A dragon.

  Terrifying creatures. Just think about it. Massive lizards with equally large wings. Thick skin covered by hard to break scales. And of course, they can breathe fire. Cause this would be too easy without a sleeping killing machine right beneath the feat of someone.

  I'm fucked

  Diff thinks to himself as he looks at the corpses next to the sleeping dragon. The waving of the two survivor from the depths of the pit catches his eye. He then looks at the two other tunnels, where the remaining few slowly stops waving.

  Diff turns to Yunyan, for asking what they would do. But the moment he could say something, Yunyan is already at the edge of the pathway. Squatting down to place her hand on the ground.

  "Watch, she is going to use earth magic." - Vaska murmurs.

  Brown hexagon shapes appear out of thin air around Yunyan's hand. At first they look clumsy, like tiles placed by a distracted child. Too bright, too raw. But one by one they align, stretching outward and linking together until they bridge the broken pathway leading towards the other two tunnels.

  Slowly the brown tiles turn into grey, then from the light grey color they pick up stone like texture. Yunyan straightened slowly, dust slipping from her hand as she turned to face the Division.

  "Clara, prepare to treat the injured. Diff and Johnny. Choose a tunnel and get the people out from it. One tunnel worth of people at a time. Paul, run get the weapons. Vaska, Erica prepare to launch an attack at the dragon if it wakes up." - Yunyan orders clearly, but still quietly.

  With that Paul bolts torwasd the entrance of the cave, soon disappearing through it.

  "Right is always right." - Johnny says before continuing. "Once Paul is back with the weapons, we help them get to this side."

  "Fine by me." - Diff murmurs as he keeps looking at the sleeping dragon.

  I couldn't even defeat a snake. What am I supposed to do against a dragon?

  As Diff is lost in his thoughts Yunyan pats his shoulder, sending him back to reality.

  "Don't worry. If that thing wakes up, we will take care of it." - Yunyan confirms with a nod.

  "But it's a dragon. Dragons have thick skin." - Diff murmurs, still looking at the dragon. "A bullet couldn't even pierce a Fangcoil's skin."

  "I sliced it though. And you keep shooting bullets, size of a revolver." - Yunyan points out as she stands next to Diff.

  "You speak like bullets have different sizes." - Diff murmurs, finally looking away from the dragon to look at Yunyan.

  Yunyan looks tired. Not just the usual 'give me coffee or I can't function' tired. There are bags under her eyes but the expression in her light violet eyes are not tired. Something else. Like calculating. Then she puts her hand on her face.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Just as Diff about to question her facepalm Paul returns with the duffel bag. He hands out the weapons. Yunyan's sword, Diff's hammer, A massive bronze like wrench to Erica. The random sword Johnny picked up from the armory. And lastly Paul's brass knuckles.

  Yunyan secures her sword to her side, not taking her eyes off the beast. Erica swings the wrench a few times in her hands. As she does, the claws of the wrench move further away from each other.

  A hole appears on the wrench, in the crook between the claws. She squats down, aiming her wrench to the beast. Then Vaska stands next to Yunyan. The gold like lighter, that she cleaned before in hand.

  Diff grabs his hammer ands starts walking to the two tunnels. Johnny quickly catches up to him, his sword in hand, without a sheath.

  "They got all the fancy equipment." - Johnny notes.

  "We might be able get something from the dragon. Since, you know, loot." - Diff says, not daring to look down from the pathway.

  Johnny walks into the right tunnel and starts talking to the people there. Diff does the same, expect the left tunnel.

  In the right tunnel there are five people. Three of them wears worn miner uniforms. And two people wears the uniform of the Division, covered by dust.

  In the left tunnel, the same thing. But as soon as Diff enters the tunnel one of the Division workers speaks up.

  "Rescue? Thank God, we are saved!" - He cheers. He rushes to Diff, taking his hand to shake it. His facial features are unrecognizable because he wears the hood of his uniform. Apart from his blonde hair, nothing could be seen.

  "I'm Fernando. Pleasure to meeting you!" - He speaks, continuing to shake Diff's hand.

  "Umm... I'm Diff. I will be leading you guys out the cave." - He speaks, pulling his hand back from Fernando's.

  "Ah, Diff! And please tell me dear rescuer. What Division are you from?" - Fernando asks.

  "Division 1111th." - Diff replies as he looks over his shoulder, searching for Johnny, just to see that he is already leading his group onto the pathway.

  "Oh." - Fernando answers, pulling his hand to his sides. Rubbing his hand against the fabric of his uniform. Like he is trying to rub the dirt off his hand.

  "Soon we will be out." - Diff reassures the five people, trying to light up their mood.

  "Yes. Very soon" - Fernando answers.

  Six people are on the pathway.

  Three are pushing a minecart, filled with gemstones and ore like minerals. Which is surprisingly quiet, despite being full.

  Front of them one person walks, in the uniform. The uniform of the Division that requested help. The logo, a crow holding a shiny ring in it's mouth are visible on the back of this person. He is shivering quietly from the cold air of the mine.

  The tension builds and builds in the silence. Under the watchful gaze of the miners, who hope to see their remaining workmates alive. The other Division workers, who want to get out of the mine, go home and forget about this. And the workers of the 1111th Division, who hope for the rescue to go smoothly.

  Walking. Quiet footsteps. Even the goddam minecart filled with gems and what not, is silent.

  Slowly, silently Johnny and one part of the rescue needing people successfully made it to the other side.

  And now it's Diff's and the people behind him turn.

  Same formation as before. One person walks in front. One on each side of the minecart. And lastly Diff and one of the other Division workers. Who happens to be Fernando.

  The wheel of the minecart keeps creeking. Everyone stopping at the tiniest sound.

  The cold air envelops the cave. Around halfway, the minecart creeks again. And everyone freezes up. Maybe from the cold, maybe from the thought that a literal killing machine in thick armor could wake up in any second.

  Fernando starts to whisper to Diff.

  "We will be soon out. We. But not you. You worthless Division." - He whispers, turning to face Diff. And because of the absence of proper lightning, all Diff can see from his face is his blonde hair.

  "What?" - Diff asks, not really understanding what Fernando wants to say with this.

  The six people on the pathway starts to move again after confirming that the dragon is still asleep.

  "We will to get out. But for that we want to make sure that variable has a thing to play with." - Fernando whispers again.

  "Wait, what? The fuck you mean by that?" - Diff asks, his tone up by a little.

  "So be a good little Dreskaar and be a plaything for the dragon." - Fernando whispers. With a quick, clean motion he pushes Diff down the pathway.

  "Huh?" - Is the only thing Diff manages to say.

  As he is falling the world is slowing down around him. On the pathway, the only one who is looking at him is Fernando.

  Diff finally sees more of this random stranger's face. Blonde hair, bright red eyes that seem to glow as he is looking at the falling Diff.

  Diff looks over at Yunyan's direction. Her eyes widening with worry as she sees the falling Diff.

  The slowed down effect suddenly ends. Diff hits the ground. He lands on his right feet. Which instantly breaks from the impact.

  The next to hit the ground is Diff's right arm. Because he landed on the pile of gold coins some instantly cuts deep into his arm. Along with a random crystal that cuts into his shoulder, making him unable to use his arm.

  Due to the sudden pain, Diff let's out a scream. He screams like a kid. Loudly and annoyingly.

  The dragon, just a few meters from Diff finally rises. It moves without a sound. It stands on four feet. Wings flattering on its back. It's head has two black curly horns.

  Glowing orange eyes stare at Diff. Even a child could tell that the dragon is furious, and ready to hunt.

  I'm dead