(I have a Patreon if you want to read the next 10 chapters of this fanfiction then go to patreon.com/7_Night )
When they finally reached the fallen humanoid dragon, Dante could tell immediately—it was still alive. Barely. Its chest rose and fell slowly, steam rising from its cracked scales. Sparks of static flickered faintly across its battered body. It was recovering.
Dante stepped closer, cautiously, and the creature turned its head toward him.
Their eyes met.
And Dante froze.
It wasn't the dragon-like features that startled him. It wasn't the sharp fangs or the glowing embers flickering from its wounds. It was the eyes—completely hollow, like a void staring back at him. Not physically empty, but emotionally gone.
No fear. No hatred.
No panic over his wounds.
Not even a flicker of curiosity that two people who could very well kill him were standing inches away.
It was like looking into the eyes of someone who'd already accepted death—and didn't even care.
Dante flinched without meaning to.
He wanted to say something. Anything. But nothing came out. His throat tightened, his mind raced.
So he turned to Laura, hoping she'd say something first.
But she was just standing there too, silent, her expression unreadable. She was staring directly into the creature's eyes, just like he had. Her gaze didn't waver, but her silence said enough.
I have no idea what she's thinking, Dante thought. I guess I'll have to do this myself.
He exhaled slowly, took a step forward, and asked, "So… who are you? And why did you attack the host?"
The humanoid dragon didn't hesitate.
"I will never tell you my name. Or my mission. Kill me now, because you won't get a word out of me."
The words hit Dante again—not because of what was said, but how they were said.
Flat. Mechanical. Like he wasn't speaking his own thoughts, but reading off a script. There was no emotion in his voice, no sense of fear, loyalty, anger, or even pride. It was hollow. Dead.
Dante had read descriptions like that in novels—characters who sounded like puppets, or empty shells. But hearing it in real life?
It chilled him.
Even Magik, as cold and detached as she could be, still had emotion in her tone. This… this was something else.
"Your mission, huh," Dante muttered. "Let me guess… you were supposed to capture the host and deliver him to whoever you serve."
"I will never betray my master," the humanoid dragon said again, same tone, like an echo.
And that's when it all clicked.
Dante's eyes narrowed slightly. This guy all his words started to make sense don't his mind
It explained everything.
He turned to Laura, his voice quiet. "X-23… I think it's time we leave."
She didn't question him. She simply nodded, falling in step behind him as they walked away without looking back.
They didn't notice the slight change behind them.
The humanoid dragon, who had shown no emotion, no resistance, no will—blinked. And for the first time, something flickered in his eyes.
Confusion.
Just a faint trace.
He slowly sat up, watched them leave… and then silently disappeared into the trees.
Why did you let him go?"
The voice came quietly from beside Dante, and he turned his head, surprised.
It was Laura.
What caught him off guard wasn't just the question—it was her tone. For the first time since they met, she wasn't just answering his questions bluntly or offering orders. She had chosen to speak to him first.
Her voice was soft. Curious. Genuinely sincere.
"Aaah… well," Dante scratched the back of his head, his eyes still fixed on the path ahead. "You probably saw it too. You're way more experienced than me, so I'm not even sure why you're asking… but since you did…"
He paused and took a breath.
"His voice. His eyes. They didn't belong to someone alive. They were… hollow. Like he wasn't really here—like the person he used to be was already gone. It creeped me out, honestly. But I didn't understand it, not until he spoke."
Dante looked down at his hand. "That word—master. The way he said it… it wasn't loyalty. It wasn't fear. He said it like a fact. Like he didn't have a choice. Like he's not even a servant, just… a tool. Something built and used."
He clenched his hand. "I wanted to help him, I really did. But I couldn't. We don't know who this 'master' is. We don't know what powers they have, or how far their influence reaches. And I don't think the dragon guy would've talked—no matter what we did."
His voice quieted. "So as much as I wanted to free him… I couldn't. The only thing I could do was let him go. At least without hurting him more than he already has been."
Laura looked at him.
She didn't respond right away, just kept walking beside him. Then, gently—almost too subtly—a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
Dante, of course, didn't see it.
He was too lost in his thoughts, staring straight ahead, trying to process everything they'd just been through.
"So," he eventually said, breaking the silence again, "I guess you're staying at the school for a while? At least until they locate the last host?"
"Yes," she replied. "I still have some things I need to do. But… hopefully they'll be able to find the last host soon."
She glanced at him again. "Also… you can stop calling me X-23."
Dante turned to her, confused. "Huh?"
"You can call me by my name. Laura."
He blinked.
That definitely wasn't something he expected.
Why now? Could it be because they'd fought together?
No, that couldn't be it. He fought alongside Magik too, and she still treated him like an enemy. She didn't even want him to exist, let alone use her name.
Whatever, he thought, brushing it off. No point overthinking it.
Without saying anything else, he followed Laura into the aircraft. The two of them boarded in silence, and moments later, they were in the air—heading back toward the Jean Grey School.
Back to home.
(I created a power status chapter that you will find in volume 0 but I'm too lazy to create two separate ones for the ones who don't have my Patreon so it will include his abilities that he currently have in chapter 22 so if you're not part of Patreon, don't read it)