Chapter 7
The journey to Rasdogh had been long and treacherous, the air growing colder and the sky darker as they neared the fabled Dragon Vale. The oppressive darkness that hung over the world seemed even thicker here, as if the very land was rejecting their presence.
"We're getting close," Zaimond said, his voice slightly breathless. He held his staff tightly as they trudged through the thick fog that clung to the ground like a curse. "You feel that? The air's different. It's...heavier."
"Yeah, it's hard to miss," Caelan replied, his usual carefree tone tempered by the eerie atmosphere. He stretched his arms above his head, glancing around cautiously. "Man, I was expecting a lot of things, but this place? Not winning any 'vacation spot of the year' awards."
Elden, ever watchful, tightened his grip on his sword, eyes scanning the surroundings. "Stay sharp. This place reeks of danger."
Zaimond smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Danger? Sounds like my kind of fun."
As they pressed forward, the fog thickened, swirling unnaturally around them. The wind howled like distant wailing, and suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet.
Caelan's senses kicked into overdrive. "Uh, guys? That can't be good."
Before anyone could respond, the fog parted, revealing a monstrous silhouette. It was massive—twice the size of any creature they had faced before. The shadow of a dragon loomed over them, its glowing red eyes cutting through the mist like daggers.
"Shadow Dragons," Elden whispered, his face pale with realization. "Creatures of pure darkness, born from the very heart of this cursed land."
Zaimond raised his staff, his eyes glowing with energy. "Well, looks like our welcome party's here. Let's make this quick."
The first dragon lunged at them with terrifying speed, its massive wings creating a gust of wind that nearly knocked Caelan off his feet. He dodged, drawing his sword with a flourish. "Okay, okay! I didn't sign up for this level of 'epic' so early in the morning!"
Elden was already in motion, his blade slicing through the air with pinpoint accuracy. "Focus, Caelan! These things won't go down easily!"
The battle was fierce and chaotic. Caelan, Elden, and Zaimond fought side by side, their attacks swift and precise, but the dragons were relentless. Every time one was cut down, another seemed to rise from the shadows.
"Man, these things are like cockroaches!" Caelan shouted, parrying a strike from one dragon's tail before vaulting into the air. His sword gleamed with light as he slashed downward, striking the creature's wing with enough force to send it crashing to the ground.
Zaimond was faring just as well, his magic crackling with dark energy as he blasted two dragons back into the mist. "Don't worry, Caelan! I'm here to keep the roaches in check!"
Elden, the most focused of the trio, unleashed a flurry of strikes that cut through a dragon's scales like butter. His speed was almost unreal, his sword moving faster than the eye could follow. "Less jokes, more fighting!"
Caelan gave a quick salute, already grinning. "Aye aye, Captain Serious!"
Despite their efforts, it felt like the battle was endless. The dragons kept coming, their shadows blending into the darkness around them, and with every strike, the ground shook beneath their feet.
It wasn't until Caelan landed a particularly powerful blow that the tide finally seemed to turn. His sword, glowing with radiant energy, pierced the chest of the final dragon. The creature let out a terrible roar before dissolving into mist, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.
Breathing heavily, Caelan stumbled back, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Okay… anyone else feel like we've been through a meat grinder?"
Elden sheathed his sword, looking equally exhausted but composed as always. "We're alive, but that took more out of us than I expected."
Zaimond was panting too, leaning heavily on his staff. "Yeah… I could really go for some food right now. Like, a lot of food."
Caelan's stomach growled loudly, as if to emphasize the point. "Don't remind me, dude. I think we've burned through all our rations just fighting those things."
Elden reached into his pack, checking their supplies. His frown deepened. "We're out of food."
Caelan groaned, dramatically flopping onto the ground. "Great. So not only did we almost get roasted by dragons, now we're gonna starve to death. Perfect."
Just as the weight of their situation began to settle, a rustling noise caught their attention. Out of the fog, a figure appeared—a man dressed in an oversized, thick jacket, his face half-covered by a hood. He moved slowly but with purpose, dragging a massive pack behind him.
Zaimond squinted, leaning toward Caelan. "Who the hell is this guy?"
The man stopped a few feet away, pulling off his hood to reveal a gaunt, pale face with sharp eyes. He reached into his pack and, with a dramatic flourish, opened his coat, revealing an assortment of items—mostly food. Bread, fruit, meat—everything they could possibly need.
Caelan's eyes lit up immediately. "Holy crap, it's like a walking buffet!"
The man, whose expression remained stone-cold, spoke in a low, almost monotone voice. "The name's Richard. Merchant extraordinaire. I've got everything you need… for a price."
Caelan and Zaimond exchanged glances. "Uh… how much are we talking?" Caelan asked, clearly still eyeing the food.
Richard's cold eyes narrowed. "Depends. What's your life worth to you?"
Elden stepped forward, more cautious than his companions. "We don't have much, but we'll pay what we can."
Richard's lips twitched in what might've been a smirk. "Everything has a price. Gold, gems, favors. You have something I want, I'm sure."
Zaimond gave him a sidelong glance, muttering under his breath. "This guy's weirder than I thought."
Richard didn't respond, instead reaching into his pack and pulling out a loaf of bread. He held it out, waiting. "Food first, then we talk business."
Caelan, too hungry to care, snatched the bread eagerly. "Deal!"
As they sat around the fire, finally eating something that wasn't weeks old and stale, Richard continued to watch them with an unsettling calm. Zaimond, still suspicious, leaned over to Caelan.
"You think this guy's for real? I mean, who just wanders around a cursed forest with a buffet in their backpack?"
Caelan shrugged, taking another bite. "Dude, at this point, I'm not questioning anything. If he's got food, he's my hero."
Elden, however, remained wary. "We'll take his supplies, but stay on guard. Something about him… doesn't sit right."
As the shadows of the Dragon Vale grew darker around them, Richard's cold gaze never wavered, his presence a strange new mystery in an already dangerous world.
End of Chapter 7.
Richard: The Merchant Who Thrives in Chaos
Richard is an enigma wrapped in mystery. Even in the apocalyptic world where darkness reigns and survival is a daily struggle, Richard continues to do what he does best—sell. For him, business is more than just a means of survival or profit. It's his passion, his art form, his way of finding meaning in a world gone mad. When everything crumbles and the world falls to chaos, Richard doesn't fight or flee. He simply adapts.
Despite the world-ending threat posed by the Ten Demon Kings, Richard remains unfazed. In fact, he's not just known to humans—each of the Demon Kings, from the first to the tenth, is aware of his presence and identity. Richard is, after all, more than just a wandering merchant. Some say he's been around longer than most of the kingdoms and empires that have since crumbled to dust. Others claim that he has made deals with creatures from beyond the known realms, trading secrets, relics, and even souls.
What makes Richard unique isn't just his survival instincts but his unwavering dedication to business. Even if the world is in ruins, there's always someone willing to trade. And Richard? He's always there to make a deal, whether it's with a desperate traveler or a dark creature of the abyss.
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Excerpt: Richard's Odd Transaction
As the night thickened around them, the group watched from a distance as Richard approached a group of shadowy figures. Elden squinted, trying to make sense of what was happening. The creatures—distorted beings, remnants of the world's corruption—stood still, seemingly communicating in guttural tones that sent chills down Caelan's spine.
Richard, however, walked up to them as if they were old acquaintances. With a calmness that bordered on eerie, he pulled out a loaf of bread from his pack and held it up. The shadow creatures growled lowly, their glowing eyes narrowing, but they didn't attack.
"What's he doing?" Zaimond muttered, genuinely puzzled. "Is he… bargaining with them?"
"Dude's insane," Caelan whispered back, half in awe, half in disbelief. "Is that even legal? Can you sell bread to evil monsters?"
Richard, unfazed, waited patiently as one of the shadow beings extended a clawed hand and offered a shiny gemstone in exchange. Without a word, Richard nodded and handed over the bread, slipping the gem into his coat pocket with a practiced motion. The creatures faded back into the mist, satisfied with the transaction.
Elden was still dumbfounded. "I… don't understand. The world is literally ending, and this man still has the audacity to charge prices?"
Zaimond chuckled, shaking his head. "Elden, my dude, business stops for nothing. Not even the apocalypse."
"Especially not the apocalypse," Caelan added, grinning. "Man's got his priorities."
Richard walked back to the campfire, as calm and cold as ever. He sat down, unbothered by the confusion on Elden's face.
"Why?" Elden finally asked, unable to hold back any longer. "Why do you still charge for food? We're on the edge of destruction. People need help, not transactions."
Richard stared at him for a long moment before speaking, his voice as steady and detached as always. "Because, Knight, some things never change. The world may end, but a deal? That's eternal."
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Richard's Philosophy
For Richard, business is not bound by the state of the world. In his eyes, everything has value, even in a world overtaken by darkness. His calm demeanor, even when faced with apocalyptic creatures, speaks to the fact that he's a man who has seen it all—and more. To him, trading isn't just about survival; it's about maintaining some semblance of order, a system that he thrives in. The end of the world is just another opportunity for Richard to do what he loves most: make a deal.