A deafening roar bolted Silver to his feet in a panic. Dante was already standing, staring off into the distance of the sound.

  “What pretell was that!?” Silver barked as he gathered his belongings.

  “I would probably say that the dragon…”

  “Can’t be a dragon! Dragons don’t exist. Closest thing be the Rezzo and ain’t none of em flyin’ fire breathers!”

  “The Rezzo? Ah… like lizard-kind?” Dante arched his eyebrow.

  “Y’know, scaly, long tongues, y’know? Just don’t call ‘em that…” Silver moved his pack to his side and joined Dante.

  “Ah… got it.” Dante nodded.

  “C’mon, the vilge’s this way. Same as that sound, I reckon.” They charged toward the ominous sound.

  They soon came upon the Meorbin vilge, a small fishing community of agile, amphibious folk whose features evoked frogs, toads, and turtles. Yet as they drew closer, the stench of blood, death, and ash filled their nostrils, and the ndscape transformed into a macabre tableau.

  The entire vilge y in ruins, consumed by a ferocious inferno. Lifeless bodies of Meorbins were scattered across the ground, their bodies brutally torn apart. Blood-soaked walls and bckened structures stood as haunting remnants of the merciless sughter. The beast responsible had spared no one: women, children, or the valiant defenders who had tried to resist.

  Dante’s voice trembled with regret as he murmured, “If only we had arrived sooner… maybe we could have saved them.” His eyes roamed over the carnage, each detail a fresh wound to his soul.

  Silver’s gaze hardened as he replied, “Nothin’ we coulda done, Dante. That report was already a few days old when I heard it.”

  “It’s already been that long since then!?“ Dante said in shock, “I’ve only been here a few days.”

  Silver bowed his head grimly, “Sorry mate.”

  Dante’s thoughts immediately turned to Ezekiel—the very thing that had haunted him since he first was brought to the strange world. “Ezekiel,” he said slowly, voice low and edged with fear. “I’ve been thinking… all these signs point to him.”

  Silver’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the devastation. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. Haven’t heard of any other creature capable of this level of destruction ’cept the humans, but they ain’t usin’ fmes as weapons.”

  “If he is behind this, we’re not just dealing with random raiders or killer pnts. We’re facing a force beyond nature.” Dante said, quickening his steps.

  “Eh, o’er there, looks like the soldiers and mercenaries that Furthian mentioned be gatherin’ just cross the ke!”

  “Let’s go!” Dante said, turning to a sprint.

  They passed by a half-eaten Vizun mercenary, the top half missing entirely. “Mebbe yer friend eats ‘em? Oh, wait… there’s the other half…” he pointed onward at the remains, his intestines strewn about.

  Dante shook his head, “I wouldn’t say he’s my… friend. Just someone I was searching for.”

  “What!?” Silver's eye widened. “Ya said he was ya friend! Whaddya mean he ain’t?”

  Dante shrugged, “I never met the guy! I just know he is the reason I got here and why my wings are broken!”

  Silver dropped his head in shame, “Geez, ya think this little tidbit of info might be important?”

  “No use arguing about it.” Dante pointed forward, “C’mon, let’s go join those soldiers! They can help us with that dragon. He at least must answer for this!”

  “Now we’re talkin’!” Silver gripped his katana handle.

  A heavy silence fell between them as the roar of a distant waterfall mingled with the crackle of crumbling walls of the ruined vilge. The air vibrated with the echoes of past agony and the promise of further danger. Finally, Silver broke the silence with a wry remark that contradicted the fear in his eye.

  “Well,” he said, half-smiling, “if Ezekiel is indeed our problem, hope he appreciates a challenge. Hate for ‘em to think we’re just another pair of hapless travelers.”

  Dante managed a brief smile of his own and shook his head, “Almost there, Let’s keep moving.”

  The sight of the devastated Meorbin vilge weighed heavily on Dante as they pressed on toward their ultimate destination. The monstrous beast responsible for the destruction lurked deep within the forest beyond the fishing ke next to the roaring river that fed it. Unearthly roars echoed through the trees across the ke.

  There was a small boat hitting the side of the shore. They decided it would be faster to cross than try to go around. As they ferried across, they felt apprehensive about the confrontation with such a creature that could easily make them meet their demise.

  After reaching the other side, Dante and Silver were taken aback by the sight of the warriors that gathered near a broken Furthian outpost within the burnt forest area. A whole mass of them, Chimerans of all shapes and sizes, hoping to be the ones to make a fortune.

  Attempting to join the ranks, an eagle warrior stepped forward, his voice steady yet ced with urgency. “Halt! What are you doing here? This isn’t some pce for sightseein’.”

  “Oh, we ain’t here for sightseein’. We’re from Artemis Roost. Heard about this flying Rezzo business. We’re mercs. Just wanted to help out for the sake of the vilges.”

  “Hohum… y’all not the mercenaries needed for this battle.” The eagle hit his spear on the ground.

  Dante looked around, “doesn’t seem like any of these warriors will fare well against such a beast…”

  The eagle grunted, “We come from the great vilge of Marse. The beast has set fires that scorched our homes. It can eat a Largo in a single bite. And tear apart any with the toughest of hides. There’s a bounty on its head, so all these would-be warriors are throwing down their lives… what say you?”

  A cheetah Vizun warrior was nodding in agreement, “The Marse elders sent word all over the nd, so many warriors have come. You two don’t look like you’d hold a candle to ‘em.”

  Dante exchanged a gnce with Silver before responding. “We’ve been tracking this creature for a while now… I wish to talk with it before you go and try to kill it.” His tone was low.

  “Talk??? This beast is not in any way shape or form fit to talk. We cannot allow you to interfere. Now be gone!”

  Silver’s eyes darkened with a mix of determination and wariness as he interjected, “Good sir… Anythin’ more you can tell us about the beast?”

  One of the warriors came by, “I saw it… it’s massive. Crimson scales, a burning mane of fire, it spews fmes of emeralds. Spears, arrows, nothing can penetrate it. Ain’t nothing like it that I’ve ever seen.”

  “So… what do you even pn on doing?” Dante asked.

  “Well… uh we have a pn. See that?” The warrior pointed at some Largo warriors, they were carrying very rge, sharp spear-like weapons. Like massive javelins. “Yeah, they’re gonna throw those spears at 'em, while we all distract it.”

  “Now begone with ya. Before the beast comes out of hiding and spares not a single hair upon your featherless heads!”

  Silver piped up, “Don’t y’all know anything!? This here's the great Sebooro!” he pced a paw on Dante’s shoulder. “He’s come to help!”

  “What are you doing?” Dante whispered harshly.

  “Just py along… ya wanna see ya dragon friend right?”

  “Yeah but… I’m not…”

  “Yeah yeah, just py along!”

  “Yes,” Dante announced. “I am the great Sebooro. I have… come back… to help with this foul beast. Allow me to pass through!”

  A tense silence fell among them, punctuated only by the distant echo of a waterfall and the whispered crackle of dying embers from the scorched ndscape. The Chimeran warriors whispered among each other.

  “He does have the bck wings… and he’s featherless…”

  “And he looks like man… just like the old legend says!”

  “Still… wouldn’t he be a little more fancy?”

  “Who cares about that, if he says he’s Sebooro then he’s Sebooro! Ain’t no one able to cim that name.”

  “Well?” Dante stamped his foot impatiently with his arms crossed.

  “Oh—uh. Lord Sebooro! Yes. Yes! Come this way, please.”

  The eagle sure changed his tune. His voice was stiff with forced reverence, but his body nguage couldn’t hide the nerves rattling through him. He led them past rows of warriors, each one making final checks on their weapons and armor. Metal cnked against metal as swords slid from their scabbards. Some warriors tightened the straps on their breastptes, and others ran cws along their spear shafts, testing their grip. The warriors stopped what they were doing to stare at Dante as he passed by.

  He kept his steps steady, his face unreadable. Silver walked beside him, his tail twitching with restless energy. The wolf’s ears twitched at every cng and murmur, his sharp eye scanning the warriors as they scanned him.

  “Is that… Sebooro?” the warriors whispered to each other.

  “It is… look at the bck wings! It’s just like Artemis said!”

  The cave was ahead – there were low rumbling and roaring sounds that could be heard deep within.

  “He sounds real mad…” Silver commented.

  The warriors followed the two as they approached the mouth of the cave. Dante turned around, “Listen… I must speak with this ‘flying Rezzo’, I think he’s just scared. He’s been chased by a horrible world-destroying creature...”

  The Chimerans were not pleased.

  “We can’t possibly let that monster live!”

  “Yeah! He ate half my family!”

  “And torched my house!”

  “What about Kasha!? An entire vilge burned to the ground!”

  Dante looked around at their angered faces. They were looking for blood. But he couldn’t possibly just let Ezekiel be killed… he turned back to gnce at the cave. Still rumbling and growling emanating from within. Then, he turned to Silver. There didn’t seem to be much left of options.

  “I can’t kill Ezekiel… there must be an expnation for his… outrage. They’re not going to just let him go…” he whispered. Then he looked up to the warriors, they were prepared and waiting for the word. There were at least 50 warriors, armed and dangerous. This was not going to be pretty. “Ugh… why did I get myself involved in this… bah! Alright. Let’s give the beast all we can!” I’ll have to find a way of talking with him… he thought as he led the warriors closer to the cave. Their collective breathing grew heavy with anticipation as they stood before the cave's mouth, aware that their lives were about to be tested.

  Silver's anxiety increased significantly, and he voiced his apprehensions. “I have a terrible feeling about this, Dante.”

  “We can’t turn back now. Look at what we’ve done so far. I’m sure it’ll work out… somehow. Just stand behind me. I’ll protect you. Okay?”

  “Okay...”

  The mercenaries arrogantly stood with Dante. They all waited for someone to make a move, they looked at Dante, and he looked back at them, unsure of what he was supposed to do. He’s never led a military operation before so really what kind of character would he py? With utmost confidence, the Furthian eagle warrior, his feathers ruffling in the heated air, stepped right up to the mouth of the cave and called out, “Let our might be known! We shall show this beast the power of the sky!” His cry was full of pride, echoing off the stone walls.

  Not to be outdone, a Vizun warrior also stepped next to the Furthian and snarled in reply, “And let our speed be your undoing! No Rezzo beast can outrun us!” His words rang through the cavern.

  “Archers. Ready your arrows!”

  “Pole arms and Shielders! Ready!”

  “Cws, ready!”

  “Boulder throwers! Ready!”

  “Javelins! READY!”

  In response to the readying shouts, the ground trembled beneath their feet. Suddenly, thunderous footsteps rolled toward them, and from the dark recesses of the cave emerged a colossal, crimson-scaled Rezzo, which did indeed resemble a dragon. Its body shimmered like burning embers, and a fiery mane cascaded down its neck in a bze of molten light. The beast’s eyes bzed with furious intensity as if it could scorch the very soul.

  Without warning, the dragon unleashed a deafening roar that silenced every boastful word. With terrifying speed, it lunged forward. Its massive cws, gleaming and merciless, struck the Furthian warrior. The proud fighter barely had time to let out a final, anguished screech before the dragon’s savage grip crushed him, his cry cut short in a spray of blood and shattered armor. The dragon tossed the body aside in a messy clump that smeared next to the mercenaries.

  The Vizun warrior, witnessing the brutal demise of his comrade, attempted to dart away with all the speed his agile form could muster. “For honor!” he cried, voice trembling with a mix of fury and fear. But the dragon was relentless. With a swift, deadly swipe of its tail, the creature intercepted the fleeing warrior. In a single, crushing moment, the Vizun’s pride and speed were rendered futile as he was caught in the beast’s vice-like grip, his final roar swallowed by the cavern’s darkness. The warrior was devoured in a single bite and swallowed whole. The dragon took a moment to spit out the metal pieces that were stuck in its teeth.

  In the aftermath of the carnage, the cavern was left in a grim, oppressive silence. The shattered echoes of the warriors’ st words mingled with the low, steady breathing of the dragon as it surveyed the devastation it had wrought. The scene was a brutal testament to the power of the creature. A crimson-scaled terror that spared nothing, its fiery mane bzing as a warning to all who would dare challenge it.

  “FIRE!!!!” the warriors screamed, releasing a volley of arrows, boulders, logs, and spears. Then the Largo threw their massive javelins.

  The dragon just stood there as each object dashed against its scaly skin. Not even a scratch was left. Pieces splintered off. It’s more like the attack just pissed it off, instead of doing any damage.

  “IMPOSSIBLE! ITS SKIN IS LIKE METALS FROM HELL!” The warriors screamed, still throwing everything they had at the giant beast. “HERE IT COMES!” They screamed as the dragon reared its head.

  Followed by a deafening roar, the sound bsted through the Chimerans like an elephant, a truck, and a space shuttle, all mixed in one ear-piercing concussive force. Followed up with a colossal spew of emerald fmes. Dante grabbed Silver and unched into the sky to glide away. Meanwhile, the bst of emerald fme melted the mercenaries’ shields, then it melted them and everything else. Bloodcurdling wails emanated as several of the Chimeran force were reduced to ashes.

  “Stay here, Silver!” Dante screamed as he set him behind some rocks. “I’m going to try to get his attention before he melts the entire squad!”

  Silver stayed in refuge behind a cluster of rocks, his body trembled with fear and awe. Dante unched into the sky and nded in front of the monstrous creature.

  Everyone still alive couldn’t believe their eyes, “Sebooro!? What are you doing!? We can’t possibly take that thing on!”

  “Everyone! Cease fire!” He screamed, “We do this my way! Got it!? Then maybe you’ll LIVE!”

  Despite the dragon's massive size and formidable fangs, Dante remained steadfast. “Ezekiel! I have come. I was told to find you!”

  The dragon stopped its rage, if only for a moment, “BLACK WINGED HORNLESS DEMONTIAN, YOU DARE COME ALONE TO FACE ME!? AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!?”

  “Demontian? No… I’m not a Demontian...”

  “LIAR!” It hissed. It smmed the ground before him.

  “I was told to find you. That you could help me.”

  “I WILL NOT HELP MY ENEMY” Ezekiel screeched as it charged towards Dante.

  Undeterred by the dragon's aggression, Dante dodged the creature's charge, prociming, “No! Sophitia destroyed my world! I was told you could help me!” As he dodged, the Chimeran warriors backed away, waiting for the next command. The dragon then turned around and snapped its colossal jaws just before Dante’s face. The concussive force causes him to misstep. Ezekiel took advantage of his falter, twisted its body, and smmed his tail upon him.

  The Chimera soldiers watched in dismay. Silver gasped.

  Dante rolled out of the way and waited for the dust to settle to see if the dragon noticed.

  Ezekiel didn’t wait. He noticed that he was still surrounded by the warriors and did not like that.

  “YOU ALIGNED YOURSELVES WITH THIS PATHETIC CREATURE!? YOU, TOO, SHALL DIE!” It roared as it charged after the Chimeran archers and paltry warriors. The Largo reacted by throwing more boulders at the dragon's face. It turned to face them. Their eyes were wide as suddenly the dragon snaked through the broken-down trees, cutting the distance. It stood above one of the Largo warriors.

  He backed away slowly. “No… please… I have a family!” he pleaded on his knees. “Plea—” but it was too te, he was beheaded by the teeth. The dragon spit out the Largo elephant’s head and charged after another.

  Dante swooped in to grab the massive lizard’s tail. Pulling him just in time before he bit off another warrior’s head. He turned his head, and in a snarling motion, he swung his tail and threw Dante off and into a wall of the cavern. Pieces broke as part of the cave mouth caved in. It then focused back on the Chimeran army. A single swipe and several more of the mercenaries were dashed to pieces. Blood sprayed along the ground. Screams of the dying echoed through the nd. Silver watched in horror. Unsure of what he could do. He never faced such a terrifying creature. It was even more terrifying than the forest guardian because this monster dispyed extreme intelligence compared to normal monsters.

  Dante pushed himself up and shook off the bits of stone. He charged towards Ezekiel as it was ripping a Vizun archer limb from limb. He screamed in agony until he stopped.

  “I gotta do something!” Dante screamed as he forced himself in front of the massive beast. It roared and then spewed the emerald fme once again. Dante unched himself up and away, and then the beast smacked him with the back of its mighty cw. He went flying into the rock pile where Silver hid.

  “Dante… I don’t think we’re gonna win this one…” Silver said, shaking.

  Dante picked himself up, feeling rather dazed by the blows of the dragon. He charged towards him again before he could devour another group of Chimerans.

  “Run you fools! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” Dante screamed. “I will take him myself!”

  The Chimerans listened and made a run for it. But Ezekiel was not done with them. It spewed emerald fireballs at those who tried to run, melting them into the ground.

  “EZEKIEL! STOP! WE ARE NOT ENEMIES!” Dante screamed. “SOPHITIA IS OUR ENEMY. RIGHT!? And probably the Demonitians too! I just don’t know what those are! Please, you must stop this and talk with me about it! I just want to understand what I am up against! Look. I’m NOT FROM THIS WORLD! I was just a man once. And now I’m here against my will. THANKS TO HER. And then your brother brought me here. He told me to find you!”

  Though skeptical, the dragon paused once more, considering Dante's plea. Before it could make any decision, Silver's unintended noise caught the beast's attention, and it redirected its aggression toward him. Acting swiftly, Dante leaped in front of his friend, clenching the dragon's massive jaws to prevent it from harming Silver.

  Dante’s body screamed as he struggled against the titanic force of Ezekiel’s fury. With immense strength, Dante fought to keep the beast’s gaping maw pried open, his arms straining against scales that glowed like burning coals. Amid the chaos of sshing cws and searing breath, he caught sight of the amulet lodged deep within the dragon’s throat, a single, fragile vulnerability in this monster’s ferocity.

  “Listen to me, Ezekiel!” Dante roared, his voice raw and desperate as he twisted the dragon’s head with every ounce of his strength. The dragon’s head jerked to the side, and the world seemed to tilt as Dante smmed it into the stony ground. “I’m not your enemy!” he pleaded between ragged breaths. “My world was shattered by Sophitia, but her sister, Tyr, told me that you might understand. You must hear me!”

  Ezekiel’s eyes still burning in infernos of rage, fred as the beast’s roar shook the ground. “Tyr!” the dragon spat, his guttural voice echoing with contempt and pain. “You dare mention her name?” The word fell like a curse from his massive jaws. For a split second, the dragon’s assault hesitated. “And Sophitia,” he snarled, venom cing his tone. “The one who razed my world…”

  Dante dodged a crushing swipe of a cw that nearly fttened him against a rock, and pressed on. “I beg you, Ezekiel! I know you’re not a mindless killer. Listen! You and I have a lot in common! I know! But I also know that you have the answers I need. Let me help you, and then we can help us both!”

  As if in response, the dragon’s thrashing momentarily slowed. But even in that pause, chaos reigned around them. Silver, who had been circling to avoid the worst of the carnage, found himself perilously close to Ezekiel’s snapping jaws. With a fsh of movement, a tail swept toward him, and Dante, sensing imminent danger, leaped aside. In a swift motion, he hurled himself between Silver and the beast, intercepting a brutal strike that would have surely ended Silver’s life. Silver tumbled backward, his eye wide with shock as he narrowly escaped the crushing force.

  “Dante, that thing’s gonna kill me, tell it to stop attacking me!” Silver barked, voice trembling with indignation as he scrambled up, wiping away streaks of blood and ash from his face.

  “I’m trying!” Dante grunted, straining to hold the tail from coming any closer, his own body ashen as his armor caught fire. He threw the tail aside and pced himself in front of Ezekiel, “This is our only chance. I need you to stop and help me!!” His words rang out, charged with the hope of desperation.

  For one interminable moment, the dragon paused. It seemed to waver between fury and contemption. The area around the cavern trembled with the force of his suppressed rage and the truth of Dante’s plea. The beast’s massive wings beat the air with a sound like distant thunder as he shifted his stance, the very ground beneath them buckling under his might.

  Then, with a snarl that shook the ground, Ezekiel lunged again. Dante barely managed to dodge as a sudden surge of burning breath seared the space where he had just stood. His body was battered, his arms trembling from the effort of keeping the creature from killing anyone else. Still, his determination did not waver. Each time Ezekiel’s onsught threatened to tear them apart, Dante dove in to shield Silver, leaving his own body exposed to the full wrath of the beast.

  “Enough!” Dante cried out as he braced himself against another ferocious strike. “I know you are in pain, Ezekiel! I know that our worlds were destroyed, but we have a common enemy!” His voice filled with empathy. “Do not let your rage blind you to the truth, there is a way to end this cycle of destruction!”

  The words hung in the air like a fragile plea amid the storm of violence. To the survivor’s astonishment, the dragon’s fury simmered down. His breath came in ragged huffs, steam curling from his nostrils as something in his expression shifted. Then he coughed—a wet, hacking sound that turned into a retch. His entire frame trembled, muscles spasming as he choked up something thick and slimy. With a squelch, the amulet spilled from his mouth, coated in a film of saliva, bile, and… sand?

  The instant it hit the ground, his body convulsed. Something within his body cracked like splitting wood. His massive frame lurched, scales rippling wildly as they caved inward. The wings shrank, folding into his back with a grotesque crunch. Flesh squirmed like something alive beneath the surface, reshaping itself as his towering form colpsed inward. His cws retracted with a slow, grinding scrape, his snout shortening, teeth realigning with pops and snaps. Sparkling sand now pouring from his eyes, mouth, and nose.

  A tail remained, albeit shorter than before, twitching behind him as he staggered upright, his transformation complete. No longer a beast, but something in between. His body was still draped in dark, crimson scales, ridged along his arms and torso, but humanoid in shape. Horns curled from his skull, framing wild, flowing red hair. His ears, elongated and sharp, flicked slightly as if adjusting to his new form. His ruby eyes opened, still smoldering with ancient intensity, and settled on them with a pulsation that could crush any that approached.

  A jagged scar ran down his face and chest, cutting through the hardened scales like a permanent mark of something long endured. He exhaled, shoulders rising and falling as the remnants of his monstrous form finally settled, leaving behind only the being they now faced.

  “Ezekiel?” Dante asked cautiously.

  The dragon man leaned down, picked up his amulet, and put it over his head. The emerald glowed faintly as he bowed his head, “I am Ezekiel,” the transformed creature introduced himself, his voice resonating with a blend of ancient wisdom and sorrow.

  Dante looked over to Silver and waved him over, “It’s okay… he seems… to be okay? I don’t really know what is going on but… it’s over.” He looked around the battlefield, there were only a few Chimerans left from the 50 that started. They struggled to make their appearance they may have been in shock, but they examined their dead to see if any survived. They also looked for any kind of weapon to defend themselves in case the dragon creature decided to attack again. Furthermore, they weren’t sure what they should do so they kept their distance and let Dante handle the situation.

  Ezekiel looked on, unsure what he could say. Then looks at the man who stopped his rage.

  “Oh… sorry. I’m Dante.” He said with his hand held out.

  Ezekiel looked at his hand, a custom he was not familiar with. Dante pulled it back, awkwardly.

  Silver staggered towards them, paw on his katana handle, prepared to attack, but he was too out of breath to do anything, “Huff, puff, huff, that… what… what was that!? We almost DIED Dante. How can ya be so calm!? This thing… it killed just about all of them! And y’all just having a conversation!?”

  Dante gnced at Silver, he understood the stakes, he put a hand out to tell him to be calm and looked into Ezekiel’s ruby eyes. He could tell that they were not the eyes of someone evil or hateful. They were eyes of fear. “You’re afraid. Aren’t you? Of her… that’s why you ran. That’s why you struck back. Like a cornered animal, you only fought back because… of Fear… isn’t it?”

  “That is correct, one with the bckened wings. You said you are not my enemy. Yet you look like them. I must ask, are you moduted?”

  “Correct, I am not your enemy… and yes… I am moduted, but I didn’t ask for it… Tyr just… did it.”

  “Tyr… Strange action on her part. But not something I would put past her.”

  Silver stood baffled, “You can understand this thing!?”

  Dante shrugs, “Super polyglot… I can understand all nguages.”

  “Wha… what are you guys?” Silver couldn’t believe his eye.

  Ezekiel stood tall and crossed his arms, “I am the st of my kind, the first beings ever made in the material realm, I am of the Alphins.”