章 32: Darius, The Crusher of Dreams!

We all knelt down....

The Dark Dragon loomed over us, Crushing us under its overwhelming Pressure, even Bradley had transformed back to his regular form.... buy not before presenting a gift to the serpent.... a massive Fire Crystal the size of a school bus! The Serpent crushed and devoured it greedily.

"Are manners lacking with your kind these days? You're yet to answer my question!" The Spectral Dragon roared.

"F-F-Forgive us my lord!" Arthur croaked, "We didn't mean to offend you!"

"Silence! I was not speaking to you.... LightChaser, I was speaking to FairyMan!"

".....Forgive Arthur my lord.... he often speaks out of line," Bradley muttered.

"Then you should reprimand him! What? Because I am a dragon we are suddenly Scale Brothers? I'll rip out your Filthy tongue the next time you speak!"

Arthur yelped and shrunk back, If Lizardmen could sweat, he'd probably be in a pool of his by now, he looked ready to wet himself.

"Shadowbiter, Fairyman... who is the new one with you?" The Spectral Dragon asked.

"...This is Castor Grimes Junior my lord, he joined our ranks a few days ago," Vince said.

"A noble? Hmmm.... so he's like you, Truthseer?" He asked Sir George who responded by nodding his head.

"Well, what name has the Drowned Daughter blessed him with?" The Spectral Dragon asked.

".....BugBreeder my lord," I muttered, the serpent regarded me for a second before Laughter erupted! It was only him laughing though, the ground shook and the air shifted as he chuckled, the others were too scared to join him, though the still cracked a smile, here and there.....

"Ah, I'll have to discipline that woman! She's starting to abuse my gifts! Well BugBreeder.... What should I do to all of you?"

"M-M-My lord?"

"Yes! That fool Fairyman has destroyed my home! I'll have to punish you all of you to satisfy my rage, won't I?"

"My lord! we were only chasing this escapee!" Bradley cried pointing at Gambit.

"Hmmmm..... you mean my new disciple?"

"Disciple!?" Bradley yelled, The Spectral Dragon Frowned at this and Bradley quickly apologized.

".....Yes, my disciple, I came back a few days early from our mandatory family meeting.... and I found the Elf waiting here..... I wanted to devour him for his insolence of course, No one enters my Home without my permission! But before I could you know what he said to me?" He asked us, We all looked at each other nervously before Bradley shook his head.

"He said, 'Spare me my lord! I wish to learn to become a dragon!' hahahaha, ahhhh.... I was bewildered I couldn't even process what the fool had just said!" He laughed again, I winced as the Shockwaves of it nearly knocked me down.

".....A fool he is my lord, he was desperate and afraid, your protection was his only way to escape his judgment," Vince Muttered.

"Perhaps.... however I've already accepted him! You have no say in his fate... You have no say in yours either really.... I'm still deciding how to punish you for your insolence!" The Spectral Dragon roared.

"...My lord.... may I suggest a proposal?" I spoke, all eyes were on me now, I was staring straight at the dragon's eye so I couldn't see their expressions, but If I were to guess, they were probably saying, 'Shut up you fool!'

"Hooo? So what does the BugBreeder wish to propose? I should teach you to become a worm? Perhaps even a slug instead? hahaha.... what is your proposal? It better be worth all this suspense!"

".....A game...."

"What....?"

"A game, My lord!"

"A game?"

"Yes my lord!" Yes a game, if there's one thing I recall about Dragons, it's their pride! Even if he looks down on me, the fact I had the audacity to challenge him, His pride will never allow me to walk away without 'Putting me in my place!'

"..... are you a fool? Why should play a game with worms such as you?" The Spectral Dragon Said, frowning at my proposal, I saw something in his those cruel eyes, Rage and perhaps.... Intrigue.

"Because my lord! The game I propose to you is one so splendid men all around the world could only dream of playing it!"

"Dream you say?"

"Yes my lord! You can decide what to do with us afterwards.... perhaps a reward if we were to win?"

"Now you're pushing it...."

"Forgive me! Forgive me! I spoke out of line..... however I still advocate that you enjoy this game with us!"

".... what is this game you're so sure of will please me? It better be good, because I'm starting to get excited!"

"..... yes my lord! It is called Sudoku!"

"...what?"

"Sudoku! Yes my lord! A game that requires only the highest of intellect to complete! Surely worth the time of one as grand and marvelous as yourself! A dream that a mere mortal like myself can stand in your presence, talk less of challenge you In this marvelous game!" I said, I do not know if I can win him or not in this game.... but I'd rather propose something I'm actually skilled at than one that requires luck.

"!"

The Spectral Dragon suddenly brought it's face down to my level and stared at me, it's head was the size of Mini van! and it's violent red eyes.... they frightened me, but not as much as what was swimming on his left cheek!

They were worm like creatures fazing in and out of it! I say worm like because though they had whitish pink segmented bodies, they also had the faces of lizards! Several of them stared at me while the rest fazed in and out of his body mindlessly, they were the size of a golden retriever and I counted at least 28 of them!

"Very well, My name is Darius, The Crusher of Dreams! I look forward to besting you in your game.... BugBreeder!" Darius roared.