Chapter 9: DRAGON BOSS BATTLE

(For this chapter you guys might want to hear a berserk soundtrack or whatever music fits best for this battle.)

"We don't have that much time" said Paimon as she float moving forward, follow by the traveler and three more people. One a male with red hair and a blond female with a long ponytail and the archon venti known as the bard. "If we don't stop them they will kill Dvalin."

"Easy for you to say" spoke venti as he walk next to the traveler.

"HEY!" Paimon yell "Is not as easy to float! It may look easy but it is not!"

"Hey you two! Less talking and more moving." Yell Diluc as he slowly starting to pick up speed.

"If we don't get there before them we will be too late to stop the Fatui after what they will do to dvalin." Spoke Jean as she too pick up her speed keeping up with diluc and leaving the trio behind.

"Hey! Don't leave us behind" Paimon speed up too

The traveler and venti both speed up to catching up with them.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Patli ask as she was sitting on top a rock as she watch Ambrose pull a side ways lever backwards, activating some sort of mechanism.

Crank* crank* CRANK!*

"It will" he said "After all this is just a big version of a crossbow".

"Yeah I see that" she said " But sense when does a crossbow has a giant sword in the shape of a knife as a FUCKING BOLT WITH A ROPE TIE AT THE END!!"

"Like I get it that the spears will work as volts but really?! the fucking claymore?!"

"Hmm"

Ambrose check the strings making sure their firm, he even check the reloading mechanism making sure the gears are functioning well.

How did Ambrose had obtain the necessary materials to build a heavy mounted crossbow?

Well he had done a few scavenges from here and there.

Finding discarded gear from the insides of a destroyed ruin guard. It wasn't an easy job to disassemble one as there were to many gears and it's core was about to go boom in one wrong move.

For its strings he had to hunt down wild boars as well as some hilichurl's that roamed around.

He will take anything that's at the reach of his hand, even a small opportunity to have a advantage or to even survive.

Ambrose was done making sure that the mechanism of the gigantic crossbow work.

"So now what?" Patli ask as she move back and forward like a bored child. "Are we going to seat here and wait?"

Ambrose went to a nearby tree were a long metal spear rested against it and so for a couple of them with a small sack attached to the end on the pole that connected to the blade. He took one from it and walk back to the giant crossbow.

"First, we are not waiting for problems." he said as he shove the spear inside the chamber as he moved behind the mounted crossbow were the trigger was located.

He turn to look to Patli as his hand grip the handle as he put his finger on the trigger.

"We're starting one." He pull the trigger and in a blink of an eye the spear was shot away tours the direction of stormterror's lair.

"Remember those three days ago were I came late at night into the camp?" He ask, Patli affirmed by nodding her head.

"I secretly smuggled explosive barrels inside stormterror's little palace."

Patli eyes grew wide as she saw were the spear was directed too.

"Y-You d-didn't r-right?" she Sutter out of fear

"Yes I did" Ambrose affirmed "I set them in the Inside were the pillars hold the structure and let's say that the only problem with me doing that was the monster on the outside." He said as he move his poncho revealing small scars on his left bicep that were almost cover by the dark metal Pauldron that had small spikes on it.

Patli was impressed at what he had done when she was gathering food while Ambrose had already star making the moves and planing.

"But lets day tha the wind that's surrounded it wasn't an easy task." He cover his arm back as he lifted the poncho up bit this time it was his chest.

"OH! Fuck" she said as she flinch

His abdomen and his chest were cover by tiny cuts that look like there were meant to mince his flesh off, the flesh was healing as Patli saw that it was was cover by the natural crust that every scar has.

He cover it back again as he turn and saw the spear get closer to it's target.

The spear had travel a good distance

*THAWCK*

It was the spear penetrating a battle that contain a pyro slime, the instant the spear penetrated the barrel the slime exploded causing it to expand to the other stack of barrels to do the same.

It was a huge chain explosion that surround the whole place in a circle of fire as well as burnt corpses of the creatures that were around the place.

but the explosion ended off with a massive one that was at the center. It was like watching fireworks on an early spring festival.

——-

"What the hell was that." Ask diluc who saw the explosion a few meters up ahead that come from the dvalin's lair.

"On no" Jeanne sounded worry "they reach it first."

The traveler and Paimon look worried to seeing the smoke and fire raise from were dvalin's lair was located.

But venti was not, on the other hand he was furious. He quickly rush forward leaving the others behind.

"Venti!! wait!" the traveler and Paimon yell as they follow behind him.

"Como on quickly! " Jeanne yell as she look to diluc and back to were the other three had disappeared inside the thick bushes.

Diluc as always didn't say anything and follow after the others.

—————-

"It Looks like the party STARTED!!" Ambrose said in a enthusiastic tone as he position himself behind the mounted crossbow ready to shoot.

At first nothing happened but the the ground slowly started to shake and . . . .

"GROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGH"

A deafening roar spread all around as well as a burst of dirt and rubble flying all over the place.

The dragon had came out bursting from the ground up into the hair whit it's wings spread wide.

Without wasting a second, Ambrose press the trigger. A spear was shot containing the same small bag attached.

The spear nail it's target, a explosion hit the dragon right on the chest causing it almost to lose it's balance. The dragon noticed Ambrose, even do he was far of by four miles away, the flying lizard still noticed him, the thing let of a deafening screech as it dive forward tours the direction of were Ambrose was now located.

Ambrose noticed it as well that the dragon was now heading tours him.

"Pass me another spear!!" Yell Ambrose at Patli.

She quickly did what Ambrose told her passing him a spear almost dropping it on the process.

"Careful!! If you drop that damn thing we would become flying body parts!!" Ambrose yell as he shove it into the chamber and pull a leve back loading it.

"Why?! What the hell is in that damn thing!?" Patli yell.

"Let's just say it's a special magic Ingredient" he aimed at Dvalin's head especially one of it's eyes. But before he could pull the trigger the dragon had spit out three balls of high pressure air that were heading tours them.

Ambrose pull Patli down to the ground as one of the ball's of air fly above her almost taking her head off. Another impacted near the mounted crossbow almost making it go out of balance. The last one had totally miss them, as it flew pass destroying anything that was behind them.

"PATLI GET OUT OF HERE NOW!! GO AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE FROM THIS PLACE NOW!! MOVE IT!!" He scream at her with authority.

"But But what if you d- don't come B-"

"JUST GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! NOW!!" He said as he push her on her left shoulder prompting her to move from her frightened frozen state.

He saw Patli run at maximum speed to the path that lead to the base of this cliff.

"GROOOOOOAAAAAARGH"

He heard the gigantic scale beast roar as it approach to were he was.

"Yeah! I fucking heard you alright!!" He quickly stood up the ground and grabbed the handle of the mounted crossbow, pointing the spear right at the dragon and without hesitation he pull the trigger.

The spear on the chamber disappeared as it was shot forward.

Booom

It was the impact of the spear hitting dvalin right on the shoulder. This almost made the dragon to hit the ground but it quickly recover it's flight at the same time it increase it's speed.

The dragon was a few meters away from him and In a flash Ambrose grab one sear and loaded it on the chamber, while he held one with his left hand ready to hurl the spear.

He pull the trigger of the mounted crossbow hoping it will hit in any part of the wing.

But it was too late as the dragon turn sideways, avoiding the spear and passing like a vertical arrow, scraping a great chunk of the dirt with it's left wing, it cause the whole place to shake, making ambrose to lose his balance for a couple of seconds but he quickly recover.

He look the place were the wing of the dragon had scrape off a great chunk of dirt as well as stone.

"Bastard it looks your trying to brim me down." He said as he gritted his teeth seeing the dragon make a full circle readying it self to attack from behind.

He look at the tree were the spears were and saw there were only four of them. He turn the mounted spear around with ease, pointing to where the dragon is he quickly move loading the spear into the chamber but as he did he heard the dragon speak.

"THIS! WILL BE YOUR FINAL STAND AS WELL AS YOUR GRAVE!! YOU HUMAN FILTH!!"

Ambrose was left impressed, but nonetheless he didn't care as he press the trigger.

"GROOAGHR!!" The dragon let out a heavy groan as the spear hit it's left wing, causing it to lower it's flight, and with no other option. The dragon pull it's whole body upward flying up to the dark cloudy sky.

Ambrose examine the sky looking all around expecting it to dive down on top of him. He grabbed his knife shape claymore that was incrusted on the dirt, he bent his elbows slightly as to get himself in a defensive position or offensive position.

But he felt small drops of water to fall on his face, it started to increase even more. The sudden rain had brought lighting as well as the sound of rain.

This weather made a perfect camouflage as for the dragon. Ambrose had heard that the dragon itself wasn't that much of a beast as he thought it would be, since the damn thing spoke with relative ease.

The only tales that he had heard about dragons was that they were wingless and walk in all fours as well as bipedal. Those dragons were still alive and well but only function as heavy carriers for ammunition, close quarter combats, and suicide bombers. Mostly use by bandits who live of the land, outside the settlements, or cities.

But this was a different situation as it involve a intelligent flying lizard.

As he moved around scanning the area, he saw a small blue light that resemble that of of the color that the ice had, and that of red light beside it explode into a shimmer and took the form of two recognizable enemy.

There two abyss mages. One red and one icy blue.

"He He He" both of the mages laugh as they surrounded him. The two mages brought their hands, as dark clouds began to surround ambrose by a few feet from him.

Three Hilichurls emerge from the dark clouds as well as two big ones who weren't so happy to see him as they punch their fist in anticipation.

Ambrose stood now in front of a deadly situation, just like the last one, were it was his duel with eula, bit this time they sure brought lot more.

They wanted him dead.

Anybody would have been shaking in their boots by the amount of enemies that surrounded ambrose or even would have try to kill themselves with their own blade as to avoid their dark gory end by the hands of beast such as this.

But Ambrose.

For him it was a blessing.

He stood there with a dark grim smile from ear to ear.

"Don't beg me for mercy!" He said as brought the sword to his waist readying for whatever move comes. "Am not going to stop! Not until i finish slaughtering all of you!!"

As those words came out of his mouth every creature around him rush forward, all of them pouncing on ambrose, who had a devilish smile as he too poince in one of the creatures.

————

"WRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGHHHG!!"

"W-What the Hell was that?!" Paimon said as she hid behind the traveler.

"I don't know who that is? But it sounds like it's in trouble." She said as she quickly move forward going up the cliff to we're the animalistic roar was heard. "We need to go and help who ever it is!."

"Wait up traveler!!" Yell Paimon as she went after her.

"Honorary knight, Venti!" Yell jean after them.

"HEY YOU TWO WAIT UP!" Yell diluc as they both try to go up with the three of them. But their path was m block, as dark a dark smoke exploded around them.

Four mitachurls with shields and a axes, appeared blocking their way.

Calling for venti and the traveler would be unnecessary as they were already up the cliff.

"Looks like we have no other choice other than stand out ground here. Don't you think so Jean?" Diluc said as he summoned his claymore.

"Well that is the case." she said as she too summon her blade on her hand.

——-

As the traveler and venti got close to the end of the cliff. All they could hear was the tearing of something wet as well the multiple screams and yells of hilichurl's and the more they got closer the more sinister it became.

The screams were accompanied by a maniacal laughter of what sounded to be a man.

It sounded like he was enjoying it.

However The traveler summoned her sword as she jump in forward and took a battle stance ready to attack any nearby monster that might be there.

She expected to find any monster ready to attack her as it always happened. But instead she found the destroyed and cleave remains of the hilichurl's.

All that could be heard was the swinging of a heavy sword cutting the hair as well as the unfortunate mitachur's lower half.

A man . . . No .. a young man was swinging it's claymore with one hand, frenetically. The claymore cleave right trough a mitachurl's arm. It howl in pain as it tried to stop its bleeding,

but couldn't.

"Graaaaaaaaaaaaargh" it was the same scream they had heard from below.

The mitachurl was split into two by iota head to it's midsection by a heavy knife shape claymore.

A young man in a black poncho stood there, cover in blood and as well as the hanging guts of one of the monsters.

His eyes were cover by a shadow his white forward spike provided. The only feature that was visible was his red bloodshot eyes as well as his sharp teeth curved into a devilish smile.

Both of them stood astonish as the young man keept on moving and swinging it's blade.

His movements with the claymore were not that of a normal person. His attacks, his poses resemble that of an wild beast.

He quickly turn around and lifted his sword up. Cutting the pyro mage's shield as well as the mage it self. Guts splattered on the ground as well on the young man.

A mitachurl catch the young man on the chest. Pinning him the ground. But the monster did not noticed that the claymore had impaled it on the abdomen.

Ambrose move the claymore up, making the insides of the mitachurl spill on top of him and as a last blow he sunk his teeth onto the weak, soft flesh of the mitachurls neck, drowning any sound that might come out of the monster's mouth.

And using both of his legs, he kick the lifeless body off him, rippling the mitachurl's traquea.

The lifeless body of the mitachurl roll at the feet of both of the traveler, venti, as well as a frightened Paimon who had watched the beastly act the young man had performed.

The three of them were speechless as this young man had singled handily dispatch the monsters all by himself.

The young man was now crouch down, while looking up in the sky, scanning for something and as he did he noticed a shadow descending down from the sky at a great speed.

He knew what it was, and without any hesitation he grab his claymore and run tours were the mounted crossbow was. The legs of the mounted crossbow were torn, making it impossible to have a perfect shot.

He still did not care as he shove the claymore inside the mounted crossbow. He pull the strings back

Clank!* clank!* CLANK!*

The crossbow mechanism made a heavy clanking sound.

It was ready.

He took a piece of rope and wrapped it around the hilt of the claymore, and with a quick move he wrapped the end of the nose on to his hand.

What choice did he had. The rest of the explosive spears were use on the monsters that corner him.

So without any option.

He would become the projectile himself. He kneel down positioning the crossbow on his right knee as his left hand move on to the trigger.

The traveler herself try to approach the young man at the same time she sheathed her sword.

"Traveler!" Paimon let out a whisper as she try to grab her by the shoulder as to stop her, but couldn't as the traveler move fast.

Venti too was about to move as well but noticed something at come down swiftly from the sky, and was now approaching them at great fast speed making the air whistle as it did.

Without thinking it he pull Paimon behind. As he use his power to prepare both the young man and the traveler from what was about to happened.

"HEY WHAT TH—" Paimon couldn't finish saying her words as venti yell

"BRACE YOURSELVES!! ITS TIME TO TAKE OFF!!"

With that, the traveler and Ambrose were lifted of the ground up to the air.

The ground underneath them was destroy into pieces making the stone and dirt to drop to the fall.

Dvalin had cut a piece of the cliff, trying to bring down the human he was fighting.

But couldn't as his so call FRIEND was aiding the same human he was fighting.

This infuriated even more

"BARBATOOO-"

dvalin couldn't finish as he felt a sharp penetrating force strike, right between his shoulder plate. He trun his head to the side and saw a claymore sticking on his shoulder, it had a rope tie onto its hilt that lead to a hand that was gripping the same rope.

"YOOUUU HUMAN FILTH!!"

It was none other than Ambrose who was holdin onto the rope. Ambrose pull himself forward with his strength, propelling himself forward and pushed the claymore further in. Achieving a painful screech from the dragon.

Pleasing Ambrose's hears.

Dvalin started to move around, trying to shake the human of its back and even dive downward as to get rid off him.

But couldn't as the human was too resilient to do so.

And without any other option, Dvalin took of with the human at the same time it let out a howl of pain.

Ambrose was now on the back of the beast, holding onto the claymore that had nailed the dragon. His left hand grip on one of dvalin's scale, at the same time he pulled himself forward pulling the claymore free from were it had struck.

Dvalin turn his head to the side seeing the human now move forward up his neck.

"YOU WRETCHED HU—"

He couldn't finish as it was interrupted by the laugh of the human.

"I NEVER RECEIVE A PIGGY BACK BEFORE"He scream as he pull himself forward. "CARE TO BE BE THE FIRST! AND LAST TO DO SO!"

Ambrose was slowly making his tour dvalin's neck.

He was set to take the dragons neck no matter the cost.