Unknown Forest, Austrasia Empire
In the dead of night, beneath a canopy of ancient trees in the Austrasia Empire, a flickering campfire illuminated the faces of three unlikely heroes—Satria, Esdeath, and Peter Parker. The air was heavy with tension as they awaited the scouting team's report on the mysterious beast that had thrown the region into chaos.
Around the fire, the soldiers of Esdeath's army exchanged banter, their voices carrying over the crackling flames. Peter Parker, clad in his iconic red-and-blue suit, stood out like a sore thumb amidst the rugged warriors.
[Fatalis: These people remind me of the foolish humans from my world—arrogant, greedy, and cruel]
"Hey, Fatalis, what do you think of humans?"
The Black Dragon voice echoed in his mind, sharp and disdainful.
[Fatalis: I hate them more than anything. Selfish, arrogant creatures. Once, I crushed an entire kingdom in a single night. By dawn, there was nothing left but ashes and silence]
Satria scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh… you do realize I'm human too, right? And why you do that?"
[Fatalis: It was their fault. Imagine this—I was in the middle of a good dream, peacefully resting in my nest, when those fools decided to attack me. For what? Their pride? Their petty ambitions? Their so-called honor? They dared disturb me, thinking they could hunt a dragon for their benefit and you're different—annoyingly different]
Satria raised an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. "So basically, you're telling me they woke you up, and you went full apocalyptic rage mode?"
[Fatalis: It wasn't just waking me up, Satria! They came with weapons, armies, and siege machines! They stormed my lair as if I were some beast to be conquered. I gave them a chance to retreat, but no, they had to push their luck. I merely responded in kind]
Satria leaned back, smirking. "Wow, Fatalis. For a dragon of ultimate destruction, you sure take getting woken up very personally."
[Fatalis: Don't mock me, human. You wouldn't like being ambushed in the middle of your sleep either]
He chuckled. "True. But, for the record, you still sound a little dramatic about the whole thing. Maybe try sleeping with earplugs next time?"
[Fatalis: You're lucky I tolerate you, puppy]
"Don't call me a puppy, you stupid Neet-Dragon." he muttered with a frown, glancing at Peter, who was shifting nervously under the jeers of the mocking soldiers.
"Hey, kid," one soldier sneered. "What's with that silly costume? You a circus performer or something?"
Another chimed in, laughing boisterously. "Why don't you run back to your mama? This isn't a playground for brats."
Peter stammered, unsure how to respond. The taunts grew louder, but before he could muster a reply, Esdeath's icy voice cut through the commotion.
"Silence, you imbeciles!" Her glare froze the air around her. "Leave him alone."
The soldiers immediately paled, bowing their heads in shame. "Yes, Esdeath-sama! Our apologies!" They scrambled away, mumbling apologies.
Peter let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Esdeath-san."
She nodded curtly, her gaze softening as she turned back to the fire.
Satria, took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. "If you hadn't stopped them, I would've taught those fools some manners myself."
"I'll deal with them later," Esdeath replied, her tone dangerous enough to make the offending soldiers shudder from afar.
Changing the subject, Satria looked at her. "So, what's the situation? Any intel on this beast?"
Esdeath folded her arms, her expression serious. "The scouts say it's enormous, with impenetrable skin, wings, and the ability to breathe a deadly black energy."
"That's not much to go on," Satria muttered, frowning. "But it's a start. We'll figure the rest out tomorrow. For now, get some rest, Spidey. You and I are training in the morning."
Peter's eyes widened. "T-Training?" He wasn't expecting that.
Satria nodded. "You've got strength and potential, but right now, you're wasting both. I'll teach you how to use what you've got."
Peter hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. You're really something, Shin. You feel way more mature than me."
Satria laughed. "I'm just sixteen, you know."
"What?! You're younger than me?!" Peter's jaw dropped.
Esdeath smirked, leaning closer to Satria with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "What an interesting young man you are."
Satria quickly raised a hand, leaning back slightly to create some distance. "Stop! I'm taken."
She chuckled, her smirk growing wider. "If you weren't already taken, I might just make my move."
"..."
[Fatalis: Another one, brother?]
'Absolutely not,' Satria replied internally, shuddering.
"Let's call it a night, Spidey," Satria said, standing. "Goodnight, Esdeath."
"Goodnight, Shin," Esdeath replied.
•
The sun rose over the dense forest, casting dappled light onto the makeshift sparring ground. Satria stood barefoot, his posture calm but intimidating. Across from him, Peter Parker was already sweating, unsure of what to expect.
"All right, Spidey, no webs, no tricks—just hand-to-hand. I'll go easy on you." Satria cracked his neck and adjusted his stance, taking a low, grounded position.
"Uh, okay…" Peter hesitated but took a defensive stance, trying to focus. "Why do I feel like 'easy' means 'painful' with you?"
Satria smirked. "Let's see if your Spider-Sense can handle this."
In an instant, he darted forward, his movements fluid yet explosive—a blur of ancient Silat techniques. His strikes were calculated, aiming for weak points: the ribs, the thighs, the neck. Peter barely managed to dodge, his Spider-Sense blaring like an alarm.
But then, something changed.
With a snap of his fingers, the air around him rippled, and a towering figure materialized behind him. Its appearance was striking—jet-black armor adorned its muscular form, sleek and menacing like a dark knight. Glowing crimson accents pulsed across its chest and limbs, and its faceplate bore sharp, angular features akin to a dragon.
Satria stand called St-Dark Platinum he bought recently in Dimensional Chat Shop has materialized, his fist raised.
"What the—" Peter gasped, ducking instinctively as the Stand's fist shot toward him. He couldn't see it clearly, but his Spider-Sense screamed at him to move.
Satria's eyes widened for a moment, impressed. "Huh. You can sense Dark Platinum? Interesting. Most people can't even tell he's there."
Peter didn't respond, too busy reacting to the barrage of attacks coming from both Satria and his Stand. Dark Platinum's strikes were invisible to him, but his instincts guided him, barely keeping him in one piece.
"You're good, Spidey," Satria admitted, stepping back for a moment. "But instincts alone won't save you."
He shifted his approach, his strategic mind kicking into gear. As one of the top offlaners in the world, Satria wasn't just a fighter—he was a tactician. He began baiting Peter, setting traps with feints and misdirection.
Dark Platinum moved to strike from the side while Satria went low, sweeping Peter's legs. Peter flipped backward, narrowly avoiding both attacks, but it was clear he was struggling to keep up.
"Man, you're like two fighters in one!" Peter panted, wiping sweat from his brow.
Satria smirked. "And you're still holding back. Come on, Spidey. Show me what you've got."
Peter took a deep breath, his stance shifting as he tried to focus. "All right, big guy. You asked for it."
The sparring intensified, with Satria pressing harder, seamlessly blending his Silat techniques with Star Platinum's power. It was a storm of precision and overwhelming force, but Peter's Spider-Sense kept him dancing on the edge, avoiding defeat by the thinnest margins.
Still, Satria's tactical brilliance began to show. He predicted Peter's movements, landing strikes that disrupted his rhythm and wore him down. Finally, with a perfectly timed maneuver, Dark Platinum struck from above, forcing Peter into a vulnerable position.
"Gotcha," Satria said, his hand stopping just short of Peter's chest.
Peter froze, panting heavily, before slumping to the ground. "Okay, okay… you win. Geez, you're a monster, Shin."
Satria chuckled, extending a hand to help him up. "Not bad, Spidey. Your instincts are sharp, but you need to learn how to think ahead. Reacting isn't enough—you've got to outsmart your opponent."
Peter nodded, still catching his breath. "Yeah, I noticed. It's like fighting a chess master with fists."
"Exactly," Satria said with a grin. "Now, let's grab breakfast. You've earned it."
•
Back at camp, the air was buzzing with activity as Esdeath's soldiers prepared for battle. Two scouts stumbled into the clearing, their bodies battered and bloodied.
Esdeath stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "Report."
The soldier saluted weakly. "The beast is immense. Our weapons couldn't penetrate its golden hide. It breathes a deadly energy that kills on contact."
Satria exchanged a glance with Esdeath. "Sounds like a tough one."
"Where is it now?" Esdeath asked.
"At the peak of the mountain, resting in a cave," the scout replied before collapsing.
"Take him to the medic," Esdeath ordered. Turning to her army, she raised her voice. "Attention, soldiers!"
The camp fell silent as every warrior stood at attention.
"This is our chance to achieve glory! If anyone wishes to retreat, speak now!" Her words were met with silence. "Good. Then prepare for battle. Whoever slays this beast will earn the Emperor's favor!"
"For the Empire! Long live General Esdeath!" the soldiers roared in unison.
Peter looked on, wide-eyed. "She's incredible," he murmured.
Satria smirked. "She knows how to inspire."
Esdeath turned to them, her eyes gleaming. "The hunt begins!"
To be continued