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He could briefly hold his own against the man-though if the fight dragged on, he would inevitably be the first to fall.
The shadow engulfed him completely.
Seven heads turned toward him at once.
"Stop!"
A burly warrior abruptly turned, his battle-ax tracing an arc before crashing into the shoulder armor of the comrade beside him.
"Hungry... so hungry I can't stand it..."
Not far away, another human warrior threw himself beside a Flying Dragon's enormous body and frantically tore at the flesh beneath its scales, his teeth grinding against skin and meat with a sound that set teeth on edge.
A dull sound rang out as a blade pierced flesh.
"Sister, why-"
Searing pain shot through Smoothie's cheek, and warm liquid trickled down her jaw.
She turned her head in disbelief and saw her third sister, Amande, standing with her sword in hand, her lips moving soundlessly as though repeating some incantation.
"I should have been the Family's strongest swordswoman... that face, those legs... why does my long neck earn only averted gazes, while your outstretched legs always win admiration?"
"Heh heh... breastplates forged from dragon scales, five hundred million Beli apiece..."
"Enough. Let it all end."
A barely restrained chuckle came from midair.
Rossi grinned, his voice carrying an unnatural excitement.
"Mehahaha! You're the leader of these lizards?"
"Once I cut off all seven of your heads, I'll storm that red continent and take Imu-"
His words stopped abruptly.
A hand covered his eyes from behind, shutting out all light.
Gion's voice sounded against his ear, very low:
"Don't look into its eyes."
The instant his vision went dark, the feverish heat swirling in his chest abruptly subsided.
Rossi drew a deep breath, cold sweat seeping down his back.
Something had clearly been wrong with his