Elderren gave a low pitch growl. He slowly raised his massive head and looked skyward, staring off at something non other than he could see.
"What is it?" The man laying beside Elderren asked. In the dim light, one could barely make out only few features of the man, such as he warped, missing leg and his gnarled arms, as well as a deep pit in his chest. Black markings covered his body, leaving strange deformities in the skin wherever they were.
"Phenor." Elderren hummed sadly. "Is now with the stars."
The man was silent for a long moment.
"He… is dead..?" The man asked quietly. "But how..?"
"I am not sure. I imagine it has something to do with that immense energy we felt before.. but what is most strange is that now…"
"It's gone. As if it never existed."
— — —
Suddenly, back on Liorria's island, Dagon shot upright, gasping for air and raising a hand to his chest, feeling his body as his heart thrummed.
"I-where.. the leviathan.." he went on, breathing heavily with wide eyes.
Then he felt scales gently rub up against his arm, nudging him as he heard a low hum. He turned to look and saw Sephtis, lying at his side.
"Rise and shine, boy." Sephtis said. "You are safe now."
"Yes. You are. And now we can get to what you came here for." Came a feminine, powerful voice that echoed across the waves.
Dagon turned his eyes up, seeing the brilliant, divine figure that was Liorria. With wide eyes, he stared up at the Dragon Goddess in awe.
"You… are Liorria?" Dagon asked.
"I am."
"Dagon, we don't have time to ask questions. We need to hurry." Sephtis spoke.
"What? Why, what happened?"
"You… have been asleep for the past two days."
Dagon's heart dropped. "No… there's no way… the war.. please say you are messing with me.."
"I am not.." Sephtis said sadly.
Dagon bowed his head, a dark expression crossing his face. He couldn't help but be crushed by guilt. He'd failed those who had counted on him. He wondered if they were okay…
"Lift your head and listen, boy." Came Liorria. Dagon looked up at the dragon. "You have more power than you may know. But it is not a power that you can manifest into this world, this power, is one that is held within your dreams."
"My.. dreams.?" Suddenly Dagon remembered the two strange dreams he'd had while he'd been out. Was she saying.. they actually meant something? When he thought about it, he'd also dreamt about where to find Bella and Ellira.
"I see you have come to realize what I speak of." Liorria spoke. "You can see things no other can. Pay attention to your dreams, as one day, they will be your only hope."
Then Liorria reached to her chest, pulling free a silvery scale that shimmered as she held it out to Dagon. Dagon put out his hand as the scale was gently placed in his palm. The second scale. He now had two total, Phenor's scale, and now Liorria's. Only two left.
"Keep this in mind, Dagon." Liorria spoke. "A dragon of immense power and unknown origin has surfaced in our land." Her eyes narrowed. "And this dragon… has killed Phenor."
Dagon's heart fell. "What..?" He asked.. "and… what about..?"
"The Pure Blood… is dead as well. And what is even more disturbing, I cannot see this dragon. I can see the life of all dragons through their eyes, but this one, I cannot. Be wary of this, little one, and be ready for anything. Now go. You cannot afford to waste anymore time."
Dagon clenched his fists. There were so many things he wanted to ask. So many things he wanted to say. He wanted to know how to get stronger.. he needed to.
"And do not worry." Liorria spoke as if reading his mind. "I hath already given you mine blessing."
Blessing… that was like what Phenor did that made Dagon stronger. All he needed now was to know how to use that power. He moved over to Sephtis, hopping on his dragon's back. Just as he and Sephtis were to take off, Liorria spoke one last time; "Do not let the scars of war kill thine heart."
— — —
'Damnit!' Gena cursed. 'Where is Dagon?!' She stared up at Mourtas and Zickarys. She knew she didn't have the energy left to fight them… she wouldn't stand a chance.
Electricity suddenly shot from Ellira as the dragon made a move to pounce at Zickarys.
"No, don't-!" Gena roared, but it was too late.
A shockwave of dark energy pressed down from the sky, turning the world dark as Ellira was slammed to the ground, pinned, as was Gena. Gritting her teeth, Gena tried with all her might to get up off the ground, but even as her muscles bulged and the ground shattered beneath her, she couldn't move.
And then the sky turned even darker. Gena's eyes turned up, and she saw countless dragons and drakes, all covered in black armor.
"I want you to take them all alive!" Mourtas roared, waving his hand as the black sky then fell, crashing down on the Kingdom as screams rang into the sky.
Mourtas turned dark eyes down to Gena. Zickarys descended from the sky, landing beside Gena.
"Look at you." Mourtas spoke venomously as Zickarys placed his talons down on Gena's throat. "Pathetic. And weak. Beneath Zickarys's talons, just as you were always meant to be."
"Are we to take her alive?" Zickarys asked.
Mourtas glared down at Gena, then grinned. "No. She is too much of an annoyance. Kill her."
Zickarys raised his other talon and clasped Gena's horn.
'Dagon…' Gena thought, 'I'm sorry…' at that moment, all Gena could feel was regret. Regret that she couldn't of been kinder to Dagon. Regret that she couldn't have raised him better, that she couldn't of taught him all he needed to know, that she couldn't be there for him now… that… she couldn't of been a better mother. She closed her eyes.
"Last words?" Zickarys hissed, his fangs mere meters away from Gena's head.
Gena glared at him.
"My son will kill you all."
And then… Zickarys pushed down on Gena's neck and wrenched her horn, pulling her neck at an unnatural angle.
"SNAP"