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The wind howled through the jagged peaks of the Drakthar Mountains, carrying with it the scent of snow and ash. A group of adventurers trudged through the icy terrain, their breaths visible in the frigid air. The leader, a grizzled man with a scar running down his left cheek, adjusted the fur-lined cloak around his shoulders and glanced back at his team.
"Remember," he said, his voice gruff but steady, "this isn't just another job. The Kurogane Clan doesn't hire just anyone. If we pull this off, we'll be set for life."
A woman with fiery red hair and a bow slung across her back smirked. "Set for life? More like set for a week, Garrick. You know how much ale you drink."
Garrick chuckled, his breath forming a cloud in the cold air. "Aye, but it'll be the best damn week of my life."
The third member of the group, a young mage with a staff glowing faintly with runes, frowned. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Dragons aren't exactly known for their hospitality."
The red-haired woman, Lyra, rolled her eyes. "Relax, Elias. We've faced worse."
"Worse than a dragon?" Elias muttered, tightening his grip on his staff. "Doubtful."
Garrick ignored the banter and pressed on, his eyes scanning the horizon. The Kurogane Clan had hired them to deal with a dragon that had been terrorizing the northern regions of Xian'Zhou. The beast had burned villages, slaughtered livestock, and left a trail of destruction in its wake. The clan, known for their mastery of the sword and their unyielding will, had decided it was time to put an end to the dragon's rampage.
But as the adventurers climbed higher into the mountains, the air grew colder, and the sense of unease deepened. The dragon wasn't just a mindless beast—it was ancient, intelligent, and far more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.
---
The first sign of the dragon's presence was the silence. The usual sounds of the mountains—the rustling of wind, the distant calls of birds—were gone, replaced by an oppressive stillness. Then came the smell, a mix of sulfur and charred flesh that made Lyra gag.
"We're close," Garrick whispered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The ground beneath them trembled, and a low, rumbling growl echoed through the valley. The adventurers froze, their eyes darting to the sky. A shadow passed overhead, blotting out the sun for a brief moment before landing on a nearby peak with a thunderous crash.
The dragon was massive, its scales a deep, iridescent black that shimmered like oil in the sunlight. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its wings, when fully extended, could blot out the sky. Smoke curled from its nostrils, and its teeth—each as long as a man's arm—glistened with saliva.
"By the gods…" Elias whispered, his voice trembling.
The dragon tilted its head, its gaze locking onto the adventurers. When it spoke, its voice was deep and resonant, each word reverberating through the mountains like a clap of thunder.
"You are brave, mortals," it said, its voice dripping with amusement. "Or foolish. I cannot decide."
Garrick stepped forward, his sword drawn. "We've come to end your reign of terror, beast. The Kurogane Clan sent us."
The dragon let out a low chuckle, the sound sending shivers down their spines. "The Kurogane Clan? How quaint. Tell me, do they still cling to their swords, believing steel can solve all their problems?"
Lyra nocked an arrow, her hands steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We're not here to chat, lizard. Let's get this over with."
The dragon's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, it moved. Its massive tail swept through the air, forcing the adventurers to dive for cover. Garrick rolled to his feet and charged, his sword glowing with a faint blue light as he channeled his mana into the blade. He swung at the dragon's leg, but the blade bounced harmlessly off its scales.
"Damn it!" Garrick cursed, retreating as the dragon swiped at him with its claws.
Lyra loosed an arrow, the projectile striking the dragon's eye. But the beast barely flinched, the arrow shattering against its scales. Elias raised his staff, chanting a spell that sent a barrage of ice shards hurtling toward the dragon. The shards struck its chest, but the dragon merely shook them off like water.
"Is that all?" the dragon taunted, its voice dripping with disdain.
The battle raged on, the adventurers using every trick in their arsenal to bring the beast down. But the dragon was relentless, its movements precise and calculated. It toyed with them, its attacks growing more brutal with each passing moment.
Garrick was the first to fall, his sword shattered and his body broken. Lyra followed soon after, her bow snapped in two and her body crushed beneath the dragon's tail. Elias, the last one standing, tried to summon a barrier of ice to protect himself, but the dragon's breath melted it in an instant.
The mage collapsed to his knees, his staff slipping from his grasp. The dragon loomed over him, its glowing eyes filled with a mixture of pity and amusement.
"You fought well, mortal," it said, its voice softer now. "But your efforts were in vain. The world is on the brink of change, and no blade or spell can stop what is coming."
Elias looked up, his vision blurry. "W-what are you talking about?"
The dragon leaned closer, its breath hot against Elias's face. "A storm is brewing, one that will shake the very foundations of this world. The age of peace is coming to an end, and chaos will reign once more. Tell your masters… the time of reckoning is near."
Before Elias could respond, the dragon's jaws closed around him, ending his life in an instant.
---
Kaito Kurogane sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree, his sword resting across his lap. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground around him. He leaned back against the tree, his eyes half-closed as he thought about the adventurers his family had hired.
They had seemed like a capable group—experienced, confident, and well-equipped. But something about the way they had talked about the dragon had bothered him. It wasn't fear, exactly, but a sense of unease that he couldn't quite shake.
"They'll be fine," he muttered to himself, closing his eyes. "They're professionals. They know what they're doing."
But the thought lingered, nagging at the edges of his mind. He had always admired adventurers, their freedom and bravery. They were everything he wasn't—bold, daring, and unafraid to face the unknown. He, on the other hand, preferred the comfort of the shade and the simplicity of a good nap.
As he drifted off to sleep, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Kaito! There you are!"
He opened one eye to see Ren, the fourth prince of Xian'Zhou, approaching with a smile on his face. Behind him was Aiko, the second daughter of the Hakutake Clan, her spear resting on her shoulder.
"We've been looking everywhere for you," Aiko said, her tone teasing. "Did you get lost on your way to the training grounds?"
Kaito sighed, sitting up. "I was just… thinking."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Thinking? Or sleeping?"
"Both," Kaito replied with a lazy grin. "It's a skill."
Aiko rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness in her expression. "Come on, lazybones. We've got work to do."
Kaito groaned but got to his feet, brushing the leaves off his clothes. As he followed his friends, the thought of the adventurers crossed his mind again, but he pushed it aside. Whatever was happening in the mountains, it was none of his concern.
Or so he thought.
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End of chapter 1