Morning light shone softly through the cracks of the crystal cave.
The walls sparkled faintly, painting the air with shards of blue and gold.
Ragno stirred from his sleep, yawning as his wings unfolded lazily. "Morning, Mother."
Ruby turned to him, her crimson eyes filled with warmth. "Good morning, my child. Did you sleep well?"
Ragno frowned slightly. "Not really… I had a nightmare."
Ruby tilted her head, curious. "A nightmare? What kind?"
Ragno's eyes widened, his voice trembling. "It… it was about you, Mother."
Ruby chuckled softly. "Oh? About me? That doesn't sound too bad."
But Ragno didn't laugh. His claws trembled, his tail stiffened. "I saw you, Mom… you were fighting adventurers. You were surrounded—your wings were cut off, your scales were pierced by swords, spears, and arrows. You… you were bleeding, and—"
He stopped. His throat tightened.
Ruby's smile faltered. For a moment, her face turned pale. Then, she forced a gentle laugh. "Now, now. That's just a dream. Your mother is strong. No adventurer can hurt me."
But inside her heart, panic crept in.
(He saw it… the same vision I once had… when I was his age.)
(So my son inherited the dragon's sight—the power to glimpse the future.)
Her chest tightened. "So soon," she whispered under her breath. "He's already awakened it…"
She looked down at Ragno again, smiling tenderly to hide her fear. "Ragno, come closer."
He tilted his head, stepping forward. "What is it, Mom?"
Ruby knelt, pressing her forehead against his. Her scales were warm, her mana radiating like a heartbeat.
"Whatever happens, live well, my son."
Ragno blinked. "Mom… why are you saying that like you're saying goodbye?"
Ruby looked away, hiding the tears that welled in her eyes. "It's nothing, my flame."
That night, as the moonlight poured into the cave, Ruby handed him something — the silver dragon necklace. "Hold this for me, Ragno."
Ragno nodded, though confused. "Okay, Mother. I'll keep it safe."
He smiled, but Ruby's gaze lingered on him longer than usual, memorizing his face — every scale, every spark in his eyes.
---
Two days later.
The air around the mountain shifted.
Ruby's sharp senses caught it instantly — the faint vibration of footsteps, the metallic scent of weapons, the hum of mana in the air.
"They're here," she murmured, her tail flicking sharply.
She turned toward Ragno. "Stay behind me, my son."
Ragno's chest tightened, but he nodded. "Okay, Mother."
The shadows moved near the cave entrance. Then — light. Torches flickered to life.
One by one, the adventurers emerged: humans, elves, beastkin — thirty in all. Their armor glinted under the crystal light, their weapons drawn, their faces cold and focused.
Ruby's eyes narrowed. "So… you've come."
A man stepped forward, his voice echoing. "There it is! The Crimson-Scaled Dragon! Kill it before it escapes!"
Ruby roared, her voice shaking the entire cavern. She inhaled deeply — and unleashed a torrent of fire.
The flames rolled forward like a storm, melting stone and steel alike.
"Shields up!" shouted a beastkin tank.
A wall of gleaming barriers rose — the tanks bracing against the inferno, their shields glowing red-hot but holding.
"Archers! Mages! Attack!"
Spells filled the air. Arrows of fire, ice, and wind rained down. Ruby raised her wings to block, but several arrows pierced through the gaps — sinking into her side. She winced but didn't falter.
Chains of ice burst from the ground, wrapping around her limbs.
"Now! Bind the dragon!"
Ruby snarled. "Don't underestimate me!"
Her mana flared violently.
"Abyssal Torrent!" she roared.
Dozens of swirling water orbs formed around her, spinning faster and faster before crashing into the adventurers.
Half of them were swept away — armor shattered, spells canceled.
But the others retaliated.
"Flame Cannon!"
"Piercing Bolt!"
"Wind Crush!"
Explosions filled the cave. One stray fireball hurtled toward Ragno.
He froze — until Ruby leapt in front of him.
The blast hit her full-force. She stumbled, smoke rising from her scales.
"R-Ragno!" she coughed. "Go! Hide behind the crystal!"
Ragno's heart pounded. "B-But—!"
"Go!" she roared.
He obeyed, retreating into the shadows. But his claws clenched.
Why… why am I always too weak?
He remembered his mother's warmth — her laughter as they flew together, her voice calling him my little flame.
He remembered his past life — the cold stares, the loneliness, the pain of being unwanted.
And something inside him snapped.
"Damn you humans!!" Ragno screamed, bursting from the shadows.
He lunged at one of the mages, his claws glowing red with mana.
He slashed across the man's face — blood splattering across the crystal floor.
"You filthy lizard!" the mage yelled, swinging his staff.
A wave of magic struck Ragno's chest, sending him crashing into the wall.
"RAGNO!!" Ruby's roar shook the air.
Her fury ignited — her entire body blazing with fire and steam.
The sound of her roar made the cave tremble. Crystals cracked. Monsters from deeper tunnels fled in terror.
She looked down at the adventurers — eyes burning with rage.
"Now you've done it."
Her wings spread wide, her body glowing with red and blue light.
"Inferno Tide!"
A massive blast of fire and water erupted from her, swallowing the battlefield.
Adventurers screamed as the force sent them flying — armor melting, spells failing.
But then — a presence stepped forward.
A man in black armor, his sword humming with divine energy.
Ruby froze.
Her instincts screamed danger.
(That power… it's on par with a dragon.)
Ragno, struggling to his feet, felt it too — a suffocating pressure, so heavy he could barely breathe.
"Ragno!" Ruby shouted. "Run! Now!"
"No, Mother!" Ragno yelled back. "I won't leave you!"
Ruby's heart broke at his words — but she had no choice.
She spread her wings and unleashed a powerful gust, sending Ragno flying toward the cave's exit.
"Mother!!" Ragno screamed as he was blown away.
Through the dust, he saw it — the man in black armor leaping forward, sword flashing once.
In an instant, Ruby's wings were severed. Another strike — and her head fell, her eyes still glowing softly.
Ragno's scream tore through the air. "MOTHER!!!"
He hit the underground river, his body thrown into the current.
The torrent carried him away — through tunnels, over the edge of a waterfall, and into the forest below.
He dragged himself onto the shore, coughing, trembling, his scales scorched.
Rain began to fall — cold, merciless.
He clenched his claws into the mud.
"Why… why again?" he whispered. "Why must I lose everything… even in this world…?"
His voice cracked into a scream. "Damn it all!!!"
Thunder roared overhead, echoing his rage.
Tears mixed with the rain as his body shook.
He looked up at the dark clouds, his mother's necklace still clutched tightly in his claws.
"I'll live, Mother," he whispered, his voice trembling. "But I'll never forgive them."
The storm raged on — and in its heart, the cry of a dragon echoed through the mountains, a roar filled with grief, hatred, and the birth of vengeance.