Story III / Part XII: Galloping Through The Crimson Sky (VII) / Demonic Dragon (II)

I walked to the driver seat and opened the curtain. On there, Suzuki and Johannes are chatting happily to each other. They noticed me and greeted me with my race usual greeting speech and I returned their kind prayer. I looked to right and left, I found Arnold in far in front of us, Robert and Eleza on right and Abel on left. They are still chewing their breakfast slowly, while enjoying the morning Sol. I glimpsed Robert choked out his food because Eleza's sword grip accidentally hit his head. But the thing that made Suzuki, Johannes, and me laughed hard was when Anna brushed her teeth and she spilled out the rinsed water from her mouth. It hit Abel's eyes when he tried to drink a bottle of water. He almost lost control over his horse but thanks to Anna's quick action that grabbed his horse's rein, the incident can be avoided. Well, she apologized many times to Abel with panicked and guilty expression. I just can't help myself when Abel stared her with annoyed expression.

"Haah…leaving that aside, do you want to ride your horse again?"

"Yeah, I can't leave everything to Robert, Arnold, Eleza and Anna who is tired already, Johannes-san."

"Well, it's up to you. But don't act recklessly again like yesterday Leader. You almost gave me a heart attack."

Suzuki hit Johannes' left shoulder, "That's Kaichou for you Johannes-san ahahahaha…!"

"Don't tease me like that Suzuki-san…Oh, by the way, did something happen to the caravan?"

Suzuki puts his right hand under his chin, "Hmm…nothing in particular, we have no problem in communicating with each other. Our only problem is Ridell and Hel's accident a few daesh ago.".

"Have they recovered already?"

"Yes, they have. We have capable Healers after all, so nothing to worry about."

"They will go on guard duty again today. If you wish to see them, they are in the sixth carriage."

I walked back to the passenger seat and passed Rania who still playing with Yavia's body and Julio who is facing another way like he had seen something unforgivable. The other girls are still enjoying their breakfast while Eliza and Maria came down from the carriage roof. Luna who noticed asked me where I want to go and I answered her quickly then left to the sixth carriage used my teleportation spell.

"GHOST!" a girl run away the moment she saw me appeared in front of her.

"Hey that's Kaichou, you idiot!"

Wow, it's first time for me to see the calm Margareta snapped out like that. Maybe she is still fed up with Kyouko's behaviors on other day when they went hunting together, Kyouko accidentally smashed Margareta's captured prey into pieces with her maul. It said the rare bird animal called [Toroiel Bird] that she caught couple daesh ago had a tasty flavor. Well, I know how it feels…I also had an experience when Tim burned down my captured deer into ash accidentally when he lit up the fire.

"Oh! Hello Leader, Tetra Morning! How are you? Feel better yet?"

"I'm fine Rudrico-san. By the way where are Hel and Ridell?"

"They are on the top of carriage, sitting with other boys and Aprillia-chan." Rudrico pointed out his thumb.

I climbed to the carriage from the back of the carriage. I glanced Hel and Ridell is sitting opposite to each other while Aprillia sits next to Hel. They noticed and greeted me warmly. Then, I asked Hel and Ridell about their condition and they said that they are fine. After that, Hel told me that he got his left arm clawed by the small wolves. They also bit his horse's leg and butt. Meanwhile, Ridell got injured because he helped Hel when he fell from his horse, the wolves also got him on his back. They are saved thanks to Aprillia who teleported them back to the carriage. Moreover, Ridell got burn scars over his body because Tim launched a huge fireball that hit everything but the target. He wants to kick Tim and beat him down when we reached our destination. I just laughed and promised him that I would join him to punish Tim with Rania, Robert and Arnold later.

The topic changed when Hel started talking about the dragon from the last daesh event. It's turned into serious discussion until Kyouko, and Margareta climbed the carriage roof and joined the discussion. Marcel and Rudrico also joined in too via voice chat magic. At the beginning, Hel and Ridell still didn't believe that we managed to defeat a demonic dragon and survived in one piece. Yeah, it was really surprising until Kevin spilled out his tea when I told Hel about the type of the dragon while Aprillia shuddered in fear.

But Hel quickly told me his experience when facing a demonic dragon. According to him, that dragon that we defeated somehow still hadn't fully matured and transformed into demonic dragon. He can feel a strong demonic mana when he watched from inside the carriage, but the level of demonic mana isn't the same like the demonic mana he felt when he fought the "real" demonic dragon in the army mission long time ago. He also can still feel natural monstrous dragon mana from the dragon that we defeated. He added a few information that the demonic dragon he defeated with the Imperial Army can negated some magic spells and arrows. It can even weaken the [RA] [Racial Ability] until a certain level that normally supposed to be impossible, except if the dragon is the Demon God King himself. He stated that his comrades and commanders who have A+ or higher [RA] [Racial Ability] are somehow unaffected by the demonic dragon's ability.

Our discussion continued until we talked about how to process the demonic materials that we got from the dragon today. I'm not sure to process this inside the kingdom since we have thick layer of barriers with ridiculous amount of divine power. I also never heard any adventurer or merchant processing demonic materials inside the kingdom. Kevin suggested asking my father and it's not worth to try but when he said that I might be want to ask Northlandia Prime Minister, I refused that idea and threw that far away. Really? I need to ask that four eyes-super perfect-strict-annoying person? I'd rather ask the Queen herself directly, truly. He is the last person on the Gaia that I want to ask for help. Meanwhile, Kevin and Ridell laughed hard when they heard that.

After I spent four heverra until afternoon to talk with everyone in the sixth carriage, I returned back to the first carriage and ate the lunch that Ayumi had prepared for me. I remembered something when I chewed my lunch, so I quickly took the bento (lunch box) that Ayumi gave to me the other daesh and put it into my plate. Luckily, it's still hot because I saved it in [Chrono Inventory], a parallel space where the time is frozen inside. Truthfully, I'm not fond of overeating and overdrinking but since Ayumi asked me where is her lunch box, I'm forced to eat all of it in front of her. Otherwise, she would hit my head because I waste the foods that she cooked for me. Luna herself glanced at me with dumbfounded gaze when I ate all those foods in one-go. She even asked me whether I'm fully awake or not.

I rested for a while, waiting half of the foods that I ate digested while chatting with Rania and Miral. Well, I must wait for a while and my body does their job. If I'm horse riding with full tummy and aching back, I will puke and my back will cramp on the same time. Finding another topic to discuss, I asked Rania where I could process the demonic materials but before Rania opened her mouth, Mikazuchi came from second carriage and answered my question. She suggests that I can try to process them in Konoe, Akiza or Bakuen Empire since the butchers inside those kingdoms boasted excellent service and they can process any kind of materials. The artists on there also can create any weapons that you need from any materials you got. Even a bone from wolf or an Oni can become a good knife. Well she is right, my father said the same thing to me long time ago when I asked him where I can process draconic materials that I got from defeating six Wyrms with my party. Maybe I will visit Yamato Island after this mission with my party members and count it as a vacation. It will be a good chance to meet my teacher here. Also, Robert can meet his wife, Mira who works as Head Shrine Maiden there.

I wonder why the Yamato peoples still worshipping The Old Gods from there? Well, yeah Yamato Old Gods were FAR BETTER than Greek Old Gods since they never rape any girls or boys or asking a sacrifice like Incan Old Gods. But seriously, they had COMPLETELY ERASED from existence by The Maker Himself on the end of A.E.V I because they misused the power they had from The Maker and abused their authority as "Gods". Father said on that time the world was really chaotic because long drought, machineman invention, war with Human Kingdoms, famine, and The Demon Gods' army that tried to invade Yggdrasil World. It turned into more chaotic when The Maker finally felt "fed up" of the Old Gods' existence and decided to erase all of them from the world, which resulted in [Great Apocalypse I] and [Rain of Isis] on the end of A.E.V I.

After I chatted a bit and equipped my gear, I summoned Nida from storage. He is very happy when seeing me fine and in one piece until he can't stop neighing. I casted various buffs on him before hopping onto him. I also saw Kevin, Ridell, Yu and Hel have ridden their horses again.

"This is [White Falcon] Party's Leader Ishizaki Haruhisa von Alexandria reporting for duty. I have also taken command from my brother as well." I report to the guild master using [Message] Magic.

"Alright, you are permitted to command your party again. Be careful." Then, I closed the [Message] Magic and hop onto Nida.

Arnold smirks with tired face, "Oh, Leader…you are back. Welcome welcome…"

"Glad you are okay." said Jack with relief in his voice.

"Thanks for your hard work both of you. Let's keep going."

We were riding until evening, passing through crimson grassland, dried rivers, dead forest and crimson sky without any problems. Robert and Jack also don't have anything to report. I think this is very strange, we are deep inside enemy territories and there is no resistance at all.

"Hey, Leader…I think something is wrong." Arnold asked with serious tone.

Jack looked around, "Yeah, it's too quiet. There's something off."

I glanced at Jack, "Oh, you mean there is no Treant right? Normally, they would ambush us if we get too close."

"Yeah, that and the atmosphere… It feels... strange."

"This is Julio. I report to My Lord, I felt something wicked is watching us. I also felt a very wicked aura lingering this place."

We are now on the side road inside dead forest. We need to keep riding at full speed until we reached an open grassland. Along the way, the soil becomes redder as if a fresh blood just poured over it a moment ago and the ground also released a very awful smell, a strong rotten, fishy, musty, sweaty and iron smell mixed together on the air. Thankfully, I only ate a small portion of dinner before, if not I will puke right now.

"Priests and Paladins, activate your [Protections against Alignment], [Mental Debuff Immunity], [Physical Debuff Immunity], [True Sight], [Divination of The True God], and any other your Anti-Demon Spells. Don't forget to equip your mask that has imbued with [Light] Elemental Attribute. Lastly, please prepare [Purification], [Blessing], [Enchantment] and [Anti-Undead] Spells."

"Rania-san, send some of your underlings to all party members. Put them on the carriages and horses as well."

"You got it. But Haru-chan what will we face next?"

"Demons." I said flatly.

"......"

Hmm, a "silent agreement" as I expected. We have encountered various type of demons before and we had many unpleasant experiences when we met them for the first time. We have met high-ranked Demons on dungeons and caves back then when we traveled in small party or in big party, from Succubus to High Demon. We need to fight them with all our might. Otherwise, they will keep regenerating or escape. Meanwhile, the sky suddenly gets darker and darker, until the Skoll completely covered by the black clouds followed by heavy rain and thunderstorm.

Arnold glances away, "Well, bad weather means bad luck."

"Do not say scary thing Arnold-san." Said Yuna scared. I saw that Arnold's face is full of anxiety. Then a huge shadow appears from the clouds. Jack quickly used his scope to look onto the sky and he opened his mouth widely and tried to say something with broken phrase.

"Y-Y-Y-You must be joking…" Said Jack with surprised and scared tone.

"What?"

Then Robert looked at the sky and surprised as well. A huge figure with demon horns, wings and tail is floating above of us. It smirked, and then from its hands it summoned five Demonic Dragons in instant. The Demon, which is a [Great Demon], launched a thunder strike around us. Ah shit, here we go again, hope I can take back my words earlier. A GREAT DEMON IS WORSE THAN A DEMONIC DRAGON!

"WE WILL ARRIVE AT OUR DESTINATION NOT LONG AFTER THIS. HEAR ME, PARTY LEADERS! SCATTER AND GO TO YOUR DESIGNATED BASE OF OPERATION! UNDER FIVE SECKINA, YOU MUST ESCAPE! 5, 4,…"

Guild Master's high-pitched voice suddenly came and for the first time in my life, Arnold isn't angry. Maybe he is too focused with the Great Demon. Oh shit, this is not a time for joking or thinking useless thoughts!

"EVERYONE HEAR ME! READY THE FORMATION, SPELLS AND SPEED BOOST. WE WILL ALSO REACH OUR DESTINATION AND WE ARE ORDERED TO GO TO OUR BASE ON THERE!"

"3,..2,..1…GO!"

We are turning right away when we reached grassland. I remember that I have marked a good and safe position to east of the valley, a bit far from here. All we need to do right now is to escape out of their sight! We have small chance escaping because every species of Demon has good eyesight and detection skills. I bet a Great Demon with that height, and appearance might have many strong skills and abilities that can make you vanish in instant! Moreover, a matured Demonic Dragon that has different shape and aura from a Demonic Dragon that we defeated before chases us. Now, I understand what Hel meant, it truly has more threatening aura and appearance. Now think…can't I use the same tactic that I had used before?! I kept thinking and thinking until I didn't realize a huge thunder almost struck me. Thankfully neither Nida nor I got struck by that thunder.

"Shit! That Demon is still using AoE Attack with high-ranked Magic! Moreover, that Dragon is still chasing us!"

"Mages and Priests, slow them down with your spells!"

I commanded the mages but they didn't respond. Then, the girls on sixth and seventh carriage are screaming after a huge fireball landed near them. After hearing their screams, I panicked and tried to contact them many times but they didn't respond. I was too busy that I didn't see Mikazuchi waved her hand and tried to call me from the second carriage. Jack who saw that shouted my name and made me surprised.

"Leader, that Demon is activating [Signal Jamming] and launched a fireball to Mages' position!"

*Cling* "It's me [White Falcon] Party's Leader. I used [Light] Attribute Spell to communicate. Everyone, start the operation and spell. Priests, activate [Divine Conceal] right after you have done with the basic spells! Other members beside Mages and Priest…use strategy and ranged attacks that you used when we battled against that demonic dragon before. Do it before the Priests and Mages finished their chants!"

They shouted and confirmed my command. We kept going along the windy road while avoiding [Anti-Army] AoE Magic and Dragon's [RRA] [Rapid Ranged Attacks] that launch [Dragon Breath] and [Fireball] with ridiculous amount of power to our direction. Sometimes, the Dragon also launched [Thunderstrike] and [Wind Slash] Spell to us but we managed to block or negate it with our spells. We barraged the Demonic Dragon until its HP decreased a lot. Then, The Magic Archer, Arcane Archers and Priests launched [Art of Archery: Arrows of Judgement], [Art of Archery: Hail of The Death Arrows], and [Light Elemental Magic Rank EX: Sun Missiles] together. It created a huge explosion on the sky and damaged the dragon badly, according what Robert said to me. Then, I gave Miriam and Magic Archers my permission to finish it off. We kept firing until that Dragon is defeated and fell near us. After we stored it, I command the Priests to activate [Divine Conceal] and we successfully escaped from the battlefield in one piece, even though two of our carriage got burnt a little.

"Thiereti Evredius…" (How Clever) said the Demon to himself as he witnessed the fall of his Demonic Dragon.