Bab 18: Chapter 18 - A Dragon's Tongue
[Lies are the fountain of evil and tragedy.]
"Zalros! There's no way for us to slay this monster unless we stand together! "
Halius shouts, proposing a ceasefire between him and Zalros. The king intended to tend to the greatest problem before settling their score. To unite against a common enemy is the only way to survive an utter annihilation.
" Foolish human, you have not even the slightest idea of what you are dealing with. "
Zalros strikes. With the tailwind as his sling, he sprints towards the dragon in haste. Sargaroth didn't just sit by and watch him trying, the dragon spit fireballs to hinder his advance. But the flame doesn't even leave a single char on Zalros as he easily dodged it with his spatial magic.
" Fall to me! "
Zalros blinked and appeared in between the dragon's leg and wing, aiming to lacerate its muscle to render it flightless. But the dragon emits a burning steam all over its scale, immolating itself with heat while creating strong air pressure in the process to ward off Zalros.
Sargaroth let out a deafening roar strong enough to knock every man off of their balance. He then flaps his wing, hovering in the air like a mocking bird, before sending a blast of wind to his enemies and pushing them to their knees.
" Humans... how can you be so blind and folly... Being so far from the truth has led you to another mistake once again. "
" Silence, beast! You shall not speak with such mouth that stinks with the death of the innocents! How many lives it will be until you're satisfied?! In the name of Lorentheus, I shall complete the task which The Alliance cannot! "
" It seems the lie which your ancestors have passed down has its roots deep in every each one of you. "
" What did you say?! "
" Then I shall make it clear once more. "
The dragon landed on its feet. It spews fire right in front of him, creating a pool of gray-colored flame. It then cast a gaze all around the battlefield, looking for something.
" Come to me. "
The dragon's red eyes caught its prisoners, putting the unfortunates under powerful hypnosis. Unable to control their own body, two knights of The Silver Legion are forced to answer the call of the dragon. It was the captain of the Silver Legion and one other knight beside him.
They stand right before the dragon with the gray flame behind them, standing like an accused that was put on trial by the judge. The red glow in the dragon's eyes subsides, indicating that it has lifted off its power.
Suddenly regaining their consciousness and finding themselves standing face to face with the dragon, both of them quickly draw their weapon.
" Do you fear me? "
Sargaroth raises his head so tall until the two knights have to bend their necks to follow. He then steps forward. One by one, his legs are approaching the two knights, where each stomp is enough to shake the ground off of their feet.
" Do you wish to flee? "
The two knights stepped back... and back... and back... They finally realized that victory is but a delusion against such an adversary. Even a story book shall never be able to tell a tale where a mere man could slay such a godly being.
They are backed off until they nearly touched the tip of the flame. But they didn't realize that there was a pool of flame on their back, for the flame doesn't emit any heat nor cast any light as it glows in gray.
" Or do you dare to pledge your heart and sword to fight me, even with your life at the stake? "
Sargaroth took the final act, he roars right in front of them, forcing them to take their last back step simultaneously. In an instant, one of the knights was engulfed in the gray flame, was swallowed and burned alive. It was the captain of the Silver Legion.
He is writhing in suffering and screaming in agony as his armor melts along with his skin. The other knight beside him put his hand before his half-opened mouth. Not only him, but also everyone that witness this true terror of a slow-painful death.
" Those who hide lies shall be put to 'rest' by this flame, even myself...
Pathetic human. Talking about courage when he himself does not wish to pay with his life in return. Worthless trash like him is the one who would wait for an opportunity to abandon all to save his own. "
Sargaroth shifted his gaze to the other man. There he is, shaking like crazy with his metal that's clattering with each other. But even so, he didn't let go of his sword and shield. He stands like a true knight until the very end.
" Fear is natural. But at least you have proven your oath as a knight. Return to where you belong, mortal. "
The knight ran to his rank as fast as he could without even looking back. After letting the knight go, Sargaroth firmly stepped into the flame, proving to all that he only speaks the truth.
" Heed me well, children of the sky, for a dragon tell no lies! "
Halius and Zalros stand on their ground, giving a chance for the dragon to speak its mind while thinking about how to take on the dragon once it has finished its blabbering.
" In the past, dragons were comrades with The Alliance. "
Sargaroth didn't engulfed by the flame. This surprises literally everyone without any exception. Their response on expressing unprecedented statement was different between one and another. As for Zalros, assuming what the dragon said was true, then he thought that any question shall meet its answer.
Therefore, it will be foolish of him had he let this chance to slip by.
" The slaughter that you committed is well known through the ages. Are you telling us that it was also a lie? "
" That part wasn't a lie; I did slaughter them. "
" For what reason? "
" For their insatiable greed. "
Halius stepped forward after hearing upon the dragon's answer. The dragons were allies to humans? That is shocking for sure. But what intrigued him the most is; against what? What kind of common enemy drives the dragons to fight side by side with The Alliance?
" Why does a being like you have to ally yourselves with The Alliance? Were they not marching against you? "
" Truly... Laharlal Rein said something similar. "
" Rein... Did you kill him? "
" And why do you care...? "
Sargaroth grins, showing off his sword-like teeth. Watching the despair that surfaced in the face of a man never fails to amuse him.
" Never mind. I trained him not to die so easily. "
" And you trained him well. He was the first human to ever land a strike on me... A fierce strike that leaves a great mark...! Maybe I should've burned him to a crisp after all. "
The dragon closes his eyes, remembering the seconds of his fight with Rein. But the feeling was not entirely unpleasant to him. He feels more like impressed and excited rather than holding a grudge. Sargaroth then re-opened his eyes, and gazing sharply towards Zalros.
" The Alliance was not marching against me. They... No, everything...! Everything was meant to stop him! "
Suddenly Zalros is screaming in pain. He screams as loud as the knight who was burned to death not long ago. His eye turns even redder, and its wickedness is much greater, nothing like it was before. Undoubtedly, the being inside him is trying to forcefully overtake his body and consciousness.
" Zalros! "
" Stand back, mortal! "
Halius wanted to go to his brother's side, but Sargaroth prevents him to do so. The dragon knows better than anyone about how dangerous is the being before them.
Dark-malicious aura oozing out of Zalros, along with a black mist that enveloped his body. Everything that is touched by the mist instantly withers, like having their life source squeezed out of them.
The dark entity tossed away his swords, before creating a crack in the air like a ripped cloth. From the torn air he summoned forth a black staff with four empty sockets at the tip of it. Immediately after he touched the staff, a powerful gravity force befalls the entire battleground, like it telling everything to bow down before its lord.
No one except Sargaroth can endure the almighty force. Not the animated knights, not the Silver Legion, and not even Halius, as he himself was pressed down to his cheek. Some even had their innards crushed due to the pressure.
After several seconds, the pressure stopped and those whom strong enough to endure the crushing force immediately get back on their feet, tending to those who don't.
" So, you have finally shown yourself, Osmir! "
The dragon shouts to the deathly apparition.
Hadiah
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Power 
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