8

Julie came in a thin metallic sweater that looked like a fancy sweater.

— This... Is this really it?—Clarissa asked.

— What a nightmare...—Joel flinched when Clarissa showed him her fist.

— Come on, Clary, there's nothing wrong with that. This is a chain mail made of white dragon scales. It is very difficult to create such a defense item, not everyone can tear off the scales of a dragon, not kill it and stay alive herself... And the dragon must accept you. If he does not accept it, the scales immediately crumble and it is impossible to restore it...—

***

They stepped into the portal one by one.

— Are you sure you're ready?—Jack asked when they were on the other side of the portal.

— I know what to do, but whether I'm sure or not, what's the difference?—Clarissa said.

They immediately found an unsightly shelter. This bush seemed unsightly only at first.

— Joel... Joel! Get into the bush further away!—Clarissa whispered.

Joel, it seems, even forgetting that he was a ghost, ducked into a bush and almost fell on everyone else.

Brook shoved him with his weapon, but it went through the guy.

The redhead gasped, the pain was more phantom than real.

— Joel, if you do it again, I will make sure that all the blows will be felt!—Brooklyn hissed.

A creature that looked like a huge snake with legs bent down to the bush in which they were hiding.

— This is the guard... An infernal serpent, but of a lower category...—Jack explained quietly.—They only have a nose. What we sprayed ourselves with before stepping into the portal blocks the human smell...

— And how do I smell?—Joel asked.

— Do you think ghosts smell?—Jack asked.