Chapter 42

Preparation

3rd PoV

Elsword and Aisha came back to Elder with Ent's bark. Elsword was carding the bark as Aisha told him, 'girls should not carry anything but their dignity'. On the way they saw Elesis, Raven and Chung walking around.

"Oh you guys are already back." Aisha said waving to them. "Yea also we got an offer." Elesis said and they perked up. "Well lets get

Guild hall

Raven's PoV

"Black steel huh, I don't know what to think of that." Elsword said. "Why would they want us." Rena asked and I just shrugged. "Seems like an like they have some motive for us, i do not trust this." Eve said.

"I mean it can't be all that bad right?, all we could do is train and stay in our business." Chung tried to convince me and Elesis on the way here too but we are still indifferent on it honestly. "Never really seen them but they seem shady." Aisha said.

I agree. It weird how they would want basically a group of kid mercenaries. They are planning something. While i was thinking, i felt Elsword's and Rena's eyes on me along with Eve's and Ara's.

"What?" They all shrugged. "You seem, different." Elsword said still looking at me. What the hell do you mean? I'm the same all in all. "I'm ok." "If you say so." Was all he said and looked somewhere else.

Although i can't say i known Elsword for long, he doesn't seem like the kind of person to just bring up something if he knew something was wrong. He is too perceptive for that.

"Ill go and get this to Hoffman." Elsword said and grabbed the light purple tree bark. "Ill come with you." Rena got up and followed. ""Me too."" Aisha and Ara followed him out.

Chung sighed and sat down. "Why do you want us to join so bad Chung." I asked him. "It would be nice if i had some friends along also..." He trailed off and mumbled something under his breath.

Seemed personal.

Elsword's PoV

I gave the bark to Hoffaman, Who thanked us and gave us one of his carriages on the outskirts of the city. Now we just have to get it to Bethma.

"Els do you need armor?" Rena asked gesturing the blacksmiths shop. "Nah, doesn't really suit my needs." Armor here was kinda ugly and pretty weak.

(That black haired boy...) Regulis mumbled through my head.

'What do mean?'

There's something about him that is different, something is clinging to him.)

'I sensed that too, something must have happened in Velder or during the trip. Seems like I'm not the only one who thinks that.' I look back to everyone following me.

Maybe they see the same thing i saw?

Elder Outskirts

After picking up sis and the others, we went to the carriage. "This should be enough for those lizards." Aisha said. "Think so?" Rena questioned. "Well they aren't getting anymore than this." Raven sighed.

"Cmon Ai." She sighed and summoned Stark. "Stark, carry this to Bethma, along with us." She said and he nods. We all got on him. His back was surprisingly leathery.

[We have a problem, I can only carry three and this container, some have to get off.] Well that's a shame, who will she- "Els and Rena c'mon." Well that was rather quick...

"What will we do?" Ara asked. "Also Els what about the offer?" Chung asked me now. "You guys can go to Altera for now, We will be back soon." I say and Aisha nudges me with a smug look.

"Confident are we? we might have to fight a dragon you know"

"Think ill run off? I'm hurt Ai, i thought you knew me better than that." I say with my own smirk.

Bethma(Afternoon

Rena's PoV

"Being so high feels so weird." Elsword said looking around the desert while flying. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Your like a kid you know that." He looks up with a smile. "This my first time, give me slack". "We're in the desert now, lets go to the dark lizards den or whatever." Yea we should, the sun is going to fry us now.

Dragon Road

We land on the trail from what we could remember from last night. "God i forgot how hot it was here." Elsword said blocking the sun with his hand. Your in a long sleeve and long pants, how are even still alive?

We went inside the carriage for some shade while Elsword pulled it. Honestly i felt kinda bad since he had to do heavy work in the hot sun, but he doesn't seem to mind it as much as any normal person would.

While we were going, i heard something, something loud and most likely big. "We have incoming." Aisha said pointing to the side of us. A large dust cloud was coming at us fast, something is coming toward us fast.

"Get away!" Elsword shouted and we all jumped from the carriage. We landed in the sand crouched down. Something sprang up from the sand spilling it everywhere.

I was a large black dragon head. It had no limbs, just a really large head. On top of it was one of those armored lizardmen from before. It screamed and pointed its blade at us and the dragon charge itself at us.

We dodged out its way and i summoned my bow and fired arrows. It weaved around them and opened its mouth. It was charging something but Elsword came and pushed it down.

It slithered back into the ground again and shake the area. "I hate snakes." Huh, i actually know he hated snakes.

It sprang back up and lunged at Aisha with its mouth open. Aisha used her her staff to create a cyclone and aim it into its mouth. This blew up the dragon head into bits but the lizardmen jumped in time.

He swung at me and i blocked with the end of my bow. He reared back and lunged with his sword. I rolled away and fired at his backside but he spun around and deflected them.

He jumped up again to evade ice spears and landed further away. "Heheh." It began to laugh. I forget these guys could talk. A black and crimson aura began to emit from his body. It opened its other hand and created a spear of the energy.

It threw it at us. It was blindly fast and i didn't even noticed Els came in front of me to black it. He had it in his hand and the lizardman widen his eyes, not expecting that to happen.

"Not that hard to learn." Elsword said and threw it back, but with way more force. The lizardman jumped up and charged at us.

"Back me up!" Elsword drew Durendal and parried the liazardmen's strike. "Lighting impulse." Aisha fired a lightning blast with a loud noise.

Elsword sidestepped but the lizardmen jumped to evade it. Now is my chance. "Aero Strafe!" I fired a condensed wind arrow at it and it hit. It came back down with broken armor and some cuts but was still kicking.

It was going to lunge at me but then a red blade came out its chest. The blade turned and came out its side cutting it in two. How long can he make that thing?

Dragon Road (Evening)

3rd PoV

The crew was sitting on the sides of the carriage for the dark scales to come out. It was finally time for the desert to cool down and they were thankful for it.

They heard a few strange noises but thought it was probably the sand scorpions scattering around to burrow for the night.

Elsword opened his eyes and looked up. "You felt that." They nod and looked around. There was no shaking but they could still hear noises. "Lets get to the village." Elsword said and began to pull on the carriage.

Dark Scale Village

As they got closer they saw black smoke in the village. "What the-" Aisha said getting out. "Damn, seems those other lizardmen attacked. Rena, hide the carriage, me and Aisha will help the village." Elsword ordered.

They ran into the village and saw the armored lizardmen killing and the dark scale lizardmen. "Fire flame bomb" Elsword shot out a burst of fire at the armored lizardmen.

They were pushed back and burning up. "Waterfall!" Aisha shot a torrent of water from the water dragon head. The water put out some of the fires started and some of the other attacking lizardmen.

The armored lizardmen began hissing and ran off before Elsword and Aisha could get to them. "What the heck." Rena came running up to them.

They began to look for any that were not killed but found no one. "Damn, and their leader had something that could combat Kayak." Aisha said kicking some wood over.

"There's someone coming." Elsword pointed over and it was the dark scales leader. His cloak was in tatters and was covered in purple blood and wounds and was hunched on his spear.

"Curse him..." He said falling to his hands. They ran over to him help him up but he held out his arm. In his hand was a crude bottle with shining red liquid in it.

"This...Revenge..." He said before falling down. Elsword grabbed the bottle and put it in a bag. "What happened here?!" They turned back and see Chakabuk walking to them.

"This place was attacked, I'm guessing it was under Dagon's orders." Elsword explained. "He's still alive, he can be treated." Rena said turning him over.

Bethma Cavern(Night)

The crew went back to where Chakabuk and other lizardmen were. They carried the dark scale leader with them and let him rest there. Chakabuk was examining the liquid and told the crew to stay outside.

Rena and Aisha was chatting with each other while Elsword was telepathically talking with Regulis.

(Dagin eh, if you fight him be warned.)

'Well if i do, i won't do anything to rash'

(He was always an outcast, even to mother.)

'Mother?'

(Don't worry about all that, If i remember correctly, Dagon's power is tied to his representation, Wrath. The more angry the binder is, the more power they can pull from Dagon, similar to you and me.)

'I don't think there would be a way to calm Kayak, if anything we would have to rush him with powerful attacks.'

(That would be best. Also he may have some abilities i may not have. We are different after all. )

Elsword sighed and looked over to his sword, Durendal. He took it out from its sheath and studied it admiring its pure white blade.

"Been awhile." Elsword looked over and saw Luto walking to him. "Heh, look whose here." Elsword said with a sigh. "Oh? I'm hurt, i thought you would be happy to see me." Luto feigned sadness.

"If your here, then something that interested you." Luto tilted his head. "It seems you know me better than i thought you did." He chuckled.

"I came to see how you would fair against another one of the seven beast." He said looking up. "Wrath vs Pride. The second against the first." He said ominously.

"Where did they come from, Regulis won't say a thing."

"Even i, do not know. They have been around longer than even the space time continuum."

"I see..."

"But..." He said and Elsword looked up at him. "There is one place that may know of how they came to be. They specialize in techniques similar to yours. If you go there, you will get what you want to know." Luto's body began to materialize and distort.

"And where is that."

"All i know is its location. The village lies in Sander." He then vanished into the distorted void.

"Elsword!" Rena came to him with her bow. "Is Chakabuk done?" Elsword asked and she nodded. "We are leaving in the morning so lets get some rest." She said grabbing his arm.

After washing up they all settled into one room.

"One bed again huh." Elsword said laying down first. "Try not kick in your sleep Aisha, that's a bad habit i don't know where you picked it up from." Rena said with a sigh.

"Look at Elsword! he's huge! also Eve never complains." Aisha crosses her arms with a pout. "How was i even factored into this..." Elsword said.

They all laid down next to Elsword and at in silence. "Els, you are kinda big..." Rena trailed off. "We all got bigger. We used to do this as kids but now its kinda awkward." Elsword admitted.

"Oh good, i thought i was the only one.." Aisha sighed. It went silent for a while with everyone staring up until Elsword grumbled.

"Ill sleep outside..."

"Your such a gentlemen~" Aisha said in a sweet voice. "Goodnight Els." Rena said waving.

Elsword walked out in a white shirt and red shorts and laid on a large rock near the cave. He looked up, admiring the million stars in the sky.

"Well, this isn't so bad either"