( Leo and Ben's POV, 15 minutes before the attack on Thumba City began )
A few minutes before the attack on Thumba City began, Leo and Ben strolled through the city streets with absolutely no care in the world.
"Man…. That Duke is slow as hell, why can he not find out the names of key personnel of a rebel movement in two days?" Leo complained, as although two days had passed since they first arrived at Thumba City, the Duke had still not recalled them to give them the mission specifics.
"I think it's because his best men are here, working on breaking the Demon Whisperer that the information gathering is so slow.
Which reminds me…..
What do you think of this rebel extermination mission?" Ben asked, as although Leo had not said much about it, Ben could sense how something was off regarding Leo and this mission.
"What do I think about the mission? I don't think much to be honest.
If the pay is good, we should do it.
But I don't put rebels on the same threat level as demons, so there is no nationalistic feeling behind the mission for me.
So I wouldn't do it as a favor" Leo said, shrugging his shoulders as Ben nodded his head.
Ben was also of the same opinion that the rebels were not the same level of threat as the demons, as while the demons threatened to destroy the very fabric of society, the rebels were merely a different political side.
"So….why are you here with this old man today? Should you not be with your mother?" Ben asked, as he wondered as to why Leo was not spending more time with his mother.
"My mother does not get much leaves master. She won't be able to meet me until her work shift ends near the evening, so I'm stuck with you until then" Leo clarified, as Ben nodded in understanding.
It wasn't that Leo did not wish to spend time with Elena, but it was just that Elena was not free to meet with him right now.
Overall, the atmosphere between Ben and Leo was very casual, as they talked about nothing in particular while strolling the streets of Thumba City when they heard the sky-splitting roar for the first time ever.
*ROAR*
The roar was unlike anything that Leo had ever heard before in his life. It was a low, rumbling growl that built in intensity, like distant thunder rolling across the sky.
It was a deep, guttural sound that seemed to come from the bowels of the earth itself, resonating with a power that felt both ancient and unstoppable.
The roar carried an eerie, almost otherworldly echo, sending shivers down the spine of anyone who heard it, as it made the very air around one tremble in fear of the beast that had unleashed it.
[ System Notification :- You have heard a True Dragon's Roar.
You are now experiencing Dragon's Fear ]
[ System Notification :- All stats have been reduced by 20% for the next 60 seconds under dragon's fear ]
A couple notifications informed Leo that all his stats had been reduced by 20% for the next minute, as while he was able to move his body, he could feel his hand trembling for no reason.
Beside him, Ben looked to be fine as he stared towards the skies with squinted eyes, however, the common people around him on the streets were not fine at all.
Most were petrified to their spots, not having the ability to move a muscle, while the others were down on their rears, as they pointed towards the sky in fear.
As Leo looked towards the sky where they were pointing, he saw a scene that he would most likely never forget till he died.
A massive black dragon in full Armor flew over the skies of Thumba City like a fighter jet, and atop the massive beast sat a tiny Demon King, who looked down upon the city's inhabitants like they were peasants.
The Black Dragon was about as long as a full sized truck, however, it was more wide than long with its wingspan being 1.5x it's length.
Overall, it was about the size of two fighter jets and while it was not as big as a commercial plane, it still looked massive in size especially when it flew so close to the City Skyline.
*SCREECH*
Behind the Dragon were 12 wyvern riders, who flew with a speed equal to that of the dragon.
However, while it seemed like the dragon was simply cruising through the skies, the wyverns looked like they were zooming through it, as their smaller size made them appear to be going faster.
Panic set-in throughout Thumba City at this sighting, with nobody able to understand as to what was going on, or why a Dragon had suddenly showed up in their city.
"Which way is your mother's shop boy?" Ben asked, his voice raspy and serious, as it was only after listening to his voice that Leo snapped out of his confusion.
"That way–" Leo said, pointing towards where he thought Elena's bakery was, as Ben slapped him on the back pushing him towards it.
"Go save her now, this city is about to burn down and there's not a damn thing that anyone can do about it–" Ben said, as Leo immediately began sprinting in the direction of his mother's bakery.
For a moment, Leo considered stopping to ask Ben what he planned to do while he rescued his mother and why he wasn't following him to help. But Leo knew there was no time to waste, so he pushed those thoughts aside and kept moving.
Somehow, he had faith that his master would be fine regardless of the situation outside, afterall he was Ben Fucking Faulkner, however, his mother would not.
She needed him more, and hence, running towards the bakery, Leo ignored all the chaos embroiling on the streets and kept moving with a singular purpose.