This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

The days following Kain's encounter with Vauleth were marked by a strange anticipation. Though the little red dragon had fled their previous meeting, Kain could tell his words had left an impression.

Kain and Serena kept finding Galadriel under the pretext of needing a skilled guide. Well for Serena it was the truth. But Kain really just wanted to brush up his sense of existence in front of Vauleth. Maybe spending more time together would warm him up to Kain!

Unfortunately, Vauleth remained a storm cloud of irritation whenever Kain was near. The smaller dragon trailed behind Galadriel, occasionally adding snide remarks or grumbling under his breath whenever Kain attempted to engage him in conversation.

Suddenly, a strong earthquake rocked the entire region and a loud dragon's roar sounded from the Dragon's Mountain Range.

"Not again!" Galadriel shouted. "Head back now!"

"Not again?" Kain questioned.

"No time to explain. Let's head back!"

Galadriel frantically started flying back followed by the others after a brief pause.

The group landed at the base of the mountain range, greeted by a tense and chaotic scene. Dragons of all colors and sizes were moving with urgency, some flying in tight patrol above. The air was filled with tension, creating a nearly suffocating atmosphere.

Galadriel wasted no time, wings folding as it landed quickly and turned sharply toward Kain and Serena. "Head back to the village and don't move around," he barked, the usual lighthearted tone in its juvenile voice replaced by authority.

"What's happening?" Serena asked, her brows furrowed in concern.

Galadriel hesitated for a moment, glancing at Vauleth, who looked just as agitated. "It's... dangerous matters. Something we dragons can handle ourselves. You're too weak to interfere."

'But you're not?' Kain thought while glancing at the two green-grade dragons.

Kain's curiosity flared, but he knew better than to press Galadriel for answers now. The prince's expression was tight with worry, and even Vauleth, despite his usual defiance, was unusually subdued.

The ground beneath their feet rumbled again, a deep, unsettling vibration that seemed to resonate with the very core of the mountain range. Kain and Serena instinctively stepped back as small cracks began forming in the earth around them. From these cracks, wisps of black smoke curled upward, twisting unnaturally in the air.

Galadriel froze, the usual cheerfulness replaced by a grim expression. "It's worse than I thought," he muttered under his breath.

The smoke thickened, spreading an acrid, metallic scent through the air. Kain coughed, covering his mouth with his sleeve. Even Serena, with her composed demeanor, looked unnerved.

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from above, shaking the ground even more violently. The Red Dragon King's form appeared high in the sky, following the roar that presumably came from him.

A bright wave of scarlet tinged energy radiated outward from his body.

The cracks in the earth sealed themselves as if stitched together by an invisible hand, and the black smoke dissipated, pulled back into the ground as though retreating in fear.

But the reprieve was short-lived.

A second roar echoed across the mountain range, this one distant and sharp. It came from the east, its tone filled with urgency and fury.

Galadriel's eyes widened in alarm. "No... That's Aunt Gwendamere. Aunt Gwen was assigned to watch the east outpost this month. Something's wrong!"

Without hesitation, dragons of all colors took to the skies, their powerful wings creating gusts of wind that sent loose stones scattering. The atmosphere grew even more charged as the dragons headed eastward, their roars filling the air as they prepared for battle.

Similarly, Galadriel and Vauleth took off without another word to Kain and Serena, their forms quickly disappearing into the growing chaos above.

Back in the Elorian village, the tension was palpable. The Elorians, though freed from their servitude to the dragons, still had a degree of fear and awe toward them. Therefore, whatever seemed to be alarming these dragons was even more terrifying to them.

As the Elorians huddled together, exchanging anxious whispers, Kain and Serena remained at the edge of the village, their gazes fixed on the horizon. The air was thick with unease, and the fading roars of the dragons heading east did little to comfort them.

Kain paced restlessly. "Do you think this has something to do with that black smoke?" he asked Serena.

"Maybe," Serena replied, her tone unusually uncertain. "Whatever it is, it's clearly serious. The dragons wouldn't mobilize like this otherwise."

Their conversation was interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps approaching from the forest.

"Kain," Serena said sharply, pointing toward the tree line.

Emerging from the shadows was an Elorian man. At first glance, he appeared to be one of the villagers, but as he came closer and out of the shadows, something about him seemed... wrong.

His once pale skin and green hair were now an inky black, as if he had been dipped in tar. Faint wisps of black smoke curled off his body, and his eyes glowed faintly, their original color obscured by an eerie crimson hue.

The mutated Elorian staggered into the village, his movements jerky and unnatural

"Isn't that..." Serena began, narrowing her eyes. Your next chapter awaits on empire

"It's Fennel," Kain said grimly, recognizing one of the villagers who been the most active in interacting with the members of the Order the past few days.

The Elorians closest to him hesitated, relief flashing across their faces at the sight of a familiar figure. But as they moved to greet him, Fennel let out an inhuman snarl and lunged at the nearest villager.

"Get back!" Kain shouted, but it was too late.

Fennel's claws—when had he grown claws?—raked across the chest of an elderly Elorian, sending him sprawling to the ground. Chaos erupted as the villagers scrambled to flee.

Kain reacted instinctively, summoning Aegis. The stone golem appeared with a low rumble, positioning itself protectively between Fennel and the retreating villagers.

But before Kain or Serena could act further, more shapes emerged from the forest.

Several spiritual creatures stepped into view, but like Fennel, they were wrong. Their fur, feathers, or scales were stained black, and their bodies emitted the same ominous smoke. The corrupted creatures ranged from small mouse-type spiritual creature to larger creatures resembling mountain lions.

More terrifyingly, the elderly Elorian who'd been scratched by Fennel, after barely a struggle, was soon dyed in the same black smoke and joined their ranks.

"What the hell is this…?"