Is this it? Dreyagon pondered. The prophecy has finally set in motion, after so many years. But he is still unready.

“So, uh…” Xabe raised his voice as the noise of the tornado grew louder. “The weird old lady told me you can help?”

Those words made Dreyagon puzzled. “Weird old lady?”

They both darted at the eyes of Devastrigon as it let out a roar. “Flash Guardians will be here soon,” continued Xabe. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Run,” said Dreyagon.

“What?”

Dreyagon repeated, “Run!” Xabe paused for a second as the Dragonslayer dashed into the remaining trees.

“Huh- wha- wait a minute!” Xabe raised his voice louder. Despite his speed, he couldn’t catch up with Dreyagon for he was caught off guard. They were going farther away from the huge tornado to evade getting into Devastrigon’s view so the two ended up sinking themselves into a trench.

The ground started from a rumble to a quake. As the three-headed dragon raised its colossal wings, its single flap blew the surrounding tornado away. The force was so great, it even reached Jorken the bronze griffin, and the other flying Flash Guardians they had to dive through the trees to avoid the strong wind.

At the trench, Dreyagon caught a glimpse of a pileated woodpecker as it peeked its head from Xabe’s jacket. It looked very familiar. But then Dragonslayer began to nod slowly from the realization. “I see, so she’s the one who sent you here. Not just any very weird old lady.”

Judging from the tone of his voice, the slayer didn’t sound quite glad. “Okay, Mr. Dragonslayer, sir, look,” Xabe explained. “My senses couldn’t help themselves. I heard the rumbling back home. And this little critter brought me to her. She said by meeting you would also let me see my dad, Wayde Berrygrewd.”

The Dragonslayer didn’t mind about the earth’s another jolt, for his curiosity had got bigger regarding this boy. He started pointing over the horizon. “You sensed the dead state of Devastrigon from the other side of Mt. Pike… to here?”

“Well, I’m not that kind of person to brag anyway. I also…” Xabe was interrupted by the extreme volume of the dragon’s roar. He waited till it had faded. “That was rude,” he muttered before clearing his throat. “I also, somehow, sensed… you, if you have felt the same with me.”

Dreyagon must have admitted that Xabe’s appearance took him by surprise. Realizing the Dragonslayer’s pause, Xabe reacted, “I’m going to take that as a no.”

An earthquake followed by an echoing roar had let them realize that the biggest trouble was still over that trench. “Are we done running?” the boy continued asking, “Because, I’m pretty sure that’s not your entire plan. What? You’re going to slay it again and reveal some shocking revelation to me, right?”

“I cannot slay it,” Dreyagon finally spoke.

Xabe’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean? Six years ago, I saw you-.” He couldn’t even believe this conversation was going on while there was a rising Devastrigon, which, of course, began to ascend in each strong flap of its ginormous wings. The young and old peeked above to see the return of the three-headed terror.

Dreyagon continued, “At the beginning, I thought my purpose was straightforward, but destiny works in mysterious ways. Besides, this is why you are here.” Dreyagon quickly ran off from the trenches.

“Why I’m here?” Xabe muttered. He took a quick peek to see the Dragonslayer leaning on a large tree. Xabe pulled out the tarot card and gazed at the image of the legendary hero. He sighed, “So much for ‘A new beginning’. Dad needs to explain all of this entire shit. Hold on tight, Red.” Xabe gave the woodpecker a heads-up and pocketed the tarot card before dashing his way right next to Dreyagon.

The slayer sensed the boy’s approach. “How long have you been using your powers?” he asked.

“For six years, but I kept it a secret because of how peaceful my life is… was.” Xabe winced at that thought before shaking his head. “But, back then, I saw you killed that thing. I felt as if-”

“Its life force had vanished,” Dreyagon finished. “So you were indeed there at the Capital’s Marketplace.”

“Yeah, and that’s when my powers started to kick in or at least my senses were. And now you’re saying ‘This is why you are here because-’”

He was interrupted by the strong wind, pushing the snow piles off the ground. Dreyagon had never thought of this through. He had faced countless evils, slain thousands of dragons- evil dragons, to be specific, and helped the needy on his own- but he never thought of being a guardian, especially being like that to the boy. But he was already thinking of a plan to make the young one know what his powers were capable of. Dreyagon could sense it, but the boy had yet not.

His powers still need to wake the hell up.

Dreyagon stepped away from the tree trunk without any further elaboration to confront Devastrigon. “Follow me.”

“Follow you- hey!” Xabe peeked over his hiding place to see the view of the Dragonslayer versus Devastrigon. He quickly pulled his head back and started leaning on the tree truck. He closed his eyes and started to feel his senses again. I have a short wooden sword but screw it.

“Red,” he said. “If the Flash guardians come, stay close to them.” Once he let the bird go, it flew on top of those thick branches above as which goes to show that this tree was sturdier enough from the coming windstorm with each wave of the dragon’s wings.

“Mr. Dragonslayer!” Xabe came running to Dreyagon’s side. “I almost forgot, my name’s MaXabiere, but you can call me Xabe for short.” The boy even reached out his hand.

Despite what would be the end of them, all the noise of chaos, death, and destruction, there was silence between the two. Then he realized how awkward this was. “Oh… bad time for introductions?”

“Yes,” replied the Dragonslayer in a straight-forward, monotone voice.

Xabe quickly pulled out his hand. “Okay.”

Now the two face-to-face against Devastrigon.

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Back at the quiet and peaceful side over Mt. Pike, the Meadow Orphanage was busy as usual. The kids were having their lessons but with Allanda Bert this time. In the library, Mother Flora and Elise sat on their seats, while the three daughters sat on a long bench. Holly in the middle- closing her hands, Rosie on the left, sitting properly, and Pansy on the right, slouching. Claes was leaning on the red wall with his arms crossed while Sean constantly pacing himself back and forth beside a large bookshelf.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“So this is the library.” Sean looked up and spun around as if he was drugged. He was mesmerized by the large chandelier on top. “Never thought I’ll be here. It’s like the living room… but bigger and has more books.”

Mother Flora giggled, “This is where we store the ‘boring’ knowledge of the orphanage.”

Despite the short cheery words of Mother Flora, Holly couldn’t think of the very concerning absence. “Mr. Carry hasn’t returned yet.” The eldest daughter shook her head. “Mom, what is going on?”

“Well…,” Elise reluctantly spoke. “For starters, it’s about your father.”

Rosie interjected, “Is he coming home?”

“Finally.” Pansy tossed her arms.

“Before he comes to us, there is one more thing he must do, it’ll be hard to explain this because-” Elise sighed and shook her head. “Your brother is not here.”

“He went to the kitchen entrance earlier,” Holly exchanged looks with them. “It was already hot that time, but he was wearing his jacket and red scarf. Said it was drafty and needed warmth.”

“Well, that’s just weird,” said Pansy. “I mean, he did sometimes say that it was drafty sometimes.”

Rosie shrugged, “Maybe he is staying strong because he has a sickness?”

Pansy rearranged herself in a new position. “Xabe, sick? Impossible.”

Elise had finally spoken, “Remember that your father is a researcher, right?”

Holly remembered. “Yeah, he’s been studying Devastrigon with his team ever since it's fallen six years ago. Thanks to the Dragonslayer.”

“That time was hell,” said the twins in unison. “Jinx. Jinx again!”

“Yes,” said Elise. “Or we think it was.” She gazed at her daughters. She could tell that their silence indicated their willingness to listen. Elise then looked at Claes and Sean, even though they wanted to let her tell them. “Your father… has never worked with other researchers. The truth is, he has been working alongside the Dragonslayer.” She took a deep breath. The girls hadn’t reacted to that sentence, but the next would probably will. “Because he’s a Flash Guardian.”

“I KNEW IT!” The three daughters stood up as they yelled those words out. Mother Flora almost had a heart attack. Sean backed away. Except for Claes, who raised his eyebrows and faced the window. As for Elise, she didn’t even flinch. “OH MY GOD, JINX!” The twins pointed to each other while Holly was confused as to which one she would point to, so she did to both Rose and Pansy.

“Girls,” said Elise. There was a sense of authority beneath her calm voice.

After the three girls apologized before composing themselves. Elise continued, “Your father, the Flash Guardians, and even the Dragonslayer, had been planning for years to end Devastrigon once and for all.”

“Okay…,” Holly breathed. “But I have this feeling that’s not the only thing you’re going to tell us, is there?”

Rose and Pansy began to exchange looks. They felt something was up.

Despite the lack of another family member, Elise couldn’t turn back now, or at least she would tell her daughters what she knows. “This is about… your brother.” Suddenly, they all were startled by the deep sound of the familiar roar echoing from the distance.

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The Dragonslayer defended himself with his bronze shield and was ready to attack with his steel sword. Xabe, meanwhile, clenched the hilt of the short wooden sword- following his senses, however, it was not yet the right time to unsheathe it.

“Holy shit,” Xabe’s eyes widened. “It’s like it could devour the entire Enchanteria. Are you going to have an epic clash head-on, so you can use your roar or whatever tricks you have in your sleeves?”

I wish I am at my prime, but the boy is here now, Dreyagon thought. Might as well look at this as an opportunity to awaken his powers. “Devastrigon has three dragon riders for each head. Evil dragon riders.”

“Whoa, wicked.”

“The Darken clan are blinded by their visions, they will stop at nothing to obtain it. It will take more than just my roar to do the job. I need you to distract it.”

“Distract it… me?” Xabe pointed his finger at himself.

“Distract it away from Mt. Pike. If it reaches there, it will all be over.”

“Any suggestions of how I should do it?”

Judging from their surroundings, Dreyagon quickly picked up a stone, grabbed Xabe’s hand, and dumped on onto it. “Be creative. The Flash Guardians will come as you said.” Without further elaborating, he jumped up so high, it looked like he was about to shrink the farther he gets.

“WHAT?!” Xabe raised his voice. “Dammit.”

Dreyagon pierced the crusty chest of the dragon with his steel sword. Then, he jumped over between the necks of the two heads to land on its back. Right next to him were the dancing flames of rage coming from the three heads as they flow from there, then across the back, and into its long tail.

Coming out from the back of the dragon heads’ flaming mane, the Destroyer Knights readied their weapons. “Such stubbornness,” muttered the Death Destroyer Knight. Following his example, the other two knights leaped straight to the Dragonslayer.

Dreyagon couldn’t help but let out a big sigh. Even when he raised his shield and clenched his sword, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’ll be beaten again. Because of his age and lack of dark magic, these knights could be his toughest opponents yet, almost as if facing off three prime Dreyagons.

At the bottom, Xabe began to observe that the three-headed dragon continue to slowly rise. If it reaches Yardsville… well, he rather not imagine it. “Well, here it goes.” From the dragon’s size, bigger than Mt. Pike, he couldn’t rely on arm strength alone. First, he stepped his foot out, twisted his hips, pulled back his arm where he was holding a stone, then, he raised the other arm aiming at Devastrigon.

Giving it his all, he threw the stone with a quick slap to the air. “Whoa.” Xabe’s eyes widened. The stone ignited from the sheer force of the boy alone, as if it was like a meteor crashing- not down- but up to the dragon’s belly. Xabe couldn’t even believe what just happened. From that flying stone, there was a large explosion erupted from its belly.

The three titled their heads and their eyes looked down at Xabe. They let out a supersonic roar that trembled the sky and cracked the earth. Xabe pressed his feet on the soil to hope he wouldn’t trip.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Xabe said, glaring at those burning gazes. “I’M RIGHT HERE!”

Those three words alone sounded like a powerful roar. So powerful, that even Devastrigon slightly backed away from the force. Of course, the three-headed dragon didn’t like that. The right head, the destruction, initiated a response by charging its flaming power. Even from far away, Xabe could sense the heat. “Shit.”

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Flying through the forest, Jorken was the first to hear the powerful roar that passed through them. Willy asked, “Was that the Dragonslayer?”

Hugo shook his head. “No- his roar is different.”

“Oh shit… could it be…?”

Rather than answering the question, Hugo pressed his communicator. “Erik, it’s the kid.”

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At the back of the dragon, Dreyagon and the Destroyer Knights had stopped exchanging blows as they felt a chill from the roar’s energy waves. They turned to the source as they looked at the sky. As Drakoroarians, the knights knew the dragon roars. The measure of power addresses a certain message.

The roars from each clan were weak-according to the Darken clan- for only they roar to give out harmony, unlike the mighty Devastrigon, which its roar gives out an upcoming end to Enchanteria. Meanwhile, Dreyagon’s roar, not surprisingly, fights the power of the three-headed dragon. However, this new roar… was something the three Destroyer Knights had never heard before.

The roar from afar had spoken. Perhaps this was the people had felt when looking at Devastrigon when it gave out its roar- it announced that it will bring certain doom upon them. But this time, it will bring doom upon them.

As for Dreyagon, he realized that his powers were started to wake.