Is This A Gift?

"The skies will miss him," a man whispered, lying on a bed of hay. A sleek blue mask rested beside him, etched with shifting hologram patterns that pulsed faintly in the dim barn light. His eyes traced the drifting clouds through a crack in the wooden ceiling, soaking in the little warmth the barn had to offer.

"A friend of yours… and you didn't even cry," came a voice from the shadows behind him.

He turned his head slowly, barely bothering to lift himself. "Oh, it's you. Hiding your presence again? Feels a little dramatic, considering we're in friendly territory."

From the veil of darkness stepped an elf. Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight dancing on water, cascading over armour woven in green and white. Vines etched into her outfit stirred of their own accord, curling and shifting with a will that mimicked life. A bow rested across her back, her mask strapped to her waist.

"You're strangely relaxed, Dain," she said, arms folded. "His death came out of nowhere and here you are. Lounging like it's just another morning. Didn't you say he was waiting for someone?"

Dain gave a tired smile. "I'm just relieved she finally reached him. Rest well, old friend." His voice dropped to a whisper. "And Astria… when have I not been the level-headed one? Ever since we arrived in this chaotic kingdom, it's been disaster after disaster. Sometimes, I wonder if we walked straight into hell."

Astria rubbed her arms for warmth, a gust slipping through the barn's cracks. "Yeah, hell," she muttered. "Speaking of disasters, where's the rest of the team? And your little favourite?"

"They're out there. Stirring up more messes than they can clean, no doubt. And as for her…" He exhaled softly. "She's always where she isn't supposed to be. That hasn't changed."

Astria clicked her tongue. "Unpredictable. Careless. She always has been."

"You call her my favourite," Dain said, quieter now. "But I don't see her that way. Talented, yes. But that doesn't mean I favour her. Her kind is rare. Ears that can hear pitches others can't even fathom. With that gift, her kind fades fast... but when it blooms, their power is exponential."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "She's a fighter. A real one. Not many like her on the battlefield."

Astria rolled her eyes. "Where is Tori anyway? Leaving her squad behind like that… she needs a reprimand, not sympathy."

Dain stood, picking up his mask and slipping it over his face. "We won't have to wait much longer. Let's head for the city."

Astria followed, securing her mask. It was dark and gnarled like weathered bark, etched with twisting branches.

"First things first," Dain murmured, narrowing his eyes.

Beside him, a faint shimmer sparked, then solidified into a translucent blue cube. It floated in mid-air, glowing brighter before stretching into a narrow portal.

He stepped through.

And reappeared behind a man standing in a frozen field who watched the barn with a scope.

Dain hurled a second cube. It struck the back of the stranger's head and embedded itself like glass sinking into flesh.

The man's body seized, his feet lifting from the snowy ground. He gasped, like someone drowning in invisible water.

"I'll say this once, so listen closely," Dain said, stepping forward as the snow crunched beneath his boots. "Tell your boss, we're not here for him. Give us Darius, and we'll leave his realm untouched."

He stopped just inches from the man's face.

"We're not your average hunters. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

He snapped his fingers, causing the cube to detonate in a ripple of force, sending the man hurtling across the hills toward Jinni's domain.

Astria stepped through the other portal, stepping to his side.

The time to regroup had come.

So had the moment Dain had been waiting for.

To face the man known as the strongest in the world and kill him.

The dungeon shook with a roar so loud it felt like the very ceiling and walls were to collapse any second. Even the once-pristine cryptic symbols carved into the walls were now fractured and crumbled, turning the sacred halls into a crumbling deathtrap.

"It's collapsing faster than I thought! Move, move!" Jiji shouted, balanced on Mr. Swordsman's shoulders, eye glued to her scope.

Mr. Swordsman surged forward, weaving between falling debris, his movements swift and precise. "Hold on tight!" he said, leaping over a shattered column and spinning mid-air to avoid a jagged spike that burst from the floor.

Swinging axes, flying spears, fire jets, and a random pit of boiling lava, the dungeon had it all and the crew were already sick of it but something else was far sinister.

"I don't wanna die!!!" Shot wailed, flailing as he ran, snot streaming down his face but somehow, his cigar stayed perfectly in place.

He risked a glance over his shoulder and instantly regretted it.

"HOLY—IT'S RIGHT BEHIND US!"

A colossal boulder barreled down the corridor, its surface glowing with eerie energy, destroying everything in its path.

Shot screamed, eyes popping out as he ran even faster, catching up with Kabal, who was clutching his stomach with a dazed expression, barely keeping up.

"I think I'm gonna hurl"

Emilia raced through the chaos ahead of them, clutching her journal and guidebook like lifelines. Tears streamed from beneath her glasses as she screamed over the roaring tremors as she wondered how in the nine realms did they ended up here.

"Where's Spaghetti?" Jiji asked, peering back with a worried squint. "He was right behind us a second ago."

Kabal, still pale and visibly shaken from their earlier descent, leaned against the cold stone wall and let out a groan. "He probably ducked out to puke or something. Can't blame him after that ride."

"We have to go back and find him," Emilia said, her voice taut with concern.

Mr. Swordsman stepped in front of her, calm and steady as always. "He's fine," he said. "You might not be trained enough to feel it from this distance but his lifeforce is steady, just deeper down. He's fine for now"

Emilia's eyes glistened as she looked up at Mr. Swordsman. He met her gaze with a gentle nod.

She wiped her face and held her fists.

Mr. Swordsman glanced over at the little girl riding on his shoulders. "Jiji, didn't you mention a dragon being down here?"

Jiji blinked. "Yeah, why?"

He cast a sideways glance at Emilia, his lips twitching as if trying not to laugh. Lily, trailing quietly nearby, only watched with sharp eyes.

Mr. Swordsman chuckled. "He's really doing it. That boy's reckless. Fighting a dragon... Still, I hope he remembers his limits."

But Emilia kept walking, her steps silent and steady.

They didn't understand him.

They never really did.

Underneath all of Pasta's chaotic behaviour was someone kind, someone selfless and strong.

She had known it from the moment they met.

After their older sister, the original heir of the Naga Blade was taken from them, everything changed.

Pasta, who once avoided violence, forced himself to walk a warrior's path.

He trained under their uncle, enduring brutal sessions night after night.

No one asked him to.

He just… did it.

Emilia's fists trembled.

If there's something, she knows about her bother it is this.

Pasta has no limits.

She exhaled, trying to calm her shaking body. Still, the idea of a dragon being sealed in this dungeon felt off.

Pulling out her journal, she turned to the group. "I've read about dragons. Prestigious creatures with unmatched strength," she said, running her fingers along the cracked walls. "They usually live beyond the kingdom's borders. So how did one end up trapped here?"

"Heck if I know," Jiji muttered. "All the council ever says is that no one's allowed to challenge him. Honestly, I don't even think they know who he really is or where he's from."

Up ahead, Lily turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing at Jiji.

Mr. Swordsman frowned. "Why go to such lengths to protect a dragon?"

"Because he's not just any dragon," Jiji replied. "They call him a true dragon. He's not an offspring, he's the real deal."

A chill ran down Emilia's spine. "I've read about them once, are they really that strong?"

"Some people treat them like gods," Jiji answered quietly. "I bet this one uses his divine life force to reset the dungeon and revive the monsters."

Mr. Swordsman's eyes darkened. "I've heard of true dragons. The Emperor of Dragons is one of them. But another...? A different lineage..." His voice trailed off.

Emilia lowered her head, her hands trembling.

Please be okay, Pasta. Please...

Suddenly, the entire dungeon convulsed violently. A deafening, bone-rattling scream echoed from the depths below. Stones fell like rain, and within seconds, the world lost its colour.

Mr. Swordsman collapsed to one knee, his hand slamming to the stone floor.

"This energy..." he muttered, his voice strained. Even sealed, its sheer force nearly knocked him unconscious.

Lily stepped toward him, extending a hand.

"The dragon below. He's in pain," she said gently. "That boy. Pasta, was it? Just how strong is he?"

He didn't respond right away. His eyes drifted to Jiji, who moved slowly through the distorted space, unaffected by the force. Good.

Finally, he answered.

"He's a weakling. Still has much to learn before standing a chance with a true dragon."

"Same old Hades," Lily said, lips curling into a slight smile. "Still looking down on everyone."

He shot her a sharp glance.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing"

Time around them thickened. The space he held was fragile but necessary. Any slip could mean death. He didn't like relying on it… but today, instincts screamed louder than pride.

"I'm glad you brought up this space," Lily whispered, stepping closer. "We haven't talked much since our... reunion."

He turned away, already having a clue on what she'd say.

"I don't want to talk."

"He's dead."

Hades turned back to her, his eyes furrowing. He may be wrong about what she wanted to say but this....

"I know you know," she said. "And I know it wasn't you who killed him. I know why you're here, Hades. I know a lot of things."

Her voice dropped as she leaned in, her breath brushing his ear.

"Even about the puppet... at Pyrovile."

In a flash, his blade was drawn, slicing through the air and stopping just inches from her throat.

He trembled, regretting this very moment.

Lily didn't flinch, her eyes reflecting on the blade.

"You broke your promise, Hades. Don't expect forgiveness that's all I wanted to say." She turned, her steps light, almost indifferent. "Let's save Pasta. Before he ends up as dragon food."

Hades' eyes narrowed, darkening with old memories.

It had been years since he last saw Lily.

And as for their master…

A vision tore through him.

Rain. A compound littered with corpses. Blood running in rivers between the bodies. Some of them had fought. Others… had begged and a few were captured as well.

A voice pulled him back.

"Uh, Hades?" Lily said, leaning against the wall, her hand pressed against the stone.

His eyes refocused.

"What now?" he asked, voice low.

She didn't answer right away, her head tilted.

"I've got a bad feeling..."

His temporal field flickered, then vanished.

"A bad feeling about what?"

Before she could reply, Kabal, still lounging against the wall jerked upright, eyes going wide.

"Oh crap, MOVE!"

A rumble echoed down the passage behind them. A massive boulder came barrelling toward them, glowing faintly with a strong force.

Emilia pulled out her glasses and had a closer look as the boulder refused to stop.

She sighed, then joined the others in screaming for their lives.

"How in the world did we trigger these traps?! We didn't even touch anything!" Jiji shouted, clinging to her scope while her eyes darted ahead.

Lily, sprinting at full speed, held a fake smile while a bead of sweat ran down her cheeks.

Jiji lifted her scope again, frantically searching for a way out.

And then she froze.

"Wait… Are those statues… moving?"

In the distance, two towering knight statues stood guard before a massive stone door. Each held an enormous spear, their faces carved in stoic perfection.

Then one of them spoke, its voice a deep, ancient rumble that echoed like thunder through the corridor.

"You shall not pass until you answer this riddle."

"We don't have time for this!" Emilia shouted, practically growling. Her lungs burned, her boots scraped stone, and the sound of the boulder rolling behind them was growing louder by the second.

Jiji kicked Mr. Swordsman in the side.

"Then answer it already! Today is no day for me to kick the bucket"

The statues' eyes lit with eerie blue light. They slowly raised their spears as their voices echoed in unison:

"I am wicked..."

"Yet pure-hearted."

"Greedy..."

"And sometimes... selfless."

"Huh?!" the whole group screamed at once.

"We're dead!" Jiji screeched, shaking Mr Swordsman's hair.

Emilia couldn't think straight. Her brother was probably locked in battle with a true dragon, a coated boulder was chasing them like it had a vendetta, and now two magical statues wanted to play word games?

"Hey, genius!" Shot called out between gasps. "Why don't you just cut the boulder in half already?!"

Mr. Swordsman said nothing.

He had already considered it. But there was a problem. That boulder's coating wasn't normal

It was the same as the dragon's wail he heard earlier.

And the statues, though lifeless, were coated in that same divine aura.

He gripped his sword tighter.

Lily skidded to a stop, her eyes scanning the statues.

"I'll hold them off. You figure out how to open the door!"

The statues rumbled once more.

"Answer the riddle..."

"Or die."

Lily pulled her hat off and hooked it to her back. A wicked grin formed on her lips.

"Alright, stone heads. Let's dance."

She exploded forward like a bolt of lightning, vanishing in a blur. The ground cracked beneath her step.

One statue lunged, its massive spear smashing into the stone where she'd just stood.

Lily laughed, flipping into the air.

She landed briefly on the statue's arm, barely balancing before it tried to hurl her off. The second statue's fist tore through the air, aiming to swat her mid-flight.

Time slowed and the world flickered grey.

Lily stepped into a higher space, barely enough to let her dash across the giant's arm. But the statue followed, piercing through her space with ease.

She grunted, leaping again and narrowly escaping, landing back on its shoulder.

"O-Okay, okay, ooooookay, that almost killed me," she gasped, eyes wide. "What the hell? I thought big guys were supposed to be slow!"

The statue thrashed, trying to shake her loose.

Lily inhaled deeply and then whispered something to the wind.

A sharp gust answered.

She floated like a petal, graceful and impossible to hit as she dodged both statues at inhuman speed midair.

But even she couldn't keep this up forever.

From below, Mr. Swordsman watched every movement. The divine aura surrounding the statues… it was undeniable.

True dragon energy.

There was no breaking through it. Even his blade, one of the finest would shatter against it.

And their ability to disrupt spatial techniques meant even his parallel dimensions weren't safe.

He grits his teeth, trembling with frustration.

Lily darted between the titanic statues, her boots skimming their stone arms, bells at her waist ringing in sharp sync with her every dodge and leap.

Each chime marked another narrowly avoided death blow.

"How long are you planning to take, Hades?" she hissed under her breath, sweat stinging her eyes as the giants continued their relentless assault.

Every dodge chipped away at her stamina.

Emilia sprinted past the guardians, her eyes flicking across the battlefield. Deep slash marks were etched into the statues' legs, chunks of stone missing from their shoulders.

Someone had fought them before.

Ahead, Mr. Swordsman broke into a run, Jiji still clinging to his back.

The door loomed ahead, impossibly large and carved from ancient black stone.

Behind them, the boulder came closer now.

Kabal sprinted down the corridor, carrying Shot like a sack of flour, both of them screaming in terror.

Emilia reached the door, her hands pressing against its cold surface.

A single symbol stood out, etched deep into the stone.

A wolf, fangs bared, encircled by runes they had seen at the dungeon's entrance.

"We can't force it open," she muttered. "It's sealed by the dragon lifeforce like you said..."

Mr. Swordsman stood beside her and grabbed her shoulder, firm but not rough.

"You know the riddle, don't you?" he asked, his voice grave. "The answer?"

For a moment, he saw something in her eyes. Fear. Hesitation.

Then he let go.

What's wrong with me? He thought. I've been in worse situations. Why does this shake me so much...?

He glanced around—Emilia, Kabal, Shot, Jiji.

They were all still here. Still alive.

For the first time in years... he wasn't alone.

"Was that it?" he murmured. "Is that why I can't think straight?"

His hand returned to his sword hilt. The brim of his hat dipped low, casting his crimson eyes in shadow.

No time to solve riddles.

He had something better.

Resolve.

He stepped forward.

Emilia stared at him.

"What are you doing—?"

He dropped Jiji from his back, but she only watched as he stepped away.

The energy rising from him was different now. With every step he took, the world flashed in greys as dust lifted from the floor and the air became colder.

Up on the statue's shoulder, Lily froze mid-dodge.

She looked down, a frown forming.

The boulder tore through the corridor towards him, its rocky form still shielded with a divine coating.

But Mr. Swordsman didn't flinch. His fingers curled tighter around his blade.

Kabal and Shot sprinted past him, yelling something, but he didn't hear.

His shadow shifted.

Twisting into something not entirely human. Horns curled out from its silhouette.

Jiji gasped, stumbling back. "Just who is this swordsman?"

Then her eyes widened in shock. Don't tell me he's...

Even Shot, from a distance, turned back just long enough to feel the weight of that presence.

Terror. Pure and simple.

Mr. Swordsman whispered, barely audible over the wind.

"I'm sorry… Lily."

The walls aged instantly. Cracks spread like veins, as though centuries passed in a heartbeat, yet within those cracks, something else loomed.

The dungeon groaned.

The boulder roared forward.

And yet, he moved.

A burst of lifeforce rippled out from him, distorting the air. It struck the boulder head-on, weakening the energy embedded inside.

He drew his blade.

The entire dungeon shook.

With a single, clean sweep, he slashed upward.

The boulder split, cleaved in two.

Silence fell.

Only the echoes of shattered stone remained.

Mr. Swordsman exhaled and looked up at the statues, his eyes now glowing beneath the brim of his hat.

Emilia stared at him.

The aura rising from Mr. Swordsman was different now—unnatural, cold. Something that didn't belong in this world. It pressed against her skin like frostbite.