A Formidable Foe

A pile of debris and rubble moves with a slight rattle growing until the large rocks vibrate. Then slowly they levitate, lifting into a cloud of floating rocks above the ground. The bloodied hand of the white dragon reaches up, hoisting its thick pale body behind it. The dragon grabs onto nearby rocks with its wing arms and pulls itself up and out of the debris.

The floating rocks whisk away with a flick of the dragon’s hand falling to the ground. The thick, pale dragon looks over its injuries, partially covered in dried blood. It props itself up on its wings, using its hands to cover the worst injuries, mumbling words to itself. It looks around and laughs. The dragon looks upward.

“I feel her power. She has done something, something great. She is waking.”

The white dragon chuckled into a wheezing cough.

“The events that have transpired have initiated a sequence of consequences that cannot be stopped. The Great One can no longer wait.”

The white dragon looked down into the darkness of the tunnels ahead of him.

“I will comply with the calling. Then I will prepare.”

Following the path of the humans, the pale dragon arrives at an open cavern close to the surface. Dragons, battle dragons, and other dragon-like creatures lie on the ground, dead. One dragon of Myrr looked to be mangled into a lump of flesh. The white dragon rolls the corpse over, examining the dead dragon, and discovers its bones have all been crushed. The pale dragon laughs. It acts giddy with excitement as it inspects the carnage.

A loud, growing commotion of movement draws the attention of the white dragon. A cluster of dragons and battle dragons run into the room, then suddenly stop as they discover the pale dragon in the middle.

In ancient Drekki, a dragon of Myrr addresses the white dragon, “Paha Attu? Why…. why… what… are you doing here?” Then, turning to the cluster of battled dragons behind it, the dragon of Myrr shouts orders, wildly waving its hands. Several tunnels around the area fill with the noise of motion.

“I have come… for a … visit.” The pale dragon slowly turned, facing the dark dragon of Myrr.

The dragon of Myrr clamored backwards along the edges of the room, screaming orders to the other dragons and battle dragons encircling Paha Attu. Battle dragons shook their weapons, and the dark-winged dragons of Myrr chanted magic words, thrusting their hands towards Paha Attu as they circled him.

The dragon of Myrr shouts with a laugh at the motionless Paha Attu. An enormous crashing noise reverberates through the tunnels and corridors. Then, bursting through the entranceway, crushing the rocks as it enters, comes a massive dragon-like creature. It roars viciously, foaming at the mouth. The winged dragon of Myrr points at Paha Attu, and the creature sprints toward the white dragon.

The massive creature slows to a stop at the outstretched hand of Paha Attu. The creature shakes its head. It acts confused. Then clawing at its head, the battle dragon shakes violently, cutting into its face with its claws. Then stops. It turns around, facing the horde of dragons and dragon warriors roaring back at the dragons. With a flick of Paha Attu’s claws, it barrels into the horde, biting, clawing, and throwing dragons into the walls, controlled by Paha Attu like a conductor leading a symphony.

With a loud battle cry, the many battle dragons leap toward Paha Attu. The other winged dragons direct their clawed hands at Paha Attu, chanting magic words. Paha Attu holds out his other hand, and the attacking dragons and battle dragons freeze in place. They slowly lift off the ground, levitating in the air above Paha Attu. The dragons fight to free themselves from the force, but their actions slow as their arms and legs twist by the unseen force. The chanting winged dragons stop moving, gasping for breath.

Paha Attu mutters in a deep, guttural tone. Then, with a growl, he let out a forceful yell, sending the dragons and battle dragons through the air with immense force. The dragons smash into the walls in a flash of blue energy. Several more flicks of its long claws, darting looks and commanding words, and soon all went silent.

Only the raspy, wheezy breathing of Paha Attu could be heard.

  A slow, deep chuckle broke the silence.

“Absolute control. Absolute power.”

“The girl is next.”