Varek could feel the earth tremble beneath his feet as an ominous growl reverberated through the air. The wind was thick with heat, and the smell of sulfur stung his nostrils. The dragon was coming.
The sky above them darkened, as if the heavens themselves were pulling away to give the monster more space. The massive form of the creature cut through the clouds, its wings casting an immense shadow over the battlefield. The beast's eyes were molten, glowing like burning embers, and its jagged, obsidian scales shimmered in the dimming light. It roared, a thunderous bellow that rattled the bones of every living thing beneath it. The sound seemed to come from every direction at once, reverberating through the very ground.
Varek's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on the Ashen Blade, the weapon pulsing with a fiery energy that resonated with his every beat. He had faced demons, spirits, and monsters before, but this—this was different. The dragon was ancient, a force of nature that had lived for millennia. Its power was undeniable.
Beside him, the young Ezekiel staggered to his feet, his golden hair sticking to his forehead with sweat, his hands gripping his sword with a shaky resolve. He was just a boy—no more than sixteen—but he had been fighting alongside Varek for years now. Despite his youth, the boy had proven time and time again that he was not afraid to stand against the impossible.
"Varek," Ezekiel's voice was thick with anxiety. "Do you think we can win?"
Varek didn't answer immediately. His eyes never left the dragon, his mind racing. The dragon was circling them, preparing for its next attack. He could feel the ground beneath them quake with every beat of its wings. There was only one answer.
"We have no choice," he replied, his voice steely and unwavering.
A wave of heat blasted toward them as the dragon exhaled a jet of flame. It was blinding, like the sun itself had burst into existence, but Varek was already in motion. With a speed born of instinct, he dove to the side, rolling across the earth and avoiding the blast by mere inches. The heat was unbearable, singeing his tunic and scorching his skin. The air shimmered with the intensity of the fire.
"Move!" Ezekiel shouted, his voice trembling with fear but sharp with urgency.
Varek turned in time to see the boy's sword swing toward the dragon's side, a desperate strike aimed at its underbelly. But the creature was faster. The dragon twisted in midair, snapping its jaws shut with terrifying force.
"Get back!" Varek yelled.
But Ezekiel didn't listen. The boy was determined, charging toward the dragon with reckless bravery. His sword was aimed at the dragon's eye. For a moment, it looked as though he might succeed. But before he could strike, the dragon's tail whipped around with a speed that defied reason. It caught Ezekiel across the chest, sending him crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. The boy's sword flew from his hands, and he lay there, gasping for breath, blood pouring from a deep gash along his side.
"Ezekiel!" Varek screamed.
His heart seized in panic. The dragon was turning back toward them, its attention now focused solely on the fallen boy. "No," Varek muttered, the weight of the moment crashing down on him. He couldn't let it end like this. He had come too far, fought too hard to lose Ezekiel now.
But just as the dragon's claws began to descend upon the boy, a sudden whirl of wind interrupted its attack. Varek looked up in confusion. And there, hovering in the sky above them, was a figure—Selina.
She appeared as she always had, like a bird, but now there was a radiant, ethereal glow about her. Her wings shimmered with an almost divine light, and her eyes—eyes that had watched over him since his earliest memories—were focused, intense. The very air around her seemed to shift, bending to her will. She was the God of Wisdom and Beauty, yes, but in moments like this, she was more than that—she was a force of clarity in a world filled with chaos.
Her voice came to him like a whisper in the wind, yet it was as clear as if she were standing right beside him.
"Varek," she called. "The dragon's weakness is its wings. If you can disable it, we can strike. Together."
Varek's mind raced, his instincts taking over. He could feel her presence beside him, guiding him even though she was still distant in the sky. Selina had always been there, watching, protecting, guiding him. She had appeared to him in moments of desperation before, but this time… she was different. She was stronger, clearer. She had made her decision to act, and so would he.
With a sharp nod, Varek turned to Ezekiel's fallen form, his heart pounding. "Stay down, Ezekiel!" he shouted. "This fight is far from over!"
Varek rushed forward, the Ashen Blade glowing brighter in his grip. Selina's guidance was sharp, precise. He could hear her urging him to stay focused, to strike with precision. He needed to disable the dragon. He had no time to waste.
As the dragon's tail whipped toward him again, Varek was ready. With a snarl of defiance, he slashed the Ashen Blade through the air, meeting the tail mid-swing. The blade bit deep into the beast's hardened scales. The dragon let out a roar of fury, thrashing wildly, but Varek held his ground. He twisted the blade, deepening the cut. The dragon's movements slowed, and for a moment, it seemed disoriented.
That was all Varek needed.
"Now!" he cried, pushing himself to the limit.
With Selina's ethereal voice guiding him, he leapt toward the dragon's underbelly, aiming for the weakest point just below its chest. The Ashen Blade was heavy with power, its fire searing through the air.
Time seemed to stretch as he buried the blade deep into the dragon's flesh. The beast howled in agony, thrashing with such violence that the ground trembled beneath them. For a moment, Varek thought he would be crushed beneath its weight. But then, he twisted the blade with all his might, and the dragon screamed.
Its massive body jerked and spasmed, wings flapping desperately as it tried to break free. But it was already too late. The Ashen Blade had found its mark. The dragon's strength faltered, its breath slowing, its massive body crashing to the earth with a thunderous, earth-shaking impact.
Varek stood over it, breathing heavily, his body covered in sweat and blood. He could hardly believe it was over. The dragon—this ancient, terrifying creature—was defeated. But the battle had come at a price.
Varek turned toward Ezekiel. The boy was still breathing, but his body was battered and broken. His golden hair was matted with blood, and his chest rose and fell with labored breaths.
"Varek… we did it," Ezekiel whispered, his voice barely audible.
Varek knelt beside him, pressing a hand to his chest to stop the bleeding. "You're not getting away that easily, boy," he muttered, but there was a fondness in his voice that he didn't bother to hide. "We fight together, remember?"
From above, Selina's voice drifted down like a gentle breeze.
"You've done well, Varek. And Ezekiel…"
She paused, as if considering the boy's fate.
"He will live. The fight is never truly over."
Varek looked up at her, his heart swelling with something close to gratitude. But there was no time for words, only action. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over.
Together, they stood there, the remnants of the dragon's body smoldering in the ashes around them. The ground was scarred, the earth burned. But they had triumphed.
For now the bird spoke to verek ...