Risingsun

He/Him

Status: Alive
Occupation: Prince’s personal guard
Current Effects: N/A

“I vow to protect Prince Akihiko, at the cost of my freedom, life, and soul. It shall be my duty til the day I die.”



I shook my head, blood dripping down my iron helmet. My opponent limped up, before collapsing again. The crowd cheered, and I glanced up. From the balcony, I could see his highness and her majesty looking elsewhere, and I couldn’t stop from feeling a little disappointed. Sighing again, I was about to turn away to find the Prince as the only one seeming actually interested in the arena. Within a few more moments however, I was escorted away by the arena guards.

As the doors opened and closed behind me, I looked around. After the guards reconnected the shackles to me, they left silently. Turning around and checking once more, I finally took off my helmet, the blood finally not flooding my senses.

“Feels good to be a big-shot, huh?” A raspy voice croaked to the left. I turned my head to the large, old imperial.

“It’s survival.” I tried correcting the old dragon. “Survival? Survival?! Is that what you call it now?!” A crazed guardian said, shambling from around the corner. Looking from between the two, I was trying to figure out who and how to answer when we all turned to somedragon else.

“Survival? There’s no such thing as survival! do you seriously believe we will leave?!” The Wildclaw said, their voice continuously dropping between high and low tones as if their own vocal cords were traumatized. “W-well yes! They said if we were victorious, we leave—” The wildclaw interrupted me as he got even closer, and his eyes were smaller than dots. “Yeeeeesss yes yes, there is freedom! Through death!” The wildclaw screeched, making me flinch from the sound.

“No! There must be a way! I will leave!” I announced to them, though it was more for myself and my consuming anxiety at his words.

“T-that’s nice and all, but what’s with that jacked up leg?” The crazed guardian asked bluntly, making the Wildclaw whip his neck and head around, is a stiff yet fluid motion.

“What happened to me? What happened to ME?!?” the Wildclaw suddenly screamed. “THATS WHAT!!” The wildclaw said, practically throwing a broken arm into a wall. As my eyes went to it, I could see a crude carving of a Massive Ridgeback with a sadistic grin.

“PALE WITH SCALES OF FREEZING COLDS WITH ARMOR THAT REEKS OF BLOOD!! PLATED WITH ARMOR!! THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS!...That’s what happens..” the Wildclaw trailed off as he began mumbling and whispering ‘what’s what happens’. I began to think he was worse than the guardian.

“J-just know, they send him. They always send him when you feel unstoppable. Just know, when you see him, make it quicker for yourself… there’s no winning…” he trailed off as he limped away just as discreetly as before, leaving me staring at the carving.

Suddenly, I felt sick remembering my victories.


The guards let me out again, my helmet still covered in dried blood. But something was off, as the crowds were louder and seemed more hyped. But strangest of all, his highness and her majesty, including their son, were intently watching the arena. Something was wrong… but then what the announcer said chilled me.

“—against the ROYAL CHAMPION!! Enter, FINISHER!!”

Large, black doors opened in front of me revealing an armor plated dragon just like the carving.

“FIVE!”

The dragon took a launching position, one you would see on a predator when preparing to strike. Taking a traditional guard stance, i could feel my helmet was far inferior to his entire set.

“FOUR!”

The crowd grew louder as the ridgebacks dug deeper into the sand, and I realized he wasn’t just planning to lunge.

“THREE!”

The Image of the Wildclaw flashed before me, making my adrenaline rise from fear.

“TWO!!”

My eyes widened as the Ridgeback charged forwards, completely bypassing the announcer. Taken by surprise, the giant dragon landed on me, making me grapple his claws in an attempt to keep him from my throat. I raised my back legs, slashing at his underbelly. He hissed, and aimed for my head, clearly attempting to at least crush my helmet. Twisting my head so he missed, I twisted out from under the larger dragon and darted away, wanting distance between us.

The crowd grew in cheers and screams as the Ridgeback got up, the previous slashes clearly angering the giant. As he charged at me again, I was now prepared and sidestepped him. I saw him come to a stop, but it was late and long winded. Its almost as if he can’t stop once he’s… I thought to myself as I evaded another one of his charges. This time however, my back was to the wall as I pretended I was preparing to brace myself. Sure enough, the Ridgeback charged.

But his long talon caught the small underside of my helmet and we both crashed into the wall. Stunned, I flailed furiously in front of me, mainly responding to the burning pain I was feeling pretty much everywhere. The Ridgebackwas trying to crush my skull by crushing it inside my helmet. Feeling terrible pain and pressure on my head, I kicked my legs forwards and into the giant dragons eyes.

While the dragon was blinded, in a rush of adrenaline, I tore at whatever was exposed. There was a long teeeeeaaaaaaaaaaar as I tore the webbing on the giant’s left wing almost completely off. The dragon, still blinded, froze by the sound. And even if he was trying to blink away the sand, it was clear the look of horror. But I couldn’t see it, all I could see was fear and red. Mercilessly, I tore into any open gaps in his armor, even taking some of his claws and half of his tail.


I sat there, blood of my own and his dripping down on me and the sand as I looked down in horror at what I had done. The dragon in front of me barely looked alive. His left wing’s webbing was almost completely torn off while his second wing was broken. He was missing several claws and half his tail leaned to the side, with one of my fangs sticking out of it. No wonder I tasted blood in my mouth.

I looked up from the body and to the crowd, everyone silent. Some looked horrified, others completely sickened. Finally, the announcer spoke.

“Fiery Might won! Collect your bets and bidding b…”

As his voice faded, I could tell even his ‘enthusiasm’ was forced as even he didn’t exactly know what to make of this. Neither did I. Usually games were decided by who gave in first. Who forfeited first. Not this one.

I had killed my opponent.

...

As I was escorted out and into a chamber instead of under the arena, I felt a feeling of dread. Was I the new champion? Would I be able to leave? None of those would be answered however when the Prince himself knocked my on window and explained his mother wanted me dead. Of course, I was terrified. But oddly enough, the Prince seemed almost causal with me, and offered to demand to make me his personal guard because it would mean I wouldn’t die. I agreed, still unsure why the Prince was acting how he was.

...

As time came, the Prince made a scene demanding he wanted me as his personal guard, stating things about my performance in the arena. He wasn’t lying when he said his father would give him just about anything he desired. Being a personal guard for a Dragonet was an interesting learning promise, but my vows I was true too, and I was genuine with my words. I still remember when I spoke. “I vow to protect Prince Akihiko, at the cost of my freedom, life, and soul. It shall be my duty til the day I die.” It almost seemed as if I had caught him off guard with how much I meant it.

...

As I got closer, he insisted I started staying in his chamber during the daylight, and once again got his father to agree. I didn’t understand why until he had brought me a book and... taught me to read. It was awkward at first, admitting you don’t know how to real will always be a little strange. Oddly enough however, he didn’t seem to mind and even seemed happy to teach me. We would read books and scrolls of plant life, and that’s when he really seemed the most in tune to what he was doing.

...

He had came from practically nowhere when he confessed to me how he didn’t want to be a prince, and how he just wanted to explore the world. At first I was surprised, but then it made sense. How causal he was, how he much rather talking about exploration then even mentipn the royal family and its ways. He wanted to learn of the world and it’s ancient ways. I was there when he declared to his father how he would much rather explore, and would even step back to let his brother ascend to the throne instead of him when it was time. It was so, well, dramatic. Even his father gasped.

...

Days passed, and even though he was trying he couldn’t hide the fact that he was trying to pack scrolls and books. Granted, he probably would’ve been able to leave if he could carry all the books he was planning to bring. It was an odd night, that was. Him speaking of just leaving me with if his father wouldn’t allow it, and travel far far away to explore. It was a crazy idea, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

...