C2 - The Scorch Dragon
The cliff loomed steep and jagged against the setting sun, the crags casting long shadows across the valley. Auron scanned the skies, his eyes catching a glimmer of fire-red scales flickering against the orange light.
"There it is," he whispered, gripping his staff tightly. The Scorch Dragon.
The beast was every bit as terrifying as the legends had promised. Its body was covered in plates of fiery scales that shimmered like molten metal, its eyes a blaze of ruthless intelligence. Each flap of its massive wings sent ripples of heat through the air, distorting the cliffs around it. Auron knew that even the slightest mistake would mean death.
Kael, crouched beside him, gulped. "How do you plan to tame that thing?"
Auron gave a thin smile. "We're not here to tame it yet. First, we break it down."
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As the Scorch Dragon circled above, Auron mentally ran through its weaknesses. After years of studying dragons and training beasts, he knew a few critical points to exploit. The creature's eyes were vulnerable to bright, sudden flashes, and its agility suffered in tight spaces.
"We'll use the cliffs to restrict its movement," Auron whispered to Kael. "Follow my lead. Just don't draw its attention."
Kael nodded, clenching his jaw.
Auron took a deep breath, focusing his energy. Summoning his shadow wolf, *Shade*, he commanded it to flank around, drawing a broad semicircle along the dragon's left side. Shade, cloaked in darkness, moved silently along the rockface, positioning itself for a surprise attack. Auron himself slid along the opposite side, keeping the dragon's line of sight focused on him.
"Alright, Shade. Go!" he ordered in a whisper.
The shadow wolf sprang into action, launching itself off a cliff and snapping at the dragon's wing. The Scorch Dragon recoiled, twisting around in mid-air, disoriented by the sudden attack. Its eyes, fiery slits, narrowed on Shade, and it released a blast of flame from its mouth.
"Kael, now!" Auron shouted.
Kael's hawk, *Blaze*, soared down from above, emitting a series of brilliant, blinding flares from its feathers, distracting the dragon as it tried to turn. Auron knew that disorientation was key in the early stages of the battle—if they could keep it off-balance, they could whittle down its defenses.
As the dragon swiveled back and forth, struggling to track both Blaze and Shade, Auron reached into his pack, drawing out a vial of frost oil. He carefully applied it to his weapon, watching as the metal took on an icy blue sheen.
"This will slow it down," he muttered.
He held his breath, waiting for the right moment. Then, with Shade darting in and out to keep the dragon occupied, Auron charged. He ran up the side of a rocky ledge, launching himself at the dragon's neck and driving the frost-coated staff into a gap between its scales.
The dragon roared, its neck writhing as the cold oil seeped into its skin, causing steam to rise where fire and frost met. The frost weakened the dragon's resistance to attacks, leaving small patches of vulnerability along its scales.
Kael, watching from the other side, took his cue and sent Blaze diving in. The hawk pecked and clawed at the softened scales, chipping away at the dragon's natural armor. The dragon let out another furious roar, flapping its wings and nearly throwing Auron off as it tried to climb higher.
"Stay focused!" Auron called to Kael as he clung to the dragon's back.
With a final leap, Auron kicked off the dragon, flipping back onto the cliffside. He gave a sharp whistle, and Shade lunged at the dragon again, snapping at its injured neck. The dragon, furious and blinded, began thrashing wildly, releasing jets of flame in all directions.
"We have to tire it out," Auron shouted over the roaring flames. "It can't sustain this level of energy forever. When it's exhausted, that's when we go in for the final strike."
For the next several minutes, they repeated their strategy, with Blaze darting in to blind the dragon with flares while Shade kept it moving, each attack wearing down its stamina. Auron knew they were close when the dragon's movements slowed, its wings faltering as it struggled to keep itself airborne.
"Now!" Auron shouted. "Let's end this!"
He summoned Shade to his side and sprinted toward the dragon, which had landed on the cliff, panting heavily. Kael positioned Blaze above them, waiting for Auron's signal.
"Blaze, final flare!" Auron called.
With a screech, Blaze dove toward the dragon, releasing a blinding explosion of light that forced the dragon's head back. Auron seized the opening, gripping his staff and channeling his energy into a final strike. He drove the staff into the dragon's chest, piercing through its weakened scales.
The Scorch Dragon let out a final, earth-shattering roar, flames licking out around them as it slumped forward, defeated.
Auron staggered back, catching his breath, as Kael hurried over, eyes wide with disbelief.
"We… we did it," Kael stammered, his face breaking into a grin. "We actually defeated the Scorch Dragon."
Auron nodded, feeling a wave of relief and exhilaration wash over him. He took out a specialized binding gem, a rare item he'd saved for just this moment. Approaching the dragon, he pressed the gem against its chest, activating the binding process.
As the light of the gem encased the dragon, its fiery eyes met Auron's, filled not with fury, but with a newfound respect. In that moment, he felt the bond settle between them—the Scorch Dragon was now his.
"Welcome to the guild, old friend," Auron murmured, his voice barely audible over the hum of energy as the binding completed.
Kael let out a laugh, patting Auron on the back. "You've done it, Auron. We've got the strongest creature in the game, and "Argent Order" will be unstoppable."
Auron looked up at the darkening sky, a satisfied smile crossing his face. "This is just the beginning."