A Chronometric Defect

I watch the criminals go about their business on my mental map. They split off into groups, then form into circles, then they move around a bit, before finally regrouping somehow.

I've figured out this is their strategy for eliminating certain individuals. It's all very orderly.

It's almost like they know exactly where everyone important is— in the whole city. Like they too have a mental map.

I wonder if they do?

It's dark, now, which means the upper echelons of the leadership probably haven't realized what's going on. There's a magic jamming spell spread in the air, probably to prevent magic warning shots or messages. None of this bothers me at all, so I haven't busted it down.

I'm waiting for the city personnel outside to leave before I do anything big. If I cast a mass anti-magic spell, they might get upset and charge in for all I know. Plus, I'm wondering if I should help the revolt win, help the guard captain, or forget about it entirely.

I've determined the guard captain is one of the top 50, and also the one who visited me. She went to several places housing large numbers of guards, met with a small group of guards, then met with someone whom I presume is... Some kind of mercenary leader, privately. Very 'guard-captain-ish' if I had to say. Pathfinder confirmed her role based on my guess.

What's interesting is, 'Top Crim' was hanging around her several times. He was also in that small group of guards, except he was standing right next to her. I'm not sure how they're related. The guard captain isn't identified as a criminal, so she might not know Top Crim is one. Unfortunately, since his 'job' is criminal, he doesn't show up under any other job.

I'd wondered if Pathfinder was using the status panel to determine a person's job. Turns out, I also don't show up as a Dragon Acolyte. I then tried asking for 'mages,' 'dragon mages,' and even 'dragon,' but it still doesn't show me. It does show that dragon south of the city, but... Not me.

I don't know what's going on.

I shrug.

What I do know is that Top Crim seems to have killed the guard captain's other guards and then left without attacking her. This insurrection is quite the organized affair, which has already— ehm. Made the mercenary leader's post forcibly vacant.

That one's dead. Very dead.

Top Crim's now outside at a guard barracks, or perhaps some kind of garrison? They aren't attacking him, based on their movements. They seem to be... Forming rows in front of him. Is he her second in command? A vice-captain?

How interesting!

This 'vice-captain' must be a mole.

I turn my focus back to the number one most important person, who I've determined is the mayor. He's surrounded by dozens of criminals, while the number of guards around him dwindle. The city's placed too many guards around me; even though I'm not doing anything.

Those criminals don't appear to be as strong as his guards. At least if we go by number dead. But, it doesn't matter. Spreading ones' resources thin is always asking for trouble. He won't be able to hang on.

Hmm, I wonder if the—

Suddenly, there's a lot of noise outside.

*krrtch*

*chrk*

*vrrt*

*klank*

*klak*

I focus back on the military and guards. They're moving around and forming up into rows. It seems news has gotten out, somehow, and the counterattack has begun. I note the magic jamming spell is still active.

*kritch*

*thak*

*thak*

*tak*

*tak*

{*tak*}

{*tak*}

I look back at my map.

Top Crim is also moving out. Did HE sound the alarm? Why? I've gotta keep an eye on what he's doing. He seems to have a pivotal role in all this.

I look out the window.

This is my chance, too. I'm going to get the hell out of here while they're distracted. But.

I look back at the guard captain on my map. There's a good forty plus criminals encircling her, and they're tightening the net. She seems to have taken down five or six all on her own. With their level of coordination, though, it won't be enough to take down forty.

Alright. I'll go to save her. It's the least I can do since she's helped me out of such an idiotic situation. Plus, she was nice enough to grovel before me and call me 'lord.' I feel she might... No, she should be my first subordinate.

I look at the outside map again. No city personnel at all, and nary a civilian.

Sheesh, they move quickly!

I talk aloud to myself.

"Alright. Here goes my first combat encounter wherever I am, and... As whatever I am."

I stand up, my head poking through the roof.

*krsh-kr*

I pull the house's wood frame apart like it's made of hay, then step out onto the stone street.

*KRRSH*

*KRsh-TSH*

*taka-tok*

*thmp*

My eyes glow VERY brightly. I see two red traffic lights reflected when I look at the mildly wet grass. I hadn't noticed this while sitting inside the house. In hindsight, the whole room was lit with an orange-red glow after dark. I thought that was my eyes— er, I guess technically it was?

Odd, but I don't see a problem. Hraw! Vision puns.

I need a path to, and the location of, the guard captain and her criminal pursuers.

The mental map pops up again. This is a much better view of her overall situation. But is this the quickest route there? It's weaving and confusing. Can't I just go straight there? I look up at the alley I'll have to run through.

...

As a dragon, I should've learned a spell to fly.

As if abiding by my desire to fly, two powerful 'arms' silently grow out from my back at an unbelievable speed; right side first, then left. They quickly form a hard scythe-shaped frame. Then, a thick neon orange membrane covers said frame. The frame on each wing grows two thinner parts into the membrane, which I know will help me move the membranes.

These— these are WINGS! And they're freaking HUGE! Damn, no wonder people are scared of dragons. Not withstanding my own particularly intimidating features, these alone are scary.

I look at the strange shape of each wing. The first membrane is about as tall as my torso, which is where it connects with my body. That membrane panel travels out to my first thin frame segment, which curves upward toward my shoulders. I somehow know this helps keep the wing taut.

The second panel is much longer, and it widens toward the ground, as the second thin frame segment is over double the length and height of the first. I notice that despite the thick and hard appearance of these frame segments, I can flex them easily. It's more like each wing frame is like a stiff muscle rather than a bone as I would've expected.

Though, the astonishing part is my third wing segment. This segment is again over double the length and height of the second segment. As a result, the ends of my wings are taller than my full body height. Unless I hold them above my body, these oversized ends brush against the ground.

Plus, the third segment's frame is even thicker than the rest— and it's shaped like a scythe. The blade extends out about 20% further than the orange wing membrane and has a ridge covering part of the bottom side of said wing membrane. The inner side is indeed sharp like a scythe, but the entire outer side is as well. I could use this double-edged blade to impale or cut something from various angles.

Waving around so much mass might seem difficult, but my body is evidently built to compensate for this... And then some.

I hold them high in the air and touch the two wing frames together. They stretch almost perfectly straight until the scythe portion, which makes them fit alongside each other neatly. Holding them straight up like this stretches the membrane near my torso oddly, but I don't feel anything wrong.

I look up.

It looks like I'm holding a giant orange sail behind myself.

I then flex them around a bit, trying to get a sense of how they work.

...

...

Unbelievably, the three frame segments can stretch out completely straight, turning the scythe blade on the third segment into a halberd. These wing membranes are apparently unreasonably stretchy, despite how taut they seem when they're held normally.

Weird.

I try to fiddle with them mentally. I realize the membranes are also like a thin layer of muscle. They can hold tension or release it entirely, which is how they stretch so well. This is done automatically like breathing, but I can override my body's normal function if I want.

I slowly realize I don't need to test my dexterity. I can already move every part of my wings like my clawed hands and feet. They feel no different from any other part of my body. In fact, they're more dexterous than any other part of my draconic form, since every single component of each wing seems to have the ability to move like a muscle.

Huh?

Is it normal to be so comfortable with newly grown body parts? Especially such unusual ones...

I quickly bring my huge wings in front of myself, intending on more closely examining my incredible flight surfaces. I belatedly realize I forgot to account for body mass— but my thick tail flits out automatically counter my dramatic movement.

I stand tall and majestically as if nothing happened. I feel my tail twitching a bit as it easily maintains my body's balance against the buffeting winds I just created.

This explains why I have such a long, thick, muscular, heavily armored, and overly spike-adorned tail. I'd thought it was a bit oversized for a bipedal dragon, but no.

Its high density is perfect for a counterweight.

Wow!

It's like my draconic body works together flawlessly. Dragons are indeed the most perfect beings in existence.

I simply MUST take a moment to admire myself!

...

I look over my grand wings while feeling immense pride.

...

These wings are so ridiculously overkill.

...

Wah. I'm truly amazing.

...

...

...

Alright, enough self-adulation.

I leap into the air while pulling my wings close to my back, so they don't create drag.

My strength carries me much higher than I would've expected my 300 some-odd strength stat to carry me.

If I assume 5 is an average human, 300 is 60 times that, but... My huge and heavily armored dragon body no doubt weighs many tonnes. It's not as drastic a difference as it seems.

I grin toothily at the thought of my body being 'many tonnes' of thick dragon muscle and bone, impenetrably hard scales, and sharp bladed spikes.

This is gonna be fun.

At around 50 or 60 meters in the air, I pull my wings wide open.

*shuuuuu*

They easily catch the air and hold me aloft. Weirdly, the only sound seems to come from the air below rushing upward and blasting against my now-stationary body. My wings, it seems, are eerily silent.

Actually, there must be some sort of magic involved— I also don't seem to be falling. Or... Moving. At all. And I'm not flapping. How weird.

I glance at my amazing and enviable dragon wings, if only to admire them yet again. Ahh, I look so imposing.

...

I'll need to figure out how stats and innate skills like wings work later. As for now?

I look at my map.

The guard captain's attackers are down another ten or so, to around thirty. Oops— I've admired myself for too long.

She's done surprisingly well, but they've almost got her. She's not in a safe position; not even a little. Those large objects near her must be filled with something dangerous. Otherwise, I assume she'd hide behind them.

I tilt myself forward and take off like a jet liner.

I see my target location below me within a few seconds of flight. Damn! This speed feels amazing!

Hraw— what part of my body isn't overkill? How desirable my features must be to all other species, perhaps even to other dragons. Hm, hm!

Alright, time for this overkill dragon— me, to make a properly showy entrance.

But how...?

I examine the city so far down below. I see my clawed feet dangling underneath. It's weird how this doesn't cause my mind to experience vertigo.

A thought strikes me.

Aha! Vertigo! Excellent idea.

I try to turn my flight magic off without retracting my wings. It works perfectly— my grand wings no longer provide nearly as much lift.

Gravity quickly takes hold on my very large, VERY heavy, draconic body.

Hell yes.