Chapter 3: Turning Point
1328 Words
Liane and I rushed back toward the town.
Before we even reached the gates, flames already painted the sky.
War cries echoed from every direction.
What… is happening?
This was supposed to be the land of dragons.
A town guarded by the strongest creatures in the world.
Something like this shouldn’t have been possible—especially not this suddenly.
Dragonfolk took to the skies, their bodies transforming midair.
Then.
A beam of light descended from above.
It fell like divine judgment.
Buildings were torn apart.
Streets vanished.
The town crumbled in an instant.
“Arthur… that’s the chief…”
Liane pointed toward the sky.
A massive dragon soared through the air, locked in battle with—
A human.
A human… flying.
How was that even possible?
Yet that human stood face-to-face with the chief dragon, matching him blow for blow.
“The chief is the strongest dragon there is...”
Liane whispered.
“There’s no way he’d lose to a human so easily…”
Her voice wavered.
Then—
A thick pillar of light pierced straight through the dragon’s body.
The chief was cut in half.
Just like that.
The strongest protector of the dragonfolk fell, his massive corpse crashing down and crushing what little remained of the town.
My mind went blank.
The other dragonfolk fought desperately, but the truth became painfully clear.
There was only one enemy.
Just one.
He wore a white cloak and gold-plated armor.
In his hand was a golden sword—one that bent and shaped light itself.
When he raised it overhead, the sky was swallowed by radiance.
Light rained down once more.
Total destruction.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
The dragonfolk… beings I had always believed to be invincible were being slaughtered by a single human.
This wasn’t a battle.
It was extermination.
Liane grabbed my arm, her body trembling.
Tears welled in her eyes as despair hollowed her expression.
“How can one person have that kind of power…?” I whispered.
My fists clenched.
“I can’t… just stand here…”
Liane suddenly stepped forward.
“What do you mean?”
I asked.
“Our house… my camera…”
Laine said weakly.
“It has my mother’s picture… all our memories…”
I grabbed her hand, pulling her back.
“What are you doing, Arthur?!” she cried.
“I’m doing the only sensible thing,” I said.
“I’m stopping you.”
“You’re getting in my way again!” she shouted.
“You’ll never understand what it means to me!”
Her voice cracked.
“I’m scared I’ll forget the person I loved the most!”
“So please—let me go!”
She tried to pull away.
But I didn’t let go.
Then, her eyes shone a brilliant blue.
Scales spread across her skin.
In that instant, her strength exploded.
She swung her arm, and I was thrown aside like I weighed nothing.
“Liane! It’s dangerous—please stop!”
I shouted, desperation tearing from my throat.
Suddenly…
The man in golden armor fell from the sky, landing right behind me.
“I found you.”
He muttered the words calmly.
“What…?”
“White-tailed dragon.
Those bright blue eyes.
That face that resembles her perfectly.”
His voice was cold.
“There’s no doubt you’re from that bloodline. The rumors were true... a white dragon has been hiding in this place.”
The man in golden armor stepped forward.
“You…!”
Liane’s voice shook with rage.
“How dare you?! How dare you destroy my home?!”
She charged forward and threw a powerful punch.
But the man simply caught her fist.
“That movement was predictable,” he said calmly.
“But if your true power were fully honed…”
Liane followed up with a kick.
It was blocked by his other arm.
“You’re so strong…” she muttered.
“You’re just a human.”
“Just a human?”
His tone sharpened.
“I can sense it—you look down on us.”
“That arrogance is what led dragons to their downfall.”
“Let me go!”
Liane struggled, but it was useless.
The man unsheathed his sword.
His grip tightened.
Liane was forced down onto her knees.
“White dragon bloodline.
Descendants of the Dragon King who terrorized humanity for thousands of years.”
A menacing killing intent poured from him.
I could feel it—
a deep, burning hatred.
This wasn’t just duty to him.
It was personal.
Something he had to do, no matter the cost.
I knew that feeling.
Because I also had something
I had to do.
I stood up and launched myself toward him.
Pulling my sword, I put everything I had into a single strike.
“Who the hell are you?”
He raised his sword to block.
But I had already predicted his movement.
I dodged before the blades met.
With one hand restraining Liane and the other holding his sword, his balance faltered.
I found an opening.
“This kid—”
“Don’t lay your hands on Liane!”
I swung my sword with all my strength, aiming for his torso.
CLANG!
A loud metallic sound echoed.
“Good strike,” he said.
“But not enough to pierce my armor.”
He looked at me.
“And you are… a human?”
“So what if I am?!” I shouted.
“I’ll still keep my promise and protect her!”
I jumped back, creating distance.
Steadying my breath, I prepared for another attack.
“Let me teach you a lesson, kid…”
He pointed the tip of his sword at me.
“…Promises must be backed by strength.”
The tip of his blade glowed.
A beam of light shot out at insane speed.
It pierced straight through my leg.
Blood splattered onto the ground.
Another beam followed.
It tore through my shoulder.
Pain exploded through my body.
I wanted to scream.
“Your swordsmanship is impressive for your age,” he said.
“I commend you. But what I don’t understand is this... why is a human boy protecting a dragon? Dragons are humanity’s enemies. That is the truth. All of them must be exterminated without mercy.”
“Like hell I’d let that happen.”
He stared at me.
“Then tell me, kid—
how are you going to keep your promise now?”
He pulled Liane toward him—
And snapped her arm.
“AAAAHHHHH!”
Her scream pierced my ears.
Her crying face burned into my vision.
Liane was completely helpless.
And I couldn’t do anything.
I promised her mother I would protect her.
No matter what.
I trained every day.
Every night.
And yet...
I still couldn’t believe it.
Is this the gap between me and the outside world?
This difference in strength…
It’s too vast.
My promise.
Our dream of leaving this town together.
Everything was slipping away.
And I couldn’t stop it.
“You should never make promises you’re incapable of keeping.”
The man in golden armor raised his sword—
And slashed Liane’s body.
A deep cut ran from her shoulder to her waist.
Blood burst from the wound as she collapsed.
The glow faded from her blue eyes.
My vision blurred as tears flooded my sight.
“Liane… Liane… Liane…”
Just earlier, She promised she’d wait for me.
I’m sorry, Liane.
I couldn’t protect you.
I’m so sorry.
“Kid,” he said coldly.
“You chose to side with the dragons… You deserve to die as well.”
He drove his sword into my chest.
I coughed blood as the image behind his helmet burned into my mind.
“I swear… I’ll kill you…”
“…”
He remained silent.
Then he pulled his sword out.
I collapsed face-first onto the ground.
As darkness swallowed my vision, I wished that everything was just a bad dream.
- Writer
