Chapter 17: Dragon Girls 1

Azrael trudged through the dark forest, the crunch of dead leaves beneath his boots, the quiet hum of insects somewhere in the distance.

The pale light of the moon guided his way as he pressed forward, leaving his captured companions behind. The weight of his decision gnawed at his mind, but he shoved the guilt aside. Survive first. Deal with regrets later.

The path started to curve tighter and tighter as the trees grew denser, their gnarled branches reaching out to him like clawing fingers. Shadows danced at every step he took and contorted at shapes which made his heart stop beating. Thicker with an ominous press, it teased the back of his neck.

HOST's vitals are heightened. Heart rate is dangerously high.

"Shut up," Azrael grumbled, shaking his head. "I don't need you reading my pulse. Just keep me alive when it counts."

[You are going to need more than luck to survive what's coming.]

[Warning: Class-A Threat ahead. You are incapable of taking down a single dragon.]

Azrael stopped, clenching his fists. "I didn't come this far to turn back. Either help me or be quiet."

[Immediate retreat advised. You lack

"I said shut up!" He stamped forward, his will forcing him through the system's endless caution. Every step was a denial of sense, his instincts shrieking that peril was at hand.

He came to the opening of a large cave that yawned in his direction, like some beast ready to swallow him whole. The entrance was framed by jagged rocks, and an acric, sulfur-like smell filled his nostrils. A low rumble vibrated the earth beneath his feet, so deep it was as if the very earth was growling. For a moment, he faltered; then he stepped inside.

Last warning-this is suicide.

"Noted," he whispered.

A grand hall this was, one stretching so far that his eyes could barely stretch that way. The entire room was illuminated very dimly with green lights from the glowing crystals inserted in the walls, giving it a funny light inside. And at the exact middle of all lay the dragon.

It was a monstrous creature with emerald scales, glinting like polished gemstones, eyes ablaze with golden fire, and wings-its wings neatly folded to its sides-wide enough to blot out the sky. Razor-sharp claws rasped against the stone floor as it shifted, sensing his presence.

Azrael swallowed hard. This was no fairy tale beast. This was power incarnate.

It was then that the dragon opened its maw before a word could be said. A wave of heat distorted the air while a loud roar shook the cave. The strength of the noise threw Azrael backward, slamming the back of his head against cold stone. Pain blew up behind his eyes.

He grunted, the strength barely enough to lever himself up. Limbs of lead, the world blurred. A loud voice boomed across the cavern-ancient and commanding.

"You dare enter my domain, human?" it growled in a dragon's voice.

Azrael opened his mouth to answer, but the throat was dry, and the words stuck. The golden eyes narrowed.

"Foolish mortal. You are not even worth the effort of my flame." It lifted a claw and beckoned forward from among the shadows. "Attend him."

Out from the darkness trudged four creatures: humanoid in the first glance-yet their scales seemed to gleam like polished armor, their eyes aglow like their master with molten gold.

Their long tails swept behind them with elegance; curved horns rose with grace from their foreheads. Each move bespoke fluidity that talked volumes of deadliness.

The first one was tall and fearsome, with emerald scales wrapped like some sort of natural armor on her arms and legs. Her eyes gleamed with a predator's hunger as she smiled down at him.

The second had hair of silver, flowing like a river of moonlight, and her face cold and calculating. The third one was shorter, yet she radiated raw power, taut muscles ready for a fight. The last one was all delicacy and deceptive gentleness, her voice a soft melody.

"You've got guts, I'll give you that," the tall one said, her voice smooth as silk. "Too bad you don't have brains to match."

Azrael struggled to his knees. "Get… away from me."

The silver-haired dragonmaid chuckled. "Oh, we'll do more than that." She grasped his arm in an iron-like grip. "You'll wish we had left you alone."

He struggled against them, but they moved as one unit, holding him effortlessly. His strength paled to insignificance against the combined power.

"Put him in the cage," the fierce one ordered.

"Wait-, " he tried to say, but Azrael's voice cut out as they tugged him deeper into the cave.

It was carved out of dark metal that sang with the pulse of some odd energy, it seemed. With little ado, they slung him into the cage. The door clashed shut with a loud clatter. Energy coursed through his veins, his body tensed, firing many hurts-but at that time more within his pride than outside his pride.

"Comfortable?" the delicate dragonmaid asked, tilting her head with a mock-sweet smile.

"Go to hell," he spat.

"Bold for someone in chains." She tapped the bars with a claw-tipped finger. "These bars are woven with ancient magic. No amount of strength or cunning will break them. You're ours now."