Looking at the Silver Winged Star with its head buried in the dirt and its rear end sticking into the air, Teostra shuddered and instinctively backed away.
Getting slapped around was one thing.
That posture afterward was somehow even more terrifying.
Teostra stared for a moment, wanting to laugh but not daring to. In the end, he cautiously glanced at Axel's back.
He wasn't afraid of things he could understand.
What truly frightened him were things beyond his comprehension.
It was the same instinctive dread a person might feel when facing something completely unnatural.
Meanwhile, Valstrax finally pulled his head out of the dirt and immediately looked toward Axel.
The moment their eyes met, Axel raised his right hand.
Valstrax's pupils shrank.
He instantly flopped back onto the ground.
"Owoo..."
The dragon let out a pitiful whimper.
"Can't you stop hitting me? If you're going to beat me up, at least tell me why. This is completely unreasonable!"
Seeing that Valstrax had abandoned all thoughts of resistance, Axel lowered his hand with satisfaction.
Then he approached and gently nudged the dragon's chin.
Among dragons, some rules were surprisingly simple.
Just as ordinary wyverns instinctively submitted to Elder Dragons, Elder Dragons themselves recognized strength.
Beasts challenged opponents they believed they could fight.
Facing Axel, Valstrax knew he couldn't win and couldn't escape.
Submission became the obvious choice.
Elder Dragons were highly intelligent creatures.
Sensing the overwhelming danger Axel represented, Valstrax obediently raised his head when his chin was lifted.
Like a nervous puppy, he carefully observed Axel's actions.
Then Axel patted his head and jumped onto it.
Valstrax froze.
His eyes widened.
He understood.
He was about to die.
The next attack wouldn't hit his face.
It would hit his neck.
His life was over.
As Valstrax's imagination ran wild, Axel gently stepped on his neck.
"Buddy, can you understand me? Take me on a test flight. Let's get airborne."
Thud!
Valstrax immediately collapsed to the ground like a falling mountain.
His entire body curled up as he trembled.
Watching this reaction, Axel rolled his eyes and jumped back down in front of him.
"Hey."
He pried open Valstrax's tightly shut eyelid and forced the dragon to look directly at him.
"What exactly are you scared of? Dying?
It doesn't matter if you can't understand my words. Learn to read emotions.
Do I look like I'm trying to kill you? Look into my eyes and I..."
"Axel, maybe don't make him look into your eyes. He just peed."
Ciri and the Commander had walked over just in time to narrowly avoid being splashed.
After sidestepping the stream of dragon urine, Ciri approached and admired Valstrax.
"The fastest dragon in an entire world. That's incredible.
But he obviously can't communicate with us. Do you want me to introduce you to some mages? They might know a solution."
"Oh? Mages can talk to dragons?"
Axel turned toward her.
Ciri shook her head.
"Don't ask me. I'm not sure.
In my world, true dragons can take human form and speak normally.
Still, mages are incredibly knowledgeable, especially the elves.
I know an elven sage named Avallac'h. He's the one who helped me escape Eredin's pursuit and..."
She suddenly froze.
"Shit!"
Grabbing Axel's hand, she looked horrified.
"Something's wrong.
I just remembered I left Avallac'h behind in the previous world.
We should have arrived there together through the Conjunction of the Spheres, but not at the exact same location.
You felt dangerous enough that I immediately focused on getting away, and I completely forgot about him.
Axel, you have to help me. We need to find him."
"Uh-huh."
Axel looked at her.
"He's your friend.
I don't know him at all.
Why should I help, exactly? Because you're attractive?"
Without hesitation, Ciri grabbed Axel's hand and pressed it against her chest.
A faint blush appeared on her face, but she stubbornly held his gaze.
"Is this enough?"
"What do you mean, 'this'?"
Axel casually moved his hand.
Ciri trembled slightly and immediately seized his wrist.
"You have to help me.
And that's only the beginning.
Axel, I like your looks and your abilities.
Don't disappoint me."
Axel grinned.
"I like your hair and your scars too, little lady."
Pulling his hand away, he ruffled her hair.
"Get ready.
We'll head back to the Cyberpunk world and look for your friend on the way."
"That's great!"
Ciri's eyes brightened.
She immediately waved at the Commander.
"Commander, we have something important to deal with, so we're leaving.
If we get the chance, we'll come back and have a drink with you."
"Hmm... yes, well..."
The Commander coughed awkwardly.
"I'll look forward to it.
But honestly, you two are something else.
If I were younger, you might corrupt all the boys and make every girl blush.
Gods these days really know how to enjoy themselves.
Anyway, if it's urgent, get moving.
I'll make sure your story spreads everywhere."
With a red face, he turned away.
Only then did Ciri realize how their interaction had looked.
Patting her cheeks, she looked toward Axel expectantly.
Axel nodded.
A moment later, he, Ciri, and Valstrax vanished.
Watching them disappear, the Commander took a deep breath before approaching the exhausted Teostra.
He gently patted the Elder Dragon's scales.
"Haha, my mistake.
I didn't realize you weren't feeling well, and I chased you all the way out here.
That's on me.
Will you accept my apology, big guy?
How about I buy you a meal?"
"Owoo?"
Unlike Axel and Valstrax, the Commander communicated surprisingly well with Teostra.
Somehow, the dragon seemed to understand.
With lingering fear still visible in his eyes, Teostra nodded.
"Owoo!"
He even exhaled a small puff of harmless flame.
What he wanted now was food, rest, and perhaps a strong drink.
The day's events had thoroughly shaken even a seasoned Elder Dragon.
And so, Astera welcomed its first Elder Dragon guest.
Under countless stunned gazes, the Commander drank alongside Teostra while the exhausted Meowscular Chef worked tirelessly to prepare enough food for the enormous visitor.
Meanwhile, thanks to the Commander's increasingly exaggerated retellings, the legends of Axel and Ciri spread throughout the world.
His unexpected friendship with Teostra would also influence the future of many people in the New World.
But that was a story for another time.
A short while later.
Ciri shook the last traces of heat from her hands and stared at Axel.
"Axel.
This isn't the previous world at all.
This is Skellige.
I'd recognize this sea breeze anywhere, and the traces left by the Wild Hunt are unmistakable."
As she spoke, her gaze fell upon the ice spikes still standing in the distance.
The Wild Hunt cared nothing for anyone except their target.
The village before them had become another casualty.
Bodies hung from the frozen spikes.
Men.
Women.
Children.
Looking at the dead children, Ciri's expression darkened.
The guilt was impossible to hide.
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head.
"You went to the wrong place.
Let's go back.
All I do is bring disaster to this world.
If the Wild Hunt discovers my location, more people will die like this."
"Relax."
Axel placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not a serious problem.
As long as you don't use your powers, the Wild Hunt won't be able to track you.
As for Avallac'h..."
Axel raised his hand and made a grabbing motion.
The next second, an elven sage wrapped in restraints and monitoring equipment appeared before them.
The moment he saw Ciri, he began struggling frantically.
Ciri froze.
"What happened to you?"
She tapped Axel's wrist.
With a flick of his finger, the restraints shattered.
Avallac'h immediately stood.
"My God, Ciri, I thought I'd never see you again!
After you and His Divine Majesty disappeared, I was captured almost immediately.
Because of my clothing and appearance, His Majesty's followers detained me and demanded information.
I couldn't explain anything.
Fortunately, they didn't harm me.
They simply kept me under supervision.
Also, Your Divine Majesty, your followers have already taken complete control of that nation.
I trust that won't cause you concern."
Avallac'h nervously looked toward Axel.
Axel simply nodded.
"Why would I be worried?
Yorinobu has plenty of ability.
Without Saburo and Michiko around, he became Arasaka's primary heir.
Most of the important Arasaka leadership followed Saburo to the orbital station.
Yorinobu already had the advantage.
A few encirclements and enough explosives were all he needed.
If he still managed to lose with Rogue and the others supporting him, then he deserved whatever happened."
Chuckling, Axel turned toward the ocean.
Skellige's islands had served as Avallac'h and Ciri's hiding place.
The terrain was rugged, the settlement small, and the island itself isolated.
Watching the waves roll across the sea, Ciri stepped closer.
"Axel..."
"Ciri, that's His Divine Majesty!"
Avallac'h nearly jumped out of his skin.
"You should show a god basic respect!"
Ciri looked at him as though he had lost his mind.
"Avallac'h, don't compare Axel to Eredin and the Wild Hunt.
They're only slightly stronger than ordinary people and call themselves gods because of it.
Axel isn't like that.
He's surprisingly easy to get along with."
"Easygoing?"
Avallac'h stared at her.
"You're talking about someone responsible for over two hundred million deaths in a single day."
Ciri paused.
Then a cold smile appeared.
"After leaving my world, Axel and I visited others.
We met countless decent people.
I've never seen him punish someone who genuinely didn't deserve it.
So if that many people died, maybe the real question is whether they were innocent to begin with."
As she spoke, she lightly held Axel's wrist while resting her other hand against Valstrax's scales.
Avallac'h fell silent.
Then his attention shifted toward the dragon.
"Oh?"
Curiosity appeared in his eyes.
"This creature is fascinating.
It's neither a silver dragon nor a black dragon.
And its size is extraordinary."
"Wait."
Axel spoke.
Avallac'h instantly straightened up and fell silent.
Unlike Ciri, he had no desire to interrupt Axel.
Beside him, Ciri asked softly,
"What is it?"
"Nothing important."
Axel looked toward the horizon.
"I'm just curious.
How is Geralt doing?"
Ciri's expression froze.
Then she sighed.
"You already know parts of my story, don't you?
Geralt...
That stubborn fool who was like a father to me...
He's dead.
He and Yennefer were killed by a mob armed with pitchforks."
Sadness flashed across her face.
Moments later, it transformed into hope.
"But it's okay.
Avallac'h and I brought their bodies to Avalon.
If everything goes well, they'll return.
After this, Geralt won't be able to run from Yennefer anymore.
Maybe nearly dying together will finally convince them to settle down.
If that happens, I'll be relieved.
Those two are already old enough to know better, yet they never stop causing trouble."
She let out a helpless sigh.