Chapter 47: 44. Calmy the Wingless Dragon

Minutes pass as Calmy, the name I assign to the glorified lizard, attempts over and over to use my portal. Even if Calmy does turn out to be a shade, I might disqualify the flightless dragon. The decision is based on my team composition already having too many stubborn fools. Besides that, the cons of being a flightless lizard far outweigh the pros.

For one, the dragon can't fly. Any respect I might have earned with Fury will be dismissed when I show up with this lizard. Secondly, reptiles are cold-blooded. Though I am not sure why that counts against Calmy, it is still a mark against the lizard, regardless. And that is it. Two cons, and you are out. That's how this works.

As if offended by my fair and unbiased ranking system, which Calmy couldn't have known about, the lizard finally acknowledges my presence. Large dark beady eyes set on the side of a narrow head lock onto me. Large teeth can't go unnoticed as Calmy opens its mouth, hissing ill intents towards me. The singular hefty horn on the nose is aimed directly at me when the beast's calm aura ignites with fiery energy like the hounds.

Now that we no longer appear to be on friendly terms, I ready my bow and begin my volley of arrows. Large legs with monster claws carry the beast side to side as Calmy saunters toward me. That changes when two arrows pierce its softer underbelly, motivating the lizard to charge. 

If I were to be standing on the same ground as Calmy, I would barely reach past the height of its stomach. The lizard can almost get its head over my protective walls. Thick blue scales glisten from head to tail. Marks are left behind as the tail and its protruding spike gets dragged all over. 

Given its size, even if it were more nimble, it wouldn't be able to dodge my arrows. While the scales on the back offer decent defense against my arrows, the underbelly has no such protection. However, none of my arrows have hit a vital target, and Calmy is making its way toward me at an increased pace.

Fortunately, the triangle nature of my platform makes the lizard's charge less threatening. Still, the beast is powerful, and when it rams into the side of my left wall, my whole structure shakes. However, all props to the structural integrity of the mighty triangle; it doesn't break. I steady myself and fire more arrows at Calmy, who is making another charge at me.

Slowing my heavy breaths, I release the tension that is building inside me. Sure Calmy is a heavy hitter. It isn't the only heavy hitter out here, though. With my head in the suitable mind space, I fall into the rhythm of fighting I had when fighting amongst the spiders. Staring down the straight arrow, I hold my shot until my aim is true. 

I see my target in my mind's eye, arriving where my arrow will strike before it happens. Trusting my instincts, I release the dark arrow. The dark blur, full of perfect intent, cultivates energy as it stretches through the air towards its intended target.

Already in motion for its next step, the raging lizard cannot dodge the arrow that pierces its neck. Having achieved its purpose, the energy building along the arrow explodes on impact, multiplying my shot's gruesome effectiveness. 

Staggering from the impact, Calmy stutters, trying to maintain balance. Another arrow erupts in its stomach, followed by another and then another. The fight isn't pretty. It never is. Calmy, though badly injured, isn't accepting that this is the end. Hissing turns into a deeper labored gurgle that isn't quite a roar yet loud enough to reverberate off the mountains miles away.

Deep red flames ignite out of Calmy's mouth. Temperatures rise as the wild flame spews in every direction. Even though there is a certain lack of fuel in our vicinity, the fire doesn't seem to mind. The ground is burning around us. Now between my fort and the jungle about twenty yards away, Calmy is in a shroud of fire. Smoke rises through the air creating clouds above us. Through it all, Calmy's deep shrieking eradicates any notion of silence.

Calmy is going berserk, no longer in control, fighting the nothingness before it. Even though it is still threatening, more energy can be felt coming torwards me from the mountains. Facing the direction of my portal, I keep my attention split between the threat on my left and the new threat on my right.  

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Thirty enraged hounds enter the fray. Unlike the pack before, these hounds are bigger, with larger jaws and muscles rippling throughout their body. Cohesively they work as a unit as they collectively dismiss my presence and surround the berserking grounded dragon. Howls crowd the air silencing the once dominant shriek.

Darting rampantly around Calmy, the hounds trample the flames leaving their wounded prey to be the only thing left burning. Heat still radiates off Calmy, keeping the reserved hounds away. The bold of the pack take their chances, suffering burns for their bounty. Strong jaws and viscous claws rip into scales and underbelly.

Weakened and outnumbered, Calmy does not abandon its furious rage. Fire continually spews outward from the body and mouth. Its spiked tail whips in every direction, striking the ground the most, each impact creating a new obstacle for the hounds to navigate. The crashing tail adds rich thumping to the chaos. In its rage, Calmy catches an overzealous hound with a paw swipe. Faster than seemingly possible, the downed hound is devoured.

Calmy now burns hotter than before and looks larger. The temperature has risen, and smoke begins to crowd the air. One hound is overwhelmed by the heat as it greedily tries to chew on the back foot of Calmy. No longer able to evade, it is quickly devoured. Heat rises, Calmy grows slightly, and I must abandon my aggressive spectating before this gets more out of hand.

I stand up. I didn't realize I was sitting. Grab Bo and start shooting arrows into the chaos. If I can take out the hounds, that will reduce the power that Calmy is receiving, and If I can kill Calmy, well, that would make things much less unpleasant. Most of my arrows hit the lizard's body, causing scales to shatter from the exploding impact of my mana-charged shots. I only take out the hounds when Calmy is closing in on the same hound.

Smoke and flame are subsiding. Now only numbering ten, the hounds have tempered their appetite by choosing low-risk tactics over their previous get burnt and die strategy. Not wanting them to gain the power of Calmy, I take a few more shots at them, bringing their count down to seven.

Neither hounds nor Calmy has an advantage. Anger and flames can do nothing to keep the giant beast alive. Nor will numbers and patience allow the hounds a safe victory. No matter how safe they try to be, the wild lizard wants everything to burn. No longer participating in the brutal battle, I am back in my chair observing.

Calmy devours two more hounds increasing its size and rage. Before the next hound reaches the same fate, another pack of wild beasts enters the fray. Longer than the hounds, six shadowy catlike monsters with black and white stripes suddenly appear. They weren't here, and now they are. As far as entrances go, they are the ones to beat. Their coordination, timing, and execution are flawless. 

Twelve glowing white eyes track everything in the vicinity. I can almost feel the mark they place on me as they size up the situation. Pacing the battlegrounds, the shadow cat's bodies are positioned low to the ground. They glide across the battlefield with their smooth, silent motion. Heads are down, ears are piqued, and hungry eyes continually stalk us all.

The fighting stops only a moment while the lithe shadow cats make their intimidating presence known. The hounds regroup to face a new threat while Calmy keeps burning and hissing at the world. For a moment, everything is still. Then as suddenly as they arrived, the cats disappear.

Two cats appear behind the hounds and pounce on their prey. Likewise, three appear behind Calmy. Two cats lock their elongated fangs into the hind legs while the third keeps Calmy distracted. Energy begins transferring from the lizard to the cats, latched onto the legs. 

The shadow cats are freaking vampires!

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