Zhao might have ordered the poison off-limits had he noticed its placement, or cared at the moment, but the humans before him had his attention and not in a good way. They had pissed him off. Normally he would try to spare them, reprimand them, demand their respect to his law once he had proven what he was to them. He didn't really care today. No one was getting away with attacking one of his own this night.

"Wrong move," he growled lowly as one of the hunters came at him sloppily. The dragon side-stepped smoothly and counter-attacked in one swift movement.

He didn't really notice the oni behind him, beside him, always right where he needed to be while Zhao's attention was focused elsewhere. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware that his flank was being protected, knew it was the oni keeping track of everything and taking care to keep unwanted opponents from him. He knew he was safe to do as he pleased.

So he continued to fight the ones in front of him. They were easy prey. They thought their little toys would help them win the battle but most of them only served to piss the dragon off further. They really didn't get it! They hadn't figured out who, or what he was!

They would by the time he was finished with them, or they would regret their actions when they reached the gates to hell.