Draga Of The Vanguard - Chapter 16 Dragon Within

“Well….that was fun while it lasted.” said an old man floating in a dark void. He was wearing a green flowing gown “…What was that.” asked Rei, who was floating along side him. He had watched himself destroy the impossibly strong Fog Giant and tear through Vanguards like paper. Then he was stomped down by May in elite armor. Except he didn’t do any of that. His body did it all by itself. “That, my boy…was your dragon blood waking up.” said the old man.

“Dragon blood?” asked Rei as he attempted to move, but was unable. It felt like there was an unseen force holding him in place. “Ah…you won’t have control of your mind till you wake up.” said the old man. ” So lets play a game.”

A Chess board appeared. “Use your words to play.” said the old man. “I already know you can play, I do live in here after all. We can talk while we play.”

“Okay…I’ll be black. What’s dragon blood?.” asked Rei as he watched the board. “It’s just that. Dragon blood. It is a trait present in all Drags. And you’ve awakened it.” said the old man, moving a white pawn with a face made of rock at the left edge a tile forward. “Awakened it…how exactly?” asked Rei as he commanded the pawn on the fifth tile of the second row to move forward. “It’s simple. You felt mental stress that was enough to disturb me. I’ll admit though. That was excessive. I was sleeping you know.” said the old man as he moved the previous pawn forward once more.

“In that case….Why didn’t I ‘awaken’…when my…” Rei started crying, though he was still calm. “You already know.” he said as he moved his bishop of black to the fourth row. “It didn’t disturb me. Having two hundred and fifty people shout is way more painful than one whiny child.” the old man said as he moved the pawn on tbe same column as the bishop forward.

“…..Fine…what is awakening?” asked Rei, not believing this bullshit but deciding to ask him later. He was in his mind after all. He moved his queen to the last column of the 4th row, eating the pawn there. “Moving your queen already eh? I knew you were pathetic.” said the old man as he moved his rook forward. He stopped dead in frontbof the queen and smiled. “There, blocked ya. Now about awakening. The first time it happens, you get the immense strength and speed of a dragon, but not the defense. You do lose control over your body, and can only stop after 30 years or you are knocked unconscious. After the high of the first time though you can use it again and control it. But only 1% of it. It can grow though. But humans lives are too short. The highest it’s ever been is 26%. He was the one who fought that weakling Hydra.” said the old man smiling with pride for some reason. “Okay… so I won’t ever go on a rampage like this again?” asked Rei. “Indeed.” said the old man. “Oh you’re waking up…a pity we couldn’t have finished our game.” said the old man. “I’ll store ot for the next time you drop by, but I’ll advice you…use my blood wisely.”

Rei had vanished into thin air and only tho old man remained.

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“Drag. I’m pretty sure he’s out for good. Heard May went feral on his ass.”

“Shhhhh! He’s waking up.”

Rei got up slowly and looked around. He was in his outpost and Pierre and Gars were hovering over him. He realised he was on the floor, and he was suddendly struck by an immense headache. He screamed in pain. “Wow…that’s all.” said May as she looked down at Rei, while scraping her newset new claws together. “Now that you’re awake, we have questions. What was that?”

Rei looked at her with a fear filled face, as he remembered the savage beatdown his body had endured. “I’ll talk!” shouted Rei as May gave him a death stare.

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“Sir, the battle report.” said a plump man of average height, with dark yellow hair and a pronounced moustache. He presented a pile of documents to a man sitting on a golden chair with a shield engraved in it. This man was clearly past his prime, with a full head of white hair and disinterested green eyes. He was taller than the plump man addressing him, and sported white armor with a white cape. This man sat on his well carved golden throne, clearly bored out of his mind. The plump noble currently addressing this man wad Felt Grande, the Viscount that had handled the Viel survivors. “It’s a mystery why Baron Chebou didn’t deliver it himself, but they are indeed documents containing information about the battle.” said a young man as he snatched away the documents from Felt. This young slender man wearing silver armor and standing above Felt, wore a cheeky grin Coupled with his black hair and slanted eyes, he gave the inpression of a psychopath. “They were victorious. The ‘Fog Giant’ was defeated. Apparently, the mysterious fog was none other than extremely hot steam with salt.” said the young man. “And…Oh! Here’s some news. A Drag beat it.”

Upon hearing this statement, the disinterested mab seated on the throne looked at the slender young male. “A Drag? But they’re all in their homeland right now…And I haven’t heard of any movements. Must be a faker.” said the old man as he looked away. “No, my liege. He activated.” said the slender young man. “Surely you jest, Lepda, for there is no way a Drag would expose something of such importance to the public.” said the man laughing. “No sir…it’s true.” said Lepda. He described how the boy had gone on to attack the Vanguard and how a rare monster was caught. “So it was his first. Interesting. Watch this boy Lepda. And as for the few unlucky souls who were killed by his rampage…offer their families consolation and release him from his crimes. And tell the people that his ‘awakening’, was a mental effect displayed by the captured monster”

“Yes, Lord Dei Clypeus.” said Lepda. “What about him?” asked Lepda, motioning to Felt. “Easy. Send him to the mages…They’ll work wonders on his memory.” said the man on the throne. “Wait my Lord! I assure you that this conversation will never leave my lips!” shouted Felt. “And this is just making sure of that.” said the man. Six men appeared and grabbed Felt, who began kicking and screaming as he was dragged away from the room, and the doors shut to keep out his noise. “That was annoying.” said Dei Clypeus as he resumed his former, disinterested pose.