Kalliel
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LNELIAW - Case 153: Guided by a fire heart – Sariel’s debut.
🕑 Added 2023-12-14 10:54:48 +0000 UTCUnder the gazes of people, which is usual, we proceed into the building.
''Hm... Let's go to the counter there.''
''Alright.''
The interior of the building is similar to what you would find in a guild of an RPG of sorts—a more modern RPG, to clarify. People with cool equipment fill the hall, they all look very serious, and then there are us—pretty young girls wearing casual clothes.
So needless to say, the receptionist is looking at us pretty skeptically.
''How may I help you?'' She asks.
''We want to register as hunters.'' I reply.
''Do you have prior reservations?''
''Nope.''
''Um... I'm terribly sorry, but we don't accept registrations without reservation.''
Well, I certainly expected this, but making a reservation takes almost a month, I can't wait that long. So it's time to rely on a more brute-force approach.
''Sariel, please.''
''Sure.''
VROOM—!!
'''' !!! ''''
An unbelievably huge blast of mana bursts from a gentle-looking Sariel, enveloping the whole building—no, the whole block we're in, I'm sure. The dragoness's two-tone hair flutters in the air, and a silver aura surrounds her body, while her eyes shine brightly.
''W-What...?!''
''Who the hell...''
The sheer pressure from a dragon Clan Leader's mana release is enough to make everyone present gasps nervously, some even lose the color on their faces. Even for me, this is quite insane. I'd reckon she's around... 4-star Master? Based on mana alone.
To explain a bit more, dragons don't need gemstones to store mana like we do, the reason is simple—their scales themselves can store mana. That's why dragons are pretty OP.
''Let us quickly get over this, don't you agree?'' Sariel asks the receptionist with a gentle smile.
Either way, we found out that high-ranking hunters are treated very preciously and carefully by everyone, so we just need to demonstrate that we're on par with them.
''U-Understood! Please give me a second!''
With that, the receptionist runs away while shouting 'Manager ~!'. Sariel also pulls back her enormous mana.
'''' ... ''''
''Hm... It seems like... a new wind is blowing in this city...''
Suddenly, I hear an old and coarse voice sound behind us. Turning around, I see an old man wearing a Kimono with a Katana on his waist staring at us with eyes half-open, smiling mysteriously while leaning against a pillar.
...What is this cringe-ass Skyrim dialogue...?
-----
''Ugh... Another S-rank...!'' The manager exclaims, wiping sweat from his forehead.
The registration process is very simple. Step one: Measure mana. Step two: You're a hunter.
Yeah, I don't know why we even need a reservation in the first place. If I have to guess... Probably to preemptively decline stupid edgy teenagers' requests before they come here thinking that they can be hunters when they're actually not, thus lessening the work of the receptionists.
''Anna, you're last.''
''Alright.''
Regardless, except for Anna, we all got S-rank mana, which apparently means we're S-rank hunters. How... Anti-climatic.
''Like this?''
''Yes, please hold it for half a minute.''
As Anna pours her divine mana into the round crystal ball, the number on the gauging machine starts to pop.
''...9675. Congratulations, miss. Your official rank is A.''
For reference, anything beyond 10000 is an S. Us three decided to normalize our score, so we're all around 10500.
''Good job, Anna.'' I stroke Anna's head and her fluffy ears, to which she immediately gives herself to me.
I swear, so cute. Her thing is not so cute though, and I love it.
''Alright, are there any gates we can raid right away?'' I ask the manager while petting Anna.
''Ah, yes! There is one A-rank gate nearby that has yet to be raided.''
''Can you guide us there?''
''Absolutely! But before that, I might need you to fill in some information regarding your roles and such... Is that alright?''
Look at how he's trembling. I guess S ranks are something else, huh.
-----
Approximately an hour later, we arrived at the site via the manager's car.
Surrounded by tall fences and guards is a humongous blue portal. From it, I can feel immense mana radiating, as if I'm facing the sea of zombies back in the Range.
''Well, let's go.''
''U-Um... Will you go in with on four people...?'' The manager asks nervously.
Ah, he's worried. Normally, a gate of this scale requires a raid team of dozens of people after all. Maybe he thought we were going here just to observe the gate.
''Of course.'' I smile gently at him. ''Don't worry and wait here. It should end in a bit.''
Ignoring the manager, who's near freaking out while trying to stop us, we enter the gate.
''Oh?''
The scene changes the moment we step through the gate. Before us right now is a destroyed city engulfed in flame. It's a scene straight out of a dystopian movie.
On the streets, inside the tattered buildings, grotesque creatures with grey skin of all sizes are roaming freely, destroying everything in their paths. They're not really strong yet though.
''I guess those are the enemies.'' I speak up. ''Let's clean them quickly and go for the boss.''
''Wait.''
Suddenly, Sariel stops us with a mischievous grin.
''Could you please leave it for me?'' She says. ''I want an opportunity to show you my true strength.''
''Sure, why not.'' I reply.
That's what I was curious about.
Sariel's smile grows wider before she turns to the monsters.
BOOM—!!
Sariel shoots herself into the air, forming a crater where she is standing, and her body starts to glow. In just a few seconds, she goes from normal to shining brightly like a star, radiating golden beams. Her body then rapidly inflates, gradually taking the shape of a giant reptile.
Soon, the light subsides, revealing a majestic dragon with half-golden half-red scales, two pair of straight golden horns, and two slit silver eyes. She spreads her giant wings and opens her jaw filled with sharp teeth.
''Woah...''
Right when I think she's about to deliver a fire breath from her mouth, something else pops up instead.
...1.
A giant white '1' appears in front of Sariel's mouth, shining faintly. Accompanied by that, a loud ticking noise can be heard, reverberating loudly through the air, and then-
'''' !!! ''''
BOOOM—!!!
BOOOM—!!!
BOOOM—!!!
Huge explosions erupt from all over the city, blowing up the poor mobs together with everything else. The whole ground shakes violently as the bombing keeps going persistently, even the painful shrieks of the demons are barely heard among these earsplitting booms.
Blood-red fire towers rise into the sky, splitting apart the dark clouds of the dystopian city.
This is ridiculous. It's so terrifying, but...
''So beautiful...'' I unknowningly mutters.
Among the sea of fire, I can still catch glimpses of the half-golden scales and the silver eyes. She flaps her wings calmly and leisurely, looking down on the creatures below—no matter the size, the strength, as if everything is beneath her.
This is the dragoness that rules over the flame and destruction—Sariel.
