[Location: Outside Angel's Share Tavern]
[Time: 20:50 PM]
The night air froze instantly. The three Cryo Abyss Mages cackled, waving their staves. Sharp icicles formed in the air, aiming directly at Aether.
"Die, enemy of the—"
"Shut up."
I lunged. Using [Steel Strength], I turned my body into a living cannonball. I didn't dodge the icicles; I smashed through them. The ice shattered harmlessly against my obsidian scales, sounding like glass breaking on pavement.
"What?!" The lead Mage shrieked, panic rising in its mask.
It tried to blink away, but [Great Sage] had already calculated its trajectory.
[Great Sage]
I whipped my tail—[Tail Smash]—at the empty space to my left.
CRACK!
The Mage reappeared exactly where I struck, taking my tailbone directly to its face. Its shield flickered, cracking under the heavy physical blow.
"Diluc! Now!" I roared.
The tavern door flew open. Diluc Ragnvindr surged out, his claymore engulfed in flames. He didn't ask questions; he just capitalized on the opening I made.
"Burn!"
Searing Onslaught. Three consecutive strikes.
Slash. Bash. Crush.
The Cryo shield vaporized in a cloud of steam (Melt reaction). The Mage didn't even have time to scream before it was reduced to ash.
The other two Mages panicked. "It's... It's the Darknight Hero! And a beast!"
They began chanting a ritual, summoning a localized blizzard. The temperature dropped dangerously low. Aether shivered, raising his sword, but his movements were slowing down.
"Cold...?" I growled. My [Thermal Fluctuation Resistance] (gained from surviving Dragonspine) kicked in. This was nothing compared to Durin's heart.
I looked at Aether. He was freezing.
My brother... threatened?
A dark, primal anger surged in my chest.
"Great Sage. Analyze the spell structure."
[Great Sage]
"Got it."
I opened my maw. Instead of breathing fire, I inhaled.
[Predator] activated.
I didn't eat the Mages. I ate the blizzard.
A massive vacuum formed in front of my mouth. The swirling snow, the ice shards, the freezing mana—I sucked it all in like a spaghetti noodle.
Gulp.
[System Alert]
The Mages stared, dumbfounded. Their blizzard was gone. Burped away.
"Tastes like... mint," I commented, licking my chops. "Bland."
Venti, watching from the tavern steps with a glass of wine in hand, clapped. "Ooh! A vacuum cleaner dragon! How convenient!"
"Stop playing around!" Diluc shouted, rushing the second Mage.
I turned to the third one. It tried to flee, floating high up.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I crouched and sprang upward, using [Shadow Motion] to merge with the shadow of a nearby chimney, reappearing instantly behind the floating Mage in mid-air.
I clamped my jaws around its head.
Crunch.
Gravity took over, and we crashed to the cobblestones. I stood over the dissipating black smoke, shaking the dust off my wings.
The fight was over in less than sixty seconds.
[Location: Angel's Share – Private Cellar]
[Time: 21:15 PM]
We relocated to the cellar to avoid the Knights of Favonius patrols.
Diluc crossed his arms, staring at me. "You ate a blizzard."
"I was hungry," I shrugged (or tried to, with wings).
"He's the Ragnvaldr glutton!" Paimon pointed. "He eats everything! Slimes, swords, weather..."
Diluc sighed, rubbing his temples. But there was a hint of respect in his eyes now. "Your fighting style... it's reckless, relying on brute force and durability. Just like the records of the Berserker Tribe from the old aristocracy."
"Efficiency, cousin. Efficiency."
"Don't call me cousin," Diluc grunted, though he didn't deny the connection anymore. "Anyway. The Abyss Order is getting bolder. If they are attacking inside the walls, we have no time."
Venti strummed his lyre, sitting on a wine barrel. "Which brings us back to the plan! To save Dvalin, we need the Holy Lyre der Himmel to purify him. Dvalin is suffering because of the Abyssal poison and the forgotten songs."
"The Cathedral is heavily guarded," Aether noted.
"I can sneak in!" Paimon volunteered. "Paimon is small and floats!"
"You are also loud and glow in the dark," Diluc countered.
"I have a skill," I offered. "[Shadow Motion]. I can move through shadows. I can get Aether inside."
Venti shook his finger. "Ah, but the Lyre has a barrier! You need a specific frequency of Anemo energy to unlock it without triggering the alarm. Only I know it, or..." He looked at Aether. "Or someone sensitive to the wind."
"So Aether has to do the grabbing," Diluc summarized. "Raiden provides the transport. What about the guards?"
"I'll handle the distraction," Diluc said, adjusting his gloves. "The Knights have been annoying me lately. Giving them a 'Darknight Hero' chase might clear the area."
"A heist," I grinned, my tail thumping against a wine cask. "I love heists. Should I eat the guards if they catch us?"
"No eating the nuns!" Paimon shouted.
"Please refrain from eating the clergy," Diluc added dryly. "Barbara would be upset."
"Fine. Non-lethal takedowns. Just a little... [Paralysis Breath]."
Venti hopped off the barrel. "Then it is decided! Operation: Save the Dragon begins now! To the Cathedral!"
I looked at the group. A failed god, a burnt-out noble, a traveler from another world, and a reincarnated dragon.
This was the weirdest party I'd ever been in. And I loved it.
[Great Sage]
"Let's roll."