All That Glitters

The wind whipped through the desolate expanse of the Lost Region, its icy breath seeping through the seams of my reinforced cloak. The land stretched endlessly, a patchwork of frozen tundras and towering ruins that hinted at a civilization long extinguished. I tightened the straps of my boots and adjusted the device at my wrist, a thermal emitter of my own design, which cast a faint glow of warmth around my squad.

Behind me, our squads trudged forward, their breath fogging in the cold. Akono—proud, untouchable Akono—strode at my side, his eyes scanning the horizon. Even beneath his luxurious gold mantle, his commanding presence was unmistakable. We were opposites in almost every way, and it showed in the sharp words we had exchanged since the mission began.

“We’re running out of time,” Akono muttered, his voice cutting through the howling wind. “If we don’t find the informant soon, Fafnir will have moved his operations deeper into Sheol, and these people will vanish forever.”

“And if we rush, we risk walking into an ambush,” I countered, adjusting my contacts. “The informant will expect us. Fafnir has eyes everywhere. Patience is our ally, Akono.”

He snorted, the heat of Mons Crimson, his Usuro Izo evident in the faint steam that rose from his skin. “Patience isn’t what gets results.”

I bit back my reply, focusing instead on the map projected from my wrist. Our target—a former citizen of Ojii who had betrayed his people—was holed up in the ruins of an ancient observatory. The structure loomed in the distance, its jagged silhouette outlined against the pale sky.

The observatory was a tomb of frozen memories, its walls slick with ice and its halls shrouded in darkness. I led the squad inside, my senses on high alert. The cold was an enemy in itself, sapping our strength with every step. But I refused to falter—not when Fafnir’s shadow loomed so heavily over us.

“The thermal readings show activity up ahead,” I said, adjusting my contacts for an updated visual, my brow furrowed in concentration. My voice broke the silence, drawing the squad’s attention. I signaled for them to stay close, my grip tightening around my spear. The informant was here, and with him, answers.

The informant was a wiry man with shifty eyes that darted between us like a cornered animal. He was no warrior, but his allegiance to Fafnir made him dangerous.

“You don’t know what you’re walking into,” he sneered, his voice a mix of fear and defiance. “Fafnir will burn you all to ash.”

“Lead us to him,” Akono growled, his tone brooking no argument. The fire in his palm flared, casting long shadows against the icy walls. The informant’s bravado cracked, and he nodded reluctantly.

But I caught the glint in his eyes too late. A trap. The ground beneath us rumbled, and the observatory's walls exploded outward as Fafnir’s raiders descended. They were monstrous, their draconic features glinting in the pale light, their weapons cruel and jagged.

“Hold your ground!” I shouted, extending my spear and creating a defensive barrier. The squad formed a tight circle, their movements sharp and disciplined despite the chaos.

The battle was intense. The raiders struck with feral precision, their claws raking through the air as their weapons clashed against ours. My shield deflected blows that should have ended us, and my quick thinking kept the squad alive. For all my internal doubts, I knew we had the tools to survive this.

Then came Fafnir. He emerged from the shadows, his golden scales shimmering like molten metal. In his hybrid form, he was a towering figure of raw power, his hammer—a weapon of corrosion and gold—gleaming ominously.

“You should have stayed in Ojii,” Fafnir rumbled, his voice a low growl. “This land will be your grave.”

Akono stepped forward, his blades blazing. “You’ve taken your last life, Fafnir.”

Their duel was a spectacle of fire and fury, each clash of their weapons sending shockwaves through the battlefield. But it was clear that Fafnir’s strength was monstrous, his every strike threatening to shatter Akono’s resolve.

“He can’t do this alone,” I muttered, my mind racing. Drawing upon my own Usoro Izo, I recalibrated my emitter to amplify Akono’s flames. With a quick adjustment, I constructed a dome of energy around them, enhancing his strengths.

Akono glanced back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Then he nodded, his attacks growing fiercer and more precise. Together, we turned the tide.

With my support, Akono found the strength to push Fafnir back. His blades burned brighter than ever, slicing through Fafnir’s defenses. The dragon roared, his golden scales cracking under the onslaught. Finally, with a surge of power, Akono drove his weapons into Fafnir’s heart.

Fafnir’s death was a thunderclap, his body collapsing in a heap of molten gold. The battlefield fell silent, the raiders retreating into the shadows. The victory was ours, but it had come at a cost.

As the squad regrouped, I looked to Akono. For once, there was no animosity in his gaze—only respect.

“You’re a better leader than I gave you credit for,” he admitted, his voice low.

I smiled, the weight of the mission lifting slightly. “And you’re not as reckless as I thought.”

The journey back to Ojii would be long, but for the first time, I felt that we were truly united. The grasp of Fafnir had been vanquished, and with it, a new understanding had been forged between us.