Iris and Selena entered the Dragon's Lair, each step resonating with the eerie silence that filled the cavern. The ground beneath them seemed to pulse with life, and the monstrous roars of the dragon echoed from every corner. The heat of the place was unbearable, but their resolve was stronger than anything.
"Iris, we're close," Selena whispered, her voice shaking, though she tried to hide her fear. Her heart raced in her chest, and every part of her knew this moment would change everything.
Iris pressed forward, his eyes burning with determination. "There's no turning back now. This is the end."
As they moved deeper into the lair, the darkness around them thickened. The walls seemed to shift, aware of their presence, and the air buzzed with an unnatural charge. And then, before them, the dragon appeared.
It was a massive creature, far larger than any beast they had seen before. Its eyes glowed like embers, and its maw exhaled fire that illuminated the entire cavern. Its scales were as dark as metal, and its wings unfurled, exuding an aura of power capable of destroying mountains.
"You... who think you can defeat me?" the dragon boomed, its voice deep and chilling, as if it came from the very depths of hell. It looked at Iris with a wicked grin, certain of its victory.
Iris gripped the Dragon Slayer sword tighter, his gaze unwavering. "This won't end the way you think. I'm going to stop you here."
And the battle began.
The dragon lunged at Iris with terrifying speed, causing the ground beneath them to shatter as it charged. Iris dodged just in time, his reflexes sharp, and countered with a swift strike. The Dragon Slayer sword cut through the dragon's scales, but the creature didn't fall.
"This is just the beginning!" the dragon roared, unleashing waves of fire from its mouth that lit up the cavern.
Iris, with incredible agility, dodged the flames and slashed with his sword, but the heat was intense, and he had to keep moving. As the dragon's attacks became more frantic, Iris stole a glance at Selena, who was watching from a safe distance, her worry evident.
"Stay back!" Iris shouted as he closed the gap between him and the dragon.
But the dragon was more intelligent than he expected. It began to launch rapid, successive attacks, trying to corner Iris from every angle. Each strike seemed more powerful than the last, and the stakes grew higher with each passing moment.
But Iris was determined. He knew the key to winning this fight was finding the dragon's weak points, and now was the time to strike.
Summoning all his strength, Iris charged forward, his Dragon Slayer sword glowing with power. Each step brought him closer to the beast, until he was within range.
In one decisive moment, Iris drove the sword into the dragon's heart, piercing its chest. The cavern shook with a violent explosion of energy, and the dragon let out an agonizing roar.
But it didn't fall.
The creature was still alive, its breath labored, its ember-like eyes still burning with fury.
"It's not over... not yet!" the dragon roared, its voice full of venom as it gathered its strength for one last attempt.
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