I found myself nestled comfortably in my bed, lost in a vivid dream, sprinting through a vast meadow adorned with a kaleidoscope of vibrant flowers. Enormous rabbits, each the size of a bear, danced playfully around me as I attempted to catch one.
However, my legs felt like jelly, refusing to cooperate and move at my desired speed. Using mana to invigorate my limbs, I pursued them with the fervor of an apex predator on the hunt for a delectable feast.
Just as I was about to seize one for a thrilling ride, a voice pierced through the tranquility of my dream, scattering it into countless fragments: "Come, I am calling a meeting."
My eyes flew open as the bright rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, striking my vision with brilliance. I sat up and surveyed my surroundings; my cozy pink blanket adorned with playful bunnies was draped halfway over me while my white toes peeked out from the end of the bed.
Despite the temptation to sink back into slumber, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and rose to my feet, pulling back the curtains to invite the morning light into my space.
The sun was beginning to rise over a breathtaking landscape dominated by a series of grand palaces known as The Divine City—a stunning realm of white, gold, and silver structures, each boasting elegant columned porticos and shimmering terraces that sparkled in the sunlight.
Towering above all was a singular palace, more glorious than the rest, serving as the dwelling place of our God.
The climate in the Divine City was unique, creating an atmosphere in which each inhabitant experienced a different interpretation of various elements such as weather, time, natural occurrences, and their own spatial perceptions.
For instance, while some individuals might bask in the brilliance of daylight, others could find themselves enveloped in the tranquility of night. This phenomenon extended beyond mere light and darkness; it encompassed the very essence of time and space, along with a multitude of other ideas. Each person perceives their surroundings through the lens of their desires and beliefs, thereby shaping their own reality distinctly personally.
Stepping away from my window, I effortlessly transformed my attire with a mere snap of my fingers. Instantly, my comfortable pink and white striped pajamas were replaced by a luxurious black frilly dress that beautifully accentuated my skin and figure, enveloping me in elegance and allure.
Eager to avoid keeping Lord waiting, I adjusted my spatial awareness, positioning myself directly in front of the city's capital. Before me loomed an immense mansion, a magnificent fusion of white and gold resembling a Pantheon, its grandeur surpassing that of any celestial entity ever conceived. Towering white columns served as both pillars and the grand entrance to the Lord's residence.
As I ascended the staircase to the majestic Pantheon, I was enveloped by a pristine whiteness within its walls. This sanctuary seemed to banish any trace of impurity.
Within this hallowed space, I encountered the mortal creature known as Alpha, a monkey whose presence momentarily clouded my thoughts. However, I swiftly dismissed that troublesome distraction, redirecting my attention to the task at hand, ensuring that I appeared dignified and worthy in the eyes of my esteemed lords.
Lord granted me the privilege of traversing the boundaries of his grand palace through teleportation. I materialized right before the meeting room entrance, where my presence was demanded.
As I made my way through the Pantheon's vast expanse, I carried myself with an air of dignity and regality, the sound of my shoes echoing against the pristine white marble that stretched endlessly around me.
Before me loomed a magnificent throne, its presence commanding, with an individual seated upon it. I had yet to meet his gaze directly, as the unspoken rule of permission held me in check. With my head bowed in reverence, I advanced until I reached the center of the grand chamber, where I knelt in silence.
The quietness was soon broken by a voice that resonated deeply yet clearly: "Arise, Uztia, my messenger. Your arrival marks the start of our meeting—one that entails this cycle and timeline. I have initiated the prophecy that will herald the downfall of |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|. Alpha, known as Lancelot now, is the prophesied child, destined to topple |_ _ _| and fulfill my eternity. How shall I use my new tool?"
***
As I muttered a string of curses beneath my breath, I yanked my necklace free and called out to the skies above. "Come to me, Ifrit!"
In an instant, flames enveloped me as I invoked my fiery companion. The blaze gradually subsided, revealing my regal attire when I merged with Ifrit. The dragon's gaze locked onto me when I transformed, and it began to draw in mana from the surrounding air. "Dodge!" I yelled, just as the dragon halted and unleashed a ferocious blast of mana. Arnold seized the startled Mason and sprinted away while I transformed into a flickering flame, darting around to evade the impending attack.
As I fled, jagged spikes of hardened earth erupted from the ground, striking at me with relentless precision. A surge of mana carved chaotic lines into the soil, erasing everything in its path. It felt like a playful puppy was pursuing me, but instead of showering me affectionately, it threatened to reduce me to mere ashes.
Suddenly, I heard a sharp yelp; Arnold had collided with the ground to my right. Once I managed to evade the immediate threat, I reverted to my usual form and turned to check on him.
However, I found myself in a precarious situation as the dragon conjured an imposing wall of ice in my direction, causing me to crash into it with the comical force of a cartoon character. Dazed and struggling to regain my bearings, I soon realized I was utterly immobilized. Glancing down, I was horrified to discover that my entire body was encased in a thick layer of ice. How could I have failed to sense the mana that bound me so tightly, let alone the spell that had been cast?
I unleashed a torrent of flames from my very being, aiming to dissolve the icy prison that encased me. Yet, to my dismay, the ice remained like my efforts were nothing more than child's play.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the dragon shimmering with an ominous glow, a foreboding indication of my dire situation as I remained trapped in the frigid grip of ice. I envisioned myself transforming into a flame, no larger than a grain of sand, desperately attempting to achieve this, but alas, I found myself unable to do so. What was holding me back?
The dragon was relentless, not allowing me a moment to gather my thoughts. It expanded its maw to an astonishing size, then unleashed a small orb that, under any other circumstances, I might have dismissed as harmless.
However, knowing it originated from a dragon, my apprehension grew. As the orb drew nearer, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over me, prompting me to frantically slash at the ice in a desperate attempt to shatter it, but my efforts proved futile. Just as I braced for impact, a shadow loomed beneath me, propelling me skyward as the ice erupted around me.
"Got your back covered, Leon!" Mason shouted as I soared into the air on Orochi, the shadow serpent.
"How are we going to do this?" I mumbled as the dragon chased Orochi up and above the clouds.
"Not sure, but our best chance of survival is to make this a battle of endurance. Stall for time until some backup arrives like we established before." A voice said as a blur of green appeared to my left. Arnold used his Spirit Dash and got on top of Orochi.
"Yeah, well, we are 100% screwed here! Pull something out of your ass so that we have a chance to last long enough for backup to come!" Another voice said as Mason appeared out of Orochi's head as a liquid shadow.
"Take the fight away from the forest, Mason! It seems focused on me, so take me as far away as possible," I shouted over the raging winds.
"Roger that, boss man! Orochi, full steam ahead!" The snake made a sort of purring sound as it followed the command from its unworthy master.
A moment later, a cataclysmic explosion cascaded throughout the surroundings, violently shaking the air in a fit of rage.
"Hold on!" Arnold shouted as he grabbed Mason, who was about to be thrown off Orochi.
As I turned to witness the aftermath, my mouth fell agape in disbelief, for a nuclear explosion had transformed the previously verdant terrain into a scene of utter chaos. A mesmerizing yet terrifying vortex of every conceivable color danced in the air, creating a stunning yet horrifying spectacle that left me utterly speechless.
'If that hit me... I would be erased from existence.'
A multitude of shockwaves surged through the atmosphere, throwing Orochi and, in turn, us around in the air with great force.
As we ascended high above the clouds, gliding past flocks of birds and majestic mountains, we skillfully evaded the mana blasts of various elements unleashed by the dragon, all while dragging it away from our beloved home.
I narrowly escaped several near-fatal encounters with energy blasts that threatened to sever my head from my body; I could feel the singed strands of my hair cascading down as Orochi expertly navigated us through the chaos.
Then, in the distance, I caught sight of something promising. "Look over there! Head towards the volcano!" I exclaimed, gesturing to the right.
A towering mass of earth and bubbling lava came into view, a perfect location for me to unleash the full power of my abilities as a fire elemental mage. "Everyone, stay alert! I can feel the ground trembling beneath—."
BOOM!
An eruption erupted before our eyes, sending fiery blobs of lava hurtling from the volcano's mouth. "Uh, are you the one controlling this, Leon?" Mason yelled, his voice barely cutting through the howling wind. I turned to see what he was referring to and saw the molten projectiles racing toward us at breakneck speed.
"No, I'm not! It's our scaly companion behind us that's causing this chaos. We need to turn NOW!" Orochi turned violently, and in an instant, a streak of red shot past us.
"TURN!" Orochi executed another sharp turn, and I clung on for dear life, nearly being thrown off our massive reptilian steed.
"Ifrit will give us his blessing. Mason EVADE."
"I CAN SEE, YOU KNOW! BE QUIET BEFORE I—" His words were abruptly cut short. A fiery blob of lava soared through the air, bursting into flames right before us, which disrupted Orochi's flight and sent him plummeting toward the molten landscape below.
Amidst the howling winds, Arnold's voice pierced through the chaos, filled with urgency as he shouted, "Assist me with the landing to avoid crashing!"
At that moment, we conjured a cushion of wind mana alongside Arnold and Mason to soften our descent. However, just as we were preparing to touch down, a treacherous field of metallic spikes came into view.
As if the situation couldn't get any more dire, I felt a prickling sensation at the nape of my neck, causing me to glance over my shoulder. To my horror, a colossal mana blast, looming as large as a volcano, was barreling toward us with alarming speed.
"SCATTER!" I commanded, and fortunately, they grasped the gravity of the situation and vanished from sight as soon as I finished my sentence. I executed a Phoenix Dash towards the volcano, and shortly after, my companions joined me.
The mana blast swept through the landscape with an unstoppable force, obliterating all that lay before it. There was no dramatic explosion or tremor to signal its impact; the only testament to the dragon's immense power was the sight of an endless tunnel carved into the rugged earth.
"Ifrit." Holding onto my necklace in prayer.
"In the darkest night, I am the brightest light. In neverending despair, my undying flames leave everything before me bare. I am the lone star that shines above all yet will never fall. With this blessing, I ask you to slaughter all those who wish for the fall of my light, as it is the light that shines in the darkest night."
A faint aura enveloped us, my blessing being the strongest of the three, indicating that we had received the blessing of Ifrit. The dragon emerged from the clouds, proudly displaying its power with a resounding roar.
"How about we pick a place that isn't a million degrees? Im sweating my butt off over here!"
"You forgot you can regulate your body temperature with mana, Mason?"
"Maybe?"
"How about you-"
The dragon appeared far from amused by our squabbling, its wings beating furiously as it unleashed a fierce wind attack in the shape of an X, aimed directly at us. I Phoenix Dashed to my left, only to be confronted by a menacing shadow. Moving at an alarming speed, a glimmering object was hurtling toward me. Orochi intervened quickly, slapping the dragon away with its tail.
Regrettably, the creature adjusted its body in time, causing Orochi to miss completely. In a swift motion, the dragon seized Orochi, tearing a chunk from the serpent's body. In an instant, Orochi transformed back into a swirling mass of liquid shadows, retreating to the safety of his master.
The dragon turned to me and charged at me with ferocity, forcing me into a defensive stance. It attempted to crush me beneath its weight, but I evaded its attack by becoming intangible. The dragon continued its relentless pursuit, engaging in a fierce game of cat and mouse, striking and slashing with unyielding determination. Constantly switching between my human body and a Fire Sprite, there was no margin for error; even the slightest misstep could lead to my demise.
I maneuvered skillfully, ducking and dodging beneath the sweeping strikes that threatened to snuff out my pitiful life while racking my brain for a strategy to escape this dangerous situation alive.
Suddenly, a vibrant light green aura illuminated the surroundings, casting an ethereal glow. Realizing the gravity of my predicament, I braced myself for the onslaught as the dragon unleashed its magical claws, each slash accompanied by a haunting after-image that lingered ominously in the space where it had just struck.
"Almost done, Arnold?!?"
"Almost! And... done! Switch A Roo."
A sudden burst of vibrant green light enveloped my vision, and instantly, I switched places with the dragon. The sheer force of the ability left the dragon momentarily disoriented, causing it to crash to the ground. I executed a swift Phoenix Dash, quickly rejoining my companions.
"I appreciate the... timely intervention."
"No problem." Arnold returned.
The dragon turned swiftly towards us as we managed to distance ourselves from its menacing presence, and it was now advancing with an unsettling urgency.
However, there was something distinctly amiss about this creature. Its eyes had transformed into a fierce, glowing red color reminiscent of the molten lava cascading down the volcano's slopes.
As I observed more closely, I noticed the dragon exhibiting erratic movements, almost as if it were in distress. Suddenly, it appeared to reach a breaking point. With a frantic intensity, it began to claw at its face, particularly on the right side, causing a peculiar, viscous liquid to ooze from the wounds it was inflicting upon itself.
"You." A chaotic and messy voice could be heard, like many people saying the same thing in different tones.
"You?" I asked as I heard the voices. "Did it just talk?"
"It seems like it, but it doesn't seem to be referring to us, " Arnold said, then continued nervously. "That's not good. Look at the wound it created."
The dragon relentlessly raked its claws across its face, a peculiar liquid oozing forth, but now an unexpected development was unfolding. Something emerged from the depths of the wound—sharp, gleaming, and elongated, resembling a knife in form.
A mournful wail erupted from the dragon as the injury expanded, and more of these blades began to appear. The count escalated until there were ten, each shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight, their edges honed to a lethal sharpness. Suddenly, realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. "Hold on, those are claws! Something is coming out! We must stop this!"
Mason called forth Orochi, wielding him like a whip to bring the dragon crashing down, providing me the perfect opportunity to strike. I had been anticipating this moment, my sword raised high as I uttered a single word: "Sever."
This Sever was enhanced beyond the norm as I had Ifrit's blessing. The slash was sent out, a projectile of mass destruction that could level an entire mountain range, but I felt it wasn't enough.
I was correct, and little did I know the maelstrom of events that would be set in motion because of the next minute's events, which would happen before my eyes.
My adversary abruptly turned its head towards me, and the menacingly sharp talons that appeared out of the dragon's face vanished into thin air. Amidst the chaos, I could hear Arnold and Ifrit shouting urgently to get out of the way, yet I was confused by their frantic warnings.
"Why- ?" I questioned.
I realized I had collapsed to the ground, but the events leading up to that moment were a blur.
I couldn't perceive any threat approaching. My hearing felt dulled, yet my heart thumping echoed in my ears, gradually slowing with each beat. Whatever had hit me had done so with tremendous force, rendering me completely immobile. The entire left side of my body felt as if it had been enveloped in icy cold, akin to being caught in a frigid blizzard without any protection.
Would this be how I died? So young, and with a family waiting for me at home? No. I don't want to die, not yet, at least. I still have a family to protect.
My body, however, wouldn't listen and was shutting down. Luckily, a flashing green light blinded my fading eyesight as a figure stood over me. Arnold? I thought as the cold feeling and the pounding of my heart steadied just a bit.
Even with Ifrit's healing factor paired with what I assumed to be Arnold healing me with his wind spirits, I couldn't move. All I could do was pray that we would all somehow come out of this encounter alive, which wasn't likely.
I saw something in my peripheral vision: the hole the claws came out of.
Staring at it with my damaged vision, which was coming back to me bit by bit, I was absorbed by it, envisioning something. Even though I knew I was still on the ground, I was transported into a deep water source. Faces appeared in the liquid, in pure despair.
"Join us, young one. This is your fate."
"You are one of us; we are of the same kind that once ruled the world. We even threatened the gods with power that shook the heavens."
"You will end up just like us; there is no escape."
I heard such words repeatedly, their echoes resonating within my thoughts. Each voice pulled me further beneath the surface, amplifying my futile attempts to rise and breathe as time slipped away. The water around me was stained crimson, a gruesome blend of blood.
As I succumbed to the depths, the sensation of drowning enveloped me, my throat and lungs overwhelmed by the chilling embrace of water and sheer terror. Debris of flesh bobbed around me: twisted horns, shattered bones, glistening scales, and an unending surge of mana emanating from the abyss below this sea of liquid.
"-on."
The wails echoed endlessly, a haunting chorus of torment that clawed at my sanity. Unfathomable screams of despair surged from the boundless ocean of crimson, wrapping around me like a suffocating shroud of dread. Scarlet tears streamed down my cheeks, my body paralyzed by terror, while my mind spiraled into a chaotic abyss, unraveling and collapsing upon itself.
A chilling numbness crept through my limbs, snuffing out any sensation until they felt like hollow shells. The very essence of each limb was torn apart, leaving nothing but a void. The word "pain" barely scratched the surface of my torment. If I could describe it... no, it was beyond words. It was unfathomable. I could not describe what went beyond the concept of pain. The closest thing that came to mind was God himself standing before me, ordering my body to self-destruct in the most excruciating way imaginable, only for him to command my body to regenerate and do it all over again.
"Join us, young one. This is your fate."
"You are one of us; we are of the same kind that once ruled the world. We even threatened the gods with power that shook the heavens."
"You will end up just like us; there is no escape."
A cacophony of sinister whispers ensnared me, tearing at the essence of the being known as "Leon." Each voice reverberated within my skull, a relentless assault that threatened to shatter my mind into a million pieces.
They dragged me further into the depths, making my futile attempts to claw my way to the surface increasingly desperate.
As the last flicker of light vanished, swallowed by the abyss, I found myself engulfed in an oppressive darkness. It was then that I glimpsed a colossal form lurking in the depths, a monstrous entity resting at the bottom of the water. Its scales shimmered in shades of deep blue and gray, and its enormous yellow eyes, reptilian and unblinking, pierced through the gloom. The moment our gazes locked, a primal terror surged through me, sending my body into a convulsive frenzy, shaking uncontrollably as the realization struck—I was in the presence of an ancient dragon, a being of nightmares.
"LEON!" Ifrit screamed.
My eyes shot open, a desperate gasp tearing from my throat, the sensation of suffocating in dark, murky depths still clinging to me like a shroud. Relief washed over me as I realized I was far from any water, yet my body screamed in agony, each muscle feeling as though it had been mercilessly battered by a horde wielding iron skillets. The thought of survival barely registered until I attempted to rise, only to collapse into the abyss of my despair.
"I'm alive?" I moaned, my fingers roughly rubbing my eyes.
"You aren't the only one." A voice called out to my right.
Arnold stood there, eerily calm, his gaze fixed on the tumultuous sky. I turned to follow his gaze, and what I beheld sent a chill down my spine: violent flashes of light erupted in the air, a sight not uncommon to Terra.
Yet these were different—ferocious, like a malevolent storm cloud that had awakened with a thirst for chaos, challenging its brethren in a celestial brawl. Each flicker of light danced with a new hue, revealing shades of blue, black, and every color lurking in the spectrum's shadows. They drew nearer, the air thickening with an ominous roar that echoed through the atmosphere, a harbinger of something dreadful approaching.
"Our scaly friends are having a flashy dance-off in the sky, Leon; watch the show and enjoy!" Mason said to my left.
Mason was sitting in a bright white chair. He was using Orochi's tail to fan himself, the appendage waving back and forth like a dog's tail wagging joyfully from the earth. The chair he occupied was pure white, devoid of any color.
Even though I was severely injured and weakened., I could instantly recognize that it was a chair crafted from pure light particles. Mason effortlessly demonstrated his command over light-based magic, something that would impress the greatest mages of our time.
"Wait... "scaly friends"? Who are you talking about-" I asked as I stupidly looked up and saw what was making those flashing lights.
Two colossal shadows loomed ominously above the clouds, their scaly forms flickering in and out of view through the swirling clouds. I glimpsed hues of black, brown, purple, red, blue, and a sinister violet darting like phantoms. The air trembled with thunderous roars and deep rumbles as the dragons clashed in a fierce battle, their eyes fixated on us, the helpless witnesses to their wrath.
"Where did the second dragon come from?" I wondered as I sat up and adjusted to lean back on the rock behind me.
"It came a bit after you took a nap, leader, and it works in our favor. I guess dragons are territorial. It makes sense, considering their nature: creatures born to rule over where they wish. I guess not even other dragons are safe." Mason said comfortably.
Looking at my left arm, I noticed Ifrit's fiery essence and Arnold's enchanting fairy summon working harmoniously to mend my shattered limb. The searing pain that had once overwhelmed me was now dulled to a bearable level. Meanwhile, the torment that had plagued my mind was being gently siphoned away by Ifrit, who took on the burden himself, effectively lightening the heavy load that had pressed down on me.
A piercing shriek intertwined with a feeble roar reverberated as one of the dragons plummeted from the heavens. Its once majestic form, now charred and roasted, appeared to be a deep, obsidian black as if it had been immersed in the fiery embrace of the sun itself. Yet, in a remarkable display of resilience, it swiftly mended its wounds and ascended back into the clouds, ready to rejoin the fray.
"That's not the only thing that showed up when you went down. There is now an immensely powerful barrier surrounding us, preventing us from leaving or being hurt by outside sources." Arnold gestured towards the area in front of him, tapping it, and a delicate orb began to shimmer softly around us, sending out ripples from his point of contact until it expanded throughout the entirety of the sphere and eventually faded away.
"The dragon must have constructed this barrier. The intricate hexagonal design represents a sophisticated approach to barrier construction, optimizing not only its strength and longevity but also its expansive coverage, all while keeping mana consumption at a minimum. This particular style is regarded as the pinnacle of defensive techniques, mastered by only a select few. According to my sister Merlin, the odds of possessing such innate talent are astronomically low, perhaps one in a billion. I believe that dragon is The Dragon Queen, renowned as the most powerful dragon in existence and one of the last of her species. My sister's textbooks describe her as a long, sleek, and colorful dragon, the guardian of our region. Sounds like this one, no?"
Mason threw a pure white can into the sky as he shouted. "About damn time she came and helped! We would have died!"
"How about you don't insult one of the strongest creatures alive? I can't save you from being beaten half to death by her if she doesn't like your attitude."
Just after I said that a comet-sized fireball evaporated all the clouds, moisture, and grass surrounding our barrier before detonating, causing a nuclear-level explosion that could probably be seen from a thousand miles away. Even being protected, I could feel the heat faintly through the barrier.
"I take back my disrespectful comment, Your Majesty."