Chapter 17- Wake up!

(A few minutes earlier)

Elara: Don't worry, I have a plan.

Banko turned his face towards Elara, meeting her gaze with eyes widened in surprise.

Banko: You mean there's a way to save Rico immediately.

Elara: Yes but it will be difficult on my own.

Elara raised her vine-hilted sword to chest level, pointing at the vines adorning its surface.

Elara: These vines were made from the nature guardians tanglewood sprigs, they possess a magical property that allows them to drain magic power from the victims.

Banko's eyes beamed.

Banko: So you're going to use your sword to drain Rico's magic power faster, wait but he's huge. How are you going to hit him without him firing his beam at you?

Elara made a small grin as she gazed into Banko's eyes.

Elara: That's where you come in.

…

Banko: Master's awesome

 Banko watched in awe as Elara skillfully impaled her vine-halted sword through the dragon's head. The dragon, in a desperate attempt to shake Elara off, violently thrashed its head in the air. As her sword penetrated deeper into the dragon's skull, a vibrant green light radiated from the blade, growing brighter with each passing moment. The intensity of the light was a testament to the immense magic power being channeled into the sword.

With gritted teeth, Elara fought to maintain her balance on the dragon's head, her every muscle straining against the violent movements of the creature. In a brief moment of respite, she turned her gaze towards Banko, who stood at a distance, clutching his bleeding chest. 

Elara: Banko!! Use your magic to restrain Rico!

Hearing Elara's call for his help, Banko quickly stood up and grabbed his wooden staff.

Elara: (I'm low on mp but it's more than enough to launch a final attack)

Summoning his inner strength, Banko focused his energy and conjured multiple wooden pillars that shot up from the ground, entangling the dragon's mighty limbs. The dragon, weakened by Elara's sword, fought furiously to break free from the wooden prison that held it captive. Its roars echoed through the air as it thrashed and struggled against the unyielding grasp of the pillars. The combined efforts of Elara and Banko had turned the tide of the battle, as they relentlessly pressed on, determined to bring down the formidable beast.

Banko aimed the tip of his wooden staff towards the dragon's stomach.

As Banko channeled his magical energy through his staff, a brilliant green ball of energy began to materialize in front of its tip. With each passing moment, the ball grew larger and more radiant, illuminating the surrounding landscape with a vibrant green hue. The sheer power contained within the ball of energy was palpable, crackling with an intensity that filled the air. 

Banko: I'll power every reserve of my mana into this one blow, so…

The green ball stopped expanding as Banko yelled at the top of his lungs, demanding his voice to be heard by the dragon.

Banko: WAKE THE F##K UP, RICOO!!

Banko: CHARGED ELEMENTAL BLAST!!

A magnificent burst of vibrant emerald energy, swirling with the combined forces of earth, wind, and the essence of flourishing flora, surged forward with unstoppable force. Its colossal power was directed straight towards the dragon's stomach, generating a resounding blast that shattered the sound barrier and filled the air with a piercing symphony of echoes.

The dragon gazed at the green beam as a flash of light, similar to the end of the tunnel consumed its vision.

Rico's pov:

I just wanted to be strong, strong enough to exact revenge on all the people who wronged me. That's all I wanted but…

I was a fool.

My constant harassment of the people who were associated with any gang members ended up getting on their nerves.

One day during lunch time, while I was busy getting ready to get to my class as I looked through my bag for books. A large group of senior students surrounded me with baseball bats and cricket bats in their hands.

To get revenge for their friends, they beat me up ruthlessly to the point that I started gushing blood despite th fact, they still continued. Everyone who saw the incident was shook in fear. The beating was so bad the teachers were too afraid to stop them. As I was spraying blood from my nose and mouth, my limbs being beaten until they were purple, the scorching pain I felt made me wish I was dead. All I could hear in the background was-

???: THEY'RE GOING TO KILL HIM!!

???: SOMEBODY CALL THE TEACHERS!!

???: FORGET THE TEACHERS,CALL THE POLICE!!

Those voices were clearly afraid. All they could do was stand there and watch me get the life beaten out of me.

I thought I was going to die, I thought that was the end for me…I thought I could see my parents again.

That's when they appeared.

Nico: HEY F##K OFF!!

Banko: LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU F##KERS!!

They stood in front of me like superheroes in a kids show. I thought these guys had a death wish, I wanted to tell them to leave but I didn't notice my throat was flooded with so much blood that I couldn't utter a single word.

The gang lackeys taunted them, they made fun of them and threatened to kill them, they clearly had no intention of showing mercy.

I expected them to get scared and just walk away and leave me to die but-

Nico: SUCK MY D##K!

The African guy leaped at one of the lackeys and kneed him on his face. The blonde Caucasian also jumped in to fight the lackeys.

It was like something straight out of a movie. I questioned their sanity, I couldn't believe what they were doing. I believed that they were going to die along with me but…

The lackeys decided to leave before they got apprehended by policemen.

I lifted my upper torso and attempted to clear my blood soaked throat to speak. I couldn't, but two hands reached out to me. When I looked at the sources of those hands.

Despite their beat up faces and bloody noses they had a warm smile on their face as they asked me.

“Need some help?”

To be honest, I almost cried. I thought these guys were fools…insignificant fools.

That's when I became known as Rico the red mighty dragon of the three mighty dragons.

Narrator:

???: Master, he's waking up! 

???: Nico, go grab the elixirs in my bag!

???: Yes master!

Three faint distinct voices echoed through Rico's ears as he slowly peeled his eyes open to gaze at the clear sky. The scent of rain lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of wet grass. He felt the cool droplets of rain still clinging to his skin, while the warmth of the sun began to envelop him, drying his damp clothes. The gentle rustle of leaves as a light breeze swept through the landscape. And as Rico took in the scene before him, the vibrant colours of the newly washed surroundings painted a picturesque scene.

Emerging in front of his view was the beautiful and stoic elf, Elara, the green haired gambling addicted, trash anime lover Banko and the unhinged quick footed boy who has a habit of censoring his text when using profanity Nico. They each gazed at Rico with relief in their eyes.

Rico: What…happened? Where are the orcs?

The group immediately turned their gaze away from Rico, avoiding eye contact.

Banko: They're all gone but…

Elara:  The same can be said about the village.

Although he struggled from the pain on his forehead and stomach, Rico managed to turn his head to face the result of his dragon transformation.

In front of his eyes stretched a desolate wasteland, consumed by an eerie expanse of black smoke. There was no trace of life, no sign of a single dwelling or the presence of any living being. It was as if the very essence of existence had been swallowed by the void. There was nothing but…

Ashes.

Rico: …wha-?

Chapter 17 ends.