Before Alza stood a colossal pair of stone gates. Their surface was etched with murals that depicted a dragon at the center of a large lake. Countless people were depicted in reverent prostration, gathered around the dragon in a display of worship.

Grandmaster Tranquil's footsteps echoed as he walked to the imposing stone slabs. "Beyond these gates lies the sanctum of Ilm himself, the revered dragon guardian of Waterway Monastery."

"And…we are going to meet him, just like that?" Alza asked.

"Oh no, only one person can enter Ilm's chamber at once. You will be the one to enter, Alza."

"But I- "

"Worry not, Ilm is a kind soul. I'm sure he will be more than happy to answer whatever questions you may have."

Alza breathed out a light sigh. "Alright, I'm ready."

"In that case, I shall open the gates."

The Grandmaster stood completely still for a few moments. He then placed both of his hands against the stone gates. Suddenly, the gates illuminated with a bright light as if responding to Grandmaster Tranquil's touch. The ground creaked and rumbled as the stone doors slowly slid open.

Beyond the heavy stone doors stood a vast bridge, suspended over a chasm that seemed to descend endlessly. It was the only way to reach the great dragon who protected the monastery.

"Go on ahead, Alza. Ilm awaits you."

Alza nodded. "Thank you, Grandmaster."

"It is nothing, now go."

As Alza took tentative steps and crossed the bridge, she couldn't help but imagine what would happen when she would meet Ilm. She wasn't sure if she would be able to contain his wrath if they were to come to blows. She hoped that Ilm would not be one to bear grudges like so many other dragons did, though in truth, she knew that it was a fleeting hope at best.

After traversing the bridge for what felt like an eternity, Alza finally approached the island's edge. Stepping onto the island's fertile soil, Alza was greeted by an explosion of vibrant life. Tall trees reached for the heavens as birds flitted through the branches, filling the air with their songs.

The fragrant scent of blooming flowers filled the air, drawing bees and butterflies to the vivid array of petals. Alza walked to a nearby stream and knelt down, washing her face with the cool water. It was a small reprieve after everything she had just gone through.

Despite the kind scenery, Alza knew that this was not her final stop. She continued walking until she saw a large lake in the distance.

As Alza made it towards the lake, she paused for a few moments to just enjoy the scenery. The dragonflies buzzed past her, the tranquil waters that rippled softly from time to time, and the flock of ducks that swam across the water's surface. It was a harmonious sight, one that gave her some hope as to the nature of the dragon she would be dealing with.

Though as for Ilm himself, Alza did not sense anything at first. She wondered if there was something that she would need to do first or if there was some kind of ritual that the Grandmaster forgot to tell her. Yet, her concerns would soon be answered by a great rumbling of the earth.

The skies darkened as the lake began to emanate a luminous azure glow. A booming tremor quaked through the earth as the waters, now charged with arcane energy, coalesced into a roiling whirlpool.

From the maelstrom, Ilm himself rose from the depths, his towering form radiating an otherworldly grace. Ivory-white scales adorned his serpentine body, adorned with light-streaked orange spines that traversed his form. The dragon's regal visage featured a pair of magnificent, twin ivory horns, while his eyes blazed with an incandescent, orange light.

The ground seemed to rumble a bit as the dragon's voice boomed. "Greetings human, you seem….familiar."

Alza swallowed saliva down her throat and gave the dragon a polite bow. "Greetings, venerable Ilm, it is an honor to meet you."

The dragon dove into the water, swimming fast underneath. Ilm then re-emerged much closer to Alza, he lowered his head so that it was only a few inches away from the First Necromancer, before pulling back. "Yes…you do seem familiar, somehow. Have we met before, human?"

"No, we have not." Alza lied.

"I see, in that case, tell me why you are here. The monks do not usually allow guests in unless they have something important to say."

"Thank you, Ilm." Alza began. "There has been a great plague that befell the nearby Kingdom of Selgrad, I suspect it may be caused by a rogue necromancer, and I was wondering if you could help me track them down."

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"Necromancer…I see." The dragon muttered. "That is a simple matter. Please give me a few moments to focus, and I shall tell you where this foul necromancer is located."

The dragon then leaned back and closed its eyes. The lake glowed once more this time, emanating a softer bluish glow. That was, until Ilm opened his eyes again.

"You…I remember you now, demon scum." Ilm spat, his eyes ablaze with fury.

Alza leapt back and readied her hands. "Please listen to me, I can explain."

"I don't believe there is anything to explain, you will pay for what you did to my kindred!"

The dragon lunged towards Alza, baring its jaws down on her. Alza instinctively manifested her skeletal wings in reaction and flew out of the way before the dragon's jaws could get to her. Shen then took off for the skies.

"Ilm, please, I am here only to speak." Alza pleaded.

"You can speak with me after you're dead." A bluish glow manifested on the dragon's mouth as it then unleashed a powerful torrent of water towards Alza.

The First Necromancer was forced to fly erratically, weaving through and around the dragon's burst of water. Yet, despite her best's efforts, one of Alza's wings eventually got hit by Ilm's torrent of water, sending her plummeting to the ground.

In desperation, Alza conjured a sharp rock on her right hand and made a cut on her left palm. As blood flowed out of her hand, Alza chanted. "Come out: Atlas!"

As if responding to her call, a searing streak of crimson energy surged forth; the ground beneath her splitting apart. A colossal onyx-black skull, thrust its way into the world. It was followed by a pair of equally large skeletal hands that grasped at the air. They intercepted Alza in mid-air, preventing her imminent descent to the unforgiving ground.

The skeletal titan's rib cage appeared next, the bony framework of its spine and legs following in its wake. Two unearthly flames, a haunting violet, erupted to life within the hollow recesses of its hollow eye sockets.

Atlas had finally reached its full height, towering over 200 feet, but dwarfed even the loftiest castle walls. With a mental command from Alza, the skeletal titan soon placed her on its right shoulder blade. It was there that Alza tried to do one last plea. "I don't want to fight you, Ilm, I just want to talk."

The dragon did not even dignify Alza with a response this time. Instead, the lake around Ilm glowed. But this time, the dragon glowed as well. In a mesmerizing display, the entirety of the lake seemed to merge with Ilm's form, causing the dragon to grow larger and larger, until it was roughly the same size as Alza's colossal titan. Following this transformation, a deluge of water erupted from underground all over the island, submerging the landscape beneath a sea of blue.

Ilm then made his attack. Lunging forward and coiling around Atlas's body. The skeletal titan was now constructed by the great dragon, struggling to break free. It did not take long for Ilm's head to find Alza.

The dragon then opened its jaws and prepared to fire another burst stream of water. However, Alza quickly conjured six large balls of necromantic energy deep within the dragon's mouth, then detonating them all at once.

The resulting explosion sent Ilm's head reeling back, and his coil on Atlas's body weakened as a result. Alza stomped hard, commanding the skeletal titan to break free from the dragon's coil.

Once free, the skeletal titan then took hold of Ilm's body and lifted it high into the air. Then, Atlas slammed down the dragon to the ground with immense power. The force of the blow was so great that it sent a deluge of water and rocks flying in all directions from the location of impact.

Ilm wasn't about to go down so easily, however. The dragon unleashed a powerful torrent of water from its mouth, knocking Atlas back and sending it falling down. A resounding splash emanated from where the skeletal titan fell as a wave of water spread out in all directions.

The dragon then rose up and prepared to unleash another torrent of water from its mouth. As the stream of water was about to hit Atlas, however, the skeletal giant managed to push itself up and turned on its back. Though the water battered and cracked its spine, Alza's skeletal titan was still unbroken.

Yet, now, Alza was breathing heavily. It took her nearly everything she had just to conjure Atlas's full body, and she had to cling onto the giant with all her strength when it fell down. She needed to end things, and fast.

When Ilm lunged down and prepared to bite down on Alza, she saw her chance. With a mental command, Atlas reacted swiftly, turning over again before unleashing one of its fists to meet the dragon's jaws.

Alza then clenched her right hand into a tight fist, conjuring a layer of spikes on her skeletal titan's own fists. When Ilm met with Atlas's fist, the dragon was sent reeling back as his head was caved in by the full force of a titan's enhanced punch. The dragon's head then fell crashing onto the ground with a loud boom, sending a wave of water everywhere.

But the incredible feat had drained Alza beyond her limits. Her muscles failed her as the weight of exhaustion overcame her. Her legs buckled, and she plummeted from her skeletal titan into the waters below. Too tired to swim, and deprived of breath, Alza sank deep beneath the lake.

***

Alza's consciousness flickered back to life with a violent cough, expelling the water that had invaded her lungs during her watery plunge. As her vision gradually cleared, she found herself astonished by the sight of Ilm who was by the lakeside. It seemed he was the one who saved her while she was unconscious.

She managed to croak out her gratitude, offering a solemn bow of her head. "Ilm... thank you."

In response, the dragon maintained a stern demeanor. "Do not extend your gratitude, demon. I have not forgotten your true nature."

"But then, why did you save me?"

"Because I must concede that who you are now seems much different to who you were in the past. In truth, if I had fought you as you were in the past, I would not have even stood a chance."

"But you could have chosen to just kill me if you wanted."

"I could have, however, something within my being tells me that would be a terrible idea. But make no mistake, demon, I wouldn't say we are on the most amicable terms at the moment."

"That is...fair." Alza muttered.

"Regardless, because your current goal seems…admirable, I will aid you just this once." The dragon said.

"Thank you, Ilm, your help is appreciated."

"Don't get too friendly with me, demon. Now what do you want?"