Cassius turned and ran as the dragon came speeding down at them. Chuck followed suite and ran in the opposite direction, "Why do I always find myself in these shitty situations?" He moaned as he ran from the rapidly approaching dragon. The beast was huge, with gleaming black scales and reptilian eyes. It's body was massive, and it's wingspan was terrifying; his eyes opened in fear when the dragon opened it's maw, displaying fangs the length of his arm.
Cassius ran into the palace, anything he'd previously fear about the place was gone in a heartbeat. He hoped Chuck was doing okay, but if Cassius didn't find cover or a place to hide; he would be an appetizer for the massive, flying serpent. He sped past ancient furnishings and artworks; he would of liked to stop and admire them, if he wasn't about to be eaten. He had made it about fifty yards into the palace when the dragon came crashing through the ceiling; stone and glass tumbled down around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a head sized piece of stone bounce of Chuck harmlessly.
The dragon perched itself on top of the broken palace and stared down with malice at the rodents that would soon become it's food. Cassius heard the dragon take in a deep breath and cursed, everyone knew dragon's could breath fire. Terrible heat scorched his back as the dragon released it's most fearsome attack. Cassius screamed out in expected pain as the fire crashed down on him, he kept screaming for several moments; until it dawned on him, he wasn't injured in anyway. His clothes had just been burnt away, but despite that, he was completely fine. He stood up and glanced at the massive dragon, then took off running again.
The dragon's black eyes narrowed when the vermin didn't get roasted in his tremendous fire. Anger seeped into it's cold heart, how dare this pathetic creature not die easily! It climbed through the giant hole it had made and it's claws scratched across the stone floor; tearing huge gouges in it. It rested back and released a might roar; Chuck began running even faster, his giant body; small in comparison with the magnificent dragon.
Cassius weaved through the pillars and ancient furniture. He reached an exit from the massive parlor room and dove through it, just as the dragon's claws exploded through the floor behind him. He slammed against the hallway wall with a thud, his bones grating against one another. He painfully forced himself to his feet and took off running down the dark hallway. His tripped several times over debris on the stone floors. Chuck sent him an image, confirming he had found a staircase leading down into the dark chambers below. Running through the seemingly endless hallways, it finally struck Cassius, how big the palace truly was. He couldn't imagine living in such a large place, but despite this, he also realized the place's beauty. Every hallway was filled with beautiful artwork and statues, somehow safe from the ravages of thousands of years.
His revere was broken we the dragon's massive head broke through the wall to his left. He was flung in the air like a rag doll, his body crashed through a bronze statue depicting a man sitting on a slab, with his chin resting on his fist. It was titled, The Thinker. His vision blurred and his head pounded, but he forced himself back to his feet. With a profound limp, he ran deeper down the dark hallways. The dragon, roaring in anger behind him. "Chuck, how you hanging?" He thought in pain. An image of Chuck in a dark stairwell flashed before his eyes. "Good, stay away from the dragon. It seems to want me, I'll try to find a way down." Just as that last message was sent, Cassius felt himself go airborne.
He was in the air for what seemed an eternity, he was consumed in darkness. The air was humid, sweat gathered on his forehead. His descent was followed by the sound of sharp claws scraping against stone, and an anger filled roared. He continued to fall into what seemed an endless abyss. His heart clenched as he thought of the inevitable bottom, but before he could hit the bottom. A giant, scaled paw, swooped down and grabbed him. The darkness receded and the room was engulfed in the warmth of fire. The dragon swooped down and landed on cracked stone. It had finally got the pesky rodent, that had been eluding it for so long. He gripped the rodent in his fingers tightly and stalked deeper into the open tunnel. His reptilian eyes allowed him to see in the picture black.
Cassius couldn't breath, the dragon gripped him tightly in it's hands. He felt himself losing consciousness, but his eyes caught the shimmer of a light in the distance. The closer they got, the brighter it got. To his relief he could see, it was a room lit by magical lanterns. They led to a giant door, and two stone creatures stood before it. Cassius decided he wasn't going out this way, and with all his strength he pushed against the dragon's hands. The dragon's hand was forced open and Cassius tumbled out; sweet oxygen entered his lungs and the black in his vision receded. The dragon tried to eat him, but Cassius rolled out of the way.
The claws then slammed down between his legs, narrowly missing the family jewels. "Holy shit!" Cassius screamed and ran in the direction of the giant, metal door. He nearly fell when Chuck came out of the gloom and ran beside him; as one, they closed in on the stone creatures. The two creatures stood stoically, their ruby eyes facing straight forward. Despite being made from stone, they had elegant bodies that allowed for speed. They both carried gleaming spears. The dragon followed behind them, it's massive maw opened to consume them.
An image from Chuck appeared in his mind, showing Cassius touching the stone creatures. "Why?" He sent back, but Chuck simply snorted and continue sprinting. They rapidly closed on the stone creatures, and Cassius did as Chuck said. He placed one hand on each creature, to his surprise; the runes on his body flared. Crimson runes lit across the bodies of the two creatures and their ruby eyes gleamed with intelligence. As one, they charged towards the dragon, that was nearly a top them.
The dragon flared angrily at the strange, stone creatures running at him. They moved with surprising grace and speed; within a split second, they had reached him. Sharp steel cut into his formerly impenetrable scales. He roared in pain and anger, yet the creatures pressed on. The were determined to protect their master from the deadly beast. They had limited intelligence, but they were able to distinguish their ancient master; even in this weakened and pathetic state.
Meanwhile, Cassius and Chuck stood before the rune encrusted door, panting. Drool poured out of Chuck's open maw, he sent Cassius an image; depicting Chuck in an upright position with his paw resting on his chest, he was sighing in relief. Cassius shook his head, "We aren't out of the shitter yet, Chuck. If we don't get through this door, and those creatures don't hold that dragon off; we are screwed." Chuck grunted, and muzzled the door. Cassius stared at it for a moment, before placing both hands on the cold metal.
The dragon had successfully injured one of the annoyingly fast creatures. His eyes wandered over them, and focused on his prey. The rodent was attempting to get through the enchanted door; the dragon, of course, couldn't allow his prey to escape that easy. He roared and charged through the two creatures, ignoring the cold bite of their steel blades, as they cut into his forearms. As the dragon closed in on his prey, several thoughts ran through his beastly brain. One, he couldn't disappoint the master, and two; that giant bear had to die. The dragon couldn't afford to let it grow up, if it did; it could pose a massive threat to his domain.
Cassius was oblivious to the dragon that was about to consume him. Instead, his body was racked with pain as the runes on his body flared in unison with those on the door. The pain was terrible, and climbed from his lower extremities, to his head. Luckily, the door began to crack open; the pain lessened.
Chuck anxiously watched as the massive, Alpha beast, approached his friend and companion. Something primal opened in the bear's heart, like a forest fire running rampant. It was a terrible feeling, but at the same time it was soothing; it was a thing called love. He couldn't let this man, who had changed his life, die to the dragon. Before Cassius, he had spent the first one hundred years of his childhood, alone in the Great-Wood. His mother had died when he was a cub, and he was forced to provide for himself; it was a terribly lonely life. That all changed a month ago when he attacked Cassius, as he hiked through the forest. The man had bonded with him, and changed the bear. His intelligence was increased ten fold; he was as smart as he would have been when he was a fully grown God-Beast. Soon he would be able to speak, and Cassius couldn't die before that. So, with a might roar of love; he attacked the dragon that had previously terrified him.
The dragon had finally caught his prey. He opened his mouth to consume the rodent, but was knocked back; as something crashed into him. He jerked his massive head around, scanning for the thing that prevented him from eating his prey. His eyes narrowed when he saw the bear from earlier. It had left a large gash in the dragon's neck, and it hurt terribly. The dragon roared and charged at the bear, but before he could reach it; he was struck by cold metal in his chest. It sliced through the hard scales, blood poured down from the wound. The two creatures were still assaulting the dragon; only this time, they had gravely wounded him.
The door opened all the way and Cassius sighed in relief. That relief vanished when an image appeared in his mind, this one showed Cassius and Chuck sprinting through the door; the injured dragon on their heels. Cassius didn't have time to consider, because Chuck slammed into him. They both flew through the doorway, into a dimly lit room. The dragon was about to follow when his eyes noticed that the stone creatures were pulsing brightly. Cracks began to form on their bodies as the door began to shut. They stepped in front of him, blocking him as the doors slammed shut. The dragon roared in frustration, but his roar quickly flickered out. He stared at two creatures, their bodies were cracking; crimson light shining through. For the first time in his long life, the dragon felt a foreign emotion. Fear.
Cassius looked back as the door slammed shut, it was immediately followed by a deafening explosion. The explosion shook the entire mountain top, and the door was nearly flung from it's hinges. Relief settled over his body, and he collapsed against the cold floor. Chuck, was also relieved. He had begun grooming himself, removing the dust form his fur. "That was a close one, wasn't it boy?" He chuckled. Chuck looked up and snorted, then resumed his task.
Cassius finally released that he was naked, his flesh cool, in the humid room. After several moments of catching his breath he climbed to his feet. Sweat, grime, and dirt clung to his hair. He quickly shook out what would go, and started exploring the new room. It was being lit by the same lanterns he'd seen outside. They gave off a pleasant glow. The room was long, and massive stone columns lined each side of a walkway. The remains of a carpet, covered the floor in the middle. The pathway led to a shining object, but was obscured in gloom. Warily, he began walking towards it. The gloom receded as he approached. Crimson runes were beautiful engraved into the columns. They came to life as he passed, as did his.
As he reached the opposite side of the room, he stopped in his tracks. Before home was a dais, and on top of it was a black slab. His eyes didn't stop there, instead, they focused on what was in it. A beautiful, dragon pommelled sword, had been thrust into the slab. It's ruby eyes shined crimson, and it called to Cassius. His heart stopped and he felt something he didn't know he was missing. "The other half of my soul." He said with longing.
****
Madon watched through the eyes of his dragon, several times he yelled in anger as Cassius escaped him. He had felt relieved when the dragon had finally caught him in his hands, but gazed in shock when Cassius forced his way out. It shouldn't be possible for someone to have that strength, especially without their item of power. He was even more infuriated when the bear had reunited with him, and they activated the guardians.
He was sure he had won when the dragon opened it's mouth to consume the young God, but once again escaped certain death. His bear had attacked the dragon, something he'd previously thought impossible. After that, they escaped through the doorway. He knew he was defeated, nothing sort of Irian himself could enter through them. Just when he went to recall the dragon, the guardians destroyed themself; his dragon along with them.
Madon roared in anger, and cursed Cassius loudly. A major piece could have been eliminated, but he had failed. Now the whole game was in jeopardy because of his failure. He gained control of his anger and calmed himself. It was time for a plan B. The God of Chaos shimmered, and disappeared in a wisp of black smoke.