Regal watched Jacob closely, his expression shifting from stern focus to a brief, wistful smile. "You came to us last night, and it feels like just minutes have passed with you, Jacob," he said, before calling out to a group of dragon allies. Five dragons approached: a tall, lean dragon with scales that shimmered in the light named Drakkon; a stocky dragon with a missing eye and a scar running down his snout named Vortex; a slender, emerald-colored dragoness with agile wings named Saphira; an older, grizzled dragon with a calm demeanor named Cinder; and a young, energetic dragon with fiery red scales named Blaze.
Regal explained the situation to his friends, detailing Ryulong's abhorrent plans and their mission to rescue the captured girls. They all listened intently, their faces darkening with the gravity of the situation. Drakkon spoke up, his voice a low rumble. "We're with you, Regal. But if we're risking our lives, we need to know what this human is capable of. Can he even fight?"
"I can transform partly into magical creatures" Jacob said
Jacob glanced at Druid, who perched confidently on his shoulder, and then took a step forward. He focused, and in a swift movement, his arms transformed into the muscular, clawed hands of an orc. Then, he shifted his legs into the strong, galloping limbs of a centaur. For his finale, he spread wide, dragon-like wings that unfurled with a powerful flap, sending a gust of wind through the room. The dragons watched, their skepticism melting into admiration as Jacob displayed his unique transformation abilities.
"Impressive," Regal said with a nod of approval. "Your powers are extraordinary, Jacob. We'll need every bit of them for this mission. Let's move out."
The group ascended into the heart of Dragon Hills, moving stealthily through the jagged terrain. They encountered two dragon guards patrolling the entrance, and without hesitation, they struck. Jacob and Regal knocked them out in synchronized blows, the guards crumpling to the ground with barely a sound.
Jacob moved cautiously through the twisting pathways of Dragon Hills, the darkness closing in around him like a suffocating shroud. He kept glancing over his shoulder, expecting to see Regal and the others trailing behind him, but they were nowhere to be found. Alone, Jacob pushed forward, his heart pounding in his chest as the shadows seemed to grow longer and more menacing.
Suddenly, Jacob found himself facing an uncanny reflection, a perfect mirror image standing directly across from him. His instincts kicked in, and he immediately assumed it was a trap—some illusion or magical barrier meant to confuse and capture him. He stepped forward, fists clenched, his expression hardening as he prepared to shatter the illusion with sheer force.
But before Jacob could strike, the reflection moved first, matching his posture exactly, right down to the furrowed brow and the fiery determination in his eyes.
"Who are you?" Jacob demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion and anger.
The reflection blinked, looking just as bewildered. "I should be asking you the same thing," the figure responded with equal intensity. "I'm Jacob, and this is my friend, Druid."
A small, familiar wooden bull stepped out from behind the figure, making a tiny snort of recognition. Jacob's eyes widened, and he hesitated. The figure wasn't just a reflection—it was a person, another human who looked just like him.
"I'm Zede," the figure finally introduced himself, cautiously lowering his guard. Diego, his metallic bull companion, moved beside him, eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and readiness. Jacob noted the differences: Zede's Druid was metallic, not wooden, a stark contrast to his own small friend perched on his shoulder.
Jacob's mind raced. He had encountered strange phenomena before, but nothing quite like this. A parallel version of himself, in a parallel reality—it was both bewildering and oddly exhilarating. He glanced over at Druid, who merely shrugged as if this were another mundane adventure.
Meanwhile, Kylan, who had been trailing behind them with a bewildered expression, finally caught up. His eyes darted between the two identical figures—Jacob and Zede—and he blinked in utter disbelief. "What the—?" Kylan stuttered, his voice cracking slightly. "Two of you? Really?"
Jacob and Zede exchanged looks, their expressions mirrored perfectly, before bursting into nervous laughter. Even in this tense moment, the absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on them.
Kylan rubbed his temples, still grappling with the reality that he was witnessing. "Let me guess," he said dryly, pointing at Jacob. "You're the original one, right?"
Jacob and Zede glanced at each other, both raising their eyebrows at the same time. "Does it really matter?" Zede replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "We're both here now."
Kylan threw his hands up in the air. "Great. Just great. And let me guess again—in this reality, I'm a girl, right? Of course, that would happen to me." He sighed deeply, the absurdity of the moment momentarily overshadowing the dire situation they were in.
Jacob then explained to Zede and Kylan what he had learned about the dragons and Lord Ryulong's twisted plans. He spoke of the abductions, the girls tied up, and the impending danger that loomed over all of them. Zede listened intently, nodding as he absorbed the gravity of the mission. Kylan, still somewhat dazed by the sudden presence of a duplicate Jacob, managed to focus enough to grasp the severity of the situation.
As they strategized, they stumbled upon a group of hostile dragons blocking their path. The fight was fierce; Jacob transformed his arms into the hulking strength of an orc and wielded his dragon wings for agility, while Zede made a Bazooka and targeted dragons. Their teamwork was uncanny, as if they had been fighting side by side for years rather than mere minutes.
"So this one gives you instant weaponary 'Nice!" Jacob said. "Seeing you transforming is like a dream for me. But form where did you find him?" Zede asked. Jacob explained how on e day a portal opened up and Druid came out.
After subduing the enemies, the trio extracted vital information from one of the guards, learning the location of the captive girls: the Hall of Molt. This revelation spurred them onward, their mission taking on an even greater urgency.
As they navigated the treacherous terrain, they finally caught sight of Regal and his group in the distance. The dragons were huddled together, their faces drawn with worry. Regal, upon spotting Jacob, Zede, and Kylan, rushed over, his wings unfurling in a swift, powerful motion that sent a gust of wind swirling around them.
Regal's eyes flicked between Jacob and Zede, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing. "What is this?" Regal demanded, his voice tinged with both curiosity and suspicion. "Two Jacobs? Is this some kind of trick?"
Kylan quickly stepped in, still a bit rattled but determined to set the record straight. "Parallel realities," he explained hastily, his words tumbling out in a rush. "This is Zede. He's… another version of Jacob from this reality."
Regal's expression softened slightly, though skepticism still lingered in his eyes. He studied the two Jacobs—Zede and his original counterpart—and after a long, tense moment, he nodded slowly. "Allies, then," he said firmly, though there was an undercurrent of unease. "We have no time to waste. Ryulong's forces are moving, and we have to act now."