The first rays of light peeking through the trees indicated that dawn had arrived. The place where we all stood looked so much like where Benjamin first saw that Dragon. The eerily calm “water”, the clearing around it that made space for so many people. The Pool of Abel. It was completely empty save for those who were hunting the two Dragons. It was quite incredible to Benjamin, seeing people accept orders without so much of a hint of fear in their eyes. It was obvious to him that the Countess might be feared in Entoma, but she was so much more admired and loved than she was feared. Such a difference from his homeland.

Everyone tensed up as the sound of wings was heard. It wasn't the flying Dragon, after all, its wings were so much bigger, it was the scout's wings, the one who kept eyes on the two Dragons. The Baron went to talk with Sergei as he landed. They talked briefly, then the Baron turned to us.

“It is confirmed! They really are coming for this Pool. I think that after this little incident, we should really rethink our policies on those crazies that want to turn themselves into Dragons, don't you think so too?”

By his tone, it was quite clear that he blamed this situation entirely on the worshipers of dragons being tolerated in Lionia and Entoma. The Countess sighed.

“I suppose the manpower necessary to suppress such a group, as well as the precedent of disrespecting one's beliefs really is worth preventing that one in a million chance, isn't it?”

At first, whenever Benjamin heard these exchanges of barbs, he couldn't help but hold his breath. What would happen if the two of them actually came to blows? That was quite a scary thought. To say nothing of the end result of the hunt should that happen, it could lead to an all-out war between their countries. But it was a constant, daily thing, even if what they told each other would have brought the Empire to war hundreds of times, it always stopped at words for the two of them. Was it that they knew the consequences of fighting each other? Or that they didn't really mind the insults? Perhaps it was that each one thought of the other as too beneath them to even care about the slights. Whatever the reason for that, Benjamin eventually learned to not really care about it.

“I'm sure the two of you are really itching to discuss the merits and demerits of such a policy, but it seems like, just as Sergei informed us, our two young friends really are coming this way.” The cracking of trees was audible in the distance. “It really is incredible, I'd never heard of two Dragons working together before, perhaps people who want to become Dragons and do really are more dangerous than a regular Dragon.”

Still, Samson was the only one courageous enough to enter the conversation between the two of them so nonchalantly. Sometimes Benjamin had to wonder exactly how much influence did the Berserkers have within the country of Tal. He did not have much to think about it, as soon a pair of terrible creatures showed their faces in the clearing of the Pool.

Fear gripped Benjamin's heart as he saw the two monsters quietly and slowly enter the clearing. Those eyes brimming with malice were something he wished he had never seen in his life. The ground Dragon looked and behaved differently, almost like it had some newfound intelligence. So Dragons really could communicate with one another, although according to the Countess, this was a first. She had seen Dragons fighting each other, even lured one to be eaten by Old Chad once, but she had never seen two of them cooperating.

“They're... analyzing us? What the fuck. That's actually pretty fucked up.”

Benjamin wasn't the only one uncomfortable with the gaze directed at them by the two Dragons, almost as if they were waiting for something. Newton seemed itching for the fight to finally start. However, now even the ground Dragon, that before had been so aggressive, was calmly regarding them. Fuck, fuck. The ground Dragon also looked different, instead of small spikes all over his back, he was full of holes from which a gas kept coming out. The Countess stepped forward, sneering at the two.

“You coward weaklings! You want the blessings that this Pool brings? Face me, and try to step over my dead body, if you can!”

Such a simple provocation, but in the end, it is probably that whatever mind the Dragons might have left was probably quite simple, as it was quite effective. The two Dragons roared and sprung to action. Thus, the end of the Grand Hunt was at hand.

The flying Dragon leaped to the air while the ground one rushed with incredible speed that it had not shown before. As always, the Countess dodged with such seeming ease that one had to wonder about who was the more powerful existence in the end: The Countess or the Dragon she hunted. Not only that, she had also connected a thread near the Dragon's throat. As for the flying Dragon, it was already being intercepted by Artemis and Diana, as well as Alana.

“Hey, I wonder how good you are at dodging while dealing with a bunch of insects?” Newton had a mischievous smile as he grabbed a small stone from the ground. “Doesn't seem like you got much in the way of defenses there mister Dragon!”

He then threw the stone with such force that Benjamin could scarcely believe was possible. The stone hit one of the Dragon's wings and it screeched in pain. This created the perfect opportunity for the wasp twins to sting it and the mantis to lacerate it.

Meanwhile, the ground Dragon had a good portion of its mobility robbed and was started to be pummeled by the Baron as well as bitten by Thunder and stung by Abdul. It was kind of strange actually. This seemed to be going even better than when Benjamin saw them fighting the Dragon for the first time. Maybe this would actually be over pretty soon? He had to admit that would be a bit anti-climactic.

“Harr, harr, this is actually way too easy once you get to know all of the Dragon's stupid little tricks. Now! Thunder, bite and claw deep, break this thing's neck while I hold it! Thunder?”

It was then that it happened. Of course, I had to be reminded of this reality after having faced Old Chad: Sometimes, the greatest danger is in our midst, among the people we should be able to trust. As the Baron ordered his subordinate to support him, Benjamin saw him pinned down by Fuchsgart. Struggle as he might, he could not break free.

“Fuchsgart, you bastard! What are you doing? The Baron, he's going to...”

The fox shushed him and tightened his grip around the Mongoose's neck.

“Die, right? That's exactly what must happen.”

It was actually kind of shocking. Benjamin had never seen a person betray someone else so brazenly, and yet, this was exactly what was happening right in front of him. After a moment's hesitation, the Countess tried to divert the Dragon's tail by using her thread with a ball formed at the end, but another betrayal stopped her from being able to save the Baron. Sergei swooped down and prevented her thread from connecting with the tail.

“I'm sorry, but I can't let you ruin this one chance.”

The tail's point pierced the Baron's back, yet he miraculously did not die that very moment. As he coghed up blood, he cursed at one of the people who were supposed to be among his most loyal supporters.

“Cough, Fuchsgart, you fucking bastard, I should have known I shouldn't have...”

His last words were cut by the Dragon biting on his entire upper body. It felt like time had frozen, as the Dragon chewed on what had been just moments before, the mighty leader of Gardie. Then it all came back alive as the Dragon roared, looking quite satisfied at having gotten a kill.

“Newton! We have been betrayed! The Baron is dead!”

Thunder shouted at the top of his lungs at the moment the Dragon's roar subsided. From then on, the chaos only increased. Fuchsgart grimaced as he tried to keep Thunder quiet. The Countess looked as if furiously thinking about what course of action to that. Fighting with two Dragons was not the exact best moment to discuss betrayal politics and how to resolve what had just happened.

“Betrayed, is it? I didn't think you bugs had it in you, after all those pretty words...”

Then, Newton increased the frequency of the stones he was throwing, but now a fair number of them weren't aimed at the Dragon, but at the people surrounding and attacking it. The wasp twins were thoroughly confused.

“What? Ouch! Careful with these! Where are you aiming at? Ah...”

Distracted for a moment, Artemis was hit square in the face. The Dragon did not ignore that opening and ripped her entire front. Her screams felt like they could pierce one's soul. Benjamin could almost feel how painful it must have been himself, even if she did not immediately die, there was no way she would survive the powerful poison that coated the claws of that Dragon. What minutes ago had seemed like it would be an easy hunt with no casualties had descended into a disaster.

“Artemis! No!”

The Countess looked very distressed, but she seemed to at least have arrived at some conclusion.

“Fine, you win, Fuchsgart, for now I have no choice but to side with you, but don't think you will come out of this completely unscathed.”

Thunder's outrage allowed him to speak a few other words.

“What? You're siding yourself with this betrayer? How could you even...”

But before he could finish his sentence, one of the Countess' hands pierced his chest, while the other covered his mouth.

“Shut it, your careless words led to the death of Artemis. The least you could do is atone with your life. No?”

It was Fuchsgart's turn to be distressed, but he was unable to do anything as the Mongoose lost his life in his arms.

“What? Why? I planned to take him him back for trial...”

But he was cut off as Samson blocked an attack by the Dragon, who now had finished the meal he had made out of the Baron.

“You know this isn't the time to talk. I didn't intend to join this hunt, but as things stand...” He sighed. “Take care of Newton and the other Dragon, I will hold things here, oh, and don't let anything happen to the Recorder.”

The Countess nodded, then turned to Fuchsgart.

“Screw your trial and politics, the only reason I haven't killed you yet, you sly fox, is because I want this hunt to succeed above anything else, unlike you.” He opened his mouth to reply, but she would have none of it. “Save it, once we are done here, I will hear your reasons and if there any good, perhaps I might spare your life.” Fuchsgart did not try to reply to that.

As they approached where the Dragon was, they could see that there was a stalemate formed: Diana, the mantis Alana and the Dragon were uneasily just flying around, making themselves a not good target for Newton's stones, while Newton just tried his best to look menacing as he tried to find a shred of distraction in any of his three possible targets.

“Die!”

Abdul rushed ahead, abandoning completely the cloak that hid so much of his scorpion-like features. As he tried to to grab Newton's arm with his pincer, the honey badger just almost effortlessly wrestled him to the ground. Abdul responded by stinging him with his tail.

“Ouch, that hurts, but too bad for you, you're going to need way more venom if you're going to stop me!”

He raised his hand preparing a blow that would probably cause a grave injury. In that moment, Benjamin saw that the Countess had to contend with a split-second decision, as that very moment, as the threat of stones being thrown from the ground dissipated, the flying Dragon decided to attack Diana, who didn't seem to have enough agility in the air to really evade it. With barely a moment's hesitation, she made use of the same thread with a ball at the end she had tried to use a few moments ago. This time she managed to attach it to the hind leg of the flying Dragon. Her decision paid off as Fuchsgart was able to deflect Newton's punch.

“What the hell? Did you betray us too, you sly fox?”

Newton said it quite nonchalantly as took a few steps back to create distance between him and his opponents.

“I always knew you were not one to think things through, Newton. Technically, if anyone betrayed anyone, I suppose I betrayed the Baron, but then, I did that because he betrayed our expectations in the first place.”

While they talked, a fierce battle happened in the air, as the now quite unbalanced flying Dragon couldn't really maintain itself in the air. Sergei's talons tried to take out the Dragon's eyes and as it defended against that, Diana and Alana could easily hurt it elsewhere.

“Argh, I can't really feel my hand all that well now.” Newton seemed almost unconcerned as he opened and closed his hands and poked it. “Well shit, seems like the scorpion dude's venom is stronger than I imagined. Hey, could you at least give me some fun last few minutes?”

It was somewhat chilling, to see someone so casually accept what they believed to be their impending death. Instead of panicking and seeking aid, the honey badger Newton just stood there, in a combative stance, ready to spend the last moments of his life locked it combat.

Fuchsgart looked at Abdul, next to him, who was now slowly standing up. He shook his head even as he assumed a defensive stance.

“Can we really not? Even though my gambit has paid off, I'd really like to finish this as fast as possible and with no further casualties.”

Newton shrugged.

“Not my problem. Also, if you're not coming... I don't mind being on the offense.”

Then he charged at Fuchsgart. There was so much action going on that it was starting to actually get quite hard for Benjamin to watch everything. Samson impressively holding back the ground Dragon, the Flying Dragon having its freedom slowly but surely chocked out by attacks and more and more threads and Newton's burning last spurt of life. Benjamin tried his best to capture the most crucial moments of these scenes with his eyes as they developed. He saw everything, except for the flying huge chunk of tree thrown by the ground Dragon as it fought against Samson.

“Benjamin!”

It was the last word he heard before his world became darkness and pain.