[God-like’s point of view]

 When I decided to send ten million souls on Ex... Ah! Woops! I almost let the name of the world slip. Silly me~!

Well, no need to worry about it. You’ll never guess it anyway! Hahaha!

Now then, the ten million human beings who up until recently lived on Earth, a world of science, were suddenly sent to a world of sword and magic, where everything they knew was challenged and tested at every step of their way. Their mission was a simple one when looked at it at an individual scale, but whether they could survive or not until the end of their days was really not as important as the changes they put into motion just by... existing there for even a single second.

Of what changes Alkelios and his fellow earthlings would bring to this incredibly diverse world remained to be seen.

Now... what if I told you that besides this Universe of ours there were others, and in each one a story similar to ours took place?

What if I told you there was a world in another Universe out there, where Alkelios Yatagai was never born or one where he aimed to become the ultimate evil? Well, probably half of you are going to wonder what I drank, the other half will ask me for a sip, and the few who don’t fit these two choices will be intrigued.

Well, this story that I’m about to tell you took place in rather peculiar circumstances... and it’s just a single glimpse into a Universe so different from this one that you wouldn’t be able to tell left from right the moment you took a step inside it.

This, my dear friends, is the story of a young half-dragon and a drunk ghost...

 

[Somewhere in another Universe, where the law was made by the gun and cowboy hats were still in fashion]

 

In Drakaria, the capital of the ol’ wild Albeyater Kingdom, in a sun-dried bar filled with nothin’ but forked tongued snakes who would rather sell their own mothers than pay the tab for their drinks, a rather strange fellow made his appearance. His clothes were black, and his cowboy hat looked as though it went on a date with a flamethrower. Not to be spittin’ on the dragon’s garments, but a drunk mule on a Sunday knew how to dress better.

Steppin’ like he owned the place, the dragon checked the scaly bastards to his left and then those to his right. Them fellas stopped what they were doing, be it playin’ cards or sharing stories of their adventures, and locked eyes on the stranger. His strange getup was what caught their attention. They couldn’t tell if he was hiding diamonds under a coat of coal or was just a plain ol’ rock covered in soot. What was certain though was that they all felt as though there was something wrong with him.

Not bothered by them in the slightest bit, the stranger approached the bar and sat on the empty stool farthest to the right. He tapped two times on the bar and called for a hot one.

Bayuk gave him an understanding nod and went to poor the dragon his drink. Collentra, his wife, was over by the big piano in the other corner of the room. Initially, she walked over to it with the intention of playing a tune for the boys, but now she was leaning against it and eyeing the stranger with a curious gaze. She was one pretty dragoness with a flirty gaze and shiny scales. Her frilly red dress with a generous cleavage and just enough bump around the hips earned her the attention of all the dragons in the bar every time she went to play a song. This was the plan though, give the cowboys something pretty to look to make them eager to get another drink and up their bill at the bar.

This stranger, however, didn’t even so much as try to return her flirty gaze. He ignored the curious onlookers and waited for his drink with the patience of a royal Khosinni in front of a sheep.

Bayuk poured him a glass of whiskey and slid it across the table all the way to him.

The stranger grabbed it before it went past him and while tipping his hat, he said “Much obliged.”

By now, the rowdy cowboys seated at their tables would have went back to minding their own business, pouring the burning alcohol down their throat, asking Collentra to play a song for them, or setting up their game of cards.

Indeed, if one stood behind this stranger and were to look at him with a keen eye, they could see the glass of whiskey as it moved up and then the liquid pouring down the dragon’s throat only for it to vanishing into thin air.

And this strange thing right here was what kept everyone in this bar from daring to utter even so much as a mouse’ whisper.

As it happened, All the young and old dragons knew the tale of this gentleman who wore only black and ordered a drink for which he paid with coins as old as the good ol’ Albeyater Kingdom.

Yet, within Drakaria there was one fellow who was completely unaware of his tale, and it just so happened that he was in a mood for a drink.

With a bold stride, he stepped into the bar, catching everyone’s attention for the moment. He walked up to Bayuk and sat down three seats away from the eerie stranger.

Now, this fellow right here, his name was Alkelios Yatagai, a human who not that long ago managed to stir the whole capital with his declaration of love towards the beauty with red scales, Seryanna Draketerus. He was the only soul who knew nothin’ of the tale of the dragon in black.

“Gimme somethin’ hot enough to melt the guts, Bayuk.” Alkelios ordered as he tipped his hat towards him.

The bartender replied with a nod and went to pour him a glass of whiskey from the good batch.

In terms of looks, Alkelios was sporting a good black cowboy hat with red lining, a cloak showing the fine crest of the Draketerus house, which in this world was a pair of crossed revolvers with smoking barrels, a leather suit covered in magic enchantments, a good pair of boots with spurs made out of the best alloyed metals out there, and a pair of of guns that would make the best gunsmith shed tears of envy.

“Why is everyone here so silent? Did someone die?” the man asked when he got his drink.

With a trembling hand, Bayuk, the bartender, pointed at the stranger in black, who drank from his glass with a heavy gaze like a cowboy troubled by the upcoming winter.

“Friend, they are scared of me.” the stranger told him before he had a chance to ask.

“Why?”

Hearing this, the dragon curled his lips into a ghastly smirk like a fox that caught its hare.

“Have you ever heard the tale of the Unlucky Gunslinger?” he asked with his eyes on the drink in front of him.

“Don’t think I have. No.” the other replied in his naivety.

When they heard the words that left his lips, everyone in the bar froze two times over. They paled and prayed in their minds for the poor lad foolish enough to ask this ghastly figure such a thing. No one there had the courage to tell him to keep his mouth shut, not even Bayuk. If he did, then the gunslinger would have drunk his glass and left peacefully, but now... everyone feared for the worst.

“Well, ain’t that a surprise?” the dragon laughed and then gave a sign to the bartender to bring him another drink.

At this moment, there was a dragon who entered the bar, but when he saw the look on everyone’s face and then the ghastly figure at the bar, he slowly stepped back and then ran away like a bandit chased by hungry sheep.

“Well, partner, let me tell ya a nice story about a very lucky gunslinger.” he smirked.

“Lucky?” Alkelios raised an eyebrow, he was already intrigued.

“Yes, Lucky. That dragon loved to drink more than the sun loved the earth, and he visited every lush-crib from here to the Seculiar Forest!” he took a big gulp from his glass and when he placed it back on the bar, he let out a heavy sigh “Hah... I miss getting drunk...” After shaking his head, the stranger continued “That dragon, ya see, was no bad egg, just had a bad hoss. Trinket was that Khosinni’s name, and boy was it a wild one! Never let a dragon other than its master get on its back, and it would rather stomp even a knight under all of its six hooves than let him so much as pet him!” he laughed and then poured the whole drink down his throat.

The glass was placed on the bar with a loud thump and then eyed the bartender one more time. Bayuk felt a chill run down his spine when he met the dragon’s eyes and immediately obliged to his request, sending him over another glass filled to the brim.

“There we go!” he laughed as he grabbed his drink before it slid off the bar.

“So, what happened to him?” Alkelios asked after he emptied his glass to half.

“What happened to him? Well, at that time, the dragon was called Lucky Barking Irons!”

“Barking Irons? Were his guns famous too?” Alkelios asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked at the dragon.

“Famous? Nah, they were like mine... a pair of rusted Dingos with a neck too long for their own good.” he smirked as he took out his gun and then placed it on the bar.

The gun was quite similar to an old Colt Paterson revolver, but it was slightly bigger as it shot 12.7 mm rounds instead of 9 mm ones. Unlike the fragile human hand, a dragon’s was far more sturdier. 12.7 mm in this world was the 9 mm of Earth’s.

“Oh? Dingos? Never saw one before. My wife has a Rollcaster Razor. That beast fires 58 mm rounds. It’s a real beast with enchants that make it even more of a monster than it already is!” Alkelios laughed.

The Rollcaster Razor was in fact quite similar in looks to the Smith & Wesson XVR 460 Magnum, a powerful gun that made the Dingo on the table look like a poor joke.

“What about you? What’s your barking iron?” the dragon asked.

“Mine? Well, mine’s a bit different, you see. I made it myself, and it’s this...” Alkelios said as he took his gun out of its holster and placed it on the table.

The weapon looked like a piece of high-tech gear ripped straight out of a Sci-Fi movie thanks to its side attachments, grip, and overall design that went for the cold and fast feel of sharp angles rather than the embrace of curvy shapes. It was black all over with stripes of red light between some of its metal pieces, giving the impression of a black cage that held a red spirit trapped inside. The barrel was about 36 cm long, from the tip to the back, 9.1 cm in height and 8.6 cm in width, it had a 58 mm caliber.

It was a real monster of a gun that looked normal in size only in the hand of a half-beast draconian, and absolutely huge in that of a human. Since it was made by Alkelios, it was certainly capable of doing more than just shooting simple bullets. That man’s curiosity and playfulness with tech wouldn’t have let him make his own barking iron so simple.

“Impressive...” the dragon looked at the gun, but that was all he could say.

There was no way for this stranger to know just how powerful the weapon actually was. The few dragons who witnessed it in last week’s gunslinger duel still remembered how it blew away both the dragon and the outer wall behind him, the blast shredded them as if they were made out of toilet paper.

The guards and locals were more worried afterwards about plugging the hole in the protective wall than the dragon who got torn to pieces. And that shot wasn’t even the most powerful one yet.

“Yeah, I know.” Alkelios smiled foolishly and then holstered his gun.

“Well, continuing from where I left off, Lucky Barking Irons had another habit alongside that of drinking the bar dry, or better said it was the passion for challenging at anything anyone who crossed his path. One day, however, he dared to challenge the Devil.” he said and then took another drink.

“The Devil? Was he a famous gunslinger too?” Alkelios asked.

“No, partner, he was the literal Devil, The beast of the Ten Unholy Heavens, the wanderer of misfortune, the hunter of souls. It was THAT Devil.”

“Oh. So, what happened then?”

“The Devil made a deal with him over his soul. If Lucky Barking Irons won the challenge, then the Devil would grant any wish he desired. However, if he were to lose, then his soul would wonder the world for eternity, harvesting souls for him by offering nearly unwinnable challenges, the type from which the other party could not back away.” as he said this, he looked into Alkelios’ eyes and his figure turned more transparent, while his face appeared to be going through an accelerated rotting process until only the bare white bones underneath his skin remained.

With glowing blue eyes, the dragon then asked him “Who do you think won?”

Alkelios wasn’t smiling anymore. He was looking at him with serious eyes because now it was clear to him that this entity before him was none other than Lucky Barking Irons or the Unlucky Gunslinger as others called him.

“I guess he didn’t win the challenge.” he replied.

“Yes, he didn’t.” Lucky shook his head.

“So, what now? Are you going to challenge me too?” asked Alkelios.

“I’m afraid so, partner. You seem like a good fellow, and I’m no bad egg myself. This here curse of mine is tied up in strings pulled by forces far beyond our mere mortal comprehension.” he let out a heavy sigh and then looked at Bayuk. “Bar dog, hit us with another. The boy’ll need his last drink.”

With a trembling nod, the dragon listened to the order, but Alkelios’ eyes were not those of a man ready to jump in a hole six feet under.

“What if I win the challenge?” he asked.

Lucky was used to dragons who claimed to stand a chance of winning, but he knew that this was short to impossible.

“You can’t win it.” he started off “But if by some miracle you do, then you get to keep walking like nothin’ happened, and I get to rest my bones in that empty coffin I got for my birthday a while back.” he smirked.

“I see. Very well, then.” Alkelios nodded and caught his drink when Bayuk slid it across the bar to him. “Let us toast to my victory then.” he raised his glass up high.

“You mean eternal damnation, right?” the dragon clinked his drink and smirked.

With one breath, Alkelios drank the whiskey dry and then got up from his seat.

“What shall be the challenge?” he asked.

After Lucky finished his drink, he replied in a calm tone of voice “You will kiss the first Breakthrough-er to enter this bar in the next ten minutes, and he or she will like it.” he smirked.

Under normal circumstances, this was indeed not only a foolish challenge to accept, but an impossible one at that too. No one in their right mind would accept it. After all, the chances of a Breakthrough-er entering the bar at this exact moment and time was ridiculous, and to have them like it as well was near impossible too.

Well, that was if you weren’t someone like Alkelios... some with a maxed-out Luck.

“Challenge accepted! I wish by the power in this entire Universe that this Breakthrough-er will come here and let me kiss her delicious lips!” Alkelios declared with a big grin on his lips.

“Hahaha! What a foolish thing to wish for, boy! The sky will turn green before the gods answer your call!” Lucky laughed.

“Maybe.” Alkelios replied and then through his [Dragon Tamer] skill sent a location ping to the dragoness it was currently targeting.

From now on it was only a matter of luck and time. Thus, the two cowboys eyed each other like dueling gunslingers at high noon.

Tick! Tock! The clock went. The old ticker was placed on top of the piano, next to which Collentra was burning into her memory the scene of these two legendary dragons that were having a showdown like no other.

The pressure was so high, some of them dragons forgot to wet their agape mouths and let them dry from the hot air inside. No one was drinking, no one was playing cards anymore, no one even dared to get up from their seat, they all stared at those two at the bar, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

“Five minutes are up and your Breakthrough-er had yet to show up. Maybe their chicken?” Lucky smirked at Alkelios, but the man paid him no heed.

The tension continued in this bar that seemed to be ripped off from the world itself.

Tick! Tock! The clock went. The seconds slipping by like eels out of a fisherman’s hands.

 

DING! DONG!

 

The town’s bell’s call was heard all of sudden, startling everyone. The sudden spike of adrenaline made them turn towards the door and then to Alkelios. It was as if the clock was letting everyone know that the time was up.

The tension was at an all-time high. Everyone was holding their breath, but neither Lucky nor Alkelios was making a move, yet both of them had their hands on the grip of their guns.

“Two more minutes...” whispered Lucky once the town’s clock calmed down.

“Two more minutes... yes.” nodded Alkelios, who for the past minute kept sending ping after ping, and was trying his best to maintain a cool, calm, and collected appearance.

Meanwhile, his mind was in total chaos...

Oh no! Oh no! Come on! Come on! Come on! Hurry up! Hurry UP! I don’t want to die! Come on! Stupid Luck! WHERE IS SHE?! I wish she will get here quickly! I wish she will move her tail to get here faster! Come on! Was what the stoic-looking half-dragon was thinking about.

It wasn’t even a moment later when the doors of the bar were blown off by a powerful kick.

“WOULD YOU STOP WITH THOSE ANNOYING PINGS!!! I CAN’T EVEN HEAR MY OWN DAMN THOUGHTS BECAUSE OF THEM! THE ONLY THING THEY ARE GOOD FOR IS HELPING MY BRAIN COMMIT SUICIDE!” shouted a silver-scaled dragoness at the top of her lungs as soon as she stepped into the bar.

“YES!” shouted Alkelios and then in the blink of an eye was in front of Kataryna.

Without reserve, he stole her lips in a deep kiss that made her bend back at her waist.

“Well, I’d be a sheep’s lunch on a wolf’s holiday, but that boy can sure kiss a lady!” said Lucky, who too was surprised by Alkelios’ sudden moves.

When the two parted lips, Kataryna slumped down to the floor with mellow knees, cheeks bright red as a burning charcoal, and at a loss of words like a dragon in front of a vegetarian sheep.

“Did you enjoy that?” Alkelios asked with a big grin on his face.

“Ah... Erm... Huh? Yes...” Kataryna said.

Her brain was still trying to process everything that just happened.

“YES!” Alkelios cheered and then looking back at Lucky with a big grin on his face, he asked “So? Did I win the challenge?”

With a smile on his undead lips, as the skin on his face began to take form again, he tipped his ashen hat to Alkelios and then told him “You did well, partner... To think that a kiss from such a fine-looking dragoness would save your life and my poor soul... This...” he got off his chair and began to walk towards the exit, his body slowly starting to vanish as he did so “is a story to tell the grandkids...”

Lucky’s body slowly faded away into nothingness, and by the time he reached Alkelios, he was no more. A gust of wind pushed past him and left through the door. The legend of the Unlucky Gunslinger or the story of Lucky Barking Irons ended with those last words of his.

It took a moment for everyone there to realize what just happened, but when they did, they cheered as loud as they could, tossing their hats in the air and clinking their glasses. The bar’s tab was going to be full until the next day.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Alkelios looked back at Kataryna and offered her a helping hand. With a blush on her lips, she accepted and got back up on her feet. Unlike most dragonesses out there, she preferred to wear cowboy pants instead of baggy frilly dresses. On her belt, she had her trusty gun made by Alkelios, [Ledyanoy Potseluy]. The cold grip made it impossible to be held by anyone other than her.

“What just happened?” Kataryna asked as she was as confused as ever.

“Well, remember how I told you that I would ping you once my job was done? You know, to go and get Seryanna’s present?” he asked.

“Yes.” she nodded “That was the deal, that’s why I don’t understand where the kiss suddenly came from.” she tilted her head to the left and then added “Not that it was bad... just unexpected.” she blushed and looked away.

“Well, yes... Turns out that while I stopped by the Brekkar’s Bar, I happened to come across some sort of... well... Cursed Cowboy Ghost, or something like that.” he shrugged. “He challenged me to a test of Luck, and well... I won.” he showed her a wry smile.

“Who would be mad enough to challenge someone with your Luck? That’s like barkin’ at a knot!” she raised an eyebrow.

“I don’ know.” Alkelios shrugged. “A desperate ghost maybe?”

“Whatever, let’s leave this rowdy bunch and go shop for Seryanna’s present.” Kataryna said shaking her head.

“Right away, milady!” he made a bow.

“Why you actin’ all weird?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but all of a sudden I had the feeling that I was some sort of knight.” he laughed.

“Silly lad, how can you be a knight when you have always been a gun slinging cowboy? But I got to admit, this was a rather fortunate encounter. I do believe I now like ya stealin’ my lips. Do it again sometimes.” she winked and then walked out of the bar laughing.

...

And this was the story from a Universe unlike this one, but all you had to do was take a peek into the others to see that there were many more like this one out there. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll get to hear another one. Or maybe, you’ll understand something about this ol’ fool called Alkelios Yatagai, the dragon, the human, the luckiest bastard to have ever lived! Hahahaha!