Chapter 16: The Inferno Unleashed
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The ground trembled as the clash of fire and lightning created a violent storm of energy. Thalrax's flames surged like a tidal wave, scorching everything in their path, while Michael's trident crackled with the furious power of the Thunder Dragon, fighting back with a golden blaze that lit the night sky.
"Thunder Dragon Burning Inferno!" Michael shouted again, his voice barely audible over the chaos. The golden flames intensified, growing larger and more ferocious with every pulse of his power. It wasn't just fire anymore—it was an embodiment of the storm itself, dancing with the fury of the Thunder Dragon within him.
But Thalrax was no ordinary foe. With a snap of his fingers, the flames twisted and contorted, shaping into monstrous fire serpents that lunged at Michael with lightning speed. Their fiery forms hissed and writhed through the air like ancient dragons of flame, their jaws snapping in an attempt to overwhelm Michael.
"Impressive." Thalrax's voice boomed, his form surrounded by a shifting, swirling vortex of fire. "But can you withstand the full force of the Fire Dragon's Wrath?"
Thalrax raised his arms, and suddenly, the flames around him intensified, converging into a blazing tornado. The inferno grew to monstrous proportions, threatening to consume everything in its path. The very air seemed to burn with heat as the tornado spun faster and faster, its center filled with dark, churning energy.
Michael's heart pounded in his chest, but he did not falter. He felt the Thunder Dragon within him stir, the power surging like a wave beneath his skin. He gripped his trident tightly, preparing for his next move.
"Thunder Dragon Trident Strike!" he roared.
With a forceful thrust of his trident, a massive bolt of golden lightning shot forth, piercing the air with a deafening crack. The lightning collided with the fiery tornado, causing an explosive shockwave that sent tremors through the ground.
The two elements—fire and lightning—fought in a deadly dance, their energies colliding and exploding with each strike. The battle was like a storm of creation and destruction, where one force could not exist without the other.
But Thalrax wasn't done. His eyes glowed with an unsettling, fiery light as he laughed darkly. "Is that all you've got, Thunder Dragon Host?"
With a sudden, violent gesture, he summoned a giant fire dragon, its body swirling with molten lava and glowing embers. The beast roared, its fiery breath scorching the earth around them. Thalrax's command was clear—this dragon would be Michael's end.
"You can't defeat me!" Thalrax yelled as his fire dragon lunged toward Michael, its maw wide and filled with molten destruction.
Michael didn't have time to think. He knew he had to act fast. He raised his trident once more, gathering all his strength, every ounce of power that had been bestowed upon him by the Thunder Dragon.
"Thunder God Annihilation!" he shouted, his voice filled with both defiance and desperation.
The air crackled with raw energy as the Thunder Dragon's power erupted from Michael, enveloping him in a blinding aura of golden light. The energy was so intense that the very earth seemed to split open, the ground beneath him cracking and crumbling as if unable to contain the force of the storm that had been unleashed.
The Fire Dragon lunged again, but this time, Michael was ready. He fused with the energy of the Thunder Dragon, becoming a conduit for the storm itself. With a single swing of his trident, he unleashed the full force of the Thunder God Annihilation, a bolt of pure, destructive lightning that consumed everything in its path.
The fire dragon's form disintegrated into ash, and the tornado of flames was swallowed by the lightning storm. The blast of power sent shockwaves across the battlefield, knocking everyone off their feet.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, the ground began to shake.
"What... what have you done?" Thalrax's voice was filled with disbelief and rage as he stood amidst the ruins, barely standing.
Michael's eyes glowed with the power of the Thunder Dragon, and he breathed heavily, exhausted but victorious. He had won this battle, but he knew the war was far from over.
"You're not the only one with power, Thalrax," Michael said, his voice steady. "And you're certainly not the last. The Dragon Lords will be stopped, no matter the cost."
Thalrax glared at him, his expression twisted in hatred. "You may have won today, Thunder Dragon Host, but your time is running out. The Dragon Lords will awaken soon. And when they do, you won't be able to stop them."
Michael raised his trident one last time, the golden energy surrounding it glowing fiercely. "We'll see about that," he said, his tone unwavering.
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As Thalrax retreated into the distance, his fire swirling around him, Michael stood tall, his trident still crackling with the last remnants of lightning. Caden, Solara, and Seraphina rushed to his side, their faces filled with relief.
"You did it, Michael," Seraphina said softly, her eyes wide with admiration.
Michael nodded, his breath still heavy from the exertion. "We've only just begun."
Caden glanced at the horizon, where dark clouds were beginning to gather. "The Dragon Lords are coming, Michael. And we need to be ready."
"Then we'll be ready," Michael said, his voice filled with conviction. "The Thunder Dragon is with me. And I won't stop until every last one of them is defeated."
As the group prepared to move out, the storm clouds above seemed to part, revealing a single ray of light that illuminated the path ahead. It was a sign—of hope, of a future still uncertain, but one that Michael and his companions would fight to protect.
They would face the Dragon Lords.
And they would win.
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End of Chapter 16
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