Yao Jiji turned into a small bunny then sniffed the crisp air. Once she determined the direction where Emersyn's scent was stronger, she immediately hopped forward. She could feel the oppressing auras of the dragons, but her goal was much scarier than these dragons. So, she gathered her breath and hopped without any hesitations.
"Hey, hey, kid," someone called.
"Yesh?" She stopped hopping then turned towards the guttural voice that called her. She could feel her fur stand when she saw the huge scar on the pitch black dragon. His teeth were also sharp and his breath held a sensation that made her spine tingle and cold sweat perspired. However, the pitch black dragon smirked then took his distance from the young monster. The huge chains on his neck rattled.
"Heh. You're interesting…."
"E-eh? Why?"
"You're here alone, of course. Where are you going now?"
"To gwet ze Demon word!"
"Pfft! The Demon Lord already perished a long time ago! Aha ha ha ha! Go back to your mommy, kid. It's dangerous for a little monster like you to be wandering the dungeon."
"Nwo!"
"Huh?"
"The Dwemon word ish hewe!"
"Hmpfh! As if. The humans already threw the last Demon Lord and his people into the abyss and was never seen again. This old timer was there when it happened."
"Bwut itsh twue! I will caw hew here! Jush wait!"
"Aha ha ha ha ha! Okay, okay. Go then. Prove it to me, young un!"
"Ywes! See you, mistew dwagon!"
"Aha ha ha ha!"
Yao Jiji huffed then left the dragon behind. She continued along, turning corners, sniffing the air and avoiding monsters as much as possible. The place was huge since it also accommodates dragon prisoners. The windows reached the ceiling and the lowest part was two meters from the ground. She could only see ice surrounding the windows and have up sightseeing. She climbed up the stairs when there weren't any monsters in the vicinity. Then, the atmosphere gradually became hotter that having fur was too much for the little bunny. The prison they were talking about was warm, but why is it, when she continuously ascending the stairs, it just became hotter?
When she was finally out with a heave, she could see a baby trudging forward with uneasy steps. Yao Jiji sniffed the air and she could smell a strong scent of Emersyn on that baby. She tilted her head in confusion. He wasn't Emersyn, so how?
"Gawo!"
The baby roared cutely. However… vicious black fire erupted from his small mouth. Yao Jiji looked around and saw that the area was filled with black fire. The ice that wasn't supposed to be flammable was burning and turning the melted ice into smoke.
"Kyaaah!"
The baby cheered happily.
"...."
Suddenly, there was a loud roar from all directions. No, it just reverberated in Yao Jiji's ears. Then, the ground shook and the ice broke. A humongous dragon that was almost one kilometer long flew up and released another roar that the surrounding ice cracked. It had three pairs of wings that spanned for over a kilometer. Its two huge horns twisted at the back. Its eyes were filled with rage at one simple being that flew with her pitch black wings and a sword at hand.
"Uwo?"
However, Yao Jiji's attention suddenly turned towards the baby. She flinched when he was already beside her without her knowing. Suddenly, the baby smiled brightly then pointed at her. Yao Jiji prepared for the attack… that never came.
"Eh?"
"Sniff!"
Yao Jiji tilted her head once again.
Meanwhile, Emersyn inserted black flame into the sword she was holding and brandished it against the humongous dragon while evading its relentless attacks. It was clearly powerful and contained heavy amount of mana even in a simple swish of its claws. Its regenerative powers were also spectacular. It bled, but the wound would only close after a few seconds. Emersyn was experimenting with her mana as she nodded along after a few successful attempts, but it wasn't enough to kill the dragon. Then, she undid her wings as it disappeared from her back. She closed her eyes as she tried making a foothold on the air. When she slowly descended, evading the powerful breath of the dragon at the same time, and her feet touched something solid. She exchanged her sword into a katana and then settled it on the side of her waist.
She exhaled a misty breath.
Inputted energy into her legs.
Then jumped from the foothold on the air then swept the dragon's head in one clean cut with its arms protecting its head.
However, before the blade connected, the dragon released a thick black mist from its mouth and covered the entire area. When the humongous head and arms separated from the body, the body exploded then released more black particles to the atmosphere. Emersyn whipped her head down to check if Yvri was doing great, and he was. Moreover, there was even another addition beside him. The small area around them was burning hot with black flames. The gas around them were threatening to enter their area. Emersyn immediately summoned energy into her fingers and sent a strong wind at the center of the circumference of the black flames as it blew in all directions.
The foothold under her feet vanished and Emersyn landed soundlessly on the cracked ice. Since the fall of the massive body of the dragon created a fog, it was rather hard to see, so she let it subside.
"Mama!"
Suddenly, the wall of black flames opened up and a baby flew right into Emersyn's arms. She caught him then gave the baby a firm hug. Then, a little girl trotted before her and gazed at her with her doe eyes.
"Emewsyn?"
"Kyaaah!" Yvri squealed as he pointed at Emersyn after hearing her name.
"Haha. Yes, I am. Somehow… I recognize you. Are you one of Yao Yun's siblings?"
"Ywes!"
"Well, there was a bit of a problem that arose, so I had to deal with it. Your big brother is deep in the demon realm trying to regulate the rules in the palace--which was clearly non-existent, the rules, I mean. We had an influx of people there after all. So, why are you here? You're supposed to be in Tamel along with your family."
"No mow."
"Pardon?"
"Tamew, no mow! Buwied and dworn!"
"Hmmm… I understand. So, this is why there was an influx of people in the palace. Where are the others with you?"
Yao Jiji smiled and immediately pointed down and stomped her foot.
"Down!"
Emersyn rested her index finger on her chin and wondered.
"Oh! There was a dungeon, I presume. Can you lead me down there?"
"Mhm! Let'sh huwwy!"
***
"... boy, you should get out of here as soon as you can."
"Why?"
"Did you hear that ominous roar? That's the supreme leader, and she sounded so angry. You see, once she was angered, she would take out her stress on one of us prisoners. Most of the time… it was only me, since I had the toughest body. Our senses are restrained and we couldn't even fight back before her, so it was terrifying. If she found out about your existence here, an intruder… and your little sis… ugh! I can feel my scales shivering."
Yao Han smiled warmly.
"Don't worry, mister. My little sister is almost here with the Demon Lord."
"..."
"Is something wrong?"
"This is…," the dragon trembled as he prostrated on the ground with his head on the floor. In fact, not only him, but all of the prisoners. Despite their restrained senses, they could still feel this tremendous power that permeated just at the entrance of the dungeon. There were countless whimpers and scuttles of the chains as footsteps that rang loudly inside the enormous dungeon.
Suddenly, it stopped.
"Big bwo!"
"Jiji!"
Yao Jiji toddled forward with her small human feet and checked her big brother in case something unspeakable happened in the cell. Seeing that there weren't anything suspicious, Yao Jiji smiled then proudly patted her chest as she raised her chin.
"I bwought Mewsyn! Pwaise me!"
"Good job, Jiji."
"Well then… if you'll excuse me, sir dragon. I would like to enter your cell," Emersyn carefully asked.
"... it's Evonasch, O' Great Being."
"Evonasch, as is. Anyway, let's drop the formality. I will just destroy these pillars and your chain before doing so to the others. Of course, after I tested them deemed worthy of freedom," she grinned widely as her red eyes darkened.
"... please have mercy!"
"What are you doing? Didn't I say that I will free you?"
"..."
"You didn't do anything wrong to the children here and the two additional behind that giant boulder."
"What?!"
Yao Han flinched as he gazed at the boulder. He didn't know whether he should call out to them or just remain silent. After all, monsters and humans never really coexist. Moreover, both of the races despised each other. Even the Yao Family had to hide that they were beasts and mingled with the humans in Tamel. Of course, their fellow villagers were also cooperating to keep their secret. However, since they were outside of Tamel now, they didn't really had to hide that they were beasts.
"I'm sorry… but I had to hide them or you'll kill them."
Evonasch lamented as cold sweat escaped through his body. When his eyes gazed at Emersyn, his head still on the floor, he trembled once again. If, in case, that he indeed did something against the two, possibly, humans behind that boulder, he would definitely be dead. This fact scared him.
When Emersyn saw that there were no problems, she touched the pillars of the cell that were made of ancient metal that couldn't be broken even after hundreds of years had passed and after a few attempts of break in. Expecting the pillars to be crushed, it, instead, disintegrated into dust--tiny particles of dust for the eyes of the dragon.
Once again, Evonasch trembled.
"You don't have to be so afraid, Evonasch," Emersyn giggled.
"I'm sorry!"
"No problem, really. Now, let me see the chains on your appendages."
"Apen--? Excuse me?"
"Your limbs. Anywhere the chains are."
"U-understood."
"Good boy…," Emersyn settled down Yvri on the floor. Fortunately, he had equipped small sturdy shoes and white socks. He toddled along to where Yao Jiji was and he smiled brightly at her.
While Emersyn was disintegrating the chains on the enormous dragon, Yvri was smelling Yao Jiji as he scrunched up his nose.
"No mama. Hmph!" then he walked away.