The battlefield roared with chaotic energy. Devourers shrieked as they fell beneath the combined might of Thor, Lyra, Caius, and the mighty Skyfire dragon, Ignis. The tide had turned, hope shimmering in the air just as Demigra, disguised as a human, sauntered onto the scene.
"Welcome, brother," he chirped, his voice laced with false cheer. "What brings you to Skullfang?"
Ignis' fiery breath whooshed past Demigra, singeing his hair. "We are not brothers anymore, not after what you did!" he roared, fury blazing in his eyes.
The Devourers whimpered and scattered as Ignis soared down, talons extended, flames roaring from his maw. Demigra, still in his deceptively human form, simply chuckled. "Brother, how dramatic." he said, his voice dripping with faux sincerity.
But the amusement on his face vanished as Ignis swooped, jaws snapping inches from his head. With a hiss, Demigra spun, transforming in a flurry of dark magic. Razor-sharp claws replaced his fingers, obsidian scales erupted from his skin, and leathery wings unfurled with a sickening snap.
The battle between the two dragons became the focal point of the chaos, their roars drowning out the clash of steel and flesh below.
The ensuing clash was a dance of fire and darkness. Ignis, fueled by righteous fury, rained down flames that Demigra met with swirling clouds of toxic smoke. They circled each other, weaving between the crumbling buildings, each strike carrying the weight of their ancient bond and bitter betrayal.
Ignis roared, a torrent of fire erupting from his throat. Demigra countered with a wave of dark energy, the blast throwing both dragons back. They landed hard, the ground trembling beneath their impact.
Demigra hissed, his reptilian eyes gleaming with malice. "Remember the Skyfire clan, brother? How I hunted them down, one by one, their screams music to my ears?"
The words were like acid on Ignis' soul. Ignis roared, a sound of pure anguish and rage. His attacks became erratic, his flames hotter, wilder. Demigra seized the opportunity, his claws finding their mark, tearing gashes into Ignis' scales.
Demigra, empowered by the Skull Lord's dark magic, seemed uncontainable. He landed a vicious blow, his claws ripping through Ignis' wing, flames sputtering with pain. Ignis stumbled, his fiery breath faltering.
Seizing his chance, Demigra delivered a final, venomous bite to Ignis' neck. The mighty dragon crumpled, his wings folding, fire dimming. A heart-wrenching silence descended on the battlefield.
As Ignis fell, mortally wounded, Thor watched in horror. With a cry, he cut through the remaining Devourers, reaching the dying dragon's side.
"Why?" he gasped, "Why did you help us?"
Ignis, his voice raspy, looked at Thor with fading eyes. "You," he whispered, "are the only one who can defeat him. Take my heart..." He gestured to a glowing crystal embedded in his chest, "...it will make you stronger."
"But you..." Thor says with a heavy heart, "How can we repay you?"
"Defeat the Skull Lord," Ignis rasped, the final embers of life fading from his eyes.
Thor knew what he had to do. With a heavy heart, he extracted the glowing crystal from Ignis' chest. The moment it touched his lips, he felt a surge of power, coursing through his veins like liquid fire.
Looking up, he saw Demigra gloating, fangs bared. But the sight only fueled Thor's rage. He roared, a sound that echoed through the night, carrying the spirit of Ignis' sacrifice and the promise of vengeance.
The battle wasn't over. It was just beginning. With newfound power and a burning desire for justice, Thor charged towards Demigra, axe held high. His companions followed, their eyes blazing with the same unwavering determination. The death of Ignis had lit a fire, and it wouldn't be extinguished until Skullfang fell.
Thor's axe, ablaze with Ignis's dying embers, tore through the night, aiming for Demigra's reptilian skull. But the traitorous dragon, clad in darkness, met the fiery blow with his obsidian claws. Sparks flew, the clang echoing through the devastated streets.
Lyra, eyes blazing with defiance, unleashed a shattering spell, aiming to crack Demigra's magical defenses. The air shimmered, then fractured, but the dragon merely chuckled, the spell dissipating against his dark aura. Her blade flashed, aiming for a weak spot, but Demigra was a whirlwind of scales and claws, deflecting her attack with ease.
Caius, a shadow amidst the chaos, hurled a beam of searing light magic, a desperate plea for victory. Demigra, however, simply raised a clawed hand, his own dark magic swallowing the beam whole. Despair began to settle over the battlefield, the heroes' valiant efforts seemingly in vain.
Thor, lungs burning, muscles screaming, pressed on. Blow after blow he rained down, fueled by the memory of Ignis' sacrifice and the weight of their unfulfilled quest. Yet, Demigra remained untouched, his dark laughter mocking their struggles.
Finally, exhaustion claimed Thor. A swipe of Demigra's tail sent him crashing to the ground, unconscious. Lyra and Caius soon followed, succumbing to the relentless onslaught.
Victorious, Demigra reared up, his dark form silhouetted against the moon. His laughter echoed, dripping with contempt. "This," he hissed, his voice resonating with power, "is the warrior who dared to dream of defeating the Skull Lord? He can't even defeat me, a mere dragon. How pathetic."
He spread his wings, casting a vast shadow. His eyes, gleaming with cruel amusement, swept over the fallen heroes. A slow smile stretched across his face, a chilling promise of what awaited them all.
But beneath the rubble, amidst the ashes and despair, a faint ember flickered. The power of Ignis, dormant within Thor, stirred, waiting for its moment to rise...