Five days went by and Ashen was sitting on the top of the Exithian Summit, waiting for Pandora to show up. As he waited, he felt a presence appear behind him. He opened his eyes and looked back. Pandora was finally behind him at the Summit. She dropped her bags then Ruination appeared beside her.
Ashen stood up and Ragnarok appeared beside him. Ashen turned around and faced Pandora. He placed his hands in his pockets. "Dragons...They are all over you as you stand here today. Exithia is the last kingdom where us Dragons can call home. We are all capable of Human Disguise because our true form reveals the true beast within."
"You Dragons are able to rival that of an actual God. Your raw power is greater than any beast known to us. Your Endless Development. You all thrive from just being in battle which is why I can't let my guard down at any moment." Pandora said.
"But one thing about Mei is she's a Demigod. Her Mystic Powers can overcome any trial and hardship she may face. Dragons might be Divine, but nothing can top true divinity." Ruination said.
Ragnarok laughed and crossed his arms. Both Pandora and Ruination looked at him. "You forget dragons are some of the most purely divine creatures in existence. The Holy Empire fears them, the followers and believers worship them. Being a Demigod is not the same thing as being a God meanwhile Dragons...are born gods essentially."
"None of that matters now! All that matters is my battle against Ashen! Ashen!" Pandora bellowed and pointed her sword at him then the blade shined brightly. "I, Princess Pandora Mei of Aestrea, will defeat you!"
Ashen summoned his katana then unsheathed it slowly. "I, Prince Ashen Draco of Exithia, will show you what true power looks like!"
Both Pandora and Ashen surrounded themselves in their aura then propelled themselves toward each other. They both slashed then entered a blade lock. Ashen pushed Pandora back then rushed forward and slashed rapidly, but Pandora blocked each attack then parried the last slash. She went for a punch, but Ashen dodged it and sweep kicked her off her feet then slashed down, sending a draconic cutting wave at her.
Pandora groaned as she was hit with the cutting wave and knocked backwards. Ashen flew after her then appeared above her. Pandora landed on her feet and caught his fist. She smirked then slammed him on the ground then tossed him upwards then spun around, kicking him backwards. Ashen recovered in the air and landed on his feet on the ground then stood up straight.
"Evenly matched.." Ruination said.
"She's been training for the past few days it seems. This will be interesting." Ragnarok chuckled.
"Now attack!" Both Ragnarok and Ruination bellowed.
Pandora bellowed and her mystic aura grew stronger then she flew toward Ashen at high speeds. Ashen bellowed and his draconic aura surged around his body. Ashen flew toward Pandora then the two clashed once again. They slashed rapidly and clashed with each attack. Ashen parried Pandora's attack then jumped backwards then got into his royal stance.
"Hmph! Here I come!" Pandora yelled then dashed toward Ashen.
She thrusted her sword at Ashen multiple times, but he blocked each attack flawlessly. Pandora grunted as she thrusted her sword at him once more, but he dodged it. She bellowed and went for a stab at his chest, but he deflected the attack, knocking her off balance. She found her footing and performed an overhead slash, but Ashen parried it. She slashed to the right and left, but both attacks were deflected. Ashen rushed forward, catching Pandora off guard and knocking her off balance once again. He spotted an opening and slashed at her neck horizontally. She grunted and evaded the attack then flipped backwards, creating distance between the two.
Pandora panted and wiped the sweat from her face. "He's reading me...flawlessly."
"That's his Dragon Instincts. He can read your attacks and defenses, you have to fight more unpredictability." Ruination said.
Pandora nodded then got into her royal stance. She looked at Ashen seriously. Ashen noticed her demeanor change and his eyes shined. The two ran toward each other and slashed at one another, but Pandora parried Ashen then vanished. She appeared behind Ashen then elbowed his back then jumped up spinning then kicked him away, sending him flying. She landed on the ground then dashed after him at high speeds with afterimages behind her.
Ashen rolled on his side then recovered on his feet and noticed Pandora running to him. She jumped up and came down with a spinning slash. Ashen blocked the attack and grunted then felt a shockwave occur around them. He pushed her back then slashed at her but she disappeared. Ashen looked around then noticed a magic circle appear below him. He manifested his scaled wings and flew up to the sky, avoiding the magic explosion. He looked down and noticed the huge crater left behind.
"That attack would have severely damaged you...Looks like she's escalating this battle." Ragnarok said.
Ashen descended back to the ground and landed on his feet. He looked at Pandora who was smirking. "So you're taking this up a notch huh..?"
"What's wrong? Don't think you can handle it?" Pandora taunted.
Ashen smirked and made his katana disappear. His arms developed scales and turned onto his dragon arms. He generated aura around his fists then his eyes turned dragon like. Dragon horns began protruding from his head then he let out a powerful roar, releasing powerful energy from his mouth.
"The Dragon Form. Be careful! All of his abilities have increased significantly and if you aren't careful, he can damage you greatly!" Ruination warned.
"Let's see...how strong you truly are!" Ashen bellowed and propelled himself toward Pandora.
She braced herself then grunted as she was struck in the face and sent crashing through a small mountain. Ashen flew after her then appeared above her conjured a sphere of draconic energy then threw it at her. She groaned as she was hit then the sphere of energy exploded. She was sent crashing to the ground. Ashen appeared under her then kneed her stomach, sending her flying back to the air then teleported above her. He gripped the back of her battle dress then flew to the ground and slammed her to the ground.
Pandora groaned loudly in pain and coughed a bit of blood. He tossed her back up then grabbed her leg and spun her around then threw her. He began to charge up for an energy beam.
"Super...Draco...Gleam!" He bellowed and fired a massive draconic energy beam at Pandora.
Pandora held her head then her aura surged powerfully and began blocking the beam. She gripped her hair and her red eyes shined brightly. She bellowed and her mystic aura and her dark aura began to fuse together. "I don't care about fighting fair anymore..! I can't lose! I don't want to lose!"
Ashen grunted as he tried to make his attack more powerful. Pandora bellowed and broke through the beam then flew toward Ashen with a sadistic smile of her face. Ashen dodged her first attack and lightning crackled around his body.
"You know the rule!" Ragnarok yelled.
"Not yet...she isn't in that stage yet." Ashen said then turned around.
The two flew toward each other and clashed fist, sending a shockwave across the landscape. They clashed rapidly then struck each other's faces. They both grunted then flew off. Pandora began to rapidly fire energy blasts at Ashen, but he dodged each one of them and turned around to deflect the remaining energy blasts. He bellowed and dark aura began to flash around his body.
"I'll win! No matter what! I'll destroy you!" Pandora bellowed and her flame began to show. She bellowed and fired a massive energy ball at Ashen and it struck his body then exploded.
Ashen's bellow was heard through the smoke cloud then his aura cleared the clouds and his dark aura surged around the area. He opened his eyes and they shined a bright orange. Pandora laughed and flew toward him. He flew toward her and both of them went for an attack. Ashen was able to strike her first then sent her flying backwards. She groaned loudly as she flew backwards then recovered. She noticed Ashen appear in front of her then blocked his kick and was knocked back again. She stopped herself then flew toward Ashen at high speeds then kneed his stomach. He groaned then she struck his back, sending him to the ground.
She raised her hand to the sky and conjured a massive sphere of destructive energy in the sky. Her flame began burning even stronger and her eyes became soulless. Cursed markings began to form on her face.
"Infernal Demon! You will not defeat me!" Pandora bellowed.
Ishia was watching the battle from her bedroom window via her Supernatural Vision. She was biting her nails and seemed nervous. "She's...she's a monster as well..?"
"Move aside, boy! It's now time for the final stretch!" Ragnarok said then took over Ashen's body.
Ashen groaned and his flame began to show. He panted and held his head then shook his head. Demonic horns began to replace his dragon horns and his cursed marks began to appear on his body. His hair slowly turned white and his skin slowly turned a light shade of gray. He bellowed and his monstrous aura surged powerfully.
Pandora grunted as she felt the aura. "Wh-What is this?!"
"This is the power of the Infernal Demon!" Ruination said.
Ashen laughed and looked at Pandora. "I am Ragnarok, the Infernal Demon, and this is where this battle concludes!"
"Not on my watch!" Pandora bellowed and threw the massive sphere of energy down at Ashen.
"Brother..!" Ishia yelled.
Ashen vanished before the massive energy sphere hit the ground then a massive explosion happened. Pandora looked down at the destruction and sensed Ashen behind her then looked surprised. He flew toward her at high speeds. She glared and propelled herself toward him. The two clashed and caused an explosion. They flew out the smoke firing energy blasts at each other then Ashen used a burst of speed to move around Pandora quickly and began to strike her from all directions then appear above her spinning then hit her with an axe kick.
Pandora groaned as she was knocked to the ground. Ashen appeared in front of her then palmed her stomach. Pandora coughed blood then was blown away into a forest and crashed through multiple trees. Ashen flew after her and punched her stomach, knocking her back more. He flew after her then punched her stomach again then a third time, this time trapping her in his aura.
"You're finished!" Ashen bellowed.
"Not..." Pandora said and her flame began to grow bigger. She bellowed and her flame completely engulfed her body and she transformed into her 100% Monster Form. Her horns grew from her head then her aura became pitch black. "YET!"
She broke out of his aura and her aura pushed Ashen backwards. He grunted as he guarded himself from her power. He gripped his chest and felt his flame growing bigger.
Pandora looked at Ashen and tears formed in her eyes. "I can't lose..! I can't lose! I WON'T LOSE! I have to win! For my people! For my kingdom! FOR MYSELF! I CAN NOT FAIL AGAIN!"
Ashen glared at Pandora and dashed toward her. She dashed toward him as well and they clashed once again then began to fire powerful energy blasts at each other. Pandora pressed an energy sphere against Ashen's face then it exploded, blowing him away. He rolled backwards then recovered on one knee. He growled and stood up. He gripped his wrist and black and red aura surrounded his arm. He stood up and stomped down then used his flame to generate a massive red orb of energy.
"I'm ending this now! Consider this your end, Pandora!" Ashen bellowed.
"I won't lose to you, Ashen!" Pandora bellowed then generated a massive red orb with her flame as well. "Total...!"
"Final!" Ashen bellowed.
"Ruination!" Pandora bellowed and fired a massive beam at Ashen.
"Force!" Ashen bellowed and fired a massive beam at Pandora.
The two beams clashed and began to send powerful shockwaves across the entire kingdom which caused minor earthquakes.
Ishia screamed as she felt the earthquake and fell to the ground. Her mother came running in the room to check up on Ishia. She looked out the window and noticed a bright red glowing light in the distance.
"What the hell is going on..?!" She asked.
"B-Brother..!" Ishia cried out.
"Ashen?!" Her mother said in shock.
Pandora grunted as she tried to keep her ground. She began to feel the recoil of her attack but bellowed and made her beam a lot stronger. "I'm putting everything into this! You will not win!"
Ragnarok laughed and put a hand on Ashen's back. "End this now, boy! End it!"
Ashen bellowed and his attack broke through Pandora's then struck her body. She screamed and Ruination's scream was heard as well then a gigantic explosion happened that could be seen from the village. High winds blew and a bright red light shined.
Ishia and her mother looked out the window and watched in fear. They feared Ashen wouldn't make it out this time, so they hurried out the room and made there way to Ashen.
The smoke cleared slowly and Ashen fell to his knees then reverted to his normal form. He began to throw up blood and felt his heart racing quickly. He coughed and tried to catch his breath. He looked up and noticed Pandora who was laying on her side on the ground. He crawled to her slowly.
"She's...the only...other Monster...I know..." Ashen said and grunted. "The look she gave me...I have...to help her..."
Ragnarok watched Ashen as he made his way to Pandora. Ashen reached Pandora then rolled her on her back. He wiped his mouth then looked down at her.
"Ember...Transfer.." He said softly then brought his face closer to hers then softly pressed his lips against hers. His body began to shine and a bit of his flame entered her body.
Pandora's heart began beating again and Ruination's body began to slowly construct once more. Ashen pulled away and looked down at Pandora. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at Ashen.
"Why..?" Pandora asked. "Why would you...save me..?"
Ashen sat on his knees and looked into her eyes. "Because...you're the only other monster like me in this world. To lose you..."
Pandora's cheeks slowly became rosy then she sat up and looked at the ground. "I lost nonetheless...my father is going to kill me and brand me a peasant. I lost...the Royal Battle.."
Ashen looked at her then stood up and held his hand out to her. "I won't take away your Birthright."
Pandora looked up at Ashen quickly. "W-What?"
"You heard me. Your Birthright is Ruination. Keep her. All I want for my reward...is for you to join Exithia." Ashen said.
Pandora took his hand then she was helped up. She blushed and looked down. "Prince Ashen.."
"Brother!" Ishia cried out as she ran to him.
"My beloved son! You're okay!" His mother cried out and they both hugged him.
Ashen grunted as their hugs hurt his body. They let go of him and looked at Pandora.
"What in Ryu's name happened?! Why is this entire forest destroyed?!" Ashen's mother asked.
"Well...me and Pandora was having a Royal Battle. We were holding nothing back...and I won, but I don't want to take away her Birthright. Instead...she's going to take my hand in marriage when I become king next month." Ashen said.
"Eh?!" Pandora said in shock, her face a bright red.
"Huh?" Ruination asked.
"What the-" Ragnarok said in confusion.
"WHAT?!" Ishia asked, surprised.
Ashen's mother just blinked at him. "WHAAAAAT?!" Ashen's mother screamed in shock.
Pandora only wanted Ashen as an ally, but Ashen had other plans. Because she was the only other monster, he didn't want to lose her by any means necessary. His statement was rash, but he knows he can follow through with it. All he waited for was Pandora's answer...