Some bonds are forged in fire. Others are forged in mutual boredom and a total lack of fatal injuries.
…
BOOM!
The air shook as their fists met, a concussive blast rippling outward from the impact and stirring up clouds of ancient dust from the cavern floor.
Their gazes locked—a standstill of mutual, grudging respect amidst the fading echoes of combat. Zeke's human fist pressed against Karys's scaled knuckles, neither yielding.
With a synchronized stomp that cracked the stone beneath their feet, they both leaped backward, opening a dozen meters of space between them. The tension of combat bled away, replaced by a strange, calm stillness.
"This is getting boring." Zeke yawned, the sound exaggerated and deliberately casual. He stretched his arms overhead as if he'd just woken from a nap, not a world-shattering brawl.
"That's why I prefer weaker opponents. Quick battles." Karys's voice rumbled, a deep baritone holding a faint, reluctant note of amusement. "But… I enjoyed this."
"Hmm. Me too." Zeke nodded, a genuine smile touching his lips.
"Truce?"
"Maybe."
With that, Karys turned and walked back to his glittering hoard, movements sleek and powerful in his humanoid form. He settled atop the gold with a satisfied sigh, resuming his earlier lazy posture.
"So… what do you do for a living?" Zeke asked, striding forward uninvited. He leaned casually against a mound of coins as if it were a park bench.
He'd followed without waiting for permission.
"I am a dragon. I hoard treasures." Karys's tone was flat, utterly deadpan, his gaze not even shifting toward the human stating the obvious.
"Really? I couldn't tell." Zeke's voice dripped with mock surprise.
Karys rolled his luminous, slitted eyes—a surprisingly human gesture of exasperation on his horned features.
"So… you're an old head, huh?"
"So, you disturb people, huh?"
"Just trying to make conversation." Zeke shrugged.
"In human years, I would still be a young teenager. About the age of your little comrades there." Karys pointed a single elegant finger toward the shimmering Dimensional Pod.
"Oh, I absolutely forgot they were still stuck." Zeke stuck out his tongue in playful, unrepentant acknowledgment. With a flick of his wrist, he released his ability. The spatial barrier dissolved into shimmering motes of light.
…
"Is he making friends with the boss monster?" Aaron whispered, bewildered, staring at the surreal scene before him.
They'd watched Zeke transition from ferocious combat—a whirlwind of devastating power—to seemingly enjoying the fight, to reaching a stalemate, and finally to acting as playful and annoying as he normally did.
Absurd.
Absolutely absurd.
"This bastard forgot about us." Yeon stated flatly, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched him nag the legendary dragon like an unruly roommate.
Before she could move toward the barrier to pound on it, she saw Zeke stick out his tongue. The barrier vanished.
I will smack that fool, she thought, jaw tightening.
…
"So, what's next on the agenda for you? You know humans won't let you stay in this dungeon." Zeke picked up a jeweled goblet, examining it with idle curiosity.
"I was getting bored anyway. I'll just return home. I'm reaching the next stage in a few years." Karys's gaze grew distant, already looking beyond the dungeon walls.
"Oh, let's spar then." Zeke's eyes lit up.
"Heh." Karys gave him a look of pure, undiluted disdain, a subtle curl to his lip.
"Hey—"
BAAM.
Yeon's slap connected with the back of Zeke's head, the sharp crack cutting through his retort and echoing in the vast chamber.
"You bastard. Made a new friend and forgot us back there." She seethed, eyes sparking with equal parts anger and relief.
"Aiya, jealous much." He turned with a wide, infuriatingly unapologetic smile, then gestured toward the trio. "Yo guys, this is Karys. A dragon."
"…"
They all deadpanned—a chorus of utterly blank expressions.
"Tch, and you all say I'm the non-social one." Zeke shook his head in mock disappointment.
He turned to Zeldris. "Hey! You still alive? Thought you died."
Zeldris couldn't muster a response, face pale, body still trembling slightly from residual shock.
"You should've killed him before I set up the barrier. Tch, terrible job." Zeke patted Karys's firm, scaled shoulder as he joked.
"I can still kill him now." Karys's tone was matter-of-fact, glowing eyes shifting to regard Zeldris with casual interest.
"Hey, c'mon man, it's a joke." Zeke waved a dismissive hand.
"I know." Karys rumbled. "I simply enjoyed his reaction."
The dragon grinned—sharp, terrifying, yet genuine—before walking toward a swirling dark portal that had materialized against the far wall.
As he entered the portal, he paused and turned. "Goodbye, Human—"
"It's Zeke. And real men don't say goodbyes. We dap each other up."
Zeke walked toward him, gait confident and relaxed.
BOOM!
They clasped forearms—a simple, powerful gesture. The collision wasn't gentle. A mini-shockwave kicked up dust and a thunderous boom that made everyone flinch.
"It seems most of the resources will be going to the White Fang Guild." Zeke turned back to the group, hands tucked into his pockets.
"Any objections?" Yeon's voice was firm, gaze sharp as she looked toward Zeldris and the two Avalon members.
"None. The guild had no contribution this time around." Zeldris's voice was low but clear, a rare note of humility coloring his tone.
He turned to his entourage. "Let's go. The dungeon has opened the portal."
They nodded silently, faces a mixture of relief and lingering fear, and followed him toward a second, gentler-looking portal.
"Shall we?" Zeke gestured grandly toward the exit.
"No, you fool. We have to collect our spoils." Yeon pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"Our?"
"Yes, brother-in-law. You're part of the family, after all." Kai patted Zeke's shoulder with a wide, teasing grin, earning snickers from Jude and Aaron—at least until Yeon's deadly glare shot their way. They immediately fell silent, trying and failing to look innocent.