As Princess Ruby entered the serene garden, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and tranquillity wash over her. She knew that this was the only place where she could directly communicate with the Crystal Dragon, the powerful entity worshipped by her kingdom. However, her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her father's anger and the dream she had received from the Crystal Dragon.
She was determined to uncover the truth and understand the significance of the man with the sword in her vision.
As she approached the centre of the garden, she knelt down and spoke the enchanting words, "Te llamo Dragón de Cristal." In an instant, the garden disappeared and was replaced by a vast and ornate sanctuary. Ruby stood up and gazed around in wonder, taking in the intricate carvings and shimmering crystals that adorned the walls.
She knew that the Crystal Dragon was watching her every move, and so she spoke with confidence, "O Crystal Dragon, I seek your wisdom and guidance. I must understand the meaning of my dream and the significance of the man with the sword. Please, show me the path that I must follow." As she finished speaking, a cold wind blew through the sanctuary, and a voice echoed in her mind,
"The path you seek is not an easy one, Princess Ruby. The man with the sword is the key to unlocking the secrets of the past and the future. But beware, for he is not to be trusted. Follow your heart, and you shall find the answers you seek."
Ruby nodded, her resolve strengthened.
She knew that she had a long and difficult journey ahead of her, but she was willing to do whatever it took to protect her kingdom and her people. As she left the sanctuary and returned to the castle, she couldn't help but feel a sense of determination and purpose. The fate of the world rested on her shoulders, and she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The Crystal Dragon was a magnificent sight to behold, with scales that shimmered like diamonds in the sunlight. His body was sleek and lithe, with wings that spanned wider than the eye could see. His eyes were piercing and wise, seeming to see into the very souls of those who looked into them.
The dragon's voice was deep and resonant, yet gentle, like the sound of a distant waterfall. Around him, the air seemed to crackle with magic, and his presence radiated power and wisdom. The Crystal Dragon was a symbol of hope and protection, revered by many as a deity, and feared by others who dared to cross him.
"The king wishes to speak with me. Very well, I accept," declared the Crystal Dragon. With a wave of his magic, a man appeared in the middle of the sanctuary, his expression filled with a serene smile. The man then proceeded to use a small blade to slice open his own stomach.
As the man cut open his stomach, the Crystal Dragon's veil entered his body and he began to transform. Wings sprouted from his back, and his eyes shone with the same iridescent light as the dragon. His voice remained deep and resonant, but now with a touch of otherworldly power.
The man was no longer just a man - he had become the physical embodiment of the Crystal Dragon. He looked at Ruby, his gaze piercing yet comforting at the same time. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence in his presence.
With a flick of his finger, the Crystal Dragon whisked Ruby away to the garden of the kingdom. As the priestess led the way to the king, the dragon's presence could be felt throughout the land. People flocked to him, kissing his hands and feet, and as he walked, new life sprang forth from his every step. The king's guards tried to move the people along, but they were in such awe of the dragon that they couldn't be budged.
The king watched from afar, unimpressed. "What a show-off," he muttered. But the guard's insistence eventually called for more people, and the Crystal Dragon saw fit to bless them all. With a wave of his hand, he conjured crystals in the hands of the people and spoke words of gratitude, while Ruby signalled to him that he could finally meet the king.
In the room where the king, Silvio, and Anibal were waiting, the Crystal Dragon interrupted the king before he could speak, insisting that Ruby be a part of the meeting. As the king reluctantly agreed, the dragon's wings unfurled, and his eyes shone with an otherworldly light. It was clear that this meeting was not going to be a simple one.
"It has been a long time since we haven't spoken like this Jasper boy," said Crystal Dragon with a smile.
"Go to the case Crystal Dragon and one thing i'm not Jasper boy i am King Jasper…you may be a deity but in reality you're just my father pet…" said the king
As the pressure in the room intensified, the Crystal Dragon's smile faded into a stern expression.
"You forget yourself, Jasper," he said in a voice that echoed through the room. "I may be a deity, but I am not anyone's pet. And certainly not yours."
Jasper bristled at the rebuke, but the Crystal Dragon continued without pause. "As for the matter at hand, the magician hero and the demon king...yes, I am aware of it. And I have been keeping a watchful eye on the situation."
Silvio and Ruby exchanged worried glances, while Anibal seethed with anger. "And what about the lives lost in the meantime?" he demanded. "Were they just pawns in your game?"
The Crystal Dragon's expression softened slightly. "No, Anibal. They were not. But I had to be certain of their loyalty before revealing the full extent of the threat. And now that I know they are willing to fight until the end, I can reveal the truth."
He proceeded to outline the plan to stop the magician hero and prevent the summoning of the demon king. As he spoke, the pressure in the room eased and the group began to feel hopeful once more.
The king, with a worried voice, asked the Crystal Dragon, "Why do you want him to be free?"
"What good thing will come if he is in that prison…" said Crystal Dragon and started to speak again
"Sorry for interrupting, are you talking about the man with the sword?" asked Ruby.
Crystal Dragon nodded in response. "Yes, Ruby. That man was born in the outskirts of this kingdom and has served it for hundreds of years. He started as a soldier, then became a general, and eventually rose to become the swordsman hero. He was respected by all seven kingdoms and wherever he went, victory followed him. He had many admirable traits, including fearlessness in the face of death and a strong sense of justice."
"That's great," Ruby chimed in, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"We need him back. Dad, can we disband the hero treaty?"
The king's expression grew worried. "Yes, that's all well and good, but do you think the heroes will accept it?"
Crystal Dragon interjected, "Abel, the swordsman hero, never left this kingdom, even when his father and grandfather disbanded the heroes and treated them like trash in the name of peace."
A tense silence fell over the room as they considered the implications of bringing back the heroes. Suddenly, the king let out a laugh.
"Haha, Crystal Dragon, you're not afraid of Abel, are you? Don't forget he snapped that day, and we still bear the scars from his rampage."
The Crystal Dragon took a step back, not wanting to show any hint of fear. He remembered how much more powerful he was back then, and how weak he was now. He knew that even if he didn't use one hundred percent of his power, it would still be necessary to free Abel. After all, Abel hated the demon king even more than they did.
"You think so?" the king chuckled, and Ruby listened intently as she sat down on a sofa with Silvio and Anibal. The room was filled with tension, and they all knew that the decision to free Abel would have far-reaching consequences.
"How about this," proposed the Crystal Dragon. "I will give him a stronger seal, and he will be under my supervision. The moment he loses control, I will be the one to seal him again and put him back in prison."
"We needed three months to stop his rampage, and the kingdom almost got destroyed. The losses we suffered were huge," replied the king.
"I know, but we don't have a choice. The other heroes aren't even answering my calls, so if you want to achieve peace like your father, you don't have a choice," the Crystal Dragon reasoned.
As they spoke, the dragon's body began to crumble, and a piece of skin fell off. "Ruby, come here," the dragon beckoned. He took her right hand, kissed it, and a seal in the shape of a ruby-coloured flower shone brightly. Ruby's powers were amplified, and she was now able to summon the dragon.
"What did you do?" asked the king, alarmed.
"Nothing much. I released her potential. She will be the bridge between me and Abel. Now she has the power to summon me," the dragon explained.
"This wasn't part of the deal," the king protested, reaching for his sword.
"I know, but I believe in your daughter's judgement," said the dragon with a smirk.
"Sorry, my priestess, but you have a bigger mission now. You are no longer just a priestess," the dragon said to Ruby.
"For the sake of the world, I will accept it," Ruby agreed.
"That's great. It's been a long time since I've seen him. How about we go and meet him? Even your daughter looks excited," the dragon suggested.
The king gave a disgusted look at the dragon but eventually decided to let them enter the cellar.
As they made their way to the deepest and darkest part of the kingdom, they passed by two guards and a little girl who caught Ruby's attention.
"Wait...Amber, is that you?" Ruby exclaimed.
"Big Sister, my lord, Crystal Dragon," greeted Amber.
Amber was Ruby's younger sister and the youngest daughter of King Jasper. She was known to be one of the strongest knights of her generation, with abilities on par with the greatest magicians.
In this world, knights could determine their class after completing their training by checking a special white orb that changed colour on contact. There were four classes, each represented by a different colour: silver for swordsman, purple for magician, green for archer, and light blue for holy persons. Ruby received a light blue orb in her training, indicating her class as a holy person, while Amber received a purple orb, making her a magician. Despite her small stature, Amber possessed great power.
"I'm here to put up more defence for the shield," explained Amber.
"The shield?" asked Ruby.
The place where Abel was being held was a concentrated cloud of mana known as "Escudo de Nube" or "Cloud Shield." It was a massive structure, large enough to house a huge building and was currently filling the area.
"We need to enter inside," said Crystal Dragon with a smile.
"But what are you going to talk about?" asked Amber.
"Who am I, young girl?" interrupted the king.
Amber looked a little shocked but quickly replied, "My lord, before you enter, even though I know you are of higher power, let me speak with Commander Denzel."
She then communicated with a crystal orb on her waist and transmitted the news to Commander Denzel.
"The king wants to speak with our prisoner," Amber informed him.
Meanwhile, in an outskirt of a war, Commander Denzel, known for being the best swordsman, was with his team, the Pleiades of the Azure Sky, which was considered one of the kingdom's biggest assets. Denzel was also King Jasper's younger brother.
"My brother, you..." Denzel started to say.
"Denzel, I didn't know you outranked me," said Jasper.
"I'm sorry, my king..." replied Denzel.
The crystal orb lost its light and permission was granted for the king to speak with their prisoner.
The King, Crystal Dragon, Ruby, and Amber cautiously entered the foggy clouds, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
What they saw was nothing short of shocking - a massive prison cage with electrical vines coiled tightly around it.
Amber wasted no time and barked out an order to the two guards stationed nearby. "Open the cage," she commanded firmly.
The guards exchanged nervous glances before one of them tentatively inserted his sword into a nearby hole, causing the vines to stop generating electricity. With a creaking sound, the door of the cage slowly swung open.
Inside, seated calmly and sipping his tea, was none other than Abel - the hero who had once nearly destroyed the kingdom. Despite his predicament, he appeared completely unfazed by the presence of the royal visitors.
Abel stood up from his seat and greeted the group with a cold, calculating smile. "Well, well, well. Look who decided to pay me a visit. The King himself, along with his esteemed companions. What a pleasure." He spoke with a tone that was devoid of any warmth or emotion.
The King raised an eyebrow at Abel's lack of respect. "You seem awfully calm for someone who has caused so much destruction."
Abel shrugged indifferently. "What can I say? I just have a different perspective on things. You see, I believe that power is everything. And right now, I hold all the power." He glanced at Crystal Dragon and Ruby. "And I must say, your little magic tricks don't impress me. I've seen it all before."
Crystal Dragon narrowed his eyes, clearly not amused by Abel's disrespect. "You may have power for now, but it won't last forever. You will be brought to justice for your crimes."
Abel chuckled darkly. "Justice? What a quaint concept. The only justice in this world is the justice you make for yourself. And right now, I'm making my own." He leaned back in his chair, still smiling that cold, psychopathic smile. "So, what brings you all here? Do you have a proposition for me? Or are you just here to try and take me down?"
The psychopathic hero had a tall and imposing figure, with a muscular build that showed off his physical prowess. His face was chiselled with sharp features and piercing blue eyes that held a cold and calculating stare. His hair was jet black and styled in a messy yet stylish manner that seemed to complement his overall demeanour.
As the hero looked at the group, his eyes glimmered with recognition. Suddenly, a sinister laugh escaped his lips and his aura darkened.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? The old team, reunited at last. But who are these young girls?" he sneered.
As his eyes scanned the group, they landed on Ruby and Amber. Recognition flickered in his eyes, and then turned to malice.
"Wait a minute... you look very familiar. No way... daughters of Carmen," he cackled. His eyes turned red and the dark aura surrounding him intensified.
"Haven't your papa told you that I killed your mother?" he taunted.
Ruby was overcome with emotion and tears welled up in her eyes. Amber, however, was quick to act. She brandished her wand and unleashed an invincible wind blade, shouting
"Cuchilla de Viento Afilada!" as she did so. The blade sliced through Abel, and he fell to the ground.
The king and Crystal Dragon were silent, their expressions unreadable. Meanwhile, Ruby stared in horror as she witnessed a lifeless body for the first time.
But Abel was not defeated. He stood up, and the wound on his chest began to heal itself. His face contorted into a twisted smile as he spoke.
"Ah, Amber, you bitch. I told you that even though you use it, it hurts like hell.
Looks like it will be a good day," he said, his smile sending shivers down the group's spines.