With surgical precision, Kenji showed an innate sense of predation, mauling the demon who had just dared to hit its tamer's face. First one wing, then another, finally the little bony joints. The Komoeru was reduced to a shapeless being who wriggled its head, trying in vain to save itself.

Under Yoichi's astonished eyes, Kenji jumped on its head, devouring its ears and sinking its teeth into the enemy's eyes. ??

"Okay, buddy! That's enough!" he gulped, looking on his back. He ordered his Oracle to move away from the enemy's corpse, but Kenji continued to tighten his jaws, tearing the bat demon's tissues apart. "Kenji, stop!" Yoichi yelled again.

As if it had suddenly returned to itself, the little dragon stepped back. Again, two red spheres came out of Komoeru's corpse, floating towards it and giving him two more XP points.

What's going on with you, Kenji? You've never been so aggressive with an enemy... you only did it because it hurt me, didn't you? Yoichi thought, trying to share his thoughts to his demon pet.

Kenji's eyes looked at the young tamer. The darkness gave them a more accentuated splendour as if draconic flames were burning ardently inside its small scaled body.

After that manifestation of unexpected violence, during which Kenji had not obeyed Yoichi for the first time, the two of them finally managed to drive out the demons that had encircled them.

Simultaneously, Shioko continued to fire arrows next to Enatsu. The archer was protecting her guildmate, frozen inside the tunnel.

One arrow after another, Komoeru's flock was decimated by the precise shots of the red-haired tamer. With a mastery worthy of a warrior of her calibre, Shioko struck all demons under Nobu's light ray.

The Hotasagi, in addition to standing still in mid-air to illuminate the area, powerfully flapped its wings, creating strong airstreams. The currents hit the enemies flying towards its tamer, disrupting their flight and diverting their trajectory, allowing Shioko to aim easily.

Continuing to gain experience points for her pet demon, Shioko killed more than thirty wild demons. However, other Komoerus continued to flutter in the large room.

"There must be something wrong! Why the fuck are there are so many?" Yoichi exclaimed, beginning to run towards his friends. During the rush, the young tamer hit a Komoeru in flight, causing it to slam onto the stone wall.

"The last time I came here, I remember all these demons were distributed in the other rooms of the dungeon..." Shioko replied, taking a break to shoot two more arrows. "Now they all seem to be here as if they want to stop us from moving forward", she added.

"Damn it! Kenji, I need the flame!" Yoichi boomed, stopping at the geometric centre of the room. Illuminated only partially, the hall after the initial tunnel was square-shaped and had the function of an atrium leading to the other dungeon areas.

"Screek!" Kenji confirmed, nodding with its small, shining red eyes. "Shioko, cover me! Enatsu, use Rokuro to defend yourself... I need time!" the young tamer yelled, unwittingly taking control of his team.

Without countering, beginning to feel her arms sore from fatigue, Shioko moved to Yoichi. Continuing to fire multiple arrows, she hit other enemies, repelling them and allowing his comrade to load his power.

There must be a faster way... think Yoichi, think. When I created the dragon flame, how were my arms? And my legs, how were they positioned? He thought, trying to remember. historical

Memories of his arms that sustained the Hebigure's wide-open jaws flowed into his mind in the form of pictures. While he tried to emulate that position, Kenji stayed behind him, helping Shioko to deal with the Komoerus.

Trying even to remember the tensional state of his body muscles, Yochi closed his eyes and spread his arms outwards. At the same time, he crept his feet on the slippery ground, slightly pulling his legs apart.

While the cave area in front of him was illuminated by Nobu and saw Shioko as the undisputed protagonist, Kenji was covered in the shadow of its tamer. The little dragon killed two more Komoerus, once again showing unexpected anger.

Suddenly, something caught Enatsu's attention. The merchant, who was the only one of the three adventurers to be free from that fight, noticed that a small flame had just appeared at the tip of Kenji's tail.

Thin fiery sparks leapt out of that point, dying out on the damp rocky terrain. Touching each other, they generated a small flame that enveloped the tip of the dragon demon tale.

Its black and fireproof scales contributed to the propagation of fire, which instead of quenching, exponentially increased its power: in a few seconds, that flame grew, generating a yellowish and pulsating light marked by the rhythm of the air currents that moved the fire.

"It's working! Yoichi, you're activating Kenji's fire power!" Enatsu yelled, drawing the attention of two Komoerus who were flying near him. The bat demons diverted to the merchant, who, against all expectations, did not give up.

Waiting until a moment before the impact with its tamer, Rokuro waved its big hands, striking the enemies with its long mole claws.

*slash*zap* - With an innate force resulting from its demonic digger instinct, the Moruba cut the Komoerus in half, killing them under Enatsu's eyes.

Simultaneously, Shioko listened to the words of the tamer merchant and turned backwards, observing Yoichi for a moment. Around his still open arms, under the black scales, sparks leapt out here and there.

The temperature of that spot increased considerably, forcing the archer to take a few steps forward, sensing the intense heat behind her shoulders. Just when the Komoerus never seemed to end, the draconic flames enveloped Yoichi's yet enhanced arms, illuminating the entire cave.

The young tamer looked up, sensing a powerful heat inside his chest and trying to control the blaze. His companion, a few feet away from him, was forced to leap forward.

A small spark of the draconic fire was enough to burn part of her boot. When she landed on the ground, she looked up at Yoichi: the new Nighblades warrior had successfully activated Kenji's first draconian skill.