The Death We Seek

Blood Type: Ice Cold [Chapter 6]

Every time he fell asleep and didn't annihilate himself the day before, he always seemed to wake up in perfect condition. Unfortunately, today was not that day.

He woke up to the incessant retinal abuse from the False Sun and the shifting of his blanket. Blankets don't shift.

Propelled up to his feet, our protagonist looked at the wing of the dragon he had slept under and recalled his memories of the day prior. It seemed like every day he woke up not in his bed, he was startled. All he wanted was a normal and calming morning for once.

Issei looked down at the bottom of the valley he had called home for the night, to see Tannin in all his might rendered absolutely useless. Multiple of the more courageous dragons tried to wake him up, just to be blown off. He supposed he would help a little bit.

Jumping down the hundred metres of mountain rock, he hit the ground relatively quietly thanks to his own wings. Tannin's nest was the largest, carved from the floor into the side opposite him. His kin, still trying to wake him, looked at Issei with almost begging eyes. He just walked up to the cavern, slipped through the path the dragons had made and, upon reaching the Blaze Meteor, could be seen grinning cheek to cheek.

He raised his hand, encased it in a magical circle, and slammed it down directly onto Tannin's head. A small crater formed from the force, and it certainly did the job of rattling his brain in its confines. Then came the real fright.

Issei roared. Within an enclosed space, it amplified the already empowered projection into a deafening earthquake-simulating battle cry. Tannin stood at attention almost immediately. Then, seeing his audience, just grumbled and tried to stomp a laughing Red Dragon Emperor. To no avail, of course.

He wouldn't be able to sleep after a show like that anyway. Truth be told, he thought he was under attack from Albion or Crom Cruach again. It was almost traumatic to the poor Former Dragon King.

"Fuck you."

"Love you too Scaly, now get up. It's awake time."

"If I wasn't still healing what you did yesterday, I would've killed you by now."

"You mean try, right? We both know you wouldn't succeed."

"Ugh."

Issei laughed. He knew Tannin just wanted to rest a bit, but if the dragons were trying to wake him, it's likely he had responsibilities to perform. His own body felt pretty good, his head not so much. Regardless, he was hesitant to go home. It was great, but only a single night here wasn't enough.

This place was like a sanctuary, a home away from home.

Breakfast was a sad affair. The dragons he had spent time with all wanted him to stay, especially the more clingy, demonstrating drakes that were trying to pin him down. Laughing all the way with a dragon apple in hand, they commenced a one-sided game of tag. It barely lasted for ten minutes before they were all exhausted. Issei just stood over them, having finished the apple; core and all. Then the bigger, older and stronger dragons decided to try and stop him from leaving.

Recommenced with hailstorms of magics, a more vicious game had started. The Red Dragon Emperor just continued laughing and weaving through the spells, he didn't even need his armour. Not until Tannin, who was watching alongside some of the mother dragons, wanted his payback. Feeling an immense buildup of energy from him, Issei immediately summoned his Sacred Gear and wings, giving himself more room to dodge. The laser of fire came the second he was primed in the air.

It was too wide to dodge. It also had enough power to burn him severely, so he decided it was time to frustrate Tannin even more. Stomping on the space below him, he propelled himself upward with a small barrier as a foothold. It had shattered instantly, but he was unscathed and wheezing for air laughing upon seeing the scowl resting on the Ultimate-Class hybrid's face.