Dottore smiled as Morax dove toward Pierro.
The First Harbinger stretched an arm toward his dagger—only to draw it back in to keep Morax's jaws from closing around him. Gasping, Pierro heaved himself upward with a blast of force.
Morax flinched at the blow and shook his head.
Pierro's lavender gaze met Dottore's as his hands slipped. He never got the chance to scream.
The dragon's fangs sank into Pierro's neck, slicing through flesh and bone. A sharp crack split the air, followed by a dull thud.
Arlecchino's screech rang out as the tidbit that had dropped from Morax's mouth rolled across the floor. Pierro's empty eyes stared back at the Harbingers, no longer seeing.
"Fascinating…" Dottore trotted to his victim's head. "The cut's cleaner than I thought it'd be."
As the Second Harbinger lifted Pierro's remains, he tensed at the slice of blades being pulled from hilts and the hiss of Delusion-powered catalysts. No one would try to obtain all the glory today.
Even together, they don't have much of a chance. Though I should still be cautious.
High-pitched clinking caused him to drop his bloody prize. Capitano's bulk lumbered from the cluster of Harbingers, fingers clinging to the hilt of his claymore. The Fourth Harbinger's war cry echoed as he charged toward the dragon.
Behind Capitano, Sandrone readied her catalyst, aiming a pulse of pyro energy at Morax's chest.
Shame Sandrone's never forgiven me for that little mishap at one of her factories. She would've made a good ally.
Dottore slipped a vial of pale smoke from his pocket and aimed it at the catalyst. The concoction found her Eye of Perception in seconds, releasing its contents into the air. Sandrone's chest heaved with raspy coughs, and her weapon flickered before dropping to the floor.
A sharp crunch caused Dottore to turn to face Morax. Capitano's midsection lay in the dragon's mouth, and his claymore had become entangled in the thick mane covering Morax's chest. A crack ran through the metal armor, displaying a network of cables and cogs underneath Capitano's exterior. Pale blue light flashed from within the Fourth Harbinger's chest.
His core. So this is how the strongest automaton falls. Pity I never got to observe him more closely other than a general examination.
Morax's fangs dug into Capitano's body for a final time—directly over the source of light. White sparks flew from the Fourth Harbinger, and his limbs went limp in the dragon's jaws. Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Morax flung Capitano's shell onto the meeting table and began to circle the remaining Harbingers.
The three women had now clumped together. Sandrone and Arlecchino had set their gazes upon the dragon, hidden daggers poised to fling at any Morax's eyes or underbelly if he attacked. Dottore recognized the old Snezhnayan tactic; they wouldn't break from the defensive formation easily.
At least Capitano won't be able to distract him.
Dottore smirked at the gleaming claymore now without an owner. He'd had to abandon his own weapon after his imprisonment.
I'm no blacksmith. I couldn't make one if I tried. But I'm not opposed to other options.
A stinging pull against his wrist forced him back into the battle. Columbina stood in front of Sandrone and Arlecchino, fingers tracing over the threads of cryo energy connecting her to him.
"That's how you killed the others," the Third Harbinger hissed. "Scaramouche was right; you're nothing but a damned, worthless traitor!"
"Oh, Columbina, there's no need for that." Dottore stumbled backward, tugging against the tendrils.
Curse it all! She's not going to let go, and I don't have the strength or the blade to break out of it. But…
"It's a shame, really. You had potential to be my personal guards." He heaved himself backward.
Columbina gasped as she flew toward him. She crumpled to the floor at Dottore's feet, still attached to him by her frigid rope. Ignoring the thrum of Arlecchino and Sandrone's steps against the stone as they rushed toward him, he grabbed his prize by the collar of her dress.
"Here, beast!" he called, holding Columbina's squirming form. "Catch!"
Heaving Columbina upward, Dottore tossed her toward the dragon's mouth.
Archons, I'm lucky she's light enough for me to throw.
Morax leaped away from Arlecchino and Sandrone and rushed toward his new prey. The Third Harbinger landed in his jaws less than a heartbeat before she could hit the floor.
"Coward!" she screeched before the dragon's fangs clamped around her chest.
Two clicks of Morax's serrated teeth, and Columbina spoke no more. Her ropes fell to the stone beneath them, dissolving into nothingness.
"Oh, I see you have something in your mane. Here, that can't be comfortable…" Dottore walked to Morax's side and stretched for the claymore still dangling from Morax's mane.
With a couple of tugs on the hilt, the blade landed in front of him with a ringing clatter.
This'll do nicely.
Smiling, Dottore lifted the claymore from the ground. Although heavier than his own, it'd give him a better method of defense.
If they somehow manage to bring down the beast.
"Arlecchino, go get someone!" Sandrone commanded. "Quick!"
Legs quivering, Arlecchino stumbled toward the exit. Her light steps were followed by the dragon's heavy strides. Before she could reach the door separating the surviving Harbingers from the rest of the palace, Morax's dark talons met her back.
Arlecchino screamed at the blow, doubling over herself and sinking to the floor. Her shaking form convulsed as she rolled onto her side, and blood gushed from the gash.
Dottore cocked his head at the glimpse of white within the wound.
Bone. He keeps those claws fairly sharp.
"Arlecchino!" Sandrone stumbled toward her injured companion, clutching her dagger.
Growling, Morax turned to face Sandrone. Only a thin ring of amber surrounded his pupils as he approached her.
"Archons…" she whispered.
"Funny you should invoke them. Do you know who this is, Sandrone?" Dottore taunted, making his way toward them.
Sandrone backed away from the beast, lifting her arm to display her only weapon.
"Stay the Abyss away from me!" she shrieked at the drake.
"You cry for your precious Archons, but you're in the presence of one!" The Doctor's laughter echoed, intermingling with Morax's feral snarls. "The great Rex Lapis himself."
"R-Rex Lapis…" Sandrone inhaled sharply as her back hit the wall. "H-how…how…?"
"Why do we do the gods' bidding when we can control them…or be them?" Dottore continued. "Of course, there're always some dissenters. I would've offered you second-in-command if I knew you wouldn't betray me. Oh well. My dragon's hungry."
Morax flinched at Dottore's words.
Offended, beast? It doesn't change the truth.
Threads of drool dripped from the beast's jaws as he pounced. In heartbeats, he'd snatched Sandrone by her shoulders and dragged her away from the wall.
Sandrone still gripped the dagger. Reaching upward from the death grip, she aimed a feeble blow at Morax's cheek.
Morax stiffened as her blade connected with his muzzle. A thin trail of crimson trickled from the scratch.
Sandrone gave a final sharp gasp as Morax tightened his hold on her. Dottore smirked at the familiar dull crack of broken ribs.
Snarling, Morax shook his head. Sandrone's dagger slipped from her hands and landed a few steps in front of Dottore. The Fifth Harbinger's arms hung limply from the drake's jaws, flopping with each jerk of Morax's muzzle.
Morax heaved his load upward, sending Sandrone's body flying from his mouth. The bloodied corpse impacted the wall with a dull thud before rolling onto the floor. A final twitch, and the Fifth Harbinger lay still.
Nostrils twitching, Morax stalked to his victim and lifted her from the ground. Flinging her into the air for a final time, he caught her in his teeth.
Dottore frowned at the thin whimper sourcing from Arlecchino. She remained slumped on the ground, locked in a series of violent shudders.
After swallowing his last bite, Morax frowned before approaching the Tenth Harbinger.
"I'm sorry…" the Geo Archon murmured, gently rolling her onto her back.
Morax pressed his claw against her throat, sliding it against the life-giving artery under her chin. Arlecchino quivered—and stilled.
"Enjoy the rest of your meal, beast." Dottore reached for the crane still hanging from his neck. "You've done well."
I've done it. Tsar of Snezhnaya. Now, I just have to wait for him to settle. Dragons are dangerous creatures, after all.