Chapter 1: Midnight Sparks
The forge was alive at midnight. The clang of hammer against steel echoed through the quiet hills, each strike sending sparks dancing in the cool night air. The moonlight poured through the open barn door, casting a pale glow over Strom, standing shirtless, drenched in sweat. His old armor lay scattered in pieces across the table—dented, cracked, and scorched from battles that had pushed him beyond his limits.
Strom (muttering under his breath): "Big Titans … no wonder you broke on me."
He slammed the hammer down again, shaping a new plate of steel, determined to make something stronger.
From the doorway, a groggy voice snapped:
Wraith (rubbing her eyes): "You are ruining my peace while I'm sleeping, and guess what—you're hammering that piece of shi# at night!"
Strom smirked but didn't stop hammering.
Strom: "Yo, miss, you don't know. Your dad, Gorgon, and two times fighting with mom—my armor almost pissed off from all this."
Wraith stepped inside, frowning, arms crossed.
Wraith: "So, you decided to wake the whole mountain fixing it? What's next, forge a house while you're at it?"
From behind her, Sam appeared, yawning, hair sticking up in every direction.
Sam: "Strom… it's midnight. Are you building a castle or armor? 'Cause if it's a castle, I'm calling dibs on the big room."
Strom let out a short laugh, finally placing the hammer down. He held up the new gauntlet he had just finished—sleek, reinforced, and shining faintly under the forge's light.
Strom: "This isn't just armor. This is my life insurance. Last battle almost took it from me."
Wraith raised an eyebrow, catching the seriousness in his tone.
Wraith: "You really think new armor is gonna stop what's coming?"
Strom looked at the broken old helmet on the table, then back at the glowing gauntlet.
Strom (quietly): "It's not about stopping what's coming… it's about making sure I'm ready when it does."
For a moment, silence filled the forge, broken only by the faint crackle of the cooling metal. Wraith didn't have a comeback. She just stared at Strom, realizing how much he had changed since all their fights, how much weight he carried.
Sam, still half-asleep, leaned on the wall and sighed.
Sam: "Fine… but can you at least not do it at midnight next time? My beauty sleep is important."
Strom chuckled and picked up his hammer again.
Strom: "Yeah, sure… after I make sure this armor won't piss out on me again."
The scene faded with sparks lighting the forge and Strom hammering with renewed focus—preparing for battles that would test not only his armor but his soul
Chapter 2: The Broken Silence
The next day began too quiet. The sky, grey and heavy, seemed to hold its breath. Birds weren't singing, and even the usual breeze through the mountains had stilled, as if nature itself sensed something wrong.
Sam walked ahead, looking nervous.
Sam: "I don't like this silence. Feels… unnatural."
Wraith kept her hand on her sword.
Wraith: "Silence means something's already gone wrong. Stay sharp."
Strom walked behind them, his newly reforged armor clinking faintly with each step. His grip tightened on his spear as a distant scream shattered the stillness.
Strom: "Move! Now!"
They rushed up the narrow path that led to the small mountain village. The scene before them was chaos—homes burning, livestock running wild, and monsters, large and unnatural, tearing through the streets. Villagers screamed as they ran, scattering in every direction.
Strom didn't hesitate; he charged.
Strom: "Get them out of here!"
He leaped forward, spearing one beast through the chest, his armor flashing as flames reflected off the polished steel. Wraith slashed down another, while Sam cast a barrier spell to protect the fleeing villagers.
Among the chaos, Strom spotted a small boy trapped under a collapsed wooden beam. The boy's tear-filled eyes locked on him.
Boy: "Help… please…"
Strom sprinted toward him, throwing aside debris. But before he could reach the boy, the mountainside above shook—a loose boulder, dislodged by the chaos, plummeted downward.
Dravyss swooped in suddenly, massive wings casting a shadow over everything. In one swift motion, she grabbed Strom and yanked him out of the falling rock's path—saving him but crushing the boy beneath.
The world froze. The boy's hand, once reaching out, went limp. Strom's eyes widened in shock.
Strom (staring at the crushed rubble): "No… no, no, no…"
Wraith and Sam pulled him back as another monster lunged at them. Strom fought like a storm, fueled by rage and grief, each strike of his spear trembling with emotion.
When the last creature fell, silence took over once again, but it was different now—a silence heavy with death.
The battlefield was silent now, except for the crackle of burning wood and the distant whimpers of survivors.
Strom stood frozen, staring at the collapsed rubble where the boy had been. His hands trembled around his spear before he let it drop to the ground.
Strom (whispering, almost to himself): "He was right there… just one step more…"
Dravyss landed softly behind him, her massive claws gently resting on the ground. She reached out with one scaled hand, hesitant.
Dravyss: "Strom… listen to me—"
Strom (spinning around, shouting): "No! Don't you dare say it's okay!"
Sam flinched and stepped back, while Wraith lowered her sword, silent.
Strom: "You had one choice… one! And you chose me instead of him. Why me? Why always me?"
Dravyss lowered her head slightly, her voice deep but shaking.
Dravyss: "Because I couldn't lose you, Strom…"
Strom: "So he had to die because I'm special? Because I have your stone? He was just a kid! A kid who trusted me to save him!"
He ripped off his helmet and hurled it to the ground, then gripped his pendant tightly. His voice cracked.
Strom: "I'm not worth it… I'm not worth his life…"
Dravyss stepped closer, her eyes pained.
Dravyss: "You are my son—"
Strom (cutting her off, eyes burning): "Don't call me that right now… you're not my mom."
The words hit like a blade. Dravyss froze, silent, her claws curling against the dirt.
Strom turned away, his voice low but sharp.
Strom: "Just… don't follow me. I need some space… because right now, I can't even look at you."
He walked off into the smoke-filled night, leaving his helmet lying in the ashes.
Dravyss stood there, still, her eyes reflecting the burning village—a mother who had saved her son but lost him in his heart.
---
Chapter 3 – The Fire Within
The mountains shook that morning, smoke and ash rising from its base. Strom stood alone at the cliff's edge, eyes glowing faint orange, holding nothing but his newly reforged spear.
Strom (to himself): "No hesitation… no fear… not anymore."
He slammed his foot into the ground and launched a small rock skyward. The moment it reached its peak, Strom's eyes locked on it, his hands igniting in swirling orange flames.
Strom (whispering): "Fire Strike…"
The rock glowed red hot, and then— BOOM! It rained down like a meteor, shattering the forest below in a blazing explosion. The shockwave threw dust and flames into the sky, birds scattering from their nests in panic.
From the treeline, monsters and demons that had gathered sensing his energy lunged at him—but Strom didn't hesitate. His movements blurred, almost unnatural, as he spun his spear and hurled burning rocks from the ground skyward, bringing them down like fiery hail.
One demon roared and lunged at his back. Strom turned his head, his expression cold, emotionless—and in one motion, he drove his spear straight through its skull, flames consuming the corpse before it hit the ground.
---
Meanwhile, on the village outskirts, Wraith, Sam, Dravyss, and a group of villagers watched from a safe distance as the earth trembled under Strom's training.
Villager 1 (terrified): "That's not Strom… that's a demon in human skin…"
Villager 2: "He's… slaughtering everything that moves!"
Wraith stepped forward, arms crossed, glaring at them.
Wraith: "You're all afraid of him? You think that's him at his weakest? He doesn't even have his pendant—he's fighting with his own raw power now. He's stronger than you've ever seen."
The villagers hesitated, but their fear didn't vanish.
Sam added softly: "He's not hurting innocents… he's only targeting demons and beasts that have been raiding us. Strom wouldn't harm anyone without reason."
Then Dravyss, who had been silent, stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly blue and filled with sadness.
Dravyss (firmly): "You want someone to blame? Look in a mirror. You ignored his pain, mocked his failures, doubted his worth… and now you see what he's become. You all are the reason for what he is doing now."
The crowd went silent.
---
Back on the battlefield, Strom stood in the middle of a crater, his body steaming from heat. Dozens of monster corpses surrounded him, their bodies still smoldering. Strom's grip tightened on his spear as he looked up at the sky, panting heavily but smiling.
Strom (to himself): "I'm done being weak."
But high above, Zyron (still in his shaman disguise) watched with a smirk.
Zyron (thinking): "Good, little warrior… burn everything for me. Burn it all."
Chapter 4 – The Master's Betrayal
The mountain battlefield was littered with smoking craters and the remains of demons that dared to face Strom. He stood at the center, armor charred and glowing faintly from the heat of his own power, his spear lodged into the earth.
Behind him, Wraith, Sam, and Dravyss landed, their faces pale at the sight of what Strom had become. His aura wasn't the calm blue they were used to seeing from the pendant—it was wild, flickering orange and red like an untamed flame.
Wraith (stepping forward, voice trembling):
"Strom… enough. You're scaring everyone. You're scaring us."
Strom (cold, eyes glowing faint orange):
"Scared? They should be. I'm done failing. I'm done being weak."
From behind a nearby rock, a figure in a long tattered robe appeared—the shaman who had "trained" Strom. His face was hidden under a hood, his hands glowing faintly with runes.
Wraith (whispering):
"Who is that…?"
Strom stepped closer to the shaman and turned to the others with a prideful look.
Strom:
"He is my master… the one who gave me power, the one who erased my failure, the one who made me strong!"
The shock hit everyone. Sam's mouth hung open; Wraith's tail flicked nervously.
Sam (shouting):
"Master? Strom, what are you talking about?! You don't need anyone to give you power—"
But Dravyss raised a hand to silence Sam, her eyes narrowing at the shaman.
Dravyss (stepping forward):
"Son… stay away from him. I don't know who he is, but I know his aura—it reeks of blood. He's not here to help you."
Strom (angrily):
"You don't know him like I do! He believed in me when you didn't! He—"
The "shaman" slowly chuckled, his voice suddenly deeper and sharper. He dropped his hood, revealing burning crimson eyes and sharp draconic teeth.
Zyron (in deep voice):
"Oh, she knows me… she just doesn't want to admit it."
His body began to morph—his skin cracking into crimson scales, arms extending into massive clawed limbs, and wings tearing through the back of his robe. The red flames of Zyron erupted into the sky as his true form was revealed: a towering dragon, horns twisted backward, his tail lined with razor-sharp edges.
Dravyss' eyes widened in disbelief, her body trembling—not from fear, but from recognition.
Dravyss (gasping):
"...Zyron."
Before anyone could move, Zyron's claw snapped forward, gripping Strom in an instant. The ground cracked under Zyron's weight as he lifted Strom like a ragdoll, Strom's spear falling helplessly from his hand.
Zyron (grinning):
"Thank you, little warrior. You gave me exactly what I needed."
From Strom's chest, the pendant stone glowed and ripped itself free, floating into Zyron's claw. Zyron crushed it effortlessly, the fragments glowing before merging into his chest, his flames turning even darker red.
Strom (struggling in Zyron's grip):
"W-what…? Master… why…?"
Zyron (leaning closer, voice like a growl):
"Because you were never my student. You were just my key."
Dravyss let out a roar so loud it shook the mountainside, her eyes glowing bright blue.
Dravyss (furious):
"Put him down, Zyron!"
But Zyron only laughed, lifting Strom higher, squeezing his armor until cracks formed.
Zyron:
"Oh, don't worry, Dravyss… I'll take good care of him—after I'm done burning this world to ash."
He launched into the sky with Strom still in his claws, his wings slicing through the clouds as the group stared in shock.
Dragon Knight – ARC XI Chapter 5 - Zyron's Truth
The sky ripped apart as Zyron shot upward, Strom trapped in his claws. The beat of his massive wings created shockwaves that made trees bend and stones crack. Dravyss, in partial dragon form, roared and launched herself after him. Wraith and Sam clung to her back, holding on for dear life.
Wraith (screaming):
> "Heyyy! Dragon express is shaking like hell! Who even is that scaly psycho?!"
Dravyss's eyes narrowed, her voice guttural with fury.
Dravyss:
> "Zyron… He's from my planet. Weaker than me in strength… but his claws, wings, tail—they cut through steel like paper. His speed is unmatched. His cosmic red fire can melt mountains, and his regeneration is nearly unstoppable."
Sam (tightening his grip):
> "Great. So basically a flying nightmare with healing hacks. Perfect."
Wraith:
> "Why's he after you? He looks… I dunno… emotional angry. Like break-up angry!"
Dravyss's eyes softened for a moment, her voice quieter.
Dravyss:
> "Because he was… in love with me. But I chose Darkius… and then Earth… not him. He's angry because I chose someone he calls 'a weak wizard' over him. He thinks I betrayed our kind for love."
Wraith blinked, then yelled over the rushing wind:
Wraith:
> "Wait—WAIT—time out! The evil flying dragon villain is your ex?!"
Sam (grinning despite the chaos):
> "Bro, this is some next-level soap opera stuff."
Dravyss (growling):
> "Focus! He's dangerous, and Strom is still in his claws!"
Ahead, Zyron's roar echoed as he turned mid-air, his molten-red eyes meeting Dravyss's. His tail whipped, sending shockwaves of pressure, and a burst of Cosmic Red Fire erupted from his mouth, scorching the clouds into nothingness.
Zyron (roaring):
> "You could have had me, Dravyss! Instead, you chose a wizard and that planet!"
Dravyss dodged the fire, her wings folding inward to spin through the blast, and she screamed back with raw anger:
Dravyss:
> "This isn't about love anymore, Zyron—this is obsession! You're hurting my family!"
Strom, still trapped, clenched his fist, Dragon Aura flickering around him.
Chapter - 6 – Red Inferno
The sky was ablaze, painted crimson by Zyron's fire as he landed on a shattered plateau, still holding Strom by his armor. The ground hissed and cracked under his burning claws.
Zyron (mocking):
"Look at you… Earth's so-called dragon knight. You wanted power, and I gave it. Yet you are still weak."
He tossed Strom aside like a broken spear. Strom hit the ground hard but pushed himself up, clutching his blue spear. His armor was scratched, his cape half-burned.
Strom (spitting blood, smirking):
"If I'm weak, then why are you still talking?"
Zyron's eyes flared red, flames spiraling out like blades.
Zyron:
"Because I enjoy watching hope burn."
---
The Clash Begins
Sam unleashed a volley of glowing sigils, chains of mana slamming into Zyron's legs, locking them momentarily. Wraith leaped from Dravyss' back, claws extended, cutting across Zyron's shoulder. The wound sizzled—then instantly healed, glowing with his red fire.
Sam (shocked):
"He just… healed completely!"
Wraith:
"Sam, shield Strom, now!"
Dravyss crashed onto the battlefield, her wings creating shockwaves that split the earth.
Dravyss (snarling):
"You dare touch my child, Zyron?!"
Zyron (smiling coldly):
"Your child? Don't fool yourself. He is an Earth mistake holding power he doesn't deserve. You and I both know what happens when humans hold dragon stones… they break."
Dravyss roared, unleashing a cone of pure blue fire, colliding with Zyron's red flames. The two elements clashed, igniting the sky in a purple inferno, throwing everyone back.
---
Strom Awakens Fire Strike
Strom stood, gripping his blue spear. His pendant glowed faintly—though it felt… different, unstable. He raised his hand, small rocks levitating around him.
Strom (whispering):
"Fire Strike…"
He hurled them skyward, their tips glowing red before they came crashing down like miniature meteors, slamming into Zyron. Dust and flame exploded outward.
For a moment, silence.
Sam (smiling):
"Did that…?"
But as the smoke cleared, Zyron emerged unharmed, only his scales slightly scorched. His wound healed again, and he laughed.
Zyron:
"You think you can out-burn me? My flames are eternal, my body unbreakable. You can't win."
---
Zyron Shows His Power
Zyron lunged, his claws tearing through Strom's spear shaft, shattering it in two. He whipped his razor tail, knocking Sam unconscious against a stone pillar. With one strike, he sent Wraith crashing to the ground, bleeding from her wing.
Dravyss fought hard, locking claws with Zyron mid-air, but his sharpness overwhelmed her. He spun with bladed wings, slicing through one of Dravyss' shoulder plates, blood spraying mid-flight.
Dravyss (grunting in pain):
"He's… stronger than I remember…"
Zyron (to Dravyss, pinning her):
"You made me this strong. Every day I thought of you, every day I burned for you. Now, you will burn for me."
He slammed Dravyss into the ground, leaving a crater.
---
The Near Defeat
Strom dragged himself to his feet, his armor broken.
Strom (yelling):
"Let her go, Zyron!"
Zyron turned his glowing red eyes toward him and grinned.
Zyron:
"You? You are nothing. Even with the stone, you cannot defeat me. Look at yourself, Strom—you're shaking."
Strom clenched his fist, but Zyron's claw pinned him to the ground effortlessly. His healing factor, his razor-sharp weapons, his relentless regeneration—the difference was hopelessly clear.
Dravyss (weakly):
"Strom… retreat…"
But Strom shook his head.
Strom:
"I'm done running."
Zyron lifted Strom by the chestplate, claws poised near his throat.
Zyron:
"You will watch your family burn, and then you will die."
---
Chapter 7 – The Month of Ash
The battlefield was silent except for the crackling of Zyron's flames. Smoke curled around his talons as he loomed over the fallen trio—Strom, Sam, and Wraith—their weapons scattered and armor broken.
Dravyss crawled forward, blood dripping from her wounded shoulder, wings tattered.
Dravyss (pleading, voice trembling):
"Please… take me, Zyron. Do whatever you want . Just leave my children alone."
Zyron's head tilted slightly, a cruel smile creeping across his scaled face.
Zyron (mocking):
"Children? You don't even have a mate, Dravyss. You've never given birth. That boy—" (pointing at Strom) "—is a human. A weak little mortal who clings to a stone he doesn't deserve. You dare call him your son?"
Dravyss (roaring):
"Shut up!"
Her blue flame erupted, but Zyron slammed his wing, extinguishing it like snuffing a candle.
---
Zyron's Offer
Zyron (circling her like a predator):
"Why fight me? Why keep these pathetic mortals? You could have had me, Dravyss. My fire, my strength… my world. So here's my offer: you become my queen, and I will spare them. The humans will serve us—bow to our power. Together, we'll rule this world."
Dravyss (growling, teeth clenched):
"Never. I will never stand beside you."
Zyron (snarling):
"Then you will kneel."
With a sweep of his tail, chains of molten stone burst from the ground, coiling around Dravyss, pinning her wings and claws. She struggled, but his spell rooted her to the earth.
---
The Capture
Strom (weakly lifting his head):
"Let… her… go…"
Zyron stomped on Strom's chest, forcing the air from his lungs.
Zyron:
"Look at you. Your power, your pride—it all crumbles. And still, you dare call her mother? She doesn't even see you as blood."
Dravyss (screaming):
"Stop! He is my son—stone or blood, it doesn't matter!"
But Zyron's claws extended, chains wrapping around Strom, Wraith, and Sam. He lifted them into the air, their bodies dangling like trophies.
Zyron (grinning):
"You've all caused me enough pain. Now you will watch as I claim what is rightfully mine."
---
A Month Under Zyron
The world burned. For thirty days, Zyron ruled like a tyrant. His red flames engulfed forests, cities bent to his will, and his volcanic citadel rose from the mountains.
Humans were forced to kneel, crafting statues of Zyron as their "eternal king." Monsters from distant lands joined him, drawn to his overwhelming aura.
Strom, Sam, and Wraith were locked in mana-draining cells, powerless, forced to watch the destruction unfold. Dravyss, chained in her dragon form, was imprisoned at Zyron's side, forced to witness the collapse of everything she had sworn to protect.
Zyron (mocking every day):
"Look around, Dravyss. This is the life you chose when you betrayed me. You could have had me, yet you chose humans and that pathetic Darkius. Now… you are nothing but my prisoner, and your 'children' are my trophies."
---
The Breaking Point
One night, Strom sat on the cold floor of his cell, staring at his broken spear and shattered pendant lying just outside the bars.
Strom (whispering):
"Mom… I failed again."
Wraith placed her clawed hand on Strom's shoulder.
Wraith:
"No. This isn't over. I don't care if he's a king of dragons or hell itself. We're taking everything back."
Sam, bruised but determined, muttered through clenched teeth:
Sam:
"We need power… more than ever."
Strom clenched his fist, remembering the shaman's words… Zyron's trickery. His eyes burned, not with shame this time, but with a cold, focused rage.
---
Chapter 8 – Flames of Rebellion
The prison shook as Zyron's volcanic citadel rumbled in the distance, glowing red under the moonless sky. The air was heavy with heat and despair. Strom, seated in the dark, clenched his fists—his eyes fixed on his broken spear and shattered pendant.
---
The Spark of Hope
Wraith (whispering):
"Strom, you still thinking about giving up?"
Strom (low voice):
"I failed… twice. First that boy… now mom. I don't know if I deserve to fight."
Sam (slamming his fist on the bars):
"Stop that crap! You think Dravyss would want you to sit here whining? She begged for us—her children—to live!"
Wraith smirked, eyes glowing faintly:
Wraith:
"You call me demon, Strom? Fine, but even a demon knows when to fight back. Are you gonna be weaker than me?"
Those words hit Strom harder than any blade. He stood up, breathing heavily, eyes locked on his spear.
---
The Awakening
Strom reached for the pendant, grabbing it through the bars. It sparked faintly in his hand, as if answering his call.
Strom (whispering):
"No more failures. I will not lose anyone else."
A sudden surge of blue flames mixed with searing red surrounded his body. Rocks in the cell lifted slightly from the ground.
Sam (shocked):
"What the hell… your mana is back?!"
Wraith:
"Not mana… something else."
---
The Escape
Strom slammed his spear on the cell bars—the entire metal frame melted instantly, shattering outward. The guards rushed in, but Strom's eyes glowed bright Blue , and with a single swing of his spear, they were blown back like ragdolls.
Wraith (grinning):
"Now that's the Strom I know."
He freed Sam and Wraith, moving through the dark halls, taking down demons one by one. Alarms echoed as they approached the central chamber.
---
Reunion With Dravyss
Dravyss hung in heavy molten chains, her eyes dim.
Strom:
"Mom… I'm sorry."
She slowly opened her eyes, weak but proud.
Dravyss:
"You came back… my son."
Strom (cutting the chains):
"I told you I'm not losing you again."
When the final chain snapped, a wave of blue flames and dragon aura erupted, temporarily shaking the citadel.
---
Zyron Appears
The ground cracked as Zyron landed with a roar, his massive wings spreading fire everywhere.
Zyron (mocking):
"Ah, the little human rises again. What now, boy? Another failure?"
Strom (spinning his spear, aura blazing):
"No… a lesson."
---
The Epic Fight
Strom vs Zyron: Strom's new Fire Strike rained flaming meteors from the sky, slamming Zyron and cracking the ground.
Wraith protected Sam, slashing at minions while Sam unleashed high-tier magic to shield the area.
Dravyss, still weak but fighting, pinned Zyron's tail with her claws, stopping his healing momentarily.
Zyron (enraged):
"You dare challenge me with that borrowed strength?!"
Strom:
"It's not borrowed. I earned it."
---
Zyron Retreats (For Now)
A meteor slammed Zyron's wing, making him roar in pain. Smoke rose from his scales.
Zyron (growling):
"This… is not over. Next time, I will crush you all!"
He blasted into the sky, his form disappearing into the storm.
---
Aftermath
The citadel collapsed behind them as Strom, carrying Dravyss, walked out. Wraith and Sam followed.
Wraith (smiling faintly):
"So, what now, hero?"
Strom (staring at the sky):
"We finish this. Once and for all."
Chapter 9 – The Final Clash
---
The battlefield was nothing but ruins. Burnt forests, shattered mountains, and the smell of smoke choking the air. Zyron stood at the center, his obsidian claws coated in blood, his burning red eyes glowing like molten lava. Every breath he took released a wave of oppressive heat that warped the air around him.
Strom stumbled forward, dragging his blue spear along the ground. His cape was shredded, armor dented, but his eyes… his eyes were burning brighter than any flame Zyron could summon.
Zyron (smirking): "You're still standing? After everything I've given you, this is the best you can do? I gave you strength, human. I gave you power to erase your weakness. And you repay me by standing against me?"
Strom (spitting blood, steadying his spear): "You didn't give me strength… you gave me chains. I broke them."
Behind them, Wraith was down, blood on her lips, holding Sam, who was barely conscious. Even Dravyss, chained by Zyron's earlier strike, was struggling to stand.
Dravyss (weak, shouting): "Strom, don't fight him alone! He's too—"
Strom (cutting her off): "Mom… you saved me more times than I can count. This time… let me save you."
Strom's pendant glowed faintly, sensing his will, but he ignored it. Instead, he raised his hand to the sky, gripping a single broken piece of stone.
Strom (to Zyron): "You like fire, huh? Let me show you what real fire looks like."
He hurled the stone upward, and from above, a massive blue-flamed meteor formed, its light drowning out the sun itself. The temperature shifted as frost spread beneath Strom's feet, a strange calm before the incoming storm.
Zyron (snarling, wings flaring): "You think you can—"
The meteor struck with a thunderous explosion, flattening everything around. A shockwave ripped through the earth, hurling debris miles away. Zyron's roar was drowned by the force as he crashed into a crater, his healing flames struggling to mend the charred wounds.
But when the dust cleared, Zyron was still alive. Scarred, bleeding, but alive.
Zyron (limping, laughing bitterly): "You… are… strong. But strength is nothing without control. You can't beat me, human."
Strom tightened his grip on the spear and charged. What followed was no ordinary fight—it was pure instinct and rage. Zyron's claws slashed, Strom's spear clashed, sparks lighting the already ruined sky. Each strike felt like an earthquake, shaking the battlefield.
Zyron caught Strom's arm, tossing him across the ground, but Strom slid, planting his spear, launching himself back like a missile. He pierced Zyron's shoulder, blue flames erupting on impact.
Zyron (roaring): "You are nothing compared to me!"
Strom (gritting his teeth): "Yeah? Then why are you bleeding?"
The battle intensified, both moving too fast for any normal eye to follow. Strom ducked a tail swing, leapt onto Zyron's back, and drove his spear into Zyron's chest—right where his stone pulsed. Zyron screamed, flinging him off, but Strom landed on his feet, cloak flaring dramatically.
Zyron (staggering, clutching his wound): "You… you're just a human! She's not even your real mother!"
Strom froze for a second, looking Zyron dead in the eye.
Strom (cold, resolute): "I know… she's not my mom. She's my real mother."
He dashed, spinning his spear in a blazing arc of blue fire, piercing Zyron's stone and driving it deep until it shattered.
Zyron (gasping, stumbling): "Wha… what are you…?"
Strom (spitting on the ground): "Time's up, Bitc# tail lizard."
He ripped the spear free, and Zyron collapsed, his flames dying out as his body crumbled into ash.
The silence after was deafening. Strom fell to one knee, exhausted but smiling faintly as Dravyss limped to him, wrapping her massive claw around him protectively.
Dravyss (softly): "You are really my son."
Strom (weakly laughing): "Told you… I'd save you… mom."
And then, everything faded to black as the storm above finally cleared.
---
The battlefield was silent now, only the smell of burnt earth and broken stone lingering in the air. Everyone was sitting under the shade of a shattered wall, their bodies bruised, their eyes heavy, but their hearts finally at peace.
Strom (softly, head lowered): "Sorry, Mom… sorry for everything I said earlier…"
Wraith (crossing arms, glaring at Strom): "Wow… breaking her heart and then saying sorry? Don't you dare make her cry again, or you know your armour can't resist my slap."
Sam (laughing weakly): "Yeah, that thunder-like slap… but wait, why am I happy? Oh no—my mom's gonna slap me harder for not coming home."
Strom (half-smiling): "You guys can't be serious… hmmm."
Dravyss (pulling all three closer with her wing): "My planet won't stop until they kill or destroy me… but I swear, I will fight anyone—no matter how strong—to protect this world and my children. I won't let any son of bitc# hurt you ever again."
Strom (grinning through the pain): "Talking about bitc#es… I remember something."
Wraith (cracking her knuckles, smiling): "I think it's time to finish that itch in my hand ✋."
They all laughed—tired, broken, but together—and for the first time in weeks, the weight on their hearts felt lighter.