The sun glinted off sharp canine teeth as Tōga's grin split his face. Perched on the rooftop, his fingers dug into the stone masonry in anticipation. It had been weeks since he and Tamás had last met, carousing over drinks and games in the taverns of Stellas. Their riotous time together now seemed a distant dream. But today their quest called them, and Tōga could hardly contain his excitement at seeing his friend again. Below, amidst the bustling crowd, he spied Tamás' familiar form. Tōga's grin widened, if that were possible, relishing their imminent reunion. After so long apart, he was eager to make up for lost time.

Tōga's exuberant cry of "Ayyyyyy, Tam-Kun!" reverberated off the surrounding buildings. Before the echo faded, he sprang from his perch, launching himself off the rooftop. His pink hair streamed behind him as he plunged downwards, gravity and wind embracing him in a fleeting freefall. The ground rushed up to meet him. With a resounding thud and a puff of dust, Tōga landed cat-like on his feet, toes flexing against the impact. He straightened with a flourish, grin still plastered across his face. His dramatic entrance announced, he turned eagerly to greet his friend. Though parted for weeks, it seemed barely a moment since their riotous adventures in Stellas. Tōga was ready to pick up right where they'd left off.

"Long time no see! You look well," Tōga exclaimed, auburn eyes alight as he took in his towering friend. When Tōga had accepted this quest from the Rune Knights days ago, he never imagined he'd be partnered with a guild master, let alone Tamás himself. Yet here they were, brought together by life's funny way of working things out. Tōga's smile lingered as he studied the man before him. It had been too long since their riotous adventures in Stellas, but Tamás looked every bit the stalwart guild master he was. Tōga was eager to see that staid exterior peel away to reveal the laughing friend he knew lay beneath. This quest would surely see their bond renewed.

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Tōga watched as Tamás spoke to him with stiff formality. The contrast struck Tōga, remembering their last lively meeting full of drunken revelry. That night in Stella, they had bonded over flowing drinks and raucous games, spirits soaring as freely as the laughter. Hakai had joined their merry brotherhood of impromptu camaraderie. Now, the easy warmth had cooled to politeness between comrades. The zealous bonhomie was gone, replaced by sober decorum. Still, Tōga respected Tamás' need for propriety in this moment, however it may differ from their previous encounter's informal familiarity. He smiled and nodded along, allowing his friend the solemn dignity he desired.

Tōga hesitated, pondering the question deeply before responding. "Ah, I suppose we never did demonstrate our abilities like Hakai did," he finally said with a laugh, fingers threading through his pink, spiky hair. Tōga took a moment to gather his thoughts, considering how best to articulate the essence of his mysterious powers. He sought the right words to convey their nuances to satisfy the inquiry. Tōga knew observations alone could not encapsulate the full, fantastical nature of his talents. They required firsthand experience to be truly understood. He smiled wryly, realizing descriptions would only offer a vague imprint, a mere approximation of his enigmatic gifts. Still, he endeavored to portray their spirit as best he could.

"I possess dragon slayer magic-" Tōga blurted out impulsively before catching himself. "Fire, that is" he appended in a rush, a chagrined smile creeping across his face. In his enthusiasm, the description had toppled out backwards. Normally when asked about his abilities, he would lead with the elemental aspect before naming the magic type proper. But in the heat of the moment, his zeal had outpaced his thoughts. Though he tried to maintain an air of mysticism around his talents, Tōga could not always contain his excitement to share them. His pride in the rare gift simmered close to the surface, ready to bubble over at any opportunity. While he sought to project an aura of wisdom and restraint, the childlike wonder at his extraordinary powers shone through in bursts of delight.

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“The Thunder Dragon Slayer!?” Tōga's eyes shot open wide at the mention of another Dragon Slayer. Thrilled by this revelation, he couldn't contain the grin spreading across his face. The past few weeks had been filled with wondrous discoveries. For nearly his entire life, Tōga had thought he was the only dragon slayer in existence. Yet now, he had met another and heard tales of several more scattered across Earthland. With each new encounter, Tōga realized how little he truly understood of the vast world around him. But rather than dismay, this ignorance excited him, fueling his desire to keep exploring and uncovering the hidden mysteries still waiting to be found. Tōga thrilled at the thought that his journey was only just beginning.

Tamás guided Tōga to the outskirts of Astera, detailing the precautions taken to ensure their mission went smoothly. Tōga listened intently, nodding along to each new bit of information. But when Tamás inquired if Tōga could consume fire to sustain himself, the Dragon Slayer perked up. "Yeah, I can," he confirmed with a grin. Fire was the lifeblood that flowed through a Fire Dragon Slayer's veins. Tōga thrilled at the thought of letting loose and unleashing his magic. With fiery destruction at his fingertips, no enemy could stand in his way. Tōga's smile never faded as they pressed onward, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead. The time for action was nearing, and Tōga could feel his magic simmering just below the surface, waiting eagerly to be unleashed.

“You didn’t mention what kind of magic you use,”

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“Ooohh, that’s so cool! I want tough skin!”

Tōga's eyes lit up with awe as he watched Tamás demonstrate his remarkable skin magic. "Incredible!" he exclaimed, showing reverence for Tamás' unique talent. In all his years as a Rune Knight, Tōga had never encountered anyone who could transform their flesh into living stone or steel, hardening their body into an impenetrable shield while still wielding the strength to crush rock with their bare hands. The possibilities of such magic sent Tōga's mind racing, igniting his warrior's spirit with excitement at the prospect of testing his own mettle against Tamás' unyielding power someday. But for now, he simply gazed upward with a smile, continuing to heap praise upon Tamás for his singular gift as a mage. Tōga knew true magic when he saw it, and Tamás' was like nothing he had ever witnessed before.

The narrow alleyway reeked of death as Tōga and Tamás made their way between the decrepit buildings. Blood and gore painted the walls in lurid splashes, while filth and residue crusted the ground underfoot. Tōga grimaced against the overpowering stench, pinching his nose closed to spare his heightened senses. "What the hell happened here?" he muttered, surveying the gruesome scene. Before Tamás could reply, an otherworldly presence stirred in the shadows. Tōga tensed, ready to strike, but stayed his hand as his companion began conversing with the demonic entity. Though unsettled by its sinister presence, Tōga knew this was not their quarry today. He held back, listening intently as Tamás parleyed with the creature about their next move. Duty required focus, not distraction. Whatever vile acts had soaked these alleys in blood, Tōga and Tamás hunted far more dangerous prey. The true threat still lurked somewhere ahead amidst the carnage.

“Hmmm,” Tōga surveyed the blood-splattered scene pensively, taking in every gruesome detail. His keen eyes soon fell upon a gaping hole torn into the earth, as if the ground had been ripped open violently from above. "Aha," he murmured, thoughts clicking into place as he recalled the daemon's words. Their elusive target had supposedly burrowed beneath the surface. This ravaged pit must surely mark where the creature had plunged into the ground to make its subterranean escape.

Tōga's eyes glinted as an idea struck him. "I know how to flush our prey out of hiding," he declared, striding towards the yawning pit. Taking a deep breath, he leaned over the hole's ragged mouth. His cheeks billowed outwards, and with a roar, Tōga unleashed a torrent of flames into the tunnel below. The blistering inferno surged and swirled, raging through the burrow's twists and turns. Wherever the creature cowered, it would find no refuge from the intense heat. Tōga kept the fires burning white-hot, scouring every inch of the tunnel system. The licking flames hungrily sought out the hidden beast, eager to char its flesh and boil its blood. He would give it no choice - either face incineration where it lay, or emerge and confront the hunters that harried it.

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As the fire persisted in devouring the vast tunnels below, forged by Barrang, Tōga felt the heat seep into the soil, warming his feet from underneath. A smile stretched across his face. Soon came the rumbles, as the earth beneath him and Tamáas violently shook. It appeared the Rune Knight's dragon slayer magic was taking effect, the consuming fires driving the burrowing creature out from its tunnels. Its impending emergence was inevitable; the flames made further digging an unbearable deterrent.

Tōga steadied himself, anticipating what would come next. With a thunderous crash, rocks sprayed into the air as the earth ruptured before them. A colossal creature erupted from the fresh scar in the ground. Towering and broad in stature, the behemoth's fiery red eyes glared down at them, blood staining its thick, muscular arms ending in talon-like claws. The infamous Barrang had emerged, its body still smoking from Tōga's blistering flames unleashed within the tunnels earlier. Tōga clenched his fists, ready to face the monstrous foe his flames had flushed out from below. This battle was just beginning.

Not a moment to spare, another burning magic seal materialized before Tōga. He drew a deep breath and unleashed a blistering torrent of flames from his maw, engulfing the monstrous Barrang in his Fire Dragon's Roar once again.

Tamás could deliver the final blow, for all Tōga intended to do was distract it and keep it at bay.

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