Saquin: Death To My Enemies

The kiss lingered, tender and unhurried, as if both of them wanted to suspend the moment in time. The glow of the golden flower by Saquin's ear shimmered faintly, casting warm hues across their faces.

When Sharon finally pulled away, her amber eyes lingered over Saquin, a mix of emotions swirling within them—relief, fondness, and a trace of vulnerability she rarely let slip.

"Well, that was awesome," Saquin said, his eyes still closed as Sharon's lips left his.

"You bet it was," Sharon replied, a smug grin spreading across her face.

"Haha, you're becoming more like yourself by the minute," Saquin teased, noting her increasing smugness. "The pride is still there."

"What pride?" she asked, waving her hand dismissively.

"The one that's always been there."

"You mean the pride that made you fall head over heels for me at first sight?" she retorted with a raised brow.

"I think you're misremembering things. You were the one who fell first."

"'Hey there, miss, are you fine? I was just walking around the woods and happened to catch a glimpse of you. I couldn't help but check on you,'" Sharon mimicked, smirking. "I guess you weren't the one who said that?"

"Hey, all I did was lend a helping hand to a damsel in distress. It doesn't prove anything. You fell first—and hard at that."

"Then explain all the obvious flirting five minutes after we met."

"Hey, you know I flirted with every beauty I met back then. I only changed after that night."

"You just admitted you saw me as a beauty at first sight."

"That doesn't mean I fell for you. It just means I acknowledged your beauty."

"Yeah, right," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Tch. But still, you have to admit, I have game. I mean, I made a princess fall hard for me—a village bumpkin."

"You're changing the topic."

"Yep. But we seriously need to talk about how a proud princess like you fell for me to the point of tears."

"I hate you."

"I don't," Saquin quipped with a grin.

"Tch. I'm leaving," Sharon said, standing up on his chest.

"So soon?"

"I'll stay longer if you agree to give an explanation to my father."

"Hmm. So, when will I see you again?"

"When you come to the Southern Kingdom for the deployment—that's in two months."

"Hey, that's too far."

"You could see me sooner if you follow me there now and make our relationship official by having an audience with my father."

"So you're saying we won't see each other until the deployment?"

"Haha, you know you'll have to talk to him sooner or later, right?"

"I'll do it when I come for the deployment. Then, I'll officially ask for your hand in marriage."

Sharon blinked, caught off guard by the confidence in his voice. For a fleeting moment, she felt a warmth spread through her chest—a mixture of disbelief and something softer she refused to name.

"You're serious," she said, her tone caught between disbelief and laughter. "You actually think you can just waltz into the Southern Kingdom, charm my father, and ask for my hand in marriage?"

"Why not?" Saquin shrugged, his back to the mud radiating an unhealthy amount of self confidence as if the world were his for the taking. "I have the strength, and wealth isn't hard to come by, I am about to loot the county next door. Position? Give me a few weeks."

Sharon crossed her arms, trying and failing to hide a small smile. "It's not that simple, you know. I may be a princess, but my father won't give his approval lightly just because of wealth, position and strength."

Her voice softened, and she looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze. "Still… you'd do it anyways right?"

Saquin's grin faltered, replaced by a rare sincerity. "Of course I would."

For a moment, Sharon said nothing, a thousand thoughts flashing through her mind. Finally, she leaned forward and brushed the mud from his face with her thumb, her smile equal parts teasing and genuine.

"Well then," she said, "you'd better prepare yourself. Because when the time comes, I'm not going to make it easy for you."

"Brace yourself." She said as she straighten her back.

"Hey, wai—"

Boom!

Saquin sank into the mud as a small crater formed around him. Sharon had jumped upwards, launching herself high into the air, higher than the trees surrounding them.

"See you… husband," Sharon whispered midair as she reached the highest point of her jump. As gravity began pulling her down, the sound of gigantic wings flapping filled the forest. Her dragon swooped in, catching her as she landed gracefully on its neck. Without pause, it carried her away, almost as if she were fleeing.

---

A few minutes later.

Saquin was still lying in the mud, though now his entire body was coated in it. Motionless, he seemed lost in thought, the flower carefully stored in his inventory. Wait… was what just happened real? he wondered. I… I kissed her!

[ ... ]

What?

[ Nothing. It's just—you're this tough, cool, smart guy with an absurd amount of self-confidence and narcissism, and yet here you are, acting like a lovesick puppy. It's kind of funny. ]

You don't understand. I don't either. When I first saw her, she was supposed to be just another piece of amusement in my psychopathic, narcissistic life, but…

[ Love. ]

It's an annoyance.

[ Yep. ]

It's just…

[ What? ]

I actually love her. And I'm not sure if she feels the same.

[ Seriously? Dude, she literally called you her husband. What other evidence do you need? ]

I guess you're-

Saquin's thought was interrupted as he bolted upright, his eyes sharp. Lira! he called telepathically.

"Yes?" came her response, calm but alert.

Does Dread have any relatives?

"Hmm… yes. He was a prince of the Earth Dragon race, the son of the Beast King in the Central Kingdom, and the nephew of the Balogun here in the Eastern Kingdom."

The Balogun doesn't happen to be a Level 8 dragon, does he?

"Yeah… how did you know?"

Well, shit. Saquin sighed. Lira, I need you to hold off three Level 7s. Can you do it?

"Erm… I'll try, but why would I have to—"

Lira's ears perked up as she suddenly felt four massive auras closing in on Brimar Forest.

"Who the hell killed my nephew?!"

The thunderous roar of the massive dragon at the front echoed through the forest.

Saquin, who had sensed the approaching visitors well before Lira, took out Ryan's oversized, abominable sword from his inventory. He weighed it in his hands.

[ You're going to have to make do with it. ]

I guess you're right.

Saquin overloaded the sword with SP.

[ -150 SP ]

The blade began to frost over as his SP coursed through it, the metal transforming into transparent blue ice.

Crack!

The weapon gleamed with an otherworldly chill as Saquin took a throwing stance, aiming at one of the smaller dragons beside the Balogun.

[ Wait! Don't tell me you're planning to throw it. ]

What else would I do with it?

[ Swing it. ]

Never! Saquin replied as he hurled the sword with all his might.

Boom!

A deafening sonic boom followed, the sword hurtling through the air like a streak of icy blue light, freezing the air as it passed.

Lira, Saquin asked telepathically, his tone calm amidst the chaos, if I kill the Balogun, do I get the title?

As the question reached her, he pointed his index finger at the Balogun, his lips curling into a smirk. Let me flex a bit.

Time Brief.

The Balogun, racing toward Brimar Forest, noticed the icy flash aimed at his second nephew. He narrowed his eyes. Who the hell throws a sword? And does he really think he can kill my nephew while I'm right here?

The Balogun braced himself, his claws surging with power to intercept the projectile. But just as the sword entered his strike range, everything slowed.

He could only watch helplessly as the blade shot past him, piercing his nephew's forehead dead center.

Headshot.

At that exact moment, Lira's response came through, her voice tinged with awe.

"Yes."