Axel stayed crouched behind the rock, frozen stiff, his heart rate pulsing both with anticipation and fear, a second stretching on, longer than usual.

But there was no wave, rather a dull screeching sound replaced it, from multiple locations around the dragon, echoing as something hit the crystals rattling them, producing that sound.

The dragon stepped back, shaking it's head, growling.

Meanwhile behind the rock Axel smiled as he heard the growl and he peeked, the dragon was moving around, taking staggering steps, its head aimlessly jerking around, jaw tightened revealing gleaming teeths, it's wings rising as if to cover it's ear, or where the ear should be.

It was obvious, it worked.

But it wasn't enough, Axel ducked again as the dragons roared, the crystals near it's jaw glowed even deeper, a faint blue wave, visible to the eye spreading, but that shrill rattling sound was reflected again.

The dragon roaring even louder, in pain or something else, stepping back, it's massive tail swinging around, shattering rocks.

Axel smirked, echolocation, neutralized and with that, it was time to attack.

Without wasting a bit, Axel leapt out from behind the rock and dashed forward, weaving between rocks, approaching the rampaging dragon.

He skidded as he was in front of its massive wing, then he drew the Gishiki and slashed, the wind howled as if being pulled towards a point as a dark line streaked across the wing.

The next second, Axel leapt back, watching as the streak disappeared, and in its place, the dragon's wing, a long thin line thorn through it.

Perfect.

The dragon roared in pain, its massive tail tearing through the air, and with a crack it smashed were he was a second ago, breaking apart the dark obsidian rocks.

But Axel was long gone, appearing on the other side of the dragon, the wing exposed and he drew his blade again, slashing across, another black streak across the wing, replaced by a tear in the wing in a split second.

The dragon roared once more, it's tail smashing were he was again, but as expected, he was long gone.

Axel appeared behind one of the rocks, breathing rapidly, trying to catch his breath. That took a lot more than expected, he had been using the thread of infinity since the beginning, and now, the effects were beginning to catch up.

At most two long distance teleportation left, and at most one long slash like the ones on the wings, anything more and he would start feeling dizzy.

There was definitely no killing this thing, he peeked over the rock, panting, he watched as the dragon roared in anger, smashing rocks around him, it was hurt, but not too hurt, even the tears in its wing wouldn't really amount to much, at most prevent it from flying.

No, keep it's balance off in the air, but what next, he couldn't exactly attack it's neck, it was too thick, it's entire body had those scales after all, only the wing.

"Yep definitely no killing it," he muttered as he slumped back, taking in deep breaths.

But she did say she wanted sushi, not to kill it, he smirked at the thought.

It's annoying but we have to settle for this.

He took a deep breath and dashed out, sprinting towards the dragon again.

The dragon had totally cleared the rocks around it, it didn't seem to be depending on the echolocation again, the crystals being more effective than expected.

Axel stopped as there was no clear obstruction between him and the dragon, it's massive leg stumping.

Axel's eyes widened as he went low, crouching instantly, the tail passing over his head, wind whipping around him.

Close, but that left nothing between him and the leg, so Axel leapt back and swung the flat edge of his hand across the massive leg, a short dark line streaking across, but this time there was no wind just a little gash across the thick armour.

But in that split second, he felt the wind whipping towards him as he was midair, the tail racing towards him, his eyes widening.

The tail slamming into his side, but he disappeared at that second, appearing behind another rock, but this time, he flung away like a ragdoll, the little impact from the tail had transmitted, sending him smashing through rocks.

Axel gritted his teeth as he slammed into a rock, finally stopping, his left hand hanging limp at his side.

He coughed hard, blood spewing out of his mouth.

Sh*t he cursed, but his eyes widened as he looked forward, the massive figure of the dragon was already facing him, the crystals lining its back already glowing an eery green, its mouth wide open, green light in its maw.

Before Axel could realize what was happening, wind whipped around him from the dragon's mouth, for a second he heard a roar, then bang, nothing, the wind pushing him against the rock.

Axel felt his entire body trembling, no it was vibrating, the rock behind him cracking at the force pushing him.

His jaw clenched hard, he couldn't even explain the pain, he could feel it, every cell, every atom, vibrating.

Then all of a sudden the creature stopped, staggering backwards, roaring, this time not as an attack but in pain.

That brief moment gave Axel a little respite, golden threads appearing as he disappeared the next second.

Axel sat back against one of the rocks, the ground trembling, but he couldn't be bothered, he couldn't hear a thing, his head was ringing, his body trembling, not from fear, from the attack itself, his vision shaking.

If it was me a few days ago, I'd probably be dead, he thought, but then he chuckled weakly, seating back, looking up, blood flowing freely from his ear.

Fortunately, the dragon was still thrashing around in pain, its own attack working against it, the crystals reflecting the sound waves.

All this from just its tail, and just a touch too, Axel coughed, blood flowing freely from his mouth, but how did it know where I was, that was just a nick, not even deep enough, so how.

After catching his breath, Axel peeked over again, his vision was shaking, but he could make out the dragon standing still, its crystals glowing, but it was unmoving, standing still.

Not good, an ominous feeling suddenly growing in his chest.

Axel gulped hard as the dragon straightened, then from the tip of its tail, the crystals started changing color, moving up, glowing red, up to its face, its mouth opened, a red glow spreading from its mouth.

Axel's eyes widened as he quickly went down then intense heat was all he felt, the place glowing red.

He looked to the side as glowing red light melted rocks, slowly approaching him.

Sh*t Axel cursed and teleported, appearing fifty meters away, he turned, looking back at the scene, his eyes widening at the scene.

Then he chuckled, weakly at first, then he broke into laughter, with his blood stained lips and face, he looked like a maniac.

And I thought I could beat it, how arrogant, I never had a chance, not even little, the red glow from the distance reflecting on his face.

He looked on as the dragon roared, as if declaring its victory, surrounded by melting rocks, lava all around it, nothing survived.

Then he felt that wave again, and the dragons head snapped, turning in his direction, it's crystals glowing red, maw opened.

Sh*t he cursed again and teleported, but he fell mid air, rolling on the ground.

Then boom, he looked back, his head dizzy, but between his blurry vision, he could make out a red laser like stream of light, from the dragon's maw, slamming into where he was a second ago, an explosion, rocks flying off.

His heart caught as the beam stopped, the dragon turning towards him, and boom, it shot off, heading for him.

There was no escape this time, he couldn't even concentrate, he tried curling his finger, but nothing happened, nothing worked.

He couldn't focus, no teleporting, no cave in sight, at least no safe cave, so Axel stood up, and turned around, he shook his head and faced the dragon.

Unsheathing the Gishiki, he held it out in front of him, he staggered but held, then he looked up, the dragon close, it's mouth opened, that eerie red glow appearing.

Then he grinned, might as well die looking cool.

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