Chapter 185 – The Dragon Empress.

Chapter 185 – The Dragon Empress.

"GAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Hishya roared as she slowly descended in front of Serval. She was almost the same size as the massive beast and seemed to be no less powerful. Her massive frame crashed down into the field, causing a minor earthquake. Her inhibitions and fear of her true nature had kept her from going all out. But with that gone, she was finally able to become what she was always meant to be, a true dragon.

"Grrrrrrrrrr." Serval growled as he lunged forward, beginning a massive clash of dragons. In a similar vein to a kaiju movie, Hishya, and Serval began their final clash, the winner of which would claim the title of Dragon Emperor/Empress.

"GAAAAAAAAA!" Hishya bit into Serval's neck, while he slashed into her torso with his claws. The two tumbled about in the burned-out plains, while the other players watched on in awe at such an awesome display.

"Oh wow..." Zephiria's eyes lit up. "This. Is. So. Cool!"

"I hate to agree with her but... yeah, it's like watching one of those old monster movies." Minazawa was captivated by the two dragon's battle.

{HEY, YOU IDIOTS! STOP GAWKING AND START HELPING!} Hishya screamed at the other players via her telepathy. {Be impressed AFTER we kill Serval, not before! I might be more powerful now, but I definitely can't fight him 1v1! So get your asses in gear and help me!}

"Well, at least she hasn't gone feral." Eris laughed.

"Yeah, fighting two dragons might have been a bit much." Ayame giggled.

“Dragon scale boots...” Imp pouted over the loss of more scales.

"What do you need us to do?" Superbia asked as she helped get everyone in position.

{Keep Ara's attacks up, we need her fan ability to finish him. Tell Daikael to hold off on more rockets for right now, and inform Mixu to shoot him with the AD round the moment she gets the opportunity. I'll try and pull him into a sky battle to give her line of sight} In her transformed state, she no longer had access to the comms network and her telepathy didn't go that far, thus she couldn't talk to those two directly. {As for the rest of you, just do what we planned! Eris, you take charge on the ground and try not to get squished by either him or I. This body is too big to easily move, and ya'll are too small!}

{Ya'll?} Ayame laughed. "She's been spending time around Akagi too much. Damn Kansai accent."

"Alright, you heard her!" Eris rounded everyone up. "Let's get to work! Merkyul is your team able to give this one final push?"

"Yes, mam!" Merkyul and his team nodded. "We're a bit banged up, but this is nothing compared to training." He and the others gave an uncomfortable laugh. Whatever Akagi did to them mustn't have been pleasant.

{Do I even want to know...} (Minazawa)

Hishya's orders were quickly relayed to Mixu and Daikael respectively, and the rest of the players closed in on the tumbling beasts. Hishya and Serval's battle continued as they rolled around the hillside, crushing anything beneath them. This was truly a clash of titans as the pair of massive dragons fought claw and scale to achieve victory.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Hishya slammed her tail into Serval's head, momentarily stunning him. This left an opening for Merkyul's team to jump on top of the dragon, and inflict major damage to his head and neck with their combination attacks.

“Let's go!” Merkyul and his team began another wave of attacks causing yet more blood to flow from the Dragon's back and legs.

"GAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Serval cried out in pain, as he unleashed a breath attack in an attempt to dislodge the other players. However, Hishya was having none of that. She reached out with her claws and forcefully clamped his jaws shut, while she head-butted him over and over again.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

"We're up next!" Eris yelled as she and Ayame ran up Hishya's spine and leapt onto Serval's head, slamming their weapons into his eyes, and destroying one of them.

"GAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Serval clawed at Hishya's torso, drawing blood as the two dragons began tumbling and biting at each other. It was harzardous for the players to move around the two tumbling beasts, and there were a few moments where either Serval or Hishya nearly squished one of them.

"Come on! Get him while he's distracted!" Minazawa closed in on the tussling monsters, slicing at his legs and hands alongside Shimari, Excel, and Superbia.

<Hishya POV>

"Wh-Wha?" Hishya blinked her eyes in confusion. All around her was a shadowy darkness, not unlike what it was like within Akagi's shadow. "What's going on? Where is Serval?!?" She looked around, only to find the Dragon in question lying on the 'ground' behind her. He was in visible pain, and his eyes flashed and flickered. She immediately took a battle stance, but was interrupted by someone speaking to her telepathically.

{One who bears my blood, come closer.} (Serval)

Hearing these words caused Hishya to stop, she'd never heard Serval speak before.

"Y-You can talk?!?" Hishya stopped moving.

{Of course... my child... just as you can...} It seemed that even via telepathy, speech was difficult for the wounded Dragon, and it was as if he was speaking through labored breathing. {You have defeated me... I always... anticipated... that one... who... bore... my blood... and who... overcame... my trial... would best me.}

Hishya didn't understand his words at first, but then recalled the quest which transformed her into a Dragon. There was something in the quest's lore that implied that the player would become a Dragon via ingestion of Serval's blood.

"I had help." Hishya shook her head. "If it wasn't for everyone else, I wouldn't have been able to defeat you." She wasn't about to take all the credit for herself, not this time. She'd done that too many times in the past, and wasn't about to make that mistake again.

{Perhaps... but you... were... their leader... and without you... they could not... have won... So take pride... in this accomplishment... you have done... what others could not... you have bested me...} (Serval)

"I didn't want to have to fight you again, not after our last encounter." Hishya's grip on her blade tightened. "You killed so many of my friends, and I nearly lost more today..."

{Such.... is the way... of the world... the strong live... and the weak die...} (Serval)

"But should the strong not protect the weak?" Hishya asked. "Shouldn't we use the power we have to protect those who lack the power to do it themselves?

The Dragon began to laugh, albeit painfully. {Indeed... the strong... live... to protect... the weak... and the weak... exist to aid... the strong... in... their... duty... such... is how... it... should... be...} (Serval)

"It's strange hearing you say that, considering who and what you are." Hishya knew full well Serval's lore and backstory as the bringer of the End Times.

{In... the past... I was once... a leader... of... my kind.... but the gods... they did not... appreciate... how... I threatened... their monopoly on their power... thus... they cursed me... took away my voice... and my mind... if not for... my beloved mate... I would have... destroyed the very... world... I once love...} (Serval)

"She was the one who put you to sleep?" Hishya asked, not knowing whether to believe him or not. However, she figured that it was possible for there to be more to Serval than just what the game lore said. After all, she knew that FWO was no game.

{Yes... she... saved me...} He answered. {My time is... short... so please listen to me... As the one who rightfully defeated me in an honorable duel, I hereby relinquish my title of Dragon Emperor... to you, Hishya... You are now... the Ruler of all True Dragons, the Dragon Empress... by right of our ancient codes... I have spoken...}

Hishya didn't really know what to say other than... "I accept." She nodded as she put away her blade. Something inside her roiled as she said those words. It was as if everything was now in its place, as if she was meant to take his place one day.

{Now go... my child... and use your power... my power... to bring.... peace...... to...... your.....world...} (Serval)

With his last word, Hishya snapped back to reality. Her blade was embedded deep within Serval's skull, and the dragon was dead. A single tear ran down her eye, for what reason she did not know. Was it out of pity? Joy? Or sorrow? But that did not matter right now. As Hishya looked up, she saw all her friends surrounding the defeated Dragon Emperor. She withdrew Sun Strike from Serval's skull, before turning to the other players.

"Is it over?" Eris asked, a bit nervous because of Hishya's appearance. Her hair was no longer on fire, and was now simply a longer version of her normal hair, though her physical age was still much more than what the others were used to seeing. She had a regal, almost royal air about her, and everyone got the sense that something big had happened to Hishya.

"It is." Hishya nodded. "And by the Ancient traditions of our kind, and his blessing, I have now taken up his title..." She hopped down onto the ground before raising Sun Strike into the air triumphantly. "I am now the Ruler of All True Dragons. Hishya, the Amethyst Dragon Empress."

Spoiler

Hishya's News Look!

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