Guardians of The Damned

Chapter 29 - This is Fantastic!

"Why do you think it's weak?"

"It couldn't pierce your smoke."

Dre had used one of the three smoke beads I gave him earlier. He must've formed a wall to shield himself when his opponent attacked with the arrow.

"Did it crack?"

Dre paused, thinking. "Not sure. I was focused on other things, so I might've missed a small detail. But the wall did shake on impact."

"Then it's powerful enough."

As we spoke, Hakku turned three rocks into grapes and handed them over. We ate without hesitation, each bite sending a surge of power through our veins.

I took a puff, waved my hand, and began shaping a bow from the smoke. I commanded Puffy to change its weapon.

It hesitated, refusing to obey right away. I had to be stern. Eventually, it dropped the swords, which dissolved into smoke as they left its hands. Though headless, Puffy examined the bow with what seemed like curiosity.

While I rearmed Puffy, Miem called out, "Come, Shikki, Trikki."

The chimera, sitting quietly nearby, shimmered and shrank into a glowing dot that flew to Miem and merged with her. The same thing happened to the minotaur that had been standing beside it all along.

"Soul Echo," she said softly. A strange, glowing symbol slowly formed on her forehead, casting green light.

An axe materialized in her hands. One of her legs shifted into a hoof, and a snake slithered out to form her tail.

She had explained her ability before during a meeting: she could absorb the essence of her summoned beasts and temporarily borrow their strength.

"Are you guys ready?" I asked.

"Yeah!" Dre and Miem replied in unison.

"Puffy!"

The phantom pulled the bowstring to its limit and released. A crisp snap filled the air as the arrow shot forward, whistling through the wind.

*Swoosh!*

Simultaneously, Dre loosed his arrow. Two massive projectiles soared through the sky, burying themselves deep into the dragon's decaying flesh. The impact forced the flying beast to descend.

As Dre and I fired, Miem closed the distance between her and the dragon. The moment it dropped low enough, she lunged, cracking the ground beneath her.

When the dragon came into range, she swung her axe in a wide arc, knocking the beast several meters to the side.

Right after, my arrow exploded into smoke, which seeped into its decaying wounds.

At the same time, Miem's snake tail lunged, its body elongating as it struck. Its fangs sank deep into the dragon's hide.

Then the snake began contracting, reeling Miem closer. She climbed the creature's body, her hands shifting into sharp claws.

The dragon turned one of its heads toward her.

"Bug," it growled—its voice deep, resonant, unnatural. Undead shouldn't be able to speak... not unless soul and body had recovered enough.

---

**Miem's POV**

One of the heads hovered near, its foul breath curling into her nose. Miem winced in disgust.

"You should really clean your teeth!" she snapped and hurled her axe. The dragon jerked its head aside, dodging it.

A cold blue glow began gathering in front of its mouth. The air temperature plummeted.

Miem screamed—a piercing, disorienting shriek that halted the dragon's charge. It shook its head, trying to stay conscious.

Spotting the opening, Miem climbed higher, then leapt. Seven meters up, she began falling, her strength waning.

She summoned an axe midair, gripping it tightly and swinging down as she descended. The impact rang out, a heavy thud that cracked bone.

One of the dragon's heads slammed to the ground, triggering the rest of its massive body to follow.

*Crash.*

Dust exploded upward. Debris rained down in every direction.

---

From a distance, I heard the dull thud and saw the dragon fall. I turned to mist and surged forward, leaving Puffy behind to keep it distracted. Dre and Hakku didn't need to come—I could handle this.

When I arrived, the beast had crashed hard. Dust rose two meters high. Chunks of debris smashed into nearby windows.

I didn't wait for the dust to settle. I sent out wires to bind its necks, mouths, limbs—but before they could reach, the dragon stood. The ground trembled beneath its weight.

It exhaled fire, burning the wires before they could latch on. Then it roared and began flapping its wings.

I couldn't let it take off.

"Puffy!" I commanded.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, and a massive arrow slammed into the dragon's left wing, sending it tumbling.

"Why did you leave us?"

I turned. Dre stood to my left. I didn't know how he got here so fast—probably his power.

"What are you doing here? Stay back!"

"I'm here to help." Dre raised his palm toward the arrow embedded in the wing. It glowed faintly.

He lifted his hand, and the arrow moved with it, as if tethered. Then, with a swift motion, he directed it toward the right wing—pinning it to the ground.

With both wings ruined, the dragon wouldn't be flying again.

"Nice job." I clapped his back.

But the dragon wasn't done. It rose weakly and glared at us, its many mouths gathering elemental energy.

A chill ran down my spine. I turned to Dre, wondering what kind of expression he wore.

No fear. Just awe—and pure shock.