Extra 15: Dragon & Dragon Maids (53)

"My name is Irene Belserion, regent of the ancient [Dragnof Kingdom]" - the woman introduced herself with a huge, sadistic smile.

Kurama frowned at how distorted this woman's personality had become, and she said it this way because within all the darkness, she could still feel a tiny sliver of light deep within her core.

"What was it that happened to you?" - Kurama asked unconsciously, as he felt all this darkness and hatred. It was like standing before a weaker version of the Kyubi no Kitsune, Kurama.

Irene's expression distorted slightly when she heard this, as if she was struggling with the desire to attack, only for it to return to normal after a few seconds - "It's none of your business."

"If you want my help, I obviously need to get to know you better" - Kurama replied with a frown.

"No, you don't need it" - Irene replied with a frown - "You just have to help me and I will pay you with whatever it takes, money, women, even myself if necessary, although the latter I don't recommend it, my body is not as it looks like"

"Yes, I can see it, full draconification" - Kurama replied with a frown - "The last phase of the [Dragon Slayer] magic."

Irene was not surprised at the white-haired man's deduction because when one reached a certain level of power, the weaker ones were like open books to them.

"Yes, although this is not as nice as people paint it" - Irene replied with a frown - "I have lived years of loneliness, pain and suffering, unable to feel anything. Meals have no taste, my body ignores warmth or cold, I don't need sleep, and I constantly have visions of my stormy past."

Kurama was finally able to notice one of the reasons why the woman was showing clear signs of insanity.

"I've had enough of this eternal suffering!" - roared Irene as she lost her composure - "That's why I wish for your help, since Zeref doesn't seem to want to free me from this curse, and you have the power to scare him away!"

"I see" - muttered Kurama as he started to think - "Now the question is, why should I help you?"

"Because I can give you anything you want" - answered Irene seriously - "I'm sure that with all your power, there must be things that you don't possess that I can help you with"

"I have it all" - Kurama answered honestly - "And what I don't have, I don't need."

Irene frowned at this answer - "What about me? I'm sure my beauty doesn't lag behind other women you've seen, I could even consider myself as one of the best"

"I admit, you are beautiful, but I'm not desperate enough to have sex with a woman who will be a lifeless doll" - Kurama replied with disdain.

Irene's expression began to distort before she growled angrily - "If you don't help me, I will destroy everything you love!"

Irene was about to say something else, but the words were caught in her throat because of the white-haired man's grip.

"Bad choice of words, girl" - Kurama said as his eyes glittered with malice - "Don't try to threaten me because I can eliminate your existence just by wishing it, and there is no place in the world you can use to hide"

Irene's expression couldn't be worse, it was the first time in many years that she felt like nothing was under her control, but what made it worse, was that she could feel how the memories of her confinement started to sprout from the darkest part of her subconscious - "No... NO!"

Kurama was surprised at such a drastic reaction, more so when he noticed how the woman seemed to be desperately struggling to try to break free.

Irene was experiencing a seizure as she felt the past replaying over and over again, as if it were a broken record.

"It's not my fault, I didn't mean for this to happen!" - Irene exclaimed while in despair with her current situation.

Kurama quickly released her as he watched the poor woman gasp for breath.

Irene didn't know what had happened to her, or rather, she didn't want to remember, so she quickly grabbed her staff and prepared to escape, but before she could do anything else, she noticed how her magic seemed to have become unusable - "!"

"Relax, I don't plan to hurt you anymore" - Kurama replied as he noticed how Irene's attitude seemed to have taken a 180° turn. He didn't understand the woman's past, but it was obvious that she had broken so many times that her true identity had disappeared, leaving only a shell full of hatred for the world.

Irene trembled slightly as her body began to be covered in white scales.

She didn't care about her appearance, she just wanted to forget all her pain, suffering along with the past that tormented her every time she closed her eyes.

It was like living inside an eternal illusion.

Kurama sighed before placing his hand on the woman's forehead - "[Jigokudo: Kuchiyose - Meifu no Ou (Naraka Path: Summoning the King of Hell)]"

Irene opened her eyes, surprised to see how a strange silhouette appeared below her, a creature with terrifying purple eyes with rings around the pupil.

"It's all over" - Irene muttered as she closed her eyes, but her expression quickly changed to one of surprise when she not only noticed that she was alive, but also sensed the scent of the forest - "Wait, I can smell the scents of the surroundings!"

She quickly ran to a nearby tree and grabbed a fruit.

Irene glanced at it before taking a firm bite, only to start crying when she felt the sweet taste of the juice, go down her throat.

Kurama watched her silently as he saw the drastic changes in emotions.

One moment, Irene was crying with happiness, then she would break into unhinged laughter, then change to an expression of depression, finally to an expression of hatred.

Kurama didn't understand what was going on in Irene's mind, so he waited for her to calm down.

It took about 30 minutes for Irene to calm down before she thanked the white-haired man and prepared to leave, but before she could say anything else, she noticed how Kurama shook his head - "Do you want something from me, do you?"

"Not exactly, it's just that I can sense that you're not well emotionally, that's why I can't let you leave just like that" - Kurama answered while looking carefully at the woman - "Not to mention that you might need a psychologist."

"Psychologist?" - repeated Irene with a frown because she didn't understand what he was talking about - "Do you mean medical help for my personality problems?"

"Yes" - nodded Kurama calmly as he materialized two chairs and a table next to a tea set - "I think it's a good time for us to talk and explain me a bit about your life."

Irene frowned before nodding weakly, this she did for two reasons, one, Kurama was much stronger than her, and two, he had helped her with the problem that plagued her.

"Well, first I want to tell you that I didn't give you back your humanity" - Kurama said while noticing how Irene opened her eyes, surprised by these words.

"Impossible, I can feel like a human, I can detect flavors, touch things like before, and I feel how my mental stability is returning" - replied Irene with a frown.

"I'll be honest, your state was incorrigible, so I just did what I could, I used the strange seed that was the catalyst for your transformation, and mixed it directly with your human DNA to create a balance" - replied Kurama as he started to think - "Though in the process I made your draconic DNA more potent, so technically you're a real dragon, not a pseudo dragon like before."

"I wasn't a dragon before?" - Irene asked in surprise, only to frown.

"Of course you weren't" - Kurama replied as he rolled his eyes at her - "What species can't experience basic sensations like scent, taste and touch?"

Irene was speechless when she heard this as she felt it all start to come together - "So, I'm a dragon now, a real one?"

"Yes, that's why you can change at will" - Kurama replied as he shrugged - "As for your power, I honestly have no idea how strong you are in comparison, you'd have to ask Tohru about that."

"Tohru?" - Irene repeated, even more confused.

"You called me, Kurama ~!" - Tohru asked as she appeared at her husband's side, only to see the strange woman who looked like Erza - "Oh, no, not another one!"

Irene gave him a confused look as Kurama gave her a blank stare, honestly, he didn't know what to expect from Tohru in situations like this.

"Are you sure she will be of any help?" - Irene asked with a frown as she trembled slightly because she could instinctively feel that this strange woman, was much stronger than her.

"Honestly, I have no idea" - replied Kurama regretfully - "Maybe I should have called Lucoa".