The sky above Eldoria had taken on a deep, ominous hue, signaling the approach of something powerful. As Aric and his companions rode toward the capital, the air felt charged with tension. The artifact they had retrieved from the hidden temple pulsed with energy, but it had not come without a cost. The ancient voice that warned them of the dragons' awakening haunted Aric's thoughts.
"The dragons will rise, but at what cost?" The words echoed in his mind, as if reminding him that the balance of power had shifted.
"We're close," Kael said, guiding his horse along the winding path leading toward Eldoria. "The capital should be just beyond these hills."
Elara, riding beside Aric, looked worried. "Something feels wrong. The air is... heavy."
Borin grunted from behind them. "It's probably just the weight of what we're carrying. That orb has enough magic to shift the tides of war, but I can't shake the feeling we've disturbed something we shouldn't have."
Aric remained silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He couldn't dismiss Borin's words. The power of the orb was undeniable, but it came with a darkness they hadn't fully understood.
As they crested the final hill, the city of Eldoria came into view. Tall spires rose into the sky, and the mighty walls of the city stood firm as a testament to its strength. But something was wrong. Smoke billowed from the outskirts of the city, and even from a distance, they could hear the faint sound of battle.
"Elara!" Aric shouted, urgency in his voice. "What's happening?"
Elara closed her eyes for a moment, reaching out with her magic to sense the flow of energy in the city. When she opened her eyes, they were wide with shock.
"It's a dragon," she whispered. "A dragon is attacking Eldoria."
Borin cursed under his breath. "We need to get to the city fast. If a dragon's loose, they won't be able to hold it off for long."
Without hesitation, they urged their horses forward, galloping down the hill and toward the besieged capital. As they approached the city gates, the ground shook violently, and a deafening roar echoed through the air.
Above them, the sky split open as a massive black wyrm descended upon the city. Its scales shimmered with dark energy, and its eyes burned with rage. Fire spewed from its maw, engulfing buildings and sending waves of destruction through the streets.
The city's defenders were scattered, their arrows bouncing harmlessly off the dragon's thick hide. Soldiers rushed to form a defensive line, but their weapons were useless against the fury of the beast.
"We have to stop it!" Aric shouted, drawing his sword. "If we don't, Eldoria will fall!"
Kael nodded, already drawing his bow. "Aim for the eyes. It's our only chance."
Borin hefted his hammer, determination etched on his face. "I'll get close and see if I can crack its scales. Just keep it distracted."
Elara dismounted, her hands glowing with magical energy. "I'll try to weaken it with a binding spell, but I won't be able to hold it for long."
As the dragon swooped down toward them, Aric leaped into action. He sprinted toward the beast, dodging its fiery breath as it tore through the ground around him. Kael fired arrow after arrow, aiming for the dragon's eyes, but the wyrm was too fast, swatting the arrows away with its massive wings.
Borin charged in, swinging his hammer with all his strength. The impact cracked a few of the dragon's scales, but the beast roared in anger, turning its attention to the dwarf. With a flick of its tail, the dragon sent Borin flying across the battlefield, crashing into the side of a building.
"Borin!" Aric shouted, but there was no time to check if he was alright.
Elara chanted an incantation, and glowing chains of light shot up from the ground, wrapping around the dragon's legs and wings. The beast roared in fury as the magic held it in place, but Elara's face was twisted in concentration—she couldn't maintain the spell for long.
"Now, Aric!" Elara shouted. "I can't hold it much longer!"
With the dragon momentarily bound, Aric seized his opportunity. He ran toward the wyrm, his sword glowing with the power of the artifact. The dragon's eyes locked onto him, its jaws snapping with fury, but Aric was undeterred. He leaped onto the creature's back, climbing up its massive body as the magical chains began to fray.
The wyrm thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off, but Aric held firm. He climbed toward its head, raising his sword high.
"By the power of Drakenor!" Aric shouted, plunging his sword into the dragon's skull.
The beast let out a final, deafening roar as the blade pierced through its hide, the magic of the artifact surging into the dragon's body. With a violent shudder, the dragon collapsed to the ground, its dark energy dissipating into the air.
Aric fell to the ground, breathing heavily as he watched the great wyrm's body begin to fade, turning into ash and smoke.
The battle was over, but the cost was high. Eldoria lay in ruins, its streets filled with the dead and wounded. Borin groaned as he sat up from the wreckage, bruised but alive.
"Well, that was fun," he muttered, wincing as he stood.
Kael approached, his bow still in hand. "We've won, but the city is in shambles. We need to start helping the survivors."
Elara nodded, her face pale from the effort of the binding spell. "The dragon was only the beginning. We've unleashed something far greater. The wyrms will return, and we must be ready."
Aric looked at the ruined city, his heart heavy. The artifact had given them the power to defeat the dragon, but at what cost? The warnings of the ancient voice echoed in his mind once again.
The dragons would rise, and the war was far from over.
"We need to prepare," Aric said quietly. "This is only the beginning."
With the artifact in hand and the fate of Drakenor hanging in the balance, Aric knew that the true battle lay ahead. The wrath of the wyrms had only just begun, and the future of the realm depended on their ability to face the storm that was coming.