Kent

All was going well, I was heading towards Brock (who was the closest member to me) and I watched as Drake and Minya met up by using the minimap.

I was scared for Layton though, she was VERY close to the Night-Mare. I just hoped she would pull through. Knowing her though, it was almost a given. She was strong as any of us, and had the guts to use those strengths.

I checked my minimap again, finding myself only about a mile away from Brock, and he was heading my way as well, which shortened the time considerably.

I kicked off of another tree, sending myself flying forward at a speed that would look like a blur to any casual onlooker. Not like there would even be any, this place was empty besides the Nightmares of Earth and monsters.

I saw a tree a couple hundred feet suddenly collapse, and I smiled to myself. That would be none other than Brock. For all his strength, he was still ridiculously clumsy sometimes.

Speeding up slightly I jumped, landing directly in front of Brock.

He screamed, backpedaling and hitting his head against a tree, sending it crashing down.

I tilted my head, looking at him with a wide grin on my face. “You seem uptight.”

He smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. “Just worried about Layton.”

I stepped forward, extending my hand and helping him up. “We all are. It is probably the worst possible place to spawn, bar being in the ocean.”

Brock shuddered. “That has happened to me before, not a fun experience.”

“Really? When?”

“When the Night-Mare teleported us all over the island a couple weeks ago.”

“...”

“What?”

“That was like one week ago.”

“Oh.”

I rubbed my forehead. “It is so hard to keep track of time here, so I get you.”

“Yeah, it's so har-” Brock was abruptly cut off.

Member of the Nightmares of Earth (Layton) has died. Her soul shall go to the gods and will be remembered by all.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Night-Mare grows more powerful from Layton's death.

*Warning! Night-Mare is powerful enough to rank up! Make sure that either you do it first or that the Night-Mare can’t advance.*

I stared in shock at the words in front of me, not accepting what I was seeing. How? How could this happen!?!

My knees collapsed and I felt my legs hit a rock under me, but I was past the point of caring. “Layton…” I said, tears welling in my eyes.

I felt a large hand rest on my shoulder. “Kent, it’s okay, we will push through this somehow.

I whirled knocking his hand away. “How can you say that!? One of our friends was just MURDERED! How can you stay so calm and nonchalant? Did you not care about Layton? HOW CAN YOU ACCEPT THIS!?!” I was practically screaming in his face by the end of my little rant.

“Kent it’s-” I cut him off.

“Don’t you dare say it’s okay.” I growled at him, and I felt something deep within me click.

I said the first things that came to my mind. “A dragon never backs down, a dragon protects his friends, and a dragon captures.”

“Wha?”

Kent has aligned with his inner dragon perfectly! Applying necessary stats…

Second stage of the inner dragon has been unlocked, Dragon Form!

Your familiar (Storm of the Shattered Isles) is under attack!

The first message was a welcome power boost, my dragon form would make me quite a bit stronger, and the stats were a nice side bonus.

The second message however…

I looked towards where Layton had been, rage coursing through my veins. I swore to myself right then and there that I would revenge Layton even if it cost me my own life.

If Storm died too, I wasn’t sure what I would do with myself.

I checked my minimap and looked in the direction of the Final boss. “I am going to kill you.” I muttered darkly, kicking off of the ground and blasting high above the trees.

As I started to fall, I entered my dragon state, soaring through the sky towards my enemy. The Night-Mare.

As I glided through the sky, I flexed my muscles, trying to get a feel for my new body.

I saw a huge explosion go off in front of me. “What!” That was in the same direction as the Night-Mare!

I sped up, pointing my nose and narrowing my eyes, because I didn’t have wings, I had to rely on the air current to take me faster.

I tried to go faster but the wind pushed against me. Why?!? Why was the world trying to stop me? I just wanted to help my friends! I roared, weaving back and forth to send myself launching forward, closing on the Night-Mares locations.

I pushed upward, creating distance from the ground. When I was far enough from the ground, I looked downward, spiraling and picking up speed until I was all but blasting towards the Night-Mare.

I saw Storm locked in combat with the Night-Mare in its horse form. Storm seemed to be holding his own but I could see that he was covered in wounds and hoof prints.

I roared again, urging myself to go faster, but my body just wouldn’t listen to me.

The Night-Mare reared up, smashing Storm into the ground.

I gritted my sharp teeth together before slamming into the ground, sending up a wave of dust and rocks. I gripped the ground and launched myself at the Night-Mare slamming myself into its side and throwing it off of Storm’s body.

“How dare you!” I roared in the horrid creature's face, making it take a step back when it saw my dragon form. “You killed Layton, and now you are trying to kill Storm? I will end you even if it kills me!”