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Scene: Deep within the Mountain Cave
The air inside the cave crackled with energy as Mordryn and Valora clashed, their battle shaking the very foundations of the mountain. For hours, the cavern had been filled with the sounds of roaring fire and the ringing of dark magic against the sheer force of the dragon's power. Each strike from Mordryn sent shockwaves through the rock, while Valora's massive form tore through the air with claws and teeth like blades.
Flames licked the walls, casting an eerie glow as Valora unleashed torrents of fire that Mordryn barely dodged. His dark energy whipped around him like a shield, his focus unwavering. He had faced countless enemies before, but none quite like this.
Valora was relentless.
Her scales glistened with ancient magic, and her roars reverberated like thunder. Each swipe of her claws tore through the stone as though it were paper, and her wings, massive and powerful, sent gusts of wind that nearly knocked Mordryn off balance.
But he wasn't done. Not yet.
Mordryn:
gritting his teeth, voice strained
"This ends here, Valora!"
He raised his hand, dark energy swirling around him, forming a spear of shadow. With a roar of his own, he hurled it toward the dragon. Valora snarled and tried to deflect the attack, but the spear pierced through her defenses, striking her square in the chest.
For a moment, everything went still.
Valora staggered back, her wings faltering as she let out a final, agonized roar. Her massive body began to glow with an eerie light, and the ground beneath them trembled as the magic that had sustained her for so long started to unravel.
Mordryn breathed heavily, his body exhausted from the hours of fighting. He watched as the dragon's enormous form started to shimmer, her once fearsome shape shrinking and morphing in a way that left him stunned.
The dragon, the legendary beast he had battled for hours, was transforming before his eyes.
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Scene: Valora's True Form
The light around Valora faded, and in her place stood a young girl—no older than ten. Her body was small, frail even, and her two short horns peeked out from her silver hair. A long, slender tail curled behind her, swaying nervously. She wore a tattered dress, her bare feet barely making a sound as she stood there, trembling.
Mordryn blinked, disbelief flashing across his face. This... this couldn't be the same creature he had just fought.
Mordryn:
whispering to himself
"A child?"
Valora looked up at him with wide, fearful eyes. Her once terrifying dragon form was gone, replaced by this fragile, almost innocent figure. Her horns glistened in the dim light, and her tail swayed behind her like an animal's, but her expression was unmistakably human. Her eyes, which once burned with rage, were now filled with something else—fear.
Valora:
pleading, her voice small
"Please... don't kill me."
Mordryn froze, his hand still crackling with the remnants of dark energy, ready to strike if necessary. But something stopped him. The sight of the little girl, trembling before him, caught him off guard. This was no longer the fearsome dragon he had set out to defeat.
Mordryn:
confused, his voice low
"What... what are you?"
Valora took a shaky step back, clutching her arms as if trying to make herself smaller. Her tail swished nervously behind her, and her eyes darted around, clearly frightened.
Valora:
her voice trembling
"I'm... I'm not what you think. Please... I'll explain everything. Just don't kill me."
Mordryn stared at her, still processing what had just happened. The girl before him was no mere child, that much was clear. But what kind of magic was at play here? What had he been fighting all this time?
His dark energy dissipated, the shadows flickering away as he lowered his hand. His mind raced with questions, but he kept his eyes locked on Valora, not yet fully trusting the situation.
Mordryn:
slowly, cautiously
"Explain."
Valora swallowed, her tiny frame shaking as she tried to gather her thoughts. The cavern around them was silent now, the echoes of their battle fading into the distance. Outside, the sun had begun to set, casting a warm, golden light through the cracks in the cave walls.
But inside, the tension still hung thick in the air.
Valora:
whispering, her voice barely audible
"I'll tell you... everything. Just... don't hurt me."
Mordryn narrowed his eyes, his instincts still on high alert. He had come here to slay a dragon, to rid the world of a threat that had plagued it for centuries. But now, standing before him was not a dragon, but a scared little girl, begging for her life.
Mordryn:
voice hard
"I'm listening."
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End of Chapter 20