Chris Harrison looked at the screen of his phone idly. The LCD screen light paled compared to the moonlight showering onto the clearing he was in. Surrounded by the dense forest, sitting on a large boulder, he couldn't look more out of place. Well, it wasn't like he cared much about that. Having nearly every people in the world recognizing you one way or another and living with it for 2 years kind of making you get used to not pay attention to what others think of yourself.
'Two years huh. It's been a long time. Yet, when looking back, it felt terribly short.'
After the event in New York, he was offered by the man called Jack to help him "prepare". Perhaps it was a decision at the spur of a moment but he accepted. For one year, they travelled. From the US to Europe, then to Africa and Asia. Practicing martial arts, swordmanship and many things. Along the way, they clashed with many opponents and enemies. In a way, it could be said to be one of the better time of Chris's life, and even though he hated to admit it, Jack had become someone he considered to be his close friend, like an older brother almost. Well, even with that, there's some difference that couldn't be compromised between both of them...Part of that is why he decided to continue his journey alone one year ago.
It was rather...lonely at times. He would admit it that much. Doing works and beating up bad guys did make it less boring, though. Helping out with other organizations, hunting down criminals and warlords, hunting artifacts and treasures, crushing a few Demon Incursions here and there, putting down doomday cults....Due to that, he met a lot of people of various profession and built up quite a network of acquaintances: treasure hunters, demon and monster hunters, exorcists, magic practitioners, heroes, mercerneries...He even kept in touch with his fellows Chosens and their respective organization. Despite all that, he never officially affiliated with or formed any groups, prefering to work alone and it had its own benefits. On the down side, it seemed his solo work has made his name became even more well-known, though.
The good, however, outweighed the bad. Due to his skill from the God Lugh, he picked up a lot of stuffs along the way. Ninjutsu, stealth, using vehicles from motorbikes to helicopter and even civilian aircraft...No doubt those will help him some way in the future, especially for whatever those Demons got in mind. The battle at New York was just a beginning of whatever they are planning, no doubt involve taking over the world in some manners. They always do that, as cliché of a goal as that sounds...
The shaking of the ground and the rumbling of
something moving broke him out of the memory train.
"Well, aren't you a late-comer, old guy?"
Chris mused as the shadow hidden behind the forest walked out, trampling out all the trees and obstacles in its way with ease. To calling it big would be an understatement. The gigantic figure easily exceeded 20m in height and over 30m long. With each of its steps, the ground shook like an earthquake. With each of it breaths, the air quivered like having a storm near. The foul odor of the creature made Chris frowned in disgust, but he ignored it. The two golden eyes shined through the dark. Black, enormous body covered in scales. The distinct reptilian creature stood still in its track, eyeing Chris carefully, perhaps sensing the power inside him. Everything from its huge jaw with razor-sharp teeth to the foul, poisonous odor originated from its mouth screamed of the danger of the beast.
"Looks like you must be over two or three centuries old, heh. Quite a shame I have to put you down though. The village down there would be destroyed if you passed through, after all."
Like it understood what he said, the dragon released a air-shaking roar before spill out a stream of air from its mouth, right the place Chris was standing. In which, he immediately jumped out of the way. Landed nearby, he looked at the melted, smoldering place where he just was a moment ago.
"Poisonous breath with some acidic property to it, I presumed."
Seeing the prey escaped the attack, the dragon grunted angrily. Spreading its wings, with the full length of 50m, making the monster looked even more intimidating, it crouched its body, ready to jump at Chris himself, with intent to tear him apart with fangs and claws.
With an arrogant smile, Chris raised his hand and a Japanese sword appearing in the air, which he quickly grabbed with his left arm. Getting himself into a battle-ready stance, he drew the blade from its scabbard. The moment his right hand touched the hilt, the transformation of Nuadha began. From the tip of the fingers to his shoulder, Chris's whole right arm turned into the color of silver...The Sword of the Silver-Handed revealed itself as the fighting intent rose up around Chris like an invisible fire.
"You know, the first lesson in swordmanship I learnt is how to cut a leaf in the wind. And you are nothing more than a bigger leaf I need to cut down! So don't get so full of yourself, monster!"
Along that declaration, the two being within the desolated forest clashed with full intention to eliminate each other.
Looking up at the bright moon above, Chris wiped the sweat from his forehead. Besides a few dirty spots on his clothes, he didn't appear to suffer any major injuries. Taking a look around him, Chris realized how his fight earlier had wrecked a significant part of the forest. Toppled trees, gouged ground and melted earth. There were no other words to describe it other than a "battlefield". And behind him, lied the corpse of the dragon he had slain. One of it wings had been ripped off. Many wounds resembled sword slashes ran along its torso. Its front claws had been heavily mangled and one of its eyes fell out of the socket. Most noticable of all was the place at the center of its chest, where its heart resided was a wound like it had been stabbed by a giant blade... There was no doubt that it was the result of the strike that decided the battle.
"Haizz. The clean-up crew would have a field day with this. But..."
Chris looked doubtful as recounted the battle. Dragons rarely went on a rampage like this. Especially one who's older then one century. Somehow, he couldn't shake off the ominous feeling he had. Maybe it was time to pay a visit to his fellow Chosens.
