Chapter 28

  Rainbow Dragon Valley – The Trial of Colors & Spectacular Chaos

  After leaving the graveyard still echoing with traumatized pontianak shrieks —

  and a certain worn pink underwear swaying gently from a branch like a surrendered white flag —

  Fran’s group finally arrived somewhere… unusual.

  Rainbow Dragon Valley.

  The sky flickered with colors like someone had taken a sunset,

  poured melted crayons over it,

  then hit “blend.”

  Even the clouds sparkled like radioactive cotton candy.

  Shinin squinted at the glowing heavens.

  “I feel like an ADHD kid who wandered into the dream

  of an autistic child

  who overdosed on sugar.”

  Aisha nodded thoughtfully.

  “Or inside the brain of a hyperactive unicorn.”

  Arrival of the Rainbow Dragon

  Without warning—

  A colossal rainbow-scaled dragon descended from the clouds.

  Its body shimmered like living prism-glass.

  Its wings refracted light into dancing spectrums.

  It landed with majestic grace.

  Then spoke in a voice both gentle… and thunderous:

  “Only those who can arrange the colors of their heart

  may continue.”

  Fran blinked.

  “…So.

  Guess the rainbow?”

  “Not an ordinary rainbow.”

  The dragon’s eyes glowed.

  “An emotional rainbow.”

  Suddenly rings of color burst outward:

  Red. Blue. Green. Yellow. Purple.

  Each traveler was pulled into a swirling rainbow tunnel of illusion.

  Tourist Emotional Catastrophes

  1?? The Red Zone

  One tourist emerged furious.

  He began arguing with a rock.

  “You think you’re better than me?!”

  He attempted to punch a tree.

  “That trunk looked at me sarcastically!”

  2?? The Blue Zone

  Another tourist collapsed sobbing.

  “My love… my heart…”

  Fran leaned toward Aisha.

  “…Did someone die?”

  Aisha scanned.

  “…No.

  Anime character breakup.”

  3?? The Neon Pink Incident

  And then—

  Shinin stumbled out of a neon pink vortex.

  Eyes sparkling.

  Soul awakened.

  He grabbed a stick and began sketching Fran’s portrait in the dirt.

  While reciting poetry.

  “Fran…

  you are like whiskers upon a noble feline…”

  Fran stared.

  “…Are you sick?”

  Shinin continued passionately.

  “…Your aura — a majestic blend

  of thunder… and questionable hygiene…”

  Fran:

  “I regret protecting you.”

  Near-Disaster: The Disco Insult

  Everything was fine.

  Until Ritz spoke.

  Casually.

  Fatally.

  “…Are you a dragon

  or a floating disco lamp?”

  The rainbow dragon froze.

  Its colors flickered.

  Then—

  Turned black.

  The valley darkened instantly.

  Winds spiraled.

  Multicolored lightning crackled violently.

  Tourists screamed.

  Fran reached for weapons.

  And then—

  Aisha stepped forward calmly.

  Holding something.

  Rainbow cotton candy.

  Purchased earlier.

  From the floating market.

  She offered it.

  Silently.

  The dragon blinked.

  Sniffed.

  Accepted.

  CRUNCH.

  Light exploded again.

  The dragon chewed peacefully.

  Then released a glowing rainbow burp

  shaped like a heart.

  Fran whispered:

  “…Did we just bribe a legendary dragon with snacks?”

  Zoarfang nodded.

  “Effective diplomacy.”

  Reward: Passage Through the Crystal

  Spectrum Tunnel

  The dragon presented a glowing sigil.

  “You may pass.”

  Zoarfang narrowed his eyes.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “…Serious question.”

  “…Are you truly a Rainbow Dragon

  or an underpaid theme park guardian?”

  The dragon sighed deeply.

  “Part-time guardian.”

  Pause.

  “Former Sky Kingdom Dragon Commander.”

  Another pause.

  “…Economy collapsed.”

  It lowered a basket.

  “Five dollars per traveler.”

  Fran:

  “…Of course.”

  Closing Scene

  They entered the radiant Crystal Spectrum Tunnel.

  Behind them—

  Shinin and Ritz spontaneously performed a duet poem

  about a dragon so bright

  no one could see its loneliness.

  Everyone prayed they’d reach the next destination quickly.

  Before the poetry shifted topics…

  To magical toilets.

  Chapter 29

  Vampire Territory – The Queen of Two Voices & Livestock Laws

  After exiting the crystal tunnel glowing like an underground karaoke lounge,

  the group stepped into eternal night.

  They had entered—

  Vampire Territory.

  The sky remained dark.

  Stars shimmered faint crimson.

  Cold winds carried the metallic sweetness of blood.

  Towering gothic castles loomed ahead,

  their stained-glass windows glowing ominously.

  Chains clinked.

  Metal doors groaned.

  Aisha whispered:

  “…This feels like Dracula’s castle

  merged with a mafia headquarters.”

  Fran, Zoarfang, and Ritz approached the gates.

  Where their mother awaited.

  Lysa.

  Ruler of the territory.

  Elegant.

  Long brown hair.

  Violet eyes.

  Dressed in regal Gothic nobility.

  But something was…

  Off.

  When the Queen Argues With Herself

  Lysa stepped forward gracefully.

  “Welcome to—”

  Then suddenly—

  From the same mouth,

  a second voice erupted.

  Sharper.

  Deadlier.

  Thoroughly unimpressed.

  “Oh please, stop with the opera intro, Drama Queen.

  Let ME talk.”

  Tourists froze.

  Fran pinched the bridge of his nose.

  Zoarfang blinked slowly.

  “…Mother?”

  Lysa forced a strained smile.

  “My apologies.”

  Beat.

  “Minor internal disturbance.”

  Fran muttered:

  “…Ching Lee again?”

  The Disturbing Truth

  Ritz stared.

  Shinin leaned casually against a pillar.

  “…Okay, I NEED context.”

  The explanation was simple.

  And absolutely insane.

  Due to an ancient Elder Vampire ritual,

  Lysa and Ching Lee had been forced into a body merge.

  Intended outcome:

  Ching Lee reborn as a bound vampire guardian.

  Actual outcome:

  Ching Lee permanently residing within Lysa.

  Specifically—

  Her ulna bone.

  Which, incidentally…

  Was also her weapon.

  Elbow Mayhem.

  Ching Lee’s voice echoed again:

  “Look at your hair.

  You resemble a strawberry twist biscuit

  dipped in cough syrup.”

  Lysa snapped internally:

  “I am a Vampire Queen!”

  “Exactly,” Ching Lee replied.

  “Not a motivational speaker at an MLM seminar.”

  Fran coughed to suppress laughter.

  Tourist Briefing (Attempted Professionalism)

  Lysa straightened.

  Voice icy.

  Regal.

  Commanding.

  “Visitors.

  You stand within Vampire Territory.

  Follow all rules, schedules, and boundary markers.”

  Ching Lee instantly interrupted:

  “…Or you become midnight snacks.”

  Pause.

  “Or cat food.”

  Lysa twitched.

  “Must you?”

  “I improve clarity.”

  Tourists nodded aggressively.

  The Livestock Law Explanation

  Fran stepped forward diplomatically.

  “Most ‘livestock’ here are not civilians.”

  “They are criminals from foreign lands.”

  “Sentenced to containment.”

  Beat.

  “…And rehabilitation.”

  Aisha tilted her head.

  “So…”

  “…Training camp?”

  Zoarfang answered flatly:

  “Training camp.”

  Beat.

  “Also technically a farm.”

  Fran continued:

  “Night patrol — vampires and nocturnal beasts.”

  “Day patrol — werewolves and diurnal guardians.”

  “Escape attempts…”

  He paused.

  “…End poorly.”

  Tourists decided breathing quietly was safest.

  Things Somehow Get Worse

  As registration began—

  Lysa suddenly turned her head sideways.

  Annoyed.

  “Why am I holding the logbook today?!”

  Ching Lee growled back:

  “Because if we followed schedules,

  I’d have moved out of your skeleton LAST WEEK.”

  Silence.

  Heavy.

  Painful.

  Unavoidable.

  Shinin leaned toward Aisha.

  Whispered:

  “I thought I was weird for becoming a skunk

  and committing olfactory genocide…”

  “…But your mother?”

  “…Legendary.”

  Ching Lee replied instantly:

  “I HEARD THAT.”

  Shinin:

  “…Of course you did.”

  End Scene

  The tourists stood in line.

  Trying desperately to normalize:

  ? Eternal night

  ? Blood-scented winds

  ? Gothic castles

  ? A Vampire Queen

  ? With a sarcastic bone-voice roommate

  And Middle Wildland remained…

  Perfectly unstable.