Hydraheads

Chapter 3: Ukiyo

The Durgasaur dragon rammed against the hyperdimensional gate into a dark world. It seemed to possess no skill in performing a safe landing. The fact that there was an angry female knight on its back could be an explanation.

The monster accidentally released its prisoner onto the webbed ground. Rie and Riamu rolled for some time against a slimy and rugged surface. The short-haired girl coughed before realizing the terror that unfolded before her.

The dragon opened its mouth, but its desire to eat the youngster was being disturbed by the Black Hydrahead's coming attacks. Its head got battered by the merciless energy attack of Naniwa's drill sword. Its armor was ripped as if by a tornado in some places.

That didn't help the warrior much as Durgasaur anticipated her next aggression and easily slashed Black Hydrahead in the chest. Shrilling in pain, Naniwa couldn't avoid the strong gust of wind from the Asoraku's beating wings. She hit one of the black ancient ruins and dropped to the ground like the others. The monster didn't give much chance for a rematch as it slammed its mammoth foot to pin her down. There were cracking sounds as the girl's armor tried its best to handle the tonnage.

"Welcome to my humble abode," greeted Durgasaur as he enjoyed stepping on the Red Hydrahead. It gave off the widest fang-filled smile.

"Makara! ARGH!" called Riamu. He wasn't in good shape himself. Blood began to seep all over his gakuran from the open wound on his shoulder. Agony got him roughed up.

"You can shout as loud as you can, Boy. Only those who abandoned their hope can find us down here." Durgasaur saw Rie's terrified look and started speaking with tunes. "Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam. Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home."

The somewhat calming warble in dissonance with the eerie atmosphere of the dark world. The sky was black with a strange reddish hue. Moving air howled between the black stone pagodas like the cry of a thousand ghosts. Rie and Riamu's hair was soaked with swelter as the temperature there was more than they could tolerate. And the smell...

"Your place smells worse than a bad day at the gym, Durgasaur," ridiculed Riamu in defiance.

"I apologize for the mess. If you have too many skeletons in your closet, the smell would eventually leak out," replied Durgasaur with a chuckle before unveiling the multiple slithering tongues. He then simply stopped for a brief moment as if hit by an epiphany. "I remember now. It was just a senseless rage before. It is focused and clear now. I remember why I hate Rao so much." There were gritting noises in his teeth. "The way Rao abandoned us in America was unforgivable."

"Wait, you know this... thing, Anija?!" asked Rie in confusion. She coughed heavily between the sharp breaths.

Durgasaur laughed hard with a suitably monstrous voice. "Our relationship is more akin to a butcher and its meat."

Riamu didn't reply. He didn't even do anything. The putrid air had taken its toll on the teenager. The world became increasingly blurry around him before it turned black entirely.

Durgasaur's face came closer. "He can't escape the slaughter no matter how hard he tries...."

"I guess life isn't as simple as an anima, huh?" sputtered Riamu as his consciousness slowly left his body.

***

Riamu peeked his head above the thick mist that clung to the cold ground. He forced himself out of grogginess to stand up. "Hello?" he called with a voice that echoed in the distance.