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Scene: The Village of Valendar, Just Moments After the Roar
The ground trembled beneath their feet, the chilling roar of the distant dragon still echoing through the valley. Villagers froze, eyes wide in terror, their faces drained of color. The sheer force of the sound sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest among them. It was a roar that carried the weight of destruction, of ruin.
Mordryn's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing as he scanned the horizon. High in the mountains, the massive figure of a dragon began to take shape—its wings like dark clouds against the setting sun. The villagers began murmuring in panic, some clutching their children, others whispering hurried prayers.
Valora stood paralyzed, her eyes locked on the figure in the distance. Her entire body trembled, and she instinctively backed up, her small hands gripping the back of Mordryn's cloak. She peeked out from behind him, her face pale as a ghost.
Valora:
voice trembling
"Mordryn... th-that's him. That's Vlord."
Mordryn's jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving the towering shadow on the horizon. The sheer size of the creature was unlike anything the villagers had ever seen—far larger, more menacing than Valora's own dragon form had been. He could feel the weight of its presence from miles away, an ominous sense of doom creeping closer with every second.
Valora's grip tightened, her voice shaky with fear.
Valora:
whispering
"If we don't do something... the village... it'll be reduced to rubble. He'll destroy everything."
The words hung in the air, and Mordryn's mind raced. He had battled many enemies, faced countless threats, but this... Vlord... he was unlike anything he had ever encountered. A dragon born of power, destruction, and hunger for dominance. Valora had said Vlord wanted to be a god among mortals, and now that ambition was taking shape—one that could level the entire world if left unchecked.
The villagers, too, began to realize the impending danger. Fear gripped them as they gathered their loved ones, pulling them toward the village square, desperate for safety. But there was no safety. Not from a beast like Vlord.
Villager 1:
panicked, shouting
"W-We have to run!"
Villager 2:
fearful
"There's no running from a dragon that size!"
The village elder, though calm, appeared grim, his staff shaking slightly as he gazed at the rising form of Vlord in the mountains.
Village Elder:
low voice, to Mordryn
"What can be done? Surely, there must be something..."
Mordryn remained silent for a moment, his eyes still locked on the beast in the distance. He could feel the weight of Valora's fear pressing against him, her small form quivering behind his broad shoulders. She had faced Vlord before, and she knew all too well what he was capable of.
Finally, Mordryn turned his head slightly, his voice low and steady.
Mordryn:
calm, yet resolute
"Get the villagers to safety. I'll handle him."
Valora's eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed his arm desperately.
Valora:
frantic
"No! You don't understand—Vlord is different. He's... he's too strong. You can't fight him alone. He'll destroy everything."
Mordryn glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. He placed a hand on her head, his touch firm but gentle.
Mordryn:
softly
"I've fought worse. Stay here. Protect the villagers."
Valora shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
Valora:
pleading
"You don't know what you're up against. He's my brother, but he's a monster. If you go after him alone... you won't survive."
Mordryn's gaze softened, but his resolve was unwavering.
Mordryn:
firmly
"I've survived worse. Stay. That's an order."
Valora bit her lip, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't want to be left behind, didn't want to be useless again, hiding while others fought. But the fear in her bones was real. She knew Vlord's power better than anyone.
Before Valora could argue further, another deafening roar echoed through the valley, even louder than before. The villagers screamed, their panic spreading like wildfire as Vlord's massive figure began to rise from the mountaintop.
His wings stretched wide, casting a shadow over the land as he slowly descended toward the village, his eyes glowing a fiery crimson that pierced through the distance. The sheer force of his presence sent tremors through the ground.
Mordryn:
quietly, to himself
"It's starting."
Kang Wo Hu, who had been standing nearby, rushed forward, her face pale with fear.
Kang Wo Hu:
worriedly
"Mordryn, what's going on?! That thing... it's coming for us, isn't it?!"
Mordryn nodded grimly, his gaze still focused on the beast in the distance.
Mordryn:
seriously
"It's a dragon named Vlord. Valora's brother."
Kang Wo Hu's eyes widened in shock, her gaze shifting to Valora, who was still trembling behind Mordryn.
Kang Wo Hu:
in disbelief
"Her brother?! But... how can something that massive even exist?!"
Valora, her voice shaking, spoke up, her face filled with dread.
Valora:
quietly
"He's... a god among dragons. The most feared of our kind. And if he isn't stopped, this village... everything will be gone."
The realization sank in for Kang Wo Hu as she looked from Mordryn to Valora, her heart racing. They were facing something far beyond their understanding, something that seemed impossible to defeat.
Kang Wo Hu:
whispering to Mordryn
"What are we going to do?"
Mordryn's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as he stared at the rising dragon, the air thick with tension. He could feel the weight of the battle ahead pressing down on him, but there was no hesitation in his eyes.
Mordryn:
quietly
"I'm going to stop him."
As Vlord's massive form began to descend from the mountaintop, the villagers watched in horror, their screams filling the air. The sky darkened as the dragon's shadow loomed over them, and the ground shook beneath their feet.
Valora:
desperately
"Mordryn, please... don't face him alone!"
But Mordryn remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he prepared for the fight of his life.
The roar of the dragon grew louder, shaking the very earth beneath them as Vlord's enormous wings beat the air.
And then, with one final, thunderous roar, Vlord rose high above the mountains, his eyes locked on the village below.
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End of Chapter 23