Interlude: Dragon Slayer
He was a towering man with muscles threatening to burst through his gray half plate armor. Gleaming on his armor were countless scratches that told stories of the battles he’d survived. More noticeable than his stature, however, was the enormous sword on his back: an unsheathed bare-bones greatsword with a dull, golden blade.
Plenty of hunters walked the streets of the capital, but he drew the full attention of the crowd as he entered the city through the north (largest) gate. The man groaned at the attention gathered on him.
“So this is the famous Zebrudia.”
“Yes, Arnold. There’s a lot of life here...like we’ve heard.”
Arnold had seven companions in tow. One of them, a man dressed in relatively light gear, took in their surroundings.
Everything about this place was different from Arnold’s world. The number of people, the size of the city, the never-ending hustle and bustle, and—most remarkably—the air were different. Unlike in Nebulanubes, where they were hard-pressed to see the sun on any given day, the sky above Zebrudia was clear and blue. This was no land of perpetual fog where the people were depressed and on edge.
After giving their surroundings a good look like he was assessing a glimmering treasure, the man’s grin widened.
“Of course... I don’t see anyone too high in level. Even the famous Rodin may prove to be a disappointment. Hopefully we can have a little fun with him after coming all this way.”
The other men chimed in with laughter. Their eyes were bright with great confidence cultivated from vanquishing countless monsters in a world of dark fog, from training and honing their skills alongside each other, and, more than anything, from Arnold earning the title of “Hero” by saving an entire nation.
The broad, golden blade on his back was the insignia of one who’d slain a dragon, the apex being of this world. Arnold, the Crashing Lightning, the hero of the misty lands of Nebulanubes, and the leader of Falling Fog was not smiling.
With only a glance around the streets, he commanded, “Find the strongest warrior in this country.”
His golden eyes glimmered with an electrifying urge to fight.
To be continued in Part Three...
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login