7.- Gate (2)
What is a dragon?
The simplest answer would be that it is a creature with high intelligence and a natural capacity to handle mana at extremely high levels.
Let's take me as an example.
With just a thought, I am capable of manipulating and shaping mana however I want.
I can use it to attack and defend as if it were part of my body.
Until now, all the monsters that have been generated in this place had the sole objective of eliminating whatever was in front of them.
So, what about the one in front of me?
"What is your name?"
"KRUAAAAAARG!"
Perhaps the strength differs, but it remains similar to the previous ones:
It possesses no intelligence.
CRUSH!
I grab the children and dodge an attack it launched with its claws.
'No matter how much I think about it, at least the exterior is too similar to be a simple imitation'
What about the inside then?
Every dragon has a special organ called a 'Dragon Heart'.
It is responsible for continuously generating mana in the body and helps regulate the inherent strength of dragons.
I repeat, all dragons have one.
That is why I cannot say this dragon is just an imitation.
Its strength is weak, but it possesses a heart equivalent to that of a dragon that has recently ceased to be a hatchling.
If I adjust it to human standards, between Zack and that girl along with her group, they wouldn't be able to defeat it, perhaps if they assume losses and put their lives on the line they would be able to fatally damage it. They would need at least a dozen or so people at the level of those two to be able to defeat it without suffering casualties.
The dragon began preparing its breath and I prepared to dodge it with the children in my arms.
Krrraaashhh!
At this level it shouldn't be able to damage the shield I placed over the children, but seeing how this phenomenon shattered the barrier I had put up, I prefer not to take unnecessary risks.
I already promised them I would train them until they are capable of living on their own, so, until that moment arrives, I have the duty to protect them.
"KRUAAAAAARG!"
The dragon used its claws again to try to catch us and, seeing that I dodged it, lunged toward us trying to bite us. So far it has only attacked with its body and used its breath. It hasn't used magic.
Why?
I summoned my wings and soared up to dodge it.
It used its breath to keep attacking but still didn't reach us.
Nash and Isla are gripping me tightly trying to hide the tremors in their bodies.
Even if I tell them it's safe, it's not enough to calm them down.
I shouldn't prolong this any further.
Even if it has no intelligence, having to eliminate a dragon doesn't bring back good memories.
Therefore, it would be best if I do it as quickly as possible.
"G-Guild Master, the generation of a gate of unknown rank was detected east of Myrillia, the association tasked us with the investigation and, if possible, the clearing of the gate"
'...Why me?...'
Amelia lamented while listening to Alex's report.
It was already the second time an anomaly happened during the week, and the second time they asked her to handle the problem.
'Why did it have to be near the same area as last time!?'
Having rescued the children last time helped improve her guild's reputation, but the investigation and the attention the case attracted meant that during the last week she didn't have a moment to rest, and when things were finally starting to calm down, this arrived.
"Ame, you shouldn't pull your hair. You're going to end up going bald if you keep up that habit every time you get stressed"
Just as Amelia was about to grab her hair out of frustration over the situation, a black-haired man entered with a sarcastic smile.
"...Nox, what are you doing here?"
"I heard the association asked your guild to investigate a gate and I came to help"
Nox sat on a sofa inside the office as if he were in his own home while answering, and by the time Amelia realized, Alex had already left the room.
"Help? Didn't your guild just return from an expedition? Shouldn't you still be resting?"
"The members yes, but I found myself bored so I came. Besides, the gate we entered was a labyrinth type, so even if the association classified it as rank S, it remains more annoying than difficult. Since I still have energy, I came to give you a hand"
Amelia had known Nox for a long time and one could say she maintained a friendly relationship with him. That is why she knew that when this man was worried about something, he used to hide it behind excuses.
After inspecting his face, she opened her mouth.
"...And the real reason?"
As soon as Amelia launched that question, the smile covering Nox's face disappeared and was replaced by a serious expression.
"I have a bad feeling"
"A bad feeling? You?"
"That gate is dangerous, even for you"
If she knew one thing, it was that this man's instinct had never failed. Thanks to following his advice and listening to him, she managed to overcome several situations and keep her members safe even when it seemed impossible.
That Nox was directly warning her that it is dangerous for her was something new.
"Even if you say it is dangerous, we still need to go investigate. It's not like knowing it's dangerous is going to change the actions to take"
"That is why I decided to accompany you. You're not going to complain about having someone else of your rank to accompany you, right?"
Seeing the smile return to Nox's face, Amelia sighed exasperatedly and replied.
"...Hah. Fine, you can go. Sometimes you seem like a child..."
"Mm? Perhaps big sister Ame wants me to call her that?"
"I already told you not to call me Ame!"
"Oh, then you do want to be called big sister?"
"AHHHHHHHH!"
Before Amelia could throw the chair she was holding, Nox fled the room.
"...Someday... You will pay for this..."
"By the way, you had found something while I was in that gate, right? I didn't get to read the report"
"You didn't get to read the report because you probably left it to your vice-leader"
Nox didn't answer her and just continued walking while smiling.
"They were experimenting on children in that place. You know that project the government prohibited? They were carrying it out there"
"With children?"
For a moment, Amelia saw Nox’s expression harden, then return to its usual, almost mocking look.
'...Good thing he didn't come last time. If it had been him, I doubt he would have held back and he would have killed them all'
And that would have meant losing information about their contacts or the location of Zack's sister whom they managed to find yesterday.
Upon receiving news about his sister, Zack ceased all attempts at resistance and was currently under strict monitoring.
"Yes, but upon arriving at the place we found everyone unconscious. Children and adults. Although we didn't manage to find who did it"
"So you don't know who it is?"
"No, even after checking the cameras and listening to testimonies we didn't manage to get more information other than it was a woman. Even reviewing the cameras in detail we couldn't observe her face under the hood she wore so we are without information about her"
"I see..."
"Besides, for some reason that person took one of the children. And until now his whereabouts remain unknown. We have tried searching for him but we haven't found anything yet"
"..."
Nox tried to think of reasons for her actions, but before he could reach a plausible answer, the group arrived at a clearing inside the forest where they found a lake.
"Violet?"
And, to one side of the lake, space was torn creating an oval shape of a violet color.
"Gates are supposed to range from green to red..."
"It is the first time I see a violet one too"
Nox responded to Amelia's murmur while keeping his gaze fixed on the gate in front of him.
"If we take the color scale as a reference, violet is on the opposite side of red, does it have any meaning?"
Alex, who had remained quiet until now, intervened in the conversation between the two.
"Even if it really means something, it is the first time we see something like this so we don't know what effects it could have"
While Amelia talked with Alex and the other members prepared to investigate, Nox started speaking again.
"Hey, Ame"
"...I already told you not to call me that, what is it?"
"The boy you said that person took, does he have grey hair and violet eyes?"
"Yes? How did you...?"
Before Amelia finished her question, she saw a woman with a cold face, horns on her head, and folded wings on her back coming out of the portal.
And, in her arms, she was carrying a pair of children with grey hair and violet eyes.
Both groups remained staring at each other in silence.
