Bab 4: Is this the end?...

Panic spread like wildfire through the camp as they shouted alarms from one tent to another. "Intruder!" "We have intruders in the camp!"

The camp descended into chaos as the Draegonians poured out of their tents, armed and ready for a fight.

It was a fearsome sight.

They were descendants of mighty dragons, their eyes blazing with determination and their armor gleaming like molten gold in the morning sun.

Towering above most, their imposing figures and powerful presence were evident as they prepared for whatever was coming.

As Adrian and Marcus ventured deeper into the camp, the Draegonians began to shift, forming a semi-circle around them, their movements calculated and precise.

Adrian pressed on, undeterred, until a commanding voice echoed from a distance.

"That's far enough," the voice asserted with authority.

Adrian chose to ignore the voice and took a few more steps forward before coming to an abrupt halt. His gaze darted from left to right, assessing the situation.

"Identify yourself now, or you'll regret it later," the voice demanded once more.

A small, wicked smile crept across Adrian's lips. Instead of answering, he directed his attention to the deadly spear poised inches from the guard's chest.

Without hesitation, he drove the spear into the guard's heart. A gasp escaped the guard as the spear punctured through his chest, emerging from the other side.

The sound of swords being drawn filled the air, and a tense silence followed.

With a force of will, Adrian retracted the spear-tipped chain from the guard's lifeless form and flung his body forward.

Thud!

The guard's lifeless body came to a stop in front of the source of the commanding voice, presumably their leader.

The Draegonian leader, draped in dragon-scale armor and wielding a Morgenstern, fixed Adrian with a stern gaze. His voice held authority as he questioned Adrian's actions.

"You dare spill the blood of one of my warriors in my own camp?" he growled. The Draegonian warriors around them bristled with tension, their weapons at the ready.

Adrian couldn't help but respond, even though he sounded weary. "How does it feel?" he asked. "To witness one of your own die within your territory. Are you angry? In pain? Hurt? That's exactly how I feel. My entire kingdom, my wife."

"Is this about revenge? Wait, are you the Meridian King?" The Draegonian commander continued with a sinister grin. "I still remember how your queen begged when I took the palace maids in all positions, ramming them like the slut they are. You're lucky your wife was with child."

His words ignited laughter among the Draegonians.

Anger surged through Adrian like a fiery tide rising. "Take that back at once," he thundered, his eyes flashing with fury.

"And if I don't?" the commander taunted, then chuckled. "A little imagination wouldn't hurt, right? I must say, your reaction is quite entertaining. You should have seen the look on your face."

The commander laughed loudly this time in a defiant manner.

In response, Adrian unsheathed his sword, his actions speaking louder than words.

The commander's laughter died down after a while, his face morphing back to seriousness. "Get this clown out of my face," he ordered dismissively.

"Yes, Commander Kyros," they echoed in unison.

The circle of Draegonian warriors began to close in on both Adrian and Marcus, their backs pressed against each other as they prepared for the impending onslaught.

"If you have a brilliant plan you haven't told me about, now's the perfect time to put it into play." Marcus's eyes scanned and accessed the situation as he spoke.

"We fight," was all Adrian said, his hand tightening around his sword.

"That... is one of your stupidest plans ever. No offence, my king."

"None taken. I do admit it's not the brightest plan but... I don't see you coming up with any."

Suddenly, several of the Draegonians broke formation, charging toward Adrian and Marcus.

Without hesitation, Adrian willed his fiery chain with a spear-like tip into action. The chain danced through the air, striking with deadly precision and stopping only when it found its mark.

The sickening sound of flesh tearing filled the air as the Draegonians fell before him.

The battle raged on, and Marcus and Adrian were surrounded by a formidable horde of Draegonians.

Adrian clenched his sword tighter, feeling a surge of power welling up inside him, like a volcano on the brink of eruption.

His hands crackled with energy as he raised his sword high.

Fiery flames swirled from his hands to the blade, casting a brilliant, radiant glow.

In that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the release of an unstoppable force.

"Fiery Blades of Chaos!"

Adrian's voice boomed, slicing through the chaos as he struck down the Draegonians. The flames consumed everything in their path, reducing the warriors to ash.

"Marcus, watch out!" Adrian's urgent shout cut through the noise of the battle.

Marcus spun around just in time to see a Draegonian lunging at him. Without hesitation, Adrian summoned a fiery chain from his hands, seizing the warrior in mid-air.

The flame of chain held the Draegonian suspended, immobilized by the fiery energy coursing through it.

"Get over here," Adrian commanded, dragging the warrior through the air until he held it by the neck.

With a powerful slam, he crushed the head of the warrior on the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"That's enough," a familiar voice thundered.

Adrian turned towards the source, only to be sent flying across the field as Commander Kyros' Morgenstern made brutal contact with his face.

The world spun as Adrian hurtled through the air, landing hard on the battlefield. His vision blurred momentarily, and the sound of battle echoed around him.

Pushing through the pain, he struggled to his feet, his sword gripped firmly in his hand.

"It's about time you joined the game!" Adrian growled as he raised his sword at Kyros. "I was starting to think you'd hide behind your pawns forever." His body tensed, ready for the next move.

"Same way your wife cowered behind those gates, like a scared princess," the commander taunted.

The sarcastic comment about Elena struck a nerve, and Adrian's hands instinctively clenched at the memory of her warm smile.

Clank!

Adrian stared at his trembling hands in shock as his sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.

'What's happening to me?'

'Why... Why can't I control my limbs?'

"By any chance, did you cradle your wife's lifeless body?" Kyros asked, his taunting grin sending shivers down Adrian's spine.

"She died in my arms, you son of a bitch," Adrian snapped in anger and hurt.

How could he ever forget that final, heart-wrenching moment when he cradled Elena in his arms before she took her last breath?

Her eyes which were once filled with life and love, had held a mixture of sorrow, acceptance, and an unspoken farewell. Her trembling lips had struggled to form words as she gazed into his eyes.

It was a look that would forever linger in his memory, the last connection between them before she slipped away.

Kyros stared at him with a malicious smile as he spoke, his words dripping with a twisted satisfaction.

"You really thought I wanted you to witness her death?" he taunted, relishing Adrian's torment.

Adrian clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded, his voice trembling with anger and fear.

Kyros chuckled darkly before explaining, "I placed a curse on her, a weakening spell. I knew you'd come after us if you found out she was gone."

Dread gnawed at Adrian's heart as the realization sank in. Kyros had deliberately orchestrated her demise, using her as bait to lure him into this trap.

"Dieeeee..." Adrian screamed with every ounce of strength left in him, summoning a single fiery chain with a razor-sharp spear edge from his back.

The spear-tipped fiery chain shot towards Kyros with blinding speed. Adrian clenched his teeth, trying to maintain his aim, but he could feel his energy draining rapidly.

Kyros sidestepped with lightning reflexes, the sharp edge of the chain whizzing past him.

In one swift motion, he seized the chain, wrapping his dragon-armored hand around it and holding Adrian firmly in place.

Adrian struggled futilely against his unyielding grip, the weakening spell sapping his strength.

"Say hello to your wife for me," Kyros sneered, his mischievous smile chilling Adrian's heart as he thrust a spear in his direction.

Adrian's heart raced as the spear drew nearer, time seemingly slowing down around him. He took a deep breath, resigning himself to what felt like an inevitable fate.

'This is probably the end.'

'It will soon be over.'

'I will soon be reunited with her.'

He repeated these thoughts in his mind as he braced for the impact of the spear, waiting for death to claim him, waiting for the silence to envelop him.

Silence did come, but it was abruptly shattered by a painful gasp, followed by a sharp intake of breath.

Adrian opened his eyes slowly, only to find Marcus standing just inches away from him, his hand outstretched. He had intercepted the spear meant for Adrian.

A satisfied grin adorned Marcus's face, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Is this how you planned on getting your revenge?" Marcus coughed out. "You can't die here... not yet," he added, his body falling forward, pressing against Adrian's.

"What a waste his sacrifice is. You still have to die," Kyros hissed with an evil tone as he leapt into the air.

He landed in front of them, his form casting a terrifying shadow over Adrian and Marcus.

With a wicked grin, he drove the spear further into Marcus's body, pushing it through until it pierced Adrian's heart.

A seating pain shot through Adrian's chest. His vision blurred as he gasped, his breath ragged.

This was finally it.

Death.

This was his end.

Or so he thought.