The sun hung low over the peaceful city of Oaksyr, casting a orange glow over the cobblestone streets and the lush fields surrounding it. Guye Bohr, a young man with calloused hands and a determined gaze, moved through the forest just outside the village. His bow was slung over his shoulder, and a small sack of gathered food hung at his side. He was used to the solitude, being an orphan meant he had no one to rely on but himself. Yet, he was stronger than most, a fact that had kept him alive all these years.

  (Guye: Just a little more, and I'll have enough for the week. Maybe I can trade some for a new quiver.)

  As he knelt to inspect a patch of wild berries, a deafening roar shattered the tranquility. The ground trembled, and birds scattered from the trees. Guye's head snapped up, his heart pounding.

  (Guye: What?? That aint no ordinary beast.)

  He sprinted toward the source of the noise, his bow at the ready. Emerging from the treeline, he saw it, a massive dragon, its scales glistening like polished marble, its eyes glowing with a malevolent red light. It was the Vampiric Dragon, one of the two legendary beasts that had terrorized the Holy Capital over a century ago. The creature loomed over Oaksyr, its wings casting a shadow over the village.

  (Guye: No... not Oaksyr! Everyone's still there!)

  The dragon unleashed a torrent of flames, but strangely, the village remained untouched. Guye's confusion was quickly replaced by determination. He nocked an arrow and fired, the projectile bouncing harmlessly off the dragon's scales. The beast turned its gaze toward him, and Guye knew he had its attention.

  (Guye: Come on, you overgrown lizard! Follow me!)

  He ran, weaving between trees as the dragon's massive form crashed through the forest behind him. Fire erupted from its jaws, scorching branches and setting patches of dry grass ablaze. Guye stumbled, nearly losing his footing as a tree trunk splintered just behind him, sending wooden shards flying past his head.

  (Guye: Keep moving... just keep on moving!)

  A shadow swept over him, and Guye leapt behind a boulder just as the dragon's talons slammed into the earth, digging deep gouges into the soil. Sweat stung his eyes as he peeked out and fired another arrow, this time aiming for the dragon's eye. The arrow struck true, but bounced off harmlessly, barely causing the beast to flinch.

  (Guye: Damn it... I need something stronger.)

  He remembered a nearby cave, a narrow passage that might trap the beast. With a burst of speed, he led the dragon into the rocky terrain, dodging bursts of flame and narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. The entrance to the cave came into view. Guye skidded to a stop, turning to fire another arrow, this time aiming at a precariously perched boulder above the entrance.

  The arrow struck, and the boulder crashed down, landing directly on the dragon's snout. The beast roared in fury, momentarily stunned. Guye didn't hesitate, he sprinted into the cave's narrow mouth. The dragon lunged after him, its head and shoulders wedging tightly in the gap.

  (Guye: Now's my chance!)

  Guye circled to the side, loosing arrows at the softer scales beneath the dragon's wings. The beast thrashed violently, its claws scraping the stone. A blast of flame erupted from its mouth, filling the cave with blistering heat. Guye dove behind a rock, barely avoiding the fire that licked at his boots.

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  His breath ragged, he grabbed a jagged stone from the ground and hurled it at the dragon's face. The stone struck its eye, and the creature roared in agony. Seizing the moment, Guye nocked another arrow and fired directly into the wounded eye. The beast shrieked, thrashing violently. With a desperate heave, it tore itself free from the cave's entrance and took to the sky, its wings beating furiously as it disappeared into the horizon.

  (Guye: It's gone... but why didn't it go for Oaksyr?)

  As he caught his breath, something glinted on the cave floor. Guye knelt and picked it up, a ring, its surface etched with intricate, otherworldly designs. It pulsed faintly, as if alive.

  (Guye: Woah.. what is this? It feels... strange.)

  He slipped the ring into his pocket and hurried back to the village, his mind racing with questions. When he arrived, he was met with an unexpected sight. A group of adventurers stood in the village square, their weapons drawn but their expressions more confused than battle-ready. The villagers were unharmed, and there was no sign of destruction.

  (Guye: Hey adventurers! Do you people see a red-ish black dragon?)

  The leader of the group, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shield strapped to his back, stepped forward.

  (Yoorke: A dragon? You mean that shadow that flew overhead? We were about to engage, but it just... vanished. Who are you?)

  (Guye: I'm Guye, Guye Bohr. I live here. I led that dragon away to protect the village.)

  A young woman with a rapier adorned with glowing runes stepped forward, her eyes wide with curiosity.

  (Kamina: Red-ish black dragon???, WAIT... did you faced the Vampiric Dragon? That's... impressive.)

  (Guye: I didn't have a choice. It was going to destroy Oaksyr.)

  A man with a bow slung over his shoulder, his expression skeptical, crossed his arms.

  (Ayai: And how do we know you're not just spinning tales? That dragon's a legend. No one's seen it in over a century.)

  (Guye: I'm not lying. Look at this.)

  Guye pulled the ring from his pocket, holding it up for the group to see. The moment they saw it, their expressions shifted from doubt to shock.

  (Igusa: That's... one of the Seven Rings of the Living. How did you get that?)

  (Guye: The dragon dropped it. I don't know what it is, but it feels... powerful.)

  The group exchanged glances, their earlier skepticism replaced by a mix of awe and concern. The leader, Yoorke, stepped forward again, extending a hand.

  (Yoorke: Guye, was it? You've got guts, facing a beast like that alone. We're a party of adventurers, and we could use someone like you. What do you say? Join us?)

  (Guye: Join you? I... I don't even know who you are.)

  Yoorke chuckled, gesturing to the others.

  (Yoorke: Fair point. I'm Yoorke, the party leader and tank. This is Ayai, our archer, Igusa is our priest, Kamina our frontliner, Koin our mage, Onizuka our beast tamer, and Riku-Hitch, our flank.)

  Each member nodded or waved as their name was called. Guye looked at them, then at the ring in his hand. He had always been alone, but something about this moment felt... right.

  (Guye: Alright. I'll join you. But I'm not just handing over this ring.)

  (Yoorke: Wouldn't expect you to. Welcome to the party, Guye.)

  As the group prepared to leave Oaksyr, Guye took one last look at the village that had been his home. He didn't know what lay ahead, but for the first time in his life, he wasn't facing it alone.