"Muhahaahhaha," Terbanacle was already picturing his magnificent victory over the feeble adventurers. Meanwhile, the group itself stopped just outside his chamber, making the final preparations.

"You lose yourself to the form," Besos said, his giant eyes were almost indistinguishable from the ceiling itself. "You will lose your way, if you try to take control of the path of others."

"Shut up!" Terbanacle roared, fury growing in his chest, "This is the first time I have actually felt as if I belong here. What's so bad about taking control of others? I will deal with them, and everyone else who dares enter my domain."

"Your domain is a well, and you are sitting at the bottom of it," was all his guide said, closing its eyes completely.

Ignoring the useless companion, Terbanacle turned his attention on the door to his chamber, which he knew the group would soon open up. They would fight, and he would tear them apart as a show of faith to his master.

A crack in the door signified their entrance, and Terbanacle was ready with a well-thought-out monologue.

"Adventurers," he bagan, his voice deep and embossed with the flames that still escaped his maw from time to time, "You have done well to come here to this final room. I am the great Terbanacle, master of fire and torment, ruler of the underworld, and your final doom!"

The adventurers looked at one another, then looked back at the dragon. "You what, mate?" Said the warrior, scratching his chin.

"I am your doom feeble mortal!"

"This one has gotten hit over head, hasn't he," the warrior said, turning to his companions.

"It is surely the curse of being a stupid lizard," said the Rogue, voice amorphous.

"A foolish creature," agreed the wizard, laughing while stroking his long graying beard.

"You dare make fun of this mighty form?!" Terbanacle roared and spit out a long gout of flame. The adventurers jumped to the side, deftly avoiding the fire.

"This one has teeth," The warrior laughed, raising his giant weapon - an axe the size of a table.

Growling, Terbanacle swung at the warrior with the sharp talons on his claws. The warrior received the claw with his weapon and held fast, allowing the Rogue to get close.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Terbanacle used his tail to hit the rogue and fling him away. Strangely he felt no resistance, as his tail hit the dark shadow and sent it flying. A sharp jolt reminded him of the wizard, who had been mumbling for himself for a while.

"You will all regret this," Terbanacle growled, sending another breath of flame towards the wizard. The warrior spun and gave in, making Terbanacle lose his balance. The wizard did not even move, as Terbanacle's fire missed him by a hair.

Furious, the dragon raised himself high his massive legs, scraping up against the ceiling with his spiky back. "FOOLS!" He roared, getting lost in his own anger. Just as he was about to just step on the warrior, a slight prick to his neck alerted him that something was wrong.

Craning to see what was going on, he found the rogue sitting at the base of his neck stabbing away. "You dare!" He said, although it was absolutely useless to just yell at them. The wizard proved this moments later, when he sent a pillar of electricity straight into his chest.

Screaming, Terbanacle was pushed back, rolled over his back and got up on his feet in several clumsy movements. He unfurled his wings, only to find that there was not enough room in this place for wings.

Then why do I have wings, if I can't use them?!

There was no point in thinking about it now. He took in one deep breath and let out his most impressive firebreath to date. The adventurers skipped and jumped, and yet they could not avoid the fire. The warrior finally hunkered down behind his axe, the wizard extended his hands until a illusory shield appeared, and the rogue just vanished into thin air.

The fire flowed across the room, spinning and rebounding. Terbanacle used all the fire in his belly, all the spices he had been forced to swallow, and expelled it all in one great breath.

"Take that, fools!" He laughed when finally finished, "You are nothing before me!"

"Say, is that thing a complete idiot?"

Through the devastation, the voice of the warrior was a clear and untroubled as ever. Shocked, Terbanacle widened his eyes, seeing all three adventurers completely unscathed by his attack.

"It appears it does not realize what is happening," said the wizard, laughing once more while stroking his beard.

"What are you talking about?" Terbanacle condescended to ask, fury boiling within, even as there was no fire left to burn.

"Don't you see?" Asked the rogue, reappearing without a scratch on him, "You're playing the part of evil in a story. Of course, in stories, evil always loses, right?"

"What the hell are you talking about," Terbanacle said contemptuously, "I am the most powerful creature in existence... I. am. Terbanacle!"

"Ye're a great big lizard with a bit of fire in your belly," laughed the warrior, "Nothing to be afraid of. You got strength, aye, but that's about it."

"No... No, it cannot be so." His conviction was faltering. Deciding these foolish creatures were just trying to confuse him, Terbanacle charged. With his mighty body, he would smash the mortal into little pieces.

Grinning, the warrior met his charge, using the massive axe as a shield. Terbanacle put everything he had into this blow, knowing he was bigger and had more strength than the meagre body of this mortal could ever hope to have.

The unstoppable force met the immovable object, and the object won.

Crashing into the warrior head-first, Terbanacle felt his mind grow dizzy with the blow. Slight pricks on his belly told him the rogue was attacking from beneath, and behind the warrior the wizard was charging up for another attack.

No... no, it cannot be true. I cannot be bested... I am TERBANACLE!