Red stood in silence as the flickering campfire began to fade behind him, the cheerful laughter of Lio, Selena, and the three elf companions growing distant. Blue had already vanished into the forest with Maya, Miyu, and Mayu. The sounds of the woods resumed, crickets chirping, leaves rustling but Red's mind wandered far from Silverhaven, far from the present.
A small smile tugged at his lips as an old memory surfaced, vivid as the flames he had left behind.
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The skies above Silverhaven turned a deep crimson, the horizon split by jagged black lightning that tore through clouds like monstrous claws. A scream unlike any mortal voice echoed across the kingdom, a bellow of ancient fury and malice.
From the thunderclouds, the behemoth descended.
A titanic silhouette, obsidian scales glistening with searing heat, molten red glowing beneath them. Wings of ruin stretched wide, eclipsing the sun. Fatalis, the Elder Dragon, had come.
Atop the Grand Wall of Silverhaven, eleven figures stood together, stalwart, unwavering, legends in flesh.
The White Storm Party.
Red, at the forefront, his black armor reflecting the dragonfire like night swallowing dawn. Beside him stood Lyra, crouched like a shadow waiting to pounce. Xiao's Rings pulsed with swirling arcane energy. Hanagi was already murmuring incantations under her breath, her golden healer's aura glowing faintly. Kaijin cracked his neck, Big Shield is Ready to Block. Blue pulled the string of his bow taut, eyes narrowing. Leon, Neko, Cindy, Mysterious Man, and Oki formed a flanking wall behind them, their faces grim and battle-worn.
Yet one was missing.
"Where's Volette?!" Xiao barked, scanning the skies.
Red: No time! We hold it here!
Fatalis opened its maw, and Silverhaven was swallowed by fire.
The wall quaked under the force of the flame. Lyra vanished in a blur, launching from shadow to shadow, blades slicing at the wings. Blue's arrows zipped through the smoke like lightning bolts, striking scale joints with surgical precision. Kaijin leapt straight into the dragon's face, Shield slamming with explosive force.
The city below was evacuating, bells tolling, guards screaming for order.
"FOR SILVERHAVEN!!" cried Leon, and the charge began.
Xiao unleashed storms of mana, conjuring massive spears of ice and fire that rained down upon the dragon's back. Leon and Neko flanked with their strength, while Cindy blurred in close with her Dual light spears , trying to pierce beneath the armored hide.
Hanagi poured all her magic into shielding and healing, golden shields bursting into place seconds before flame or claw could rip through her comrades.
But Fatalis was the stuff of legend. Each swing of its tail sent shockwaves, smashing buildings and warriors alike. Its roar shattered magic shields. Its talons sundered steel.
First to fall was Leon, caught mid-charge by a blast of flame. His Mithril and Gold Great Axes clattered to the ground, molten slag.
Next, Neko was thrown like a doll into a tower wall, unconscious before she hit the stone.
Mysterious Man, and Oki were struck by a tail sweep that cracked the wall beneath them. Cindy dove in to save them, only to be blasted by a pulse of fire that sent her spiraling off the edge.
Red: Hold formation!
Red yelled, voice hoarse. "Don't let it reach the city!"
Blue gritted his teeth, launching another volley of enchanted arrows directly into the beast's eye. It roared and reeled, flames flaring from its mouth.
Kaijin was relentless, a blur of fists and flame, striking with elemental fury. But even he couldn't stand forever. The Elder Dragon's wing clipped him mid-leap, sending him crashing to the ground.
Lyra reappeared in the blink of an eye to drag him back, only to vanish again when a claw nearly crushed her underfoot.
Xiao floated into the air, channeling a massive spell.
Xiao: Arcane Gate of the Ten Heavens,Divine Purge!
A blast of celestial energy rained down on Fatalis, tearing the clouds apart. The dragon screeched, staggering.
But even divine wrath was not enough.
Fatalis opened its wings, and with one colossal beat, shattered the sky.
The shockwave blew Xiao from the air. Hanagi barely caught him with a mana cushion, but the backlash drained her completely.
She collapsed, eyes dim.
Red, Kaijin, and Blue remained standing, battered, scorched, bleeding.
The wall was in ruins, and behind them, Silverhaven trembled.
Red: This ends here!
Red said, adjusting his grip on his Dual swords. His voice was ragged, but unbroken.
Kaijin wiped blood from his mouth, chuckling.
Kaijin: If we die, we'll die legends.
Blue didn't speak. He just raised his bow, drawing in mana until the air hissed.
Fatalis growled, recognizing the last threats. Its wings curled, its chest glowed molten.
It would end this in one breath.
"Together!" Red shouted.
They charged.
Red dashed to the left, striking at the wing joint. Kaijin took to the right, leaping onto the beast's back. Blue fired, an arrow glowing with the last of his stored magic.
The shot hit the beast's eye, blinding it momentarily.
Red's blade struck deep into the joint, Kaijin's fists pummeled down with thunder and flame....
Then
CRACK.!!!
The tail of Fatalis, impossibly fast, swept sideways with a roar.
Red was flung across the battlefield, slamming through three stone pillars before coming to a halt in the rubble, unmoving.
Kaijin caught the edge of the tail, then was slammed into the ground like a hammer.
The battlefield fell silent, scorched and broken.
Only one remained.
Blue.
The last man standing.
His breath was ragged, his hands trembling as he notched another arrow. Around him, the ruins of the White Storm. His comrades. His friends.
Behind him… Silverhaven still stood.
He could not fall.
Not yet.
One elf.
One bow.
One pair of very trembling legs.
Blue nocked an arrow, his face pale.
Blue: A-Alright, big guy, Just one more shot. Right in the eye…
The Elder Dragon stared him down, then lunged.
Blue's arrow shot forward....
and bounced harmlessly off the dragon's forehead.
Blue: Oh no... he whimpered.
The maw opened. Rows of fangs glistened in firelight.
Blue: Ahhhh!!! im not taste good!!! he screamed.
And then…
It stopped.
A single arm reached down from the sky.
With one hand, Volette, the Dragon Tamer, grabbed the Elder Dragon by the snout and slammed its entire head into the ground with the force of a meteor strike. The ground shook, and the entire battlefield fell into silence.
Red, coughing blood, opened his eyes and managed a grin.
Red: She's here…
Kaijin groaned,
Kaijin: Took her long enough…
Blue, now on his knees, stared up at the woman standing atop the dragon's snout like a goddess of war.
Volette stood tall, long black hair flowing like shadows in the wind. Her fists glowed faintly with gravity magic, and her eyes locked onto Blue like a predator choosing its prey.
Volette: You alive, elf?
she asked casually with a smile on her face.
Blue: I… barely…
Volette: Good.
She smiled, the kind of smile that could send devils into therapy.
Volette: So...Marry me?
Blue: Wh...What?
Volette: Marry. Me.
She leaned forward, her grip tightening around the dragon's jaw as it let out a muffled, miserable growl.
Blue: Um...is this really the time?
Volette: I've waited long enough. We've shared battles. You've seen me punch a troll into a crater. You've massaged my feet after that long hike across the Azure Dunes. You've stolen my first kiss.
Blue: That was one time! he squeaked.
Volette: You know me. I know you. So marry me.
The Elder Dragon writhed under her grip, trying to rise.
Volette: No?
Volette's smile turned sweet and sinister.
Volette: I'll.....let go. With a smirk on her faces
She loosened her fingers.
Volette: Say yes? she grinned
Blue's eyes widened in absolute terror.
Blue: YES! YES! MARRY YOU! I'LL MARRY YOU RIGHT NOW! TODAY! I'LL CARRY YOU TO THE SHRINE MYSELF!"
Volette laughed and let the dragon go, but only so she could punch it unconscious with her other fist.
Red finally passed out with a chuckle.
Red: Serves you right… elf brother-in-law…
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Red chuckled again under the stars.
Red: Idiot.
He heard a light rustle and turned to see Selena approaching, rubbing her eyes groggily.
Selena: Red… you're smiling alone again. That's weird.
Red: Just… remembering something dumb
Red replied, his expression soft.
Selena tilted her head.
Selena: Was it about...Um...a woman?
Red raised an eyebrow.
Red: Why would you say that?
Selena: Nothing...Just....Curious.
Red: Maybe... *Smiling
Selena blinked, then ran after him.
Selena: Wait...what do you mean maybe??!
Behind the trees, far from the camp, a blue-eyed shadow watched them.
A whisper in elven tongue.
Blue: See you again, Brother…
Blue vanished into the trees once again.