When they arrived at the trap, the sight before them left them stunned. In front of them, a legendary creature appeared to be trapped a DRAGON.
However, this dragon didn't look like the strong, invincible figure depicted in fairy tales. Its body was covered in blood, its magnificent wings were torn, and its breath came in ragged gasps, like a dying creature.
Its scales, which should have shimmered, now looked dull, as if it had lost its magical luster. From its nostrils came a hot breath that sounded like a heavy sigh, indicating just how weak the creature was.
Ethan stared at the dragon in disbelief. "A dragon…" he whispered, still unable to fully accept what he was seeing. Beneath the faint fear, Ethan felt something else, greed.
In his mind, this dragon was not a threat, but an opportunity. The dragon was gravely injured, perhaps from battle or old age, making this legendary creature an easier target.
"Boss… we should retreat. This dragon is too strong, even wounded. It could be dangerous for us," whispered one of his followers. However, the intent behind those words was darker than mere concern.
Ethan, intoxicated by ambition and greed, dismissed the warning. "Don't be foolish! This is our chance! This dying dragon is my destiny," he replied firmly, unaware that the warning was actually part of a betrayal scheme devised by his followers.
They exchanged glances, unspoken signals passing between them. Betrayal hung in the air.
They had long grown tired of Ethan's brutal commands and relentless greed, and that night with the dragon before them was the perfect opportunity to rid themselves of him.
As Ethan approached the dragon with his dagger drawn, ready to deliver a fatal strike, one of his followers stepped quickly from behind. A hard blow struck Ethan's head, sending him crashing to the ground in pain.
Ethan fell, shocked and confused. His head spun, his vision blurred. "What are you doing…?" he murmured weakly, trying to rise.
But the traitors only chuckled softly. "It's been too long, Ethan. You've ruled with cruelty and greed. Now it's our turn."
They stomped on Ethan's body, holding him down as he struggled weakly. Ethan fought back, but blow after blow landed on him, rendering him more helpless. His once-loyal followers now stood over him, mocking and taunting.
All Ethan could feel was a seething rage, his eyes burning with hatred. But just as he was about to say something, a weak voice from the dragon echoed again filled with anger and pain.
In an instant, the dragon moved with the last of its strength. Its massive jaws opened wide, and in one swift motion, the dragon attacked, devouring one of the traitors standing closest to it.
A desperate scream rang out as the man was lifted into the air, his body crushed by the dragon's sharp fangs. Blood gushed forth, splattering horror onto the ground. The man's body was left in half as the dragon brutally chewed.
The other traitors were stunned, fear etched on their faces. "Run!" someone shouted, but it was too late. The dragon, though injured, still had the strength to finish them off one by one.
The dragon swung its tail with terrifying speed, striking two of Ethan's followers who tried to escape.
Their bodies were hurled against the trees with a sickening crunch, their bones breaking. They died instantly, blood oozing from their shattered heads and bodies.
Another traitor tried to flee, but the dragon unleashed a blast of fire from its wide-open mouth. In seconds, the man was burned alive, horrific screams escaping him before he fell to the ground, reduced to ashes.
Ethan, still lying on the ground, watched the chaos unfold with a mix of awe and fear. He couldn't believe that this dying dragon could still put up such a fight.
Yet amid the horror, a crazy idea crossed his mind. If he could survive and consume the dragon's flesh or heart, he might absorb its power and rise stronger than ever.
As the dragon had slain all his traitors, only Ethan remained. Severely injured, Ethan knew that his only chance for survival lay in seizing this last opportunity.
The dragon that had decimated his followers now turned toward Ethan, its red eyes filled with hatred and pain.
With its last breath, the dragon weakly approached Ethan. He tried to crawl away, but his fate was already in the hands of the legendary creature. In one final act, the dragon opened its mouth and devoured Ethan alive, swallowing him into its dark, hot belly.
As darkness enveloped Ethan, he felt a terrifying sensation as he slid down into the dragon's belly. His strong body fought against it, but the dragon's power was too great.
Ethan fell into the dragon's stomach, surrounded by slowly moving muscular walls that squeezed him down.
As he tried to find a way out, he sensed the thick air and a foul stench surrounding him. Stomach acid began to pool around his feet, making his skin feel like it was on fire.
Excruciating pain began to invade his entire body, but Ethan refused to give up so easily. He ventured deeper into the dragon's belly, hoping to find something that could give him the strength to fight back.
As the pain intensified, Ethan's eyes caught a strange glimmer in the darkness. Inside the dragon's stomach, hidden among bones and the remains of other creatures that had been consumed, lay an ancient artifact glowing dimly.
The artifact resembled a basketball, radiating a deep black light, as if beckoning Ethan to come closer.
With the last of his strength, Ethan crawled toward the artifact. His instincts told him that this object was the key to saving himself. With trembling hands, he grasped the artifact and felt an incredible energy surge through his body.
A powerful and unexpected force surged within him, as if the artifact contained ancient power that could change everything.
However, before he could fully harness that power, the dragon's stomach acid began to rise more quickly, enveloping him.
The burning sensation became unbearable, rapidly eroding his skin, flesh, and bones. Though the power from the artifact flowed through him, it was not strong enough to stop the impending destruction.
Ethan screamed in agony as the dragon's acid destroyed his body. The artifact in his hand shone brightly for a moment but failed to protect him from that terrible fate.
Gradually, the pain transformed into an unavoidable emptiness. His body dissolved within the dragon's belly as his consciousness slowly faded.
In his final moments, before his entire body completely vanished, Ethan realized that his grand ambitions had led him to an inescapable ruin.
Even though he had found the ancient artifact and felt its immense power, the dragon that had devoured him was an opponent too strong to conquer.
As the dragon's acidic fluid continued to flow, dissolving the remnants of Ethan's body, only the roar of the dragon could be heard, marking the end of a man trapped in his own ambition, destroyed within the belly of a legendary creature he could not defeat.