A loud scream tore through the kingdom of Elyria just before dawn.
Serphix felt it along with his subordinates. The intense spread of fear running across the bond he shared with his land. The palace windows rattled. Somewhere beyond the white stone walls of the palace, fire bloomed like a second sunrise. A sudden attack!
He was already moving before the horns sounded.
The doors to the balcony burst open as Serphix stepped out, silver-white long hair loose against his back. From above, the city of Elyria lay spread beneath him, usually calm and glowing with soft magic. Now it is burning.
"!!!"
Dark figures flooded in through the eastern gates.
Gladius's soldiers.
The sky roared.
A massive form cut through the clouds, scales black as scorched steel, wings wide enough to blot out the sun. Flames spewed from its jaws, crashing into the city streets. Towers crumbled. Houses vanished in fire. Elyrians are killed.
"Enemy attack!" the horns finally cried. "Enemy attack!"
It was too late.
Serphix's hands clenched around the stone railing. His golden eyes narrowed.
Gladius.
The Dragon King had come himself.
A second force surged through the gates. Armored soldiers bearing a familiar crest. Serphix's breath hitched.
"No way…"
He knew those banners.
Blue and silver. The sigil of Khyberia. His allied kingdom has joined forces with his enemy.
"Vicerion…" His voice was low, disbelieving.
The ground shook as Gladius in his Dragon form descended, landing atop a watchtower. Gladius shifted, massive body twisting as he laughed, the sound echoing across the city.
"Kill them all!" Gladius roared. "Leave nothing standing!"
Fire rained down.
Serphix turned and vanished from the balcony in a flash of white light.
ৎ────
Steel clashed. Blood hit the ground.
Serphix landed in the middle of the battlefield, boots cracking the ground beneath him. Elyrian soldiers fought desperately, magic flashing from their hands, shields breaking under dragonfire.
"Hold the line!" someone shouted.
Serphix raised his arm.
The air shifted.
White light exploded outward as magic surged from him, throwing enemy soldiers back so lightly like they are leaves. He stepped forward, calm carved into every movement, even as rage burned beneath his skin.
Then he saw his most trusted ally.
Vicerion stood atop a broken tower, calm and untouched, watching the slaughter like a spectator. His silver armor gleamed, his expression cold.
For a heartbeat, the rage Serphix was feeling worsened seeing Vicerion's expression.
"You," Serphix said.
Vicerion's lips curved. "Serphix, it's your time."
The betrayal hit harder than any blade.
The ground trembled as Serphix's magic flared. His body twisted, bones shifting, skin shimmering. In seconds, the Naga King revealed his true form.
A massive white serpent rose from the battlefield, scales gleaming like moonlight. His body crushed soldiers beneath its coils. His tail swept through ranks of enemies, bodies flying.
Fear spread.
Serphix surged forward, carving a path toward the tower where Vicerion was standing.
The Dragon roared above. Magic exploded around him.
Then-
"Serphix!"
The voice cut through everything.
He turned.
Aslan stood on a broken staircase, sword in hand, armor smeared with blood from the enemies he slaughtered. His dark hair was tied back, eyes fierce even as chaos burned behind him.
Serphix froze.
His body shimmered, shrinking, reshaping until he stood in human form once more.
"Aslan," he said sharply. "Why are you here? Are you hurt?"
Aslan ran to him, gripping his arm. "You can't face them alone! Vicerion brought weapons! Ones made to weaken you!"
Serphix looked past him, at the dying city, at his people falling one by one.
"I know," he said quietly.
Aslan's grip tightened. "Then don't go. We can just save the people first and call for aid from the other Kingdoms"
"I can't, that will be too late" Serphix interrupted. "My soldiers couldn't handle much longer, so I'll stay here until you get our people to safety."
A dragon's shadow passed over them.
"Aslan." Serphix cupped his face, forcing him to look up. "Listen to me. Take those who can't fight. Lead them to the back of the palace. Use the safety passage."
Aslan shook his head. "I won't leave you."
"You will," Serphix said firmly. "You are their shield now."
Aslan's jaw trembled. "And who protects you?"
Serphix smiled. Soft, brief, only for him.
"I will come back," he said. "I promise."
He pulled Aslan into his arms, holding him tight as the world burned around them. He pressed a kiss to Aslan's lips. Desperate, lingering.
"Be careful," Aslan whispered.
"You be careful," Serphix replied.
Then he stepped back.
"Go. Lead our people."
Aslan hesitated only a moment before nodding. He turned, shouting orders, sword raised as survivors gathered behind him.
Serphix watched until they disappeared into the smoke.
Then he transformed again.
The white serpent rose, glorious and terrible, charging toward the tower Vicerion had claimed.
Arrows and magic flew.
They burned.
A sharp crack split the air.
Pain exploded through Serphix's side.
"Argh!"
His massive body slammed into the ground. Magic flickered and died as strange energy crawled through his veins. The serpent dissolved, leaving Serphix on his knees, blood dripping onto the stone.
Specialized weapons.
He forced himself up, teeth clenched.
Around him, Elyrian soldiers fell. Faylinn, his healer, staggered as she poured magic into a wounded knight, her hands shaking.
Serphix raised his arm and unleashed a wave of power, shattering enemy weapons in a blinding flash.
"You traitor!" he roared, cutting down soldiers as he moved.
Fire slammed into his back.
He turned just as Gladius in his human form struck, a burst of fire tearing through the air.
They rose into the sky, magic and flame colliding. Blows echoed like thunder.
"I'll take your head tonight, Serphix!" Gladius laughed.
"As if." Serphix replied.
Serphix struck back, a powerful blast of white light hurling Gladius away, crashing into distant ruins.
Without hesitation, Serphix turned back to the tower.
Pain tore through him as more weapons struck, blood soaking his clothes. Still, he moved forward.
With a roar, he transformed once more.
The white serpent crushed the tower in an instant of stone and dust.
Vicerion screamed as he fell, caught in Serphix's tail.
"Argh!"
Serphix shifted back, gripping Vicerion by the throat, lifting him off the ground.
"How could you," Serphix demanded.
Vicerion choked, eyes wide.
"From the very beginning, all I want is your kingdom." Vicerion said with a grin on his face.
Serphix's eyes narrowed.
Then-
"Serphix!"
The voice froze his blood.
He turned.
Gladius hovered in the air, one hand wrapped around Aslan's body. Blood streamed down Aslan's armor.
"Let him go," Gladius laughed, "or I kill your dearest lover."
Aslan lifted his head. "Just kill him!" he shouted.
Earlier…
Gladius crashed through the ruins, his body skidding across broken stone before he forced himself upright. Smoke curled from his scales. His breath came out hot and uneven.
He laughed.
"So that's your strength, Serphix," he muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. "Impressive."
His eyes narrowed.
A whisper reached him through the chaos. One of Vicerion's scouts, trembling as he spoke.
"The Naga King's lover," the man said. "He's leading civilians to the back of the palace. A secret passage."
Gladius's grin widened.
"Well now," he said softly. "That changes everything."
With a single beat of his magic, he vanished into the smoke.
ৎ────
The back of the palace was chaotic in a different way. Fear!
Cries echoed through narrow corridors as Aslan led the survivors forward. Children clung to their parents. Elderly nobles stumbled, leaning on guards for support. Blood stained the marble floor.
"Hurry," Aslan urged, voice steady despite the fear clawing at his chest. "The passage is close. Don't stop."
A knight faltered behind him. Aslan turned, grabbed the man's arm, and pulled him forward.
"We move together," he said. "No one gets left behind."
The stone wall ahead shifted as magic reacted to his presence. The hidden entrance began to open.
But then-
Heat slammed into them.
"!!!"
A wall of fire tore through the corridor, consuming screams in an instant.
"Aslan!" someone cried.
The flames died down, leaving scorched stone and bodies collapsed on the ground. Smoke filled the air, thick and choking.
"Stop!"
Aslan spun around, sword raised.
Gladius descended slowly, fire surrounding him brushing the walls, eyes glowing with cruelty and sadism.
"Well done," Gladius said. "Running away suits you."
Aslan placed himself between the dragon and the people behind him.
"You won't touch them," he said.
Gladius laughed. "You think you can stop me?"