The ground shook.
She coughed. Looking at her bloodied hand and grimaced at her current state.
Maybe she was lucky. It was as if Death had walked through the area and forgot to harvest her soul.
She took a breath to collect herself, but she was assaulted by a repulsive stench that immediately made her choke. The unpleasant smell was heavily mixed of charred, decomposing bodies and blood.
Breathing through her nose in small volumes, she quickly got used to it. Although it was something she never wanted to adapt to it.
She held her breath to fight the pain throbbing over her body as she supported herself on her two feet and noticed a line marked on her ankle when the Ogre sprung a rope trap at her.
She was lucky the assassin’s follow up missed her neck. She however, discovered the tendons of her right hand was cut. She couldn’t draw her bow anymore.
“Salith, where are you?”
Everywhere she looked, debris covered the leveled district.
Carmyn noticed the Tower had gone missing, but the sound of explosions and ring of steel continued to echo through the battlefield. Flashes of magic danced where the Tower supposedly stood tall. The war wasn’t over yet.
She plucked a sword standing from a corpse and limped towards the sound of the battle.
-
“All Heretics will burn! The conquest for Stusis shall end when corpses piled into a mountain and my vengeance is fulfilled!”
After Alc’Bruk slashed at the empty air, a swelling claw of Crimson plowed everything in front of him. Where the phantom claws landed, a rush of scorching air followed.
Fire consumed toppled ruins and rapidly spread over standing buildings.
“Goliath, dis isn’t good!” Rogus barked. “If anything, I have ta get Tama ta safety before we get smoked!”
“You go. I’m going to have a man to man talk with Alc’Bruk.” Draigh cracked his fingers. “Don’t bother coming back to help. It’s become personal.”
“I dun wanna find out if your crazy or not, but if ya insist.” Rogus carried Tama on his back and rushed off.
And so, the battle between two prideful warriors prepared for the next round surrounded by a sea of flames.
“Have you said your prayers?” Alc’Bruk asked. “Because from now on, no words shall turn the tides of this fight!”
“Sounds good to me. Bring it!”
The two warriors rushed towards the center and exchanged blows.
Draigh tucked his arms and shoulders as he wove in between Alc’Bruk’s feral swipes. He nimbly leaned in and landed a haymaker into the Dragonborn’s stomach before leaping back.
He approached with the same tactic. He made himself smaller to dodge countless of determined slashes, followed by countering once he there was an opening from his opponent’s excessive movements.
He struck at Alc’Bruk’s stomach again.
He ducked and deflected oncoming blows with his knuckle dusters, slipping in an uppercut at the Dragon’s jaws before landing two deadly hooks at the stomach once more.
Whereas one would be sent flying and find themselves groveling, Alc’Bruk withstood many of Draigh’s attacks unflinching. However, even the mighty Dragonborn’s tolerance was limited. Visible pained expression formed over Alc’Bruk’s face.
Draigh heard the tone of magic, making a haste retreat. It was then Alc’Bruk summoned [Crimson’s Claws] to crush the ground. Upon the road coming into contact with his magic, it shattered many cobblestone tiles melted them into molten lava.
Alc’Bruk’s draconic body became enveloped in a cloak of fire. He suddenly launched himself into the sky and created a magic circle. An apparition of Crimson’s head sprouted from his back and locked onto Draigh.
A deep crimson glow flickered at the back of the Dragon’s throat. Gathering magic between its fangs, the area was gradually sapped of its heat. The air fell below freezing as water pouring out of a nearby pipe was seen frozen solid. The bed of fire below quickly died as a radiant crimson light shone as though Stusis’ long lost sun reappeared.
Then, all the gathered heat was unleashed. As if the glimmering crimson star had gone super nova, an unstoppable force expanded outwards to vaporize everything within its radius.
The world below Alc’Bruk was reduced to ashes. He landed into a deep crater of obsidian surface, preparing himself once more when he spotted a boulder of ice in the thicket of haze pouring from it.
“Who knew Elius would save my life after he tried to take mine.”
Draigh emerged from the shell of ice unharmed. He held up a magical bangle hanging over his wrist. It was one similar to the one Kihet handed to Martha, but a protective ice spell was engraved on it. It was assumed Elius had the intention of helping Draigh fight the rising temperature of volcanic areas knowing where Draigh was sent as a fellow envoy of the secluded village.
A web of cracks spread over its surface then shattered into a million fragments after exhausting its magic supply.
Knowing he could never recover a broken momentum of a cherished memory of the early days, Draigh resolved himself. Never had he once harbored hatred for an individual as much as now. Sure, he may have experienced anger, but it always for someone’s sake.
An unfamiliar anguish stirred within him. Was it alright for him to be selfish?
Suddenly, Alc’Bruk appeared before Draigh and an impact sent him tumbling up the crater’s slope. The Dragonborn dove at him once more while enveloped in a mantle of fire.
[Crimson’s Claw] slashed at his right shoulder. A gash ran across, but the wound was instantly cauterized. His armor combusted into flames and was forced to discard it before his skin melted off.
Draigh curled his fingers into a fist and countered with a hook. Alc’Bruk lost his footing and was launched towards the other quadrant of the crater.
“Have you decided to accept we Dragonkins are not worth saving?” The Dragonborn growled. “Your attacks have become stronger.”
“I was always serious trying to save everyone. It’s just that, I’m beyond angry with you right now.”
“For you to have match my anger, I shall respond in kind. Unlike the Faker, I shall grant you the honor of using all my strength to properly defeat you!”
Alc’Bruk veiled himself in red energy. His size increased as he donned the spectral form of the Crimson Dragon like armor. Upon transcending to a form closest to the Crimson Dragon’s image, Alc’Bruk chest pulsed.
It was the location of the reverse scale, the source of Crimson’s blessing.
Draigh stepped down to the center, stamping his footprints in the glassy obsidian field as he took a giant leap towards the Dragonborn. Alc’Bruk mimicked him.
The two met in the air to exchange the next blow at the beginning of round three.
Upon impact, Draigh was shot back onto the ground while Alc’Bruk was launched into the sky.
Draigh noticed the Dragonborn inhaling to build up fire in his lungs. Draigh scooped the ground, prying boulders and tossed it to stop Alc’Bruk as the fiery breath was used to melt the projectile.
He continued to catapult a barrage of boulders to get Alc’Bruk to fall. He ran and dodged oncoming barrage of fireballs until he came across a ruin with many broken stands resembling an armory.
He summoned two [Ribbons] and fished for weapons from the pile of rubble to throw. Spears, swords, axes, Draigh’s superhuman strength rocketed all of them at Alc’Bruk. In the end, a nameless blacksmith’s hammer was the one to pluck the Dragonborn off the skies.
Draigh hurried to meet Alc’Bruk where he landed and plowed a fist across the Dragonborn’s jaws. A resounding thud echoed with droplets of blood flying through the air, but Alc’Bruk quickly recovered from being dazed and returned the favor.
An attack arced onto Draigh’s side causing him to cough up blood. A sharp pain stung his body. He gritted his teeth, withstanding the burning blade biting into his side and socked the Dragon’s chin.
Alc’Bruk’s [Crimson’s Claw] manifested with each attack. Knowing this, Draigh sidestepped the burning claw and countered with another haymaker.
Despite having to exploit an opening, a tail slammed into Draigh’s stomach. Fluttering embers scattered in his view, and he quickly delivered a punch only to be countered by a quick a jab at his side again.
[Crimson’s Claw] swung at him once more, pushing Draigh back.
“Urk!”
“You’re wavering, Goliath!”
Draigh already knew he did not have the strength to fight against a deity’s avatar. He was trying to buy time for Kihet’s arrival but it looked like plans changed. The red flare signaled the Acolyte’s appearance on the battlefield.
He felt fatigued. The scorching air drained most of his stamina whereas Alc’Bruk thrived in it.
“Do your worst.” He smirked at the Dragonborn.
“Then I shall!”
The Dragonborn took the initiative to throw a flurry of punches, forcing Draigh to go on the defensive. Each impact felt like a carriage slamming into him at full speed.
“And now, Crimson!”
Once Alc’Bruk’s attack ended, Crimson’s blessing activated with numerous [Crimson Claws] swiping down at Draigh quickly swapping to his shield.
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His shield warded off some while others cut into his flesh. He endured the onslaught as he braved the storm of slashes. His shield slowly cracked, fragments disintegrating. His skin and flesh were being torn off bit by bit as he inched forward.
He took a deep breath, eyeing Alc’Bruk’s pulsing scale, then unleashed his loudest battle cry.
“Suu… HAAAA!”
He twisted his entire body and put everything into this corkscrew punch, landing squarely into Alc’Bruk’s chest. An explosive sound echoed across the field. His fist shattered the Dragonborn’s spectral armor, black onyx chestplate, and the prized crimson plated scales. Unfortunately, the punch missed the reversed scale by a hair.
“Dammit.”
The Dragonborn withstood the attack but vomited a pool blood. He did not fall. Alc’Bruk quickly struck Draigh in the chest and sent him flying across the ground. Blood from Draigh’s body flowed down the the center of the crater as Alc’Bruk frowned at the result.
“That was a wonderful effort, but it’s a shame, Goliath. If only you had chosen to side with us Dragonkins you wouldn’t be in this pitiful state. We would have soared to greater heights together!”
Alc’Bruk wore a deer horned knife, aiming it at his respected enemy.
“You were a worthy adversary. Farewell, Holy Draigh.”
Alc’Bruk’s strike was suddenly intervened by a hard transparent surface. Its divine presence reminded him of a similar individual blessed by a higher deity.
A radiating presence stood at the edge of the crater.
“Get away from Holy Draigh!”
The two champions faced each other. One represented the day, casting its light onto Stusis. The other represented the fire, basking the lands with warmth.
The Herald’s shell whitened; clusters of opals grew over his forearms. Ainig’s timid yet angry eyes locked onto Alc’Bruk as if a child had come out of its den to fight as a last resort.
“You saved me the trouble for locating you, Herald!”
Alc’Bruk had not expected the Pale Dragon’s Champion to stand before him. He resumed his stance the moment Ainig barreled towards him. He sidestepped the slow moving Tortoise’s unpolished charge and countered with a hook.
Ten barriers instantaneously intercepted his blow, absorbing enough force to repel his strike.
“The Pale Dragon’s ward! How would it fare against Crimson’s rage?”
[Crimson’s Slash] activated. The spectral dragon’s claw reached forward, shattering layers of magical defense. [Crimson’s Slash] would connect, but the claws would not penetrate Ainig’s whitened shell.
Alc’Bruk flapped his wings and tackled Ainig. The barriers attempt to intercept, but his burning body destroyed them. The Dragonborn lifted Ainig and slammed the Tortoise onto its back. He wound up his weapons, raining endless blows.
Alc’Bruk wasn’t able to inflict any meaningful damage. “Herald, your defense is worthy. However, what use is your power if you only defend?”
Ainig suddenly thrashed around, his armored arms flailed wildly and forced Alc’Bruk to step away. The Tortoise managed to bowl around until he flipped himself over.
Pale Dragon’s head materialized above Ainig.
As Alc’Bruk prepared [Crimson’s Breath] to defend himself, he spotted the phantom dragon over Ainig split. There were two heads, then three. Magic circles were pointed at each other and once they gathered enough magical power, a blinding light painted the district white.
But who’s to say quantity is power?
----------------------------------------
Draigh opened his eyes and found himself standing underneath the blue sky with fluffy clouds sailing through them. He quickly jumped on his feet and looked around.
“Where am I? Kihet, Yizdra, Hilaqi, Krullu, Ainig! Is anyone there?”
His voice echoed in the vast emptiness. When he turned around, he heard a splash. It took a moment for his eyes to register he stood on a mirror like surface reflecting the skies above.
“What’s going on? Did I die?”
He began running.
“Shit, this is bad. I can’t die! Alc’Bruk’s going to destroy the Scalemen! I can’t let him go!”
He ran and ran. There was no telling if he was getting closer to the edge of the blue world. Nonetheless, he ran.
Then he sensed a presence and turned around.
He was stunned by the appearance of an angelic beauty. The girl in a sharp yet elegant red dress ran her fingers through her platinum white hair, flashing Draigh a sweet smile.
“Lemi…”
Before Draigh took a step, something pounced on his back. He reached behind, plucking a tiny child off his back who had an ear to ear grin on her adorable face.
“Hannah?!”
“It’s been a while! Kihet kept his promise! Hannah is happy to see Muscles!” Hannah waved her tiny hands. “Hold Hannah higher!”
Confused, Draigh obediently raised his arms up, lightly tossed Hannah in the air then caught her.
“Weeee!”
“Hannah, we don’t have a lit of time. Come back over here.”
“Okay.” As soon as she was let down, Hannah posted herself next to Lemi.
“And Draigh. Your very much alive, only unconscious. Right now, a Scalemen is protecting you from the Dragonborn.”
Draigh sighed after hearing the news. Among his scaly friends, Ainig would be the only one who had a chance against Alc’Bruk.
“There isn’t enough time to chat. Please listen closely and relay this message to Kihet.” Lemi said. “We have found the Acolyte’s weakness. Its Shadow core is at the upper right collarbone. If Kihet or one of the Heroes can inject a high volume of the Oracle’s power into that spot, he’ll defeat it.”
“We?”
When Draigh asked, the world began to glitched. The clouds sailing the blue skies began to fade with the rest of the world. Thick mist gradually poured into his view.
“Draigh, pay attention! Did you get that?”
“Upper right collarbone. But Lemi, will I see you again?”
“Yes. This won’t be the last time.” Lemi smiled at him. “We’re also fighting from our side as well.”
“Muscles! Protect Kihet!” Hannah shouted. “Kihet needs Muscle’s help, so please help Kihet!”
Their voices echoed as everything was enveloped in white.
Draigh stared into the cloud of fog rushing towards him. Under his breath he muttered. “Yeah. I know. I’ll protect Kihet no matter what. You can count in me, Hannah, Lemi!”
----------------------------------------
A strange scorching heat washed over Draigh as he peeled his eyes opened. He slowly pried his upper half off the glassy floor and saw Ainig’s back facing him.
The Tortoise’s body sizzled. Ainig’s frontside was covered in soot from head to toe. Visible patches of third degree burns ran over his rough skin.
“The Pale Dragon’s power is nothing compared to Crimson! I’ll commend you, Heretic! On your bravery to not only flee, but willingly volunteered to challenge me!”
Alc’Bruk spread his wings and glided full speed at Ainig. He raised his burning weapon, aiming for the Tortoise’s vitals.
Ainig unleashed a blood curling roar. He slammed his weighted forearm down at Alc’Bruk who quickly darted out of harm’s way.
The Dragonborn kicked off the ground to attack from a different angle. [Crimson’s Slash], a claw of a dragon descended from above. It emanated the divine presence of Crimson Dragon’s wrath, the title Alc’Bruk proudly held.
Ainig defended against Crimson’s claw but exposed his stomach to Alc’Bruk. Before he dug his claws into Ainig, his view snapped towards a different direction.
“Suu… HA!”
A powerful concussive blow rammed Alc’Bruk’s side. The Dragonborn found himself pathetically rolling on the ground but managed to balance himself upright.
“Goliath!”
“I just got knocked out, but I ain’t dead!” Draigh rolled his shoulders. “Ainig, thanks for saving my skin. By the way, why are you here?”
“A-a ghost guided me.”
“A ghost?”
“I-it pointed the way.”
“Is that so? Can you still fight?”
“I can!”
“That’s a relief to hear. Alc’Bruk’s tough, I’ll give him that, but he isn’t as strong as he was a moment ago. I think his blessing is reaching its limit. I’m counting on your support until he runs out of power.”
“That will not happen!” Alc’Bruk roared.
The Dragonborn took flight. As he circled above the city, a long burning red tail trailed behind him. Once Alc’Bruk achieved speed beyond mach one, he descended onto the neighboring district.
“H-he flew up!”
“Careful! It’s the same attack he used to bring down the great wall!”
Buildings toppled. Ruins left in his wake were set ablaze then flung into the air by a devastating sonic boom.
This was Alc’Bruk’s trump card, [Draconic Meteor Rush], the attack he thought had once claimed the Faker’s life.
“Ainig! On your right!”
“Too slow, Herald!”
“AINIG!”
Alc’Bruk swooped in and there were noises of glass breaking. Many barriers sheltering them shattered. His knives drew a ribbon of blood from Ainig’s neck. The Dragonborn pulled up into the sky in a flash, circling the air seeking another chance to aim for a decisive blow.
The Ainig collapsed, his eyes rolled back. Blood poured profusely from a wound from his neck.
The second Draigh reached for his fallen companion, Alc’Bruk descended once more. The Dragonborn aimed for the Enui’s back, planning to deliver the killing blow he was denied the first time.
And once these two were defeated, he will then claim victory over the Faker. He will reclaim his honor and truly be awarded with the title of the strongest.
Stusis will finally be ruled by the Dragonkins.
“The strongest? Don’t make me laugh. Where there are those who proclaim to be the strongest, they become blind when standing under those who have reached godhood.”
A voice pierced his mind.
Alc’Bruk found himself came to a sudden halt. His body was encased in a veil of blackened light. Again? Would he be denied slaying his helpless enemies who have challenged him again? Why must he be humiliated again?
“PALE DRAGON! THIS IS HERESY! HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE WITH MY BATTLE! I SWEAR UPON CRIMSON, TO KILL YOU WITH MY CLAWS AND FANGS! DO NOT DENY MY RIGHTFUL VICTORY I HAVE EARN THROUGH MANY SACRIFICES!”
“How foolish. I would never dare violating the pact without reason. Though, I have read your pitiful story, your suffering does not compare to my Herald. For this, witness the darkness when daylight shines its brightest.”
Ainig slowly lifted himself off the ground. The opened wound on his neck regenerated a frightening speed by white light mending it. An aura of light obscured the Tortoise. While Ainig was outlined by a faint glow, his shell blackened as clusters of white crystals crumbled off his body replaced by black crystals.
“May the light cast onto you be shrouded.”
A circle of abyss formed under Ainig’s foot then expanded into a radius as large as the crater and closed itself under a dome of black screen. Surprisingly, it was bright although the sky was masked behind a black ceiling. Alc’Bruk could see his enemies and the surrounding ruins despite no light shined through the mysterious barrier Ainig conjured.
The silhouette of the Pale Dragon latched onto Ainig as did Alc’Bruk’s spectral armor of the Crimson Dragon. A small horn grew on Ainig’s snout and rather than sharp nails extending from his claws, large bat-like wings sprouted from Ainig’s back.
“Witness the Eclipse.”
Ainig took a running leap, his large frame soared at Alc’Bruk. Black energy gathered at the Tortoise’s beak in preparation of [Eclipse Breath]. Five heads simultaneously split, totaling six magical breaths aimed at Alc’Bruk.
“I will not be outdone by a Heretic whelp!” Alc’Bruk channeled what remaining magical resource his scale held to overcome the awakening of Pale Dragon’s Herald.
The color of Crimson shattered the blackened energy locking him in place. His spectral armor detached itself, embers gathering by the opened maw. It materialized the rest of the majestic form of the Crimson Dragon.
“I am the warmth giver of that drives life! I am the vengeful flames to my enemies who dare to violate the sanctuary of Stusis’ mountains! I am the very heart of that is Stusis’ core! Herald, you who represent the day will submit to the fire raging below the mountains!”
“I only want this to stop! All of it!” Ainig roared.
One was a pillar of raging crimson. The other was a resentful black. The two powers clashed once more and unlike the previous time, Alc’Bruk found himself slowly losing his footing. His strength quickly waning.
He was overpowered.
Ainig’s [Eclipse Form] had proven to be too strong for Alc’Bruk’s diminishing blessing. The Dragonborn can imagine his defeat was solidified. Never once had he feared losing to an opponent, an individual, until now. Ainig’s [Eclipse Breath] eventually bested Alc’Bruk’s [Crimson Breath] and enveloped the Dragonborn in black light.
But Alc’Bruk lunged at the Herald through [Eclipse Breath] despite his heavy injuries for a last gambit. The Crimson Wrath’s body burst with light with cracks forming throughout his body.
“If I am to fall, I will drag you to the Beyond with me!”
“Not if I can help it!” Draigh shouted.
Draigh punched the Dragonborn onto the floor and reached for the exposed reverse scale. He held it firmly, tearing it from Alc’Bruk’s chest.
“Release me this instant!”
“That’s not possible. Sorry.”
This was the second time the Dragonborn screeched helplessly in his life. With the reverse scale removed from him, the power granted to him by Crimson drained him of his strength. His insides were being scorched as if his tolerance to divine flames of the Crimson Dragon within him suddenly plummeted.
And with that, the Crimson’s Wrath was defeated. His flames have become extinguished.
The only problem remaining was the Acolyte. As Draigh turned his attention to the Tower, he noticed it was toppled down. He took a step towards it, but his side ached. He put his hand over it, covering a split opening.
“Draigh! Y-your bleeding!”
“I’m okay. Go ahead to help Kihet, please. I just need to rest for a while.”
“A-are you sure?”
“Please. Kihet needs you more than me. I’ll catch up once I rest enough.” Draigh weakly smiled as he handed Alc’Bruk’s reverse scale and wrote a note using his blood. “And deliver these to him.”
Ainig tucked it in his little satchel and after given a smile to reassure him, the Tortoise moved without looking back.
Draigh did his best to keep awake. His body felt numb. His breath shortened till he forced himself to gasp air. He felt dizzy, enough to make him pass out if he closed his eyes.
“I’m… not defeated…! And I… will not be! Kaz’Bruk… my blood brother and I… We shall reclaim the glory of the Dragons!”
Alc’Bruk’s condition was similar, but his rage fueled his movements enabled him overcome damages accumulated over his body. Blood trickled down from Dragonborn’s chest, splattering all over the ground.
He grasped at the bleeding void where his reverse scale was torn from him. His wings were riddled with holes. His prideful crimson scales had withered to an aging red and eyes became glassy.
Draigh grunted as he faced Alc’Bruk. The pain was unbearable, but he was thankful it was the only thing to keep him awake.
“Same here. I can’t go down. You’re too dangerous to let go.”
“Out of my way, Goliath! I will retrieve my scale!” The Dragonborn stomped forward, raising his fist at Draigh in a frenzy. “My conquest for Stusis will not end like this! The pride of a Dragon shall not allow it! My blood brother and I will become symbols of the Dragonkins and let everyone see the reason to fear us! That way, we will no longer feel vulnerable when every burn to cinders before us!”