The sky turned black in a flash as the dragon's roar boomed through the air, a thunderous growl that shook the ground. The mage braced himself, eyes sharp, as lightning ripped from the stormy clouds above. He gripped his worn staff tight and rasped out a quick chant, throwing up a shimmering shield that hugged him like armor.
The lightning slammed down with a loud crack, shredding the earth around him, but the barrier held strong against the dragon's wild attack.
The dragon didn't wait. It dove straight for the mage, claws out to smash him flat. Shaking off the daze, he caught sight of the beast dropping fast. He stabbed his staff into the dirt, the fading shield crumbling away. With arms flung wide, he muttered a low spell too quiet to catch. Right as the claws struck, the staff jerked and twisted, sprouting tough vines that plucked the dragon from the sky and slammed it into the ground with a heavy thud.
The mage let out a relieved sigh as the staff morphed into a solid branch, which he snapped free from the vines trapping the beast.
"Now then," he said, stepping toward the bound dragon, "you've chased me across most of the world, Orothrax, who let you off your leash?"
The dragon snarled back, jaws locked by the vines, its fire stuck inside. Unfazed, the mage moved closer and pressed a hand between its huge eyes.
Their eyes rolled back together, and a rush of images hit the mage's mind: a cloaked figure, the dragon blasting flames at it, the figure vanishing and popping up behind—then total darkness.
"Gah!" He stumbled back, nearly tripping, his face twisting with shock as his eyes settled. "I know that guy…"
He grabbed his face, peeking through his fingers, thoughts spinning.
'No way—that's him for sure,' he thought, picturing the figure from the dragon's memories. His hand clutched his waist, where the codex bulged under his robes. Feeling it still there, he eased up a bit.
Without losing a second, he raised his staff to the sun and chanted softly. A thin beam of light sparked at his feet, and it began growing fast—a teleport spell to zip him miles away.
The light swelled big enough to fit him, but a sudden whoosh of air grabbed his attention. Before he could jump in, a roar of flames swallowed his spot. Orothrax had busted the vines and attacked again.
"Gah!" He gasped, flung from the firestorm. "Dumb dragon! I thought I freed you from your master—why turn on me now?!"
Orothrax, a two-winged, four-limbed powerhouse of dragonkind, ruled land and sky with raw strength. On the ground, it half-folded its wings, its heavy yet smooth steps shouting dominance like the jungle king.
He landed a several yards off, Orothrax lumbering toward him, moving slow and jerky, like something else was in charge. He noticed the purple glow where its eyes should be. "You're not calling the shots anymore, are you, Orothrax? It's that figure from the vision."
"Give me the codex!" a voice boomed in his head, paired with the dragon's fierce roar.
"No way!" he shot back.
"Then you're finished!"
Flames exploded out, sweeping the land to burn him alive. He threw up his shield again, blocking the heat. The dragon zeroed in, the fire tightening into a blazing beam hammering his defense.
'My mana's running low, I can't keep this up,' he thought. 'Can't recharge while holding it—I need to break free.'
"Quit now! You're on your last legs!" the voice taunted, sounding sure it'd win.
Orothrax's body started to scorch, the nonstop fire breath cooking it from the inside. While under control, it couldn't stop, and ended up burning itself out.
"No, no, no—why are you stoping? Useless dragon!" The flames cut off as its jaws snapped shut with a clang, steam puffing from its fur-like scales.
Seeing his shot, he jammed his staff into the ground again, this time his hands pressed down as he chanted. Orothrax lunged, leaping over the cracking earth with each bound.
"You're not just fighting the beast this time—that trick won't work twice!" the voice laughed as the dragon suddenly towered over him. "You're finished!"
The claw slashed down fast, but before it hit, jagged rock spikes shot up, stabbing through Orothrax's claw, belly, limbs, and wings.
The mage can slain the dragon, this time it was permanent, even the pyschic voice had grown silent.
"Gaaah…" Before he could catch his breath, a dagger stuck out of his chest. A shadowy figure popped up behind, cackling loud.
"The dragon was a decoy, you idiot!" it jeered as he dropped. "Told you—you're done!"
With a small smile, he chuckled, blood trickling from his mouth. The figure's laugh stopped, its stare turning cold.
"You… cough …are the real idiot."
Too late, the figure saw the move. "The codex!"
He'd tied the codex to his staff, sending it through the light beam. The portal snapped shut before the figure could grab it, whisking the book away.
"Where'd you send it?!" The figure snatched his collar, shaking him hard, but he was gone, a smirk on his face.
Furious, the figure unleashed a dark aura, then blasted into the sky like a black comet, vanishing.