(Theme: A Scent Beyond Hierarchy)
The jungle pressed down on him — suffocating, alien, alive. Kaito's heart pounded so loud it drowned the world.
What... what is that thing? No way. Dragons—dragons are myths... right? This can't be real. It can't!
Heat rippled through the air like waves from a furnace. The massive shadow swallowed the sky above.
Obsidian scales glistened — cracked, molten lines glowing between. Electricity arced along jagged horns. A growl like breaking earth shook his bones.
Move. MOVE!
His legs felt like stone. His breath caught.
Am I dreaming? Or did that light—shit. I'm cooked. This is it.
A claw like a blackened scythe rose, aiming straight for him.
Then —
The jungle exploded.
A figure burst through the ferns — black armor hugging every line, a crimson horn blazing like a war banner. The girl's goggles reflected the crackling light, and her movements cut through the heat-haze like a blade.
Kaito blinked through the terror haze.
Wait... her. That girl. What's she doing? Is she crazy? She's gonna fight that thing?
The girl threw herself between him and the beast.
She's trying to protect me? What the hell—
His mind raced.
That's no ordinary dragon. Draconis... infernus? I don't know. I don't care. It's death staring at me.
Her armor hissed under the heat. The dragon's claw paused — inches from Kaito's throat.
The molten eyes shifted. Watching. Studying.The beast froze, its nostrils flaring, as if scenting something deeper.This human… his blood… it sings of forgotten epochs… what are you, little one?
The girl gritted her teeth.
Tch. Why's it just staring?
Out loud: "Hey! Fight me, you overgrown lizard!"
She charged — horn first.
The dragon flicked a talon.
CRASH — the girl flew through the undergrowth.
But she rose. Again. Power bled from her skin — crimson lightning burning the ground beneath her boots.
"RRRAAAH!"
She went berserk. Claws, teeth, pure rage.
"Captain Akari's burning out!" a soldier shouted from somewhere beyond the trees.
[ GLITCH ]—Child Akari strapped down. Needles. Black blood coiling through veins.
Kaito shook himself. He threw himself at her, arms locking around her like chains.
She thrashed. An elbow slammed his ribs. He felt the crack, tasted blood.
Still, he held on.
No. No more. Not again.
Her claws tore his forearms open. Blood spilled warm.
But his eyes — cold, steady — met hers.
"Stop," he whispered.
Her storm faltered. Rage trembled.
"Don't... don't be the next one to fall for nothing."
She went still.
The dragon rumbled.
"You... interest me. Next time... I won't just watch."
It turned. Shadows swallowed it whole.
Kaito sagged. Akari looked at him — saw the blood, the torn flesh. Guilt flashed in her eyes.
The medic's scanner beeped.
"Your ribs... they're healing?!"
[ DNA: 99.8% HUMAN | 0.2% ERROR ]
Steam curled off closing wounds.
Above them — unseen — a figure watched. Purple eyes gleamed in the dark, cold and unblinking. It wasn't the dragon's gaze. This one stood apart, high in the canopy, silent as the night.
It observed — the dragon, Akari, Kaito — but its focus lingered on the dragon's molten form... and on the girl who dared defy it.
ORION'S NOTE: "Dun dun DUN! Who's this shady spectator? Tune in next time for 'Why Is Everyone Obsessed With Kaito?' Seriously guys get a hobby!"