CHAPTER 275: CHAPTER 274 - THE DRAGON’S WISH.

A while later.

The group sat in a circle.

Not a noble-warrior-strategizing circle.

Not a somber battle-preparation circle.

No, this was a ’we-have-no-idea-what-the-hell-we’re-doing’ circle.

Everyone was looking at Raven like he had just said the single dumbest thing in recorded history... which, to be fair, he kind of had.

"...So let me get this straight," Rufus said slowly, counting on his fingers. "The dragon’s one and only wish is—"

"To feel pain again," Raven confirmed calmly, as though he were discussing the weather.

Selena’s lips quirked faintly, eyes sharp as glass. "Mm. And here I thought I’d be the only one in this group with such... interesting hobbies."

"Selena," Clara murmured in warning, though her tone was more amused than concerned.

"Cluckles agrees," the chicken said sagely, fluffing its snow-white feathers. "The lady dragon sounds... spicy."

"Cluckles," Graye said, leaning forward with glittering eyes, "are you saying we just... hit her until she’s happy?"

"That’s not what he’s saying," Raven said before Cluckles could answer.

"That’s exactly what I heard," Siris chimed in cheerfully, already cracking her knuckles.

Lia’s brow furrowed, her arms crossed. "This is absurd. Even if we wanted to, she’s too strong to injure. It’s impossible."

"And?" Siris grinned at her. "Impossible just means more fun."

Jessy groaned. "Oh, great. Another Siris pep talk. What’s the body count this time?"

Siris tilted her head. "Hopefully? Just one dragon."

The panther—sprawled between Graye and Alex—rolled onto its back, batting lazily at Graye’s armored thigh before attempting to bite it. Graye smirked and pushed its face away.

Alex raised his hands dramatically. "Okay, but... hear me out. She’s a being so strong we can’t even scratch her. The only other time I’ve felt this kind of pressure was—"

"When we saw that thing through the crack in the sky," Rufus finished grimly. "Yeah. Same here."

Nibbles nodded solemnly from Alex’s shoulder, squeaking something that was almost definitely ’yep, we’re all gonna die.’

"Which," Rufus continued, "brings us back to the obvious question—how the hell do you make something like that feel anything?"

Finally, Selena, sitting perfectly straight beside Raven, brushed a strand of hair back and said softly, "You’re calm. That means you have an idea."

"Or," Clara added with a small smile, "he’s pretending to be calm because he doesn’t want us to panic."

Siris smirked. "Either way, I like it."

Lia scoffed. "Of course, because we are plotting to hurt someone."

Cluckles cleared his throat importantly. "Cluckles seeks clarification. The large shiny lizard desires physical agony?"

"Technically, yes," Raven said. "She’s been stuck in this body so long she can’t feel anything—not even touch. She wants pain because it means she can feel again."

Jessy rubbed her temples. "So... she’s basically a giant, indestructible masochist."

Nibbles squeaked solemnly.

Alex grinned. "I can respect that."

That’s when Omni’s voice suddenly cut through the air from Raven’s arm.

"Yo, yo, yo—hold up, people. You still got me. Ain’t no ’can’t hurt her’ while Omni’s in the house. I can cut through anything. You give me one shot, and I’ll make her feel like she stubbed every toe she’s got."

Siris looked intrigued. "I like this sword."

Clara sighed. "Of course, you do."

Raven shook his head. "No."

Omni scoffed. "What? C’mon, man, you know I got the juice."

"That’s not the point," Raven said. "She’s still a spirit inside. Spirits have survival instincts sharper than any blade. If I bring you out, she’ll feel the danger. And if she does..."

He glanced toward the sleeping-but-definitely-trying-to-listen dragon. "...one serious strike from her could wipe us all out."

That got the reaction he expected. The group tensed as if someone had just said the floor was made of explosives.

"...So what do we do?" Jessy asked, eyeing him warily.

"Yeah," Rufus said. "What’s the plan, boss?"

Even Lia leaned in, though she tried to look like she didn’t care. "We’re waiting."

Raven let the silence hang just long enough for all of them to start shifting nervously. Then he spoke.

"Every being," he said quietly, "no matter how powerful... has one spot that will hurt no matter what."

The group followed his gaze to the dragon’s molten eyes.

The beast blinked slowly, a faint smirk—if dragons could smirk—curling in her gaze, like she knew she was being talked about.

Graye’s brows furrowed. "...Wait. Are we talking, like... physically? Or emotionally?"

Siris grinned. "Doesn’t matter. I’m good at both."

Lia shook her head.

Selena’s lips curved into the faintest, most dangerous smile. "I think I know what he means."

Raven didn’t elaborate.

Which, of course, only made them all lean in closer.

Because they knew that this wasn’t the main plan, and they wanted to hear the main plan.

...................................

Another while later.

The dragon’s molten-gold eyes tracked them with lazy curiosity, her head cocked ever so slightly as Raven and his ragtag war-criminals-in-training gathered around.

She had heard part of their plotting earlier—something about every being having a weakness.

She didn’t know the details, but she was certain they meant her eyes. They always did.

The poor fools.

"Oh, this is adorable," she purred, her voice like molten silk. "Do you know how many have tried to hurt me? Not a scratch. Not even a tickle. But—"

Her gaze slid to Raven, and her voice dropped to something almost sultry, "—you, handsome... You might be worth the effort."

Raven met her eyes evenly. "We won’t know until we try."

No smirk, no taunt. Just calm, maddening certainty.

The group tensed. Then, without a word—

They rushed her.

Boots pounded, wings flared, fire blazed, and metal sang. All of them were aiming for her eyes... though the flicker of hesitation in their movements betrayed them.

The dragon braced herself, molten lids narrowing. Then, before she could even understand it—

Clang.

She tilted her head. Something cool and solid had wrapped over her face, binding across her vision.

"...What is this?" She asked, more puzzled than angry.

Jessy’s voice called back from somewhere in the chaos. "Just hold still. It’s a science experiment."

The dragon would’ve laughed if not for the odd tremors starting to rattle against her scales.

One thump on her side, then another on her back, then a rhythmic pummeling against her ribs. It felt like... someone knocking politely.

’Vibrations?’

Clara was in the air, sound magic pulsing, each beat trying—and failing—to slip past the dragon’s impossible defenses.

"That’s cute," the dragon murmured.

Then Raven’s voice cut through the din, "Look for her reverse scale!"

Ah. Now she understood.

Now it all made sense.

She relaxed with a slow, disappointed sigh. "Oh, sweet children... You can search all you want. But I have no reverse scale."

Her voice was smug now, rich with finality. "I crafted this body myself. Perfect. Invulnerable."

She didn’t bother shaking off the metal binding her vision, nor lifting a claw to swat at them.

It wouldn’t matter.

"Oh," she added as she felt the mana in the air spike, "and what’s this? A big spear? How charming."

Indeed, Jessy was at the center of a whirling storm of metal shards, shaping them into a massive, gleaming spear. Its tip caught the artificial sunlight and looked sharp enough to split the horizon.

"Even if you found a reverse scale," the dragon continued lazily, "what would that toy do? You can’t hurt me."

Raven’s voice cracked like a whip. "Now!"

Everything happened at once.

Siris slammed her palms down, ice and void rushing out in a glittering wave that left frost blooming over the dragon’s flanks.

It didn’t hurt her—it just made her feel pleasantly cool.

"Ahhh," the dragon sighed contentedly. "That’s nice."

At her tail, Selena’s shadowy devourers erupted from the ground, wrapping around like oily chains.

Alex lunged in, symbiote tendrils and lava wrapping over the shadowy creatures, holding them fast.

Lia’s vines slithered over them, blooming into thick, thorny coils.

Graye threw herself bodily into the effort, armored curves straining as she grabbed the tail alongside Rufus in his red-and-black armored suit.

Jake’s shadow vines lashed around for extra grip.

Even the corrupt panther bounded in, pouncing on the tail like it was a new toy.

Above, Clara’s voice hit a pitch that made the ground quake—cracks spiderwebbed beneath the dragon, the earth groaning as if trying to swallow her.

The dragon chuckled. "Oh, this is all very dramatic, but—"

SKRRRNNNNNNK!

A piercing sound split the air.

Her words died in her throat.

Her eyes flew wide.

Because, for the first time in an eternity—

She felt pain.

Horrible, indescribable, and indignant pain.

Her head whipped around, but the bindings held. Her body writhed against frost, vines, and molten grip.

For a second, she was confused.

’W-What’s happening—?’

Then, the realization hit her like a falling mountain.

The pain... was in her asshole.

Somewhere behind her, Omni’s voice—wheezing with unholy laughter—crackled from Raven’s arm, "OH-HO-HO—Yo! Somebody just unlocked the forbidden dungeon entrance!"