THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

I was pretty sure they would appeared like ghosts when I call them. I mean, they are basically ghosts, right? 

"So, how come you guys make such a theatrical entrance." 

After I called N'donkeu and Maria, the portal that was opening got shattered to nothingness.

"Kriekk-"

Even the dragon gets instantly destroyed as two dots of light fall down to us, landing between Farner and Genesis. From the dots, two figures appear. Why don't they look like ghosts anymore? N'donkeu and Maria look completely normal, as if they were actually alive. 

"You couldn't have found a better moment to call us." Yeah, I know, Maria. 

N'donkeu turns and looks at me with no expression whatsoever, then he looks back at Genesis without saying anything.. What? If you have something to say then say it.

"Is that all?" Genesis's voice sounds so eery, so deep, you can hear the abyss in her voice. 

"Fufufu. Of course not, if we are having a party, everyone should have fun, right?" Don't you think so too, Cissa? "Stampede." 

My draconic energy is released like a bomb and spread all around, creating a red and yellow mist in which I can only see Genesis. It's like there is a sphere clearly defined around her that swallows everything which comes near. 

As the mist dissipates, she is there. Standing on my right, Cissa has taken a real physical form. This is the second time I see her like this. 

"What the!!" Germinia who is a bit behind her reacts the first. 

"Oh, so this is the real soul of a dragon." How does she know that? Genesis seems to know about Cissa. Was it Dilt who told her? Well, it doesn't matter muc…

"Argh!!" Suddenly, a pain of a whole new level spreads throughout my whole body. What in hell is happening?!! 

"Kevin?!!" 

I am even forced to kneel as Farner turns around and grabs my shoulder. Almost at the same time, I feel a hand touching my back as well. 

"Are you okay?!!" Even you, Lanuvel…I truly don't deserve you guys. 

Blood comes out of my nose and mouth and drips on the floor. A dark red blood. Ah, yeah, the poison.

"I guess I don't have much left."

"You don't, indeed." Cissa speaks with any kind of emotion in her voice. Still, it feels refreshing to hear your voice with my ears and not in my head. "I was busy trying to slow down the effect but since I am not handling it, you will die in ten minutes at best." 

"What?!!" 

"What?!!" 

Ten minutes. Ten minutes, huh…So, my life until now will be resumed in the next minutes. 

"It is more than enough."

"Are you finished, Dragonroad? Can I kill you all now?" Don't be so impatient, Genesis.

I remove Farner's hands and stand up. 

"No, wait!" She stands back up as well and blocks me off. "You don't have to do this!! You don't need to die!! You did…Listen, you don't need to-" Farner, it's too late. I had made my mind to die here anyway. I had hoped to atone for the sin I have committed against you and now, I have the chance to end the war you guys are fighting as well. So, I will do it. I must do it. 

"Willhem, Cissa, you guys protect the heroes and the others. Maria and N'donkeu, you take care of your friend." 

I walk past her and her trembling hands cannot stop me. 

"What do you mean?" Oh, come on! Not you too, Willhem. "I am obviously fighting with you." 

"No, you are not. I told you to pro-"

"I won't!!" Willhem uses his draconic power and his dragon's scales appear. "When you gave me this power, didn't you say we were brothers?! Didn't you say that we should always fight side by side and overcome everything?!! Was it not what you said?!!" 

His voice is so powerful the air vibrates. I know, I know that you are angry. But…

"But what? Do you think I don't know what is going on?" 

"Y-you knew?" 

"Of course, dumbass!! We can hear your thoughts just as you can hear ours, have you forgotten?!" 

"I see." I had forgotten indeed. "Then I guess we are both suicidal freaks."

Willhem raises his fist and as I knock it, he smiles and turns around. 

"You bet we are!!" 

"Kevin!! W-" Lanuvel, I…If only things could have been different. 

Genesis's aura once again shakes the air and everything around and just like that the whole coliseum starts crumbling to the ground. Can N'donkeu and Maria really win against her? 

"I think we have more space now, right? So you guys better entertain me." Genesis starts hovering above the floor and her face gets covered with the Longinus gear.

"Veronica Flolerl!! Tatiana Flolerl! I challenge to a duel to death. As Kevin Koersombre, the dragon of Tatradum."

You two are the cause for everything, it all began with us so it should end with us.

***

"W-what?" William's voice finally comes out as well. 

"What did you just-" Keltia reacts as well but before they can continue, a blue light starts shining behind me. 

'It is better if they aren't here.' N'donkeu sends me his thoughts at the same time. Zh, you are teleporting them. 

'Yeah, it would be better not to have any hindrance here.' 

"A duel? With you? Do you think I-" Veronica, you are trying to cower away? Not this time!! 

I pounce on her before she can finish talking and Borgas tries to intercept me. But Willhem gets past me and kicks him to the side. Now, it is only us three. 

"Kevin!!" I hear Farner's voice coming behind me but soon after, an explosion resounds between us. Genesis seems to want her all to herself, but I am sure Cissa will protect you. So, you must survive.

I slash with Maria's raizen but instead of Veronica, it is the bitch who blocks it with an indigo long knife. 

"You didn't think it would be this easy, right?" 

Right after that, Veronica unsheathes a long sword from her mantle and tries to strike me. I block with Sphere but it breaks while I retreat. She does have seven crystals in her so it can't be easy. Even more so with her daughter. 

"But it doesn't matter." Also, it seems N'donkeu has sent everybody away. Now there is only the heroes, Cissa, and us remaining. 

"Roxcia!!" 

Right as my eyes stumble upon Roxcia who still seems to be out of it. Excia is running to her while a black arrow is falling on her head. Thankfully, before something happens, Cissa knocks it off with a Raizen made of dragon energy. Cissa, you look so cool right now someone could think you are the real hero here. Though your horns betray you. I wonder if she can use the dragon's scales as well.

'Even if I use it, it would appear on you.'

'Ah, I see. Wait, you can still hear me?' 

'Aren't we one and the same?' 

'Yeah, that's true.' 

'By the way, you should-'

"Don't worry!! I know!!" 

I block Tatiana's attack right as she strikes without even looking. 

"Oh…" 

Veronica appears from the other side but I fire bullets to my heart's content and before she gets through, I use Disperse and land behind her. But just like me, she blocks my attack without looking.

"Are you stupid?" She turns her head then spins and strikes heavily but I dodge without trouble. Why does her strike doesn't scare me as much as the hammer hands? Why do they feel that much weaker? Is it just because I have become a complete dragon? "I taught you every single technique you know and you would use it against me?" 

"Wait, what?" She taught me? Was it not an…I see. I understand now why that fucking voice sounded so familiar. "So, it was you all along." 

Veronica then extends her hand and just like the goddess, spikes come out of it, five of them. I dodge three spikes but the two last graze me. Unlike the goddess, those are straightforward and easy to evade. 

"Tch." Don't click your tongue, Veronica. I am just used to this.

Tatiana uses her mother as a trampoline and hurls herself at me. Her knife shining with Regas more than ever.

I use Tremor and when our weapons clash, the shockwave throws both of us back. Her knife breaks as well in the process.

"Tch. Seriously?" What did you think?

"Veronica, save me!!" Right after that, Borgas's voice brings my attention back to Willhem. 

Borgas is completely broken. His skin is visible on every crack that has been created by Willhem's hits. Also, he only has one crystal remaining. 

"Where are you going, shithead?!!" 

While Borgas is trying to run back to Veronica, Willhem grabs his head from behind and slams it so hard the tiles of the stage fly everywhere. Yep, that's one guy down. 

"Hey, watch out!!" By the time I can look at Maria who just warned me, something goes right through my leg. 

"Argh!!" What just hit me?!! It came from…above? There are numerous spikes coming Genesis that just hit the ground. But it seems Farner and the others are okay. Thankfully, Cissa reacted in ti…

"Where are you looking, little shit?" Veronica's voice is right next to my left ear as I feel the coldness of a blade on my throat. 

I brutally lower my head but still, she manages to cut my ear. The smiling face of Tatiana is the next thing I see as she hits me with both hands, fully charged with Regas.

"Kevin!!!" My vision blanks as I hear Farner screaming my name.