The sky was thick with tension as Cypher, the Commanding Chief of Ryulong's army, hovered in the air above the group. His massive figure blocked out the sun, casting a shadow over the ridge where Regal and his allies had gathered. His scales gleamed a dark, iridescent blue in the fading daylight, and his eyes burned with the cold intensity of an executioner about to deliver the final blow.
"You've always been weak, Regal," Cypher sneered. His voice echoed across the ridge, a low growl filled with contempt. "You thought you could escape your past, but you'll always be the dragon who was thrown away—unworthy, unwanted."
Regal's face twisted with determination as he stood firm, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. He had seen Cypher reach into his own mouth and yank out a tooth with ease, then mutter the words that sent shivers down Regal's spine.
"Dragon Jaw!"
The tooth split into four sharp shards, each one crackling with molten energy. Regal's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the ancient spell, one that was designed to create a living prison of molten rock. He shouted to his allies, his voice hoarse with urgency.
"Get out of here! Move, now!"
But it was too late. The enemy dragons had swarmed around them, cutting off any chance of retreat. Only Regal managed to leap out of the blast zone, his wings beating hard as the four shards shot into the ground around his companions.
With a blinding flash, a square of glowing lava walls erupted, encircling Jacob, Zede, Kylan, and the rest of the team. The air became thick with heat, and the walls pulsed with molten energy that made it impossible for anyone inside to escape. Regal, outside the barrier, turned back in horror to see his friends trapped like animals in a cage.
"No!" he shouted, but before he could act, Cypher lunged at him with a speed that belied his enormous size. With a mighty punch, Cypher's fist connected with Regal's chest, sending him tumbling down the rocky slope. Regal's wings fluttered helplessly as he fell, crashing into a jagged ridge below.
He landed hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. Pain shot through his body, and he could feel the unmistakable crack of bones breaking. Blood filled his mouth, and he spat it out onto the rocks as he struggled to stand.
Cypher descended slowly, his wings beating in measured strokes as he landed with a heavy thud in front of Regal. The smirk on his face was one of pure malice.
"You always thought you were better than me, didn't you, Regal?" Cypher hissed, towering over him. "Because you were Ryulong's childhood friend? You thought that made you special, that it gave you some sort of divine right to lead."
Regal staggered to his feet, swaying from the pain, but his eyes never left Cypher's. "I earned my place," he said through gritted teeth. "I led with honor. You? You're nothing more than a thug with a fancy title."
The insult only seemed to amuse Cypher, who let out a short, mocking laugh. "Honor? Honor got you thrown out of the army and exiled from Dragon Hills. You're nothing now, Regal. And when I'm done with you, there won't even be that."
Regal's wings twitched, the urge to take flight strong, but he knew Cypher would be on him in an instant. He had to buy time—not just for himself but for his friends, trapped in that hellish barrier of lava. He glanced up at the molten walls, flickering with heat and sealing his companions inside. They didn't have long.
"I don't have time for this!" Regal thought, his mind racing. He needed to distract Cypher, to keep him occupied long enough for the others to break free.
With a sudden burst of movement, Regal lunged toward Cypher, aiming for a quick strike to the dragon's unguarded side. But Cypher was ready. He blocked the blow with ease, grabbing Regal by the arm and twisting it painfully behind his back.
"Still so predictable," Cypher sneered. He lifted Regal off the ground and hurled him into a nearby boulder. The rock shattered on impact, and Regal collapsed in a heap, gasping for breath. His wings twitched weakly, but he forced himself to rise again, determined not to give Cypher the satisfaction of seeing him broken.
"You're right about one thing, Regal," Cypher said, slowly approaching. "I don't need to prove anything to you. I'll finish you off and then deal with your pathetic band of misfits."
Cypher raised his massive claw, ready to strike Regal down for good, when a faint shimmer caught his eye. He turned just in time to see a burst of energy ripple through the lava walls surrounding Regal's allies