The dragon's voice trembled through the heavens like a god's curse.
"Humans… destroyer gods of chaos. The beings who brought ruin to this kingdom!"
Every word carried enough pressure to shake the very stones beneath their feet. Dust whirled up from the ground as people struggled to understand what it meant. Then, with a sound that could split the sky, the dragon's wings unfurled—massive, obsidian membranes that blotted out the sun—and it roared, a violent scream that sent everyone stumbling back.
Kairo clenched his fists, his heart pounding in rhythm with the shockwaves.
"Damn it… it's moving!"
The dragon's body coiled upward like a hurricane being born. In an instant, it soared into the clouds, the air around it spiraling into a vortex. Then came the storm—
A massive blast of wind condensed into an orb of slicing energy before detonating across the battlefield.
"Brace yourselves!" shouted one of the knights, but it was useless.
The blast ripped through shields like paper, hurling men through the air. The ground cracked open. Screams and metal clanged together in chaos.
Rinn raised his arm, fire magic spinning wildly around him as he gritted his teeth.
"What are we supposed to do?! That thing's too strong!"
Kairo glanced at him, his eyes darting toward Luna.
She was standing motionless, her gaze locked on the dragon, mesmerized—or terrified. He couldn't tell which.
"Luna!" he yelled. "Get back!"
But the dragon had already noticed her.
With terrifying speed, it dove—massive wings slicing the air. Its chest glowed, gathering condensed wind energy before releasing it in a piercing wave. The blast struck before Luna could move, sending her crashing through the rubble.
"Luna!!"
Kairo's scream broke through the storm. His vision turned red.
He launched forward, mana exploding around him in a swirl of wind. His sword shimmered, forming a storm edge as he charged at the beast.
Rinn cursed under his breath, his own flames bursting from his hands. "You're not fighting it alone, idiot!"
The two clashed with the dragon midair—their combined force shaking the sky itself. The dragon roared again, its maw glowing brighter, charging another wind blast—one strong enough to annihilate everything below.
Kairo braced himself, but before he could act, Rinn leapt in front of him, forming a massive sphere of fire.
"Let's see if fire and wind mix this time!"
"Wait—Rinn, no—!"
Too late. The instant the fire collided with the dragon's wind, the world exploded.
A blinding inferno expanded outward, consuming the clouds. The shockwave threw both of them back like rag dolls. Kairo crashed into the ground, tumbling over stone, coughing blood.
"Damn it, Rinn!" he shouted, pulling himself up. "You could've killed us both!"
Rinn groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh… at least it looked cool."
Before Kairo could answer, the dragon landed again, the wind around it turning into slicing blades that shredded through buildings. The ground shook. The air itself screamed.
Then—a flash of light.
A flaming arrow streaked through the smoke and pierced the dragon's shoulder, bursting in a fiery explosion. The beast reeled back in pain.
"What the hell—?" Rinn muttered, turning toward the direction of the shot.
Out of the haze, a young woman appeared—red hair flowing behind her like ribbons of fire, her crimson eyes sharp and fierce. Her armor shimmered with a silver crest—royal, clean, and new. She looked to be in her early twenties, her presence radiant enough to stop the chaos for a moment.
Kairo and Rinn just stood there—completely stunned.
Even the dragon paused to glare at her.
She ran toward them, bow still glowing with runes.
"Are you two all right?" she called out, her voice crisp and strong.
"Uh—yeah, I guess," Rinn replied, scratching his head. "But who the hell are you?"
"I'm Aria," she said quickly. "Knight of the western kingdom."
Kairo frowned. "Knight? Never seen you before."
"I'm new," she answered with a confident smile. "Just transferred in… and lucky I did, it seems."
The dragon screamed again—its fury cutting short their introduction. Its body swelled as wind energy gathered around it, spiraling faster, louder, stronger.
Aria looked back at the beast, her tone suddenly serious.
"We won't win like this. On the ground, we're nothing but ants. We need to take the fight to the sky."
Rinn blinked. "You mean fly?! You're kidding, right? We're not birds!"
"There's a way," Aria said firmly. "Mana projection. If you focus your element around your body—shape it, feel it—you can form wings. But it'll take perfect control."
She demonstrated—her fire gathering behind her like living ribbons. They stretched and expanded until they formed wings made entirely of flame. The heat was enough to make Kairo squint.
"Now you try," she said.
Rinn looked doubtful, but Kairo nodded, closing his eyes and channeling his mana. He felt the air move, light and soft, gathering behind him. The ground around him swirled with leaves and dust.
Then—fwsh!
Two glowing wind wings erupted from his back, shifting with every breath of air. They weren't solid, more like streams of sky made visible.
Rinn burst out laughing.
"Your wings look like a couple of fart clouds!"
Kairo's eye twitched. "Says the guy who hasn't even—"
Before he could finish, Rinn's wings burst out—majestic, fiery, and radiant like a phoenix reborn. The flames danced, glowing gold and red.
Kairo sighed. "Okay… that's pretty cool."
But their moment of awe ended quickly when Luna approached, determination burning in her eyes.
"I can do it too!"
Kairo shook his head. "No. You're staying here, Luna."
"What? I'm not weak, Kairo! I can help!"
He placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice softer now.
"I don't want you in danger, okay? Please."
Before Luna could protest, Rinn smirked and added, "Yeah, kid. Leave this to the big boys."
That earned him a kick in the leg.
"Big boys? You look like you just got barbecued!"
Despite the chaos, Kairo couldn't help but laugh.
Then Luna stepped between them, her hands glowing with fiery orange light.
"If you two are done being idiots, let me help. I can boost your mana output by ten percent."
Her eyes flared—burning bright as she took both their hands. A surge of warmth shot through their veins. The air shimmered. Their bodies felt lighter—stronger—almost unstoppable.
"Now go," she said, stepping back.
The two launched into the sky—leaving a sonic boom in their wake.
The dragon roared, its wings tearing through the clouds as it ascended even higher.
Wind blasts shot out like bullets. One grazed Rinn's cheek, slicing it open.
"Holy crap—it's shooting compressed air?!"
Kairo gritted his teeth. "Then we'll outfly it!"
They weaved through the sky, dodging blast after blast, countering with waves of fire and blades of wind. But the dragon wasn't slowing down—it created a shimmering barrier of rotating wind blades around itself. Every attempt to get close shredded their attacks into dust.
"Damn it!" Rinn shouted. "We can't get near it!"
Kairo's mind raced. He remembered the forest—the day he used that technique to save Rinn. The one that nearly burned through his mana completely.
If he used it now… he could end this.
But he was already drained.
"I've got it," Rinn said suddenly. "I'll transfer my mana to you. All of it."
"Are you insane?! You'll pass out!"
"Worth it," Rinn smirked. "Now shut up and let me do it."
He placed his hand on Kairo's chest. The mana flowed—wild, hot, and endless.
Kairo's veins glowed, his eyes turning a fierce azure. His body trembled as power surged within him, burning like a living storm.
Then—
BOOM.
Light erupted from his body like a newborn star. His hair flared upward, streaks of white and blue twisting through it. A glowing sigil appeared on his right hand—the Mark of the Winds. His wings expanded, now massive, radiant, flowing like ribbons of the sky itself.
Even the dragon hesitated. Instinct screamed run—but pride kept it in place.
Kairo opened his eyes, his voice calm and divine.
"Let's end this."
He summoned his blade—its edge burning with wind and lightning. The air trembled. The world stood still.
"Tempest Break—!"
The sword slashed forward, and the sky split in two.
A blinding column of light tore through the dragon's attack, ripping apart the clouds. The beam struck the beast square in the chest, engulfing it in an explosion that could be seen from miles away.
When the dust settled, silence fell.
The dragon—wounded, wings shredded—glared at them one last time… then turned and flew into the horizon.
The battlefield was quiet.
Kairo and Rinn landed side by side, their bodies bruised but alive. Luna ran toward them, tears in her eyes.
"You idiots… you really did it."
Rinn grinned weakly. "Of course we did. We're awesome."
Days later, the kingdom held a grand ceremony. Banners fluttered. Bells rang. The people cheered their names—Kairo and Rinn, the heroes who drove away the Wind Dragon.
They were knighted before the royal court, their swords raised high under the light of the sun.
And as the celebrations continued late into the night, the three of them—Kairo, Rinn, and Luna—sat together on the city's tallest tower, sharing laughter, stories, and the quiet peace of victory.
For now… the storm had passed.
But far beyond the horizon, the dragon's roar still echoed—a warning that it wasn't over.