Tajima Sanzo, the 669th Demon King, was currently trapped between a towering Storm Dragon and a feral Dragon Girl who had just declared war on it.
The Storm Dragon's massive serpentine body crackled with lightning, its blue scales shimmering with raw magical power.
The Dragon Girl, despite being a tiny, chaotic gremlin, stood her ground, cracking her knuckles like she was about to throw hands with an actual natural disaster.
Tajima felt his soul prepare to exit his body.
"…We're about to die."
Mimi bounced excitedly. "Ooooh~ I wanna see her fight it!"
Fenra grinned. "This is already my favorite part of the trip."
Raviria stretched her legs. "I call dibs on fighting the winner."
Beelzecluck adjusted its monocle, as if completely unbothered.
Tajima grabbed Fenra's fluffy ears in pure panic. "NO, WAIT—WE NEED TO STOP THIS!"
Fenra flicked him off effortlessly. "Relax, this is entertaining."
Tajima screamed internally.
---
The Storm Dragon let out a roar so powerful that nearby trees bent from the force.
The Dragon Girl scowled.
Then, she roared back.
It was… significantly less impressive.
The Storm Dragon tilted its massive head.
Tajima stared. "Did she just… bark at it?"
Fenra snorted. "Looks like it."
Raviria grinned. "Respect."
Beelzecluck gave a slow, approving nod.
The Dragon Girl pointed at the Storm Dragon. "LISTEN UP, YOU ELECTRIFIED LIZARD! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BIGGER! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE STRONGER! I DON'T CARE IF YOU'VE DESTROYED CITIES! IF YOU DON'T RESPECT ME, I'LL KICK YOU IN THE TEETH!"
The Storm Dragon blinked.
Tajima blinked.
Fenra and Raviria blinked.
Mimi clapped her slimy hands. "Yay~ She's my favorite now~"
The Storm Dragon took a deep breath, inhaling so much air that the sky itself seemed to darken.
Then—
It unleashed a massive storm of lightning straight at her.
Tajima screamed. "SHE'S DEAD."
The Dragon Girl didn't move.
The lightning bolt crashed down—
And then—
She punched it.
Tajima's brain short-circuited.
"…SHE PUNCHED THE LIGHTNING."
Fenra's eyes widened slightly. "Huh. That's new."
Raviria grinned. "I really want to fight her now."
Mimi giggled. "She's crazy~ I love her~"
Beelzecluck remained completely unimpressed.
The Storm Dragon looked extremely offended.
Tajima clutched his own head. "WHY IS THAT A THING PEOPLE CAN DO!?"
---
The Storm Dragon was now completely furious.
It coiled its massive body, charging up for an even stronger attack.
The Dragon Girl cracked her knuckles.
Tajima panicked. "OKAY, WE NEED TO STOP THIS BEFORE THE FOREST GETS OBLITERATED."
Fenra grinned. "Good luck with that."
Tajima grabbed her shoulders. "HELP ME STOP THIS!"
Fenra pushed him off like a ragdoll. "Nah, I wanna see how it plays out."
Tajima turned to Raviria. "YOU! HELP ME!"
Raviria tilted her head. "Why?"
Tajima was losing his mind. "BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER NATURAL DISASTER ON OUR HANDS."
Mimi bounced. "Ooooh~ Maybe we should recruit them both~"
Tajima froze.
Mimi smiled innocently. "Why not~? The dragon's cool~ The girl's cool~ We keep them both~"
Tajima felt his entire existence crumbling.
"…NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I REFUSE."
The system immediately betrayed him.
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: RECRUIT THE STORM DRAGON OR THE DRAGON GIRL. FAILURE TO CHOOSE WILL RESULT IN BOTH JOINING.]
Tajima choked.
"WHAT KIND OF CHOICE IS THAT!?"
---
The **Storm Dragon was now fully glowing, charging up what looked like a FINAL BOSS LEVEL ATTACK.
The **Dragon Girl cracked her neck, fully preparing to PUNCH A NATURAL DISASTER IN THE FACE.
Tajima had no choice.
It was time for his ultimate weapon.
Bullshitting.
---
Tajima ran between them, waving his arms.
"WAIT! STOP! TIME-OUT! PAUSE! FREEZE FRAME! HOLD IT! REWIND! RESET!"
Everyone stared at him.
The Storm Dragon blinked.
The Dragon Girl frowned. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Tajima sweated. "L-LISTEN! There's no need for violence!"
Raviria raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously trying to stop a dragon fight with words?"
Tajima pointed at the Storm Dragon. "Y-You! Great and powerful legendary creature! Why waste your strength on a random fight!? Surely, a being as majestic as you deserves a higher purpose!"
The Storm Dragon did not look convinced.
Fenra whispered. "I think you just called it old."
The Dragon narrowed its glowing eyes.
Tajima panicked harder. "W-WAIT! I MEANT IT IN A RESPECTFUL WAY! LIKE, UH—"
The Dragon Girl stomped forward. "Okay, but what about me!?"
Tajima sweated more. "U-UH, YOU'RE— UH—VERY INTIMIDATING AND VERY STRONG AND VERY SCARY AND DEFINITELY WORTHY OF RESPECT!"
The Dragon Girl squinted. "…Go on."
Tajima felt the abyss closing in.
"U-UH—YOU'RE COOL! AND, UH—"
He gulped.
"…W-Would you like to join my army?"
Silence.
Everyone stared.
The Storm Dragon tilted its massive head.
The Dragon Girl blinked.
Then—
She grinned.
"…You've got guts, weakling."
The Storm Dragon rumbled in thought.
Tajima held his breath.
Then—
The system chimed in.
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY RECRUITED BOTH THE STORM DRAGON AND THE DRAGON GIRL.]
Tajima froze.
"BOTH!?!"
Fenra laughed. "Looks like you're collecting the whole set."
Mimi cheered. "Yay~ More friends~"
Raviria smirked. "I still want to fight her."
Beelzecluck adjusted its monocle approvingly.
Tajima collapsed onto his knees.
"…Why am I like this?"
The system helpfully responded.
[BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU.]
Tajima screamed into the sky.
---
To Be Continued…