Holding onto a tree for dear life.
Not letting go.
Ellowen looks down at the height he's dangling from. He takes a deep breath and pulls himself up—it's easier than he thought, but one wrong move and he'll fall to his death.
"It'd be really convenient if I knew how to use those angel wings by now,"
Ellowen whispers under his breath.
"But I don't… unfortunately," he thinks to himself.
He looks back and sees the dragon circling the giant, breathing fire that causes parts of it to explode. The dragon doesn't notice Ellowen—hidden among the leaves—but blasts fire in his direction.
Seeing the incoming flames, Ellowen starts jumping from tree to tree. Despite his efforts, the fire still reaches him, exploding just behind as he escapes.
The dragon's fire begins to concentrate on one spot instead of spreading. The flames grow brighter—red in the center, orange around the edges. Its throat glows red. Another surge of fire intensifies the blaze coursing through the giant's arm, culminating in a massive explosion that severs it completely.
Finally, the giant turns toward the dragon. It roars, lava pouring from its mouth as it does.
Meanwhile, Ellowen is falling—down with the severed arm of the giant. As he tumbles through the air, he slams into a tree branch, knocking him unconscious.
But in that moment of unconsciousness, a memory resurfaces.
He's in a grey training room filled with weapons. Standing before him is a rough, muscular man whose body strains his shirt. His black hair, blue eyes, and tail mark him as an angel—a Knight of Dawn.
"Don't mind me taking out my anger during training, kiddo,"
the man says, glaring at Ellowen, who's on one knee, wheezing, blood dripping from his nose and mouth.
"I don't mind, teacher," Ellowen replies, barely able to speak, bruised black and blue.
"It just pisses me the fuck off when the higher-ups act like you're gonna become better than everyone else. SUCH a big shot. A huge deal."
With that, the man lunges forward, swinging his sword. Ellowen blocks, then uses the rocket in his shoe to blast past him. He kicks off the wall and launches back toward his opponent.
The man grins wickedly and dodges. He kicks Ellowen in the stomach, grabs his leg, and slams him to the ground—then hurls him across the room.
Skidding along the floor, Ellowen grabs a long chain and clips it to the bottom of his sword. He begins spinning it rapidly by the chain and flings it at the man.
"GOOD! That's what I'm talking about!"
the man shouts, dodging the attack and grabbing the chain. He yanks Ellowen toward him—but Ellowen charges his left fist with ice, lightning, and fire, slamming it into the man's gut.
The man stumbles slightly, pain flickering in his eyes.
"I hate agreeing with those old rats at the top… but you've got potential,"
he mutters with a dark laugh.
"Just make sure you don't die before I do, or I'll be laughing at how their little 'genius' kicked the bucket."
He points to his shoulder.
"If you're really planning to keep that sword-and-chain style, store it in a sliding compartment in your shoulder pad. Get runes that let it shrink and grow. Trust me."
He sits down and pulls out a water bottle. Ellowen joins him, sighing. The man tosses him a sandwich.
"You gonna tell me your name now?"
Ellowen asks.
"Name? Us second-generation angels don't really get one… but once I leave this damned place, everyone's gonna know the name Davalin."
He smirks.
"Okay, but why keep the chain in my shoulder instead of my pouch?"
Ellowen raises an eyebrow, chewing.
"Why? Because it's gonna look cooler, DUH!"
That last word echoes in Ellowen's mind.
Suddenly, his eyes snap open—he's still falling, fast.
"YOU BETTER BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS LOOKING COOL, DAVALIN!!"
he yells.
He reaches for his right shoulder pad, slides open a hidden compartment, and pulls out the miniaturized chain.
"¡CRECER Y EXTENDERSE!"
he shouts.
The chain expands to full size. He clips it to the base of his sword, starts spinning it rapidly, then hurls it toward a nearby tree.
"Come on, COME ON!!"
His heart races. The thought of dying tears through his mind. What would Linda do? What memories might he lose? What truths would remain buried?
He doesn't want to die.
The sword pierces the tree. The chain pulls tight, stopping his fall. He dangles, panting, wrapped around the chain.
Looking down, he spots the dragon flying below. He rips his sword free and lets himself freefall—straight toward it. His trajectory is off, so he uses his rocket shoes to propel himself. He lands on the dragon's back.
The dragon roars in rage.
"Who do you think you are, riding me, filthy angel?"
the dragon growls—a female voice.
She dives headfirst, spiraling downward. Ellowen can't hold on and is thrown off, crashing into a boulder. His armor absorbs most of the shock—but not all. Pain shoots through his body.
If he had fallen from a bit higher, his damaged armor wouldn't have saved him.
The dragon descends toward him, wings whipping gusts of wind.
"Don't think so highly of yourself, little angel,"
she snarls, then roars and breathes fire at him.
Ellowen encases himself in ice, then ignites it to counter her flames.
"I wasn't trying to interfere—I was trying not to die!"
he yells.
The dragon swipes at him. He dodges, shouting:
"Can't we just TALK?!"
He sprints around her, using his rocket shoesto propel himself faster, it was like skating, tying his chain around her neck. He launches up toward her face, charging his right fist with ice and electricity, and punches her—making her stumble.
"You have no idea the grief I carry,"
she growls.
"You say you want peace but fight me anyway."
She snaps her head toward him, knocking him away with a clawed strike. The ground shakes from his impact.
"Stupid dragon won't listen… Are we really going to have to fight?"
Ellowen thinks, retrieving his sword with a tug of the chain.
The dragon suddenly reacts to something else. She shoots into the sky as a barrage of ice spikes flies toward her—thrown by a massive crow.
That crow is Linda.
Her black feathers have turned blue partiallyaround her chest area.
"Go deal with your own business, dragon. We won't interfere,"
Linda declares, her voice firm.
The dragon glares at her.
"You better keep that promise. If not… there will be consequences."
With that, she flies off toward the golem again.
Linda transforms back into a human. Ice clings to her chest, unmelted.
"You okay? I thought you were dead for a good few minutes—then I find you getting attacked by a dragon."
She sighs, raising an eyebrow, but smiles with relief.
"I almost got burned to a crisp and definitely almost fell to my death,"
Ellowen says, then looks at the massive creature.
"That's a golem? I thought golems weren't supposed to be that big."
"I'll explain how it might've gotten that way… after we get out of here,"
Linda replies, preparing to shift back into her crow form.
Suddenly, Ellowen's wristwatch glows—its blue light shining brighter than ever.
"You can't leave yet, little moon,"
the watch says, shocking them both. Ellowen knew it could talk, but it rarely did.
"Inside that golem is a box in its core. Retrieve it, and a very important memory will return to you, Ellowen."
A red pupil appears in the center of the watch, staring at Linda.
"As for you, princess… you'll uncover one of your father's secrets. Just try not to get crushed to death."
Linda's eyes widen. She bites her lip, emotions flashing across her face before she regains her composure.
Ellowen looks just as determined. He glances at her, wanting to ask if what the watch said is true—but he saves it for later.
Now, they have a goal:
Break into the golem's core.