start working on the fourth as he was called to start forming some foot-high rock plots that'll serve as gardens. Abby spent the rest of the day hunting deer and rabbits she brought back a buck and three rabbits. When night came, everyone was celebrating though the feast was really small but their hopes and joys were large. Some of the people even started chatting with some of the least threatening-looking Chimtaurs and Abby is talking to Wyatt.

Over the next few days, peoples' spirits remained high while keeping a lookout for any Dark Elf reprisals, thankfully none came. The food situation was still a main concern for the village as they were replenished as much as they were consuming so until the first genetically modified crops pop up, everyone will still have to have light meals. The same two scouts who investigated the old village when that pack of orgs was going through it, return to the site and see it has completely vanished so nothing is brought back. Abby was finally able to get back to her old home along with the same company as before and they brought back all of Abby's processions. She tries to chat with Wyatt whenever the two have any free time so she can get closer to him. Wyatt has been busy with both the tower and the village itself and making good progress on both. In the tower part, Wyatt finished the fourth floor and is taking a pause to go over the plans to see what he needs next for the rest of the floors and the village part, he has built several simple mud huts for the people and helped build extends on the Chimtaur buildings. He also built a restroom inside the mountain for everyone but Wyatt built it away from the village and tower as for the Chimtaurs, Veronica has been saying they've been marking their territory so…moving on. Everything is going smoothly until…

Wyatt, Abby, and a few Chimtaurs were leaving the river with pots and buckets full of water along with some fish they manage to catch. Abby and Wyatt were chatting away and the Chimtaurs were chatting among themselves but when they were getting closer to their village, they started hearing screams and shouting. Everyone starts picking up the pace and when they reach the edge of the village they see the people ducking undercover or running into the forest they've just left. The other Chimtaurs were all armed and formed a parameter around the tower, looking towards the top of the tower.

Wyatt quickly drops the pot he was holding and runs to the nearest Chimtaur which happens to be Eve and asks, "Hey Eve, what happening!? Are we under attack or something?"

Eve turns her head towards him and answers, "I don't know if we are being attacked but an unknown individual has been flying very close overhead of everyone then the mysterious flier flew into your tower Wyatt."

Wyatt felt a lump in his throat as well as a chill down his spine when Eve said that person is currently in his tower. Instinctively Wyatt runs towards his tower with Abby and Eve both surprised then deeply concerned by his sudden action so they chase after him. Wyatt nearly reaches the base of the tower and sees most of the Chimtaurs isolating the tower.

Sierra sees him running towards them or at least she thought as he runs right past them and up the steps. Sierra widens her eyes in surprise then mentally curses, 'Damn it, Veronica is going to chew me out for letting him through. I better go after him and!'

Sierra hears more noises behind her as she sees Abby and Eve running up to her and this time they do stop by her. Abby being the first one to speak, "You didn't stop him?"

'Alrighty, she touched a nerve!' Sierra testy answers, "No I didn't stop him as I didn't think he would foolishly charge in there."

Abby runs around Sierra to much of her dismay as she goes up the stairs and then into the tower. Once Abby, Eve, and Sierra are inside, they see a commotion near the inoperable lift, where Wyatt and a few Chimtaurs are at. They join in and hear Veronica saying, "We don't what she wants but she hasn't left nor did she explain herself for trespassing and we don't have a means of confronting her since this lift doesn't work yet."

Wyatt asks, "Can you describe the intruder's features or what she was wearing? I might know what or who we are dealing with."

Veronica takes a breath as she recounts what she saw then says, "She had large green scaly wings with a thick tail of the same color and texture. She had claws like Sierra and her feet were also similar and I think I saw some horns. She had very little clothing but I think that seems to be the norm with these Mamonos. Figured out what we are dealing with Wyatt?"

Wyatt answers her with an irritated sigh then says, "Yes but I'm really hoping I'm wrong about this! From what you told me it sounds like we are dealing with a Dragon Mamono but I'm confused as to why she is here? We don't have anything of extreme value or beautiful items or sparkling crystals so there should be no reason for her to take interest here unless someone here has a chest full of gold without me knowing about it?"

Veronica looks at Abby and asks, "Did you bring anything from your old dwell that might lure a dragon here?"

Abby is stunned to think it could be her fault but she quickly remembers her stuff and not one thing would be appealing to a dragon so she shakes her head no.

The group mumbles and thinks about what could be the reason however Wyatt suddenly says, "You know what? I'm just going to go up there and ask her why is she here instead of wasting more time speculating on what she wants."

Veronica is the first to speak out in concern, "Are you sure that is wise? You're talking to a dragon and from what I learned is that they are very strong and capable of breathing fire with amazing force."

Angry Abby then says, "That or the scaly bitch could throw you out the tower and last time I check Humans can't fly."

Wyatt quickly dismisses them as he says, "I'm just going to talk to her instead of fighting her so there shouldn't be a reason for her to be hostile to me. Who knows maybe we are simply overthinking this and she is just curious about this village that popped out of nowhere."

Calm Abby quickly says, "Alright but I'm coming with you (making sure this dragon doesn't take you away from me)."

"Fine then, let's go and see what she is up to." Wyatt goes up the stairs with Abby close behind.

Veronica looks toward Sierra and Eve and says, "Didn't I tell you two to go outside and make sure no one comes in until we've taken care of our little flying pest?"

Sierra shrugs in embarrassment and says, "Y-yes."

Veronica looks at her with a deadpan look and says, "Then get to it before someone else gets in here."

"Yes ma'am!" Both said in unison and quickly goes back outside leaving Veronica and her three top archers.

After climbing up the stairs to the current top floor Wyatt and Abby cautiously look around for the flying intruder but see the large open room empty. They split up and wander around the vast space keeping their eyes and ears open but haven't encountered anything.

Abby walks back to Wyatt and says, "Maybe she left when we were climbing up the stairs?"

"Maybe but we haven't/Who are you two and what are you doing here" Wyatt's answer was cut short as the person they were looking for approaches them from behind as she emerges from the corridor. Both of them quickly turn around and to Wyatt's mental screaming of 'NOOOO!' they see her in her entirety: A Dragon.

She has very light green scales, light cherry hair color that reaches down to her midback, piercing yellow eyes, and seems to be as tall as Abby. One feature both of them see is that she seems kind of young or at least younger than Abby.

This young-looking dragon asks again, "I'm not going to repeat this so you better tell me now! Who are you and what are you doing in my home!?"

'Her home?' Wyatt stupefied by her blatant claim while Abby was looking at her with disapproval then says, "Your home? You don't live here nor you're a part of my dear's village."

The dragon crosses her arms in front of C-cup chest as if she was suddenly offended with a tone to match as she says, "This place is my mine since this morning as it was deserted and nobody has laid claim to it so it's mine now and right now you two are trespassing."

Abby was about to retort but Wyatt suddenly says, "Us trespassing!? You're the one who is actually trespassing in MY tower. I'm the architect who is still building here so no it is not deserted, it's incomplete. Now get your scaly ass out of here before I lose my temper!"

The dragon looks at Wyatt in an agitated state and speaks in a hostile tone, "How about you get your stupid ass out of here or you'll get a brief experience in flight as a flightless bird. Now get out of my sight worm!"

Wyatt walks up to the dragon and returns the tone, "I'm not giving up my tower to some child like you so how about you go back to your mommy before it's past your bedtime, child."

Small puffs of smoke leave the dragon's mouth which makes Wyatt realize he made a mistake and before he can do anything the dragon suddenly pushes Wyatt which throws him away from the dragon and lands near the stairs.

Abby shouts in surprise and concern, "WYATT!"

She runs to him and kneels to help him up while the dragon shouts at them or specifically Wyatt, "I am not a child and my name is Sarah so remember that also consider that to be your first and final warning. Anyone who tries to remove me will feel the wrath of a dragon so come at me at your peril!"

Sarah then draws in a deep breath and Abby sees what she is about to do so she quickly grabs Wyatt and ushers him down the stairs. They leave just in time as Sarah let out a torrent of flames at them, missing them but the two feel the heat of that flame breath. Wyatt now super annoyed and Abby having mixed emotions about the ordeal, both return to the ground floor where Veronica and the others are waiting.

"From the sounds up there, it didn't go well?" Veronica asks but already in her mind she knows the answer.

Wyatt begrudgingly answers, "No, in fact, it's worse!"

Wyatt proceeds to tell them about the whole encounter with Sarah and when he finished, Veronica says, *Sigh* "So we are dealing with a highly dangerous and highly dumb dragon that has effectively taken over the tower. Do you have a plan on getting rid of her?"

Wyatt crosses his arms, exhales then says, "No…not right now."

Silence falls over the group until Eleanor joins them, reporting, "Excuse me, all of the people who run off have returned but they are very frighten with some of them lingering near the village edge."

Veronica nods and then says, "I see. Well, tell the people out there to calm down already and remind them that if they run off again in blind fear and run into some monster. Let them know very clearly, we'll not rescue them so if anything gets them, they're on their own."

"Understood chiefess!" Eleanor backs out of the group and leaves the tower.

One of the archers suddenly speaks up, "Hey Wyatt, can you get this lift here to work?"

Wyatt looks at the archer, she has the lower half of a large lizard with a smooth scaly, and brightly green-colored tail. She has hairy hands, a row of very small horns that grow below her hair line and her hair color is dark brown which matches her eyes. He answers, "The lift can work right now if it has power but I haven't placed the solar panels yet."

The archer quickly asks, "But can you do it?"

Wyatt mumbles as he thinks of a way to get the energy from the panels to the lift and the other devices he already put into place, waiting to be powered. He comes up with a plan but laments to do it as it'll ruin the look of the tower he envisions what he wants it to become. Reluctantly he says, "Yeah, I can do it now but it'll take a day or two to put everything together."

Veronica hums then says, "You might as well start now Wyatt, the sooner the better then we'll deal with Sarah."

Abby immediately counters, "Your dealing with a Dragon, not some easy opponent you can brute force into submission. Dragons are one of the strongest mamono and they can transform into actual complete dragon form. You don't have the slightest chance against her!"

Veronica simply replies, "I may not beat her but I could make her realize that staying here may be more trouble than its worth. Besides this is our territory and we'll not give it up to anyone, no matter what."

"And I'm not giving up my tower, not after the amount of time and effort I've put into it. So excuse me, I'm going to get started getting things powered up for tomorrow." Wyatt leaves the group and soon after everyone else does but Abby stays in place as she has another discussion of her own.

'Veronica, you are a fool!' Anger comments to herself which make Romance concerned, 'This whole thing could get very bad, it may even get our beloved future husband hurt. I need to do something.'

'But how?' Sadness asks, 'I'm no match for a dragon and I'll most likely get hurt trying to force Sarah out of here.'

Calm says, 'Instead of fighting her, maybe I should go back up there and/ABSOLUTE NOT!' Anger immediately and forcefully interrupts Calm as she says, 'Have you already forgotten that bitch just tried to fried Wyatt and me after being asked to leave? Talking to her will not only be a waste of time but total unnecessary risky action. No more talking but time for action."

All the other personalities had nothing to say or counter so Anger finishes, 'Let's see what I can do to help get rid of that bratty dragon.'

The rest of the day and the next, Wyatt and Chimtaurs prepare to confront Sarah. Veronica, Sierra, and Eve practicing and dueling with each other to get stronger and sharper while Wyatt has been busy reforming the sides of the mountain on both sides of the tower. He has shifted the faces into stepping holes and griping handles to make things easier and safer when climbing up and down the mountain face. During the whole time, Wyatt would sometimes out of the corner of his eye notice Sarah watching him with interest or with a smug look. Whenever he sees her, his anger reinvigorates him to work faster and harder. Once he reaches a certain height, Wyatt creates a ledge and soon brings out the first set of solar panels and places them into position. Next, Wyatt brings out a little pulley and places it between two morphed stone braces, and finally puts the rope he was dragging along around the pulley.

He then yells, "Alright, bring up the first power relay!"

Down on the ground, Abby standing next to a pile of power relays after Wyatt had brought them out of the inventory cubes, she grabs one and places it in a basket. She grabs the rope and starts pulling it down which makes the power relay ascend to Wyatt. Wyatt grabs it then morphs a vertical trench on the mountain face and places the relay in it. The last step is to connect the relay to the solar panel and the first segment is complete. Wyatt closes the top half of that segment trench and curves a dotted line to signal that there is a power line here.

For an hour he and Abby have been repeating this process until they finally reach a power conduit and battery located on the inside left side of the tower where the two integrated devices are safe and secure. Wyatt and Abby go to the side of the tower, where a panel is located he checks it and a smile appears on his face.

Abby confused at what she is seeing as sees a strange yellow outline rectangle with a nod on top and there was a very thin blue line at the very bottom. She asks, "I don't understand what is happening? (Looks at Wyatt) What's happening Wyatt?"

Wyatt answers, "It means this part of our work is complete and working so we can move on to the next."

Before Wyatt can walk away, Abby asks, "Wait, wait! What's working? What do these symbols mean?"

Wyatt takes a moment to think about how to explain how his technology works but an idea comes to mind, "Well the simplest way I can explain it is that those panels over there (Pointing at a set they set up) are absorbing the mana of the sun in a similar way that plants do."

"Ok." Abby says then waits so Wyatt continues, "Now that the panels are absorbing, all that energy is being sent to this mana holding device called a battery which acts just like a mana crystal. This blue little line here, inside this strange pillar-looking symbol, that is showing us how much mana it has stored. So when this blue line reaches this little nob on top of the pillar symbol, it means it's full of useable power. Do you understand?

Abby doesn't reply right away as she looks at the solar panels then at the status screen then back to the panels after following the indicating symbols of where the power relays are. She finally says, "Yes, I...I think I understand though I've never seen this way of something getting power before."

"Haha, It is a way of getting power but not super reliable as it requires a direct line of sight with the sun for the panels to store power so when comes nighttime or a rainstorm passes by, energy production comes to an immediate halt. The best days for the solar panels would be like today and the past few days." Wyatt and Abby soon went to the other side of the tower and start installing the other panel.

By the time they finish installing and checking, the sun is starting to set, signaling the day is coming to an end. Everyone gathers towards the center of the village to eat though it was a very silent gathering as the people kept a wary gaze towards the tower and sky. The Chimtaurs chatted among themselves mostly talking about tomorrow's confrontation with the trespasser. Veronica, Sierra, and Eve are visible tire and sweaty from today's sparring. Wyatt talks with Abby about some of the devices he has already put into the tower and what their functions are along with what he also wants to install once Sarah is out and gone from his tower. Soon everyone goes to sleep or attempted to as they all know there'll be a battle inside their homes tomorrow. A battle between the Crimson Claw Tribe and the self-proclaim Dragon to own Wyatt's Tower.

The next day came quicker than everyone felt it would as the sun rises revealing a mob outside the tower. Anger, anticipation, worry, and a bunch of other emotions swirl around everyone like a whirlpool, everyone had their eyes on five people who stood in front of them all. Wyatt, Abby, Veronica, Sierra, and Eve are the five who'll face Sarah as for Sarah, she walks to the edge and sees the gathered crowd below her.

'Foolish mortals! They have no hope against me even with these strange-looking Mamono among them, it still ain't enough.' Sarah thinks this whole gathering is silly then she looks down on the five people who stand away from the crowd. She spots the three strange Mamono which she almost mistakes Eve to be Wurm then she spots two familiar faces.

'Well if it the lowly human and his unmarried Chimaera. I thought they got the message that this is all mine now but I guess they want to fight me to claim my lair.' Sarah turns around and walks into the back of the tower, anger creeps into her mind as she says to herself, "I'm not going to lose another lair to some stinking human again!"

Outside the tower steps, Wyatt nervously asks everyone, "You all ready?"

Veronica looks at Sierra and Eve to which they nod to her so Veronica replies, "We're ready."

Wyatt looks at Abby and asks, "You sure you want to do this Abby?"

Abby fidgets a little then stands still as she answers, "Yes, I'm ready to reclaim my new home!"

Wyatt nods then looks at the tower with a mixture of determination and worry as there is a lot on the line for Wyatt and his future goals. A quick sigh leaves his lips then says, "Let us get this over with."

They march up the steps then enter the tower and once inside they head to the lift except for Wyatt as he checks the status of the lift by the panel on the wall next to it.

'Plenty of power to use the lift so there should be no worry of getting stuck on the lift or anything.' Wyatt returns to the group then Veronica quickly issues a command albeit quietly, "Wyatt, you and Eve can go up first then you'll come back down to pick up Sierra and me. Abby will be the last one who'll need to get a lift. Will the lift be able to move around that much?"

"The lift has enough power to run up and down all day so we're good on that." Wyatt then turns to Eve and asks, "You ready?"

Eve nods her head then the two walk to the middle of the lift, Wyatt goes to the control panel and starts controlling the lift to go up. They pass the second floor within seconds then the third floor and when they reached the fourth floor, a surprise was waiting for them. As soon their heads go past the floor, Wyatt sees Sarah standing in the middle of the room sucking in a lot of air, smoke slowly leaving her mouth, and immediately knows what she is about to do.

"Ah shit, look out!" Wyatt shouts as he ducks behind Eve and Eve herself turns and braces around Wyatt as her scaly lower half quickly takes the brunt of Sarah's flaming attack.

"You ok?" Eve asks to which Wyatt replies, "Yeah. You?"

"A little warm but unharmed, we should/I hope you are thinking about retreating and leaving my tower alone forever!" Sarah's voice cuts through Eve's suggestion as the pair start listening to her.

"I thought I made myself clear to you boy that this is mine now so why are you back here again!?" Sarah demanded but doesn't answer as Eve quietly says to him, "Go get the others, I'll hold her off."

"Understood and good luck Eve," Wyatt says.

"Answer me human or I'll/You'll do nothing but leave!" Eve charges at Sarah and Wyatt rushes to the control panel and brings him down to the ground floor. When he gets there, Veronica asks in concern, "What's happening?"

Wyatt replies as the two Chimtaurs get on the lift, "She was waiting for us and as soon she saw us, she vomit fire at us. Eve engaged her so I could get you two. Everyone on?"

"Yes, now let's go!" Veronica orders which Wyatt complies and the three head up to the fourth floor. Abby watches the three go up, leaving her alone with her thoughts and doubts.

'It'll be my turn next, I hope I'm ready for this.' Sadness comments and Anger adds, 'It'll be four against one so the odds are very good in our favor. Besides we have our own dragon, Eve so the only thing I'm worried about is missing the fun.'

'Let's just hope it goes that way and no other.' Calm tries to stay positive which Romance says, 'I hope it goes that way too, that and I impress Wyatt with my prowess and beauty in a fight.'

Abby both eagerly and wary waits for her turn to join the fight against the dragon. Wyatt, Sierra, and Veronica arrive on the fourth floor and see Eve and Sarah locked in claw-to-claw combat as each one was trying to push the other around but it seems it's a stalemate. Before the platform levels with the floor, Sierra suddenly jumps onto the floor and charges in, Veronica turns to Wyatt and says, "Go get Abby!"

Without waiting for a reply, Veronica jumps onto the floor as well and charges. Wyatt quickly changes the direction of the lift and heads down to pick up the last remaining combatant. Abby looks up and sees the lift coming down and Wyatt says, "Alright Abby, it's time. You ready?"

"Yeah." is all she said as she steps onto the lift and the two ascend to the battle. When they get to the fourth floor, they see Sarah flying around the room, striking the Chimtaurs whenever there is an opening. The Chimtaurs in response, try to corner her or intercept but Sarah is proving to be too fast for that. Sarah flies around a column and zips toward Sierra, Sierra sees a chance to attack so she leaps towards Sarah and lashes out with her scorpion tail. Sarah glides to the side, barely dodging the stringer and she grabs Sierra's tail. Sierra gasps as Sarah lifts her up and throws her at Veronica. Veronica sees the projectile Chimtaurs so she jumps over Sierra but as soon she lands, Sarah plows into Veronica. The force of the impact on Veronica sends her to the other side of the room where Sierra had crashed. Veronica lands on top of her and the two are in a daze. Wyatt and Abby rush over to them and render aid.

Sarah proud of her successful combo doesn't see Eve had twisted her body around to bring forth her clubbed tail to clubber her. Sarah's senses alerted her, she turns to face the incoming club tail and braces by putting up both of her arms. The club hits Sarah and she gets launched towards the opening side of the tower. She rolls backward and then stops as her feet dig into the stone floor after that she slightly waves her arms around to bring feeling back into them since they took the brunt of that sudden strike.

Eve takes this moment to speak, "If you don't want to get hurt any further then I suggest you leave…now."

Sarah growls and replies with anger clearly heard, "I'm not leaving but you are!"

Sarah takes flight and zeros in on Eve with a sudden burst of speed which surprises her. Sarah gets around Eve and latches onto her back. Eve tries to shake her off but to no avail however, she does start feeling to be being airlifted. Eve looks down and sees her front pair of limbs are off the ground and now her rear pair starting to feel dangling in the air. Sarah grunts and breathes in deep as she successfully pulls Eve off the ground and flies her to the opening side of the tower.

Eve seeing she is being directed to be outside of the tower starts to panic, she squirms and tries the pry off Sarah's hold but can't.

"WYATT!" Eve screams and Wyatt turns around to look at the struggle but what he sees makes his eyes go wide.

"EVE!" Wyatt screams back as he sees Sarah drops Eve past the edge follow by Eve's scream as she descends then two seconds later a crash is heard.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT WITH YOUR LIFE!" Wyatt screams as he runs away from the others then gets on one knee and slams his hands on the floor.

"What can you dooo…" Sarah slurs her words as she sees the surfaces of the floor and walls become fluidic like water and before she can comment, a spike shoots out of the floor. Sarah barely angles her body for that spike to miss piercing her but instead a small cut is made above her belly button. Surprised by this, she takes flight again and just in time too as three more spikes shot out around where she was just standing. She zig-zags around the room avoiding getting impaled and after a while, she suddenly charges at Wyatt.

"You damn Human! You've ruined my perfect body, now feel my wraith!" Sarah shouts but to Wyatt, he shouts, "I'm going to do more than ruin your so-called "Perfect Body", I'm going to mutilate it!"

A wall covered in spikes appeared in front of Wyatt from the ground and Sarah takes a hard left to avoid skewering herself. She distances herself then looks at the spiked cover wall and sees it slowly submerging into the floor then she notices something.

'Let's try this.' She quickly formulates a plan and starts it. She flies towards Wyatt again and prepares to unleash a torrent of flames. Wyatt in response forms a wall of stone from the floor and Sarah blows the flames at him but not with a strong force. She then looks at the floor around the base of the wall and notices how slimmer the floor is over there than the part of the floor she is standing on.

'So there is a weak spot in his defenses, now I know how to beat him and beat him good.' Sarah smiling internally as she now has a plan of attack. She charges in again, sucking in the air for another flame attack, and Wyatt responds the same way too. He brings up a stone wall but this time Sarah goes around the wall to Wyatt's backside and lets out her flames. Wyatt quickly brings up another wall to block the flaming breath which makes Sarah smiles as she dives into the floor and smashes through.

Wyatt hears the crushing sound and was about to bring down his wall slightly to get a look but Sarah remerges from the floor next to Wyatt. Wyatt is stunned by Sarah's action that manages to get her next to him and before he can do anything, Sarah roughly grabs him by the back of his shirt. She lifts him off the floor which triggered a chain reaction as Wyatt was in control of the mass of the floor to prevent it from collapsing but when Sarah lifted him, that control was gone and the walls Wyatt brought up have solidified and fallen to the floor. The weight of the summon walls broke through the floor and left a big hole in the floor. Thankfully Sarah flapped her wings before the floor broke thus she and Wyatt are hovering in place.

"You're ruining my home, you despicable Human!" Sarah angrily says.

Wyatt talks back in kind, "This was never your home to begin with you stupid lizard!"

Sarah greatly insulted by being called a lizard heavies Wyatt into the air, looking that Sarah is about to slam Wyatt down through the hole and onto the third floor which could severely injure him or maybe kill him.

"NOOO!" A voice screams out and the two look to the side where the voice's owner came from and see Abby tackling Sarah. All three fall to the side of the hole and Abby is the first one to get up and then jumps on top of Sarah. Abby starts punching Sarah in the face multiple times before Sarah smacks Abby off.

"You annoying Chimaera get out of my face!" Sarah gets up and kicks Abby which sends her into the hole.

Sierra and Veronica soon get up and both of them charge toward Sarah. Sarah sees them coming, 'Perstainced freaks.' Sarah flies towards them, Wyatt slowly gets up as his back got hurt in the fall.

'I'm going to feel that later.' Wyatt looks around while nursing his back and sees Abby missing. He turns to the three combatants duking it out so Wyatt takes this moment to shout out, "Abby, where are you!?"

"Down here." A whined voice answers.

Wyatt walks to the edge and sees Abby struggling to get up, "You alright?"

"I WILL BE WHEN I RUIN THE BITCH'S FACE!" Angry Abby burst out before another personality answers, "I'm ok, back hurts a little but ok. You?"

"I'll live but for now rest for a moment while I help out the other two," Wyatt says before standing up and runs around the hole to aid the others. He sees the fight is going poorly as Sarah has a grip on Sierra's tail and uses her as a whip against Veronica as she tries to find an opening to stop Sarah. Wyatt quickly kneels and starts morphing the floor around her but she quickly glances at what he is doing. Sarah lets go of Sierra after spinning around with her which Veronica gets hit by Sierra like a rocket and sends both of them crashing and fumbling next to the lift.

Wyatt gets startled as he sees her coming at him with claws extended, showing that she is getting ready to nab him. Wyatt drives out of the way and Sarah blows past him, Wyatt sees her coming around for another pass but also glances at both Veronica and Sierra. Those two are worn out and in pain as they laughably tried to straighten themselves up but ultimately collapse on one and another.

Realization hits him as he thinks, 'Shit, everyone is down but me and…fuck, here she comes!'

Wyatt barrels out of the way again and Sarah misses but this time she simply stops flying around and hovers in places, looking at Wyatt with a smug look.

"Looks like I won Human, your friends are beaten and you stand alone." Sarah lands on the ground and starts walking towards him. Wyatt reaches towards a wall and immediately hears, "DON'T!"

Wyatt sees Sarah ready to lunge at him as she slowly and intimately says, "One more move, and I'll maul you good, bug!"

Wyatt freezes in place as he sees that she is serious about her threat and she is close enough to get him before he can do anything. Wyatt walks back to maintain some distance between him and her which the latter simply chuckles as she says, "Now what are you going to do now, little human? Will you beg for my forgiveness or will you put up some desperate fight to get me to leave my little tower?"

Wyatt takes this moment to go through some possibilities and what to say but he notices a pair of mismatched hands suddenly appear around the edge of the hole and an idea comes to mind. "Did you come here specifically or did you come across here by accident?

Sarah raises a brow in interest then says, "Hmm, not exactly what I imagine you'll say but I suppose I can enlighten you. Be honored for I'll tell you my tale before receiving my punishment! Ah-hem! I've left my parents a while ago to start my own treasure cove and I've found the perfect spot along this mountain. I've gathered a respectable sum of gold and treasure but then you humans had to come and ruin it all." Sarah's face twist to rage and her words filled with anger as she explains, "I had to recently abandon my home because a group of Heroes and Valkyries had invaded my lair while I was gone scouting and by the time I came back, they were waiting for me." Sarah lets out a snarl and a puff of smoke came out meanwhile by the hole, Abby is nearly back on the floor as she silently tries to get back up without making a sound. Sarah continues with her story unaware of Abby, "They ambushed me as soon I got into my lair even used some of the magical weapons I've found against me so I left before they could seriously wound me thus I've lost my home, my hoard, and my pride as a dragon." Sarah's angry expression quickly changes to a giddy look along with her tone, "I flown for days looking for a new place to start again until I spotted a strange looking tower in the middle of nowhere. Curious, I took a closer look then I saw you and all these strange looking mamooooo….."

Sarah was glancing back at the two Chimtaurs and spotted Abby going up until both of them were staring at each other in silence which Wyatt took advantage of and touched the wall he was aiming for. Sarah quickly turns back to Wyatt and she immediately reacts by jumping to the side in time as a large spike shoots out where she was just standing.

"AH! ENOUGH!" Sarah roars then take flight and dives towards Wyatt. Wyatt dodges the initial strike but Sarah's tail whips around Wyatt's ankle thus he is dragged around the floor. Abby crotches down in preparation to intercept but Sarah quickly stops in place and uses her tail to fling Wyatt at her like a cannonball. Addy catches Wyatt and the two are forced back into the Chimtaur pile.

The two Chimtaurs groan in pain, Addy gently places Wyatt down while he looks up to Sarah and gets startled as she is getting ready to unleash a torrent of flames. Wyatt curses, "Shit!" and jumps to the control panel, hitting a random button. The lift starts moving down just in time as Sarah releases her flames, those flames now going over their heads, Wyatt and Addy experiencing Deja vu. Wyatt slumps down on the floor in exhaustion both mentally and physically and sees the lift stops on the first floor. Groaning in both fatigue and annoyance Wyatt gets up and presses the ground floor bottom and the lift reaches that level in no time.

"Wyatt, look." Abby points upwards Wyatt follows and sees Sarah standing on the edge of the floor staring down at them. Her expression is hard to make out but it seems like she is slightly peeved then she suddenly turns around and walks out of his view.

More groans make Wyatt turn his head towards the two Chimtaurs that have finally gotten themselves untangled with both of them panting and slouching then Veronica quickly shouts, "Did anyone check on Eve?!'

'Shit Eve!' Wyatt remembers their first member being taken out of the fight against Sarah, he quickly shouts, "I'll go check on her." Wyatt doesn't wait if Veronica heard him or not as he quickly gets on his feet and runs, thanks for another adrenaline rush. Abby also getting on her feet, quickly follows him out of the room and towards the lobby area, where both of them see Eve resting on top of the pile of rubble that was once the ceiling.

"Eve you alright!?" Wyatt shouts as he runs up to her to which Eve in a pained voice replies, "I think I'll be unable to do much for a while, Wyatt, my entire lower half hurts."

"Let me take a look." He says as Wyatt carefully examines Eve's dragon body and sees numerous cuts and scratches but nothing too serious at least on the outside. Wyatt asks another question, "How are you feeling on the inside?"

Eve looks at him as if she is about to pass out answers, "I feel like I'm about to lose my morning meal besides that and the pain, nothing feels broken."

"I see." Wyatt looks at the large hole in the ceiling and comments to himself, 'Good thing I didn't bother reinforcing the ceiling with metal beams or make it thicker and the like otherwise Eve's injures would defiantly be much worse even fatal.'

Abby gets next to Eve and asks in a soft but concerned tone, "Do you need anything Eve?"

"Some water would be nice and maybe a blanket too. I think I'm going to sleep this off for a bit." Eve weakly smiles at Abby, Abby nods her head and seeks out the two items. When Abby leaves the tower, Eve looks at Wyatt and asks, "What will you do now Chief?"

"Good question, answer: I don't know. She not only bested us but knows of our capabilities so fighting her will most likely be impossible now." Wyatt dishearted answers as he thinks of possible scenarios in which he sees all of them failing. Adding insult to injury he adds, "We threw our best and strongest members of this clan at her and we didn't make her break a sweat so force isn't going to work against her."

"Maybe we should simply leave here and seek another spot to relocate and start again." Eve suggests but Wyatt simply shakes his head and retorts, "We've spent too much time building up to where we are now so taking everything down, finding a new spot unclaimed then putting things back together while defending and feeding our new members of our village will make us unprepared for the tests."

"I see." Eve hanging her head low, "So if we can't get her to leave then were are pretty much doom to fail then?"

"I'll think of something but if nothing works then we'll most likely go with your plan Eve even if it means we're not ready for what is to come." Wyatt finishes what he is saying as Abby reenters the tower with the items in hand.

"Here you go," Abby says as she hands them to Eve, Eve gives thanks and downs the cup of water then places the blanket down as a pillow before she quickly passes out.

"She must have been close to blacking out from her injuries," Abby states out loud and Wyatt nods in agreement.

Entering the Lobby Area are Veronica and Sierra as they limp to where Eve is resting, Veronica asks, "How is she?"

"She is…." Wyatt has trouble thinking about how to answer that question and for a moment doesn't finish his response but Abby does, "She'll be fine after she gets some sleep as that fall seem to have taken quite a bit out of her."

"Good, good…I was afraid we would have to start making a grave for her." Veronica exhales in relief same for Sierra though she quickly turns her attention towards Wyatt and asks, "What now?"

For the next hour or two the four discuss their options but ultimately failed to come up with a plan so the rest of the day was them licking their wounds and Wyatt still thinking of an alternate way of defeating Sarah.

When night came, news of the party's defeat reached every person in the village and soon speculations and rumors start spreading like wildfire on what will be happening next from destroying the tower to abandoning the whole village. Back in his room, Wyatt starts feeling fear and frustration as he still hasn't come up with an idea, and now hearing all these whispers was fueling his despair. For a moment, he was lost in thought about the things that could end horribly for him, his goals, and his overall strategy. So lost in thought he didn't notice Abby knocking on his door, calling out his name thus he was snapped back to reality when Abby is by him, gently shaking him.

"OH! Oh, Abby…is there something you need?!" Wyatt recovers instantly from the sudden spook as he looks at Abby's concerned look.

"You alright, you didn't hear me when I was calling out to you." Wyatt thinks that Sad Abby is talking to him as her tone seems down.

"Sorry, I was trying to figure out on how to deal with this mess that Sarah started with us." Wyatt explains while rubbing his eyes then adds, "So far I've been coming up with nothing."

"I…I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I could fight better against her so she can leave instead of making you sad." Abby apologizes, slightly bringing her head down in shame.

Wyatt feeling sad for Abby says, "Abby even if you were stronger and all that, I have a feeling it really won't matter as we didn't make her sweat at all so I think she was holding back on us while we went all out on her. She is a dragon after all so you don't need to be so hard on yourself."

Wyatt hoping that realization would help Abby improve her mood but instead, "If that was so supposed to make me feel better because it is making me feel stupid and embarrassed." Angry Abby says while giving Wyatt an insulted expression.

"Hehe, well yeah, that was supposed to help improve your mood." Wyatt scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

Abby's expression changed quickly as a small gentle small appears and her tone is much gentler as she says, "I thank you none less for trying to make me feel better after today's battle. Maybe I can help you think of something to deal with her and move on."

"Thanks, but we tried to think of ways of defeating her but she proved she is really powerful so I don't think we can force against her." Wyatt looks at his right hand and then makes a fist.

Abby places her right paw over Wyatt's fist and envelopes it before saying, "Then we approach her with words instead of fists."

"But we already did that and it lead to us fighting her." Wyatt counters but Abby shakes her head and explains, "All we really did is have a screaming match with her until she lost her patience so maybe we should actually talk with her. We know she was driven away from her home, losing everything she had to make her stand out so it's understandable that a dragon would be behaving quite stubbornly. I think we should appeal to her humane side and show her our needs of building this tower."

'Show…humane…show…needs' Wyatt thinks about what Abby said and an idea slowly forms in his head until his eyes wander to his backpack which is currently half full with some of its contents laid out and around it. Abby's eyes follow Wyatt's gaze and spots his backpack so she asks, "What do you see?"

"A solution…maybe," Wyatt says then stands up, Abby lets go of Wyatt's hand and watches him go to his backpack. He starts rummaging through it while asking, "Dragons love shiny things right?"

"Yes as much as a husband…why?" Abby leaning to get a better view of whatever Wyatt is trying to grab until he finds it and turns around with the item in hand. Abby sees a faintly glowing crystal clear ball, big as an apple, and the source of that light in the center of the crystal ball.

"What is that?" Abby asks to which Wyatt simply hands her the ball.

"That is a Memory Sphere and I think I have a way of bartering out of our current problem," Wyatt answers as he watches Abby taking a closer look at the ball from all angles. (Ball, Angles….Math joke)

"A Memory Sphere? Is it something that'll help you remember things?" Abby asks as she continues to examine this interesting ball.

"Well…you are correct in the simplest thinking." Abby can't decide if Wyatt was intentionally insulting her or not so she waits for him to finish explaining, "You see, I can store my recent memories in there, and in ten years or a hundred years later, I can use this device to review those memories with absolute clarity even if I've forgotten them."

"Wow…but wait, how does this help deal with Sarah?" Abby is confused about this magic ball helping them but Wyatt answers, "Here let me show you."

Wyatt touches his ball and the light within becomes bright then the true function is shown to Abby and his plan to continue building the tower.

The next morning came and Wyatt mentally prepares himself for the third and hopefully final confrontation with Sarah. He does his normal morning routine though he had to reassure a few people before they could break out in full panic. He sees Eve finally leaving the tower but at a slightly slower pace with Veronica and Sierra at her side in case something happens. Wyatt walks up to the trio and says, "Morning! How are you feeling Eve?"

"I'm not yet feeling complete but much better than yesterday, thank you for asking." Eve smiles at Wyatt and he nods in understanding.

Veronica is the next one to speak, "Have you come up with an idea to deal with Sarah?"

"I do but it's a long shot so it may well very much fail." Wyatt simply shrugs however the trio is very much interested in what his idea is.

"What do you have in mind Wyatt, is it something we can do to kill or drive her off?" Sierra asks but Wyatt hesitantly answers with a slight blush becoming appearing, "My plan is rather interesting and um…intimate."

"YOU'RE GOING TO FUCK HER!?" Sierra all but shouts which immediately gets all the people who are close by to look at Wyatt with various inquisitive looks.

"Seriously, Sierra!? After all that has happened, that is the first thing that you guess?" Wyatt looks at her irritated while keeping his voice low.

"Hey you were making it seem that way and you were blushing also the scaly bitch is a Mamono so can you really blame me for coming to that conclusion?" Sierra crossing her arms while Eve and Veronica nodding their heads.

Wyatt is at a loss for words as he couldn't believe they were seriously thinking so he says, "I'm not blushing and I'm not going to have sex with her so excuse me I have a dragon to defeat."

Veronica wasn't satisfied with his answer so she steps in front of him and sternly asks, "What is your plan, Wyatt?"

*Sigh* "I plan to bribe her with this." Wyatt reveals the Memory Sphere and then adds, "I'm hoping she'll give in to her greed and allow me to continue building the tower instead of dismantling all of my work."

"Using her dragon instinct of acquiring stuff against her…hmm…that might work but still you're going in alone?" Veronica asks in concern.

"It'll probably be better this way instead of bringing anyone else with me as it'll look like another fight is heading her way and she is aggravated enough." Wyatt's explanation made the trio understand but still didn't remove their concern for his safety.

"So, Abby isn't going with you?" Sierra asks and Wyatt shakes his no.

"I told her I'll be handling this alone but she'll be somewhere nearby in case things go horribly wrong."

"I see, well then I wish you go luck, and hopefully you'll get her gone someway," Veronica says then the trio resume going down the stairs as he stands aside nodding to Eve and Sierra as they go by.

Wyatt heads up the stair and moves into the tower where he sees Abby standing next to the left but her back is facing him.

'I hope she understands.' Wyatt steps next to Abby and says, "Morning."

Abby doesn't say anything as she still stands frozen like a statue until Wyatt grabs her right paw and gives it a gentle squeeze. That seems to have snapped her back as she looks at Wyatt with a troubled expression and soon asks, "Did you have to be alone with her?"

Wyatt brings up a free hand and gently caresses her cheek while gently saying, "Yes and I don't go up there alone but I have a strong feeling that if she sees you or anyone else with me then we'll have another fight with her. This might be our last chance at a peaceful resolution so I have to do this right even if it means doing something this dangerously stupid. I hope you understand."

Abby looks away and at a quick pace various expressions appeared on her face with no rhythm or pattern so, 'Her personalities must be having some conflict over my choice of action.' Wyatt concludes.

He lets go of Abby's paw but as soon he does that, Abby immediately grabs his hand and in a stern but low whisper says, "You better be careful around her, for I'll never forgive you if something happens."

Wyatt does a small smile then says, "I will."

Abby lets go of his hand then brings her paws around the sides of Wyatt's head and kisses him on his forehead. Once she finally lets go, she nods to him and he to her then he walks to the platform and presses the button to the fourth floor. The lift goes and Wyatt ponders again of his chances of success and what ifs should he fail. As he gets closer to the fourth floor, his heart beats faster and his doubts become harder to ignore as his self-perseveration screams at him to turn around. Wyatt has never been good at confrontations, especially by himself, the only way he gets himself through is by thinking of the benefits of gain and the consequences of failure. Fighting fear with fear with a side of hope shall begin anew as the lift reached its destination.

The looks around and once before Sarah is nowhere to be seen, the only thing he sees is a small pile of gold coins and a few gems along the western wall. 'She has been busy. Must have been searching during the night while we are all asleep.' Wyatt thinks to himself as he heads towards the hole on the floor. He once again looks around for her but is nowhere to be seen until…

"I have been excepting you to bring every last of those strange Mamono up here to face me." Sarah's voice is heard but still not seen until she rises out of the hole Wyatt is standing next to. He sees her looking annoyed maybe even disappointed as she has her arms crossed across her bust, hovering in place.

"So, are you here to threaten me or fight me though I imagine it'll be very quick if it is just the two of us." She says with a smug look, blowing a small puff of smoke.

Wyatt taking a quick breath, 'Well, no going back now.' "I'm not here to fight you or threaten you but instead…beg."

"BEG! You begging to me!? Did you hit your during our last fight or did those creatures with you express their frustration on you?" Sarah was in half disbelief and half taunting as her grin grew bigger.

"No, I'm here on my own because I realize I've made some mistakes and I wish to rectify them with you." Wyatt says but Sarah immediately counters, "Mistakes…like picking a fight with me, insulting me, or the mistake of trying to throw me out of here?"

"I'm sorry, I've lost my temper when you said this is your tower that I/But it is my tower silly human." Sarah's interruption almost made Wyatt shout out against her but he fought back at the impulse and just stood there.

Sarah noting his inaction decides to poke a little, "What's wrong, still not liking the knowing that you are trespassing in MY tower."

"LOOK!" Wyatt's sudden shout stops Sarah as she rises an eyebrow, "As I said, I'm not here to fight or to argue or throw insults or anything like that but instead come to an understanding."

Sarah looks at Wyatt with interest as she waits for him to explain further, "I'm here to stop the hostilities between us and to reach an agreement where both of us can be happy with and to show you that I am serious about it."

Wyatt reaches into his vest pocket, Sarah took a cautious stance as she focuses on Wyatt's hand then watches as he slows brings out his hand and to her curiosity sees a clear ball.

Wyatt extends his offering towards her as he speaks, "I wish to stop this fight and to continue my work and you can claim this floor all to yourself but I ask for nothing except for me and anyone who wishes to pass through your floor. I offer you my Memory Sphere as my sincerity and desire for this to work."

Sarah doesn't say anything for a moment as she examines the ball and digests his words until she asks, "What's a Memory Sphere? To me, it looks like some ball made out of glass so what makes it so special?"

"This is a device that holds onto my memories in complete clarity and I can review them at any time and to prove it, I'll share a memory of mine with you so you'll know that this isn't some trick." Wyatt sees her not moving and yet her face shows intrigue but seems hesitant so he reassures her, "I promise you this isn't some kind of trap or the like but for me to show you everything you'll need to touch it."

Sarah's face slowly twists into disbelief and slightly bares her teeth with some smoke coming out. Her eyes narrow at Wyatt and she slowly descends with claws that look like they're ready to strike.

'Whelp, moment of truth.' Wyatt feels a drop of sweat sliding down the side of his head and unconsciously gulps. When Sarah stops and hovers within arm's distance of him, Wyatt tries with all of his willpower to resist backing away and running as he and her lock eyes with one another.

Sarah sternly says, "If this turns out to be anything but you say, I'll turn you into a charred skeleton. Understand?"

Wyatt shakes his head yes then verbally replies, "Yes."

Sarah slowly brings her right claw towards the ball while keeping a close eye on Wyatt for any moment of betrayal or aggression. When her claw rests on top of the Memory Sphere, the device activates, and light flashes. Sarah blinded by the light, quickly retract her claw and was about to blow fire but instead feels different, weightless. When she opens her eyes, she is immediately taken back as she sees herself in the middle of some kind of garden but that's not what surprised her. It was glass-looking spires that reach the sky and they were everywhere she sees. She sees numerous things flying in the air but weren't animals, she sees and hears people all around her, kids laughing and playing while the adults simply talked and walked. She starts feeling very overwhelmed until she hears a familiar voice, "Welcome to the city I once called home."


I hope this chapter is worth the wait though I wanted to upload this soon but life had other plans. Getting things ready for a relative to move in, later I moving out and into my apartment while working in the busiest months. My time typing, proofreading, editing, and finalizing my chapters have been super slow or no time at all. I plan on updating all chapters I've posted then back to Dark Interference. Thank you for your patience.