TADAM! Pretty fast update, wasn’t it? XD Well, enough self-satisfaction. I must admit that writing this chapter came quite easy, even though the battle in it was one that I feared most. This is actually the first skirmish of this type in either of my stories, so I was worried how it’s gonna turn out… and yet I’m pleased with the finally effect.

In this chapter there’s also a special bonus: a rather short omake. How shall I put this; I was planning to put one of these in every ‘volume’ (meaning once around every, four chapters). These tales would cover the aftermath of previous events and would follow characters you got a chance to know (or will met) in the actual story… I guess the closest thing to this arc short stories that you can follow on title pages of “One Piece”, if you read that manga. If you’ll like that idea, I’ll be willing to invent more these tales for each volume, so let me know how does that idea sound.

And now, without further ado I wish to thank everyone who did sacrifice their time to review and let me invite you to the newest chapter of “Dragon Blood”!

Chapter #24: Snake’s Venom

Title Page: Kara is winking and holding five cards in her hand: Deedlith is the joker and is in front of other cards, then Sadun makes the king, Deedlith - queen, Ajoz is a jack and lastly is a ten

“A rhinoceros?” Sadun asked surprised, rising his eyebrow as he gazed at the humanoid with the head of a rhino standing before him. “Interesting choice of your beast half” he announced thoughtfully, making Link smirk: “Due to their hard skin? Powerful charge? Sharp nose?”

“I was more thinking between the lines they’re incredibly stupid, but whatever…” he replied casually, readying himself for battle: “But that’d explain why that head bomb from hurt this much. If this form is anything like the beast, then he should have poor eyesight, but considering that the only light in the tunnel are my runes, that’s not really much of a disadvantage. So… how should I play this?”

“Thought of some strategy yet?” the likanotrop asked playfully, making the orc narrow his eyes. “Or are you just worrying about your friend? Let me assure you there’s no need for that… as we speak Nisa is probably taking care of her…”

“If you think Kara would go down that easily, then you’re underestimating her greatly” replied the blademaster with a smirk of his own, while he pointed the tip of his sword at Link. “Nevertheless I will beat you senseless and go help her out, just in case. And I ain’t holding back one bit. First I got captured like the biggest loser, then Ajoz nearly killed me, afterwards Barr knocked me out. I’m getting a tad tired of getting my ass handed to me. Best prepare yourself, bozo, coz my losing streak… ends here!”

---Meanwhile on the other side of the barricade---

“He said he’s gonna clear this rumble, but it doesn’t seem like he’s doing anything” Kara thought to herself annoyed as she stood with her arms crossed, staring at the rocks blocking the tunnel. “Don’t tell me he…” she thought, widening her eyes as worry began filling her guts, only to be chased away by quick shakes of her head: “Yeah, like that would happen. He may get his butt kicked around often, but when you get down to things, he’s one of the strongest people I know” she assured herself, letting out a sigh: “But this is frustrating!”

“Well then, perhaps I could help you kill some time” a sudden voice made her turn around, instantly plastering a shocked expression on her face, for the person speaking turned out to be something that could only be described as a hybrid between man and bat: grey skin with long, pointy ears and golden eyes, staring at the young necromancer with a pair of golden eyes. The creature had bat-like wings growing from under its arms and a brown, thorn t-shirt, covered with a yellow vest. Short, brown skirt left the beast’s legs mostly uncovered, revealing metal protectors that clad the lower part of its legs, while the likanotrop itself hung upside down from the ceiling: “Or maybe I could just kill you?” it asked with a slightly, female voice.

“Its gear” the Rashma priestess analyzed, looking her opponent up and down. “It fits that female mercenary from the werewolf hunt… just how many people are involved in this messy? And… why do I get the freaky one?” she added, while the animorph spread its wings: “My name is Nisa. It’s a pleasure to slaughter you…”

---That time, lower mine levels---

Air hit Deedlith’s face as her body continued to fall into the black abyss. A terrible symphony of whistles bombarded her ears while she came closer and closer to the bottom of pit: “This is not good” she thought, immediately proclaiming the right incantations and with a quick toss of her hands to the sides, a powerful wind current suddenly erupted beneath her feet, breaking her fall and allowing the young mage to land safely and unharmed: “Well, that was close” she let out a sigh of relief, glancing up: “But there’s no way I can get back up there this way. I need to find another passage. My ball of fire stayed up there, so Ajoz should be fine” she assured herself, repeating the incantations from the entrance to the mine.

In a flash another orb of fire sparkled, chasing away the shadows of the cavern, only to reveal a swarm of snakes crawling around the elf’s feet. Deedlith was about to let out a scream of horror and jump back, but luckily she realized in time that could only make the situation worse; for the time being the reptiles didn’t attack, but a sudden movement could easily change the state of things.

“Nice of you to drop in” came a voice she found all too familiar and shifting her gaze in the direction it came from, she spotted a female humanoid sitting on a large stone with her legs crossed and scratching the lower jaw of a huge viper in the process. The figure was dressed in a green top and baggy, brown pants, but the most eye-catching feature was the fact her entire body was covered in scales. “For a moment I was worried you may panic and not survive the fall…”

“Jezabel, was it?” the young mage asked, not paying much attention to the woman’s bladder. “That female henchman of Fangrin. I recall we had a little run in with each other at our first meeting. I see you’re a likanotrop as well, but certainly not a werewolf. Most unusual. Frankly, I had no idea snake-like animorphs existed in this world…”

“Well then… sssurprissse” the woman, Jezabel, responded with a smirk. “I hope you don't mind, but I asssked Sssirgosss to let me handle you. After all, we ssstill have sssome unfinissshed busssinesss from earlier... besssidesss, if it'sss magic... I'm all for it!”

“There's no helping it then” Deedlith replied with a forced smile. “Lets get this over with” she purposed, immediately performing the right enchantments: “Eye of Typhoon!” she called out as powerful, wind currents once more engulfed her body, tossing the snakes to the sides, while the elf charged forward, unsheathing her sword.

The humanoid merely widen her smirk, with a quick motion ordering the massive viper to attack, while her own mouth began moving. As the reptile came at her, the blonde girl strafed left, making the snake scourge the stone floor where stood a moment earlier, but the clash was not over, for immediately the slimy giant turned, once more aiming to swallow its prey.

With no time to dodge, Deedlith thrust her free hand forward, rushingly proclaiming another incantation: “Ice Lance!” she roared as a huge icicle shoot from her hand, growing in flight and filling the serpent's mouth entirely, ironically making it freeze in its tracks.

The young mage had no time to celebrate this small victory however as a sizzling sound filled her ears and as she turned her head in the direction the noise came, she saw a destructive surge of electricity sped through the floor straight at her, forcing the elf to jump back in order to avoid the hit. This maneuver turned out to be a mistake, for as her back neared the wall, a new hiss filled the air.

Acting entirely on instinct, she leaned to the side, barely avoiding a snake that jumped from behind, its mouth wipe opened. Jezabel chuckled at the terror that took over her opponent's face, gaining the blonde's attention: “I would trace very carefully. Thisss isss, after all, ssserpentsss' lair” she announced with a wide smirk, still sitting in the same spot.

Narrowing her eyes from anger, the young mage threw her hand to the side, instantly performing the enchantment: “Air Slash!” In a blink of an eye a blade of wind ripped the air, coming right at the snake woman, yet she still didn't finch and simply spoke the correct incantations, slamming her hands to the ground: “Earth Barrier!” she called out, rising a wall of stone just in time for it to take the hit, leaving a deep slash.

Her spell was not over though and with her hands still on the floor, her mouth kept moving, while fire gathered beneath her palms, only to blast in few steams of flames around the earth barrier and straight at Deedlith at amazing speed: “Octopus Heat!”

As the burning whips came close, the blonde charged forward, dodging the deadly rain with grace, avoiding each of the flames by no more then inches. Reaching the wall of rock, she finished the spell she saw preparing since the attack came, once more releasing a powerful gust of wind from beneath her feet that blasted her over the obstacle, right above Jezabel.

Cutting from above, the elf aimed at the woman's head, yet the humanoid managed to block the assault with her saber and in a flash gathered saliva in her mouth, spitting out a green liquid, hitting the young mage straight in the left shoulder. Immediately Deedlith's skin began burning as she let out a yell of pain. This left enough space for the likanotrop to act, letting her blast her opponent away with a strong swing of her blade, sending the blonde rolling on the cold floor.

As she finally came to a stop, her body acted on its own, grabbing a snake that made an attempt to bite her head just by the neck and tossing it away, the simple motion reminding her just how much the hit she received stung. The girl glanced at the 'wound', spotting venom that ate through her clothes and skin. With no more then slight hesitation, she unleashed another incantation, letting a weak flame wrap around her palm, which she quickly placed on the toxin, burning it up in a flash with new levels of pain shooting through her body.

“Using fire to rid herself of the poison?” Jezabel analyzed with a playful smile. “Interesting, but that still won't help you all that much. The damage was done. Venom won't kill you anymore, but that shoulder of yours will soon become numb... it's just prolonging the inevitable...”

“She's an elemental mage, like me” Deedlith summed up, struggling to get back to her feet. “And as it'd seem our magic is equally strong at best... but she still has her 'little helpers' and that cursed venom. I can feel me losing control in my arm. I... there's no way I can defeat her...” he realized desperately, helplessness taking over. Her body shook against her will as tears began gathering in her eyes.

But just then, they snapped wide open as a memory crossed her mind…

“So, you’ll be heading back to Sascaton?” Enyo asked, taking a small sip of his drink, while Deedlith nodded weakly: “Yes. I’ve been away from home long enough already. It’s a long trip, but it wouldn’t feel right to stay after everything that happened…”

“And will you be okay, la… I mean: will you be okay?” the blond boy quickly corrected himself, earning a smile from the elf. “I recall you once said that your father is in possession of… well, something valuable. If you’d travel alone you risk running into people who’d attempt to kidnap you, just for the sake of getting your father to give that treasure up.”

“I know, but I don’t have much choice” the girl replied, lowering her head, yet just then a new voice rang in the kitchen as Ren walked in: “Yes you do. You can travel with us” he announced, settling his gaze on the young mage. “I may not be an expert in geography, but our destination is in the same direction Sascaton is located. Certainly there won’t be any objections to your company.”

But regardless to those words, Deedlith hesitated: “You’ve already done so much for me… I… I do not wish to burden you further…” yet before she could continue, the blond mercenary spoke up again, placing his face merely inches away from the elf’s: “What the hell are you talking about? We’re heading in the same direction anyway, so the more the merrier. And if anyone attacks, they we’ll just beat them senseless. It’s as simple as that!”

“Why? Why go this far for someone you only just met?”

“Since we already met, then what’s wrong with becoming friends?” the dragonchild asked with a warm smile, making a shocked expression appear on young mage’s face. “And if it’s for friend’s sake, I’ll fight to the very end! I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I can keep those important to me safe!” he proclaimed as a weak blush crept onto the girl’s face…

“That's right” she thought to herself, new spirit filling her. “They're counting on me... I can't just give up!” she yelled in her mind, her mouth have a will of its own, allowing her to spin on her feet to gaze at her adversary with determination beaming from her eyes: “Rock Maelstrom!” she cried out as the ground shook, lifting up small stones.

In a blink of an eye a powerful tornado of rocks came at surprised Jezabel, ripping to shreds all that stood in its way, while tossing the snakes to the sides. Left with no, other choice, the likanotrop jumped up terrified, dodging the assault, yet to her shock, Deedlith held out her injured hand, completely ignoring both pain and her body's resistance, as another incantation came to its end: “Fireball!”

Instantly a great orb of flames shoot from the elf's palm, coming straight at the snake woman, who was still in mid-air. Unable to dodge, the animorph took the attack heads on, immediately getting wrapped with fire with a sizzle. She didn't scream, even as the flames died, allowing her to fall to the ground soundlessly.

A moment later the young mage collapsed to her knee, panting heavily: “Those, two spells rid me almost entirely of my energy. I barely have strength left” she noted, yet a smile appeared on her face: “But I won... I actually won! I...” but she never managed to finish the thought as sudden pain shoot through her back, knocking her to the ground. She felt warm liquid slowly engulfing her back as she laid flat, while a familiar voice came from the same location the attack: “To think you know sssuch, powerful magic... I got carelesss...”

At those words Deedlith's eyes widen in surprise. Weakly she gazed at what she assumed was her adversary's corpse, only to realize it was nothing more then burnt skin: “Skin shredding!” she noticed with horror, barely keeping her consciousness. “She evaded that last attack!”

“I mussst congratulate you... certainly I have not anticipated you'd caussse me thisss much trouble. But, regardlesss, it'sss over” Jezabel stated emotionlessly, her eyes set on the fallen elf. “Fear not; to ssshow the ressspect I found for you, girly, I'll make thisss quick” she announced, lifting up her saber, ready to pierce the young mage's heart.

“In the end…” the young mage thought, her mind slowly going blank. “In the end… I ca…” but just then Ren’s words echoed in her head once again, making her clench her teeth to chase away the pain: “In the end… I will win!” she cried out as she suddenly put her body to a spin, muttering another, secret formula.

Seeing her opponent’s legs going for her feet, the likanotrop jumped back, avoiding the assault, yet as she was still in mid-air, Deedlith completed the spell and in a flash a powerful, small tornado rose from beneath the elf, blasting the girl’s body at the snakewoman, much to her surprise. Before she could react, the young mage’s blade pierced Jezabel’s left shoulder, pinning her to the ground.

“Missss” the scale-faced sorcerer announced with a smirk, only to freeze from shock as she saw her adversary’s mouth enchanting another, magical sentence and with the final word electricity engulfed Deedlith’s sword, sending a tremendous surge through Jezabel’s body, making her yell from pain.

“Lighting Shock!” the elf called out as her opponent’s pupils went to the back of her head, while the animorph fell into unconsciousness. The blonde began panting heavily, her legs barely able to hold her up: “This time… it is the end” she concluded, slowly walking away, Her sight went up to the hole she fell through: “I won’t get up this way… I need to find another way out of here…” and with that her eyes narrowed, while her legs gave in.

And as she fell to the cold floor of the cavern, only one thought occupied her mind, even while her body became numb: “Are all of you alright? Are you still alive?”

---And so, back to Ajoz---

Ajoz dodged left as the wolf snapped its jaw in the attempt to taste his gut. Without a second waste the berserker launched his knee at the beast, but the likanotrop proven to be faster and sped towards, quickly spinning around and taking its prey from behind, forcing the ponytail and spun on his foot and block the monster's fangs with his sword, stopping them merely inches away from their target.

Narrowing his eyes, Ajoz twisted his wrist, blasting Haft back with a swing of his blade and carefully observing the beast come to a sliding stop, only to resume its assault immediately. The berserker dodged once more by running to the side, making the animorph maneuvered to chase after: “You don't need to give in!” the ponytail yelled calmly, ducking as the monster suddenly leaped at his head. “Instinct can be overcome!”

“Oh please, are you actually trying to talk sense into wild beast?” Jaheim asked amused, holding back laughter. “Haft's different from any of us. Master Fangrin taught us to control our beast side. Haft never accepted his gift. There's no way for him to take control.”

But Ajoz ignored his comment, somersaulting over the incoming wolf and as his feet touched the ground, he quickly flipped to the right, avoiding claws that slashed at his back: “This is first and foremost your body! You can control the urge! You can bend it to your will!” he proclaimed, putting his body into a spin as he deflected the claws again with his sword: “I would know, coz Sadun helped me overcome my rage as well! All you need is willpower!”

The wolf only growled, its eyes set on the pray that has been so persistent. The berserker stood firm, suddenly his tension disappearing, while he lowered his sword, only to drop it to the floor completely a second later, making a loud 'clang' echo through the cavern: “You can take control... do you really wish the beast to prove stronger?” he asked, putting his hands to the sides as the animorph hesitated.

And then, in a blink of an eye, the monster leaped forward, only giving the ponytail enough time to widen his eyes before the fangs clenched around his throat, making blood blast out of the young warrior's neck, while Jaheim smirked: “And so it ends...”

The hero falls... what will become of Ajoz?

And this concludes this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll leave a review before finishing. But before I finish, there’s one more thing I need to do and that is give you that short story I promised at the beginning, so here’s part one of a short tale about a certain… someone ;)

Omake: Nomac’s Journey (Part I)

Nomac walked into a small, mountain village as chilly breeze whistled down the road. The town was nothing particularly spectacular, just a collection of simple huts going along the trail from both sides. The houses seemed fragile, ready to fall into pieces with even the tiniest bit of force put against them. But regardless to these facts, the dragonchild did not care much for any as he merely took a right to enter a food stand: “A bowl of some, hot soup” he ordered simply, sitting down at the canter.

The owner, an old man in white robes, gave him a quick nod and disappeared in the back room to prepare the meal. It did not take long as just few minutes later the man’s order was placed before him with steam dancing above the hot liquid. But just as Nomac took the spoon and began eating, a sudden yell echoed through the village: “The Dragon Fangs are coming!”

Still the dragonchild remained unfazed as he continued his meal, even when a group of armed people walked into the town and began demolishing it, taking whatever they desired. Nomac remained oblivious to it all, even as one of these men joined him, throwing the traveler a suspicious glare: “I haven’t seen you here before. Who the hell are you?”

No answer.

“I asked you a question, asshole!” the bandit announced, anger twisting his face. Certainly he was not used to being ignored. But even now the dragonchild only took another spoon of his soup, continuing to tune out his surroundings. The calmness of his face pushed the goon further and further and as the man before him gulped down another portion of his meal, the Dragon Fang member snapped, swinging his sword.

In a flash the blade broke the bowl of soup into pieces, making its inside spill all over the canter and drip a little to the rocky ground. The bandit’s eye twitched as he was the hooded traveler only glancing at the damage, still remarkably calm and uninterested. But then he finally turned towards the attacked, his silver eyes set on the goon, the very gaze that made the swordsman shiver.

Instantly a lighting shoot out from Nomac’s hand, hitting the bandit right in the gut and sending him flying to the center of the road, immediately causing all the other goons to freeze in their tracks and look at the former Royal Guard’s direction. The dragonchild was already standing on his feet, even though he did not assume any, fighting position: “Low-life scum… get the hell out of my face before I really get pissed…”

“What the…?” began the man with a green bandana on top of his head, wearing a black t-shirt and a green vest on top of that. His emerald eyes stared at the silver-haired man shocked, while the grip on his enormous saber tightened: “Who the f**k are you?” he asked, clenching his teeth.

Nomac did not answer, he just charged forward, too fast for any of the bandits to react in time. In a blink of an eye the closest to the dragonchild received a fist to his chin and was send to the sky. But the silver-haired man’s attack did not end there; using the speed of his fist rising, he brought that hand down and propping his body against it, he went to a spin, delivering a spin kick to another goon.

Instantly he stood back up straight and as the bandit send up came falling down, Nomac slammed his elbow to his chest, sending the man flying towards another goon, making the two collide and fall to the ground. By this time the other began moving, coming at the dragonchild from both sides.

As they swung their sabers at their opponent, the silver-haired warrior jumped up and spinning parallel to the ground, he saw one attack go below his spinning form, while the other whistled just over it. Given enough time, the former Royal Guard grabbed one of the bandits and landing safely on his feet and free hand, he send an electric surge at the man, immediately turning his eyes pupiless as the goon collapsed, unconscious.

Without a second waste Nomac send a kick back, hitting the other bandit right in the gut and as he bended forward due to the impact, the silver-haired man jumped over him, spinning in the process, and threw his hand to the side, punching the next goon in the face. Afterwards, with a sliding landing, he spun once more, sweeping the opponent he just hit off his feet and making the other bandits take a step back, seeing with whom they were dealing with.

“Damn you!” the bandana-wearing one ran towards the dragonchild, fury burning in his eyes, yet the former Royal Guard remained calm. In a flash he split his legs and gathering electricity around his body, he released a powerful charge to the ground, hitting all the bandits with the shock. He didn’t use too much power, so most goons remained standing, although neither was too willing to make an actual move anymore.

“Retreat!” the chieftain ordered, even though most of his men were already way ahead of him. In a flash the gang disappeared, going up the road with Nomac staring after them, his face as emotionless as always. But he was not thanked for his deed. No, in stead the owner of the food stand yelled at him with a mix of terror and anger beaming from his voice: “Now you’ve done it! Dragon Fangs won’t let this go just like that! You have no idea what you’ve done! They’re going to unleash their dragon upon us!”

That, single statement made the former Royal Guard’s eyes widen in surprise. The silver-haired man completely lost his cool as he turned towards the speaker, an expression of shock plastered on his face: “Did you say dragon?” he asked, receiving no more then a weak nod. A smirk crept onto his face, while his eyes shifted back towards the road which the bandits just used: “Well… looks like my search is over quicker then I’ve expected…”

---end of volume #06---

And with that this installment is really over. Hope you had fun reading it and please leave a review before you leave. It’d really mean a lot.

Until next time, hopefully.