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The Good Way to Die

Richard hopped into Juagar's car and they chased Schrosharx with only depending on Engrak's senses on known dragons (apparently Richard always visited Schrosharx with Engrak in his hilt, so typically he could sense and recognize Schrosharx's soul pattern) and Richard's nose. Schrosharx wasn't flying on the sky since it could make the Dragnets became aggressive and destroying everything just to open the border. Richard knew dealing with Schrosharx again would finish everything that had started.

The car rushed through the war-torn Xeno Street with ease (because of Juagar's reckless driving and the fact that it wasn't his car). The three of them constantly open fire whenever any riot tried to kill them or wrecking the car. Richard couldn't even think straight after what Schrosharx told him about his intention to die, even though he did told him that the black red draconian was the one making all of this mess and sacrificing many draconians, but then, he was doing it because of order, and the real enemy was the Dragnets.

Because of thinking too much, especially distracted by emotions, he was almost got shot by a draconian if not for Seiglet pulling him down.

"Hell, mate! You're inches from death!"

"I know you're actually too angry to even talk about this," said Juagar while turning the car. "But you must step aside that friendship to stop this. Richard, where is he now?!"

"S...Schrosharx is at the middle of a big building right beside us! Pull over, man!"

When Juagar hit the break, Richard who was not using a seatbelt suddenly got himself pushed forward and his horns stuck at the seat, and effectively he couldn't pull it out.

"H...hey, guys! Help me! I'm stuck!"

"Oh, you thorny fuck! Seig, help me!"

After a while...

"Look at what you've done to my seat!"

"This is not even your car!"

"Uh...yeah, but that doesn't mean I won't respect it, right. At least...if your horns got through, maybe Seig won't be standing here, you know. Damn..."

"Okay, where's that motherfucker, huh? I can sense him around here..."

Only the battle sound outside the building was still heard. The building had an open middle atrium, and of course it was deserted, seemed too weird to be like that since many injured draconians needed intensive care, especially some Guards and the civilians. It was a mall, an open-air mall to be exact. The scent of the battle made Schrosharx's scent obscure, and thus Richard had difficulties in tracking him and only relying on Engrak's senses.

"Hey, Engrak," said Richard to his sword. "Where is he?"

Engrak was silent after Richard went out of the car, but then, when they stepped forward only one step, Engrak suddenly used his mental shout to warn Richard about a trap, and it was. After stepping on one of the tiles, Richard's leg was caught in an explosion that injured him, but then it didn't make him lost his leg. It was a concealed land mine, somehow put there on purpose of them.

"Oh, that coward...he anticipated us in here!"

"You two get out of here! This place might be triggered in trap. Find Viglerne and tell him to bring whatever reinforcement necessary! Go before this fucking place crashes!"

"How can you be so sure this place will crash?! This is the central shopping centre in Milsteir, man!"

"I believe that Schrosharx is not what it seems on him. C'mon!"

The two draconians ran away into the car, starting the engine, and leave. Right after they leave, Richard only could use his now emptied pistol and his sword, as he couldn't find any place to reload. This was disadvantageous since now Schrosharx's trap got his leg, and he also had feet that enabled stealth silent movement. The worst part was that he was a sniper, and a sniper bullet could pierce Richard's dragon scales (unlike draconians, Richard at this point had coarse big scales instead of soft scales). He could only walk slowly, relying on Engrak.

"Hey, can you tell me another trap? C'mon, now, why are you so silent?"

"Richard, I can't. That draconian didn't use any electronic traps."

"Then, he was using...improvised ones?"

"I could sense that land mine because you stepped on it and it made a very small clicking sound. You were lucky you had such good body. Otherwise, that blast could blast your leg off."

"I know, but then, where's Schrosharx?"

"I'm here, Richard! Upstairs, right in front of you!"

Schrosharx was waiting upstairs, on the porch that had a skyway directly over Richard. The skyway had distinctive glass design, and of course Richard could see Schrosharx from under there. He wasn't having any sniper with him, but instead, a shotgun.

"Hey, I thought you're cowering scared on my arrival!" replied Richard with a mocking tone. "You think that plan can be executed?"

"Sure thing, home-boy!"

"Hey, don't pretend to be a weirdo! I know you're just acting so come here and fight!"

"You think I'm stupid just to come very close and being stabbed to death? No, Richard, this is a gun fight, not sword fight, man!"

"I'm not trying to kid you, Schrosharx! Come down here!"

"I wish I can! Say hello to my little friend, cocksucker!"

Richard realized that Schrosharx had put a hidden trap that shot a crossbow through his leg, the weakness of all draconians. This made him more in a disadvantage. At this point then Schrosharx somehow revealed his true nature of not a coward. He jumped down and repeatedly shot shotgun shells towards Richard, some of which hit him. When he realized the shells were empty, the red black draconian used his combat knife, and it was lucky for Richard that had good sword fights in his past.

"Ok, now why are you engaging me like this while you did say short-ranged combat are stupid?!" exclaimed Richard.

"Of course this is stupid, but since you can't dodge weapons, we can't have a one-sided fight, right?!"

"You know, Schrosharx, you're not fit to be a villain!"

Schrosharx then tripped Richard with his tail, and in a high speed changed his stance to try to stab Richard at the heart while he was airborne. The golden draconian then, also in high speed, put his yellow sword between himself and the knife, and the resulting finishing blow was flawed while Richard fell on the ground. Schrosharx didn't stop, as he then used the sharp tip of his tail to try to stab Richard, all of with were stopped by Richard's block. In the end, he used his tail to trip Schrosharx and tried to scratch him with his sharp leg claws, and it became a leg fight when Schrosharx's raptor claws blocked them.

"Hey, we're not joking here!" said Richard in frustration.

"You're the one starting this joke, not mine!"

In a quick withdraw Richard tried to regain his strength, and when he knew Schrosharx carried a machine gun hidden under his bulky sleeveless jacket, he jumped to cover at the right time when he pulled the weapon out and start shooting Richard, that took cover behind a plant counter. Right after when he heard the weapon stopped shooting, he used his sword's reflective blade to see that Schrosharx wasn't emptying out the cartridge. He instead waited for Richard to come out.

"Hey, we won't gonna fight if you keep hiding!"

"Schrosharx, why the fuck are you doing this?! What did you say about...?"

"Don't talk about that shit here!"

Another shot, and one bullet pierced through the wooden counter. Right after it blew apart he found a rather unique rifle with wooden finish and a lever near the scope. He also found some ammunition in there. Taking it, he tried to shoot back, but somehow, although there was ammo visible, it couldn't be shoot.

"This thing is malfunctioning!"

"No, it isn't! I saw this back in Bestreid's antique shop!" exclaimed Engrak. "He once gave it to a customer to try, and then I overheard that this was a Mosin-Nagant or whatever..."

"Okay, so how do I use this? It had a lever..."

"The customer pulled it in each shot. Maybe you should pull it first in each shot."

Then, like the soul said, he pulled the lever, and he realized the bullet was empty, and also he knew that this was classic, so automatic wasn't produced yet. It was a manual rifle.

"Okay, I give you a trick. Close your eyes, and breathe..."

"Why? We're not having yoga, right?"

"No, this is a trick only achieved by Ray and me when I was alive. Okay, do it."

When Richard had done what Engrak said, the soul then said, "Now, what do you see."

"I see a line of yellow...no wait, many lines, running from the lightings to a central place where those lines got...wait a sec, but...this is impossible!"

"Not very impossible to some electricity dragons."

"Wait, but I thought dragons use electricity as magic, like thunder," said Richard. "This is the reason why they're called thunder dragons."

"Hey, I can wait for some while," said Schrosharx. "I'm not a rushing drake, and we're in a secluded place, so take your time in this fight. I'll kill you, though." Richard peeked through the hole, then he thought, "Is that even a villain? I thought he will engage me for waiting too long. Maybe he's not a bad drake."

"Ignore him, okay? Look, because you're stranded here, that power is very useful. All electric dragons can sense powerful thunder-type magic, but they became useless when enemies didn't use any magic. The key point of this power is to spread your electrons around you and, like sensors, can make you sense a flow of electrons in any places. If you're skilled enough, you can sense something even smaller than an electron, for instance, pulse."

"Pulse doesn't use electricity."

"From the biology book in the library, I can see our hearts can still beating because of the slight natural electricity every dragon had. Humans also had those. Now, then, since he's nice enough to wait for us, let's make a strategy.

Meanwhile, Schrosharx was waiting patiently. He could only suggest that Richard was thinking of any strategy to defeat him, although, he was actually trying to kill himself without being seen by the Dragnets. The deserted mall seemed right, but then he realized if this place had no eyewitness, then his plan wouldn't work. He didn't want to risk killing Richard as he knew the draconian was just living for only five months in this world. Both had the same animalistic features, but only Richard was accepted by the community. Schrosharx was deemed a monster, but his peaceful heart didn't want any revenge on those trying to make him suffer. He instead wanted to find any drake to take him out of his misery and to cut his ties with the Dragnets that had destroyed his life for 10 years after the faithful 'super-soldier' experiment on him.

"Richard, are you done yet? We are not going to end every misunderstanding if you're..." Suddenly Richard popped out and started shooting him with the Mosin-Nagant, pulling the lever between every shot. Suddenly, he extended his hand and, before Schrosharx realized it, activating a sound system that distracted the red black. The distraction proved successful that making him able to grab Schrosharx to the second floor. Schrosharx didn't go without a fight, and he used his magic to make him invisible and making Richard went through him. He appeared shortly after.

"Oh, so now you can control electricity, eh? It can cost you many magic."

"Not really," replied Richard with a grin. "Oh, there're electronics up here. Guess now I'm at the leading board."

"What do you..." Schrosharx was forced to believe that when Richard put his claw to a cable, he overloaded the electronic products and sends sparks flying to the window and shattering them, making Schrosharx injured by it. But then, despite of the cut, Schrosharx was a Northornian, and Northornian had many tricks.

"Okay, you ask for a magic fight, then I'll give you magic! Flying stars!"

The shards started to levitate and they suddenly flew toward Richard. Because it was slightly electrified, Richard could still make their speed slowed and able to open his wings just in time to dodge. His power to control electricity was so remarkable that it also made the lamps overloaded and shattering the bulb, sending yet other shards down to Schrosharx.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, dude, but the place is MINE!"

Schrosharx realized Richard had not only remotely activating all electronics in there, but also making ALL electronics in the mall became overloaded and in a rampaging poltergeist-like phenomenon, made all of them levitated because of the vast electricity power given to the mall. Richard's own electricity was manifested in all of the apparatus and he somehow had his eyes glowed again, like the first time he lost control. Now, he extended his hands to make the electricity around him flowed to him.

"Arkhofah Nozraka nas!! (I'll cut you on all side)," said Richard.

"That's a kind of incantation?!"

Without having the time to retaliate, Schrosharx was almost cut by half from a flying circular saw right behind him, but then he took over and returned the saw to Richard. Richard knew this, and he dodged, making his concentration blurred and the levitating electronics fell. At this time Richard readied his Mosin-Nagant and shot Schrosharx three times until he realized it was empty. But when he tried to take some bullets, Schrosharx appeared before him and kicked Richard, making a straight three point cut on Richard's chest.

He didn't stop from there. Schrosharx proceeded to jump and kick Richard in the face, then one of his claw leg clinched on one of Richard's shoulder like a bird's while the other leg repeatedly kick Richard relentlessly until his head started to bleed because of the sharp claws. He tried to release Schrosharx, but the grip was too strong and it also made Richard's shoulder started to bleed. Richard couldn't do much but to pull his sword and stab it to the gripping raptor leg, making Schrosharx roared in pain and released the grip. In retaliation he threw his knife and it hit Richard's side, making him stumble and coughed blood in the process. Richard then also used his electricity control to again levitate an electronic object and flung it toward Schrosharx, with the latter realized this and burned it before it hit him.

"S...shit..."

"Maybe this has come too long for any kind of a conviction," said Schrosharx panting. "I...need to tell you something. Now maybe your electricity blast destroyed most of the electronics here, I'll tell you the reason why I must die."

Schosharx then lowered his tail, and his eyes became solemn, before he said something unpredictable.

"I...wanted to join my family. They died because of the Dragnets," said Schrosharx. Richard, who suddenly realized Schrosharx wanted to tell him something, lowered his sword. "10 years ago, when I was still young, my family was killed by them. I was trying to tell the police, but you know what they said? I expect Northornian to be a little...you know...secretive enough and giving false reason because of the Dragnets bribing them. Instead, they boldly said that my family was killed for the sake of the organization. Well, you can guess that I'm more than heart-broken. Hell, that was tough. I couldn't exact my revenge, and in the end they gave me the revenge I was trying to exact on them. I became their dog until today, and somehow I'm glad I'm now at the high ranks and having an opportunity to express myself like this. Okay, first of all, I want you to kill me, then tell every draconians in this town that this war is just something a vile organization wants.

"The hard part is...you can't kill me because if they know I'm dead by your hands, they will be so angry and you'll be their enemy. I know you're a warrior, but fighting against shadow is a no-go, okay?"

Richard kept become silent for a moment, until Schrosharx asked, "Are you having problems with the plan?"

"I don't know...it's just...I can't believe you're even with those...those animal club. Although you're like this, you're too nice to be a bad drake and I really, really can't kill you. I'm sorry, Schrosharx, but we can't do your way. There must be a way we can..."

Schrosharx suddenly jumped and stabbed Richard's tail, making him roar in surprise. The black red then proceeded to make a straight very deep cut at Richard's tail, leaving a line trail of blood and it also made Richard roared in agony.

"So, you're convinced I'm a bad drake? C'mon, now, Richard, we've gotta settle this if this shit will gonna end!"

"Schrosharx...I beg you..."

Without hearing his plead, he pulled his knife and stabbed Richard's leg. This made Richard roared even harder and thrusting everywhere. Blood poured in a great length and if Richard wasn't a half-dragon, he would be dead because of blood loss. Only after Schrosharx damaged Engrak Richard suddenly grabbed his wrist and, in a simple turn, twist and broke the bone. Schrosharx winced, but he smiled since Richard now returned to his animalistic senses.

"Nos Carnvnex... (not quite)," said Richard in a menacing tone, before he drew his sword and stabbed Schrosharx repeatedly at the feet, making Schrosharx had to use his magic to block the incoming attack and to return the shards. Although he still had the idea of killing himself by other's hand, being killed by an animal was not the main idea. He tried frantically to defend himself, but because Richard's draconic nature (dragons were, but not completely, immune to magic. All dragons except the ice-based dragons had scales that could partially reduce fire magic, but completely dispel their element's magic).

"Richard, get the hold on yourself!" exclaimed Schrosharx. "Are you mad? You lost too many blood!"

Richard didn't try to even reply and this force Schrosharx to gather a powerful force and blew Richard away. Although, Richard's fully-functioning wings reduced the blast.

"You gotta think on how you settle this by killing me, man!" exclaimed Schrosharx while blocking Richard's attack. "Don't just directly kill me! Are you even fucking listening to me?! Hey!"

Despite of Schrosharx's plead, Richard tried to kill him more. Their fight even went back to the second floor where Richard broke the glass skyway on one side using his sword, then he used his bow and arrow made by condensed electricity to shot Schrosharx, which hit his side abdomen and electrocuting him. After a long fight, they both started to engage each other in a close bloody combat with claw slashes and biting, until in the end Richard let his shoulder be bitten by Schrosharx and he stabbed Schrosharx at the stomach. Unknown to Richard, Schrosharx also hid his knife and stabbed Richard. They both coughed blood and fell to the first floor hard. Blood were everywhere while they both tried to reach their weapons until they became exhausted of the fight.

"I...I feel like I'm being drained...," said Richard weakly, now regaining his consciousness. "I...I'm sorry...Schrosharx...."

"It's...better like this. You're right, why can't we even try this? Faking...our deaths..."

"Y...yeah, it...it feels nice, right, getting back to your family. Although...." Richard coughed for a little. "Although...it's better if you...m...move on with...life. I...don't feel you're an abomination. I feel...you're the perfection of a draconian."

"Y...you sure?"

"Yeah.... I...I suggest you leave our old life...and do me...a favor, if...we both are still alive. S...stop the Dragnets...okay? We do it...together."

"Let's...hope that will be done," said Schrosharx. In this part, they both couldn't even hold their consciousness, but then Schrosharx, in a blurred vision, said to Richard. "I guess...All of these...these bloody fight...is just a goddamn...spar, huh?"

"Maybe."

Schrosharx finally closed his eyes, but because of Richard's awakened power, he knew the red black's cardiac pulse was still on, and hoped it stayed like it since he tried to control himself and avoid the fatal parts. In the end, Richard could hear ambulance sirens coming, and he found Juagar standing on him. He couldn't hear more, and the draconian doctor tried to mend his wounds while Seiglet closed the wounds with his hand. His white scales were soaked in blood, and after a beat of heart, his eyes were closed, and everything became as black as night.

"I guess...this is a good way to die," thought Richard one moment before he lost consciousness.