Cat Dragon Story～～～Ten ①～～～
I made a song using the lyrics of a lullaby that appears in the story. "The Trail of the Dragon's Tail"
https://youtu.be/m4-1xUFlgoY
If you like, please listen to it as a closing recap after reading or before going to bed.
~~~Go Over My Dead Body~~~
Summer vacation began, and Elliot went on an adventure with Michael and Alex. They visited places they suspected had magic crystals, searching for the lost power of the Cat Dragon. However, along the way, various difficulties awaited them.
After about three days of riding in the carriage, they arrived at their first destination. An ancient ruin leading to the forest. "This is as far as the carriage can go," the driver said.
"I understand. Thank you," Elliot said, handing over the carriage fare.
Coachman: "Hey guys, I heard there's been some suspicious people going in and out of the woods beyond the ancient ruins lately. I guess anyone who goes to a dangerous place like that is a suspicious person."
Alex: "Is it really that dangerous?"
Coachman: "Yeah, it's unexplored land, so you never know what's going to come out. Normal people don't go near it. I'm not gonna say anything bad, but if you do go, make sure you stay here at the ancient ruins."
Elliot: "Thanks for the advice. I'll be careful."
After the coachman left, Michael muttered, "Well, I'll go." Alex: "Yeah, I guess so." Elliot: "Yeah."
The three looked at each other and giggled.
They slowly stepped into the ruins. It was dim inside, and the air was filled with silence. Suddenly, Elliot stopped.
Elliot: "This is it! This mural is the same as the one in the lullaby lyrics! I never knew why a mural with the lyrics of a lullaby that everyone knows was painted in a place like this, but now I understand what it means."
Alex (gasping): "You're right... so this is also a clue to the Cat Dragon's magic crystal."
Michael (unable to contain his excitement): "This can't be a coincidence."
The three of them left the ancient ruins and entered the deep forest that continued beyond.
Elliot, Alex, and Michael were walking deep into the ancient forest. They were searching for the legendary magic crystal, and were excited by the possibilities that its power could bring.
The forest was quiet, and occasionally they could hear the sound of a babbling brook from afar.
After walking for a while, they felt a strong magical vibration from ahead and stopped in their tracks.
Elliot noticed something strange around them and said. "Something is approaching. Everyone, be on your guard."
Alex answered, hiding his nervousness. "I can go anytime. But I'd like to avoid a clash if possible."
Michael looked around and said, "This vibration... it's definitely a wizard."
Suddenly, a group of wizards appeared in front of them.
Elliot called out, "Hello, I'm Elliot, and these two are Alex and Michael."
The leader-like man replied in surprise, probably not expecting to encounter someone in a place like this. "Oh, yeah, hello, my name is Zanos. What are you guys doing here?"
Elliot replied, "We're here to look for something. Are you traveling?"
Zanos calmed down and said calmly. "Yeah, well, I'm just taking a break."
Michael said suspiciously. "Are you going to take a break in this uncharted land?"
Zanos said dissatisfied, "What are you trying to say?"
Elliot said. "Normally, if someone comes to a place like this, unless they're a pioneer, I think they're either someone with something to hide or someone like us who's looking for something."
...Tension rises between them and silence reigns.
After a moment of silence, Michael mutters, "Magic crystal."
At that moment, Zanos shouts, "How do you know that?"
At almost the same time that Zanos shouts, an attack spell is fired from behind him at Elliot and the other three.
However, a giant tree appears in front of Elliot and the others, blocking the attack.
The giant tree was prepared by Alex, who hadn't said a word up until then, and had been concentrating his magic on it.
Alex says, "This is terrible. I didn't want it to end like this. I wanted to avoid a conflict."
Elliot nods in agreement and asks Zanos from behind the tree. "Mr. Zanos, we don't want to fight. Shall we talk about it?"
After a short pause, Zanos replies, "OK. I'm sorry that my subordinate suddenly attacked you earlier. Please forgive me."
Elliot continues, "What we're concerned about is what you're planning to do with the Cat Dragon's magic crystals. If your goal is the same as ours, we don't need to fight."
Zanos replies, "Of course, we're going to use them to revive the Cat Dragon. Isn't that the same for you guys?"
Elliot replies, "Oh, good. We're also on a journey to revive the Cat Dragon."
Zanos: "I see, then let's join forces. We want to use our power to make the world a better place. But to do that, we need a strong will and control the Cat Dragon."
Elliot muttered in shock. "Domination? Domination?" At that moment, Elliot remembers the scream of Oswald's vision from the library (Don't try to dominate the Cat Dragon. Make peace with the Cat Dragon.)
Elliot appeals to Zanos, "Domination is no good. Don't you know why the Cat Dragon fell asleep?"
Zanos replies, "I know, about the magical rampage and the subsequent disaster, but we won't make such a mistake."
Elliot says angrily, "What guarantee is there? And even if it works, that kind of power shouldn't be concentrated in one person or group."
Zanos says firmly, "It's a difference of opinion. With power, you can move the world."
Michael mutters with an angry look, "Why don't you think it's arrogant to think that we're the ones who will move that world?"
The three of them look at each other and nod. It was the moment they decided to fight.
Elliot said: "This is unacceptable. We will stop you here."
Zanos said calmly: "Are you incompatible? If so, it seems that it is time to leave it to heaven to decide who is right."
Tension spread between the two, and at that moment the conflict became clear. The group of wizards and Elliot and his friends raised their wands and began to prepare for battle.
Elliot, Alex, and Michael faced the inevitable battle with Zanos and his friends.
Elliot, Alex, and Michael were struggling in the battle with Zanos and his friends. The forest was shaking with battle magic, magical sparks were illuminating the forest, and the ancient trees were trembling with the power.
Elliot tried to toy with his enemies with magic that controlled space, but Zanos and his friends also countered with teleportation, and the battle continued back and forth.
Elliot used his ability to move instantly to escape from dangerous situations many times.
Michael tried to use magic to manipulate time to turn the tide of battle, but Zanos's wizards were also well versed in time magic, and his efforts were not easily borne fruit.
Alex tried to use magic to manipulate nature to make plants grow and capture the enemy, but Zanos and his men were also skilled in nature magic, and his attempts were repeatedly thwarted.
As the battle reached its climax, Elliot and his men were painfully aware of the difference in strength between them and Zanos's group. Elliot: "Damn, at this rate..."
But then came the moment when fate was on their side.
When Elliot tried to teleport behind the enemy with magic to manipulate space, a branch that had happened to be lying at his feet touched part of the magic circle.
This was a lucky miscalculation, and Elliot moved to an unexpected place and succeeded in breaking up Zanos' formation. At that moment, a light of confidence came into Elliot's eyes. "Now!" Elliot shouted.
When Michael cast the time-slowing spell, birds flapped around him, amplifying the effect of the spell with small turbulence. This caused the enemy to move slower than usual,
and Alex made a large tree grow rapidly, successfully capturing several of the enemies. Michael was sure of victory, seeing how well they worked together.
Then, the animals responded to Alex's call and attacked Zanos and his men, and when Alex used a spell to change the weather, a sudden wind of nature strengthened the power of the spell, creating a mist that surrounded the enemies.
Zanos and his men were confused, losing their sight, and Elliot and his men took advantage of this opportunity to launch a simultaneous attack. Alex felt that the power of nature was helping them win, and he hid his joy inside.
Elliot and his men's simultaneous attack overwhelmed Zanos and his men. In their panic, Zanos and his men lost control of their own magic, and were ultimately defeated as they were consumed by their own power.
These fortunate events came together, and when they delivered a decisive blow to Zanos and his men, they exchanged glances and shared their victory in silence. Silence returned to the forest, and Elliot and his men's victory was confirmed.
Elliot and his men walked cautiously and vigilantly to where Zanos had been. There, Zanos lay, his life on the verge of being extinguished.
Zanos looked into Elliot's eyes and said in a faint voice: "Elliot... we were defeated... but we have no regrets... I guess Heaven didn't choose us... I mean, I really wanted to make the world a better place... Elliot... what do you guys want power for?"
Elliot answers, "Mr. Zanos. So do we. We want to use the power of the Cat Dragon for the world. But you shouldn't try to control the Cat Dragon. I don't know yet, but I want to explore how to do that."
Zanos looks relieved and says, "I see... then you must never give up... and make sure you achieve it..."
And with that, Zanos dies.
The forest is silent, and Elliot and the others join their hands in a moment of silence.
Continued in Episode 6
