"Hah… I thought my fighting days were over, but it looks like I need a little warm-up,"
Alpha said as he cracked his fingers lazily.
"I haven't stretched in centuries."
He then glanced at his opponent.
"Now, tell me… how would you like to die?"
The other replied in a rough voice,
"You think you'll win, Alpha? You'll never defeat me. And even if you do, the rest will swarm you before you can even catch your breath."
Alpha smirked, a glint in his eye.
"How naïve… Who said I need to breathe?"
The scene shifts directly to the gathering of knights and the king.
King Edran Val stood beside his advisor before his troops, his eyes burning with determination.
He raised his sword toward the sky and declared in a booming voice:
"Men, today we do not fight for land or gold. We fight for the survival of our nation, for our families, for our dreams!"
The crowd went silent, then roared in unison:
"For the King! For the land!"
The king continued, his voice firm yet inspiring:
"The monsters we face are unlike any foe we've ever known. But they will not break our spirit. They will not touch our homes!"
He raised his sword higher:
"Today, we write history that we stood like mountains, unshaken and unyielding!"
The soldiers chanted:
"Unyielding! Unshak !"
Suddenly... a red lightning bolt, streaked with black, tore through the sky its source the forest near the mountains.
The soldiers stopped breathing for a moment, all eyes turning toward the ominous light, awe gripping them.
Seconds passed…
And then, a massive shadow began to rise from between the trees.
Slowly terrifyingly a colossal black dragon emerged, larger than anything mankind had ever witnessed.
Its wings spread wide as if chasing something… or someone.
"Haaaaah… Looks like I'll finally unleash my power. A power I've stored for centuries…"
Alpha smiled, dark energy crackling around his body.
"What fun… Just don't die too quickly. I want to enjoy this."
His opponent hovered in the air, his body glowing with a grim gray aura.
"I feel the same. I haven't fought in centuries either."
No greetings were exchanged.
"Let's begin."
In the blink of an eye, the man vanished reappearing directly in front of Alpha.
A heavy punch crashed into Alpha's face.
But Alpha didn't move. Not even an inch.
"Is that all you've got?" he said mockingly.
He opened his mouth as fire began to build inside flames dark as night, with red edges and a black core.
He released it instantly.
But the man moved, dodging the blast in a flash.
Alpha's fire shredded the sky, leaving behind a swirling scorched cloud.
As the flames faded, the enemy appeared directly above Alpha.
"Got you."
He concentrated his energy into his palm and struck Alpha down from above, unleashing a shockwave that shook the air.
Alpha crashed into the ground, carving out a massive crater.
The enemy laughed loudly:
"This is the legendary dragon? Down in one hit?! I thought this would be fun!"
But from within the pit, a cold, sarcastic voice rose:
"Is that… all you've got?"
Everything stopped.
The air.
The sound.
Even his heartbeat.
Something felt wrong.
His body started retreating without his command.
"Run…"
Every instinct screamed it.
But it was too late.
In a flash, Alpha appeared before him mouth open, fangs gleaming.
Before he could think, he looked down
"My bod!"
Only his head remained.
Alpha chewed something, laughing mockingly.
"Tastes awful… and talks too much."
Suddenly, he looked up. His eyes locked on a massive swirling vortex in the sky a dark spiral, connected to something… something not of this world.
"A vortex that size? Where did it come from? That trash? Trying to destroy our world?"
He turned his head toward the royal palace, eyes narrowing.
"King Edran's palace, huh?"
He moved forward.
Calmly. Slowly.
Holding his opponent's severed head like a sack of garbage.
One soldier screamed in terror:
"He's coming toward us!"
But the king's voice rose, cool and composed:
"Do not fear… He doesn't seem intent on harming us."
Alpha arrived before them, his breath hot as he spoke coldly:
"Where's your king?"
The advisor opened his mouth to speak, but the king stepped forward:
"I am King Edran Val. One of the Ten Monarchs."
But Alpha waved his hand dismissively:
"Spare me the stupid introductions… get to the point."
The soldiers exchanged nervous glances in silence.
The king spoke cautiously:
"What does the ancient dragon want from us?"
Alpha tossed the wrapped, blood-soaked head at their feet.
"Did you send this filth into my den? And are you the ones behind that vortex?"
The king answered, stunned:
"No… We did nothing of the sort!"
Alpha stared at the king for a long moment…
Then murmured to himself:
"Is he telling the truth… or just lying, as always?"
The king asked hesitantly, hope trembling in his voice:
"Can… can you help us, ancient dragon?"
Alpha said nothing, simply staring.
The king raised his hand, offering:
"We'll build you a palace of gold… anything you desire! Just help us get rid of that thing in the sky!"
Alpha chuckled softly, replying in a teasing tone:
"Anything…?"
Silence fell.
Then Alpha stepped closer, cold smile spreading.
"Fine. I'll help you… but remember this if you break your word… if any of you so much as thinks of betrayal…"
His voice changed, turning into a thunderous roar:
"I swear I will tear you apart and erase this kingdom from existence."
The king replied with a trembling voice:
"A-alright… We'll do whatever you ask… Just save this nation."
Alpha turned, his wings slowly flapping, heading toward the burning city.
Behind him, the king and soldiers watched his silhouette fade into the flames.
The king spoke with firm resolve:
"We must follow him… and wipe out those monsters!"
The soldiers shouted as one:
"Let's go!"
But the advisor leaned in and whispered:
"Your Majesty… do you really believe that dragon will help us?"
The king answered in a low voice, his eyes steady:
"Dragons love gold. If we offer enough jewels, he'll fight for us without hesitation."
The advisor looked up at Alpha rising into the sky, then followed the king, the soldiers surging behind them like a flood, their eyes fixed ahead…
Toward the city.
Toward the coming battle.