Leo didn't exist anymore. This fact broke Tiam's heart into more pieces than a shattered mirror could make. What were they supposed to do on their own? Would they need to inherit the powers of Raphael and carry the legacy? No, this was not the time for grim thoughts. Tiam had to keep it together and destroy the beast before them.
This writhing, messy and malicious mass of dark scales tore apart the remains of the bar, crying out in a deep tone that sounded more mournful than monstrous. Its pointed horns glowed as the flame between them burned a deep red. Dark red meant less dangerous, right?
'Hey, 'scuse my manners,' a grizzly voice began, 'but you're spacing out, silver person. That is how you die.' Jun of the Massacre oh so gently reminded Tiam that he had shown up just moments before. He clutched his beautiful copper coloured blade and pointed it at the beast. 'Can I assume I have free reign to dice it up?'
'No!'
'Madha?'
'Not yet. There is a man somewhere inside.' Tiam made a little prayer to God for just one more chance at getting their friend back.
'Then I take it easy after I cut its bits off.' Jun pressed his free palm against the flat of his blade. 'Let us slay a dragon.' He dove towards the beast, leaving nothing but a cloud of kicked up dust and cracked stone walkway behind. He dodged the swinging tail of the beast, using its passing spines as a comb for his long hair. Jun wove to the base of its gut and tore his first strike into it. The beast split a little, looking as easy to cut as jelly, but it repaired just as quickly. Jun was completely unphased and kicked his sandal off its foot, propelling him to its head. Clearly, he was headed for the neck, but the dragon caught onto that and swiped him aside. Using his massive blade as a shield, Jun flew into the side of the next building with an ear-splitting crash.
'Damnit!' Tiam brandished their own large cutlass and readied an assault. They willed the demolished boards and stone around the dragon to wrap it in place, sending materials to pin its arms to its body. Tiam lit up their blade with holy light and took advantage of the situation they had set up. This attack couldn't miss.
'Froaaaaar!' the Dragon cried. The flame on its head turned a deep red so dark that flecks of black fire sparked out. Jets of flame split out from the larger fire and rained down upon Tiam like tiny meteors. They had no choice but to stop their assault and get away. The flaming strikes were too fast to escape, but Tiam managed to deflect them with holy light. One managed to lick their exposed shoulder, and that was enough for Tiam to understand what torture in Hell was like. The blaze continued to burn long after the fire left. Tiam's skin felt like it was blistering then popping over and over. Admittedly, it made Tiam wonder if it was worth accepting a strong demon as a sponsor. That would go against their personal decision, however.
'Stop your hesitating!' Jun reappeared from the next house covered in leaves and vines. Clearly, he'd paid a visit to a garden store. The Dragon turned its dark fire upon the stoic warrior, but as each flame pelted down, Jun simply charged faster. It was like the horrid pain was a driving force for the man. He was met by the barbed tail again, and this time turned on it. With a brutal swing, he split the creature's tail in two. The cut end sprawled to the floor, but kept moving like a writhing lizard's tail.
'Watch out!' Tiam dove in to deflect a claw, after the Dragon managed to break free of its bindings. The Dragon knocked them aside like a plaything, and they took Jun with them. The two crashed back onto the street in a messy tumble. Whoops.
'What are you doing?' Jun threw Tiam aside with a hand that almost encompassed half of their waist. 'Was that supposed to help?' He shook his head but then grappled Tiam, pinning them to the ground. Tiam didn't know how to feel about all this rough handling, but quickly realised Jun had just saved them. A gigantic ball of black and red flames slung over their heads, torching a few buildings behind them at once. People ran to escape the stores as they burned, but the automatons that owned them didn't seem to mind and melted in the flame.
'I am sorry, Jun.' Tiam pushed the man's big arm off them before their heartbeat got any louder. 'I thought I could take the blow.'
'Clearly not. Leave the raw power to me.' Jun took up another fighting stance, sweat pouring off him like someone had doused him with a bucket of water. 'You have trickier abilities, no? I'll try to play decoy while you weaken it with fast moves.'
'Good plan.' Tiam had to admit that they didn't pick Jun for the strategic type, but they knew better than anyone that looks could be deceiving.
'Go!' Jun threw himself at the beast once more, and Tiam took to the air with just a few steps. As Jun laid attacks into the Dragon's hide, Tiam carved slashes of light like rain down upon it. The creature became confused, splitting its attacks between the two assailants. Nothing it did landed as Jun cut its claws away and Tiam dove between the bolts of flame. They had it confused.
'TIAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!' the monster cried.
Did it just…
It did.
Surely not.
The Dragon made a cracking sound like wood splintering, and the wings on its back seemed to swell. It took to the air, one loud wingbeat after the other. It quickly rose until it was face to face with Tiam. Jun was left far below with no means of flight. It had deduced how to beat them much too quickly. Tiam still couldn't comprehend that it just said their name.
'Leo. Are you there?' Tiam peered into those flaming eyes in hopes of finding a single shred of humanity. Instead, they found the desire to burn everything, and that's exactly what the Dragon set itself on doing.