SAO: Strawberry Bunny

With the Dragon Hunter's map as their guide, they began the next leg of their journey, venturing toward the rumored dragon's nest deep in the Forest of Wavering Mist. Each step into the misty expanse felt heavier than the last, the weight of their mission settling over them.

Before entering the forest, the group passed through the quaint Faune settlement of Flora. True to its name, the town was surrounded by sprawling fields of vibrant delilahs, their petals swaying gently in the breeze. The air was fragrant with their scent, a calming counterpoint to the tension building in the trio.

The town's central square bustled with activity, but as they wandered through the cobblestone streets, Strawberry's sharp ears caught snippets of hushed conversations. Curious, she gestured for Quinella to follow her lead, and the pair began eavesdropping discreetly on the townsfolk.

"I heard there are evil spirits haunting the Forest of Wavering Mist. Is that true? Or is it more Fae trickery?" one Faune whispered to another, their long ears twitching nervously.

Another voice came from a group of older Faune sitting on a bench. "The forest feels weaker somehow recently. Are the Fae to blame?"

Quinella frowned, her violet eyes narrowing. "That's unsettling."

Strawberry nodded. "Definitely not a coincidence."

As they continued through the square, another Faune merchant, overheard by Muffin's twitching ears, murmured, "They say there's been some strange rumbling sounds below Aruyt."

These rumors painted an ominous picture, one that only grew darker as they ventured deeper into the forest.

The thick mist that blanketed the trees made navigation a challenge, the paths seeming to shift and twist on their own. The trio relied on the Dragon Hunter's map to guide them, but even with it, they encountered numerous dead ends and deceptive trails.

Occasionally, they would hear faint laughter in the distance—high, melodic, and distinctly unnatural. Quinella kept her hand on her weapon, her movements tense and cautious. "Fae," she whispered. "They're watching us."

"Let them," Strawberry replied, her voice steady. "If they get too close, they'll regret it."

Muffin stayed perched on Strawberry's shoulder, his ears twitching at every sound. Once, the little rabbit stiffened, chirping in alarm as a massive Thicket Spider dropped from the canopy above. Strawberry reacted instantly, her scythe slicing through the air and cleaving the creature in two before it could land.

The forest seemed alive with danger, and yet the trio pressed on, determined to reach their destination. After what felt like hours of navigating the labyrinthine woods, the mist began to thin, revealing a clearing ahead.

The clearing was a scene of devastation. Two massive dragon corpses lay sprawled across the ground, their once-majestic forms now twisted and broken. Their scales were scorched and battered, and sections of their bodies showed unnatural distortions, as though corrupted by dark magic. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the faint hum of residual magic.

Quinella's hand flew to her mouth, her violet eyes wide with horror. "What… what happened here?"

Strawberry tightened her grip on her scythe, her gaze hardening. "This wasn't just a fight. This was slaughter."

Muffin squeaked mournfully, hopping closer to one of the corpses but stopping short as if sensing the lingering danger.

A voice broke the silence, smooth and resonant. "A terrible sight, isn't it?"

The trio whirled around to find a dragon standing at the edge of the clearing. Nukal was smaller than the fallen dragons, her sleek amethyst scales shimmering faintly in the dim light. Her golden eyes held a mix of sorrow and anger.

"Who are you?" Strawberry demanded, stepping protectively in front of Muffin.

"I am Nukal," the dragon replied, her voice tinged with grief. "These were my kin—my mate and my dearest friend."

Quinella lowered her weapon slightly, her expression softening. "What happened here?"

Nukal sighed, a deep and mournful sound. "The Fae. They sought to perform vile experiments on us, twisting our magic for their own gain. My mate and I fought to protect our eggs and our daughter, but… we could not save them all."

Her gaze turned to a hidden grove beyond the clearing. "Come. I will show you."

Nukal led them to a secluded grove, hidden behind a curtain of vines. In the center of the grove lay a young dragon hatchling, her tiny body curled protectively around two shimmering eggs. The sight was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, the fragility of the survivors a stark contrast to the devastation they had witnessed earlier.

"She's beautiful," Quinella said softly, kneeling to get a closer look at the hatchling. "What's her name?"

"Mirvel," Nukal said, her voice filled with tenderness. "She and my eggs are all that remains of my family."

Strawberry knelt beside the dragon, her masked gaze fixed on the eggs. "Why bring us here?"

Nukal's expression grew grave. "Because there is another threat. The last fully grown dragon of this floor, Qeozze, lies trapped in the lake beneath Aruyt. The Fae forced him there long ago, but he is growing restless, and his escape would spell disaster for both the Faune and the Fae."

Quinella frowned. "What do you want us to do?"

"Prevent his escape," Nukal said. "By any means necessary. But if you can find a way to spare him, I would be grateful. He is not evil—merely desperate."

Strawberry and Quinella exchanged a glance. The weight of the task was clear, but so was their resolve.

"Please," Nukal pleaded. "Do whatever you must to stop him. He is a danger to all if he escapes. But... if you can spare his life, I beg you to try. He is not beyond redemption."

Nukal leaned forward and exhaled a soft, shimmering breath over the group. "This will allow you to breathe underwater for a time. Use it wisely."

Strawberry nodded, determination hardening her features. "We'll stop him."

Before they departed, Strawberry asked about the forest's weakened state. Nukal explained how she and her mate had once blessed the forest, keeping the Fae's mischief in check. Without them, the balance had begun to unravel.

The journey to the lake below Aruyt was uneventful, but as they reached the water's edge, the trio paused to prepare. Quinella checked her gear while Muffin hopped onto a flat rock, peering curiously at the water. Strawberry activated the blessing Nukal had given them, feeling a strange warmth settle in her chest as the magic took hold.

Diving into the lake, they were immediately surrounded by a world of shimmering blues and greens. Schools of fish darted around them, and clusters of glowing plants illuminated the depths. The water was cool and strangely still, but as they ventured deeper, the tranquility began to fade.

Large stone columns loomed ahead, their surfaces etched with ancient runes. They seemed to support the deeper sections of the lake, their presence both awe-inspiring and foreboding.

Exploring the depths, the trio discovered abandoned Faune artifacts and scattered remnants of Fae experiments. The further they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Then, without warning, a deep rumble shook the water, sending ripples through the lake.

Every creature fled, disappearing into crevices and shadows. The trio turned toward the source of the disturbance, just in time to see a massive figure emerge from a cavern.

The moment Qeozze emerged from the cavern's depths, the water surrounding Strawberry and Quinella grew dark and frigid. The immense form of the dragon was unlike anything they had ever seen. Qeozze was a titan of the deep, his shimmering blue scales reflecting the faint light filtering from above, creating an otherworldly glow that made him both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

His elongated body twisted and coiled with the sinuous grace of a serpent, his wings malformed and ragged, their once-majestic structure marred by dark magic. These disfigured appendages appeared almost useless, the membranes shredded as though torn by unseen claws. His eyes, hollow yet blazing with insatiable hunger, darted between the intruders, devoid of any semblance of intelligence. It was as though he had been stripped of thought and driven purely by primal instinct.

The skeletal remains of a sunken ship littered the seabed below, a silent testament to Qeozze's destructive nature. Large boulders and coral formations served as his lair's natural walls, enclosing the dragon's domain in a claustrophobic arena of danger. The sheer presence of this creature pressed against their senses, and even Muffin clung tighter to Strawberry's shoulder, his small form trembling.

Qeozze opened his maw, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, each capable of tearing through flesh and steel alike. His roar sent ripples through the water, vibrating through their very bones. He was not a creature that sought dominion or protection—he was a predator, pure and simple, driven by an endless hunger.

"Quinella," Strawberry muttered, her voice muffled by the water but filled with urgency. "That thing is not like the others. It's broken… twisted."

Quinella nodded, her violet eyes narrowing as she prepared herself. "No reasoning with this one. We're going to have to end this fast."