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Scene: Chaos in the Village of Valendar
The dragon's roar echoed through the skies, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Valora, the ancient dragon of legend, loomed over the village like a shadow of destruction, its wings spread wide as its glowing eyes scanned the terrified villagers below. The air crackled with tension, and panic spread like wildfire as people scrambled to take shelter.
Mordryn stood tall, his eyes locked on the massive creature. He had fought monsters, beasts, and demons of unimaginable power in the past, but Valora... she was different. She was a relic of a time when the world was still young, a being of immense power that had been feared by both gods and mortals alike.
Kang Wo Hu:
Muttering in disbelief
"I didn't think dragons even existed anymore…"
Mordryn clenched his fists, his mind racing. This fight wasn't going to be simple, not like the other hunts. Valora was no ordinary monster—she was an ancient force, tied to the very magic that had warped the village. He had to face her alone.
He turned to Kang Wo Hu, his voice steady but firm.
Mordryn:
"Kang Wo Hu, listen carefully."
She blinked, her gaze snapping up to meet his. She could feel the gravity in his words, the weight of the battle they were about to face.
Mordryn:
commanding
"You must stay here and protect the villagers."
Kang Wo Hu stared at him, wide-eyed.
Kang Wo Hu:
"What? No, Mordryn, I—"
Mordryn:
cutting her off
"No arguments. Valora is not a beast to be fought without care. If she attacks again, the village will fall. I need you here. I'll go to the mountain and end this."
Her lips parted in protest, but she could see the resolve in his eyes. He wasn't going to let her follow him. As much as she wanted to fight alongside him, to help him in any way she could, she knew that in this moment, he was right. The villagers needed her.
Kang Wo Hu:
reluctantly
"Fine. But be careful."
Mordryn gave her a curt nod, turning his gaze back toward the distant mountain peaks, where Valora had come from. The dragon hadn't fully descended yet, but her presence loomed, threatening to strike again at any moment.
Mordryn:
under his breath
"This ends where it began."
Without another word, he turned and began his march toward the mountains. The villagers, still trembling in fear, watched as he left, some murmuring prayers, others bowing their heads in silent reverence. They still didn't fully understand who Mordryn was—or what he was capable of—but they sensed that he was their only hope.
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Scene: The Journey to the Mountain
The trek was long, and the landscape grew more treacherous with every step. Days passed as Mordryn pushed through dense forests, jagged cliffs, and steep inclines, his mind focused solely on his goal. Valora's lair was hidden deep within the mountains, a place where few had ever dared venture. But Mordryn was not afraid. He had faced worse.
As he ascended higher, the air grew colder, the winds sharper. His breath came in visible puffs, and the terrain became more unforgiving. Still, he pressed on, his body accustomed to hardships that would have broken a lesser man.
But as the days dragged on, something else gnawed at the back of his mind—a question that had been lingering since his arrival in this new era. How was Valora still here? How had the ancient dragon survived, when so many of the other creatures from his time had long since faded into myth?
Mordryn:
thinking
"This world has changed... but not everything has been forgotten."
He could feel it in the air, the same twisted magic that had corrupted the village. The gate had preserved more than just the people of Valendar—it had preserved the monsters, the myths, the dangers of the past. Valora was a relic of that magic, kept alive by forces that defied the passage of time.
As he neared the summit of the mountain, the wind howled, and the sky darkened with ominous clouds. His muscles ached from the days of climbing, but he pressed on, knowing that he was close.
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Scene: The Summit of the Mountain, Valora's Lair
At last, he reached the summit.
The jagged peaks towered around him, and a vast, shadowy cave yawned before him like the maw of some great beast. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and ancient magic, and the ground trembled beneath his feet.
Mordryn stood at the entrance of the cave, his eyes scanning the darkness within. He could feel it—Valora's presence, pulsing like a heartbeat from the depths. She was close, and she was waiting.
He stepped forward, his senses heightened. The deeper he went into the cave, the more the oppressive weight of the magic bore down on him. The air shimmered with dark energy, and the ground beneath his feet was littered with bones—remnants of those who had dared to face the dragon and failed.
And then, he saw her.
Valora.
She lay coiled in the center of the cavern, her massive form barely visible in the dim light. Her scales shimmered in shades of black and crimson, and her eyes—those glowing, malevolent eyes—snapped open as he approached.
For a moment, the two of them simply stared at each other, predator and prey, locked in a silent exchange.
Mordryn's heart pounded in his chest, but he did not flinch. He had come this far, and there was no turning back now. Valora's lips curled into a snarl, revealing rows of jagged teeth that gleamed in the darkness.
Valora:
a voice like thunder, echoing in his mind
"You... dare to come here, mortal?"
Mordryn's eyes narrowed, his hand already crackling with dark energy as he prepared for the fight to come.
Mordryn:
quietly, yet filled with resolve
"This is where your terror ends."
Valora let out a deafening roar, shaking the very foundations of the cave. The ground trembled beneath them, and the walls shook, loose rocks tumbling down as the ancient dragon unfurled her wings, filling the cavern with her immense presence.
But Mordryn stood firm, his power surging as the final confrontation loomed.
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End of Chapter 19