The music for this chapter is Kushala Daora Theme from Monster Hunter World. I finally got around to putting out the chapter! I've either been at work or looking for a secondary job, that's why it's taking so long
'Everyone!'
Skyking's voice ripped through the mind link, making everybody jolt or stiffen at the urgency in the dragon's call. Halfway to Central City, Superboy and Robin tensed, looking instinctively for the blue and black dragon, while in Happy Harbor, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian, and Artemis jerked. 'We have an emergency,' Skyking said, pumping his wings to keep up with the gale-boosted Dragon of Steel. Kid Flash grunted as he slid around the corner of a hallway, trying to keep track of a shadow that slipped along the walls.
'A little busy here, Sky!' the speedster grit out.
'I'm pursuing an airborne threat into the highrises of Happy Harbor,'the dragon mowed on, diving to gain speed. Swiftly, he compacted his form, gaining speed as he dropped until he had overtaken Kushala. Looking up at the massive shadow cast by the moonlight made the dragon prince's scales stand on end. 'Are they allies with the Shadows?' Robin asked, narrowing his eyes. 'They don't seem like it,' Skyking replied, driving his wings down and shooting skywards, drawing his twin daggers. With a grunt, Skyking struck Kushala in an underhand-slice, but the blades glanced off the armored carapace, merely scratching the surface and generating sparks.
'How do you know?' Miss Martian asked. Skyking paused, green eyes widening as the dragon of steel jerked its head around to snap at his body. Barrel-rolling in the air, Skyking twisted out of the way with inches to spare before balling his fist and punching the dragon in the jaw as hard as he dared to, denting the metal with a crunch and making it growl in pain.
'Because,' the young dragon said. 'They are after me- if they were with the Shadows, Roquette would be nothing but paste by now under this thing's weight. Stay with the Doctor or on your mission. I can handle this.'
"You are swift as your wings fashion you to be, Little Mongrel," Kushala Daorah praised, working their dented jaw as their airy voice blustering over the city heights like the gale it was. "But I have drawn you far enough away to do what I was sent here to do without interference from your… little Nest."
Skyking barely had time for the realization to sink in before the steel-clad tail whipped out and slammed into his side, making agony explode across Skyking's body. Flipping side over end over tail, the dragon prince rocketed towards the ground, slamming into the streets with a deafening crash and bouncing like a ball. He crashed into the side of a parking garage, coughing at the air knocked out of him with the hit.
Hissing through clenched teeth, Skyking worked his way out of the furrow he'd carved into the asphalt, glaring at the Dragon of steel as they swooped to slam into the street a way across from him.
"You can do better than that, Little Mongrel!" the dragon said mockingly. The steel tail waved in the air in a taunt, the dragon pacing back and forth before sitting back on their hind legs and tail, spreading their wings in a 'come at me' gesture. "Show me your worth!"
Skyking growled before twirling his blades, getting them into a reverse-grip. His true body would be useless for now- Kushala's abilities were still unknown, and Skyking had the advantage of speed and maneuverability on his side in his compacted body. Tucking his wings tight to his back to avoid them being forced open, the dragon prince firmed his determination.
The gale picked up, ruffling the half-dragon's hair, before he shot off like a cannon blast, cracking the street's surface. Kushala Daorah's cold eyes narrowed before the dragon's mouth dropped open, sucking a breath into its angular maw. Skyking's eyes widened in alarm, recognizing the attack that was about to happen, and dove out of the way just as the steel dragon unleashed the blast. Instead of fire, an incredibly pressurized ball of wind collided with the spot Skyking had been in just milliseconds before, pulverizing the stone and concrete into gravel and dust. The lightning-flame dragon yelped, scrambling further away and flapping his wings to gain altitude.
In the buildings around them, apartment buildings, small city-homes and a homeless shelter, people turned on lights and peeked out of windows and blinds to see what the commotion was about.
Skyking grit his teeth at the sight of the curious bystanders, rolling away from another blast of pressurized air.
Flipping his blades in his scaled palms, Skyking crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at Kushala grimly; he had to lead him a little further away from the people- if he didn't…
Tucking his wings in, Skyking dove, the wind shrieking through his scales, wing membrane, and tailfins as he made to engage. Sucking in a breath, focusing on his lightning more than fire, Skyking let loose a screaming burst of blue and white lightning, zapping the steel-clad dragon and making it screech in surprise and pain.
"Insolent little Mongrel!" Kushala roared, swiveling their head as Skyking swooped around for another pass. 'So lightning hurts them,' the dragon prince thought, smiling grimly. 'Good.' Closing in on the dragon of steel, Skyking didn't notice the dragon's cold eyes narrow in anticipation. Crouching back on their four legs, Kushala Daorah bent low before spinning up and into the air, kicking up a wall of tornado winds just as Skyking slammed into them, making the dragon prince stifle a cry of surprise and pain when it spit him out to the left, tossing him into the concrete. Skyking winced and pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as blood trickled from his head.
Flapping his wings to keep his balance, Skyking growled, glaring at the hovering form of Kushala Daorah.
"You are distracted by the mites, Little Mongrel," the dragon hummed, cold blue eyes looking at the people peeking from the windows. "We shall move locations, if only to give me the fight I wish." Turning, Kushala flapped towards the beach, leaving Skyking to gape at the retreating dragon before snarling.
"Get back here!" his true form exploded out of him, and the dragon prince launched into the air, flying after the Dragon of Steel. Picking up speed, Skyking managed to catch up to Kushala just when they hit the sands of the beach, and diving down on the steel dragon, slammed into them with enough force to make them crash into the shallow waters.
Kushala hissed in anger, shaking the salt water from its carapace as Sky. "You are either brave or foolish to drench me in this filth!" they roared, and Skyking snorted, lowering his head to display his horns. "I never was a fast learner, so I'll go with brave!" Kushala roared and lowered their brow, charging over the sand and waves. Skyking answered in kind, bellowing his challenge, and thundering through the surf, his head lowered and horns gleaming. The resulting clash sent a small shockwave that made the ocean surface ripple. The resulting head-on collision forced both dragons to back away, the duo circling each other and looking for weakness. Skyking blasted another flare of Lightningflame at the opposing dragon, and Kushala reared back with a snarl. Suddenly, Kushala Daorah leapt into the air and summoned a massive blast of wind, pushing Skyking back.
With the winds at their back, the Dragon of Steel turned towards the north, shooting off with the Dragon Prince in hot pursuit over forests and remote farmland.
Skyking snarled, fire and lightning igniting in his throat, but Kushala lunged forwards and latched their jaws around the Dragon Prince's throat, making the young hero choke.
"You are but a Wyrm playing against a True Dragon!" Kushala roared, spitting a blast of wind point-blank into Skyking's neck. The Lightning Flame dragon howled as he was knocked away, falling several hundred meters before righting himself again.
At first glance, it seemed that the Dragon of Steel was winning; Skyking was bleeding and breathing heavily, the wound on his neck looking severe. Scratches and cracked scales on his hide showed tanking blows at a cost, and he favored his left hind leg even in the air… but there was something forming ever-so-gradually over the metal-clad dragon's shell:
Rust.
Kushala Daorah's carapace had been drenched in seawater back in Happy Harbor, and unknown to all but the dragon themself, that was their weakness, the rusting of its shell weakened their body, and until they could shed again, Kushala Daorah was at a disadvantage the longer the fight drew out.
"I will not be bested by a filthy Mongrel like you!" The dragon snarled, lunging in the air to collide with Skyking. The dragon prince growled, kicking the steel-clad wind dragon away. "You've said that many times over the course of our fight," Skyking said mockingly, despite the bleeding body he sported. "Use something original!" With the last word, Skyking wreathed his paws in fire and lightning, swinging violently at Kushala's head and knocking it to the side. The wind dragon squealed a roar of pain, ice-blue eyes flashing in sudden gold in rage.
Spinning with the momentum of the strike in a motion unlike the dragon's current moves et, Kushala smacked Skyking with one of their wings, the razor-sharp ends bending and curling to catch the dragon prince along the side, slicing a long rip into the membrane of his left wing.
No.
Skyking's eyes widened, already feeling his stomach in his throat as he listed to the wayside. Kushala, who reoriented themselves after Skyking's strike, watched with wide and shocked, angered, indignant eyes as their opponent dropped like a stone, one wing's membrane ripped where the wing joined the body. Skyking finally found his voice and shrieked, falling to the earth.
Before he hit, a flash of silvery steel entered his vision before the world exploded into blackness.
Kushala Daorah snorted, shaking themselves off from the harsh landing. Looking at the young dragon under his metal wing, the Dragon of Steel growled, violently tossing the younger dragon away.
What are you doing, Kushala Daorah? Your mission was to find and test the little Impure, kill him if need be!
"Mother," the Dragon of Steel snarled. "This was supposed to be my hunt. Why do you deny me this right to do it on my own? Why did you take conteol in that moment?!"
Because you are my youngest child, Daorah. I worry about you.
"How am I to stand among my brothers and sister if you coddle me so?!" Kushala Daorah roared. "For your interference, I will not finish the Mongrel off." The cold blue eyes focused on the still form of the Impure under them so that 'Mother' could see. Then, leaping into the air, uncaring that their gales tossed the limp dragon prince like a giant ragdoll, Kushala circled high overhead before flying to the west.
"Next time you wish to test our opponents… if you are not confident in my strength, send one of your other children."
Sorry this wasn't as good as I hoped it would be- honestly, I had such a block with it and I hate to say I gave up halfway through, but….. ugh. Anyways, Azzon's first battle with a technical Elder Dragon is done! I in no way expected him to defeat it on the first encounter, but in my opinion, Kushala Daorah was the easiest of the Elder Dragons in Monster Hunter World to fight. Dodge the wind, avoid the tornadoes and bada bing bada boom you win.
Next chapter, Azzon wakes up in Medical (again) and must give his report on his side of the events of the mission. The Team and the League notice something odd about Azzon's injuries, and Wonder Woman gives some rather… unsettling news.