Chapter 2: Dogorogma

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◇Houghtow City—Fli-o’-Rys General Store◇

The Fli-o’-Rys General Store was busy, as always. They had only just opened their doors, but there were already more customers than could fit inside.

“I am terribly sorry,” said Balirossa, who was working in the store that day. “We are currently full. Please wait your turn in line. When the customers in the store have finished, we will call you in.”

Inside the shop, Flio greeted a regular customer with one of his usual easygoing smiles. “Good morning, Mister Sireul. How can I help you today?”

“Good morning to you too, Mister Flio,” said Sireul. “I was hoping I could ask you to take a look at my sword, if you please...”

“Your sword?”

“Yes. I think something’s wrong. The enchantments have been behaving a little strangely...” Flio took the sword from Sireul and touched the magic gem set in the sword’s blade. “I had the weapon shop proprietor in the town I was staying in take a look at it, but they couldn’t tell what was wrong...”

As Sireul spoke, Flio waved his hand two, then three times above the magic gem. “All right,” he said. “That should do it.”

“I’ve tested it lots of times, but the enchantment just won’t...” Sireul started. “W-Wait! You’re done?!” He hadn’t even finished his explanation before Flio handed the sword back to him, a smile on his face. Sireul gave the blade a couple of experimental swings. “I-It works! The magic’s flowing perfectly!”

“There was a small fracture in the setting of the magic gem,” Flio explained. “When I passed magic through the gem, all it did was spill out into its immediate area. It wasn’t connecting at all. But I fixed the fracture with magic. It should be all right now.”

Sireul’s eyes went wide. “The weapon shop proprietor couldn’t eventellwhat was wrong...” he said. “You really are the best, Mister Flio! Thank you so much!” Finally smiling himself, Sireul bowed again and again.

“That’s quite all right,” Flio said. “I’m just happy I could help!” He smiled kindly and bowed his head.

But then...

“Mister Flio, can you look at my weapon too?”

“There’s something wrong with my magic staff...”

“Oh, I also have something I need looked at!”

A mob of customers crowded around Flio all at once.

“All right,” Flio said. “I’ll get to all of you. Would you please form a line?”

Just then, Hiya, Damalynas, and Maglion all appeared behind Flio. “Exalted One,” said Hiya. “The three of us would be happy to assist you in matters of magic.”

“Oh! Thank you, you three! I appreciate it,” said Flio. Hiya and the others stood to Flio’s left and right, and together they divided up the work of seeing to the guests’ needs.

Flio looked at the three beside him.Hiya is the djinn who commands the origin of light and darkness...he thought.And Damalynas is the Grand Magus of Midnight. Not to mention Maglion, a great wizard from the Realm of Evil—a different world entirely! It feels strange, somehow, having such incredible spellcasters helping with my work...

◇ ◇ ◇

With questions related to magic safely in the hands of Hiya and their companions, Flio turned his attention to the rest of the shop. As he glanced around, his eyes fell on one corner in particular.

“Hm...?” Flio muttered as he noticed a conspicuous woman standing in front of the display case by the counter where the most expensive potions and magic gems were kept. She was putting on a bit of a display herself—her face was pressed right up against the glass as she looked the merchandise up and down, paying no heed whatsoever to the other customers.

Flio smirked to himself as he approached the woman by the display case. “Good afternoon, Miss Zofina.”

There was no response.

“Excuse me...” Flio repeated. “Miss Zofina?” But even as he called her name, Zofina, the woman in question, continued staring fixedly at the contents of the display case.

Flio tried a third time. “E-Excuse me... Miss Zofina?”

“A-Ah!” Zofina said with a start, finally realizing that Flio was aware of her presence. She whipped around on her feet. “M-Mister Flio?! H-How long have you been standing there?!” Then, heedless of the mark she had gotten on her forehead from pressing too close to the display case, she leaned in to whisper in Flio’s ear. “Um... May I ask where you keep the Calamity Healing Potions, by any chance...?”

Once, a divine beast known as the Calamity Wyrm had wandered into the world of Klyrode by mistake, only to be exterminated by Flio himself. Having vanquished the beast, he used its blood and bones and all sorts of other ingredients to make the coveted Calamity Healing Potions.

“They were in this case the last time I was here, I believe...” she continued.

Flio watched with his usual easygoing smile as Zofina turned again to check the contents of the case. “I’m afraid they are no longer on display,” Flio said. “But we do still have a number in stock.”

He waved a single finger on his right hand and a dark magic circle appeared before him. Flio thrust his hand inside, connecting to an extradimensional storage space, before withdrawing his hand with two bottles of Calamity Healing Potion.

Zofina beamed delightedly at the sight. “Th-Thank you! I brought my lady goddess the potions last time personally, but she immediately started asking when I was going to get more! And some of the other goddesses have been complaining that they didn’t get enough last time...”

Zofina was currently disguised as a human, but her true form was that of an angel, a disciple in service to the goddesses of the Celestial Plane. Not long ago, another angel had obtained one of Flio’s Calamity Healing Potions while on a mission and presented it to her supervisor goddess, who discovered it to have phenomenal efficacy even by a goddess’s standards. Soon, Flio’s potions were the talk of the Celestial Plane, much desired as a health and nutritional aid, a beauty product said to do wonders for one’s skin, and an energy supplement.

Some goddesses had tried to obtain ingredients from other Beasts of Disaster to try and create Calamity Healing Potions of their own, but a Beast of Disaster’s bones were too hard to use in fabrication, to say nothing of the technical difficulty of synthesizing medicinal substances of any sort from the creatures. None of them had been able to replicate the feat.

In the end, Zofina, a disciple of the goddess in charge of observing the world of Klyrode, was sent to procure more of the potions. Ever since then, she had shown up regularly at the Fli-o’-Rys General Store, looking to get her hands on more of the precious substance.

“Thank you for your kindness, Mister Flio. I look forward to our continued business together.” Zofina bowed her head as she paid for the potions. But as she spoke, a dark expression crossed over Flio’s face. “Mister Flio?” Zofina asked. “Is something wrong?”

“Well...” Flio said. “The truth is, it’s getting a bit tricky to keep making the Calamity Healing Potions.”

“Wh-What did you say?!” Zofina’s eyes went wide.

“You see...” Flio began, lowering his head apologetically. “I’m starting to run out of ingredients. I only killed the one Calamity Wyrm. It takes a considerable volume of bone and flesh to synthesize a single bottle, you see. That’s why I had to pull them from the display case.”Well...he added to himself.That, and Rys and the other women in the house want to keep as much of it as they can for themselves...

Zofina didn’t even try to hide her dismay.This is bad!she thought.I don’tdareimagine the tantrums the goddesses will throw if I can’t get any more! The rage! The despair! Ahh... I really wish they would act their age sometimes...

Her superior goddess had told her, “If you cannot obtain that potion, there is bound to be another Celestial Calamity...” Those words were playing endlessly in a loop in her head.I think she might have meant it too... What do I do?!

Zofina thought as hard as she could for a solution. After a moment, it struck her. Her eyes lit up. “Mister Flio, please allow me some time!”

“O-Oh! Well, all right!”

Zofina waved her hand before vanishing in a blink.

“I wonder what she’s up to...?” Flio wondered aloud, cocking his head as he frowned at the spot where Zofina had been standing moments prior.

◇The Following Morning—Flio’s House◇

The next morning, Zofina showed up again, this time at the front door of Flio’s house. Flio let down the barrier around the house to allow her in and showed her to the parlor.

“Mister Flio,” she said after some brief pleasantries. “I come to you today with a proposition.” A projection appeared before Flio’s eyes, showing the scenery of some unknown world. “The world you see is the Hell World Dogorogma. It is there that the gods of the Celestial Plane send beings that even they cannot otherwise handle. There, you will find many Beasts of Disaster and other divine-tier magic beasts sealed away. If it should please you, perhaps you may travel to Dogorogma yourself to capture magic beasts to use for ingredients in your potions?”

For a second, Flio could only stare blankly at Zofina’s words.

I suppose that’s only to be expected, Zofina thought, an expression of resignation clouding her face.We disciples of the Celestial Plane can’t restrain the beasts well enough to bring them to him, so wearejust asking him to go get them himself. This is a world full of divine-tier magic beasts—the ones even groups of angels from our world struggle to control...

Yesterday, Zofina had returned to the Celestial Plane and approached her direct superior with the troubling news that they might soon be unable to obtain any more of the Calamity Healing Potion. However, she also came with a plan. “This is, of course, only a suggestion...but perhaps we can hunt the divine-tier magic beasts sealed in Dogorogma and give their remains to Mister Flio for use in his potions?”

Dogorogma’da mühürlenmiş olan felaket canavarlarını ona sunma fikriniz gerçekten mantıklı. Tanrıça, Zofina’nın planını tartarken son derece ciddiydi. Ancak bu canavarları tam olarak kim avlayacak?

Tanrıça’nın keskin bakışları altında Zofina birbiri ardına fikirler sunmuş, sonunda da doğrudan Flio’ya gidip Dogorogma’da avlanmaya ilgisi olup olmadığını sormaya karar vermişti.

Flio gibi biri için bile bu kadarı biraz fazlaydı herhalde, diye düşündü Zofina içini çekerek. Felaket Ejderi’ni yenmiş olabilirdi ama tanrısal seviyedeki canavarlarla kaynayan bir dünyaya avlanmaya gitmek öyle hafife alınacak bir iş değildi.

Ancak Flio’nun yanıtı bambaşka oldu: ailemi de yanımda getirmemde bir sakınca var mı?

Zofina yanlış duyduğundan emin olmak ister gibi gözlerini kırpıştırıp şaşkınlıkla bakakaldı. Affedersiniz?

Flio içtenlikle gülümsedi. Böyle yerlere her gün gidilmiyor sonuçta. Ailemi ve burada yaşayan diğer herkesi de yanımıza almanın güzel bir değişiklik olacağını düşündüm.

Zofina nihayet karşısındakinin ne demek istediğini idrak edebilmişti. F-Flio Bey? Sesi bariz bir endişeyle titriyordu. Az önce de belirttiğim gibi, Dogorogma tanrısal seviyedeki canavarlarla dolu bir dünya. Onları da yanınızda götürmek isterseniz ailenizin güvenliğini garanti edemem, korkarım ki...

Sadece ben değil, buradaki herkes oldukça güçlüdür, dedi Flio o her zamanki rahat tavrıyla. Bir sorun çıkmayacağına eminim.

Flio Bey, Felaket Ejderi’ni tek başına çocuk oyuncağı gibi yenmişti gerçi, diye geçirdi içinden Zofina. Onun gibi biri güvende olacaklarını söylüyorsa yanılmıyordur herhalde. Ama yine de!

Düşüncelere dalan Zofina, bir süre ne diyeceğini bilemeyip sessiz kaldı.

Houghtow Şehri, Flio’nun Evi

O akşam yemekte Flio beklenen açıklamayı yaptı. Göksel Düzlem’in elçilerinden Zofina bugün bana bir teklifle geldi. Dogorogma adında bir dünyada canavar avlamamızı istiyor. Ben de bu teklifi kabul etmeyi düşünüyorum.

Flio Bey! Ghozal oturduğu yerden öyle bir fırladı ki Flio irkilmeden edemedi. Beni de götürüyorsunuz, değil mi?! Sonra kollarını kavuşturup kendi kendine mırıldanmaya başladı. Dogorogma demek... Adını efsanelerde duymuştum ama gerçekten var olduğunu bilmezdim! Hmm... Hemen hazırlıklara başlasam iyi olacak! Akşam yemeğinin ortasında olduklarını tamamen unutup olduğu yerde esneme hareketleri yapmaya koyuldu.

Uliminas kocasının bu hallerine sır sırıttı. Bir saniye pati ver bakalım Ghozal. Son zamanlarda kahramanlık işlerinden uzak kaldığın için içinin kıpır kıpır olduğunu biliyorum ama hemen şu an Dogorogma’ya gitmiyoruz herhalde! Otur da yemeğini ye önce.

Hmm. Haklısın galiba, diyerek usulca yerine oturdu Ghozal. Ama yemek biter bitmez ısınmaya başlayacağım!

Flio, Ghozal ve Uliminas’a göz ucuyla bakıp konuşmasına devam etti. Yanlış anlaşılmasın, bu ilk gidişimiz sadece her şeyin yolunda gidip gitmediğini kontrol etmek için olacak. Amacımız sadece Dogorogma’nın nasıl bir yer olduğunu kendi gözlerimizle görmek. Bu yüzden yanıma sadece Göksel Düzlem’den Zofina’yı ve birkaç kişiyi daha almayı düşünüyordum.

Flio’nun yanında oturan Rys hemen ayağa fırlayıp kocasına sokuldu. Biricik kocam! Lütfen beni de yanına al! Seni o kemikli, tuhaf kadınla baş başa göndermeye hiç niyetim yok!

Eşinin bu ani çıkışı Flio’nu şaşırttı. Zofina’nın gerçek bedeni yarı iskelet, yarı genç kız formundaydı gerçi ama ona tuhaf, kemikli kadın demek de biraz ayıp olmuyor muydu?

Baba! Ben de gelmek istiyorum! Garyl elini havaya kaldırarak ayağa kalktı.

Elinàsze de abisinin arkasından söze girdi. Ben de gelmek istiyorum babacığım! Ne kadar büyüleyici... Sadece kitaplarda okuduğum bir dünya! Bunu kaçıramam!

Ardından Wyne, Garyl ve Elinàsze’nin arasına daldı. Eğer babacığım, anneciğim, Gare-Gare ve Eli-Eli gidiyorsa, ben de gidiyorum! Konuşurken ağzındaki yiyeceklerden ötürü yanakları davul gibi şişmişti.

Flio’nun ailesi tamamen ayaklanınca Ghozal masanın üzerinden Flio’ya doğru eğilerek tekrar atıldı. Flio Bey! İlk ben sormuştum! Ee, gelebiliyor muyum?

Hemen yanında duran Balirossa sağ elini yumruk yaptı. Eğer Ghozal Bey gidiyorsa, ben de onunla gelmeliyim. Bir eş, kocasının her an yanında olmalıdır; hele ki tehlikeye atılıyorsa!

Miyav... Uliminas yüzünü ekşiterek patisini sıktı. Balirossa olayı buraya getirdiyse bana da gelmekten başka çare kalmıyor pati.

Sıradaki isim Sleip oldu. Efsanevi Dogorogma’ya yapılacak bir yolculuğu kaçırıp evde uyuyacak değilim ya! Kahkahası odada yankılandı. Ben de geliyorum!

Baba! dedi Rislei. Ne diyorsun sen?! Bu yaşta böyle çılgınlıklar yapmamalısın!

Ama Rislei! diye karşı çıktı Sleip. Bu fırsatı bir daha asla bulamayabilirim!

Çocuk gibi davranmayı kes! Rislei başını yana çevirerek ekledi: Ama madem gidiyorsun, göz kulak olmak için ben de geliyorum.

Ooo! Sleip büyük bir sevinçle Rislei’yi kucağına alıp sıkıca sarıldı. Pek belli etmesen de babanı çok seviyorsun değil mi, Rislei? Gha ha ha!

B-Baba?! Rislei’nin yüzü utançtan kıpkırmızı kesilmişti. Dur, yapma!

Gha ha ha! Sleip kızını havada döndürmeye başladı. Rislei, seni çooook seviyorum!

Byleri ikiliyi gülümseyerek izledi. Ee, yani siz ikiniz gidiyorsanız ben de kesinlikle geliyorum demektir! Sizsiz buralarda çok yalnız kalırım yoksa! Sırıtarak elini kararlılıkla sıktı.

O sırada aileye servis yapmakta olan Tanya eğilerek selam verdi. Uzak bir dünyaya seyahat edecekseniz, ihtiyaçlarınızı karşılayacak birine ihtiyacınız olacaktır. Bu göreve memnuniyetle talip oluyorum.

Garyl abim gidiyorsa ben de gidiyorum! dedi Folmina, çok sevdiği Garyl’in yanına koşarak.

Folmina ablam gidiyorsa ben de... Ghoro da arkalarından paytak adımlarla ilerledi.

Yüce Efendim! Hiya zihin dünyasından aceleyle fırlayarak ortaya çıktı. Bu aciz hizmetkarınızın hadsizliğini bağışlayın ama Dogorogma’yı görmeyi her zaman çok istemiştim...

Tek boynuzlu tavşan formundaki Sybe, Flio’nun bacaklarının etrafında daireler çizerek zıplamaya başladı.

Dogorogma demek? Calsi’im çayından bir yudum aldı. Ne dersin Tia? Küçük bir gezintiye çıkalım mı?

Calsi’im, dedi Tia kendi bardağından yudumlarken. Sen nereye gidersen ben de oraya gelirim.

Belano sessizce Minilio’ya baktı. Minilio da aynı sessizlikle başını sallayarak onayladı.

Bilmem ki... Blossom ağzındaki pirinci çiğnerken mırıldandı. Çiftlikte yapılacak bir sürü işim var...

Akşam yemeği tamamen unutulmuştu. Ev halkı gece yarısına kadar durmaksızın Dogorogma hakkında konuşup durdu.

Birkaç Gün Sonra, Flio’nun Evi

Büyük gün gelip çatmıştı. Mağaza haftalık tatili nedeniyle kapalıydı. Herkes evin önünde toplanmış, Flio ve Rys grubun en önünde yerini almıştı.

Biricik kocam, dedi Rys. Yolculuk için bol bol paketlenmiş öğle yemeği hazırladığımdan emin olabilirsin.

Yaşasın! Wyne sevinçle zıpladı. Annemin hazırladığı yemekler!

Dogorogma... dedi Elinàsze. Acaba nasıl bir yer? Sadece kitaplarda okuduğum bir dünyayı göreceğim için çok heyecanlıyım!

Herkes sanki güzel bir havada pikniğe gidiyormuş gibi neşeyle sohbet ediyordu. Göksel Düzlem’den yeni gelen Zofina gözlerine inanamadı. Flio, meleğin şaşkınlığını fark edip mahcup bir şekilde başını öne eğdi. Kusura bakmayın, dedi. Herkes bu yolculuğu o kadar çok bekliyordu ki.

H-Hiç önemli değil, dedi Zofina, yüzündeki endişeli ifadeyi gizleyemeden. Sorun değil tabii ki. A-Ama acil bir durumda gerçekten bu kadar büyük bir grubu koruyabilecek misiniz? Boğazını temizledi. Zofina şu an her zamanki insan formunda değildi; yırtık pırtık bir pelerin giymiş, yarı iskelet, yarı genç kız görünümündeki gerçek melek formundaydı.

Flio o bildik, içten gülümsemesiyle yanıt verdi. Merak etmeyin. Bir şey olursa onları korumak için elimden gelen her şeyi yaparım.

B-Bunu duyduğuma sevindim... Zofina, Flio Bey’in Felaket Ejderi’ni yendiğini inkar edemezdi elbet. Ama o sadece tek bir canavardı! Ya aynı anda düzinelerce tanrısal seviyedeki canavarın saldırısına uğrarlarsa? Kafasını sallayarak bu düşüncelerden sıyrıldı. Ne olacağını şimdiden düşünüp durmanın anlamı yoktu. Zaten bir canavarla karşılaşacaklarının garantisi bile yoktu. Tek yapması gereken Flio Bey ve ailesine Dogorogma’ya kadar rehberlik etmek, ardından da onları Klyrode dünyasına geri getirmekti.

Zofina tırpanının sapını sıkıca kavrayarak kendi kendine mırıldandı. Zamanı geldi... Tırpanını geniş bir yay çizerek savurdu ve büyü sözlerini mırıldanmaya başladı. Çok geçmeden ayaklarının altındaki zeminde devasa bir büyü çemberi belirdi. Çemberin tam ortasından simsiyah, görkemli bir kapı yükseldi. Zofina her şeyin yolunda olduğundan emin olmak için kapıyı inceledi. Pekala, dedi arkasındaki Flio ve diğerlerine dönerek. Şimdi size ve dostlarınıza Dogorogma dünyasının yolunu açıyorum.

O konuşurken, muhtemelen Zofina’nın maiyeti olan birkaç melek daha belirdi. Tıpkı onun gibi yırtık pelerinlerinin altında yarı et, yarı kemikten bedenleri vardı ve her biri birer tırpan taşıyordu. Zofina onlara dönüp elini kaldırdı. Diğer melekler de aynı şekilde karşılık verdi.

Şimdi, dedi Zofina. Flio Bey ve ailesine en üst düzeyde saygı ve özenle eşlik edeceğiz. Hazır mısınız?

Melekler başlarıyla onayladı.

Zofina dönüp gıcırdayan büyük kapıyı ardına kadar açtı. Flio merakla başını yana eğerek içeriye baktı. Aa! Bu dünyanın sadece bir çöplükten ibaret olduğunu duymuştum ama Klyrode’dan pek de farklı görünmüyor, değil mi?

Haklısın babacığım. Elinàsze de babasının elini tutarken başını sallayarak onu onayladı. Çok daha ürkütücü bir yer bekliyordum doğrusu.

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“Dogorogma was originally a planetoid world, like Klyrode,” said Zofina, glancing back over her shoulder. “But because of certain circumstances, it ended up in the Subaltern Plane. As it is now, those who find their way there can never escape. You understand why I hope you will take great care to follow our instructions to the letter while you are in Dogorogma.”

“Ah!” cried Wyne, suddenly. “Look! There’s a something! A something!” Her dragon wings appeared on her back as she took off, charging for the door with tremendous speed.

“Huh? Wh-What?!” Zofina was caught flat-footed by Wyne’s incredible speed, but she recovered quickly and hurried after the dragonewt. Ahead, she could see a great forest stretching in all directions—along with an enormous dragon. Its upper body towered above the tops of the trees. And Wyne was flying straight for it, full speed ahead.

Zofina readied her scythe. “A Calamity Earthdrake...” she said. “Its scales are harder than the Calamity Wyrm’s, and it can move underground through the earth at great speeds. Its body, too, is nimble, despite its great size. To think that such a deadly beast would be so near at hand...” Clicking her tongue, she flew straight towards the dragon, her angels following along behind.

“Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!” Wyne cackled as she soared through the air ahead of them, diving straight for the Calamity Earthdrake’s head, seemingly intent on headbutting it. “Charge! Charge!” Upon impact, a thunderous noise rang out. When the dust cleared, the Calamity Earthdrake’s upper body had been slammed straight into the ground, twitching.

“Yeah!” Wyne cheered. “Again! Again!” Her second flying headbutt did the trick. The beast stopped moving entirely.

“What?!” Zofina and the other angels couldn’t believe their eyes.They stopped still in midair.I-I don’t believe it!Zofina thought.She quelled a Calamity Earthdrake of that size with only two headbutts?!

As Zofina stared, Elinàsze came running up to her big sister. “Honestly, Wyne! You’re going to dent your head one of these days!”

“Ehe he!” Wyne smirked, sticking out her tongue. “My head’s hard-hard!”

Elinàsze pressed her hand against Wyne’s forehead and cast a healing spell. “You’re a girl too, Wyne. You must take care not to injure your face!”

“Ah ha ha! Okay-kay!” Wyne laughed.

Elinàsze sighed. “Oh, Wyne. You never change, do you...”

Zofina watched the sisters argue from her vantage point in the sky.If Miss Wyne hadn’t been here,we may have taken a direct hit from the Calamity Earthdrake’s breath... I had completely failed to take note of its presence!

“Hrm...” Ghozal grumbled. “And here I thought I’d finally have a chance to go wild...”

“Now, now,” said Sleip. “We can have our fun later.”

“Yes, precisely,” agreed Hiya as the three stepped through the door. They all had their arms outstretched, magic circles at the ready to attack at any time.

I-I don’t believe it...Zofina thought, cold sweat running down her brow as she watched.Those three noticed the Calamity Earthdrake as well...

“Shall we be off too, Zofina?” said Flio, smiling as usual as he looked up at her from the ground.

“A-Ah! Y-Yes, let us be off...” was all Zofina could say.

Not long afterwards, yet another dragon showed itself before the group. “I-Is that Mushu-Fushu?!” Zofina cried, drawing her blade. Mushu-Fushu was a monster of terrifying strength created by one of the Grand Magi of Midnight in order to defeat a war god of the Celestial Plane.I can’t believe this!Zofina thought, clicking her tongue as she interposed herself between Flio’s group and Mushu-Fushu.Mushu-Fushu itself... Of all the magic beasts imprisoned in Dogorogma, Mushu-Fushu is at least among the strongest ten...

Mushu-Fushu opened its gaping maw and prepared to spew forth an immense torrent of crimson flames.

The Crimson Lotus Eruption!Zofina thought.There’s no way I can take that attack head-on. B-But there’s no time to dodge!Screwing up her face, she swung her scythe, conjuring a magic shield in the air.

But then...

“Hrm...” mumbled Ghozal. “I’ve never seen a dragon like that in Klyrode! Now...let’s see if it can take one of my attacks!” His horn began to glow. “Hammer of the Dark One!” he bellowed. He raised his arm, and an enormous fist of light appeared in front of him, hovering above Mushu-Fushu’s head, poised to clobber.

Mushu-Fushu, however, sensing an abnormal presence, aimed its head skywards and released its Crimson Lotus Eruption in an attempt to dispel Ghozal’s attack. An inferno spewed from its mouth with tremendous force—enough destructive power to send even the mightiest of magics flying. However...

“Nice trick,” Ghozal said. “But too little, too late! Hah!” He brought his arm down with a shout, and the giant fist followed suit, crashing through the inferno and coming down atop Mushu-Fushu’s head, squashing it flat. A terrible cacophony echoed afar as the enormous dragon fell to the earth, kicking up a prodigious cloud of sand and dust. When the debris settled, Mushu-Fushu’s body was buried, much the same as the Earthdrake had been before.

Uliminas couldn’t help letting out a gasp. “Haven’t seen that meown for a while...” she mused. “Ghozal’sHammer of the Dark Meown...It’s just as ameowzing as I remember...” A pink flush came to her cheeks as she admired the sheer force of Ghozal’s attack.He’s still got it, she thought, falling in love with her husband all over again.

Flio walked up to the body of Mushu-Fushu, half-buried in the ground. He held out his arm and muttered a quick incantation. A magic circle appeared, enveloping the dragon, which grew smaller and smaller before their eyes until it was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand.

“It looks like my magic works fine here too,” Flio said, picking up the magic circle with the dragon inside. He nodded, satisfied, as he cast a healing spell on Mushu-Fushu.

Before long, Mushu-Fushu opened its eyes, only to be greeted by the sight of Flio’s face, which was many times bigger than its own body. Startled, it began flying around in panicked circles.

“Hey, hang on, Mister Flio,” Ghozal said, glancing between Flio and Mushu-Fushu. “What’s this about? Whatcha gonna do with a miniature magic beast?”

Mushu-Fushu seemed to recognize that Ghozal had been the one to take it out with his Hammer of the Dark One attack. It clung tightly to Flio and began shaking as the former Dark One approached. Flio petted it gently on the head, smiling down at it with his usual easygoing smile.

“I was just testing whether my magic would work on the magic beasts in this world,” Flio said as he held the dragon in his arms, regarding it fondly as it rumbled affectionately.But what to do?he thought.If it’s gotten so attached to me already, I’d feel terrible using it for potion ingredients...

Zofina watched in disbelief as Flio and Ghozal carried on their conversation, the miniaturized Mushu-Fushu between them.Th-They knocked outtheMushu-Fushu with a single blow. And not only that, but they also shrunk it down?! B-But Mushu-Fushu is said to be highly resistant to magic!

Zofina could only watch silently from the air, not moving a muscle until Flio eventually came to get her.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Kyu! Kyu!” the miniaturized Mushu-Fushu cried cutely in Elinàsze’s arms as the girl doted on the tiny dragon.

“Aha ha!” Elinàsze giggled. “Mushy’s such a sweet little thing!”

“Wow!” Folmina exclaimed, beaming. “Mushy’s the cutest!”

“It really is adorable,” added Rislei, a smile on her face as well.

Sybe scampered up in its unicorn rabbit form. “Snuffle, snuffle!”

Elinàsze smiled brightly when she noticed the newcomer and squatted down close to the ground. “Of course,you’readorable too, Sybe! I love you very much! I’m sure you and Mushy will make wonderful friends.”

Sybe stepped up right in front of Mushu-Fushu’s face. “Snuffle!”

“Kyu!” cried Mushu-Fushu.

The two glared into each other’s eyes, butting their foreheads together. “Oh, tut tut...” said Elinàsze, quickly pulling Mushu-Fushu out of Sybe’s reach. “It looks like it will take some time for these two to become friends.” Mushu-Fushu blew a raspberry from the safety of Elinàsze’s arms as Sybe jumped up to bat at the dragon with its forepaws.

Sweat ran down Zofina’s brow as she led the party along, glancing at the scene from the corner of her eyes. “T-To think that the terrible Mushu-Fushu would be so well-behaved. You’d think it was that girl’s pet...” she muttered in disbelief.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like it can use its Crimson Lotus Eruption at that size, and it appears to be fond of us as well,” said Flio, smiling his usual easygoing smile. “I don’t see any harm in keeping it.”

“A-Ah...” said Zofina after some time, speaking in a somewhat hollow-sounding voice. “I see...”But I can hardly believe Mister Flio is a human...she thought, stealing glances as she walked along at the head of the group.Andhe had no trouble using his magic to store the Calamity Earthdrake Miss Wyne defeated either...

The party continued through the forest, Zofina cutting away the massive trees and thick undergrowth with her scythe to create a path. Above them, the blue sky filtered through the canopy. They could hear the sound of rushing water, likely that of a waterfall.

“Walking through a forest like this, you’d think we were still in the world of Klyrode,” said Flio, taking stock of their surroundings.

“I quite agree,” said Rys, nodding and smiling as she walked along beside him. “We’ve encountered a few magic beasts, but nothing that seems especially out of the ordinary.”

N-No!Zofina wanted to shout, but she managed to barely restrain herself.Th-Those magic beasts we encountered earlier each held enough power to destroy an entire world!

“My lord husband,” said Rys, looking up at Flio. “We are going to be spending the night in this world, correct? In that case, I would like to set up our base somewhere near the water.”

[GENERATION FAILED - RAW TEXT]

“Okay,” said Flio. “Good idea.” He waved his hand and cast the spell Search. A window appeared in front of him, displaying a map of the immediate area. Flio pored it over. “It looks like there’s a big waterfall feeding into a lake on the other side of this forest. Shall we set up camp over there?”

Rys nodded happily. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”

Zofina, who was standing at the head of the group, cast the spell Search herself, using the full incantation. But the chaotic magnetic field of Dogorogma dispersed her spell, leaving her none the wiser about her immediate surroundings.

I-I’ve tried to cast this spell many times to show me the way in this world, but not once have I succeeded, she thought, sighing loudly.But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by anything Mister Flio is capable of, at this point...

Zofina gave up on overthinking the situation and immediately felt much better. She smiled. From then on, Zofina and the rest of the angels who had come along to guide Flio through this world walked along at the back of the group. It seemed the other angels bore Zofina no ill will—what else could she do, under the circumstances?

◇ ◇ ◇

As they passed a corner of woods, suddenly, the area opened up wide. Before them stood an enormous lake. To the north they could see a torrential waterfall coming down from the sheer cliff above.

“Wow! It’s so pretty-pretty!” Wyne darted forward, her eyes shining. As she ran, she tossed off her clothes this way and that. Before anyone realized what was happening, she was stark naked.

“W-Wait, Young Mistress Wyne! You mustn’t do such shameful things! I will not allow it!” Tanya chased after the dragonewt, skillfully snatching the strewn-about clothes out of the air. Heedless of her own garter belt showing through the slit in her skirt, she pelted after Wyne in the direction of the lake.

Zofina smirked at the scene playing out in front of her. She and Tanya had once served the same goddess as disciples of the Celestial Plane. “I never thought I’d see our sulky work-hating Tanyalite be so aggressive in pursuing her duties...” she remarked as Tanya pulled Wyne out of the lake by the neck, back onto shore.

Flio watched the antics with wry amusement and then turned to look at the lake itself. “Let me see...” he said. “That spot looks like a good place to set up our base.”

“R-Really? Over there?” Rys asked, following where Flio was pointing with a dumbfounded expression on her face. The spot Flio had indicated was none other than the massive waterfall itself.

“Yeah!” Flio confirmed. “Just watch.” His usual easygoing smile on his face, he made his way along the shore of the lake, towards the waterfall. Rys followed along behind.

Not much later, Rys stepped inside the base Flio had set up. Her eyes went wide. “I-I hardly expected such extravagant lodgings!”

The rest of Flio’s household followed after her, their eyes going wide in turn. Flio had excavated the rock wall on the other side of the waterfall with magic, using the craggy stone as material for a splendid stonework manor.

“My goodness!” exclaimed Elinàsze, running up to look out the window. “You can see the waterfall right outside!”

“Whoa!” Garyl agreed. “That’s amazing!”

The rest of the young children—Rislei and Folmina and Ghoro—mobbed in after them.

“Amazing!” said Sleip, clapping his fist into his hand. “That’s Mister Flio for you. Who else would have thought of this?”

“Hrm...” Ghozal nodded. “It’s a pretty defensible position with the waterfall in front of us and the rock wall in back. We shouldn’t have to worry too much about magic beast attacks like this.”

“I’m still going to set up a barrier while we’re here, just in case,” Flio said. “Thisisa different world, after all. Who knows what kind of magic beasts might be around.”

Sleip and Ghozal nodded, glad to be assured of their safety.

“And drawing water will be ever so easy with the waterfall right here!” Rys said, beaming.

“The water is passable as well,” Tia remarked happily, catching the water in her cupped hands and trying a sip. “I will be able to make good tea with this.”

“The floor plan is the same as the house in Houghtow,” said Flio. “You can use your usual spots for your rooms if you like.”

“Thank you!!!” cried the party—although the children’s voices were the loudest.

The house was built into the cliff face, meaning that farther inside from the front entrance, the sunlight didn’t reach at all. But Flio used projection art magic in the places where the house’s windows were supposed to be, giving them a view of the surrounding area and also illuminating the rooms.

“All right!” declared Garyl. “Let’s leave the luggage in our room and go play in the lake!”

“Okay!” said Folmina. “I’m coming too!”

“If big sis Folmina’s going, I’m going...” said Ghoro.

“Ah ha ha ha ha!” Wyne laughed. “I’m coming too!”

“Now, Wyne, you mustn’t take off your clothes this time!” insisted Elinàsze. “At the very least, put on a swimsuit before— Oh no, she’s already naked...”

The children chatted happily as they made their way upstairs towards the kids’ bedroom.

Zofina took a look around the base. Just like Flio had said, it was a perfect copy of his house in Klyrode. She smiled dryly. Behind her, her subordinate angels had nearly identical expressions on their own faces.I expected to be sleeping in the open air, or perhaps in a tent...she thought.I can’t believe it. He built an actual mansion in the middle of Dogorogma...

“Still,” she muttered aloud. “I suppose we’ve seen Mister Flio do far more impressive things already, haven’t we...?” The other disciples of the Celestial Plane nodded in agreement. Their senses were starting to feel numb after experiencing so many outlandish feats one after another.

Flio came up to the angels, who were standing around in the living room. “Hello, Zofina. There don’t seem to be any more of the giant magic beasts from earlier around the base. We’re thinking of hunting for our dinner tonight in the nearby area. Would you care to join us?”

“I-I see,” Zofina said. “I have been intending to make a survey of Dogorogma’s present state myself. I’d be happy to accompany you.”

“In that case, we’ll set out as soon as everyone’s ready. Oh, and all of you, please feel free to use the bedrooms on the third floor. I created enough for each of you to have a private room.”

“A-Ah! Th-Thank you. For all sorts of things...” Zofina said, bowing her head. Her original plan had been to find a decent camping spot and set up a tent, and for herself and all the angels to stand guard to ensure the safety of Flio and the rest of his group. She had been spared the all-nighter, but instead she found herself mostly worrying about whether she was getting in Flio’s way.

◇ ◇ ◇

They set out from the base and headed up to explore the forest at the head of the waterfall. Zofina and the other angels were on guard, scythes in hand...but they were the only ones. Rys walked along carrying a picnic basket. Tia had brought a parasol and strolled along at a leisurely pace. Sybe had reverted to its psychobear form, with a smiling Elinàsze riding on its shoulders. Folmina and Garyl were frolicking together and chatting happily. All in all, it was the very picture of a happy family.

Flio, who was walking at the head of the group, came to a stop. They had come to the river that fed the waterfall below. It flowed gently as it snaked and zig-zagged its way to the cliff. There was a decent amount of empty space at its bank.

“This looks like a good spot to set up in,” Flio said.

“Understood,” Tanya replied, stepping forward. “Allow me...” She waved her arm, and her scythe appeared in her hand. She swung it once, and a table and set of chairs appeared in the middle of the empty space, followed by a stone oven for cooking.

“Wow!” Wyne gasped in awe. “That was awesome-awesome, Tanya!”

“I could hardly call myself a maid of Master Flio’s house if I could not do at least this much, Young Mistress Wyne,” Tanya said, bowing deeply.

Zofina winced at the sight. “N-No, Tanyalite... You are a disciple of the Celestial Plane like us, are you not...?”

Indeed, just as Zofina said, Tanyahadbeen an angel from the Celestial Plane who had been ordered to investigate Flio, but a freak collision with Wyne had left her utterly bereft of memories. One way or another, she had ended up falling into the role of Flio’s household maid.

“Disciple of the Celestial Plane?” Tanya asked. “I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about.” Her face showed no recognition whatsoever.

Zofina was completely at a loss.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Please do let me know if any of you would like more tea,” Tia said as she poured her own homemade black tea for everyone in the party.

“Ahhh!” Calsi’im sighed as he drained his cup. “Lady Rys and Lady Tanya make quite a cup of tea themselves, but nobody does it better than Tia, as far as I’m concerned!” His bony jaw rattled with laughter.

“Goodness, Calsi’im!” Tia said, refilling the skeleton’s empty cup. “If you’re going to say such kind things, what can I do but pour you another cup?”

Tia really does have quite a range of expressions for a magic doll... Flio thought as he watched.You’d think she was a living being...He spent a bit of time observing Tia’s behavior.Come to think of it, I read that book about magic dolls back when I first made Minilio... Didn’t it say something like, “A magic doll that learns the true joy of life may become something indistinguishable from a living person”?

[GENERATION FAILED - RAW TEXT]

“Papa!” said Elinàsze, pulling him out of his thoughts. “I’ll set up our defenses!” She began her incantation, conjuring a number of magic circles. Inside the circles appeared what looked to be armored knights with mighty wings on their backs, each holding a spear and shield. This was the spell Guardian Angel, one of Elinàsze’s specialties. Summoning magic was difficult even for advanced magic users, but Elinàsze could use it handily. The knights moved to the perimeter of the camp, keeping watch over everything inside.

“Okay!” said Garyl, taking off past the guards. “I’ll go hunting in that field over there!”

“Gare-Gare! I’m coming too!” Wyne declared, munching on a sandwich as she followed along.

“Me too!” said Folmina.

“M-Me too...!” Ghoro said, following along shyly.

“H-Hold on a moment, Ghoro!” said Rislei. “It’s dangerous to go alone. I’m coming with you!” She smiled, happy to look after the other children.

“Ha ha ha!” Ghozal laughed as he watched. “Seems like everyone’s having a good time in Dogorogma.”

“Yes.” Balirossa smiled. “It warms my heart to see the children having so much fun.”

“Hm?” Suddenly, Flio’s expression turned curious as he cocked his head.

“What is the matter, my lord husband?” Rys asked, taking a sip of tea.

“Oh,” said Flio. “It looks like something’s headed our way...”

“Indeed? I’m afraid my own ability to sense the presence of beings doesn’t work as well in Dogorogma...”

Rys took to her feet and got ready for a fight. Next to her, Sleip and Tanya readied their weapons. Zofina and the rest of the angels took off after the children, scythes in hand.

Ghozal, however, just laughed. “What’s got you all so worried? Mister Flio seems perfectly relaxed!”

◇ ◇ ◇

Garyl had left the forest behind him and was running through the grassy fields when he sensed a presence. He stopped in his tracks, peering out across the plains. “Huh? Is something coming?”

“Something’s coming-coming?” Wyne came to an abrupt halt beside Garyl, following his gaze with an expression of eager excitement on her face.

“What is it, big brother?” asked Folmina, clutching Garyl’s arm and looking up with worry.

They saw something rustle in the tall grass, charging in their direction with alarming force.

“What is it? What’s coming?” Rislei let go of Ghoro’s hand, hastily transforming into her lichsteed centaur form and getting ready to fight.

Garyl stepped in front of Rislei before she could do anything. “I’m not sure...” he said. “But here—lemme try something...” He lowered his body into a fighting stance and faced forward.

As if in response, a bloodcurdling cry came from the field ahead. “Graaaaaaaaah!!!”

Garyl’s eyes went wide as he got a good look at the thing. “Whoa... This one’s out of this world!” It had the head of a maned wolf, the wings of a bat, and a scorpion’s tail to boot.

Just then, Flio himself emerged from the forest. He was looking at a window that showed an image of the magic beast charging towards Garyl and the other children. “‘The manticore, a chimera magic beast’...” He read. “‘A Beast of Disaster that appeared in the world of Lillica, made of many different magic beasts fused together’... It doesn’t look like it can use magic, but that poisonous tail might be bad news.” Flio waved a single finger and the manticore’s tail vanished into thin air. “Okay, I managed to take its tail and put it in storage. Everyone, be careful of its claws! Make sure it doesn’t get you with a jump attack!”

“Got it, dad!” Garyl nodded and darted towards the manticore.

“W-Wait! Big brother?!” Rislei, who had been waiting for the beast to come to them, was startled for a moment and then went trotting after Garyl.

Wyne wasn’t far behind. “Gare-Gare! Leave it to your big sis Wyne!”

“Big brother!” said Folmina. “I can fight too!”

“W-Well, if Folmina’s fighting, I will too...!” Ghoro followed along after the others.

Garyl’s hands transformed into lupine claws as he ran, charging straight for the manticore. The beast tried to raise its scorpion tail, only to realize belatedly that it was no longer there. Perturbed, it bent its powerful legs and leapt high into the air. It came hurtling down towards Garyl, its massive claws poised to skewer the boy like a shish kebab. However...

The manticore looked around, puzzled. The boy who had been running straight towards it was nowhere in sight. It spread its massive wings and flew in a circle, inspecting the ground below.

“Dad told me to watch out for your jumps.” Garyl’s voice came from above the manticore’s head. It looked up to see Garyl, who had jumped even higher than the manticore itself. He swung his lupine claws as he came down on the beast’s head. The manticore tried to dodge, but Garyl was faster. That one attack was all it took to send it plummeting towards the ground.

“Kyeeeeeee!” As the manticore fell, Wyne rose up to meet it with alarming speed, flapping her dragon wings for all they were worth, headbutting it right in the underbelly. Garyl and Wyne’s combination attack was more than the manticore could take—it collapsed to the ground.

Folmina came running up as the manticore tried to pull itself to its feet, swinging her right arm in wide circles, not particularly fast. “Fol! Mi! Na! Punch!!!” she cried as she swung her arm at the manticore’s face. It struck with far more power than the tiny girl looked capable of producing, knocking the monster back on its belly.

Ghoro came running up behind. “I-If Folmina’s fighting, I have to do my best...” he said, swinging his own fist, striking the manticore in almost the exact same place as his sister once, then twice, then three times. With each punch, a horrifying crunching sound filled the air. After six of the deadly blows, the monster was no longer so much as twitching.

“B-But...” Rislei said, frowning. “I didn’t get a turn...”

“I really didn’t expect that to be so one-sided...” Flio said. The magic circle he had prepared in case some emergency happened vanished, and he strolled up to gather the manticore the kids had vanquished only to stop halfway. “Huh?” Flio looked in the direction of the grassy plain the manticore had come from. “Hmm... It looks like there’s a whole herd of smaller magic beasts over there. None of them are on the level of the manticore, but they’ll make good side dishes for tonight’s dinner.” He put the manticore in storage and headed in the direction of the magic beasts’ habitat, his usual easygoing smile on his face.

Garyl came running up to his father. “Dad! Let me come too!”

“Ah ha ha!” Wyne laughed, coming to land from the sky right behind Garyl. “Let’s play-play more!”

“Just make sure you let me do something this time!” said Rislei, running behind in her centaur form.

“I’ll do my best too!” said Folmina, once again swinging her arm in those wide circles.

“I-If Folmina’s coming, I’ll come too...” said Ghoro, staying close by Folmina’s side and swinging his own arm in an imitation of her.

Zofina watched the children with a smile on her face. “Even without its tail, a manticore is enough of a threat to destroy an entire kingdom on its own. Although, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by anything Flio and the others’ children can do...” Her smile had a strange quality to it, as if she had completely given up on understanding the things happening around her.

The other angels nodded in silent agreement.

As for the children in question, they were advancing cheerfully with Garyl at the head of the group, taking out magic beast after magic beast.

“All right! Another!”

“Ah ha ha! Another, another!”

“Hah! Eat my hooves!”

“Fol! Mi! Na! Punch!!!”

“M-Me too... Punch!!!”

Flio had taken a step back, allowing the children to fight the magic beasts on their own using all kinds of advanced skills and magic while he casually gave them support, sealing the beasts’ magic or nullifying their attacks, and putting the beasts’ carcasses in storage upon defeat.

Zofina and the other angels watched with blank-eyed smiles on their faces. What else could they do?

“Excuse me, good angels,” said Tia, coming up from behind with a pot of tea in her hand. “Would any of you care for another cup?” Preparations at the campsite now finished, Tia had come along with everyone else to check on how the children and angels were getting along.

“O-Oh!” said an angel. “Yes, thank you very much.”

“Thank you most graciously for the tea,” said another.

With practiced elegant gestures, Tia filled a cup of black tea for each of the disciples of the Celestial Plane. Zofina looked deep into her own cup. “This turned out to be a very laid-back mission, didn’t it...?”

The angels had come to Dogorogma as guides and protectors. Zofina had been expecting the worst. But here they were, lazing about, sitting on fallen logs or stones and drinking tea. Some of the angels were so relaxed that they had started to yawn as they watched the mountain of magic beasts felled by Garyl and the others grow larger and larger.

◇ ◇ ◇

Eventually, the children wrapped up their hunt and headed back to the base to rest.

“I’m gonna look around the area a little bit while dinner’s being made,” Flio said. He went off on his own, and soon enough he found himself entering the canyon a little ways away from the base.

The river that flowed into the lake in front of their base was surrounded by steep cliffs, making it hard to explore on foot, so Flio used the spell Fly to explore from the air. “The magic energy is so chaotic in this world,” he remarked. “I keep having trouble with my Search spell...” His Search window was open to the side of his field of vision, keeping him updated on his surroundings, but it was having trouble. From time to time it would go blank, reading only:“Unable to display due to chaotic magic energy.”

[GENERATION FAILED - RAW TEXT]

The magic of Dogorogma was chaotic enough that the Zofina and the other disciples of the Celestial Plane were almost entirely unable to use spells like Search. It was so bad that even Flio sometimes experienced minor interference.

“I shouldn’t take too long,” Flio said to himself as he flew along the canyon. “I don’t want to make Rys worry.”

Suddenly, a number of large flashing red dots appeared in the window, in the direction Flio was headed. “Looks like something’s there...” he muttered, looking ahead before continuing on.

There was a loud rumbling sound from all over. Whatever was ahead had sensed Flio coming. Then, from within the canyon, a magic beast emerged.

Flio stopped in midair and looked around. There were no fewer than six enormous dragons, each with their own peculiarities to their bodies. It was clear that they were the same sort of thing as the Calamity Wyrm that had stumbled into the world of Klyrode and Flio’s path not long ago—fearsome Beasts of Disaster with enough power to destroy entire worlds, reviled throughout the cosmos as bringers of ruin.

Even among the many types of magic beasts born from a world’s corruption, these were particularly deadly, with hard scales that deflected magic back at the caster. It had taken dozens of goddesses and angels from the Celestial Plane to capture a single one and bring it here to Dogorogma where it could be imprisoned.

The canyon Flio had entered was one of the places in Dogorogma where Calamity Wyrms made their nests. If Zofina and the others had encountered such a group, they would have fled immediately and called for backup from the Celestial Plane. Flio, however...

“Six of them, huh?” he said, a big smile on his face. “Looks like we don’t need to worry about finding more ingredients for the Calamity Healing Potion for a while!” He spread his arms, and a number of enormous magic circles appeared in the sky, rotating slowly.

Something about the magic circles seemed to frighten the Calamity Wyrms. They roared menacingly, but Flio continued casting as the wyrms flew up into the air and descended upon Flio to blow him out of the sky.

The moment before they attacked, Flio pointed his arms straight ahead. The magic circles moved suddenly towards the Calamity Wyrms. Sensing something was wrong, the dragons unleashed their breath on the circles, intending to destroy them before they could unleash magic. Flio and the circles alike were engulfed in the flame...only for all of it to be harmlessly absorbed by the magic circles.

The magic circles made contact with the wyrms. They scattered, trying to escape, but the circles were faster. They engulfed the dragons, whose enormous bodies began to shrink and shrink. A couple wyrms saw what was happening to their companions and beat their wings, trying to escape into the canyon. Flio followed their movements, waving his arms, and one of the magic circles changed course, following the survivors with unerring accuracy. Before long, all six had been captured.

“All right,” Flio said. “Looks like that’s all of them.” He checked his extradimensional storage box and confirmed that six Calamity Wyrms were listed among its contents. Flio nodded, satisfied. “Dinner’s probably ready by now,” he said. “I should get back before anyone starts to worry.”

With his usual easygoing smile on his face, Flio flew back in the direction of the base as the sky turned red with the sunset.