Chapter 1 – The Broken Hope
The battlefield was silent except for the crackling of burning debris.
One by one, the surviving warriors stumbled toward the Seal Lock — the very heart of the world's last hope — only to find a sight that froze their blood.
Dravyss lay bleeding, her once-majestic wings torn and smoking. Strom knelt beside her, barely conscious, his hand still gripping his spear as if sheer will alone was keeping him upright.
Zyphus was the first to understand. His knees buckled, and he let out a scream that shook the air.
Zyphus: "Noooooooo!"
Violet stepped forward, resting a trembling palm on his shoulder, her eyes wet.
The others gathered around Dravyss, their hands desperate as they shook Strom awake.
Strom (blinking, voice hoarse): "Did we—"
His words stopped as he saw the sky above turning black, spiraling into an unnatural vortex.
"—oh… fuck."
Zyphus: "Not your fault… we all failed."
The remaining knights and warriors sank to the ground, the weight of defeat crushing them. In the smoke and shadows, memories of laughter, battles, and camaraderie flickered like dying candlelight.
Wraith reached for Strom's hand, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Wraith: "You tried your best."
Strom: "But we still lost."
Dravyss' eyes scanned the broken group — her warriors, her family — their hope slipping away. Without hesitation, she spread her battered wings.
Dravyss: "Sorry… son."
With a single beat of her wings, she rose into the darkened sky and disappeared beyond the horizon.
Shock froze the survivors in place.
Zyphus: "Did she just…"
Strom: "No. She won't leave us. She'll come back. I know she will."
Astrid (voice cracking): "Really? This… this can't be real."
Sam: "Tell me it's a nightmare. Aunt Dravyss doesn't fear anything."
Wraith: "What's the plan, Strom?"
Strom: "I… I don't know. We didn't plan for this."
Zyphus: "Then it's clear… she left us to die."
Strom: "No. No, she won't leave us to die. Not me."
Violet: "She's not some noble-hearted guardian. She's a stone-hearted dragon."
Strom (snapping): "Watch your tongue. She'll come back. She won't leave me. I'm her son."
Zyphus: "You're just a human, Strom. And she's a dragon."
Violet: "She even left you. She doesn't love anyone."
For a moment, the air went still.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Wraith (whispering to Strom): "Strom… did she really leave us to die?"
Strom: "I don't know. But until my last breath… I won't believe she abandoned me."
Astrid, still holding her cracked ribs, forced a smile.
Astrid: "Yo, Strom… at least we're together."
Sam: "I don't think we can beat the Demon Lord… but we can spend our last moments together."
The group exchanged quiet nods.
Whatever came next, they would face it as warriors — and that was an honor in itself.
Chapter 2 – The Last Campfire
The survivors sat in a rough circle, the broken seal site behind them, the sky above an endless pitch-black dome. The air was heavy, like the world itself was holding its breath.
Sam – grinning faintly "You know… this is actually some crazy death we signed up for, isn't it?"
Strom – "Yeah. Some ridiculous demon from another dimension is gonna wipe us out… wow. What a story to tell the afterlife."
Astrid – "If this really is the end… then sorry, Wraith, for this."
She stood, cupped her hands to her mouth, and screamed into the darkness:
Astrid – "F### YOU, SON OF A B### DEMONS!"
The echo vanished into the void. Somewhere, far away, thunder rumbled.
Sam – laughing "I swear, he wasn't expecting that."
Zyphus – turning to Strom "Knight… if my words earlier hurt you, I apologize. I was… angry."
Strom – "It's fine. If this is our last night, might as well see some crazy stuff together before we're gone."
Violet – "Then… sorry for my words too. Anyone want a story before the world ends?"
Wraith – half-smiling "Your plan is for us to just… sit here until death walks up?"
Zyphus – "Not exactly. I know the story of the Demon Lord. If we're going to die… you might as well know who's coming."
They all leaned in slightly, the firelight flickering in their tired eyes.
Zyphus – "He's not from Earth. Not from any world you know. He's… beyond it all. A shadow at the cosmic level.
He doesn't just eat planets — he feeds on fear. He waits, he toys with you, he makes sure you know you're going to die… and he loves it.
He'll keep you alive just long enough to drown you in your own terror, and only when he's satisfied will he consume the planet whole."
A breeze swept over them, cold as an open grave.
Zyphus – "When you see the sky black at noon… it's him. He covers worlds like a coffin lid. And he's almost here."
The circle went silent. Only the faint crackle of fire remained, and somewhere, the sound of Strom's grip tightening on his spear.
Chapter 3 – Red Eyes Above
Zyphus's sentence cracked mid-word.
Zyphus: "I only know tha—"
He stopped dead, eyes locked upward, breath shaking.
Zyphus: "...oh… oh sh*t… no… he's here."
The air itself felt heavier. Slowly, every head tilted skyward.
Two monstrous, blood-red eyes glowed from the clouds, unblinking. Below them—an impossibly wide grin, all razor teeth, each one wet with something dark that dripped into the void.
It wasn't just a smile. It was looking through them.
Strom stepped forward, hands in his pockets like this was some street fight instead of… whatever this thing was.
Strom: "Well, look who crawled in. Big scary eyes, dumb smile. What's up, kid?"
The grin stretched even further, as if amused.
Demon Lord: "Mmm… fear. I love it. Every heart here… pounding."
Wraith's fingers clutched Strom's sleeve.
Wraith: "What's he going to do?"
Demon Lord: "Nothing, sweetheart. Just… play."
Strom: laughing "Play? Bro, you couldn't rizz up demons your age, so now you're aiming for mine? That's just sad."
The smile didn't falter.
Demon Lord: "Such a stubborn little pest. Let me… show you something delightful."
The clouds split. Something massive descended, dangling from the darkness.
Dravyss's head.
No body. Just her head, eyes dim, mouth slightly open. Blood streamed from the torn neck, painting the sky beneath it.
Astrid: "No… no. That's… not real."
Shock shattered through the group.
Zyphus muttered insane explanations under his breath. Violet's hands shook. Even the wind felt colder.
Demon Lord: "Believe it. Your dragon is gone."
Everyone turned to Strom. They expected rage. Or grief.
Instead—he smirked.
He stepped forward, slammed his boot into the side of the floating head—THUD—and sent it spinning away into the clouds.
Strom: "Nice prop. Old trick. Next time, pick something scarier, dumbass."
Silence.
The Demon Lord's voice dropped, lower, darker.
Demon Lord: "You'd rather defy reality than accept the truth… interesting."
Strom: "Nah… I'd rather make you snap first."
The smile twitched—just slightly.
Chapter 4 – Rain of Fear
Demon Lord: "You think being cool is enough to defeat me, huh?"
Strom (smirking): "I'm not being cool… I was born cool."
Wraith: "…No. I don't think so. 💀"
Strom: "Can't you just let me be cool in front of him?"
The Demon Lord's grin widened.
Demon Lord: "Any last wish before I decide to eat your planet?"
Strom: "Yeah… I got a question."
Demon Lord: "What?"
Strom: "Can you see everyone from here?"
Demon Lord: "Yes. I can see everyone. No one can hide from me."
Strom: "Ohhh man… you don't respect people's privacy."
The group actually laughed—short, awkward bursts—because it was either that or scream.
The Demon Lord didn't laugh. His smile froze.
Demon Lord (low): "…Now this world will see what fear really looks like."
The sky split open.
Blood began to fall. Not drizzle. Not drops. A downpour. Crimson sheets splattered against the earth, hissing where it hit, staining oceans, rivers, and skin.
Darkness spread like it was alive. And through that darkness—two colossal red eyes, unblinking, and that jagged grin cutting across the sky.
Everywhere, people froze. Children cried. Whole cities went silent. It wasn't the rain—it was the presence. That smile. Those eyes. The feeling of something watching from inside your skull.
Demon Lord: "Ahhh… I love when people fear."
Strom: "Wanna know what happened to the last guy who loved people's fear? …He got pissed off by us."
Demon Lord: "Ah, yes… Death Stalker. My weakest servant. Forget him."
Zyphus: "Wait… so indirectly… you're the reason he woke up?"
Strom: "Ahhh… yeah. But at the time, we didn't know that."
Zyphus: "If the world wasn't about to end, I'd definitely break your neck… but since we're all gonna die, okay, fine. Forget it."
Strom: "You think this sh*t can kill us?"
Demon Lord (voice booming, echoing through the blood rain): "You will see what fear looks like… kid. 😈"
The air itself tightened around them—like the world was holding its breath.
Chapter 5 — "Nightmares"
Demon Lord – "Now… let me show you what a real nightmare looks like."
The world went still.
No rain. No blood. No crimson eyes.
Just… silence.
It wasn't the peaceful kind of silence.
It was the kind that made your heartbeat sound like thunder in your own ears.
Strom blinked. His dragon blood burned faintly inside him — a natural shield against mental corruption. Around him, his friends' eyes turned hollow and glassy.
One by one, they slipped into the nightmare.
Zyphus stood in a ruined battlefield.
Ash fell like snow.
In the middle of it lay Violet, her body broken, blood pooling beneath her. Her chest barely rose.
"Zy… you promised… you'd keep me safe…" she whispered, and her eyes dulled.
Zyphus fell to his knees, trembling, his hands shaking too much to even hold her. Her blood soaked his palms.
Wraith was back in her village — only it was on fire.
She saw Sifen standing there, smirking in the flames.
But behind him…
Her mother lay in the dirt, lifeless.
Her little sister reached out, crying for help — and then was dragged into the fire by shadowy claws.
Wraith screamed until her throat tore, but no sound came out.
Astrid stood in the great hall of her people.
Her father's corpse was tied to a pike, his lifeless eyes staring at her.
From the shadows, her mother stepped forward… and without a word, leapt from the highest tower.
The sound of her body hitting the ground echoed endlessly in Astrid's mind.
Sam was in his hometown.
Demon soldiers swarmed through the streets, dragging his family away in chains.
He tried to fight, but every sword in his hand shattered. His strikes passed through them like smoke.
His mother called his name… and then a blade tore through her. Sam's knees gave way.
Natalya smelled smoke before she saw the flames.
Her family's castle was burning — villagers screaming with hatred as they hurled torches.
She ran to the gates, but they were locked.
Inside, her family banged on the windows, begging her to save them.
The fire consumed the castle while she clawed her hands bloody on the stone walls.
Thane stood in a busy marketplace.
A tiny hand slipped from his grasp.
His daughter's giggle vanished into the crowd.
He roared her name, shoving people aside, but no matter how far he ran, the market stretched endlessly.
Her laughter turned into a scream. And then… silence.
Strom looked around — every single one of them trapped in their own personal hell. The air felt heavier, almost suffocating, as the Demon Lord's voice echoed like a whisper directly in Strom's mind:
"Everyone fears something… and their fear belongs to me now. Don't tell anyone what you see… it makes it more fun."
Strom clenched his fists. His dragon blood boiled with anger.
"Yeah? Well, here's the thing, red-eyes… I'm the wrong guy to invite to your little horror show."
Chapter 6 — Fear's Feast
Strom: "Listen, dul-shit… I don't fear anything. I don't fear you."
The Demon Lord froze for a moment. This boy… no trembling, no flinch, no widened eyes—only defiance.
Demon Lord: "…Why are you not fearing me? What is your power?"
Strom walked slowly, sat on a jagged stone in front of the towering shadow, and met his gaze.
Strom: "I challenge you to scare me… if you have the will."
The Demon Lord's grin widened. The world around them shivered.
The Collapse of Reality
In an instant, the air shifted. The ground split into cracks. Everyone was yanked back into what looked like the normal world—yet the sky above was wrong. No sun, no clouds—only an endless black canvas, smeared with streaks of blood-red. From the void above, thousands of glowing red eyes stared down.
A suffocating weight pressed over them. One by one, knees hit the ground.
Zyphus stumbled forward and wrapped his arms around Violet.
Zyphus: "Don't leave me, please… please…" His voice cracked, desperate, as if she was already fading from his arms.
Wraith looked around in panic. "My sister… my mom…" The sight of the void pulled the loneliness from her chest like a wound reopening—she could feel herself being abandoned all over again.
Violet, shivering, looked at Zyphus with glassy eyes. "No… I saw that. That's not true." She swallowed, her voice breaking. "Zyphus… am I adopted?"
Zyphus's lips trembled. He didn't answer. Silence hit harder than any confession could.
Violet's breathing quickened. She pushed him back and hit his chest with her fists.
Violet: "You never told me this… why?! I don't belong to your family?! Why… why?!" Her cries echoed into the red-stained air, each sob shaking Zyphus, who could only hold his silence in shame.
From the other side, Astrid's voice broke into a scream.
Astrid: "Where's my mom?! MOM!!!" Her usual warrior strength cracked into pure, helpless panic.
Sam clutched his head. "I can't save them… I can't. Why… why is it always me?!"
Thane dropped his hammer to the dirt. "I'm useless… I can't even save her…"
Natalya's screams tore through the heavy air—
"No… no… no… NO!"
The Demon Lord stepped closer to Strom.
Demon Lord: "See, boy? You think you do not fear… but the fear of the whole world is enough to feed me. And you… will know what fear looks like."
A cold, invisible grip locked around Strom. His body froze. His breathing stopped.
The world around him melted away.
Strom's Nightmare
He was standing in a dark forest. The fog coiled like snakes around the trees. His spear felt heavy in his hands—until it was suddenly useless.
A massive claw closed around him. Dravyss's claw.
She was there… but unmoving. Like a statue. Her expression blank. Her grip inescapable.
Strom: "Mom! Mom… what are you doing?!" His voice shook between panic and disbelief.
And then—footsteps.
A family of three emerged from the shadows, walking toward a silent cave. The father carried wood, the mother smiled faintly, the child clung to her dress.
Strom's blood ran cold. He knew what was about to happen.
Strom: "No… no… no....not this…"
He thrashed against Dravyss's claw, raised his spear, and tried to slash himself free.
Strom: "MOM, PLEASE!" His screams cracked.
From the darkness, the Wizard—Darkius—appeared, cloak flowing, face shadowed. Strom's body went numb as the scene began.
It all played out in front of him again—the day that broke his life.
His father fought, desperately trying to protect his family.
His mother… his real mother… screaming in agony as blades struck her, begging Darkius to spare Strom.
Every blow, every stab—Strom felt it. The pain radiated into his bones. It wasn't just watching. He was living it.
His arms trembled. His voice was shredded from shouting.
Strom: "STOP! PLEASE… I CAN'T—"
And then—
Jack appeared. In his hands—Angela's severed head.
The sight hollowed Strom out. His knees buckled, his voice broke into an painful scream, and he collapsed under the crushing weight of helplessness.
Dravyss's claw still held him. Unmoving. Silent.
The forest closed in.
And Strom… broke all over again.
Chapter 7 – When Fear Consumes the World
Strom's body dropped to the ground like a stone, his spear clattering beside him. His breathing was shallow, his eyes unfocused — trapped somewhere deep in the nightmare's aftermath.
"Strom!" Wraith's voice cracked as she fell to her knees beside him, grabbing his shoulders. "Strom, wake up! Wake up, please… don't leave me… please!" Her hands trembled as if holding onto him was the only thing keeping her from breaking apart herself.
All around, silence wasn't silence — it was grief, shivers, and muffled sobs.
Zyphus, the man who always hid pain behind smirks and sarcasm, sat slumped forward, his face buried in his hands. Tears slid between his fingers. The truth he had tried to protect was now an exposed wound.
Violet stood nearby, her expression twisted — not from anger now, but guilt. Her earlier words echoed in her head like poison. She wanted to reach for Zyphus… but her feet refused to move.
Fear wasn't just an emotion now. It was in the air, thick enough to choke on. The ground itself seemed to pulse with it.
The Demon Lord's shadow loomed over them all.
"I respect that will, boy," his voice thundered, each syllable like an earthquake. "You made me… focus only on you. I used my power on you alone — to show you what fear truly is."
Strom, still shaking, forced out a question between ragged breaths.
"...How… how do you know that?"
A grin split across the Demon Lord's monstrous face, showing teeth like jagged black steel.
"I know everything. Every corner of your mind, every memory… every weakness. And I know…" he leaned closer, eyes glowing like dying suns, "your precious Dragon Mommy won't be coming back to save you… hahaha!"
That laugh didn't just echo — it crawled into everyone's chest and settled there like ice. Even the strongest among them couldn't stop the flicker of fear in their eyes.
"This," the Demon Lord continued, spreading his arms wide to the crimson horizon, "this is what I love. When the entire planet trembles. When no one dares to meet my gaze. When the mighty bow their heads."
The earth itself seemed to hold its breath.
Everywhere those burning red eyes turned, people looked away.
"No…" he whispered with cruel delight, "…now it's time to feast. Fear is my finest delicacy."
The sky bled darker. Clouds twisted like writhing creatures. The air grew heavy as if the world itself was being swallowed.
"You, boy…" the Demon Lord's gaze locked back on Strom, "…because you are the strongest here, you will watch them all die before I take you."
And then… chaos.
Cities crumbled in the distance. Towers split apart. The ground split in jagged lines, swallowing forests and villages alike.
People all over the world collapsed — fainting, shaking, their minds breaking under the weight of despair. Elite knights dropped their swords and fell to their knees.
Natalya's body went limp.
Sam's head hung as he fell into unconsciousness.
Violet staggered before her knees buckled — but Zyphus caught her, pulling her into his arms.
"It doesn't matter who you belong to," he whispered fiercely, voice cracking, "you will always be my sister."
Strom's vision blurred as he watched one by one — friends, allies, strangers — lose hope.
His heart sank.
"Is… this… the end?"
The Demon Lord's shadow grew, his laughter echoing across the planet, as the black void began closing over the earth itself.
Chapter 8 – The Golden portal
The Demon Lord's shadow stretched over half the Earth, his claws closing in to crush the planet like an egg. Cities crumbled. Oceans churned. The skies screamed.
And then…
A blinding golden rift split open in the far edge of the solar system. The sheer light from it burned through the darkness, forcing even the Demon Lord to halt mid-strike.
From within the portal, a thunderous voice shook the void.
Dravyss – "Stay away… bitch."
The space around the portal shattered like glass as a colossal form stepped through — Dravyss, the Dragon Gurdian, in her full divine form, towering nearly 15000 feet tall, her body clad in the radiant, rune-etched Guardian Armour forged by gods themselves.
Behind her, ten more titans emerged — the Dragon Council, the strongest of their kind. And among them… her sister, Drassa, blazing with holy flames along her wings.
The Demon Lord snarled. "So… the babysitter came back."
Dravyss didn't respond with words. She struck first.
Her claw, wrapped in divine lightning, slammed into the Demon Lord's chest with a force that shattered a nearby moon fragment into dust. The shockwave tore through space, rattling every planet in the system.
The Dragon Council dove in like meteors, each one glowing with an aura so bright it rivaled the sun. Their claws ripped through the black mist, severing chunks of his shadowed armor. With each tear, his grip over Earth weakened.
For the first time in centuries, the Demon Lord screamed in pain.
The sound alone cracked asteroids and shattered distant ice rings.
The Fight Turned Brutal.
Vythorn, the Flame Tyrant, blasted a holy inferno directly into the Demon Lord's face, burning away layers of his dark flesh.
Seryth, the Storm Bringer, unleashed a spiral of heavenly cyclones, slicing through his wings.
Eldrash, the Diamond Spine, drilled through the demon's shoulder, ripping scales away like shattered armor plates.
The Demon Lord swung back, his black tendrils piercing through Vythorn's chest, sending the dragon spinning into space. He grabbed Drassa mid-flight and smashed her against an asteroid before hurling her toward Earth.
Dravyss's eyes went feral.
Her roar shook the universe itself — a sound so primal it made even the demon hesitate.
She tackled him head-on, her fangs sinking deep into his neck, ripping shadow-blood into the void. The other council members followed, tearing chunks from his body, burning him with holy fire, and sealing every wound with divine chains.
But the Demon Lord was relentless — his tail whipped across the battlefield, breaking Seryth's wing. His claws raked Eldrash's side, leaving massive gashes.
Finally, with Dravyss's rage at its peak, the dragons drove him back toward the ancient seal site — a massive holy vortex that pulsed with god-forged energy.
Dravyss – "You've had your fun. Now crawl back into your hole."
She slammed him into the vortex with the weight of hundreds of collapsing mountains. The Dragon Council chanted the Sacred Chains of Bahra'Thor, holy spells so powerful they burned their own scales away just to keep casting.
Golden runes wrapped around the Demon Lord, slicing into his flesh like molten brands.
Demon Lord – "This isn't ending here… I'll be back soon…"
With a final scream that rattled the bones of every living thing on Earth, he was forced into the seal. The ancient sword returned to its place, locking the prison once more.
The battlefield fell silent… except for one sound — the thundering crash of Drassa's body as she fell through the atmosphere, landing in a ruined field on Earth, badly wounded and barely conscious.
Dravyss landed beside her, her armor cracked, her claws dripping with black blood, eyes still burning with fury.
The Demon Lord was gone. For now.
But every dragon knew…
This was only a delay.
Chapter 9: The Aftermath
The battlefield was quiet.
The sky, once torn apart by fire and claws, now rested under a pale gold glow.
The great dragons circled slowly above the ruined land, watching humans and earth rebuild from centuries of scars.
For the first time in ages… peace felt real.
Sister's Bond
Dravyss glided down to where Drassa was lying, her colossal form shrinking to her 100-foot Guardian size.
Dravyss: "Sister, are you okay?"
Drassa instantly stood, brushing off the dirt.
Drassa: "Yeah. I'm fine. Can't lay around like a baby, right?"
Dravyss chuckled, the sound deep and warm.
They walked side by side toward the others. All around them, dragons wandered across the earth, their glowing eyes scanning the humans below — a rare sight of wonder instead of war.
The Golden Portal
After a while, a massive golden portal tore open in the sky.
Its hum was deep, like the heartbeat of the cosmos.
One by one, dragons leapt into the air, flying toward it. Home was calling.
Strom stood at a distance, watching Dravyss rise toward the portal.
He turned away quickly, wiping his eyes before anyone could notice… and ran.
A Choice
At the portal's edge, Drassa waited.
Drassa: "Time to go home, sis."
Dravyss smiled, stepping forward — but suddenly stopped.
Dravyss: "…Sorry. I can't."
Drassa: "Why? You saved everyone. This world will recover."
Dravyss: "Because this is my home, Drassa. This is where I live a real life."
Drassa: "So what are we, then?"
Dravyss: "Don't panic. I'll visit. You know I will."
Drassa: "You're not coming… huh? That boy has your stone. He can protect them."
Dravyss looked back toward the earth.
Dravyss: "It's not about saving someone. Here… I'm a god, a guardian, a monster. But most importantly — Here I'm someone's mother. I can't leave that."
Drassa smiled faintly.
Drassa: "Alright… your choice. Say hi to your son for me. At least I'm still his crazy aunty, huh?"
Dravyss: "Okay, crazy aunty. Take care the new Guardian Knight of Dragons!."
She placed her helmet in Drassa's hands.
Drassa ( tears of happiness ): "I'll fight like you — with every breath."
Dravyss: "No. Fight like you. They need a crazy captain."
They embraced briefly. Then, all dragons except Dravyss vanished into the golden light.
By the River
Dravyss landed back near the team — but Strom was gone.
Dravyss: "Where is Strom?"
The others avoided her gaze.
Dravyss: "No problem. I'll find him."
She followed a familiar pull and soon found him sitting by a river, throwing stones into the water.
Silently, she approached.
Dravyss: "I'm still here, boy."
Strom turned — and the moment his eyes met hers, he ran into her arms.
Strom: "Mom! I thought you left me!"
Dravyss: "No. I can't. Someone has to be here for my son… so why not me?"
Strom: "Please… don't ever leave me again."
She held him close, her massive arms wrapping him in warmth.
Dravyss: "And your crazy aunty says hi."
They both laughed through their tears.
Small Conversations in the Quiet
Elsewhere on the battlefield…
Sam, Astrid, and Wraith sat together, silent but content.
Natalya and Thane rested nearby.
Natalya: "You know you don't look cool when you cry. Don't do that again."
Thane: "I tried to stop myself, but I can't."
Natalya: "My father still held my mother and Brother hands when he died."
Thane: "I'm not going to see my daughter ever again ."
Natalya: "She'll be fine somewhere. And… she's lucky to have a father like you."
A little further away, Violet and Zyphus sat in their own silence.
Violet: "Sorry for my words, Zyphus."
Zyphus: "Sorry I hide the truth from you."
Violet: "I hurt you more with my words. I don't know what to say… because 'sorry' feels too small for what I said."
Zyphus: "It's okay. I'll forget it."
She pulled him into a hug.
Violet: "You know… now I don't care where I belong. You're my real brother. You've always been there — and that's better than any treasure or blessings."
And for the first time after the Apocalypse…
The silence was not from fear.
It was from peace. ☮️