Joy Pursuit: Steel Dragon [Sci-Fi Fantasy | Horror | Action]

As ice and fire braced against the dark, deep within the broken body of Berserkrios, lost in the dying brain of the Coarseblood, echoed the desperate pleas of Vaal. Cast in shadow, he flailed hopelessly, his voice a mix of incoherent insults and screams.

THUD!

"OW!" Vaal yelped in pain, squirming on some hard unknown.

His eyes shot open as he took in a breath of cool air. "Huh?" he looked around confused.

Blue skies and wispy clouds stretched as far as he could see. He pressed his hands against the warm, porous rock. It was lightly covered in dried lichen, radiating a familiar yet subtle smell. But his eyes didn't linger on the old rock, drawn instead to an armored figure that stood stoically near the peak of the massive rock, staring down at some unknown horizon.

Vaal's stomach sank. "It can't be."

The armored figure turned slightly, his armored profile defined against the vast expanse. Wind tugged at the tattered cloth woven through the gaps in the armor, frayed ends fluttering like the bygone banners of some unknown empire. His chest plate, sleek and asymmetrical, twisted perfectly with his body as he faced Vaal. The false sun above shone down on the figure, revealing a wolfish and angular helm casting a clothed face in shadow, the visage of a forlorn ghost of the hunt.

Vaal felt emotion flood through his heart, creating a pit in his chest as the figure slowly walked over to him.

"Vaal?" The armored figure said with a tired voice. His words edged with authority.

Ezzeks!? That's impossible—why now? Vaal's thoughts raced as the armored figure began to approach him.

Ezzeks stared down at the panicked Vaal. "It's rare seeing you without that cringy armor of yours." His gauntlet rose to his chin, feigning contemplation.

Vaal clenched his fists against the stone, glaring back. If he's here, then who the hell is Berserkrios? Vaal swallowed hard and half-heartedly smiled. "Sir Deired, that's you, isn't it?"

Ezzeks mockingly looked at himself, "Hmmm… Not sure. What do you think?" he said with biting sarcasm

"Don't be a dick!" Vaal snapped as he scowled under his snow-white hair. "Things have been weird, alright?" He paused, softening his demeanor into a crude smile and looked up at the figure. He looks and talks exactly like Ezzeks. So then who's Berserkrios? "Wait—does the name Berserkrios mean anything to you?"

Ezzeks hesitated, letting the wind blow the frayed cloth around the armor to flutter violently. "I've never heard the name. But—" he raised his head, staring into the piercing blue. "I think it sounds fucking stupid."

"Yegh…" Vaal lowered his head again, dropping the clearly fake smile. So they're not the same? They're both equally crude, though…

"Speaking of stupid names," Ezzeks murmured, turning toward the distant horizon, "what's with the stench of Cadrange? Is there an Abyssal breach nearby?"

The Baron?! Vaal raised a brow before quickly shaking the thought away as he ran over to a nearby ledge that overlooked a most definitely deadly fall down an alabaster cliff.

Ezzeks followed. "What's the situa—" He suddenly staggered, painfully holding his head. "Wha—what happened to the Azribur and the Summit?"

Vaal's eyes widened in shock before settling back down into a knowing glare before he turned to face the weary Ezzeks. "I figured you'd forgotten…"

Ezzeks placed a hand against his helm. "The last thing I remember was…was—you—and the rest of the Strom Unit arguing… then…ugh. How did we end up here?"

Vaal gave him an annoyed look. "That black dome rat used his Kyyr—so here we are."

Ezzeks groaned, steadying himself with a deep breath. "Ugh…" He took in the fresh air that was winding through his armor. "I'm guessing this ledge is our best way to the throne."

Vaal looked at him surprised before his face softened into an annoyed smirk. "Right—you've been here before."

Ezzeks remained unmoving as he stared at the horizon before them. "How long have you been here?"

"No idea." Vaal shrugged while flicking a rock down the precipice. "Time is all fucked up in here."

Their exchange was abruptly halted by a rumble overhead, drawing their gazes skyward. A massive crimson scar sliced across the sky, shattering its serene blue and flooding the world below in ominous hues of crimson and purple.

"We need to hurry!" Vaal shouted urgently, putting a foot on the edge of the cliff.

Ezzeks followed, raising his voice against the thunderous rumbling from the splitting heavens. "What's happening to our body?!"

"We're dying!"

"HA? Why didn't you tell me? What flavor of abyssal spawn are we dealing with?"

"It's not spawn!" Vaal shouted as he wobbled at the edge of the rock they were on.

The world around them erupted with a mess of bony spires that crested the heavens as the world began to disintegrate into a mangle of chaos.

Ezzeks walked up to the edge. "Are we alone out there?"

"No. There's—"

But before he could further explain, Ezzeks had already jumped into the precipices of rending spires.

Beyond the shattered memories, the M. Cerberus was crashing down onto Vidrago, its wild swings ripping through the air as shrapnel and dust erupted from where its claws had struck. Vidrago smirked as he lightly brushed his palms against the beast as he deftly evaded the wild strikes. The Cerberus roared in pain, its arm suddenly erupting with frigid growths ripping through its scales.

Vidrago repositioned himself, distancing himself from the screeching monster, carefully keeping track of his surroundings.

Suddenly, the S. Cerberus jumped down from its perch, brutally ripping the frozen limb from the larger beast before vomiting shrieking flesh onto its open wound. The wounded M. Cerberus roared in agonized rage, slamming its half-regenerated arm into the ground, unleashing waves of bladed tendrils toward Vidrago. Yet, each strike failed, as he flowed seamlessly through the waves of flesh and bone.

Krrrssssshhh…

There was a sparkling haze that enveloped the slender form of Vidrago. A shimmering miasma that scratched at the air. Its breathy composition enshrouding the writhing limbs in a crackling mist. The M. Cerberus let out a pained whimper as it retracted half-frozen lumps of stiffened flesh.

In the shadows beyond, the Lightningbound Cerberus suddenly let out a sharp snarl.

The other two Cerberuses suddenly stiffened and retreated back, regrouping in the gloom.

Vidrago flared his Kyyr receptors, carefully tracing their movements within the darkness, yet his eyes never strayed from the L. Cerberus. Its mere presence felt poisonous, a corrosive terror gnawing insistently at his mind, urging his defiant body to flee.

Death.

His face lit up, lips curling into a crooked, exhilarated smile as the intoxicating anxiety shuddered along his nerves. Standing draped in shifting shadows, he inhaled deeply, savoring the oddly sweet, citrus scent mingling in the air, causing his Kyyr to flutter excitedly.

The Cerberus now stood perched one floor up. Like fleshy gargoyles, they watched Vidrago unmoving. Staring with eyeless glares at the fidgeting Servinae.

Vidrago stood there, his muscles tense with eager anticipation.

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But nothing.

Only distant rumblings, the echoing cracks of fracturing stone, and the faint wails drifting from other levels filled the void. The M. Cerberus spasmed as it bit into its own hand as it stared down at Vidrago, its body shuddering as it glanced at its counterparts. The S. Cerberus sat there blankly entranced by its own claws, entirely indifferent to Vidrago. The L. Cerberus remained disturbingly still, except for its upper jaw, which jittered in spurts as something under its skin fought to rip the top half of its skull off its houndish head.

Vidrago's smile wavered slightly, unease settling coldly in his gut. Why'd they get all shy? He glanced towards the edge of the rubble opposite to where Gira had fallen. I still have time… but… he looked back at the three Cerberuses that had completely disengaged. "Ugh…" What an annoying way to waste my amazing idea.

Seconds stretched painfully, gravity anchoring heavily within his chest. Beneath them, Cetarro Tower quaked violently, its lower levels swallowed inexorably by the rising Inverse Sea.

Nearby, Serfet dragged himself silently through the rubble, teeth gritted against the agony. He used his arms to support himself, each movement painstakingly cautious. The Cerberus and Vidrago had fallen eerily silent, leaving him alone with his racing thoughts. He pressed forward doggedly. Don't you dare die on me.

A tortured groan resonated beneath Serfet's trembling body—steel warping, floors buckling, plunging deep into the cold blackness below. Rubble cascaded around him, and his gaze flew toward the distant windows. Waves crashed violently, icy seawater gushing through shattered panes in torrents of chilling black.

How close are we to the surface? he wondered as inverted seawater grazed his face. The abyssal Kyyr twisted in black spirals as it ascended up into the atrium. Is there anyone left on the surface? He pressed forth towards the Coarseblood.

Meanwhile, Vidrago shuddered, feeling the cold water bubble around his ankles before it suddenly froze and cracked away into coarse mist. Realization struck, and he laughed bitterly, glancing toward the rising abyssal waters. "Oho! You clever beasties. I get it now. Why even fight silly me when you can let this frigid sea kill me?" He scoffed, Kyyr flashing. "As if…" he whispered as Kyyr crackled around him, the sparkling mist compressing around his limbs as he dragged his gaze deliberately across the three Cerberus.

With a biting swing of motion, he burst with energy. He rushed the S. Cerberus that had been vacantly examining its own claws.

Jumping through the rubble using Kyyr to boost his physique enough to reach the beast, he reached. His hand glimmered in the dark as he reached his target with violent intent. Yet at the last moment, the S. Cerberus gracefully evaded, tilting its head just beyond his grasp as Vidrago soared past. Recovering gracefully, he pivoted fluidly, resuming his pursuit without hesitation.

The creature dodged once again, choosing to avoid Vidrago. It jumped down from its perch, landing on the watery floor with a loud splash.

The Inverted Sea was now about ankle-high to the beast.

The nearby M. Cerberus trembled, saliva dripping as it whimpered toward the indifferent L. Cerberus.

Vidrago's eye twitched. "Come on, you stupid abyssal spawn!" he snarled, his voice edging toward panic. "Are you seriously gonna blueball me!?"

But the Cerberus remained indifferent to Vidrago's plight as the water continued to rise.

Serfet let out a sigh of relief after hearing the annoyed Vidrago. And thanks to the rising water, traversing the terrain with his wounded leg had become slightly easier. Guess Vidrago's greedy little plan is dead in the water.

Reaching the edge of the rubble, he looked around, and there he spotted him. Against the murk and rising black water was Gira's body embedded deep into a far-off wall.

He let out a sigh of relief that was quickly torn from him as he frantically held onto some rubble as he felt the water's current begin to drag against him violently. The esoteric tide was now chest high and it was pulling Serfet up and out of the water as long strands of Inverse water scaled the air. Clinging desperately to the slippery debris, Serfet battled the current until he managed to haul himself clear. Shivering uncontrollably, he crawled onto solid rubble, finding a stable perch. There he carefully drew out his M.K. Blade's hilt. He took deep breaths, glancing at Vidrago, who was currently yapping at the indifferent collection of monsters.

"Here goes…" he whispered, turning to face Gira's distant form.

Meanwhile, within the throne, Vaal and Ezzeks had crashed down onto the assortment of red furniture.

"It's getting worse!" Vaal snapped, glaring at the spreading network of crimson cracks that spread across the skyward void, flashing bolts of entropic lightning frozen in a stygian red display.

Ezzeks landed smoothly beside him, appraising the ominous spectacle. "Death is nigh…" he drawled. "But worry not. I'll manage something."

"Something?" Vaal said incredulously. "You know, maybe we can ge—huh?" He looked around the shattered furniture. "What the...? Where did they go?"

Gira, Berserkrios, K, and Savagrios were gone.

"Who?" Ezzeks asked.

"The other group of idiots that—ugh! Doesn't matter, let's just—"

"Ground yourself!" Ezzeks commanded, gripping Vaal by the arm and pulling him onto a long crimson sofa. "For we must join our minds in communion."

"Bleh…" Vaal gave Ezzeks a disgusted look before reluctantly clamping his eyes shut along with the armored Ezzeks, their minds melding as they nestled themselves atop the empty throne.

The two egos clashed with one another as the fragmented essence of Ezzeks came to understand the events through the lens of Vaal. His sense of self fluttered as he faced the memory of him and he who was to be him and the he who currently was him. Tension. Ripples on the edge of his mind. An uneasy terror held the old Dragon Hunter tight. Painful creaking born from a faulty beating. The two minds felt the cold sea and the searing agony.

thump….

Serfet flinched, snapping toward the ivory king impressed upon the stone. The hallowed visage of the Coarseblood, illuminated lightly by the dying lights filtering through the rising sheets of rain. Did he hear right?

THUMP…

Serfet held the Kyyr booster in his pocket tightly as, from within the darkened figure, he saw a mellow glow emerge against the abyss.

The Cerberus that had been passively avoiding Vidrago's advance suddenly froze in place as the thundering roar of the L. Cerberus tore through the atrium.

Thunder rumbled.

THUMP…

The L. Cerberus dropped from its perch.

Serfet's eyes widened. "SHIT! VIDRAGO!" he screamed, igniting his M.K. blade from atop the rubble. Its incandescent sheen shining down on the rising waters.

The L. Cerberus crashed through the water, but—

HGSHHHH!~

A piercing cold erupted from its back, splitting the beast's spine with icy growths. Its pained howl spurred the other two Cerberuses into action, but at its anguished bark, they halted, hesitated, then charged madly toward the Coarseblood.

Serfet's face lit up in surprise. Holy Symbols! Vidrago's greedy-ass plan is willing itself into existence! He adjusted himself, the blade cutting the darkness as the roaring flames were placed into a sheath of compressed energy. Kyyr poured into his eyes as he stared at the oddly desperate Cerberus that rushed the now shuddering body of the Coarseblood.

Vidrago's confident grin vanished instantly as the convulsing L. Cerberus threw him violently from its back. He tumbled through the air, landing hard and awkwardly on a chunk of rubble. That rising Kyyr! "SERFET! WATCH OUT!"

Serfet adjusted himself. I trust the thrumming heat of my gaze. Of my blade set ablaze. The blade at his hip grew brighter. My unique sword style, I revel in this Vile Rive. "A Seventh Heaven within my soul as the beast falls!"

The air crackled as an esoteric flash of electric Kyyr exploded from the L. Cerberus. The booming essence of death ripped past the other Cerberus. The ice rending its legs as its mangled body eclipsed the flames of Serfet as its jaws split open!

Serfet's eyes focused and in that fleeting second his fiery Kyyr rocketed him into the gaping thunder of the Cerberus.

From above, Mera staggered back, shielding her eyes from the sudden light of esoteric thunder and faux flames erupted from below.

Waves of Kyyr tore through the rising rain as the undeniable figure of the L. Cerberus crashed down into the murky water.

Vidrago, who was struggling on a nearby island of rubble, looked through the lingering sparks and vapor. His heart fluttered as his silver eyes flashed with the palpable excitement of a child.

"Not bad! Not bad at all!" he laughed as a wave of cold water crashed into him.

The Cerberus lay split in half, its body writhing in burning agony and just past it, barely clinging onto one of the exposed ribs of the Coarseblood, was a bloodied Serfet that was weakly holding on.

THUMP!

Serfet shuddered as the rhythmic pounding grew louder, his eyes locking onto the enormous, pulsating heart nestled within the Coarseblood's skeletal frame. Its multichambered mass glowed vividly beneath layers of white, scaly growths.

He struggled against the swirling waters, desperation rising as he rummaged through his pocket, his fingers cutting on shattered glass.

THUMP…

He reached into his pocket, the shattered glass and the oozing Kyyr numbing his skin.

THUMP!

"Not like this..." he breathed raggedly, extracting the broken vial still dripping with a precious fraction of glimmering blue fluid.

THUMP!

A piercing roar echoed from behind as the L. Cerberus was surrounded by the writhing flesh of the S. Cerberus.

Gritting his teeth, Serfet pulled himself higher, raising the shattered flask defiantly above his head. With all his remaining strength, he plunged the vial into the beating heart!

TH—RRGHK!... Sssshhhh…

Steam erupted from within the bony innards of the Coarseblood. The pressure and heat hurled Serfet into the rising water. The icy currents smashed into Serfet, the abyssal condensation ripping through his body in painful, frigid waves that dragged at his frail body.

No demons lurked within these tides—only the bitter, numbing abyss.

He stretched out a trembling hand.

thump…thump

His senses dimmed, the cold seeping deeper into his bones.

Thump…

His eyes stung.

His body numb.

It was cold.

So incredibly cold.