Michi and Appolo set off on their journey to Histaran, their next destination. As they walked, Appolo turned to Michi with a serious expression. "Michi, can you wait for a moment? I have something important to tell you."
Michi looked at Appolo curiously. "What is it, Appolo?"
Appolo took a deep breath. "Michi, listen carefully. This year is called the Fallen Dragon Year. An old dragon comes to the end of its life and allows people to challenge it. If someone kills the dragon, they get the knowledge of dragons, dragon summoning powers, and… Michi, this is the perfect chance to revive Henu."
Michi's eyes sparkled with hope. "Really? There's still a way to revive Henu?"
Appolo nodded. "Yes, but we need to go to Durak Forest to face the dragon. Henu's mortal body may be dead, but a dragon's spirit never dies."
Michi's determination grew. "Let's go, Appolo. We can't miss this chance."
As they journeyed to Durak Forest, they encountered many challenges. They fought off fierce beasts, navigated treacherous terrain, and solved puzzles that blocked their path. But through it all, their bond grew stronger.
One day, while resting by a river, Appolo turned to Michi with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Michi. Remember that time we had a cooking contest in Euromia City?"
Michi chuckled. "How could I forget? You made a disaster of a dish, and I had to save the day." Appolo playfully hit Michi on the arm. "Hey, my dish was not that bad! And besides, you're not exactly a master chef yourself." Michi laughed, and they spent the rest of the day reminiscing about old times and sharing stories. Finally, after many days of travel, they reached Durak Forest. As they entered the forest, they saw a light in the distance. But as they approached, they realized it was not a welcoming sight. Dead bodies littered the ground, mostly those who had come to kill the dragon.Michi and Appolo exchanged a grim glance. "This is not going to be easy," Appolo said. They ran towards the light, their hearts pounding in their chests. And then, they saw it. A massive dragon stood before them, its horns gleaming in the sunlight.
The dragon watched them closely, its eyes piercing. Michi and Appolo stood frozen, unsure of what to do next.
As Michi and Appolo stood before the dragon, the beast let out a thunderous roar, "New warriors, haha! Come at me then!"
Michi stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, "I am not here to fight, I am here to talk."
The dragon laughed, its voice like a storm, "First fight, then talk. I know why you come here, adventurer. You seek to revive your old partner, but to do so, you must defeat me first. And that will not be easy."
Appolo stepped forward, his eyes flashing with determination, "He is not alone."
But Michi stopped him with a hand on his arm, "Let me fight alone, Appolo. I don't want to risk losing you again."
Appolo sighed, his face set in a mixture of concern and frustration, "Okay, but don't always think I'm weak."
Michi smiled, his eyes shining with a fierce light, "I know you're not weak, Appolo. But this is something I must do alone."
With that, Michi approached the dragon, his sword at the ready. The dragon regarded him for a moment, then nodded its great head, "Very well, let us dance."
The fight began, Michi's sword flashing in the sunlight as he struck at the dragon's scales. But the dragon was no easy foe, its claws swiping at Michi with deadly precision.
Michi dodged and weaved, his sword striking true again and again. But the dragon's hide was tough, and Michi's blade bit deep but did not pierce.
The battle raged on, Michi's forehead stone glowing golden as he fought. He was enjoying the fight, his heart pounding with excitement.
But the dragon was not to be underestimated. Its claws ripped at Michi's armor, tearing through the metal like paper. Michi grunted in pain as the dragon's claws raked across his chest.
Blood flowed from the wounds, staining Michi's armor red. But still he fought on, his sword rising and falling in a deadly rhythm.
The dragon roared in pain as Michi's blade bit deep into its scales. But it refused to yield, its claws swiping at Michi with renewed ferocity.
Michi stumbled back, his vision blurring from the blows. But he refused to fall, his sword still flashing in the sunlight.
And then, just as it seemed the battle was reaching its climax, the dragon unleashed a devastating blast of fire, sending Michi flying across the clearing.
Michi struggled to his feet, his body battered and bruised. But still he stood, his sword still clutched in his hand.
The dragon regarded him with a curious expression, "You are a formidable foe, adventurer. But can you survive the next blow?"
Michi smiled, his eyes shining with determination, "Try me."
And with that, the battle continued, the outcome hanging in the balance.
The battle between Michi and the dragon raged on, their movements a blur as they clashed in a flurry of steel and claw. Michi's sword sliced through the air, striking true again and again, but the dragon's scales were like steel, and it would not fall.
Appolo watched in horror as the two combatants exchanged blow for blow, their movements becoming more and more brutal. Michi's armor was dented and torn, his body battered and bruised, but still he fought on.
The dragon, too, was enjoying the fight, its eyes gleaming with a fierce light. It breathed fire that scorched the earth, and its claws ripped through Michi's armor like paper.
Michi stumbled back, his vision blurring from the blows. But he refused to fall, his sword still clutched in his hand.
And then, in a movement too fast to see, the dragon grabbed Michi with its claws and bit off his head. Appolo screamed in terror as Michi's lifeless body slumped to the ground.
But the dragon was not finished yet. It breathed fire onto Michi's body, and to Appolo's amazement, Michi began to stir.
The dragon spoke, its voice like thunder, "Michi, I will remember your name. You are the first one who gave me this much fun in my entire life."
Michi sat up, his eyes wide with shock. He looked at the dragon, and then at his own body. He was alive, but how?
The dragon spoke again, "You defeated me, Michi."
Michi shook his head, "No, I never defeated you."
The dragon smiled, "Defeating is not the same as killing, Michi."
And with that, the dragon transformed into a dragonoid, a being with the body of a human and the scales of a dragon. It smiled at Michi and Appolo, and then disappeared into thin air.
A summoning circle formed on the ground, and Appolo spoke, "Michi, use the same process you used to summon Henu back then."
Michi nodded, and began the ritual. A golden light rose from the circle, and a figure began to take shape.
It was a boy, no more than 14 years old, with blonde hair and a smile that lit up the world. He looked at Michi and Appolo, and then his face contorted in a mixture of joy and sadness.
He ran to Michi, and grabbed him, tears streaming down his face. "I missed you, master," he sobbed.
Michi hugged him back, tears of his own streaming down his face. "Welcome back, Henu," he said.
Appolo joined in the hug, and the three of them stood there, holding each other tightly.
But then Appolo spoke up, "Wait, Henu, don't call him master. It sounds like you're his slave."
Henu nodded, and Michi smiled. "From now on, call me Michi onii-san," he said.
Henu nodded again, and smiled. "Michi onii-san," he said.
And with that, the three of them set off towards Histaran city, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As they walked, Henu told them of his time in the spirit realm, and the friends he had made there. Michi and Appolo listened, entranced, as Henu spoke of his adventures.
But as they approached the Histaran city, they could feel a dark presence lurking in the shadows. Something was waiting for them, something that did not want them to succeed.
Michi's hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever lay ahead. Appolo stood beside him, his eyes scanning the rooftops for any sign of danger.
Henu, sensing their tension, smiled and took Michi's hand. "Don't worry, Michi onii-san," he said. "I'm here now. We'll face whatever comes together."
And with that, the three of them entered the Histaran city, ready to face whatever lay ahead.