"Did it succeed… or fail?"
The military officials of the States were tense, their gazes fixed on the seaside. A strange, indescribable force had sealed off the entire bay, and uncertainty weighed heavily in their hearts.
Sure enough, the massive dragon inside was bleeding. His glowing eyes swept across the soldiers and commanders watching from the shore. The words he spoke carried exhaustion, and the sound alone was enough to crush their hope.
This filled them with dread.
They knew him as the Dragon Man, a creature whose true form was that of a giant dragon with vast wings unfurled behind him, as though he could take flight at any moment. Country M's top brass had worked with him, had even placed their trust in his strength. And now, with blood dripping from his body, an unsettling thought crept into their minds.
Could it be… they had failed?
The men stood frozen, their expressions stiffening as the realization struck. The Dragon Man looked familiar in his battered state, yet more terrifying than ever.
Then it happened.
A shadowy figure emerged from the frozen bay, a presence radiating power so great it shook the very air. The sealed sea trembled, and from one corner of the frozen waters, a blinding golden light erupted, shooting skyward like the dawn of a new sun.
The officials' hearts pounded. Their breaths grew shallow. That light alone was enough to prove one thing—this battle was nowhere near ordinary.
Countless thoughts swirled in their minds. Had the Dragon Man won? Had he managed to kill Arakawa Zenkichi? Or had they underestimated the man who stood against the dragon?
The longer they waited, the clearer it became.
The Dragon Man's expression hardened, and his voice broke the silence.
"I lost."
Only three words, but they fell heavier than any weapon.
With a single powerful beat of his wings, he turned and fled. There was no hesitation, no second glance. If he remained here, he knew it would be dangerous. The space itself was shifting, trembling under Zenkichi's force. A breakthrough was imminent. The Dragon Man realized he could not linger for even a moment. He did not even spare them another word.
"What did he say!?"
The senior officials of Country M stood in shock, staring at the retreating figure of their supposed ally. Their minds reeled. He had admitted defeat.
The Dragon Man had failed.
Though they had suspected it—the probability of success was never absolute—hearing him confirm it struck them like lightning.
For a fleeting moment, despair washed over them. Yet it didn't last long, because a far greater concern loomed before them.
What would they do now… with Arakawa Zenkichi?
The thought alone sent chills down their spines. Zenkichi wasn't a fool. After so much experience, he would easily piece together the truth. And worse, he wasn't someone who feared them. He was a warrior beyond their measure, one who could not be controlled.
If Zenkichi chose to retaliate…
They realized the gravity of their mistake. They had cooperated with the Dragon Man to kill him, only to fail. Now, they had dragged the strongest man alive directly to their doorstep.
"Fortunately, we're prepared," one of the officials muttered, forcing his trembling hands to hold steady. "At the very least… we can offer an explanation."
They clutched tightly to the bank cards in their pockets, each containing trillions. It was their last resort, a desperate escape route prepared in case things spiraled beyond control.
Even so, deep inside, every man knew the truth.
No wealth, no scheme, and no excuse would be enough if Zenkichi himself decided their fate.
___
Happy New month