Knowing that the dragon wouldn’t die from one hit would have been nice. However, Dallion couldn’t blame Nil for the lack of foresight. For that matter, he couldn’t blame the bestiary, either. While it contained information about a vast number of creatures, shadows weren’t on the list. The greater concern, however, was the nature of the creature itself. It was supposed to be a crackling, and yet it had survived both a line and a point attack, both infused with a spark. In one case, it could have been argued that Dallion had missed, due to the creature’s mastery of illusion. In the other, though, there was no explanation.

In front of you! Gleam shouted, as another faceless silhouette attacked.

Splitting into instances, Dallion leaned left to avoid the attack, then did an arc strike of his own. The tip of the harpsisword, sliced through the humanoid enemy, transforming it into the part of a tree.

That was the annoyance when fighting illusions of such a level. Dallion was fully aware that all the “shadow soldiers” didn’t exist, and yet at the same time they could hurt him. A few already had. The dragon had effectively transformed the entire area into a battlefield in which Dallion had to fend against dozens of enemies, with hundreds more in wait. The opponents were quite skilled and, for all practical purposes, invincible. All a direct hit did was only shatter the illusion, returning them to their original form—rocks and trees—only to be transformed back into silhouette soldiers later.

Why isn’t the dragon attacking? Dallion asked during a brief moment of calm.

Would you feel better if it did? Nil sighed. He’s keeping away because of your spark. The point attack hurt him quite a lot. An actual spark attack in the appropriate spot will do more.

That last part was the key. According to the bestiary, Armalion—the real one—had a number of weak spots where one section of the scales ended and another began. The spots were difficult to reach, so Dallion had chosen not to target them initially, relying on a line strike to achieve victory. Clearly, there was no way around it now.

A loud flapping sound filled the air. Using an instance, Dallion turned around just in time to see a dense flock of dragonlets flying his way. It was a safe bet to say that these weren’t illusions.

Standing his ground, Dallion swung his weapon, forming a figure eight. The attack immediately was followed by a series of multi-strikes, each piercing a crackling in the air. Dust swept through Dallion, as if he were in a factory chimney. If there was time for the dragon to attack, it would be now. Knowing that, Dallion quickly crouched down, holding the armadil shield in front of him. A sudden strike landed on the shield, throwing him back dozens of feet.

I knew it, Dallion thought, splitting into a dozen instances.

The trees he was flying at quickly changed form, transforming into enormous centipedes with hundreds of pincers, ready to shred him limb from limb the moment they got near. Fortunately, before he got anywhere close, the whip blade struck them all in a wide arc attack, reverting them to their original form.

Thanks, Gleam. Dallion twisted in the air. The soles of his feet landed on the bark of a tree, slowing down his momentum, then pushed him back forward, out of reach of the other illusionary creatures that were forming.

That’s what I’m here for, the shardfly replied. Normally, she’d be a lot cheekier. This had to mean that she was starting to accept his skills.

That’s a lot of shedding. Any danger that he’ll get to fly?

If so, you’d be the person with the worst timing in the history of the world, Nil replied. There’s never a guarantee, but I’d say not. More likely, this is just a remnant of his days as a dragon. His current state doesn’t allow him to fly for long distances, and so he has rationalized an explanation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the dragonlets themselves are an illusion given life.

The prospect was outright scary if true. To think there could be a creature that could manipulate reality in such fashion. This went beyond cheating—it wasn’t creating something in the world, but rather convincing the world that the thing existed in the first place.

If the dragon were alive, facing it would have been utter suicide, and yet the creature had been defeated by a single mage. The thought alone sounded impossible. Then again, there was a time when Dallion was convinced that awakened couldn't go beyond single digit levels.

I think I’m in a bit of trouble, the armadil shield said. Not sure for how long I’ll be useful.

Dallion glanced at the front of the shield. A spider web of hairline cracks had formed in the center and was progressively moving outwards, creating a perfect circle. Even while being made of rare metals, the shield wasn’t indestructible and a crackling as powerful as this would have its effect.

Lux! Heal the spot! Dallion ordered.

The kaleidervisto stopped floating in front of his face, moving to the front of the shield. A bright blue light emerged from it, covering the affected area. It wasn’t going to cause instant relief, but Dallion hoped that it would at least slow down the crack’s progress.

Gleam, can you break all of his illusions?

At this level, yes, but only as long as I’m in contact, the familiar replied. It’ll only be temporary, though. The nasty critter is good at forming new illusions, no matter how much dust I leave.

If you disperse enough dust, can you make the dragon visible?

An idea had popped into Dallion’s head.

Sure. As long as I can find him in the first place. I can’t use illusions of my own. The annoying creature sees right through them!

That’s okay. Dallion changed the way he was holding his harpsisword. I want you to link with Harp!

Linking between objects wasn’t supposed to be different from linking an object to his own realm. In theory, at least. In practice, it was a recipe for disaster, creating conflict between the items on an extremely deep level. It wasn’t merely a matter of establishing the link. Even guardians that seemed in good relations could end up fighting for control of the linked realms, resulting in one of both items crumbling, like aluminum after coming into contact with gallium.

It's just temporary, Dallion assured both. Despite their calm nature, he was fully aware of how territorial guardians were. His words seemed to calm them down, mostly Gleam, who was by far the weaker entity at present.

The link formed in Dallion’s realm. Thin threads of water extended from around Harp’s tower to the sky-silver bridge that connected both sides of the bay. For the immediate future, what one entity did would affect the other. In that moment, Dallion felt the connection between both his items… and used it to his full advantage.

Focus, he thought, and played a chord. The chord itself was calm, connecting to as many things as possible as a net. However, that wasn’t its true purpose. The threads were sharing Gleam’s ability to break illusions.

The moment the sound touched the forest, the army of shadow silhouettes and the abominable bugs vanished. Like a wave passing through a sand castle, the illusions were shattered, and they weren’t the only ones. The air above the crater of the mountain also gained form.

For the first time in his life, Dallion saw the majesty that was a dragon. Even in shadow form, it was enough to inspire awe in anyone who saw it. No longer was it crippled, or curled up in an abyss of its own destruction. Now, it was a creature that would rule land and sky with ease, in a pose ready for battle.

Sapphire eyes looked at Dallion, aware of what he had done, and yet for a single moment there was no hatred there, just the realization of the end.

So, you’re one of them? The dragon’s thoughts echoed in Dallion’s head. An otherworlder who’s come to change this world. Do you plan to let it rest or try and destroy it like the rest?

Neither, Dallion found himself answering. I just want to live here.

Just is not a word that otherworlders could be content with. You’ll seek more, and for better or worse, I’ll help you achieve it.

With one brisk action, the dragon spanned its wings. And that was not all. A multitude of target markers appeared in areas of its neck and chest.

Markers in the real world? Dallion wondered.

They’re illusions, Gleam said. The dragon is showing you how to kill it. Best oblige.

“Why?” Dallion asked.

“Because you cracked the illusion,” the creature replied. “You were right. I’m not a dragon, I’m the shadow that was caused by his death. It was my illusion to think that I was alive, and that I had a right to be. I’m nothing but a crackling with powers that have no place beneath the moon.”

Dallion felt a lump in his throat. Even after all this time, he still wasn’t used to this. The empath trait he had made guardians and creatures open up to him, but there was a price—he always had to listen to what they had to say.

“You were the one that cracked the illusion. Now shatter it before I drown in it again.”

Dallion changed the way he was holding the harpsisword yet again. There was no point in asking if there was another way to resolve this. Doing so would only insult the once majestic creature.

“Spark,” Dallion said and thrust the blade forward, performing a point attack. The force emerged from the tip of his weapon, flying through the air like a lightning bolt. Focusing on one of the targeting markers created by the dragon, it pierced the creature’s neck right at the point between the scales.

A loud explosion shattered the air, making Dallion’s ears ring. Hundreds of birds everywhere filled the skies, flying away as quickly as they could. It was done.

Feeling no strength in either of his arms, Dallion dropped the weapon. He hadn’t overdone it to the point of fainting, thought just by a hair. Four attacks of this nature remained his limit—something to keep in mind for the future.

Within his realm, the link between Gleam and Harp untangled. While both the entities were pleased that they had helped him achieve victory, they were even more pleased that they were in control of their own domains once more.

“Thanks,” Dallion whispered.

A short distance away the massive body of the dragon had transformed into a large cloud, but instead of the usual black, it was a sapphire blue. For several seconds the cloud floated about with no intention of dispersing, when it suddenly imploded, condensing in a single point.

What’s going on? Dallion managed to ask, despite his eyelids struggling to keep open.

Things were starting to get blurry, but even in such a state he thought that he could recognize the focal point of the cloud… or rather, the object it had become. He was sure he had seen it somewhere before, just…

Darkness surrounded him. The moment it cleared, half a day had passed. Night had fallen, but it was a calm night. There was no lingering presence of rot or chaos, and not even any aggressive intents from the usual night predators.

You’re up, Gleam said. Took you a while. I’ve been guarding your useless body for hours.

A smile formed on Dallion’s face. With the threat over, things were back to normal. And as annoyed the shardfly was trying to present herself as, he could tell that she had been keeping watch over him all this time.

Arms still in pain, Dallion tried to stand up. All in all, he was going quite well, considering. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to enter any serious, or even not so serious, fights in the next day or two. What mattered was that he could walk.

See, Nil? Dallion laughed. You were worried about nothing.

The old echo didn’t answer.

Nil? Anything the matter?

Look in the crater.

Why? What happened?

Just go look.

Hesitantly, Dallion obeyed.

The light of the blue and cyan Moons lit up the area, making it almost as light as day. As such, it didn’t take long for Dallion to see exactly what Nil was referring to. A few hundred feet away, at the bottom of the crafter and not too far from the hammer that had been discarded in the fight, a rather large gem was clearly visible, sparkling in a magnificent sapphire light.

What’s that? Dallion asked.

That, dear boy, is a natural skill gem.