Amidst the clash and bloody battle, far away from Orochi's reach, a group of bandits would be nearby, waiting within the trees. Most of such soldiers were men, trying to use the rations they have to set up a large meal, with one of them, short and slim, capable of channeling his energy into those rations, cooking them and mixing them with some small ingredients in the nature. Ooh's and Ahh's were heard as the man went at double speeds to ensure his cooking was set, letting the small spices and berries meld with the cooked meat, before finally drying and cooling it, creating a mixture between a stew and a pemmican; strong exterior, soft and juicy interior. Despite its odd shape and look, the soldiers were surprised that it tasted pretty good, attracting the scent of an elk to try and take some of the berries within the meat.
SHIKK!!!
A Slash, straight across the stomach, prompting it to flee in panic from such a wound. A woman with long, black hair and a cloak would wipe the blood away from the dagger she used, scraping it on the barks of the many trees, as she'd turn towards them. "Men! At ease! Tonight, we strike at Orochi's Skeleton and bring it down until it is nothing but scrap! Are there any objections to this!?" A loud demand from the lady, a cacophony of cheers acts as her men's response. A confident smirk on her face as she gazed at the many skulls that acted as the arena. "Soon... we will finally claim back our birthright. For the many times they discard us... The many times they leave us for dead..."
"Actually... Why ARE we trying to kill Orochi?" One of her men asked, prompting an ire onto the leader.
"HUH!? YOU DARE QUESTION MY ORDER??"
"Well... Not Questioning exactly, more like an inference. I get why, but... we shouldn't really be trying to disturb them, should we?"
The woman was quick on removing her robes in an abrupt fashion, messing her hair up as she confronted that very soldier, her silver armor shining with the sun, her black garbs that bind her chest and waist as much as possible, as she'd point her weapon at them. Such a thrust wasn't to hurt them, but to show them its handle, its edge. Stark white scales, as well as an insignia of a dragon across the blade, from base to tip. "THIS! This precisely is why! The way we are all discarded from Orochi's grip, just because we are 'weak' as they say! They follow a Law of the Jungle that shouldn't be given to humanity in the first place! An ends that makes such means a monster in disguise! You may be content with letting us be discarded as trash, but I beg to differ! At the stroke of night, we will ensure the death of every single-"
"Dragon?"
A question raised, but not by the men's side. In fact, said men were quick on their feet and gathered their weapons and magic, two of which used the flames to scatter and the smoke to cloud them. While one used the foods around to pulse, tossing them like grenades to impale and implant its nutrients to attack from within, another would try and make use of the smog, letting such greenery to grow in it, vines and flytraps growing out to bite into the figure's head. A perfectly coordinated attack, all while the woman would keep her distance, chanting a small phrase and letting the dragon come out from the dagger, a wyrm that tries to blast down a breath of frost at his legs. Even with such attacks, however, the smoke cleared itself, the figure putting out the flames, as he'd stare down at the bandits.
The King of All is before them.
Silence was left in the area, gasping for a sound with such desperation. The woman clung to her dagger and attempted to try and swing at his chest, hoping to cut across his body, yet the King merely raised a finger, a demand to cease, as he turned his head to the skulls. "...Discarded, I assume?" King asked.
"Tch. It's not worth your efforts. My business with my home is only for my people and myself. To cling to such a foolish and bastardizing tradition of-"
"Did you know that your magic has improved when I last saw you?" A question that stunned the woman, only able to blink for a response. The King continued as he'd turn his body to the same direction of his gaze, looking out to the ninth head as he'd see such flames erupt from around its side. "When I first gauged at Orochi, I saw you and others banished from the Kingdom because of such weakness. Now, you wish to invade the very place that would most likely apologized to you and welcome you back in open arms."
"OPEN ARMS!? ARE YOU MAD!?" Her shock turned to fury upon hearing his words, trying to confront him, the bandits protesting for her safety, yet nothing would stop her. She made herself look eye to eye towards the King, seeing no true gaze back, her face contorting around as she ranted away. "THEY ARE THE ONES WHO LEFT ME FOR DEAD! THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MADE ME LIVE IN THE WILDERNESS UP UNTIL I LIVED WITH WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY IDIOTS THAT COULD NEVER SEE MY LIFE PROPERLY! I HAD TO WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY IN WHAT FEELS LIKE A CARDBOARD CITY, TRYING NOT TO BREAK EVERYTHING IN ONE FELL SWOOP! THE HELL MAKES YOU THINK THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT ME!?"
King didn't bother to look at her in the eyes, rather keeping his focus on Orochi, hearing its cheers from a distance, watching more flames erupt, energy spiking over and over as if they were trying to one-up one another. "Because they have accepted another. Two hearts beat the same blood, regardless of one's strengths."
"Wh- THAT'S LITERALLY MY POINT! I'M TRYING TO PREVENT-"
"And that is what you do not need to seek anymore. They acknowledge such a loss, and they have already praised the meek, for they have become stronger. Your name?"
"...Koina. Koina Borinaska"
"Koina. Tell me, will Orochi accept a weak fighter?" A redundant question for the woman's eyes, she was adamant about affirming her beliefs towards the King.
FWOOOOOOSH!!!
A Surge of light and fire, one that catches Koina off guard. She turned her head to see it, pausing herself as she witnesses from a distance the King of Orochi, a visible smile on the Vritra's face, even after so far away. Higher and Higher, the Dragon was quick on utilizing a Final Gambit. One soared after, the momentum visible, his hand torn yet willing to clash back. She couldn't believe her eyes. Who was that man that was trying to rival the king? She never met someone like that man before, or at least she couldn't recall where was the last time she saw him. "You believe that they do not, correct? That they discard you at a moment's notice? Truth is, that is the direct nature of what a Dragon is. When a bird wishes to fly, the Parent nudges them. It has them leave the nest over and over to ensure the bird can take flight. Naturally, it would oftentimes abandon the bird in those instances, solely because it is in their nature that they believe the bird could fly, the very nudge that they think grows them. Dragons are the very same. They nudge them by letting them be on their own if they are weaker, letting them train their bodies, their wings, their bite, and whatever else they have to fend off against those it wishes to eat and destroy. The reason why you were discarded... Koina..."
"Is to make you grow exactly like this."
"HY! DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
"GO!RYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!NYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYCH!!!"
KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
Heat scattered across the horizon, a light was made as the two clashed, their energies taking shape and trying to bite each other's throats. Such an explosion made a collage of sparks and patterns, like a painter making an abstract art on the very sky. Such a sight would make her drop on her knees, her eyes glued to the lights, watching it spread and shine with such vibrant life. King gave a small nod to her as he walked away, content on what he's seen. "A Dragon in Orochi is the most precious resource in terms of what a Fighter should be. To truly abandon it, one must be a fool for assuming they would not return in blood. Only a true Dragon knows that they would come back to the nest, to show to the Birds the fruits of their labor. I believe that is why your King is the true voice of Orochi." A small comment, as he'd finally leave her alone, watching the men panic upon seeing such a light and run away, assuming that they were more powerful than what they could imagine.
Only Koina remained, small tears in her eyes, a smile on her face, as she'd see the aftermath make such shooting stars for her. "Do they actually... still love me?"