The night was immersed in a deep silence, but Kael couldn't rest. He knew that something was about to happen. The air was heavier, and the birds had flown away, scared by the tension hanging in the forest.
Beside him, Nerissa slept peacefully, as if destiny wasn't in a hurry. But Arden couldn't rest. Standing, he watched the darkness, his eyes alert to the threat approaching, even though his family was still near. The love of a father, the courage of a warrior, he absorbed it all because he knew the end was near.
The wind shifted abruptly, and a shiver ran down Kael's spine. He stood up instinctively and looked at his mother, who was now slowly waking up, as if she too could feel the weight of the moment. She looked at Arden, and without a word, she knew what was coming.
The ground began to tremble. A deep and monstrous roar echoed in the distance, and Kael felt fear and anticipation taking over him. He looked at his father, who, in silence, had already taken the stance of someone about to face the impossible. The dragon was here.
Arden then looked at Kael, and with a determined look, gestured for him to move away. Kael hesitated for a moment, but his father's eyes locked onto him with such force that he couldn't refuse. Arden knelt before Nerissa, and Kael's heart tightened with the intensity of the scene.
— Nerissa, my love, listen to me well — Arden said, his voice firm but urgent. — Now is not the time to hesitate. Kael, take your mother and get away, and do not look back, no matter what happens. I will do what is necessary to make sure you escape.
Nerissa opened her mouth to protest, but Arden interrupted her, his unwavering gaze crossing the space between them.
— We have no choice. I always knew this moment would come, but I won't let you suffer more than necessary — said Arden, his voice sounding like a promise. — Go now, before it's too late.
With a sigh, Nerissa embraced him, and Arden's words silenced her. The tension in the air was palpable, and the pain in Kael's chest felt unbearable. But before he could say anything, Arden moved away and looked at him, his eyes now filled with tears, but firm.
— Kael... my son — his voice trembled, but the love in his words was undeniable. — I love you more than you will ever know. You have the power, intelligence, and courage to become everything you've ever dreamed of. Do not let fear consume you. Fight until the end, and do what is right, even when the world seems to crumble around you. I am with you, always.
Tears began to fall from Kael's face, as his left eye begins to turn red, but he couldn't speak. It was as if the weight of his father's words had crushed his throat.
Arden was surprised but had no time, and then approached Nerissa, who was already silently crying, and the two embraced with overwhelming force. There was no more time. The separation was imminent.
— I love you, Nerissa. Always — Arden whispered, his voice broken with pain. He kissed her gently, as if it were their last kiss. And in that kiss, were all the promises of an eternal love, a love that would transcend any barrier, even that of death.
Nerissa, with a heavy heart, responded with a deeper kiss, knowing she would never forget him. Their lips parted, and she turned to Kael, pulling him by her side.
— Let's go, Kael. We need to leave — she said, her voice trembling.
Kael followed her, but couldn't take his eyes off his father. And when he looked back, Arden stood tall, facing the danger, a soft smile on his face.
— I love you both, more than anything — he said, his voice clear and strong. — Never forget that, and live to honor who we are. Now... go, Kael. Run, before it's too late.
With the pain of the farewell engraved in their hearts, Kael and Nerissa ran through the forest. But then, the silence was broken by the sound of enormous wings beating. The wind intensified, and the ground trembled once again.
Kael, with his heart in shock, felt an overwhelming presence approaching. The sky darkened, and a giant shadow loomed over them. It was the dragon. The battle was about to begin.
Nerissa pulled Kael to move faster, but the sound of the battle that was starting echoed through the forest. The dragon's roar was followed by a series of explosions and distant screams. The fight against the four elite demons and the ancient dragon had begun.
Arden's final breath still lingered with them, but the fight ahead wouldn't allow for more farewells. Kael and Nerissa's battle was just beginning.
The confrontation with the four elite demons and the ancient dragon, Thalgron, began like an inevitable massacre. Arden, fully aware of his numerical disadvantage, remained steadfast as a shield for his family. His eyes burned with determination as Thalgron's deafening roar echoed through the area, shaking nearby trees and mountains.
As Kael and Nerissa ran for safety, Arden faced the demons with mastery. Each of his movements was precise, and the combination of brutal strikes and ancient spells made the demons hesitate. Even so, the strength of their enemies was overwhelming.
— I promise you, Nerissa — Thalgron roared, his scales gleaming under the darkened sky —, South will keep his word. He will kill the boy in front of your eyes! And then you will be ours!
— Never! — Arden shouted, charging at the dragon.
The battle escalated to surreal levels. Arden fought the demons while Thalgron watched, disdainful and confident in his superiority. Every demon that fell was a bitter victory, as the price was Arden's blood and physical wear. Even so, he persisted.
Finally, after eliminating the last demons, Arden turned to face Thalgron. The dragon let out a guttural laugh.
— You're strong, but you're finished, mortal.
Arden didn't respond. Instead, he advanced. The clash between the two was titanic. Thalgron attacked with claws that ripped through the air, fire blasts that turned the surrounding landscape to ashes, and an ancestral power that made the air tremble. Arden, in turn, combined brute strength and tactical skill, using every remaining resource to press the dragon.
The battle seemed endless. Arden was thrown against the ground several times, with rocks and trees obliterated upon impact. Even so, he rose again, his determination unwavering. Blow after blow, the fight seemed more like a deadly dance between two titans, each determined to bring the other down.
— You fight well, human — Thalgron growled, though slightly wounded. — But this is the end.
— No... not yet... — Arden murmured, stumbling, but with eyes filled with a fierce glow. — If this is my end, you'll come with me.
Gathering every last drop of strength, Arden focused his energy into one final strike. He began reciting words in a forgotten language, and a golden aura surrounded his body. The ground around him trembled violently, the sky darkened, and the winds turned into hurricanes. The planet itself seemed to respond to the power he was gathering.
— For Kael. For Nerissa. For a free future. — Arden roared, raising his sword, now glowing brightly like a rising sun. — THIS IS MY LEGACY!
With a devastating move, he unleashed a wave of colossal energy. The impact was so massive that the entire planet felt it. Mountains collapsed miles away, seas surged into tsunamis, and the very sky seemed to crack. Distant cities trembled as though they were fragile constructions. The power of the strike was felt by all living beings on the world, leaving a permanent mark in history.
When the dust settled, Thalgron was gravely wounded, his scales cracked and golden blood flowing from multiple wounds. Still, he remained alive, slowly retreating.
— You... managed to hurt me, human — the ancient dragon snarled, before taking flight. — But it will take more than this to kill me. Still, I'll need time to heal. Enjoy this small victory while you can.
Arden, on the other hand, fell to his knees. The final attack had drained everything he had. His body was exhausted, his breathing weak. But he smiled, looking toward the horizon where Kael and Nerissa had fled.
— They're safe... — he murmured, before falling to the ground. The world around seemed to honor the fallen warrior, as the silence spread like a mantle over the devastated land.