Their eyes widened and they shrank back under the unwavering stare of the dragon’s blue blazing eyes.
“Wait. It can talk?” someone asked behind Jared.
Jared looked at the ground with an implacable expression. He never thought he would come face to face with an ancient creature. Why he was being targeted by it, he couldn’t even guess. But he would not let it conquer him! As it had said, he was Jared Airbrock, the Divine Humane. He raised his head, mutinous eyes staring into those of the monstrous beast.
“You know my name. Tell me, dragon, why are you here?” Jared asked, holding his injured chest.
The dragon lifted his head to the sky, above the smoke he created.
“That, I can’t say, Airbrock. Now leave before-”
“Before what?” Jared interrupted.
The dragon rolled its eyes down to him, then extended his neck towards the armoured man, until he was face to face with Jared. How insignificantly tiny the defiant Jared seemed in front of the dragon’s humongous face!
“Don’t test your doom.” the dragon said in an orotund tone.
Jared could see his bloodied and battered body reflected in the dragon’s pupils. My doom? he thought.
“Be gone!” The dragon said. Opening its mouth wide, a single, strong breath from its massive maw lifted them from the mountain, sending them flying amongst uprooted trees, blown away by the same dragon wind.
“Ahhhhh!!” Jared and his men shouted as they flew away from the mountain. Realizing what was happening, Jared immediately twisted his body, gestured his hands backwards, and produced an air current from his hands that pushed himself forward, towards the dragon.
“I won’t go down without a fight!” Jared shouted.
“I know,” the dragon said. It bent its head back like a viper about to strike and loosed a giant fireball at Jared.
Jared pushed the air around him, dodging the fireball which then exploded in midair. In a single swipe of his arms he repelled the remnants.
“If our potency can’t defeat you our strength can!” Jared exclaimed as he clenched his fist, pushing the air around him towards his right arm. With a great force, his arm went straight into the dragon’s forehead with an impact that pulled the remaining half-destroyed trees around them from their root.
On the edge of the crevice, the teenaged boy was still gripping hard on the rock, sweating profusely, he looked up, vision obscured by fog and smoke that seemed to glow in flashing oranges, reds, greys, and blues.
“What was that?!” He looked down at the girl, still dangling, unconscious, from his hand, “What have I gotten myself into?!”
-
“Potency. So that's what you people called it now,” the dragon said.
Jared stood on the dragon’s forehead, horror struck. That was my strongest move, how is it still standing? Jared thought.
“Airbrock. So-called Divine Humane. You are on the wrong side of the story.”
Jared hit the dragon’s forehead again the same move, over and over and over and over again. He stopped, inhaling and exhaling heavily. Unfortunately, it made no impact on the dragon. He truly might as well be an ant.
The dragon shook its head. “You are nothing but a fraction,” the dragon said.
Jared jumped away from the dragon as quickly as possible. “A fraction??....” Jared clenched both of his fists tightly, the air around him surrounded both hands, enhancing his fists. The blood from his wound mixed with the whirl of air around him and his fist. “If I go down, you’re going down with me!” he sputtered.
“Hmmm. You may wish it to be so.” the dragon taunted.
Jared shouted, causing a miniature hurricane on the mountain as he floated in the sky.
Hmm. He is actually breaking his limits. the dragon thought.
“You! Dragon, I am going to destroy you for what you have done to my people, especially Sniffia!” Jared yelled, charging towards the dragon with his arms over his head, set to strike the dragon’s forehead.
The dragon suddenly vanished in front of him.
Jared blinked as he fell to the ground. Where did he go? he thought.
The dragon appeared behind him.
Jared landed hard, arms first, on the ground. The earth shook violently at his landing.
The teenage boy lost his grip on the trembling rock. He was falling, falling, his grip on the girl now a death grip as they descended through the thick fog.
They splashed into a lagoon.
Immediately, Sniffia sunk as the teenage boy lifted his head out from the lagoon. Looking up to the mountain, rain, lightening and thunder filled the skies above him.
“Comfirm!!!” He commented at the incredible sight above, then he shook his head looked around, “Where is she?!” He dipped his head under the water, narrowing his eyes to try to see through the darkness. He squeezed his body tightly, the green glow returned to his skin. He could see her blood floating upward in the pale green light. He widened his eyes and swam downward, reaching for Sniffia. He grabbed her hand and swam towards the ocean shore. Placing her gently on the sand, he brushed her blonde hair from her face with his fingers. There was the wound on her head from where he’d seen the rock hit, he also spotted a scratch on her belly.
He shook his head. “Not good.” He dropped his small orange bag on the sand, looking at the mountain. “I can’t believe my eyes. A dragon?!”
On the half destroyed mountain, Jared was kneeling down with both arms on the ground as steam rose from inside the crater he’d created by the impact of his blow, the blow meant for the dragon’s skull, breathing heavily under the drizzling rain.
That was… I reduced the impact of my hit before I reached the ground… Sniffia, I hope you are alright! He thought. He tilted his head, looking up at the dragon. He stood up, suddenly, he staggered, holding his chest, blood flowed from his eyes, nose and mouth.
“Why now, why are you attacking us?” Jared squeaked, what strength he’d been able to muster now flowing freely from him.
“You know why.” the dragon answered.
Jared's eyes widened. “You mean the boy?” he said. “But he’s inhumane!”
“Hmmm. Remember white is not always light and black is not always dark.” the dragon quoted the old wisdom.
Jared took a step, then fainted.
“Hmmmm…” the dragon wondered. He spread his wings and flew to where Sniffia and the boy were.
“Peirce Wande,” the dragon roared as he stepped onto the water.
The glowing boy looked at him and swallowed. “Yeeeesss?” he whispered.
The dragon walked on the water towards him like it was a thin ice. “How are you doing?” the dragon asked.
“I’m… I’m doing okay... I guess.” He looked at Sniffia, the dragon noticed his sadness.
“The flower you took from them can save her,” the dragon said.
Pierce’s eyes widened, blinked, then looked from the girl to the dragon, but, to his surprise, the dragon was nowhere to be found! He looked around in wonder while scratching his head, then stared at the small orange bag beside his feet.
The glow of the sun peaked out from above the horizon as it began its climb over the craggy heights of the smoldering mountain. On the shore of the lagoon, behind a huge rock, Sniffia unconsciously pulled a thick piece of cloth tighter around her body. Her head, bandaged with a yellow cloth, rested on the soft, decaying trunk of a long ago fallen tree.Peirce squatted, naked from the waist up, preparing the purplish-red flowers inside his little steel pot. The floral stew gave off a scent of medicine and flowers as he stirred it with a stick over the fire. He grabbed his now empty orange bag and gently fanned the flames with it, causing sparks to shoot up from the dry sticks.“I should have asked the dragon to take us home,” he mumbled. Peirce looked to the sky, smiling. “That would be fun.” He raised the stick up in the air. “Then people will know me as Peirce… The Mudlark! No… that is…” He scratched his head.
The doors of the Humane castle opened wide, two men carried the wounded Jared on a wooden stretcher while a lady and a young man, both Jared’s underlings, led the way as they trampled through the splendor hallway. Whispers from members and friends of the royal family filled the air as they walked.“Isn’t that Lord Jared, the Divine Humane?”“How could this happen?”“Was there a battle? Are we now at war?”“Could this be the doing of the Nymphs?”“Mummy what’s going on?”“Keep calm, nothing… “As they reached the massive door of the throne room, the voices became indistinct sounds, their horrified faces disappearing into the background. The Royal Guards, resplendent in their full armor and purple capes, immediately opened the door to let them in. As they passed through, a man dressed in robe
Sniffia slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the bright sun above. She noticed she was on Peirce’s back, strolling through the woods far from the other side of the mountain. Judging by the position of the sun, it was mid-day.Feeling her finally stirring, Peirce looked behind and smiled. “Hey! You’re awake. Good afternoon.”Sniffia blinked. She tried to move her body but it was too weak. She let out a low groan.Peirce started to explain, “The flowers were too strong, but don’t worry before the day ends you will be totally fi….” He suddenly stopped. Something snapped from the trees behind them. He scanned the area. Sniffia tried to move her head as well, but found she didn’t even have the strength for that.“Don’t worry, we’re close to my village. We’ll be okay.” Peirce whispered. He took a silent step; the birds around the trees suddenly flew away. It wasn’t they that had startled the birds.
The sun set gracefully on the Kingdom of Humane. A bell chimed in the distance, birds sang wondrously as Humane all around the Kingdom continued about their daily tasks.At the castle, Wren stepped out of her room. Walking to the courtyard, she brushed her palms together, grinning. She was ready to start her training for the day. Her father appeared behind her from the other side of the hallway.“Wren,” Randall called.She tilted her head back. “Yes, Father?” she answered. “What is it?”Her Father joined her in walking. “To the courtyard?” Randall asked. The red-caped royal guards bowed as they passed by. The king waved at them with a regal smile.“Yeah, to train,” she replied.Randall laughed while rubbing his chin. When they’d almost reached the courtyard, he stopped,Wren looked at him and stopped, also. “Father what’s wrong?” she asked, staring straight into her
Everyone in the courtyard stared at their king enveloped in blinding white flames.Wren clenched her fists as her plaited hair swayed. “I’m not going down easily!” She waved her hands towards the sky.Randall narrowed his eyes. “Hmm… What is she up to?” he wondered.The clouds above them suddenly twirled together, forming a huge black hole at the center. Randall looked at the sky in amazement at what his daughter was doing. A huge mass of snow and ice slid swiftly from the hole. Wren twisted her left hand; the snow and ice rotated into a tornado. Wren’s handler hid herself behind a pillar while the royal guards were struggling to stand still as their yellow capes threatened to tear off their shoulders in the powerful wind.Thank goodness the courtyard structure can withstand the force. Should I do it now? she wondered, observing the growing damage her storm was causing to the courtyard's floor.Wren
“Peirce. Peirce. Peirce!” Someone called his name while he was asleep on his bed, smiling as he drooled. Suddenly, he was tapped by the person calling him.“Uhmmmm?” he mumbled. He sat up, still smiling, and slowly opened his eyes while scratching his neck. He saw Sniffia anxiously looking at him from the edge of his bed, then he looked at his locked door. He yawned, and noticed his orange bag on Sniffia thighs. Suddenly, everything became clear with a blink.He scrambled backwards in the bed, breathing heavily in panic. “Please don’t kill me! Remember, I saved your life back at the mountain! Please! I’m begging you!!” he wailed as he jumped from the bed to the floor. “Ouch! My leg!” He rushed to the door and unlocked it. Sniffia gazed at him, wondering what was wrong with him again.Pierce’s grandma opened the door. “What is going on here, Peirce?” she calmly asked.Peirce look
Peirce and Sniffia walked silently towards the village square for the naming. Above, the sky, freckled with stars as the wind gently blew under the cloudless night with the moonlit spilling on them and the empty huts on both sides of the walk way, moving closer, Inhumanes chattering can be heard at the village square and they could see the Inhumanes various glowing light shining through the night, concentrating on the village square tall trees.Already Peirce's Grandma was there as one of the elders of the village.Peirce stared at Sniffia for a while then Sniffia looked at him, he immediately rolled his eyes away and swallowed.“Hey bubbles, speak am listening,” Sniffia countered,"Bubbles?!" Peirce reflected, adjusted his small orange bag on his back then cleared his throat,“hmm,” he scratched his head, “why change of mind, as in three days ago you were sent to kill me and today, you are a… ” he
Few dexterous and embarrassing moments later.“Seriously, this color? I have a feeling you knew what you did,” Sniffia complained, her body was glowing pink,“Hmmm, maybe or maybe not,” Peirce said, as he leads, glowing green.Reaching the village square, it warmly filled with all sort of welcoming glowing colors, shining brightly, reflecting the whole area as Peirce and Sniffia walked in then he looked at Sniffia as she was amazed by the sight in front of her, “to my opinion, you look kind of… great,” he said with a thumps up, Sniffia clenched her teeth, staring at Peirce with her venomous little eyes, he swallowed, “why did I get a feeling you're thinking about killing me right now,” he said leaning back, Sniffia leaned closer,“You felt it right.” She concurred, as she sniffed, creeping her hands towards Peirce with an evil smirked.“You... I... Am-This is the best I could do,” Peirce stammered, suddenly No
The young queen's eyes scanned the grand hall for the voice, her gaze darting between the now-familiar marble pillars and crystal chandeliers that cast a kaleidoscope of colours across the the large place. Suddenly, she spotted a familiar figure –July, standing by the entrance with an air of quiet confidence. With a burst of excitement, the queen rushed towards July in a speed that would put the speed of light to shame, flinging her arms around July in a tight hug, lifting her off the ground, completely with ease.July's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly returned the hug, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Wren, it's so wonderful to see you again!" The young queen gently dropped her then pulled back, her eyes shining with tears like a morning dew. "Ms. July, why didn't you come back to the Humane Kingdom after all these years of leaving without informing me? I've missed you so much!" July's expression turned solemn, her eyes clouding over with memories like a stormy sk
"The Divine Being, with the help of the dragons and a small group of humans who remained loyal to their world, fought valiantly against the Destroyer and its Tainted followers," the voice said.Darkness crept over the world, like a suffocating shroud. The Tainted emerged, their bodies twisting and contorting, elongating into grotesque, inhuman shapes. Wren's gaze fell upon one Tainted, its eight arms splayed out like a macabre spider. Each arm wielded a different instrument of war: a drum, its surface etched with ancient runes; a flute, its melody a haunting whisper; a harp, its strings vibrating with an otherworldly energy."The battle raged on, with potencies and swords clashing in a spectacular display of light and sound," the voice continued."As the battle intensified, the Divine Being bestowed upon some of the humans fighting alongside Him a precious gift: armors and weapons forged from "Dinosaurium," a metal not from our world, said to be one of the hardest in the universe. Thi
The runes on the floating pillars pulsed with an ethereal glow, casting a luminous aura on Wren's face. As the environment transformed into a storytelling atmosphere, the air vibrated with anticipation."In the dawn of time," a low, rumbling voice began, "humans - that's what we called ourselves before we became known as the Immortals - lived in harmony with dragons, cultivating thriving communities on the ground while the majestic creatures soared through the skies."The scene unfolded like a rich tapestry, woven from threads of sapphire, gold, and crimson. Wren's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she beheld the ancient world, teeming with life and vitality."Life was simple," the voice continued, "with humans farming, crafting, and multiplying, unaware of the impending turmoil that would soon disrupt our peaceful existence."A dark silhouette loomed on the horizon, casting a dramatic shadow across the landscape. Wren's gaze remained steadfast, her heart filled with a deep sense of won
"With pleasure!" The Immortal twins said in unison, their voices weaving together in perfect harmony like the sweet, haunting melody of a mournful violin. Then, a profound silence dawned on the three of them, heavy with expectations that hung in the air like the promise of a thunderstorm.The silence was so oppressive that every breath and heartbeat seemed to build towards a crescendo, as if the very fate of the world hung in the balance. Then, a large sword dropped among the hovering weapons, cratering the ground mere inches from the female twin's warrior-like boots, which gleamed with a deadly sheen in the faint light.Simultaneously, a dual sword dropped near the male twin, its blades flashing like shards of ice in the dim illumination. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Immortal twins charged at the young queen with deadly precision, their movements a blur of steel and shadow.Wren dodged their attacks with incredible agility, bypassing the middle of the twins' crossed weapons with
The air crisp and cold with a hint of mystique. The young queen stood, hands clenched before the hunched-back Immortal in the very heart of the ancient forest. Unknown to her, many days passed by while continuously sparring with the two-faced Immortal, took a toll on her.Her fists gently lowered by the hunched-back Immortal large palm. The Immortal’s eyes gleamed with sympathy beholding the young queen’s exhaustion, his gaze filled with deep understanding of the weight she bore. “Protector,” The hunched-back Immortal spoke in low, rumbling voice, Wren stared with her face swelling and discolored. “Have you had a bubble bath before?” “Uh…” The young queen snickered in pains at the Immortal’s joke then she steeled herself, her determination evident in her unwavering gaze. “I was born for this,” she declared, her voice firm and resolute showing no fear or resentment towards all that happened to her so far. With a subtle nod, the hunched-back Immortal spoke. “Now that the air around
The air around was icy grip with tension. Wren facing off against the two-faced creature for the first ever lesson she could get from the Immortals. The dimly lit chamber, once a grand palace materialized into new architecture, revealing an arena, a vast and rugged expanse, consisting of various obstacles looming on one corner. The towering walls of rough-hewn stones enclosed in strong breeze. Deep, yawning chasms that seemed to swallow all light and sounds of a really large sparring terrain of solid grounds as shrinking shadows closing in like a suffocating shroud. The two-faced creature eyes blazing with an otherworldly hunger, sneering at Wren as the palace changed in the background. “I’ve witnessed your skills so many times.”“Witness?” Wren asked then noticed her clothes were modified into distinguished fighting clothes. “Yeah. I was also there when you froze up a dust devil—but I’m not impressed. Yet.” The two-faced creature sharpened fangs elongated as red-mist strongly ooz
Strange air filled with a redolent, unworldly fragrance, veiled with darkness while walking through the portal, soon shimmering hues of gilt red-yellow seen at the end of what it looks like a well crafted tunnel appeared to only trapped the darkness from within and no furthermore.Entering into the light would stung the very eyes of every first timer there, revealing a large courtyard, the estranged walls whispering ancients secrets to those who listened close, glittering towers sets as the full foundation, casting a warm, gentle glow of what looked like a hidden palace’s architecture blended in ancient civilizations. The young queen at the center of it all doing nothing but mesmerizing the timeless beauty of the place. It was here she would undergo her training surrounded by the wisdom and potency of the Immortals. “You are here-Welcome, the Protector.” An impassive low yet mysterious voice echoed, filling the courtyard with it’s grace. Wren tracing it to a raised dais overlookin
Beautiful starlight flashed amazingly through the gaps of moving darkened clouds above as almost deafening silence intruded the scene below. Sidikat, stood unmoved staring sharply to Peirce distance away from her front, shortly after, Lazarus appeared along the two little beast being girls walking behind with side looked eyes. “Excluding my daughter, who are those two boys… sons of your friend?” Asked Sidikat. “No. I—" Lazarus stuttered. “I know everything alright, I’m just—” She zoomed to Peirce, clawed her fingers tightly around Peirce’s neck. She was so fast that none of them couldn’t move even for Lazarus. “Now tell me the reason why I shouldn’t claw out your wide pipe right at this very moment, destroyer of worlds?”“Windpipe?! How dare you!--” Node yelled strained grunted exacting with all his strength to stand upright. “Stupid. Trying really hard to look tough. Look around, I’m really getting annoyed with that attitude of yours, boy with long hair-- among my daughter and
Lazarus, heaping from trees to trees towards the assorted loud noises coming from many distance away as the two beast being little girls surprisingly keeping up the pace without breaking a sweat just behind Lazarus. Hmmm… Lazarus said to himself, sighted monsters of the forest of the Giants’ domain below racing to the exact location the loud sounds were coming from.Meanwhile. Unexpectedly, purple glowing objects swatted the eyes of the mysterious being’s face at the center as the side faces rolled their eyes, spotted Node staring intently, holding onto four glowing stones under the large root's shades dimly illuminated in purple. “That’s for only focusing on my glowing ass… Maniac.” Peirce flew with a kick towards the blinded centered face. The large mysterious being heavily took a step forward with a slam into the battered ground. The ground cratered as shock waves were created from the impact affecting Peirce’s momentum bouncing him back by the force about colliding into a reall