The early morning light filtered through the trees as Akiko and her team prepared to leave the temple, still haunted by the mysterious script and murals they had seen the night before. Yet, just as they made their way through the village outskirts, a distant roar thundered across the sky, sending birds scattering in panic.
"What was that?" Riku asked, gripping his weapon tightly.
The ground trembled, and the villagers looked up with terror-stricken faces. From the hills beyond the village emerged a massive shadow—a dragon, its dark scales shimmering like obsidian, with eyes blazing red as embers. It flew low, circling the village with a powerful beat of its wings that whipped up dust and leaves, its form both mesmerizing and terrifying.
The dragon swooped lower, its sharp claws tearing through a village roof with ease as it bellowed a deafening roar. The villagers scattered, scrambling to escape as the monster set its sights on Akiko and her team.
"This isn't just any dragon," Shingen warned, his voice laced with dread. "It's one of the guardians from the old legends, summoned by forbidden rituals."
"Do we even stand a chance?" Takeshi asked, looking from Shingen to Akiko.
Akiko took a deep breath, her gaze never leaving the creature. "We have to try. It's