Dragon Graveyard

Riyao sped along in a mine cart.

The mine cart clattered along the tracks, growing faster and faster. The tracks tilted downwards, and the wind whistled past my ears, blowing my hair back.

The mine cart was shaking violently.

The wind is quite noisy today!

He raised his hands above his head, his mouth wide open, and his voice echoed through the mine tunnel.

A figure landed in his arms.

He plummeted straight down from the darkness above, landing precisely in the minecart, his back slamming into Riyao's chest.

The impact caused Riyao to catch his breath in his throat.

"Noisy~"

Mirajane sat in his lap, turned her head, raised her eyebrows high, and spoke with a tone full of teasing.

She braced herself on the edge of the mine cart with one hand, and poked Riyao's nose with the other.

"Cough cough cough..."

Riyao looked down at Mirajane in his arms, then looked up at the dark mine tunnel above.

Mirajane laughed heartily at Riyao's humiliated expression.

"They just unleashed a powerful attack; the field was so bright you couldn't open your eyes, so I sneaked in."

"That's amazing!"

Riyao ruffled her hair, rubbing her head with his palm until it was messed up.

Mirajane reached out and slapped his hand away, her lips curving into an even wider smile.

As the two were talking, the mine cart had already slid to the lowest point of the pit.

The track ended, the wheels stopped turning, and silence fell over the surroundings.

It was so quiet you could hear the sound of water droplets falling.

The plants inside the cave shimmered with light.

Glowing vines and moss climbed the walls, emitting a blue-green fluorescence.

The air was filled with the smell of earth and dampness.

Riyao raised his hand and released magic, condensing a ball of light.

The ball of light rose from his palm, floated into the air, and grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire cave.

Mirajane could see the scene inside the pit.

The pupils constricted suddenly.

She grabbed Riyao's arm, her fingers tightening, and froze on the spot.

"This is?"

"Yes, that's right, this is the Dragon Graveyard."

The cave was filled with enormous skeletons, all of them, without exception, the skeletons of dragons.

Skeletons lay scattered throughout the cave.

The skeleton was covered with a thick layer of dust, and in some places it had weathered, with cracks and holes appearing on the surface of the bones.

Riyao helped Mirajane out of the mine cart.

He stepped forward first, reached out and took Mirajane's hand, and pulled her out of the mine cart.

Mirajane stepped on the ground, dust rising from the soles of her shoes.

The two walked inside the Dragon Graveyard.

Riyao walked ahead, holding the orb of light, with Mirajane following behind, their footsteps echoing in the empty cave.

"How about we take these bones home and make soup?"

Riyao stopped in front of a huge leg bone and patted it.

The dust was kicked up and lingered for quite a while.

"Aren't these all expired?"

Mirajane rolled her eyes at him, her lips twitching.

"Eating this will definitely give you diarrhea."

"Give it to Natsu; a dragon's stomach can digest anything."

He circled the leg bone, tracing lines on its surface with his fingers.

"Natsu will cry."

Mirajane's voice was tinged with helplessness, and the corners of her eyes were already curved into a smile.

"You're so shameless."

Riyao was making noise and banging on things everywhere.

He walked up to a rib, tapped it twice, then walked up to a dragon tooth and pinched the tip.

He was still muttering, "This one's too old," and "This one's too small."

"These bones are worthless."

He dusted off his hands and sighed.

"It seems to be too old; it has lost all its activity."

"Are you trying to extract vital information?"

Mirajane tilted her head and looked at him, blinking her eyes.

"If it's not there, then so be it. I didn't have high hopes anyway."

Riyao took Mirajane's hand, slipped his fingers between hers, and their hands clasped together.

"Let's go back and bring Natsu and the others over to see the dragon bones."

He walked briskly in one direction.

The orbs of light floated overhead, following their movements.

He planned to ask old Toma about the Dragon Cry.

I wonder if there will be any limited-edition items in the theatrical version?

By the time the two emerged from the cave, it was already dark.

The streetlights have already come on.

The two arrived at the tavern where the party was taking place.

A cacophony of sounds drifted through the crack in the door.

Laughter, shouts, and the sound of things being thrown created a chaotic scene.

Riyao and Mirajane stood at the door.

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously pushed open the door.

A chaotic scene in the tavern.

Erza surfs on wooden planks made of wine barrels.

She stood with her feet on a plank, across the wine barrel.

The plank slid across the top of the barrel, making a creaking sound.

"Watch me!"

Lucy had already hidden in the corner.

It huddled behind the table, only half its head showing.

But Erza turned a corner and bumped right into Lucy.

The two fell to the ground and rolled twice.

Lucy's eyes were brimming with tears, and she covered her forehead, which had been bruised and swollen, with both hands.

"I clearly dodged it, why did it still hit me!"

Gray also surfed on a wooden plank made of wine barrels.

He stood on the wooden plank, leaned forward, and rushed forward a distance, his speed increasing rapidly.

His head slammed against the wall with a dull thud, and he bounced back, falling flat on his back.

His clothes instantly fell off, leaving him only in a pair of shorts.

That's a truly exceptional skill.

Ur sighed and pressed his hand to his face.

"Gray's habit is hopeless, thankfully Juvia doesn't mind."

Upon hearing Ur's words, Juvia cupped his face in his hands, his eyes began to shine, and two blushes appeared on his cheeks.

She started her own little mental drama again, steam rising from the top of her head.

Mavis swung her toes as she watched the younger generation play around, laughing heartily.

She sat on a high stool at the bar, her legs dangling in mid-air, unable to reach the ground.

Riyao knocked on the door.

He pounded his fist on the door frame twice, making two loud thuds.

"Hey, who wants to see a dragon?"

The entire tavern fell silent.

"I'll take you to see it! It's amazing! Oh my, the scene is absolutely breathtaking!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing at the same time.

Their minds went blank for a moment.

What did you just hear?

Dragon?!

They looked at Riyao and Mirajane with suspicion in their eyes.

Mirajane smiled and nodded.

Only then did the crowd reluctantly believe it.

It's not that I don't believe it.

What Riyao said is true, but we need to rely on the actual product to verify it.

Natsu excitedly grabbed Riyao's shoulder.

He grabbed with both hands at the same time, his ten fingers hooking onto Riyao's shoulders.

"Really?!"

His voice was trembling.

Where is the dragon? Is Igneel there?

It wasn't out of fear, it was out of excitement.

His eyes were wide open, his pupils gleaming.

Riyao laughed, in a cheeky way.

"Maybe there is. Follow me if you want to see."

Natsu was the first to rush out the door.

The group chattered excitedly the whole way.

Natsu kept muttering Igneel's name. Wendy whispered that she wondered if Grandine would appear. Gray said there definitely wouldn't be any because all the dragons were dead, and then Natsu punched him.

Princess Hisui listened to Arcadios's report.

She sat by the palace window, holding a cup of tea in her hand, but didn't drink it.

"The Dragon Graveyard has been discovered by the Riyao."

She set down her teacup, which clinked crisply on the tray.

"Well, there's nothing good inside anyway, but let's go take a look. Maybe there'll be something fun."

Princess Hisui Arcadios toward the Dragon Graveyard Cave. Their footsteps echoed through the corridor and gradually faded into the distance.