The atmosphere buzzed with an anxious but hopeful energy as Kylan and the exiled dragons split into groups, fanning out in all directions to locate the abducted girls. Some groups searched the northern caves, while others combed through the winding tunnels and chambers scattered throughout Dragon Hills. Kylan and his team managed to free several groups of girls who had been hidden in remote, dark corners of the stronghold, and as word spread, the freed girls' sobs of gratitude filled the cold stone halls.
Meanwhile, Jacob, Zede, and their dragon allies focused on the Hall of Molt, the location where Cypher's guards held the largest group of captives. The Hall of Molt, its fiery glow radiating ominously from the core of Dragon Hills, loomed in front of them. The heat was oppressive, and each step closer only intensified the flames licking through the openings, casting an eerie light on the faces of the dragons and allies alike. Zede studied the walls, looking for a weakness in the thick rock that enclosed the hall. His mind raced through possible solutions, and then, suddenly, inspiration struck.
He looked at Diego, his companion perched alertly on his shoulder, and commanded, "Diego, we need drillers. Create them around my hands."
Diego's eyes glowed a bright, intense blue as he instantly understood Zede's plan. With a flicker of his metallic form, Diego transformed Zede's arms, encasing them in sturdy drill-like mechanisms. Zede took a deep breath, bracing himself as he placed the drillers against the stone wall. "Here goes nothing," he muttered.
With a deafening roar, the drills pierced through the rock. The sound reverberated through the hall, and chips of stone flew as Zede pushed deeper, carving a path straight into the heart of the Hall of Molt. His arms shook under the strain, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, the drillers cutting a wide enough tunnel to reach the imprisoned girls.
Moments later, Zede burst through the other side. His eyes widened as he saw the terrified faces of the girls bound together, huddling against the heat. His entrance was a beacon of hope, and he called out, "We're here to get you out. Come quickly, stay close!"
The girls moved swiftly toward the opening, scrambling to freedom. Zede guided each one through the narrow tunnel, his heart racing as the crowd behind him thinned. As the last girl emerged, a cheer erupted from the dragons and allies waiting outside. They gathered around Zede, clapping and thanking him for his bravery and resourcefulness.
But then, amid the celebration, Jacob's heart sank. He looked around, searching the faces in the crowd and realizing someone was missing. **Regal**. A flash of memory hit him—the sight of Regal being struck down by Cypher, falling before the Dragon Jaw spell had solidified around them.
"Regal," Jacob whispered, his voice thick with worry. He turned to Zede, who immediately understood.
"I saw him fall too," Zede said, his face tense. "He must still be out there."
Without another word, Jacob spread his wings again, this time fighting through the pain of his earlier injuries. Ignoring the protest from his battered body, he took off, his gaze scanning the rocky terrain below. Zede and Diego were not far behind, and several of the exiled dragons took to the air, spreading out to join the search for their fallen leader.
As Jacob flew lower, he spotted a ridge not far from where they'd been imprisoned. There, on a narrow outcropping, lay Regal, his body sprawled, struggling to move as Cypher's punch had taken its toll on him. Regal's eyes fluttered open as he saw Jacob and the others landing nearby, his lips pulling into a faint, weary smile.
"Thought… you'd… forget about me," he rasped, wincing as he tried to sit up.
Jacob knelt beside him, steadying him with a hand. "Forget about you? You're the reason we're here," he said. "We couldn't have done this without you, Regal. Come on, let's get you back."
With the help of Zede and Diego, they gently lifted Regal, carefully cradling his injured form as they began the flight back to the others. The exiled dragons formed a protective circle around them as they flew, ensuring their safe return to the rescued girls and allies.
As they landed, cheers once again erupted, this time even louder than before. Regal, supported by Jacob and Zede, looked around at the crowd of relieved faces, the freed girls, and the exiled dragons who had risked everything to make this rescue possible. For the first time in a long while, Regal's eyes filled with pride and warmth.
As the celebration quieted, someone from the crowd asked, "But… what happened to Cypher?"
A ripple of silence swept through the group. Jacob's brow furrowed, uncertainty shadowing his face. For a moment, they shared uneasy glances before Zede spoke up.
"We didn't see him after the fight," he said. "But if he's alive, he'll be back—and probably with more fury than before."
The scene shifted to a secluded ridge further down the mountain. The rough stone was littered with feathers, and a chilling sound of caws and flapping wings echoed through the narrow ledges. Cypher lay there, sprawled, unconscious, his powerful form reduced to a vulnerable, broken figure. His black scales were dull, his wings bent at odd angles from his battle with Regal and his fall from the heights. Around him, a gathering of crows perched with predatory interest, their dark eyes glinting as they took in the fallen warrior.
One crow, bolder than the rest, hopped closer, its sharp beak glinting ominously in the dim light. It leaned down, inspecting Cypher's face with a gleam of malice. With a swift motion, the crow pecked sharply, gouging out one of Cypher's eyes. The other crows cawed with delight, swooping closer, ready to make a meal of the once-feared dragon.
But just then, the air filled with a heavy beat of wings. Several of Cypher's minions, having searched the hills in fear and confusion, finally located their fallen leader. Their scales gleamed in the light as they dived towards the ridge, sending the murder of crows scattering into the sky with frantic flaps.
"Boss!" one of the dragons exclaimed, his voice thick with a mixture of relief and shock as he saw Cypher's battered form. They landed around him, forming a tight circle as one of them knelt beside his unconscious body, gently nudging his shoulder.
"He's… alive, but barely," another minion murmured, eyeing the blood on Cypher's face where the crow had done its damage. "If we don't get him back soon, he might not make it."
The dragons wasted no time. They lifted their wounded leader with care, wings wrapping protectively around him as they took off into the sky, bearing him away to safety. The crows cawed in the distance, following briefly before scattering in search of easier prey.
As Cypher's minions disappeared over the horizon, the ridge grew silent again, the echo of their wings fading into the wind.