by Eden Redd
Nate landed on his feet, his bloody wounds slowly closing as he glared at the surrounding lizard people.
“You can still walk away,” Nate said with a crazed gleam in his eyes.
The subeks hissed and charged. Weapons raised into the air, ready to hammer down on the lone man. In that space and time, Nate settled his mind and his body blurred into action.
Fists and elbows lashed out, each one striking true. Grunts filled the air and bodies were thrown as Nate became a whirling storm. The seer attacked in muted amazement, feeling and seeing the effects of his fourth degree. His power matched those he was fighting, but his skill overcame anything they could throw at him. Clumsy attacks rained down and were met by Nate’s knuckles. Each counter strike shattered subek wrists. Screams quickly filled the night as lizard people clutched at broken hands and wrists before powerful strikes caved in chests. Bodies were flung as Nate became a monster. A subek roared as he charged Nate, only for the seer to grab him by the neck and slam his snout into a tree. Tree and face broke and the subek went limp.
Other lizard people joined the fray, only for Nate to slam his foot into unguarded stomachs and then punch them straight into the ground. Weapons flew in different directions. The battle began to turn and soon, subeks were fleeing.
Nate was silent as the dead as he bashed, cracked, and flung bodies. Some of the subeks hit the ground, scrambled to their feet and ran. Others hit trees, their bodies shuddering as they fell and not moving when they reached the ground.
Nate turned to the fleeing subeks, ready to give chase when Vazk roared. The subek blurred at him, but this time, Nate was faster and stronger. Blow for blow was exchanged. Nate felt that the subek still had a higher degree than he did, but the lizard man’s fighting skill was a tad unrefined. Nate landed a blow against Vazk’s ribs and the subek was thrown back into a tree. When his scaled feet hit the ground, Nate was already on him with his fist raised.
Vazk’s fist blurred outward and slammed into Nate’s mending ribs. They cracked again and Nate let out a grunt. An elbow crashed into the side of Vazk’s head. Blood spurted before Vazk turned and dark power bloomed. Nate planted his feet and tried to spin away when a fist connected to his stomach and sent the man hurtling into the air.
Nate spun out of control as he soared a hundred feet into the air.
If I didn’t have my power, that blow would have killed me instantly.
Nate tried to regain his balance as he fell at an angle. With nothing to grab, he continued to spin until he hit the ground hard and tumbled to a stop. Pain glowed along his senses as he tried to get back up. Regeneration continued to work to mend his body, but it was slow.
Nate lifted his head and saw that he was by the lake. He turned his head again to see Izzi on the ground by the water’s edge. She lifted her head and looked over with weak eyes.
A rumbling filled the area. Nearby trees shuddered before a dozen crelltu rushed the wounded dragon. The crab monsters charged, pincers clicking and ready to rend dragon flesh.
Izzi blinked as she saw the incoming horde of monsters. She took a deep breath and let out a torrent of ice and cold air. The stream crossed the distance and slammed into incoming monsters. Their advance slowed, but did not stop.
Izzi’s breath attack faltered and she weakly closed her mouth.
“Izzi!” Nate shouted as he rushed toward her.
“Nate,” Izzi slowly blinked before she lowered her head to the ground.
The crab monsters broke through the ice covering their bodies and resumed their advance. Nate turned and rushed toward them, ready to intercept them before they reached the white dragon.
“Nate, fight with my power,” Izzi whispered along Nate’s mind.
Nate charged the side of the monstrous force when a connection was made and power slammed into him. Nate’s eyes glowed as a weak water sphere filled with power. The sphere pulsed stronger and stronger until it reached the seventh degree.
Nate’s entire body vibrated with power. Legs pumped as he reached the edge of the charging monsters and leapt into the air. Every drop of water, frozen or otherwise bowed to Nate’s power. Nate roared as he pulled back a fist, water and ice rushing to him. Drops and shards coalesced against his fist, forming a large ice spike and then into a lance. When Nate threw a punch at an armored back, the tip of the ice lance shot forth. The ice was hard as metal, puncturing the shell and shattering it. The crab monster instantly fell, slowing the rest of its brethren.
Nate spun around as he took control of lake water. Raising his other hand, he could feel every strand of power taking hold of every drop of water. A wave of water shards rose up from the lake and when Nate brought his hand down, a thick and cloudy barrage of water shards came down with it.
The attacking monsters rushed to their deaths. Water shards as hard as iron, pounded the crelltu. Gurgled whimpers filled the area as the monsters crashed down into the sandy ground. Each shard penetrated hard shells and ripped apart internal organs before exiting out from underneath.
Nate heaved as he watched the last of the crelltu fall from the attack, no longer moving and their clear blood seeping into the ground.
Nate turned to Izzi. The frost dragon let out a whimper in pain, her bent wing close to her side.
Nate took a step forward to her when a shadow touched the edge of his gaze. He turned around and blocked an incoming fist with the ice lance. Ice exploded from the impact as a crazed Vazk pressed his attack.
“No! NO! I WILL NOT FAIL MY GODDESS! YOU WILL FALL!” Vazk screamed at the top of his lungs.
Nate blocked attacks as he felt Izzi’s power under his skin. It was nothing like he ever felt before and opened many possibilities. Thoughts shifted to Norrah and Shego and Nate’s heart hardened. The remaining ice on his right hand shifted to his command. It formed a razor-sharp edge.
“DEATH TO…” Vazk didn’t finish as the ice blade slashed across, shattering the subek’s black aura and slicing across his neck.
A thin splash of blood struck Nate’s face as he stared with cold eyes. Vazk looked at the man in disbelief before his head fell to one side and his body fell in the opposite direction.
Nate stood his ground, blood dripping down his features.
“Nate, I need my power back to aid in my healing. Go to Norrah and Shego. They need you,” Izzi whispered.
The power of the water sphere siphoned out of Nate’s body and he felt weaker. He glanced over his shoulder to the frost dragon. She let out a small huff before giving him a weak nod.
Nate nodded back before he looked to the broken forest before him. Legs bent, he launched forward into a charge, his legs pumping and his body nearly blurring as he raced back to the beach.
***
The symir blasted black energy into the sky as Norrah circled above. The green dragon ignored the pain along her entire body as she continued to spit out streams of dragon fire. The two exchanged attacks, neither one landing a new blow.
Norrah continued to take deep breaths and expel quick streams of fire. Exhaustion began to sink in. As she dodged beams of dark energy, she felt the tethers between her, Izzi, Shego, and Nate. Everyone was weakened and hurt, except for Nate. The seer glowed in her mind as she felt his mana power increase. She would have been overjoyed, if not for the sea serpent relentlessly attacking her. Dark power nearly leveled the jungle as Norrah ran and dodged the sea serpent’s attacks. When she jumped and was airborne again, she spent most of the time on the defensive. Now, she managed to fight back, but the cost was already too great. She was weakening from the long battle and constantly dodging and breathing fire was putting a strain on her.
The symir eyed the green dragon with knowing eyes. It used its attacks to weaken the dragon. It had been fighting dragons for a long time and knew the strain of such aerial maneuvers. It conserved its strength, blasting out weak attacks and readying for the moment where it could deal a death blow.
Norrah continued to blast out fire and the symir saw its chance. The green dragon
banked to the right after finishing her breath attack. The sea serpent opened its maw and let out a thick beam of darkness. It shot into the air and just as Norrah was about to bank away again, the beam shifted and blasted across her chest.
Norrah’s world exploded in pain. The attack seared across the very area where she was struck before. Scales broke away and dragon blood leaked. Wings shuddered and the majestic green dragon began to fall.
Nate rushed onto the beach to see Norrah falling and the sea serpent waiting in the water.
There was no thought or hesitation. Nate felt the connection between himself and the falling dragon. Norrah glowed along his soul and Nate roared. Nate channeled all four degrees of power from his body sphere to the falling dragon. His very lifeforce blinked as every drop of strength and regeneration crossed the distance between them.
Invisible power struck the falling, weakened dragon. Norrah’s eyes widened as Nate’s body sphere power pooled with her own. Norrah’s three degrees of the body sphere jumped to seven. Regeneration washed over her wounds and exhausted muscles. Wings flashed out with new power and she caught the wind right above the waiting sea serpent.
The symir balked as the emerald green dragon flapped her wings, her body fifty feet from his. Norrah opened her mouth and a thick stream of fire blasted down. The sea serpent fell back and tried to submerge when flames struck it dead on. It let out a screech as it slammed into the watery surface.
Underwater, the symir’s eyes were closed, the very lids damaged from dragon fire. Its immense body turned and prepared to dive deeper to escape. A large splash touched its senses and a moment later, claws stabbed into its neck. The symir roared under water as it was pulled up.
Leathery wings beat under water until Norrah emerged from the sea, still clutching the massive head of the symir to her. Time stood still as she grabbed at the sea serpent’s jaw and forced it open. With a deep breath, she looked down into the symir’s open maw and burned face before unleashing a torrent of flames.
The symir let out a sickening whimper before flames burned at the tender flesh in its mouth and the rest of its face.
Norrah stopped her breath attack and pulled her claws in opposite directions. The sea serpent let out a hollow screech from its burnt head and mouth before its jaw was ripped from it. Blood spurted and Norrah stabbed her claws into the symir’s skull. The massive serpent shuddered and went limp. Norrah let go and it sank into the water, its blood coloring the waters darker.
The green dragon flapped her wings and began to rise in the air. The extra power she felt winked out and she turned her attention to the beach. Nate was lying face down in the sand.
Norrah let out a shattering roar before diving toward the beach. When she was close, her body began to shift. The green dragon shifted to her humanoid form. She landed with a hard thud next to Nate. She fell to her knees, grabbed him and turned him over.
“Nate?” Norrah whispered as she looked at his peaceful expression.
Nate’s eyes fluttered open and looked up into Norrah’s beautiful face. “Our power works both ways,” he said with a faint smile.
Norrah let out a tearful cry before kissing the seer and holding him close.
***
Crab monsters approached the town of Moon Cove. Many people stared in horror as a dozen armored monsters approached. Pincers clicked as they prepared to rend every living creature into chunks of meat.
From the edge of the jungle, a blue scaled dragon emerged. Shego saw the frightened faces and many clutching their children to them. She then turned her attention to the force of monsters approaching. She took a deep breath and expelled lightning with extreme prejudice.
A thick stream of lightning slammed into the monsters, flipping some over as they cooked in their shells. Others turned, only for eye stalks and tender places under their shells to burn with electrical fire.
Shego roared as she blasted out lightning. Her serpent eyes watched as sand exploded along the beach and crab legs were severed and sent into the air. Shells cracked and others exploded.
When the last of her breath gave out, the blue dragon huffed and admired the swath of destruction. Not a single monster survived the attack, the smell of cooked seafood filling the air.
The people of Moon Cove turned their attention to the blue dragon. Smiles bloomed and shouts filled the airs.
Shego heaved before she collapsed onto the ground. She continued to gulp air as she stared at the happy townsfolk.
“We won,” Shego whispered to anyone who could hear her.
The blue dragon closed her eyes and let out a small sigh as people danced in victory.
Nine
Brilliant sunlight filled the morning sky. The last remnants of night slipped away as the world was bathed in light. White sea birds hovered on thermals, their gazes searching the waters for a meal. Fish moved in tight schools under the surface. The town of Moon Cove was filled with chatter as no one could sleep from the tumultuous events during the night. And a small group of dragons and a man gathered by a freshwater lake in the middle of the island.
Izzi let out a whine when her wing cracked back into place. The white dragon let out a weak whimper as she tried to flex her wing. Wincing in pain, her natural regeneration managed to fix the wing, but it was still tender and weak.
Nate stood with a humanoid Norrah to his right and a humanoid Shego to his left. All three looked at Izzi in her dragon form as she continued to lay by the lake water edge. A warm breeze flowed over the group as they tended to their friend.
“It still hurts,” Izzi whined like a child.
Shego crossed her arms, closed her eyes and shook her head. “Stop being weak.”
“No.” Izzi laughed and winced in pain.
Nate smiled before turning his attention to Norrah. The dragon woman stared at Izzi, but her mind seemed to be a million miles away. Nate reached over and touched her shoulder. The simple gesture was enough to wake her from her thoughts, and she looked at Nate with a small smile.
“There is much to take away from what happened last night. Hexnia and Orrem have become better organized, combining their forces. They nearly won last night,” Norrah said plainly.
“But they didn’t,” Nate smiled. “I think we all made a great team.”
Norrah smiled and nodded. “Yes, I believe we do.”
Shego opened her eyes, but still kept her arms crossed. “Orrem will continue to send his monsters to hunt us down while Hexnia will send her spies and assassins to find us. Never mind the other gods and goddesses that have joined with them to tear Arith to pieces.”
“We have allies on our side, I think,” Izzi added and winced.
Norrah nodded. “We do, we simply have to find them or they find us. In either case, we must report back to the dragon isles and tell the elders what happened here.”
Shego smiled. “The townsfolk were happy to survive the night, but I think they will be happier when we leave and take all this trouble with us.”
“I have to agree with them,” Norrah sighed before turning to Nate. “You have become a true Seer. The elders will be happy to have you on our side. The other seers will welcome you with open arms.”
Nate rubbed the back of his head and smiled. “I’m looking forward to our new life together.”
Norrah’s smile faded a touch. “You’re not worried about things becoming much more difficult? The conflict will only grow until all-out war is declared. It may plunge Arith into a dark age when the battlelines are drawn.”
“After everything we went through, it only made our destiny that much clearer,” Nate smiled. “Also, how could I leave three beautiful dragons? That would be true madness.”
Norrah’s smile returned and pink touched her green cheeks.
Shego cleared her throat and pointed at Izzi. “How are we going to get this one home?”
Norrah blinked and turned to the frost dragon. “Can you change to your humanoid form?”
Izzi gave a small nod. “I thin
k I can.”
Norrah, Nate, and Shego watched as the frost dragon shifted and shrank down. Limbs shifted and her body changed. Izzi’s neck shortened and her serpent features melted into a humanoid face. Dark horns stabbed up from her head as she finished her transformation and stood on shaky legs.
Izzi took one step toward her friends and lovers and stumbled. Nate crossed the small distance and caught her. Izzi looked up into his eyes and her eyes sparkled in the morning light.
Shego let out a huff. “We better get going before she starts drooling on him.”
“You drool on him too,” Izzi shot back.
Shego’s eyes narrowed as a storm raged behind her eyes.
Norrah turned and walked away from the group. With each step, her body grew larger. Scales stabbed out along her skin and flattened down. Her legs grew longer and a snout pushed out from her face. Horns shifted and curved along the sides of her head. When the transformation finished, a large green dragon stood on all fours.
“It will take us two days to fly to the isles. We better get a start so we can be there by tomorrow evening,” Norrah informed.
Nate smiled as he looked at the beautiful green dragon. “I will need my pack and supplies.”
“We’ll stop by the dragon home and pick it up before we depart,” Norrah said with a small nod.
Shego yawned before her body began to shift and change.
Nate helped Izzi along until they reached Norrah’s side. The green dragon laid on her stomach to make it easier for them. Nate helped Izzi climb onto the dragon’s back. Nate followed and sat behind the smaller, humanoid dragon.
Izzi let out a sigh and wilted her back against Nate’s strong chest. Nate couldn’t help himself as his arms circled her waist and held her close.
“I can’t wait to show you our home,” Izzi whispered.
“I can’t wait to see it,” Nate said in a low tone.
Shego walked over in her full dragon form. “Let’s get moving! I miss my treasure horde!”
With that, Shego leapt into the air and took flight.
Norrah smiled before she stood up and leapt into the air after the blue dragon.