Chapter 18: The Days Before
Seven days remained.
The village had transformed in the time since Rex’s arrival. Where once there had been rotting palisades and leaking huts, now stood reinforced walls, a functioning irrigation system, and a forge that glowed day and night. Copper tools gleamed in the hands of workers. Crystal-tipped spears lined the watchtower.
But Rex knew it wasn’t enough.
He stood on the watchtower platform, his dragon eyes scanning the southern horizon. The Mouths would come from that direction. The river crossing was the obvious approach, and he had already reinforced it with barricades and traps.
[DRAGON EYES LV.1: ACTIVE]
[SCANNING...]
[NO HOSTILES DETECTED]
[DRAGON AFFINITY: 46]
He dismissed the panel with a thought. The days were blurring together now—each one filled with work, planning, and the quiet moments with Rhea that kept him sane.
Rhea climbed up to join him. Her arm was fully healed now, the poultices having done their work. She moved with the easy confidence of a warrior.
"Still watching?" she asked.
"yeah"
She stood beside him, her hand finding his. "The Lizardkin scouts report movement to the south. Small groups. Probably advance scouts."
"The Mouths?"
"Possibly. Or just raiders from nearby tribe" She squeezed his hand. "Either way, we’re ready."
Rex nodded. The village had forty-two trained fighters now, including the Lizardkin warriors. The goblins had promised to send word if they saw anything approaching. The Ash Giants remained neutral, but Rex had sent a delegation with copper tools as gifts. No response yet.
"We need more time," he said.
"We never have enough."
He looked at her. "I know. But we’re going to win this."
She smiled... that rare, genuine smile that made his heart ache. "I know."
They descended from the tower together. The village was alive with activity. Tor and Fen were training a group of young men in spear combat. Marta was organizing food supplies. Mira was practicing with her crystal spear, her movements growing more confident each day.
Nara appeared beside him. "The spirits are restless," she said. "They sense something coming."
"I know."
"I’ve been preparing. Rituals. Offerings. If the Mouths bring dark magic, I’ll be ready."
Rex placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you, Nara."
She nodded, her expression unreadable. "You’re carrying a heavy burden, Rex. Don’t forget to let others help."
He watched her walk away, her words lingering.
Don’t forget to let others help.
That evening, Rex sat alone at the forge. The copper ingots glowed in the firelight. He was working on a new project—a set of crystal-tipped arrows for Mira.
Rhea found him there. "You’re working late again."
"I can’t sleep."
She sat beside him. "What’s on your mind?"
"The fight. The future. What happens if we lose."
She was quiet for a moment. "We won’t lose."
"You don’t know that."
"Yes, I do." She took his hand. "Because I... know you. here? You’re winning. You’re building something. You’re making a difference."
He looked at her. "You really believe that?"
"I really do." She kissed him. "Now stop working and come to bed."
He followed her to the hut. The warmth of her body beside him chased away the cold.
---
Three days remained.
The scouts had confirmed it: the Mouths were moving. A group of twelve, armed with bone weapons and dark armor. They were traveling fast, stopping only to rest.
Rex assembled his inner circle. "They’ll be here in three days. We need to be ready."
"What’s the plan?" Rhea asked.
"We let them come. We hit them with arrows from the tower, then we funnel them into the barricades. Once they’re trapped, we close in and finish them."
Tor nodded. "Simple. Effective."
"The Lizardkin will flank from the east," Rex continued. "The goblins will harass from the west. We hit them from all sides."
Nara spoke: "The dark magic—I’ll counter it as best I can. But I’ll need help."
"I’ll be with you," Rex said. "The dragon fire can burn through their protections."
Rhea looked at him. "And if they break through?"
"Then we fall back to the village center. Fight house to house if we have to."
She nodded. "We won’t let them take the village."
"No. We won’t."
---
Two days remained.
Rex spent the day reinforcing the barricades. His mana was full, his dragon skills ready.
[LEVEL 10: 200/1000 XP]
[MANA: 100/100]
[NEW BLUEPRINT: CRYSTAL ARROWS (TIER 2.5)]
[COST: 3 MANA PER ARROW]
[REQUIRES: 1 CRYSTAL SHARD, 1 WOOD, 1 FEATHER]
He crafted fifty arrows, each one tipped with sharp crystal. Mira would have her chance to shine.
Rhea trained with the fighters. The Lizardkin warriors drilled their formations. The goblins sent word that they would arrive by nightfall.
Everything was coming together.
But Rex couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
That night, he sat with Rhea by the river. The water was calm, reflecting the stars.
"Tomorrow is our last full day," he said.
"I know."
"I’m scared, Rhea."
She looked at him. "I know. So am I."
"But you’re still here."
"Where else would I be?"
He took her hand. "I don’t want to lose you."
"You won’t." She squeezed his fingers. "We’re going to win this. And then we’re going to build something even bigger."
"What’s that?"
"A world where we don’t have to be scared."
He smiled. "That’s a big dream."
"Big dreams are the only ones worth having."
She leaned against him, her body warm and solid against his side. The river flowed softly beside them, the night air cool on their skin. Rex turned to her, cupping her face, and their kiss deepened quickly—hungry, urgent, born of the fear and need that had been building for days.
Rhea pulled him down into the soft grass, her hands already tugging at his loin clothes. "We don’t have long," she whispered against his mouth, but her touch said otherwise—fierce and demanding. He stripped her tunic off in one smooth motion, exposing her breasts to the moonlight. She gasped as his hands roamed over her, thumbs brushing her nipples until they hardened.
Rex pushed her onto her back, settling between her thighs. She was already wet when he reached down, fingers sliding through her pussy. "Fuck, Rhea..." he groaned. She arched into him, wrapping her legs around his waist and guiding his dick inside her in one swift thrust.
Their rhythm was fast and raw, skin slapping against skin, her nails digging into his back as he drove into her. Rhea moaned into his shoulder, biting down to muffle the sound as pleasure built hard and quick. He gripped her hips, angling deeper, the dragon heat in his blood making every stroke feel electric.
It didn’t take long. Her pussy walls clenched around him, thighs trembling as she came with a sharp cry. Rex followed seconds later, burying himself deep and jizzing inside her with a low growl, hips stuttering through the release.
They stayed locked together for a moment, breathing hard, foreheads pressed together. A soft, breathless laugh escaped her.
"That... was needed."
He kissed her slowly, tenderly this time. "Yeah. It was."
They stayed there until the stars faded and the sun began to rise.
The day of the Mouths’ arrival had come.
