The air crackled with the residual energy of the shattered seal. Smoke billowed from the gaping hole where the King's hidden chamber had once been, a testament to the raw power unleashed. Ivel, his face grim, addressed his companions. "Faelar, take the assassins. Get the civilians out of the city. Meet up with Kaelion and Lirael; provide support from afar. We need to minimize casualties."
Faelar, his usually jovial face etched with worry, hesitated. "What about you, Ivel? You can't face that thing alone!"
Ivel met his gaze, his own eyes unwavering. "I have to. This is something I have to handle myself."
"But Ivel," Faelar pleaded, his voice laced with desperation, "my father told me stories… dragons… they are mythical creatures of immense power, beyond anything we've ever faced. You can't handle this alone, you'll die!"
Ivel placed a hand on Faelar's shoulder, his expression softening only slightly. "I know the risks. But trust me, I have this handled. Go. Every second counts."
A long moment of silence hung in the air, the only sound the crackling flames and distant roars of the dragon. Then, with a reluctant nod, Faelar turned and barked orders to the assassins. They moved swiftly, disappearing into the chaos of the city
Ivel watched them go, then turned his gaze to Zelfur, the ancestral sword resting in its scabbard. He stared at it for a long moment, its weight and power settling into his soul, before drawing it. The familiar hum resonated deep within him as he closed his eyes, meditating, drawing on the reserves of his mana, preparing for the fight of his life
With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the smoky sky, chasing after the dragon. He caught up quickly enough to begin launching fire spells, but the dragon barely flinched, swatting them aside like bothersome gnats. It was a gargantuan beast of pure, untamed power. Ivel, agile and resourceful, used the rooftops of the burning city as his launching pads, leaping from building to building, attempting to get closer to the immense creature
But the dragon was too strong, too quick. With a mighty swipe of its tail, it sent Ivel tumbling from its back, the impact sending him crashing to the cobblestone streets below, a jarring thud punctuating the dragon's enraged roars
Meanwhile, Faelar and the assassins had regrouped with Kaelion and Lirael. The scene was a whirlwind of panicked civilians, fleeing amidst crumbling buildings and the terrifying shadow of the dragon
"What happened?" Kaelion asked urgently, noting Faelar's grim expression. "Where did it come from?"
Faelar explained the events, the hidden chamber, the broken seal, and the King's desperate attempt to conceal the truth. "And Ivel… he went after it. Alone."
Lirael's eyes widened. "He can't! He can't go alone!"
Faelar nodded grimly. "I tried to stop him. But he said… he said to trust him."
Kaelion placed a reassuring hand on Lirael's shoulder. "He's Ivel. He'll be fine."
They began the arduous task of evacuating the civilians, their efforts hampered by the ever-present threat of the dragon's fiery breath. Suddenly, Prince Darius, accompanied by Lance Gareth – a knight clad in shimmering, almost ethereal armor – arrived with a sizable contingent of knights. A few knights stayed behind to surround Kaelion and his group
Darius's voice was hard, his face set with a grim determination. "you were the ones who released the dragon weren't you. A friend of yours… he's fighting it now.
Kaelion's heart sank. "You have to let us go! Ivel needs us! Darius, you don't understand–"
Darius cut him off, his gaze unwavering. "I don't care." The knights advanced, a wave of steel and determination heading toward the raging dragon. Kaelion knew he had to reach Ivel. But Darius's unexpected intervention and the knights' advance had thrown their carefully planned evacuation and support strategy into chaos. The question remained: could Kaelion and his group break through the newly formed blockade, and reach Ivel or would it be too late?