HSS: The Sage of The Crimson Dragon 2

HSS: The Sage of The Crimson Dragon 2

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Commisioned by Obsidian Noir

Wordcount: 1500

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Yo, Ddraig?

Sup.

Is it just me or is Crom Cruach murdering us with his eyes?

Yep. He is. 

Uhhh, any way to make him stop?

Murder him first.

Besides that!

Dunno. Well, I have to unpause now. Any more time and I’d be unproffesional. Catch you later, loser. 

And, with those final worlds, my partner for life turned back to his professional career of videogames and streaming. He left me alone, beside the massive, chained-down Dragon that Li had to beat down without holding back. Some would say that Ddraigh is leaving me to handle my own problems, trusting me with our combined power and strength, and letting me decide my own fate. 

Those would be lies. 

Nice, feeling-sparing lies.

But still lies!

Why are Dragons so invested in video games, dammit!? Ddraig, get back here and help me out with the Dragon that had to be hidden inside a MOON. I’m totally serious! It’s staring at me like I badmouthed everyone he knows. I’m not Miyakuro, so I don’t deserve such feelings. My heart is pure, gentle, and accepting, so please treat me with some care and compassion. 

Ddraig’s response to my plea for help was eloquent, refined, and completely acceptable in modern society.

Ha. Gay.

Then, he shut the metaphorical door between our connection. I curse you and all your social media, Ddraig! I hope all your followers leave, your subscribers go away, and all your views plummet. There will be nothing besides reckoning for you and your social ability in this day and age! Ah, who am I kidding, edgy teenagers love people like him.

“So, are you here to battle me, or will simply stare at me like all the others?”

“Ah, no. I’m not interested in fighting. I’m actually resting, before I go back to fight somewhere else.” Hmmm? Who asked that question? I looked around for the sound of a smooth, cool voice. However, I found no one capable of such words. “Eh? Where’d you go, due? C’mon, I don’t mind talking to people. It’s pretty great to have someone to talk to while waiting around.”

“I am right behind you.”

Eh.

No way.

What.

I looked and wished I hadn’t. The chains holding down the massive Dragon known as Crom Cruach were aloft in the air, being held up by some unknown force, while a figure walked towards me from its center. I’ve seen enough anime to know what I was looking at. Crom Cruach definitely turned into a human. However, something didn’t add up. Why would he be allowed to leave his chains—

The dragon with a human walked into an invisible, magical wall and fall on his ass.

Ah. 

The chains were just to restrict him from growing too large, while the true defenses that were sealing him were out of sight. Truly, American secret agencies thought of everything. 

“Tch. That was impudent on my part. I should have expected such tricks.” He huffed and brushed off his clothes, before rising up. The chains that held his massive form started retracting into the walls, massive machinery, while the door into the massive holding chamber opened. Homuculi in combat gear entered… carrying tables, chairs, and food. One team passed through the barrier, while another set a table full of food before me. “I saw these louts walking freely and thought I was being trusted to keep my word, but I suppose humans can’t afford to simply trust with power such as mine.”

I knew instictivally that I was being asked to comment, but my mind couldn’t catch up before my mouth decided to start talking.

“W-well, you’re pretty scary, right? It can’t be helped.” Those weren’t the right words to say to a person who’s your host. Not be a long shot. 

For a Dragon, though…

“Ha, ha, ha!” Each peal of laughter was followed with a shake. They reminded me more of the clap of thunder than something made by a human throat. A too-wide grin formed on Crom’s face. His figure was like Li’s, but his hair was a deep red, his features sharper, and there was a wildness to him instead. He based his appearance off of Li, but still stayed true to himself. So, why would not appreciate someone telling him that he’s strong? “Correct! Absolutely correct. It would be foolish for a human being to trust my word completely. This CORE cannot be faulted, especially when they serve me according to my station.”

“Ah, thanks for the meal.” Crom Cruach obviously wanted to be praised for his hospitality, so I did. There was also no reason for me not to thank him. He and I were being served the same thing. A spread of food that was undoubtebly made by a human chef, who had access to the very highest grade of ingredients. Wait. That meat… it’s not cow… and I didn’t recognize half of the other things on the other plates. The preparation and styles of each dish were familiar, but they were all made with ingredients I did not recognize. “Ummm, ah, Crom Cruach-san? What am I eating?”

“The only meal fit for a Dragon in portions that humans can make.” There was no answer in those words, but not out of wanting to be mysterious. Crom Cruach looked upon his spread of food with crossed arms, took a deep breath, and smiled. He was pleased and wanted me to understand how much he liked what he saw. “These foods are reagents, typically utilized for sacrifice or esoteric magics, such as potions and their kin. However, creatures such as Dragons, it is simply the meals that shall allow us to be full, despite having human portions.”

He nodded to one of the serving Homunculi, then began to dig into his meal. He ate everything at a steady, slow pace, obviously enjoying each bite, while I was provided a list of the ingredients in my meal. I didn’t recognize what most of the plants were, besides the fact that they were obviously rare, unknown, and grown by a super-secret, magical agency that wouldn’t if they didn’t need to. However, I did recognize where the steak came from.

Why?

Because everyone the world over knew what a unicorn was.

Not accepting the meal crossed my mind for a moment, especially as the dreams of children everyone came to mind, but as I considered it my stomach rumbled and drew the attention of my host.

Crying inside, I began to eat my meal and truly, completely end my childhood.

It was absolutely delicious, though...

Mmmm… childhood dreams… 

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“Now, it’s your turn to entertain me.” Five minutes after dessert and Crom Cruach was already standing and stretching. Clad in a black suit, with a billowing mane of haire, he pulled back his locks and revealed his long ears. His eyes gleamed even in the oppressive light of the room. I didn’t know when he’d changed his hair to black and silver, but much of him was different before and after the meal. It was as though he moved into a more comfortable form, instead of simply changing Li’s. “Let us compare our power. Not our skill. Not our ability. Not even our talent.” He smiled with a mouth full of fangs. “Only strength. Ready? Go.”

I didn’t have a chance to stand, before I was blown away by the deluge of power that came forth. The table, plates, and chair all went flying. The hidden magic that kept Crom behind one section of the room flared up. Hundreds of Magic Circles came into being, reinforcing the defenses already present, until he and I were separated by an interlaced array of magical conduits that could’ve covered a contient if laid flat and side-by-side.

For a moment, I didn’t even know how I could compare, even though I managed to stand while the guards could barely move and resist.

Alone? Nah. But, if there’s anything more important than a few subs, it’ll be this. I have to put this Whelp in his place, even though he’s certainly matured. 

Ddraig, for the first time in forever, came into the forefront of my mind. He didn’t simply stay in the backseat, doing as he wished, while allowing me to use our power. He seized control of my arm, called upon our Sacred Gear, and activated it. One moment, I was human and the next I was clad entirely in Scale Mail… with power beyond I’d ever had before at my back.

You might want to use what the Devil taught you. Otherwise, you might die.

That was all the warning I had, before Ddraig earnestly, completely pushed to compare powerlevels with his free peer. The fraction of a second that I had to call upon Touki barely sufficed, before what felt like a supervolcanoe’s worth of pressure and lava flooded through my body, while someone’s roar echoed through my ears.

It was probably my roar, but I could never be convinced that such a noise could be made by a human being.

I didn’t know how long the contest between Ddraig and Crom Cruach lasted, but what I did know was that Crom Cruach was infinitely pleased with himself when I awoke. 

And, Ddraig was sulking.

A friend would go to Ddraig in his moment of defeat in order to help them rise up again.

Not me.

Lol.

Ddraig literally got beat. What’ll he be called now? The Red Dragon? The Gamer Dragon? Because, he certainly can’t calim to be what he used to be! 

Lol!

Shut it, jerk!