The distant roar reverberated with such unbridled force that it seemed to transcend the boundaries of sound itself. Its echo surged across the entire world, causing the very earth to tremble and the hearts of all living creatures to race. From the tiniest insects that scurried underfoot to the mightiest beasts of the land, the awakening dragon's presence was undeniable.
Ignial, the legendary and awe-inspiring dragon of old, had been awakened from his prolonged and profound slumber. His long rest had lasted for centuries, and the devastation left in his wake during his last rampage still haunted the memories of those who had lived through it. The elves, with their exceptional longevity, remembered all too well the loss of their beloved Mother Tree, her magnificent form devoured by the relentless flames of the dragon.
The Republic of the West had borne witness to the destructive force of Ignial when he laid waste to their empire, fracturing it into warring kingdoms before it eventually coalesced into a republic. His cataclysmic power had left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of the empire of man.
The Pillar of the North had managed to barely drive him away centuries ago. The most recent news was when Valicar cunningly snatched Blue Dawn from the heart of the dragon's treasure hoard. How the twin's uncle had managed to pilfer a dragon's treasure remained a mystery, one that GG had never fully explained. Yet, Blue Dawn stood as one of the keys required to unlock the Vault, and it was the most potent of them all. Its power had been sealed by GG many years ago, upon first acquiring the legendary blade.
Now, however, Sophia had mastered magic to the point she could unlock its full potential. The callous revelation by the Pillar of the South regarding the likely soon demise of their family had snapped something deep within her. With desperation, she summoned Mike's most potent weapon, Blue Dawn, even though it remained some distance away. It served as a beacon of awe-inspiring power, a beacon that beckoned the ancient red dragon, Ignial, who was not far behind. The mere name of the sword called him from his ageless slumber and Sophia could feel him fast approaching.
Sophia urgently whispered into her brother's mind, her voice tinged with a sense of foreboding, "Oh, fuck, this is bad, Mike, really bad. We have to get out of here."
But Mike, consumed by the fire of vengeance, rebutted with unwavering determination, "Not until I gut this bitch! How long until my sword gets here?"
"It's not just about the sword, Mike," Sophia replied, her voice quivering with a mix of terror and realization, "it's about who is following it!" Something had stirred within her when she heard that deafening roar, a deep-seated familiarity that sent shivers down her spine.
The expression on the Pillar of the South's face transformed from one of condescending arrogance to sheer terror. This woman, who had so effortlessly dominated them moments ago, now trembled in the face of a menacing presence.
"What have you done, you foolish child..." she stammered, her voice laden with dread. Swiftly regaining some semblance of composure, she issued frantic orders to her remaining forces, "Retreat! Retreat! The Lizard will soon be upon us!"
The empire's army swiftly disengaged from their assault on the great elven tree and hastily began their retreat, the scent of fear hanging heavily in the air as the final shots of magic were traded.
"We must retrieve Easton, Mike. Maybe we can find a way to bring him back," Sophia suggested, hinting at the possibility of employing necromantic magic to revive their fallen mentor.
"No, not like that... but you're right, we need to retrieve his body," Mike replied through clenched teeth, his determination clear for the sake of their mentor, "but she has to pay."
"She will, but in time!" Sophia responded urgently, her resolve unwavering.
As the Pillar of the South prepared to flee, she launched a final volley of her golden bolts at the twins. Sophia and Mike, requiring a diversion, altered their course from confronting the Pillar to heading toward Easton's lifeless body. With considerable effort, Sophia delved into her bag, summoning a hydra and enacting a spell to transfer a portion of Mike's soul into the creature. "Lavmous," she intoned, allowing a fragment of Mike's essence to merge with the beast. Though the hydra's lifespan would be brief, its remarkable regenerative abilities granted them the vital time needed to distract the Pillar and her remaining forces.
"Make them pay! Then we run!" Sophia assured as she granted him control over the formidable hydra. The experience was surreal, with multiple eyes and limbs under his dominion, but Mike swiftly adapted. His pact coursed through him, as the eyes of the hydra turned toward the world and the crowds that gave him power, united with a single purpose.
Mike tore into the fleeing enemy ships with unrelenting fury. The Pillar of the South, despite her invulnerability, was too preoccupied with her escape to mount a substantial defense. Instead, she lashed out, decapitating the heads of the hydra as it wreaked havoc upon her fleet, impeding their flight.
While the battle with the Pillar continued, Sophia collected Easton's remains and placed them securely in their bag of holding, preserving the possibility of his return. She also ensured the safety of his iconic hat, a symbol of their mentor and ally.
"Go!" Mike's telepathic voice resounded in her mind. "I'll hold her off until it gets here, then I'm cutting that bitch in half!"
With their only hope of escape being the teleportation dagger, Sophia made a beeline for the weapon. Following their failed attack, the blade had gone skidding away, but amidst the chaos created by Mike's relentless assault, it was relatively easy for her to retrieve it. The dagger bore a noticeable chip in its edge. While this damage posed a significant problem when it came to teleportation magic, their options were exceedingly limited. Without the luxury of time, they couldn't teleport over great distances, and there was no possibility of outrunning the impending dragon. Sophia knew that soon, the sword would return to her hand.
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However, an overwhelming sense of trepidation gripped Sophia. She trembled uncontrollably, something primal and instinctual stirred deep within her. After that deafening roar, something in her draconic soul had awakened. Yet, it was an awareness that seemed to elude Mike. It was hard for him to recognize, either because of his human soul or his all-consuming rage. Sophia had come to terms with a sobering realization—facing a dragon was an unwinnable battle.
The few remaining elven airships could be seen fleeing the city, an act in stark contrast to the elf's previous intentions of standing their ground. Everyone understood that challenging the might of a natural disaster like Ignial was an exercise in futility. To most common folk, the few ancient dragons left in the world remained as mythical beasts from the creation war. However, among those well-versed in the arcane arts, the knowledge of the true devastation a dragon could bring was an undeniable fact. Thus, the wisdom passed down from Helm Hold resonated in their minds—to bow, to kneel, and to plead for the dragon to take only your life, and spare your kingdom.
The sword's return was nothing short of extraordinary, defying the laws of physics with its incredible speed. As it reappeared, a sonic boom resonated for miles, the shockwaves reaching even the farthest corners of the sea. It continued its swift journey, cutting through land, sea, and even a massive Kraken that dared to cross its path. The colossal sea creature was reduced to mere ashes in an instant.
The sword's return was met with sheer incredulity, and just as the Pillar of the South unleashed a devastating area-of-effect attack that obliterated the hydra summoned by Sophia, Mike's soul was flung back to rejoin Valicar. In the nick of time, they grasped the blade, and the combined powers of the two siblings coursed through Blue Dawn. Its once-dormant blue flames blazed to life, ignited by the amalgamation of Mike's holy and demonic energies and Sophia's formidable draconic magic.
At that moment, a whisper reached Sophia's ear, and the sword unveiled its new name, "Red Noon." Its once-blue hue transformed into a radiant crimson red, a mirror of Sophia's eye, in harmony with the blue blade that represented her sibling.
With a grin that conveyed unwavering determination, Mike taunted the Pillar of the South, "I don't care how many times I have to cut you down! This blade is going straight into your heart, you wretched bitch!"
Empowered by the newly transformed Red Noon, Valicar and Mike charged forward with newfound vigor. The sword's radiant crimson flames partially sealed their wounds as it intertwined with the remnants of the black magic that had been holding them together. Wounds that had been ignored now sizzled shut, with pain only serving to fuel their determination.
With her one good hand, Valicar closed the gap between them and the Pillar of the South, her blade meeting the woman's magically reinforced spear in a blinding flash of gold and crimson. The duel unfolded at an astonishing pace, with Mike unleashing the full extent of their abilities, and Sophia channeling the last remnants of her dwindling mana into the blade. The Pillar bore the brunt of their relentless assault, her golden armor proving inadequate against the relentless fury of Red Noon.
The blade burned her, and to Mike's satisfaction, every wound inflicted brought a grimace of pain to the Pillar's face. It was a moment of triumph, where their attacks seemed to cause her genuine pain and press her. However, it was a fleeting respite, as she possessed an indomitable force of will and the endurance of countless souls. Yet, for a dragon, numbers held no sway. During the duel, a resounding roar filled the air, the sky suddenly darkening as day turned to night.
Ignial, the red dragon, appeared with an awe-inspiring display of sheer size and power. The monstrous creature was colossal, dwarfing even the great elf tree, its wingspan stretching farther than Valicar could have imagined. It was a beast of unfathomable scale, hundreds of meters long. Ignial was making a beeline straight toward them, but just as the dragon neared, it came to a sudden stop. Hovering in place, its wings generated Category 5 winds that blew the nearby ships ashore.
Valicar, still clinging to their last threads of composure, was hurled onto the beach, and the Pillar of the South tumbled alongside them just moments before they could employ the teleportation dagger. As Ignial's piercing yellow eyes fixed upon Valicar, the sheer terror of the situation caused an involuntary bladder release, a predicament that elicited a somewhat exasperated comment from Mike.
"Fuck, really, Soph?"
Yet, the unfolding scene took an even more astonishing turn. The mighty Pillar of the South, the one who had instilled dread and dominated her opponents just moments earlier, was now the one who threw herself to her knees before the awe-inspiring behemoth, the ancient red dragon.
The dragon began to speak, its voice an earth-shaking, ear-piercing screech. The mere sound caused Valicar to fall to their already trembling knees, and Sophia felt her very soul quiver at the dragon's words.
"Kin, you have dared to return, and in such a form," the dragon spoke, its voice rife with both rage and sorrow.
The ancient dragon turned its gaze to the Pillar of the South, and its voice resonated with rage. "And you, daughter of the North."
Ignial opened its massive jaws, unleashing a torrent of fire that transformed the sandy beach into glass. Sophia barely escaped the dragon's relentless flames, but to her astonishment, the Pillar of the South writhed in pain yet remained unharmed.
"I see, a magical array," Ignial said with discernment, his tone reeking of disdain. "Your impudence will be dealt with first."
With a swift motion, Ignial's claw scooped up the Pillar and, with a mighty beat of his colossal wings, he soared into orbit at a velocity surpassing anything Valicar could have imagined. He circled the world at breakneck speed, eventually targeting the empire and, more specifically, the Pillar's hometown.
Ignial descended upon the city like a meteor in an earth-shattering impact, obliterating all within a fifty-mile radius. His attack left nothing standing, decimating the Pillar's entire power base in a single devastating stroke. The monstrosity of a dragon's might had been unleashed, leaving only smoldering ruins.
"You are no god," Ignial declared as he opened his massive jaws to consume the Pillar amid the city's devastation.
She screamed, "Father! Father will kill you for this, Lizard!"
As Ignial's jaws closed around her final life, Valicar, on the other side of the world, hurriedly stashed Red Noon into their bag of holding and teleported away with the dagger, urgently in need of healing, their breath finally escaping their trembling form as they did the only reasonable thing and fled.