Chương 8: An odd kind of punishment

While being chased, his inner warmth reached a point of boiling. His latent divine power which was slowly gathering like a lake was now a vulcano, ready to burst. The moment the word left his lips, his body shattered, reduced to a glowing spray of particles. The system barely held him together, reconstructing him instantly as the silver dragon, reborn with far greater presence than before. He felt it immediately. Power. Pure, incandescent, immeasurable. He didn't waste a second.

A note was written simply by his will midair and tied gently to Luna's neck, then she was teleported with a thought to Gaix's village sanctuary.

"Watch over her for me. Please." The realization of him controlling actual divine power would have been intoxicating, but his current mind was fogged by pure anger. Instead of acting out, he closed his eyes and was thinking hard how to actually fix this. - - - - - - - - - [Vatican City – Underground Command Bunker] The first reports were absolutely insane. Inquisitor Matteo Drake, who had access to the highest information line along with three more genetically enhanced hunters, apparently acted on his own.

He disregarded the order to only observe and decided to take on the anomaly his way. He even used his authority over the team in Glasgow and went on a crusade against the anomaly.

"That fucker!" Cardinal Julius slammed his hand on the table.

"I want someone, anyone, to get a direct line to that team! NOW!" The bunker was quiet, with agents working frantically to try and connect to the team, but something had likely fried their communicators.

"Cardinal!" The agent next to the scanning machine yelled, his face going pale in real time.

"What?" Julius turned toward him, a knot forming in his stomach.

"We have another spike. Currently soaring above seven hundred and eighty." The man slid a dampener onto the machine as it started to sputter.

"Sorry, we are passing a thousand... now six thousand." He panicked and grabbed another dampener just in case, but the number finally began to settle.

"What... is... the current number?" Julius asked, his heart beating in his throat.

"Eight thousand six hundred and twenty. God preserve us." The agent crossed himself.

"Send an evac team! Now!" Julius roared at the communications agent.

"Our men are in danger." The man wearing the headset looked up at him.

"You think they are still alive?" The answer was not spoken out loud, but everyone felt that the question was appropriate considering the numbers. - - - - - - - - - - Daniel Reeve and his squad, under the current leadership of Inquisitor Drake, slowly followed the path up through the forest. Their headsets did not work since the dragon had used some strange sound-based ability, so they stayed in formation and walked carefully, relying on hand signals instead.

Eleanor "Nell" Hartley, the only female member of their team, had a really bad feeling about this whole mission. She could not voice it, as she was several steps lower in rank than the bulky Inquisitor, but she kept a flashbang at the ready just in case. Most enemies her team faced… minor demons, werewolves, and more, were always aggressive and fought back. This white dragon had acted only defensively. She had looked scared and panicked.

Still, orders were orders, and Nell was trained not to falter just because a monster had puppy eyes. Briggs wanted to make a joke about a Wild Hunt in a forest, but he would likely get a serious punishment if he alerted the targets. Instead, he focused on keeping a light foot on the forest floor, making as little sound as possible. The others did the same. Then light… a massive light, came from somewhere ahead. Reeve immediately raised a hand, signaling them to advance faster.

They moved through the trees until they reached the edge of a meadow, where they quickly ducked behind the tree line. Every one of them froze at what they saw. What happened next was honestly absurd. From the light, a massive metallic dragon appeared. It stood easily eight meters tall, its enormous body gleaming beneath the strange radiance. It did not roar. It did not attack. Instead, it simply summoned a piece of paper, which floated through the air before sticking itself to the small dragon's neck.

Then the white dragon was gone. For several seconds, nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

"We are so fucked..." Doyle muttered as his rifle slowly slid down from his arms. - - - - - - - - - - - Josh was deep in contemplation when his enhanced hearing picked up a muttered curse from the far side of the meadow. His first thought was to simply crush the humans. But he was a human... well, even if not in body, his mind still was. And while his daughter had suffered and his home was a wreck, no one had died. Not even his dog.

He mentally counted to ten, allowing himself enough time to speak without his fury boiling over. He was going to be the bigger one here, both physically and metaphorically.

"Indeed you are fucked." He turned toward the team.

"Just not in the way you think." He could see five people looking mighty angrily at the one who had spoken up, but their faces returned to him in less than a moment.

"So... Vatican forces, huh?" Josh moved an arm, and all of their gear simply vanished, leaving them in nothing but their military outfits. A few confused sounds escaped the group, but he cared little.

"Come here, or else I go there, and trust me, I am not in the mood to be nice." Daniel looked at his team. They had nothing. No radio, no ammunition, not even a flashbang they could use to escape. If this monster wanted to kill them, he could do it in a heartbeat. He raised his hands and started to walk. Matteo Drake looked at him as if the man had committed a sacrilegious act, but even he had to admit that the situation was completely out of his grasp.

He frowned and walked out as well, though he did not raise his hands like the others. If he had to die, he would face his enemy with a glare. The team stopped about ten meters from the metallic-looking dragon. Its mismatched crown of horns gave it a menacing appearance, but its eyes were deeply human, which somehow made the entire situation even more absurd.

"So. Had the Vatican ordered you to kill my baby girl?" Josh asked with as much restraint as he could muster.

"No." Matteo spoke up.

"This mission was my fault, and mine alone." The team looked at him with utter shock.

"What?" Ethan asked in disbelief.

"I thought they changed their point and sent you!"

"I simply decided that a strong entity like that was a threat and acted on my own authority," the Inquisitor answered. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Now that's interesting." Josh was actually surprised. The fact that he could tell the man wasn't lying was a massive boon. Being a demigod had its perks, it seemed.

"So what was the original order?"

"Sir!" Daniel Reeve cleared his throat.

"It was to observe only."

"And you didn't think to question his order, I assume." The guilty looks on all five others were visible, but none of them answered.

"Report back to your higher-ups. Tell them what happened. EXACTLY AS IT HAPPENED!" His final words came out with such a mighty, booming voice that the trees themselves seemed to tremble.

"And report back with tools to fix my house. I will not call a company... noooo. You broke it... you fix it!" He leaned closer, his enormous head lowering until his breath washed over the six humans.

"Also, you will buy gifts for my daughter. Now, and for the next ten years on her birthday. Got it?" The request from Joshua was so weird that Callum Briggs almost fell sideways in pure bafflement.

"Say what?"

"DID I STUTTER?" Josh asked, his gaze cold enough to freeze a lake over.

"No, sir," Briggs muttered like a mouse.

"Now, I will have a small talk with your higher-ups in Vatican City." And just like that, the massive dragon was gone, leaving behind only the sudden sound of air being sucked into the place where he had been standing. The six humans remained frozen in place. For several seconds, nobody said a word. - - - - - - - - - - Joshua used his current divine power to send a message to the pope.

A vision of sorts where he put down a few ground rules and mentioned that he was being extremely lenient not erasing the entire Vatican city with a nuke like magic. In actuality he was flying home fully invisible. He had almost forgotten about his new warlock amidst the chaos, but with a flick of his finger, he sent the boy a few useful spells… nothing absurd, just mediocre spells to get him started. Then he turned his attention homeward.

Descending from the sky, Joshua landed in his human form just outside his house. As if answering an unspoken command, the garments gifted by Oberon flew from his bedroom window, fluttering through the air with otherworldly grace. They wrapped around him mid-step: a perfectly tailored coat, embroidered in ancient silver thread; a shirt softer than silk; boots that fit like old friends. Princess bolted from the ruined house and nuzzled his leg, whining softly.

"I know, my dear Princess. I know," Joshua murmured, gently stroking her head.

"Don't worry. Things will be better." Still, walking into the house was like stepping into a battlefield. Bullet holes riddled the walls. The front door hung off its hinges. And the living room... a jagged section was torn open, the aftermath of Luna's desperate escape. Splintered wood, shattered stone, and scorched fabric made the place look like it had survived a war. He approached the corner where his favorite potted rose sat, its leaves curled and bruised, one petal half-torn.

"I... I'm not sure I can stay positive, master," the rose wilted, its voice trembling.

"No worries, Charmer," Josh whispered and poured a pulse of gentle magic into the soil. The effect was immediate. Color returned to the petals, the leaves perked up, and the rose stood tall once more.

"I feel much better! And you, sir, look positively dashing," the rose chimed cheerfully, resuming its enchanted habit of excessive compliments.

"Yeah," Josh smiled faintly, "you'll pull through." Miraculously, the gaming room had survived. Aside from a few stray bullet holes in the wall, everything was intact—his consoles, collectibles, and displays remained untouched. It felt like a small mercy.

"Silver lining, I guess," he muttered and quickly cast a triple-layered, self-sustaining barrier around the room. Whatever came next, this room would be safe. He grabbed the handle of the portch door and the knob deformed in his palm. He looked baffled at the metal piece, now showing his fingerprints. A small scroll materialized in the air, gently unfurling as if it was waiting for this very moment. It was scrawled in elegant, almost lazy handwriting:"Your human body shattered from the divine power.

This is the new one, forged with it. Be careful with your raw strength, what remains is still not… exactly mortal." —C. Josh stared at the message. Though it contained no laughter, something about the calligraphy, the timing, the sheer smugness of it all made him feel as though the ancient being had written it while chuckling.

"…Great," he muttered.

"Now I have to live like Luna, pretending not to crush doorknobs every time I open them." Still, despite the destruction, the weight in his heart was lighter. Luna was safe. The threat had been answered. And his home, though scarred, stood tall again. One step at a time, he thought. One step at a time. - - - - - - - - - - The tavern room was cozy, warm, and—more importantly—quiet. Gaix lay sprawled across a creaky wooden bed, snoring gently with one boot still on and the other dangling off the mattress.

The scent of roasted meat from the inn's kitchen still lingered faintly in the air, mingling with old wood and pipe smoke. CRUNCH. The sound of splintering wood and bending metal jerked him awake.

"What in the nine burning layers...?" Gaix sat up, bleary-eyed. Something massive shifted beside him. He turned, blinking at the sight of soft, glowing scales and a silver-tufted horn nearly brushing the ceiling. A dragon's head. More specifically, a very familiar white dragon's head—now three times bigger than he remembered.

"…Luna?" he whispered in disbelief, watching the unconscious dragoness snore softly and take up not just his room, but most of the neighboring one as well. The shared wall between the rooms had collapsed under the sheer volume of her curled-up body. A faint shimmer of magic lingered in the air, and a glowing note appeared in midair above her.

"Look out for my daughter for a bit. – Josh" Gaix groaned and slapped his forehead.

"Gods... how am I supposed to explain this?" Footsteps echoed from downstairs—boots on wood, armor clanking. Voices rose in alarm.

"Did you feel that tremor?"

"Something hit the building!"

"Check upstairs, fast! Might be a monster!" Gaix's face paled.

"Oh no. Nonononono—" He scrambled to the hallway just as a group of six armed adventurers charged up the stairs, swords and spells at the ready. The moment they saw the collapsed doorway and the immense white bulk within, weapons raised instantly.

"STAND DOWN!" Gaix shouted, throwing himself in front of the door like a very nervous, underpaid bouncer.

"What is that thing?" barked the front-liner, gripping his enchanted axe tightly.

"Listen to me carefully," Gaix said, holding up both hands.

"That is Luna. She is not a threat—unless you make her one."

"She's a dragon!"

"She's also a teenager, exhausted, and very much asleep," Gaix hissed.

"And more importantly, her dad sent her here." One of the adventurers snorted.

"What kind of dragon's dad do you think we should be scared of?" Gaix stared at him flatly.

"The kind who could erase a continent by sneezing. You so much as scratch her, and we'll all be a fine mist hovering over the ruins of this kingdom." The group froze.

"…You're joking, right?" one of them muttered, already taking a half-step back. Gaix crossed his arms.

"Do I look like I'm in the mood to joke?" There was a long, tense pause. Then, with synchronized awkwardness, the adventurers sheathed their weapons and began backing down the hall.

"We, uh, hope she sleeps well," one of them offered.

"We'll… keep the ale warm," said another. Gaix sighed and leaned back against the doorframe.

"Yeah. I'll need it." From inside the room, Luna snorted in her sleep and shifted, knocking a support beam loose with her tail. Gaix watched a wooden beam fall with a soft clunk.

"… Maybe a lot of it." The repairs had cost Gaix dearly—his coin pouch was left emaciated, and his pride slightly bruised from the many awkward apologies he'd offered to inn staff, builders, and one very angry tavern maid whose broom had perished in the chaos. As he stepped out of the now patched-up building, Luna walked beside him in her human form.

She looked every bit the curious teen: platinum hair in a braided style, her oversized anime shirt sporting bold lettering and a wide-eyed character's head (smiling far too cheerfully for Gaix's comfort).

"Did Father send me here?" she asked quietly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"He did," Gaix nodded, exhaling through his nose.

"Though for the life of me, I cannot fathom why. Still, it's not an issue. Money is… just money. It's replaceable. Are you hurt?"

"Not anymore," she mumbled, casting her eyes down and nudging a loose pebble with her sneaker. The pebble shot off with a crack, breaking the sound barrier and disappearing over the rooftops. Gaix's brow twitched.

"…Did something happen?" Luna hesitated. She thought briefly of her father's comet-like landing, the bullets, the blood, and the roar that had shaken the earth. But instead of saying all that, she offered a small smile.

"There was a fight. Dad just didn't want me in the middle of it. That's all."

"I see…" Gaix murmured, trying not to imagine a divine clash. He failed. His knees went weak just picturing it.

"That shirt, though… it's… unique. Why is there a grinning severed head on it? And what's that writing? I can't read it." Luna chuckled.

"It's not severed. It's just a design. Anime stuff. I'll explain it someday." She shook her head with a grin.

"Let's just hope Father's okay."

"I'd be more surprised if someone could truly mess with him," Gaix replied with a confident smile.

"He probably taught whoever crossed him a lesson they'll remember in their next ten lifetimes. Besides, I still have my magic—his blessing. If something had happened to him, I'd have lost it by now." Luna's smile returned, warmer this time.

"He really is the best dad ever." Gaix reached out and gently patted her head as they strolled through the sunlit town.

"And he's lucky to have a lovely daughter like you, Luna." She blushed faintly but said nothing, enjoying the breeze and the gentle bustle around them. Gaix even bought her a handful of bright red apples from a nearby stall, handing them over with a wink. - - - - - - - - - - Back on Earth Joshua found the only can of beer what was not torn open due to bullets from his ruined fridge and walked outside.

"She is having a good time," he murmured, watching the scene unfold through the Perfect Peer spell. He smiled to himself and closed the window with a flick.

"Let's not interrupt. She needed a bit of sightseeing anyway." He sat down on the doorstep of his ruined house, gently stroking Princess's soft ears as she rested her head on his knee. The dog let out a contented bark, quiet and tail wagging.