Ashen and his allies made it to a small village residing near the forest. This village was called Redleaf Woods, a small village Ashen, Ishia, and Kinona visited often. As Ashen stepped foot into the village, his presence was known to all the inhabitants of the village.
"Lord Ashen!" One of the villagers greeted. "Lady Ishia and the Dragon Guardian! Sir Harold! You all are visiting us again? For what do we owe for this opportunity?"
"We are in war. This is the closest place to rest at as we travel to Xovia." Ashen said.
"Of course! Our village is yours to use however you see fit!" The villager said happily.
Ashen smiled and nodded. He walked ahead with his allies following behind. He looked around and noticed there were noticable changes made to the village. They were more battle ready, the homes looked more durable, and he noticed a new large building in the plaza area.
"What is that building?" Ashen asked.
"That is where our leader resides. Drake Commander Long. He was announced leader of our small...lesser species of dragon after he defeated our last leader and exiled him." A small dragon said to Ashen.
"Wait, General Zaki was exiled?" Ishia asked sounding heartbroken.
"Yeah...we miss him a lot. He used to always write us letters after he was exiled." The Dragon said.
"Used to..?" Ashen asked and looked at the dragon.
"He...Uhm...he was killed a few months after he was exiled. One of Long's men found him and killed him. He wielded the Draco Crystal and obtained it then handed it to Long. Long even boasted about the Crystal..." The Dragon told.
Ashen looked at the building then glared. His dark aura began to surround his body, but Pandora grabbed his arm. He looked at her then calmed down.
"Who is General Zaki?" Silas asked.
"One of the greatest Dragon Warlords to ever exist. He fought for this kingdom for years along side the old Kings and Queens of Exithia. He was a Guardian to me and Ishia. He along side Harold taught us how to fight. He will always be known as the Ultimate Dragon to me. My Hero." Ashen said.
"Ashen, you know what you have to do." Ragnarok said then appeared beside him.
"I'm against playing hero...but when it's for my people..." Ruination said then appeared next to Pandora.
Ashen nodded then walked toward the building. Ishia watched then followed Ashen. She wanted revenge for Zaki as well. Pandora watched the two then looked at the others.
"I can show you guys around if you'd like." The Dragon said.
"That'll be nice." Pandora smiled and followed the dragon.
Soca watched Ashen then walked off with the rest of the group.
Ashen and Ishia walked into the large building and looked around. He looked ahead and noticed a man sitting on a throne on the other side of the building. He had long red hair and yellow glowing eyes. He wore a royal hair accessory on his head.
"If it isn't the Exithian Royal Children. It is an honor to meet your faces. Your angry...and heartbroken faces." The man said.
"You must be Long. The bastard who got General Zaki killed..?" Ashen asked.
"It is I, Longinus Xie. Emperor of the Sky Dragon. Leader of the Wyrms. Soon to be the Dragon Warlord." Long said and looked at Ashen and Ishia with a smile.
"You'll never become Warlord...we will not allow it." Ishia said then smoke came from the corners of her mouth.
"You think you can stand amongst the greats like me? You also? I heard about your wedding with the Aestrean Princess. Joining forces against Xovia? One of the kingdoms of the Holy Empire? The same Empire that killed your uncle?" Long said then sat up in his throne. He leaned forward a bit and his Draco Crystal shined. "What was his name..? Bildraym? Champion of the Lightning Dragon? Some shit like that?"
"You will talk about my uncle with respect!" Ashen yelled and his aura spiralled around his body.
"Yeah! He's done more than you could ever think of!" Ishia stomped her foot down and her dragon aura surrounded her body.
Long laughed and slapped his leg. "Is that your way of intimidating me?!"
Ashen smirked and chuckled. "No...but this is.."
Ashen conjured his Ember then a sinister dark aura surrounded the building. His dark aura made him and Ishia look intimidating. Long looked at them then his face grew serious. He saw...Ragnarok.
"You...have the Corrupt Ember..?" Long asked.
"Are you scared yet..?" Ashen chuckled and his eyes shined brightly.
"You both came for revenge huh? If no one told you about it, you wouldn't behave like this." Long said then stood up.
"But we know now, and we don't just want to fight you..." Ashen said.
"We want to kill you." Ishia said then bared her fangs. She blew smoke from her nose and her dragon horn began forming on her head.
"You believe killing me will solve the fact that Zaki is dead? Aren't you two stupid..." Long chuckled then avoided a dark spear being shot at him by Ashen.
Ashen's eyes shined a bright orange. He laughed softly then covered his left eye. "We will have a Dragon Battle or as we call it Draco no Ryujiki. Me and Ishia against you and your Draco Crystal that we will be taking."
"HA! Even with the Corrupt Ember, you believe you can beat someone like me who has 100% Dragon Power? I am quite literally a God!" Long said.
"Don't underestimate the power of the Ember. You might be imitating a Godly Power, but I am Ragnarok! God of the Infernal Realm!" Ashen said and laughed.
Long looked at Ashen and stared at him. "He's this far gone..? I've seen monsters before...but a monster who has become a complete vessel..? To become a complete vessel, you have to have died before."
Ashen crossed his arms. "I did die, back when I was battling against the Knight of Hope. She destroyed me in battle. She killed me, but my goals haven't been fulfilled. Ragnarok resurrected me as his vessel and this new power...Makes me unstoppable."
Long smirked and walked down the stairs. "Our battle will be at Dusk. No holds barred. Winner wins by killing the enemy. You have no chance against me."
Long walked past Ashen then walked out of the building. Ashen looked at Ishia then held his hand out to her. She grabbed his hand then smiled at him determinedly.
"For Zaki." She said.
"For Zaki.." Ashen said then smiled at her.
.....
"It's almost time for Long to finally become Warlord of Exithia. While Ashen is away, we will need someone to take over." Ashen's stepfather said.
"Zyre...I am against this. There will be no Warlord like Zaki. I don't want the man who is responsible for the death of someone I treated like family." Kinona said.
"Kinona. Place your personal feelings aside. This is what the kingdom needs." Zyre said.
"Yeah like the kingdom needs yet ANOTHER homewrecker!" Kinona said.
"That man was unfit to be King. He served no purpose." Zyre said.
"You will put respect on Aldrag's name! You know I always think about what would happen if I didn't stop Ashen and Cipi from attacking...We would probably be a much happier family!" Kinona yelled.
Zyre looked back at Kinona then used his aura to repel her across the bedroom. Kinona groaned as she crashed through her dresser. Zyre turned to face Kinona. "But you didn't...because you know without me all enemy kingdoms would be able to wipe you all out."
Kinona grunted and glared at Zyre. She stood up and snarled. "You know...I always hear Ashen talking about killing you for the title of Ryu and frankly I'm hoping he will win."
Zyre laughed then walked toward Kinona. He gripped her neck then dug his claws into her skin. He glared at her then his eyes shined. "You're stuck with me, whore. As long as you're with me, your only job is to keep fucking quiet and reproduce with me. After I'm done with you, I will kill you and take over Exithia for myself. I will leave Ashen and Ishia with nothing..."
Kinona grunted and glared at Zyre. "He will kill you...his eyes tell it all..."
Zyre dropped Kinona then stepped on her stomach. "Count your days because I will have you dead before he even gets the chance to challenge me..."
Zyre walked off, leaving Kinona on the floor.
....
Ashen and Ishia walked into a tavern and noticed Pandora and the others were there. They walked to their table and they greeted him.
"My love..!~ Hic.." Pandora said then stood up and stumbled toward him. "I'm ready to...hic...start this party!~"
Ashen held her in his arms then smiled. "You're drunk, you won't even make it to the party.."
"Yesh I will, my beloved..!~ Just watch me!" Pandora said and giggled.
"I've never seen sis that drunk before." Silas said and chuckled.
Ishia sat beside Cecilia and Silas. She wanted them to come closer. "Me and Ashen are in some deep waters.." She whispered.
"What's wrong..?" Silas whispered back.
"That Long guy the dragon told us about. We're getting revenge and I'm scared..! If I could barely beat Leonidas and Sora, how can I expect to defeat Commander Long..?!" Ishia whispered to the two.
"You have Ashen with you, and even if he does have a monster in him... He's using it for a good cause this go around. Don't get me wrong, we are in deep waters too...but Ashen is different." Cecilia said and looked at Ashen and Pandora laughing and dancing together to the music the bards were playing. She smiled at them then looked at Ishia.
Ishia looked at her brother and Pandora as well. "He's by my side on this one...Whenever I fight along side Ashen...I get this rush of determination like I can really do anything..."
Silas smiled and nodded. "We feel the same way about Mei. Ishia, if you need any help like ever...we are here for you."
Ishia looked at Silas then smiled. "Thank you, Silas.."
.....
Dusk rolled around and Ashen stood in front of the Leader Building. Ishia sprinted toward Ashen then stopped then held her knees panting.
"Sorry I'm late, I just needed a pep talk from Cecilia and Silas." Ishia said.
Ashen smiled and shook his head. "Pandora gave me a pep talk as well...she said she would be somewhere watching."
Long walked out of the building in his dragon form already awakened. "You two actually came. You fools. You must really want to die..."
"We won't be the ones dying. It is you who will die!" Ashen bellowed then dashed toward Long.
He went for an attack, but Long dodged his attack then kicked him away. He noticed Ishia charging at him. He dodged her first kick then blocked her sword then punched her stomach. She groaned then grunted hard as she was sent flying with a kick.
Ashen appeared behind Long and his eyes shined brightly. He went for the attack, but Long ducked under his attack, surprising Ashen. Long smirked then kicked Ashen away. He recovered onto his feet then wiped his lip.
"Is this all you two can truly do?!" Long yelled.
"The way you battle is so similar to my worthless stepfather...it pisses me the fuck off!" Ashen bellowed then his aura surged powerfully around his body.
He propelled himself toward Long then went for the kick, but Long dodged it then grunted as he was hit with a Burst Strike from Ashen. Ashen flew toward Long then palmed his stomach. He kicked Long to the air then his eyes shined brightly. Long groaned as he was struck with rapid invisible strikes.
"That's the move Harold used.." Pandora said as she watched.
Ishia dashed toward Long as he was falling then struck him with a slash downward. She kicked him back up then sliced him four times and used her aura to blow him away. Ashen appeared above Long then kicked him to the ground. Long groaned and rolled backwards then recovered onto his feet. He looked surprised as Ishia was already in front of him.
Ishia bellowed then struck him with a spinning slash then knocked him upwards. Ashen grabbed his leg then slammed him to the ground. Long roared and used his aura to repel Ashen and Ishia.
Long looked at Ashen and Ishia then chuckled. "I was going easy on you both. Now it's time to show no mercy!"
Long used the power of the Draco Crystal to awaken his Longshen Form. He roared and his Divine Aura flowed around his body. He looked at Ashen and Ishia then flew toward them in godspeeds. He kicked Ishia away, sending her crashing through multiple buildings. He struck Ashen's stomach then grabbed his face and threw him into the dragon statue. Ashen grunted and fell to the ground.
"Where's all that big talk you were doing a while ago..? Where's all of your pride?! You were just talking about killing me!" Long bellowed and kicked Ashen's head.
Ashen white out after getting kicked right in the weak spot of his head. He wasn't moving at all. Pandora looked surprised as she watched.
"Ashen!" She yelled.
Ishia stood up slowly and grunted. "Bro..there.." She fell to her knees and fell to the ground.
Ashen woke up in his domain and looked at Ragnarok. "Why am I here..?"
"Why are you holding back is the question.." Ragnarok said then crossed his arms.
"I just wanted to know how it feels to lose for a bit, but from here on out...I will absolutely obliterate Long." Ashen said then smiled. "You should know by now, I like to play with my food."
Ragnarok smirked then turned away. "Destroy him."
Long laughed and stomped on Ashen's head. "This is your future King?! He has fallen beneath my foot! He talked a big game and could not foll-"
Ashen monstrous aura surged powerfully around his body. Long stepped off him and looked at him surprised. Ashen began laughing as he stood up. He transformed into his Monster Form and cursed markings appeared on his body. His eyes shined a bright gold color.
"Now that you've gotten your taste at victory...allow me to take it all away." Ashen said.
"Ashen!" Pandora squealed happily.
The dragons who were watching looked at Ashen surprised. Ishia felt Ashen's energy then slowly got up. She grunted and channelled her draconic aura then bellowed. Her aura surged powerfully around her body.
"Yes! She found that confidence to awaken her inner power!" Silas said.
"You got this Ishia..! Ashen! We believe in you!" Cecilia said.
Sora watched the battle from the top of a building with her arms crossed. Soca watched the battle next to a tree and had his arms crossed. Harold cleaned his sword and smirked. Cipi cheered then yelled Ashen's name.
Ashen vanished and appeared in front of Long at invisible speeds then struck him with his elbow. Long groaned then grunted as he was sent flying. Ashen flew after him then noticed Ishia above Long. She spun horizontally then kicked him down with a powerful Dragon Strike.
"Not bad. Not bad at all." Ashen said then teleported behind Long then grabbed his hair then threw him.
He groaned as he crashed through multiple trees then crashed into a mountain. Ashen and Ishia flew after him. Long stood up then grunted and dodged Ashen's attack then evaded Ishia's strike. He struck Ishia with a roundhouse kick, knocking her away. He went for a strike at Ashen but his hand rippled through Ashen.
"Infernal Eruption!" Ashen bellowed then generated a massive infernal explosion, blowing Long away.
Ashen flew after him then dodged Long's attack. He punched his face, knocking him backwards then began sending a barrage of Burst Strikes at Long. Long tried to block the attack, but it bypassed his defense then struck him. A barrage of strikes hit him afterwards then sent him crashing into a lake. Ashen looked in his direction then looked at his hand.
"Seems I have the ability to replicate moves that I've never learned before. I already mastered Burst Strike." Ashen said. "I can probably turn this into my own move."
Ishia growled and slammed her fist against the ground. "No more being weak!" She flew toward Long's location.
Ashen noticed then flew after her. Long stood up then grunted as he barely dodged Ishia's surprise attack. He summoned his spear then slashed at her, but she used her aura to block his attack then palmed his stomach then rapidly struck him before blowing him away with a draconic energy beam.
"She's getting stronger by the second. This is a lot of experience for her...but she will pass out soon. I should end this quickly." Ashen said then flew down to Long.
He roared and flew out the smoke then clashed with Ashen. He punched Ashen's face, but Ashen was completely unaffected. He punched Long's face, blowing him away. Ashen landed beside Ishia.
He held his hand out to her. "Sync with me."
"Let's go with Dragon Scream!" Ishia said and held his hand.
"Dragon Scream it is." Ashen said.
Long bellowed and his aura surged powerfully. "The only reason you're winning is because of that fucking Ember! Without it I'll have you squashed beneath my boot! I'll rip that flame right out of your fucking chest!"
Long dashed toward Ashen and roared. Ashen's eyes shined then Long was struck with an invisible attack. Ishia ran forward then knocked him to the air. Ashen appeared above him then palmed his back, sending him back to the ground. Ishia ran to Long then palmed his side, trapping him in her aura.
Ashen landed beside Ishia and they both began to generate a massive orb of draconic energy. They bellowed and fired the orb at Long. His eyes widened then he caught the orb in his hands then grunted as he slid backwards.
"Dragon Scream!" Ashen and Ishia bellowed then the orb shined brightly and exploded.
Pandora, Sora, and Soca saw the explosion. Pandora cheered and chanted Ashen's name.
The smoke cleared and Long had reverted to his normal form. Ashen walked toward Long then stepped on his head and looked down on him.
"Disgusting beast...Our bloodline is much better without your kind tainting our reputation. Now I must dispose of the garbage, but first..." Ashen said then picked up Long then penetrated his chest with his hand then ripped out the Draco Crystal from his body.
Long screamed in pain then began to cough blood. Ashen tossed the crystal to Ishia then gripped Long's neck and raised him off the ground.
"In this reality...I am a real God. No one can defeat me. I beat you in less than an hour. Count yourself lucky, most fights last less than 30 minutes. Any last words?" He asked.
"Judgement...wi-" Long began gasping for air and choking as Ashen began draining his life force from his body.
"Sorry, I stopped caring." Ashen said then dropped Long's body then took his royal hair accessory. He turned to Ishia then tossed it to her. "Let's head back."
Ishia nodded and happily followed her brother. They both flew back to the village then landed in the plaza. Everyone gathered in the plaza then looked at Ashen and Ishia.
"Commander Long is dead! Bested by us! It didn't last very long when I finally stopped pulling my punches. You all are free from his reign! General Zaki has been avenged." Ashen said.
The village cheered and chanted Ashen's and Ishia's name. Silas and Cecilia looked at Ishia and gave her a thumbs up. Ashen coughed then coughed up blood and reverted back to his normal form. He panted and covered his mouth then ran to the nearest trashcan to throw up.
"Ha! I told you it happens to him too." Pandora smirked at Ruination.
Ishia looked at the Draco Crystal then noticed it started to shine brightly. "The- The Crystal!"
"She's awakening!" Cipi said excitedly.
The crystal shattered then entered Ishia's body, awakening new untapped potential within her. She felt no different but knew her potential was fully unleashed.
"She now has the ability to awaken the Divine Dragon within herself." Cipi said.
Ishia looked in awe at herself then smiled determinedly. "I gave to get to training as soon as possible!"
"There's a training field over in the west part of the village. You can use it however you see fit." A dragon said.
Ashen nodded and looked at Ishia, smiling. His sister's happiness mattered the most to him. He wanted to help her become as strong as she possibly could. A one night stay turned into a training stay until everyone was prepared for their battle against Xovia.