Who Is Attacking Is

"Dragon?" Detective Ivan Petrov's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you talking about… an actual dragon, like in myths?"

"If what you're imagining is the powerful, flying creature that appears in your stories and legends, then yes, that's exactly what I mean," Leila replied calmly.

"But… you just said dragons are fantasy."

"Fantasy, yes, but many fantasies are inspired by real events," Leila explained, her voice steady and serious. "Ancient humans recorded things they didn't understand, and over time, those records were either lost or exaggerated, turning reality into myth. The truth often became hidden under layers of imagination and storytelling."

"So… dragons are real?" Ivan asked, eyes widening.

"Not exactly as you might imagine," Leila clarified, glancing around thoughtfully. "Some myths are overblown, but others—well, they hold more truth than you'd think."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "Dragons did exist once, but they weren't as magical as you'd imagine. They were an ancient race, much like the Ancients, who lived here on Earth long ago. They weren't mystical beasts but rather beings who had gained extraordinary abilities over time."

"So, they were… just large animals?" Ivan asked, a bit skeptical.

"Not exactly," Leila's expression turned serious. "The Ancients, my people, were born with what we call 'extraordinary seeds,' giving us powers beyond most other beings. I'm sure you've seen that."

"Dragons are similar in this way," she continued, her voice lowering as if revealing a secret. "They, too, had powers beyond what most species could imagine. Like the Ancients, they had the ability to influence and even transform other creatures. Their powers didn't just make them strong but also allowed them to infect and change animals around them, both in body and mind."

Leila paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Even among the Ancients, dragons were rare. I've never seen one myself, but I remember stories from elders of other tribes."

"According to the legends, dragons had a strange ability to leave a trail of infected creatures wherever they went. However, unlike the Ancients, they rarely affected intelligent beings. Their power mostly influenced creatures with simpler minds—animals, not people."

"Animals…" Batman's voice was low, a hint of understanding in his tone.

Everyone's eyes drifted over the mutated creatures scattered around them. The twisted forms of the bear, wolf, lizard, and bat still showed traces of their original species, but their bodies had become monstrous and unnatural.

The agents exchanged uneasy glances. They'd spent years dealing with infected humans—people twisted and transformed by exposure to extraordinary powers, their bodies altered into disturbing, grotesque shapes. Now, seeing these mutated animals, it was clear that the infection could reach animals as well.

"But that doesn't make sense," Leila murmured, almost as if talking to herself. "There shouldn't be any dragons left…"

"You just said dragons were real," Ivan reminded her.

"Yes, but I also meant that they're supposed to be gone," Leila replied, her face troubled. "When I was reborn, the other Ancients told me that the dragons had been completely wiped out."

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "Reborn? You mean when you returned to life?"

"Yes," Leila said. "The other Ancients told me the dragons had disappeared from this world. According to them, the Dragon Clan was wiped out, erased from existence. Among the Ancients, this rumor was as close to fact as we had."

She looked around at the fallen monsters with an expression of frustration. "And it's been ages since dragons last appeared. They don't appear in any recent human history, either. If dragons were still around, people would have noticed."

During their conversation, a researcher in uniform hurried over, saluting Ivan before giving his report. "Sir, we've completed the preliminary scan. There's definitely some kind of underground structure beneath us, and we've located a hidden entrance about five kilometers from here."

"Good work." Ivan nodded, then turned to Batman with a determined expression. "Looks like it's time to get moving. Let's head down there and see what's really going on."

Ivan's team was prepared for action, and he seemed ready to lead them into the underground site. But before he could give the order, Batman stepped forward, holding up a hand to stop him.

"No. You'll stay here at the camp. I'll go down with my team," Batman said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Batman's firm response didn't surprise Ivan. The Ninth Division's last expedition into ancient ruins had been chaotic and dangerous. A mission into unknown territory would be just as risky, and a large team without the right skills might be a burden. Batman's team, made up of heroes trained to handle extreme situations, was much better suited to the task.

Batman turned to Leila. "And you're coming with us."

As the last known Old One, Leila was the only one with direct knowledge of dragons and the ancient beings associated with them. Not only was she familiar with ancient myths, but she was also powerful in her own right. Her unique abilities made her valuable to the team, and Batman trusted that she could handle herself in whatever they might face below.

"All right," Leila agreed, nodding solemnly.

Ivan looked disappointed, as if he'd lost the chance to team up with Batman. But he knew the potential dangers were serious, and his team might not be prepared for what lay below. After a moment, he gave a reluctant nod, stepping back to let Batman take the lead.

Leila, who now worked as a field agent of sorts with the Ninth Division, had a small camera attached to her uniform. This would allow the team back at the camp to monitor the situation in real-time as she and Batman ventured underground.

Following the coordinates given by the researchers, Batman and Leila quickly found the entrance—a dark, narrow tunnel leading deep into the ground, with stone steps descending into darkness.

The entrance was unmistakably crafted by intelligent hands. The stones were precisely placed, confirming that this wasn't a natural formation. Batman took the lead, activating his detective mode to light the way. Through his visor, the passage was bright as day; he could see every tiny particle of dust floating in the air, each detail perfectly clear.

"Unbelievable," Leila murmured, her voice filled with awe as they descended.

After walking down the stone steps for a few minutes, the tunnel opened into a vast, hidden world. The sight took their breath away. Strange, colorful flowers and plants were everywhere, with their leaves glistening in the dim light. Towering ancient trees stretched up toward the distant ceiling, their roots snaking across the ground. A crystal-clear river flowed from somewhere above, cascading down in a gentle waterfall, filling the air with the soft sound of rushing water.

"I've heard legends that dragons live in hidden worlds of their own," Leila whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. "I always thought it was just a tale… an exaggeration. But to see this—"

"Hold on to that awe for later. We're not alone," Batman said, his voice pulling her back to reality.

Leila glanced around and spotted what Batman had noticed: several shadowy figures moving among the trees. The creatures looked similar to the mutated animals they'd fought above ground but were even more ferocious. Their eyes glinted with a predatory hunger as they stalked closer, sizing up Batman and Leila as if they were prey.

"Well, it doesn't look like they're happy about us crashing their little paradise," Leila muttered, her eyes narrowing as she studied the beasts. "Guess we'll have to fight our way through."

"No need," Batman replied calmly, not moving a muscle. He stood as if everything were perfectly under control.

Leila was about to ask what he meant when a soft "pfft" echoed through the cavern. One of the creatures suddenly collapsed, a clean hole punched through its head. It hadn't even had a chance to realize it was under attack.

The other beasts stopped in their tracks, staring at their fallen comrade. Before they could react, another "pfft" cut through the air, and a second creature dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Leila's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Batman. She hadn't seen him make any movement, yet two creatures had already been taken down.

"Wait… you didn't use this technique when we sparred, did you?" she asked, suspicion flickering in her gaze.

Batman didn't respond, his focus on the creatures around them. The monsters were now in complete chaos. They looked around wildly, unsure of where the attacks were coming from. Confusion and fear flashed in their eyes as they backed up, uncertain who or what was attacking them.

Where am I? What's going on? Who's attacking us? 

The beasts looked around in panic, but they didn't have long to wonder. Another "pfft" echoed, and yet another creature fell, leaving the remaining monsters even more frantic and desperate as they struggled to understand the invisible threat.

---

Read the entire Story at P@reon.com/Onesword