Where’s… where’s the vial…? Lupy just realized, as his hands held nothing at all.
How would I know where the vial is!? You’re the one who’s holding it last time…!
I can’t fucking hold it all the time, considering that we were falling from thousands of kilometers’ height, for fuck’s sake! You don’t have any more of that…?!
You have no fucking idea how difficult it is to concoct that. And at such a high concentration. Hello?! Terion!? Device?!
Almost there… just buy me some time…!
How the fuck do you think could we “buy some time” of this damn dragon?!
“Let me guess. You’re trying to bait me, again, with the concoction of yours?” said “Essy.” “That, as well. How the fuck could you even think of creating that…?”
We… we have no choice… thought Lupy, before he continued, “We’re not as inferior as you’d like to think.”
“Know your place, human. I’ve been aware of that since the beginning.” said “Essy.”
Ever so arrogant. You know you’ve been put on your knees since we dragged you to this world? Thought Lupy to himself. “I’m trying to say that every living being has their own strengths and weaknesses — it’s just logic. Take yourself, for example. A magnificent, omnipotent being, but infected with… what is it? We called it mud thing, because it looks like mud.”
“Essy” snuffed. “She” then continued, full of arrogance and mockery, “Mud thing. How cheap and unimaginative. What you call the mud thing, is an otherworldly parasitical substance which can corrupt everything and everyone, no matter how omnipotent you are. Even I, the omnipotent being, as you said, have respect for its capability, unlike you lots.”
“You talk as if it’s sentient.” said Lupy.
Holy shit, you actually bought some time…! Said the robber.
Not something I’d be proud of. How’s the machine…? Asked Lupy.
Hang on. It turns out that there are more survivors than we thought. Shouldn’t take too much.
“You really know nothing, do you?” “Essy” laughed. “That’s the problem with a lot of you in this world. Advanced, only in technology, but primitive in other aspects.”
“Enough with that pretense. What do you want, anyway?” asked Lupy.
What the fuck!? Buy us more time — don’t cut to the chase just yet, idiot!
Shut up. This is also buying more time. Just focus on your job…
“Says the ones who are making plans on how to deal with your current condition right now through telepathy networks. You think I wouldn’t pick up on this? I’ve been living with you lots for many years — I can pick up bits of how you think along the way,” said “Essy.”
See?!
Calm down… you said that it shouldn’t take too much… said Lupy, trying to assess the situation and make a proper response.
The woman was likely below thirty years old, with a sword on her right hand and a shield on her left hand; he didn’t see any other kind of weapon on her belt. Her armor also didn’t seem to be a special kind of armor designed for her. Even though there were some wounds and soot on her, as far as he could see, she was relatively fine. There didn’t seem to be any kind of indication that the dragon possessed her — such as different pupils or different skin color, or a grown tail on her back — other than the utter fear, somehow coming from his gut feeling. She was simply standing still, looking at Lupy with such antagonism and disdain.
He then took a look into “Essy” in front of him.
What could Essy do? What’s her specialty, if there’s any? Asked Lupy.
Why asking?! What does that have to do with anything?
I’m thinking of something… just tell me… said Lupy.
She’s fairly strong and agile… and that’s it. It’s nothing special from her…
What’re you asking about…? Said Terion, eventually.
Terion… are you okay…? Asked Lupy, surprisingly, feeling relieved.
For now. Again, what are you thinking right now? That was a specific question. What about it? Repeated Terion.
I… can’t help but wonder… would it be possible for the dragon to utilize her in destroying our foothold like that…? Suggested Lupy.
I don’t know… why not? This is The Great Dragon we’re talking —
Depends, though… What kind of utilization are we talking about here…?
Something then clicked in Lupy’s mind.
Back then… because I attacked its mind, it felt like the dragon’s mind was torn apart… separated… explained Lupy.
I have no fucking idea on what you’re saying…
Okay, the point is, I don’t think that the dragon could do anything with us in this situation. I think he’s currently powerless… said Lupy.
What makes you think that?
Because I can’t feel her… I would know what emotions a person has, I can sense them… that’s how I can tell if a person is still alive, even if they’re unconscious, and I… I find nothing from her… said Lupy.
You’re saying that she’s… an empty shell or something like that…? That she’s dead… and the dragon’s simply using her body…? Said Terion, as his dread was clear even through the telepathy network.
Are you fucking sure about that?! You know we can’t make a single fucking mistake, do you?!
It — it makes sense… it could’ve killed us and got what it wanted already, but the fact that it didn’t… started Lupy.
That’s not solid evidence for your hypothesis! You can’t be serious! Is this how the leader of the kingdom’s rebels think?! Theorize before proving it?!
Lupy was about to say something for it, but he was cut.
Shut it. Terion said to the robber; the network carried his coldness and firmness over. Now’s not the time for that.
But —
I said no.
It sounded normal, like ordinarily talking to a person. but Lupy could tell that there was a strong determination and authority, on an absolute level, from the voice, without using his ability. The robber went into complete silence, not responding any further; Lupy sensed that he actually objected, but at the same time, obeyed out of respect and fear.
He then continued, Assuming that what you said is true, what’s the plan? How do we even prove that, other than “you don’t feel her emotions at all?”
Well… I know that this is just a wild hunch… started Lupy. Although he suspected that some of them agreed with what he just said, he continued, But… from what I know, you wouldn’t be really able to — to transfer your abilities to other people… you’d only stick to the possessee’s abilities, and the same can be said for the amount of energy…
That’s a good point, actually. I read bits about possession, although I couldn’t give you a certain answer about that. You possess a person with ice manipulation, for example, you’ll be able to do ice manipulation, but you can’t make the person do possession, your ability.
But this is the dragon…
I’m starting to think that we’re probably overestimating the dragon. That kind of… skill import, or whatever the proper name is, is no joke. Copying, or moving that part of yours before pasting it to someone else, without actually giving it to them, is something that’s easy to say, but almost impossible to do. That’s more likely on the level of a transcendent, and we know enough that the dragon is not a transcendent, no matter how strong it is.
Which is why I’m asking about her abilities… said Lupy.
She wouldn’t be able to do that. She doesn’t really have any special abilities other than standard ones. If we’re talking about cracking the ground, Lypo would even be more suited to do it.
Okay, how possible would it be to, like, copy Lipo’s ability and paste it to Essy? Just in case. Asked Lupy.
Are you kidding me?! That’s fictionally possible! I have never even thought of that, and the dragon surely would have never thought of that, as well!
Okay, even if that’s true, and the dragon can do nothing but scare us right now… THERE’S NO WAY THE DRAGON WOULD DO THAT, RIGHT?!
What the…?!
SHOWING ITSELF OUT, WITHOUT ANY DEFENSE WHATSOEVER?! HOPING THAT IT CAN FOOL ALL OF US?! SINCE THE FUCK WHEN THE DRAGON WOULD EVER DO…!?
It was the emotion of disbelief, coming from one of the robbers; he didn’t need to use his power to tell it. A part of him did doubt his own thought, and the frantic screams of the robber just added more to his doubt. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but think that he was right, even to the point where he thought that he was being unreasonably naive. The robber appeared to finish screaming out of frustration, while some others argued with him, although Lupy didn’t bother much with it; his mind was busy thinking about what he should do.
But Terion spoke.
Whatever it is, do it. We need to retreat, and I’m tired… we’re all tired, and we don’t have much time…
So Lupy said, “I’d say, that makes the two of us. You wouldn’t have to say all those long mockeries, you’d just do what you want… maybe you’d probe into our heads by force, or you’d torture us to spill whatever it is out, but you’re an extremely powerful being, and you’ve been just standing there and doing nothing.
“You know that I can flatten you to death in a blink.”
“You can’t, can you…?” insisted Lupy. “Because you separated your soul, or mind, will, feelings, or maybe even spirit — whatever it is — of your body. You don’t have the power of the dragon right now…”
Somehow, he was reminded of the fight against Sir Eddorn, one of the fallen knights during the time of resistance against the dragon. He was told about it by Mirina and Fortu, who fought against him. Although he couldn’t tell for certain, he imagined that it was the same situation with the one he faced right now.
Back then, the dragon puppeteered Sir Eddorn, one of the fallen knights, to fight us. Lupy told Terion. There was a small bird-like dragon, sticking on Sir Eddorn… if I recall correctly, there’s no his own special power, but his strength and skill, even though he was already dead, was no joke… but, still, it needed something to connect the dragon with Eddorn… a parasitical remote control or something like that…
And I don’t see any of that parasitical remote control at all. That would make sense… How big is it? Could it be hiding underneath the armor? Replied Terion.
I don’t think so… you’d know it when you see it — it’s definitely not small… “And with your current condition, after dealing with that mud thing, I can’t help but genuinely doubt that you can flatten me to death with a blink…” It’s probably parasitical as well, but… different… definitely way weaker than we had it back then…
This time, “Essy” said nothing at all. She simply stared at Lupy straight in the eyes. When she was grinning menacingly, it was now an expressionless face. It did convince him that his guess was right, although it wasn’t much; even the robber who was previously frantic went silent already. It was now silent for a few seconds, on the outside and inside the telepathy network, the only thing that made a sound was the flow of magma.
How much longer… the device…? Asked Lupy.
A little bit longer…
“So why don’t you just tell me what it is that you want to do?” said Lupy, pushing a little further. “Don’t you think that this is a moment where we can be honest with each other?”
That’s a bit too much of pushing, Lupy… said Terion. If I were the dragon…
“The concoction. And the recipe. Although I’m sure that you’d already know that.” said “Essy.”
Ah… of course… we should have known it…
“Is it that bad…? That parasitical substance…? What is it exactly, anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything that destructive…” asked Lupy, genuinely curious.
“None of your concern. Give me the concoction, and I’ll call this a truce.” said “Essy,” as she stretched her hand, expecting to receive the small bottle.
Now it was Lupy who was silent.
I wonder what would happen if you told it that you lost it…? Commented Terion.
And I don’t think we want to tell the recipe, anyway… sorry, but, that’s the extremely valuable leverage, and… it’s not worth it…
You mean that I don’t worth it…? Replied Lupy to himself, thinking that it would be best to not say it out loud. So what should I say? Has the device even been readied yet, for crying out…?
We’re still working on it! There are apparently more survivors than I thought…!
Our fellow robbers?
Not just ours. There are lots of Lupy’s people, too.
Although he felt relieved to hear the news, he had no luxury for that at the moment, he couldn’t help but grunt in frustration. It’s been ages, for crying out loud… What should I say to it now…?!
I’m afraid there’s no other choice… we will definitely never give it the concoction and the recipe, no matter what — it’s just not worth it. Responded Terion. If what you’re saying is right, we wouldn’t need to worry about it. It wouldn’t be able to kill us right away.
I’m… technically being used to prove my own theory… complained Lupy to himself.
“I’m waiting, human.” said “Essy,” sounding impatient.
The tone itself was demeaning and condescending, but Lupy couldn’t help but wonder if the dragon was actually hiding its despair for getting the concoction, considering that it was possibly in great pain, thanks to the mud thing corrupting it. He even thought that the dragon was also feeling humiliated, because it had to beg and swallow its own pride, in front of a wounded man around his fifties. “She” was glaring at Lupy, but he noticed that it wasn’t the same glare he received a few minutes ago; it rather looked somewhat weak and empty, as if there was something else on the dragon’s mind.
“I did imply that I’m willing to listen to you. But I didn’t say that I’m going to do it for you. So, sorry about that.” Responded Lupy, readying his mental attacks. Although his body was not in prime condition, his mind was well enough to attack with his own ability. Nevertheless, he readied his body as well, in case he needed to jump backwards.
“Essy” still said nothing, and simply stared at Lupy. It just came to his mind, that it was probably the first time he had ever dealt with a moving, actually sentient being, but the same being that he couldn’t feel the emotions, much less manipulate it. As far as he could see, “Essy,” or at least Essy’s body, looked alive, with moving shoulders as she breathed, and occasional blinks of her eyes. Her skin and eyes didn’t look pale due to death, although he imagined that she probably just died quite recently.
The lava still flowed around them, but not to a point where they would be flooded by it. At this late point, he started to see the mud thing mixed with lava, turning it into a reddish dark brown color, and flowing further and wider, corrupting everything else, although it only appeared that the soil turned into dark brown, as far as he could see. The world would be fully contaminated in tens of hours, more or less… predicted Lupy. A whole planet, destroyed beyond recovery, just to deal with this damn dragon… at least there are no inhabitants —
Not even before the next second, “Essy” was in front of him. He saw that her right hand, holding a sword, was halfway into being waved to the left. Supposedly because his adrenaline had been pumping in his heart just enough, he managed to spot her, as well as her body.
It looked as if she was a mannequin with broken joints, because her body posture, as she leaped about twenty meters ahead in less than a blink, appeared to bend abnormally. Her right arm appeared to be longer than it should be, as well as her legs; he even spotted blood splatters from what most likely seemed to be her arms, legs, and body, despite the armor concealing her body. Although he didn’t have a good grasp on understanding human physiology, just by looking at it, he had a strong feeling that the body was under pressure of moving too fast and suddenly. Her face itself looked like it was stretched and pulled backward, further backing the idea that she moved too fast for herself.
The trouble, however, was that it was too fast and too surprising, he didn’t get to dodge the sword aimed at his neck.
Chunks of rock were flashing from behind him, aimed straight toward “Essy” and hitting her, pushing her away, right after the sword was swung. Lupy himself stepped back in shock as a reaction. Before he even managed to assess whether he was gravely wounded, the rebel spoke.
It’s done! Commencing teleportation immediately!
174 Disords 
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