Dawn- An age of Darkness

It was far enough, the area was wide and there weren't too many houses nearby. Probably some sort of playground for the children. 

I almost got burned ten times trying to get here and I was glad there wasn't anybody around.

I panted. I was out of breath a long time ago but I didn't have the luxury to stop. My lungs were on overdrive. 

The dragons surrounded me on all sides. The boss was up front. None of them attacked me. Maybe they'd lecture me like villains used to lecture heroes before a fight? It kind of felt like that.

"I understand that you don't like me but why are you attacking this city? I mean they haven't done anything wrong to you, have they?"

The boss dragon descended and the earth shook. "Humans are vile creations. You don't deserve to live."

"And who gives you the right to decide that? You're not a god, not anymore. You don't have the right!" He pissed me off. They had the most stupid of reasons to kill people like it was nothing. "If you think we are vile than I think you are trash. You don't deserve to fly in this world!" I brought out the mystic blade.

The expression of the damn dragon darkened. Its teeth rattled and tail shook violently. It made sounds that sent chills down my spine. I just pissed it off too.

I guess I screwed up the negotiation. 

"Well at least we know taunting works," I mumbled.

"Erase him!" the dragon god ordered. 

Fires from all directions flew towards me. I envisioned a dome of ice just like last time. I didn't know if I'd be able to pull it off or not but I had to try. I began by covering my surroundings with light and then freezing it. Condensing water from the air and then freezing it was no easy task. But my life depended on it. I had roughly three seconds and that was enough. But just barely.

The force was strong. Only two seconds in and cracks appeared in the dome. Three continuous streams of breaths from three different dragons was definitely not something I could handle. "Looks like we'll really get charred this time bunny buns. Why don't you run away?"

If I was going down, I didn't want to take the bunny with me. 

The bunny only looked at me without blinking. 

Sorry but no matter how much I want I still can't understand what you guys say. 

I sighed and focused on my remaining mana. I was beginning to tire. Constantly using mana was more draining than actual wounds. 

And I'd been using mana all day today. My limit was apparent.

The ice had more cracks and almost burst. But before that, the bunny jumped out of my shoulder and there was a flash of light. "You really like bunnies too much, don't you?"

It was a familiar voice, a voice I thought I'd never hear again. "Alisa?"

"Bingo!" A small bunny girl manifested within the small dome and my sweet bunny disappeared. She raised her arms up and formed another dome like it was nothing. This time, much stronger. "For a beginner, you really had terrific luck huh?"

I had no idea what she was talking about and I didn't have time to understand it either. 

"But I thought… and wasn't the bunny a spirit?"

"Spirits don't look like that!" Alisa frowned hysterically. "And did you seriously think I'd stay there, in the town full of elves alone, while you were basically held captive?"

She did have a point but this was no time to dwell on those things. "We can talk later. For now, what do you think?"

Though the new dome was strong and held pretty solid, the fact that seven literal dragons and one god was trying to kill us, was still standing. And I certainly didn't have any death wish. 

"We're probably going to die?"

"I didn't ask you to be that blunt!"                                 

Couldn't she have been a little more, less blunt?

"Heads up, the barriers going to break!"

I was no longer held back by the casting. So I could dodge it if I tried hard enough. I'd definitely get burned at least to some extent. But it'd be better than being roasted alive. The dome protected us from fire but it was like being in a sauna. A very hot boiling sauna.

"In three, two, one. Go!"

I grabbed her and jumped sideways, barely escaping the flames. Surprisingly I didn't take as much damage as I thought.

Maybe the blue aura was also protecting me from the fire?

There was misty hot steam. But when it all cleared and the two of us emerged from it, the boss dragon glared at us and roared. "A demi won't save you from my wrath! You worthless swine of that wretched serpent!"

It didn't have the wrong idea that I was the child of Trerortra did it? Because it certainly sounded like that. 

"You do realize you look like a pathetic snake yourself, right coward?" Drenched in sweat I grinned. All the dragons around me looked like traditional European ones apart from the dragon god, which looked more or less like the Chinese ones. So calling it a snake wasn't too far off the mark.

But something changed. The dragons stopped attacking me and stood silent. Only the big guy fumed. 

What did I say?

I didn't know why but I might have offended the dragon: a lot more than I thought.

"What did you say!!! You-"

"I said, coward! Are you telling me you have hearing problems? Do you want me to yell even louder?" I didn't know why but I really liked taunting. Probably not the best habit to be had.

But I got goosebumps from the reactions these guys were giving me.

I might have overdone it this time.

"You're doing this on purpose aren't you?" Alisa whispered: totally giving me the cold disapproving glare. I winked at her and dropped her. "Hey, that was rude!"

"Complain later."

"Take that back! I Xerphas, the tormentor: the god of courage! Am no coward! Take it back!" The dragon god roared, too loud, enough to make my ears bleed. He kept on stomping his feet like he was throwing some sort of a tantrum.

"You just had to call the god of courage a coward, didn't you?" Alisa stood up and brushed off the dirt from her clothes. Did she seriously have time to do that?

How the hell was I supposed to know that he was the god of courage? And what's with all these names? The tormentor? What the hell?

"If you're not a coward then what are you? You're attacking me, a human with seven dragons and you call yourself courageous? You are nothing but a coward!"

That's right, be madder. Attack me alone and go insane. Otherwise, I won't have a shot.

I might have fallen further and further through the rabbit hole.

"ARGGHHH!" He roared too loud and my eardrums nearly burst. I grit my teeth and waited. "Destroy the town: I'll take on him alone!"

My plan half succeeded, half failed. 

Although it worked out for me, the town might not have been that lucky. My plan kind of backfired.

Oh shit!

And I was about to shit my pants too. I just made another blunder. 

"We can't have that!" Following the voice, a dragon fell to the ground and blood splashed everywhere. 

"Where the hell were you, you damn overpowered protagonist?" I said without looking back.

"Don't you know protagonists always show up the last? Oh and I charge for my services. But don't worry I won't charge you too much. All you have to do is kiss me in that girl form and I'll be happy to fight as many of these things as you'd like." 

A wild Dick dropped from the sky. And he was just as much of a dick as I remembered. 

"Would a slap do too?"  And I was definitely not in the mood for his jokes.

But I was really glad he showed up when he did.

If it weren't for him, I might have started crying about now, knowing I'd just screwed up an entire city because of my shortsightedness.

"Unfortunately I'm not a masochist." He chuckled and now we were side by side.

Dick had arrived. I didn't see Servesta or Lianne though.

I really, really wanted some people here right now. 

Taking on seven dragons at once was pretty nerve-wracking if nothing else.

"Would you two morons get it together?" Alisa didn't like our ramblings, I guess.

"By the way, who's the cute chick?"

"First, take care of the underlings. I'll introduce you guys later." I readied my sword and glared at one of the closest dragons. 

'Wait, since they can flick or throw breaths….'

I instead switched to my bow. 

He sighed. "I thought I was the protagonist." But he grinned and smooched his ring. He glowed in a fiery light. "Time to get serious."