How?
That was, without a shadow of a doubt, the question that defined everything there.
I felt my body wasn't at its best — every muscle charged interest. And, even so, inside that armor… I felt invincible. Two contradictory truths sharing the same chest, and neither of them willing to yield.
And, instead of waiting for the answer, I decided to test it.
Without thinking twice, I raised the shield and advanced toward the great Lycan's leg — which, without properly understanding what was happening, still let itself be cut at knee height. The blade went in too deep, too easy. The blood gushed in a jet, and the scream that came out of that mouth wasn't only of pain: it was fear and incomprehension mixed together — a sound that gave me a start and made me raise the shield again, just in time to hold the unrestrained advance of that giant creature.
"Daaamn… Cursed human… What did you steal from here, you worm?! GIVE IT BACK. NOW!"
Despite the screams of pain and the curses, the great Lycan preferred to keep his distance instead of advancing again, opting to simply try, without success, to use his claw to cause some damage.
And that told me a lot. It was clear he believed some kind of fortuitous encounter had happened on my part — some treasure found, some item stolen — and that it was because of that that I was so strong. The idea that the strength could be mine didn't fit in his head. And, honestly… until five minutes ago, it didn't fit in mine either.
"If you seek my death, you'll find only the edge of my sword, young Lycan. I don't want to fight anyone — and there was nothing here to be stolen, so let me leave."
My words were the truth.
But it was clear that the truth was worth nothing to that creature — which was already arming itself again while it began to flank me, searching for some kind of fragility it could use.
✦ ✦ ✦
I quickly understood his advantage.
I was, clearly, protecting Morgana and Livina — the two of them passed out behind me, anchored to the floor like weights. And it was clear, in that creature's eyes, that the focus now was only one: to gain the advantage of a hostage. Each step of the flanking was a step in their direction.
It was while he circled that I saw it: a small cord tied to his waist.
That creature had been sent there to investigate. But, somehow, it didn't seem to care about calling for reinforcements — no tug, no signal. Arrogance lived in his eyes and his desires. And it was the only advantage I had.
Because, if I won that battle, it would probably be the last for a long period. I doubted very much that Bestaria would have the audacity to enter that place — her status and power seemed too great to risk on a blind leap into the unknown. Beating the subordinate was beating what was out there. At least, that was what I was betting on.
"I will tear out your bones and suck the nectar from them while you still watch."
The threats were, clearly, an attempt to stimulate some kind of reaction.
Because, in that fight, the advantage was with whoever was less imprudent. My shield protected. My sword cut. But a single wrong advance and I would be dead — and I wasn't arrogant enough to believe those claws wouldn't harm me. I trusted the armor, yes. But I knew that even the impact of a blow like that could stun me. And, in a duel like this, a second of dizziness was a signed sentence.
"If you think I'm going to fall for your provocations, you're completely mistaken. Nothing you do or say will move me from this spot. But I know one thing… There will come a moment when that cord on your waist is pulled. And, then, you'll lose everything that exists in here. Even the treasure I'm wearing."
The advantage I was betting on was simple: that cord, fatally, would be pulled again.
No power was infinite and unrestricted — the question was only how much time he had. My theory: the cord was Bestaria's way of controlling her own subject. If he took too long, he would be pulled back — the easiest way to protect the lackey's life while, at the same time, distrusting his audacity and greed. A collar with a built-in clock.
To me, it was something ingenious — the kind of thing I would hardly expect from a Burman. But, being female, it was clear that her capacity went far beyond simple bodily strength.
And the truth of my words became clear in the effect they caused: the Lycan lost his composure the exact moment the words hit him.
"You insolent worm… Your race was always nothing more than CATTLE to us! How dare you… DIE! ARGHHH!"
✦ ✦ ✦
He advanced again — and, this time, the fury in his eyes seemed to want to cut me into a thousand pieces.
I swallowed the blood accumulating in my mouth and steadied myself in place. The moment to show my worth had come. But, the instant he advanced, I felt a change in his body — a displacement of weight, an intention changing address — and a brief smile on that creature's mouth gave away the whole malice.
He threw himself to the floor.
He slid, crawling with his claws extended — in search of Livina's throat, which was behind me.
And I read the plan on his face like someone reading an open page: he wanted my shield to come down to defend that advance. He wanted the defense to destabilize me — leaving my chest open for the real blow, which would come next. It was clear, mathematically clear, that defending Livina meant taking the second blow at full force in the chest.
And, even so… my arm moved on its own.
The shield advanced by instinct toward the claws — and I buried it in the floor, driven in like a gate between the creature and her throat.
The claws broke against the shield.
The scream of pain and hatred tore the air — and, in the same movement, the other blow came to meet my chest, exactly as his plan dictated. I parried with the sword. But, destabilized as I was, the impact wrenched me off the floor and threw me nearly four meters away.
While I flew, my mind went out and came back, went out and came back — my chest seeming to want to explode, held only by the tight armor that kept everything in place. The pain ran through every nerve of my body. But I stayed awake. I slid across the floor and drove the sword into the earth so as not to gain more distance — stopping on my knees, smoking, but facing him.
The Lycan's eyes were surprised at my capacity.
It was clear, to him, that something in me had changed — after all, I had just endured a blow that would kill even an Infernal at the peak of its own power and level. His greed grew in his eyes; after all, an item that could make a human capable of enduring such a blow was too tempting. But there was one thing he couldn't see. Without seeing my face — only the armored body — he didn't see the blood that began to gush from my mouth, filling the helmet from within until it finally ran out the corners.
And it was only then that I realized: the great creature seemed… relieved.
"Seems I won this battle, useless human."
And yes. He was right.
Even having managed to protect Livina — even not having died in the exchange — I had lost the girls. The two of them were now at his feet, at the mercy of any action. And I knew the ploy was something common even for strong creatures: using Livina and Morgana as hostages wouldn't even be seen as a demerit. It would be seen as intelligence.
In the Oasis, there is no honor. There is only the unshakable desire to return home alive — and, preferably, with everything possible to take from others along the way. Even if life is one of those things.
"Coward."
My mouth shouted the word while the blood still gushed.
It wasn't rage. It was the pure and simple realization of my incapacity to protect those I loved. Again. My power, however strong it had become, never seemed to be enough — and now I was seconds away from a choice I would never be capable of making.
"HAHAHA! Few things delight me more than a defeated one raging. Now… the moment has come to make your choice."
✦ ✦ ✦
The great Lycan finally advanced his claws toward Morgana, who remained unconscious on the floor.
But, before he could reach her… a noise startled us. Both of us.
In truth, I myself hadn't noticed. But, observing the entire fight with attentive eyes, was Vo'ruun.
And, before I could do anything, the colossal claw crossed through the great Lycan's chest.
His face froze between surprise and absolute terror — and it was impossible to say which weighed more: realizing that the great dragon was alive… or realizing that there was a nail the size of a siege spear running through his belly as though it were nothing.
Despair took over his face at once. He screamed, grabbed the cord at his waist, and pulled. Once. Twice. And then he tried to break free, his broken claws scratching the colossal nail in pure panic.
It didn't help.
Before he could beg amid the tears, the great dragon — without the slightest interest in his words — carried him to the enormous mouth. And I heard it. The bones cracking, one by one. And, finally, the burst — which could have been the ribcage. Or the head. I preferred not to find out which.
"Urghhh… What a horrible thing."
And it was while he complained about his own lunch that he noticed: a thin thread still seemed to prevent the meal from going down his throat.
So he pulled it.
And, after a few seconds, the owner of the magic cord appeared — torn from nothing, dragged by her own spell. The fairy, contorted in pain. And, behind her, holding her…
Bestaria.
Who noticed me at a distance in the same instant.
"You son of a bitch! What did you DO?!"
Her scream came in my direction — but it quickly got lost, covered by the fairy's scream of despair. Bestaria's eyes followed the origin of that despair… until they found, exactly like me, the enormous creature that now seemed interested in complementing the menu.
And Bestaria simply let go of the fairy.
She opened her fingers. Without hesitation, without farewell — allowing the little creature to be dragged at a dash toward the open mouth at full speed.
"BESTARIAAAA! HELP! SOMEONE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! NONONO—"
The scream of despair made me feel sorry for that fairy.
Of course the fairies were creatures far more dangerous than cute. But being chewed alive, hearing your own bones break… was something hard to watch while feeling nothing.
"Hmmm… Despite being small, this creature full of magic is… delicious."
Unlike the face of disgust with which he chewed the great Lycan, now there was genuine pleasure in that colossal expression — and that was strange to watch.
Maybe his palate was connected to the creature's magical capacity. There existed beings that could absorb magic through what they ate — but they were rare, and often slaves to that kind of diet. To discover that a dragon probably shared the same capacity was something unique. And, very probably, unknown to everyone.
✦ ✦ ✦
"Very well… Who would have thought a human could finish off a projection of mine. I am significantly shocked. Maybe this explains why the Oasis seems to favor you so much… Could it be that it chose a side…?"
The great dragon spoke while licking his lips still dirty with blood.
And there were two things hidden in that speech.
The first was in the voice: however hard it was to point out what, he seemed to have suffered some kind of severe side effect from what happened to his projection. There was a new weight there. A crack in the timbre of a god.
The second intrigued me even more: he seemed not to know how I had won. A dragon — the very source of the power I carried — crediting my victory to something unique and singular that only the Oasis would explain. I filed the two things away in silence. In the Oasis, what the enemy doesn't understand about you is worth more than any treasure.
"What is happening here…?"
Bestaria seemed genuinely shocked.
Maybe it was seeing the strongest creature in the Oasis speaking casually, like someone chatting at a market. Maybe it was the fact that this creature seemed interested… in a mere human. But what surprised me was what she did next: while the dragon was distracted with me, she advanced in his direction — drawing the enormous axe from her ring.
I knew Bestaria was strong.
I had felt, in the Lycan's power, the capacity to kill me — and that same Lycan respected Bestaria. More than that: he seemed to fear her. But we were talking about a dragon. And, even so, she advanced.
"How dare you."
The dragon didn't even look at her.
With the axe centimeters from the colossal neck, the only thing Bestaria could do was see the giant head turn in her direction — and launch an enormous ball of fire point-blank.
I could only see Bestaria flying, covered in soot, and getting up staggering many meters ahead. It was clear, from the scorched fur and the skin melted in patches, that that power had charged a high price. But, even so, she got up — still facing the dragon with those eyes of rage that only a lioness could make.
"What an interesting creature… You would be someone considered strong even in the ancient era. A pity that your innocence borders on idiotic. Die."
Vo'ruun launched another ball of fire — this time more concentrated, smaller and denser, with real power compressed inside it.
But, to my surprise, while the ball of fire flew in her direction, Bestaria put away the axe.
And drew from the ring… an item. A small mirror.
At first glance, it seemed insignificant — a vanity piece lost on a battlefield. But the smile that opened on her face said otherwise. There was something there.
"Watch out!"
I shouted to Vo'ruun — and only realized I had shouted after the word was already in the air.
But the look he gave me was the same disinterested look from the first time he saw me. And it was funny — tragically funny — to think that a creature so strong could be so arrogant to the point of not realizing that this was more of a demerit than anything else.
BOOOOM.
The fire was sucked into the mirror.
And, in a blink, the ball that was once red became blue — growing, compressing, multiplying its own force — before firing back in the direction of the great chained dragon.
The shock hurled me far away. I had time only to grab Livina and Morgana, covering the two with my own body while the world turned to light, heat, and thunder.
✦ ✦ ✦
The smoke rose in columns, swallowing the entire place — and it took a while before I could see anything.
But, as it lowered, I finally saw the dragon.
Deformed by the fire. Part of the face melted, dripping like candle wax — and he moved slowly, screaming low. A sound I had never heard before: almost an animal weeping, mixed with incomprehension and hatred. The weeping of something that never learned to feel pain, having the first lesson of its life.
Looking at that scene, I almost managed to feel pity.
And, while I watched the strongest creature in the Oasis scream in pain, a voice filled the dark void of smoke. I knew exactly whose it was.
"Son of a bitch… Even destroying a legendary item that multiplies power, you're still alive. Resilient son of a bitch."
There was pure rage in Bestaria's voice.
Losing an item of that level — burned in a single shot — while the target stayed alive was something that irritated her profoundly. She advanced again, axe in hand, in Vo'ruun's direction — who remained dazed and sunk in his own pain.
And my feeling was confused.
Killing that dragon didn't seem wrong — I myself would be dead if it weren't for Zaridan and the colossus that imprisoned him. But seeing him die that way, chained and blind with pain, didn't seem… fair. And, above any feeling, there was the mathematics: after killing that dragon, the next on the list was me. I doubted very much that Bestaria would spare me.
My body began to move by instinct.
I needed to fight. Morgana and Livina remained unconscious — no help would come from them. But that was the only opportunity I would have: I took advantage of the fact that she seemed distracted, driving the axe into the entrails of the enormous dragon's face, and ran in her direction — as silent as my destroyed body allowed.
A few meters away, I raised the sword.
And struck the blow with all the strength I had left — the exact moment I finally believed I had caught the enormous Burman…
She dodged.
Out of pure instinct, without even looking — her body spinning out of the line of the cut as though my blow had been announced by letter. And the kick that came next wrenched me off the floor and threw me many meters.
"You think you could kill me with something as pathetic as a blow from that strange sword?"
But, before she finished laughing at my insignificance… the enormous dragon finally reacted.
The colossal paw pushed her against the floor — and came down over her body, stepping with the weight of a mountain. Bestaria's scream of pain found rival only in the dragon's scream of rage, which now dealt with half its face deformed.
"You sons of bitches… Why don't you simply DIE?!"
Bestaria let out a monstrous roar — and, with a strength that shouldn't exist in a body of that size, lifted the enormous dragon's paw, sliding to the side and rolling far away, the pain and the blood running down her whole body.
✦ ✦ ✦
My body was in terrible shape.
But I knew one thing: as long as that dragon was alive, there was a chance of us winning.
So the enormous dragon and I began, together, to try to wound the enormous feline warrior — the most improbable alliance of my life, sealed without a single word, only by the arithmetic of a common enemy.
And each blow she traded made my entire body tremble — even parrying with the shield. That Burman was, by far, the strongest creature I had ever traded blows with. Not even in the little exchange I had with the Infernals did I feel anything like the rage that each blow of that woman carried — as though each axe strike were an ancient debt being collected all at once.
It was a fight of resilience, where only the most capable would leave alive.
It was all or nothing.