Chapter 6: 6. The dragon king.
The car rumbled to a halt, the door swinging open with a creak that echoed like a prelude to a nightmare. The first thing they noticed was the heat—a suffocating, unrelenting wave of warmth that seemed to seep up from the very ground beneath them. As they stepped out, the world unveiled itself in a blaze of red and orange hues, a kingdom forged from fire and molten rock.
They had arrived in the heart of the Ethiopian Dragon Kingdom, a realm suspended above an endless sea of lava. The air was thick with ash, choking and heavy, while the sky above was a perpetual twilight, streaked with clouds of embers that floated like dying stars. Massive stone pillars, carved with intricate dragon motifs, rose from the lava, supporting platforms where structures made of blackened stone and gleaming gold stood. The architecture was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, a blend of ancient Ethiopian design and something far more primal, uncivilized, and dangerous. Every surface seemed to ripple with heat, the walls themselves alive with the flicker of flames that danced within the stone.
"If you're tough to break, they'll make your life hell," the man who had brought them here warned, his voice heavy with dark promise as he shut the car door behind them.
Elna's eyes widened as she took in the sight, her breath catching in her throat. "Wow…" she mouthed, the words barely escaping her lips. "Sweet Goddess."
But Aita couldn't speak. The reality of their situation was sinking in, hard and fast, crashing over her like a tidal wave. The escape she had so desperately clung to now seemed more impossible than ever. No one could leave this place without a dragon, and even then, survival was not guaranteed.
Three black dragons stood sentinel at the towering gates. Their keeper, a tall, pale man with eerie white eyes that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality, stood beside them. Was he blind? Fallon, their captor, approached the man, unfurling a scroll and showing it to him. Despite his strange eyes, the man appeared to read it, though Aita doubted he could see anything at all.
"Come, Herspira!" the pale man bellowed, his voice carrying over the roaring heat. A dragon that had been circling in the air above descended, its massive wings stirring the air with each powerful beat. The creature was enormous, terrifying, a living embodiment of every nightmare Aita had ever had. She clung to Elna for support, her legs threatening to give out beneath her.
The man with the white eyes mounted the dragon with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times. "Hop on," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, as if what he was asking of them was the most natural thing in the world.
Fallon turned to the men who held them. "You heard him," he commanded.
The men hesitated, fear evident in their eyes. They were just as scared as the women, but their loyalty to Fallon—or perhaps their fear of him—overrode their terror. Aita's resolve broke as they tried to push her towards the dragon.
"No way! I'm not getting on that thing!" she screamed, her voice rising in panic. She dropped to her knees, begging. "Please! Please don't make me!"
Fallon's gaze turned icy as he glanced at the dragon and then at the increasingly impatient rider. He stalked over to Aita, grabbing her chin with a force that made her gasp. "You will die where you stand if you disobey me one more time," he hissed, his voice low and menacing.
The men, spurred by his threat, shoved them forward. Aita and Elna were practically thrown onto the dragon's back, their fear almost tangible in the stifling air. The dragon's scales were hot to the touch, radiating a heat that made Aita's skin burn. She held her breath as they rose into the air, the ground falling away beneath them.
The kingdom spread out below them, a vast expanse of fire and stone. Bridges of obsidian connected the platforms, winding across the fiery chasms like black serpents. The lava churned and bubbled below, a constant reminder of the death that awaited any who dared to escape. The sound of it was ever-present, a low, menacing roar that set their hearts racing. There was no escape from this place. The very air seemed to whisper it, as if the kingdom itself was alive and aware of their presence.
Dragons were everywhere, their massive forms circling above the structures, perched on pillars, or resting in the shadows. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying, a reminder of the power that ruled this kingdom. The women's fear was reflected in the tense, white-knuckled grip of the men who accompanied them, their loyalty to Fallon the only thing keeping them from fleeing in terror.
Herspira landed in front of the grand palace, the sand beneath the dragon's feet hissing as it spread out inside the high walls. The palace was more beautiful than anything Aita had ever seen, a structure of high walls and stone, yet with a modern elegance that spoke of both ancient tradition and refined craftsmanship. But there was no room for awe, only fear. They were yanked forward by Fallon's men, dragged along the stone pathways toward the largest structure of all.
As they neared the entrance, Aita's fear reached a fever pitch. Tears filled her eyes, and she struggled to keep them at bay. Elna, sensing her distress, gave her a reassuring look, though it was clear she too was terrified. The entrance to the palace was flanked by statues of dragons, their eyes glowing with an inner fire that felt too real to be mere stone.
Inside, the palace was a labyrinth of dark hallways, lit by torches that burned with a strange, blue flame. The air was stifling, heavy with the scent of sulfur and something more sinister. Their footsteps echoed in the silence as they were led deeper into the heart of the palace, to the throne room.
And there, at the far end of the chamber, was the throne.
It was no ordinary seat of power, but a throne forged from the very flames that surrounded it. The fire seemed to rise from the ground itself, licking at the edges of the stone, yet never consuming it. It was as if the throne was born from the fire, a part of it, and the man who sat upon it was its master.
He was breathtakingly handsome, with sharp, chiseled features and eyes that glowed like molten gold. His hair was dark, almost black, tied back to reveal the angular lines of his face, and his skin had a slight sheen, as if he had been touched by the flames themselves.
But there was something else, something that made Aita's blood run cold. She recognized him. He was the stranger who had betrayed her. Now, he was no longer weak or in need of help; he was powerful, terrifying, a dark, commanding presence that filled the room and left no space for defiance. The dragons above him circled slowly, their massive wings stirring the air, and their eyes fixed on the newcomers with a predatory intensity. The man's gaze was even more unsettling. It was like looking into the heart of the fire—beautiful, mesmerizing, and deadly.
There was something dead in his eyes, something that told Aita his life had changed in a single day, just like hers. Fallon pushed them forward, and they stumbled, forced to kneel before this man who could only be a king. He spoke with a voice that echoed through the chamber, as if the fire itself was speaking. "The job is done," Fallon announced, his tone flat, but his hand trembling slightly as he shoved them to the ground.
Aita felt her stomach twist with fear. The man on the throne was like nothing she had ever seen. He wasn't human—no human could sit on a throne of fire and look as though he belonged there. And yet, there was something almost enchanting about him, a dangerous allure that made her want to look away and yet compelled her to keep staring.
The men who had brought them here were equally afraid, their grip on the women tightening as if they feared what would happen if they let go. They had seen what this man was capable of, what he could do with just a glance, and it was enough to make them tremble in their boots. Their fear was palpable, a sharp, acrid scent that mingled with the smoke and ash.
The man on the throne regarded them with a cold, appraising look. The dragons above him let out low, rumbling growls, their fiery eyes locked onto the new arrivals as if sizing them up. Aita's heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel Elna trembling beside her. The fear was overwhelming, suffocating, and yet there was no escape. Not from this place. Not from him.
They were in a whole new world now, a world where dragons ruled, and fire was the law. And as they knelt before the man who held their fate in his hands, they knew one thing for certain—there was no mercy here, only power.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone