The Chosen One to Rule Them All Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Instincts Awaken, Part 2
Rex remained sprawled, his arms locked over his skull, listening to the relentless thud of Dirk and Jax's boots circling him. The cloud of dust had barely begun to drift away when Dirk moved in closer, a wide, predatory grin suggesting the event was the highlight of his week.
Ah, look at this," he said, nudging Rex's side with the tip of his boot. "The piss ant talks a big game but can't back it up. Hahaha." He crouched down just enough to make sure Rex could see the smirk on his face. "You thought you were going to kill me, remember? 'I'll put you in the ground.' Was that it? Kinda hard to do that when you're the one kissing the dirt, huh?"
Jax snorted behind him, crossing his arms. "Should've brought a ladder, Rex. Maybe then you could've reached eye level before getting flattened." Dirk gave Rex a light slap on the cheek with two fingers—mocking, not painful. "Come on, champ. Got any more of that tough-guy talk? Or are we all done for today?"
Jax smiled and stopped, pulled out his phone, and started recording. Beating on you is no fun; guess I'll record it instead. That way, all the ladies can see what a useless and pathetic existence you have. You and your piss-poor parents are nothing more than pests. You're nothing more than a doormat for the upper class like us, for our entertainment. The sooner you learn that, the better.
Suddenly, a dark, feminine voice echoed, "Ah, woe is you. You have touched what is not yours, and for that, you must be punished. Your suffering will be great—that, I promise."
Suddenly, a dark crimson portal opened, and a beautiful woman emerged. Her face is sharply defined and attractive in a fierce, regal way. Her skin carries a warm golden-red undertone, as though kissed by flame. Her eyes remain unmistakably draconic—molten gold with vertical pupils that flicker like embers. Simply meeting her gaze is enough to make lesser beings avert their eyes. Two short, gracefully curved horns rise from her forehead and sweep back, black at the tips and glowing crimson near the base. Her hair flows behind her like a shimmering cascade of fire—deep scarlet streaked with gold, moving with the soft, fluid motion of living flame even when the air is still.
Her neck is smooth yet subtly scaled, the scales lying in fine, delicate patterns like naturally formed jewelry. When she moves, a faint shimmer of heat rises from her skin. Her shoulders are strong and proud, with small patches of crimson scales that look like decorative pauldrons formed by nature rather than crafted. Her arms retain a human shape but are marked with faint glowing lines—veins of heat that pulse in time with her anger or excitement. Her hands are elegant, but her nails are dark and slightly clawed.
She wears armor that complements her draconic heritage—dark metal trimmed with gold, fitted to her form, always seeming to smolder faintly. Even in simple clothing, the golden scales along her sternum and sides form natural armor, as if she were wearing a breastplate beneath her skin. Her physique is tall, statuesque, and powerful—built like a warrior queen with both grace and lethal strength.
Even in humanoid form, she bears her wings: enormous, majestic, and unmistakably draconic. The membranes glow with fiery gradients, shifting from deep crimson to bright gold near the edges. When folded behind her, they resemble a regal crimson cloak. When stretched wide, they fill entire areas with their shadow.
A long, sinuous tail extends behind her, covered in polished crimson scales. It moves with a fluid, serpentine grace—sometimes curling around her legs, sometimes slicing the air with a soft, heated hum. The tip is adorned with a darkened blade-like shape of hardened scales. Her legs are human-shaped but strong and toned, marked lightly with scale patterns that travel down toward her calves.
Her voice carries the resonance of a dragon—smooth, rich, and powerful, with undertones like a crackling fire. Her presence exudes heat, authority, and ancient power. In her anger, the air around her ripples, and her eyes brighten like twin suns.
She spun toward Rex and slammed her foot into the ground. The impact sent a tremor through the earth, knocking Dirk and Jax off their feet and hurling them nearly thirty feet away. She seized the moment, leaping to Rex's side. A sharp growl escaped her as she placed herself between him and the others.
"Stay back, humans," she warned. "I don't wish to harm you—but if you don't listen, I can't make any promises." Her posture was raw and instinctive, almost feral. "I wouldn't test away. She growled. "Not when I'm already irritated.
She then inhaled, and a large, massive roar, followed by a large ring of intense flames, surrounded them as she released her fire breath. Dirk and Jax recovered and were stunned by fear.
Inside the flaming inferno, Skarethia slowly walked up to Rex, and what she saw filled her with rage. She wanted to go on a rampage but fought against her instincts and remembered what her mistress said. "Do not transform into your dragon form or kill any of the humans." She clicked her tongue and silently prayed to her mistress for atonement for using her powers and appearing in her humanoid dragon form. A voice echoed, "It is fine; you are forgiven," it said
Skarethia then smiled, reassured, as she had faced her mistress's punishments before, and they were not pleasant. She shook her thoughts out of her head and focused on her mission. "My, he looks so pitiful," she prayed. "What, have those so-called righteous ones taught you about your heritage? Nothing?" She sighed. "No matter." She placed a hand on his body and began to chant in a language he couldn't begin to understand.
Rex could barely breathe—each inhale was shallow and ragged, chased by sharp waves of pain that tore through his entire body. Blood dripped from his lips, and every bone felt as if it were screaming. Then, without warning, a soft green light wrapped around him. The agony began to fade, slipping away as if fleeing from the glow. Life… no, it had to be his imagination.
Skarethia watched as Rex's broken body slowly knitted itself back together, the green light restoring him piece by piece. As his features settled, she finally took in the full shape of his face—handsome, striking, and unexpectedly captivating. The sight stole her breath.
A soft smile touched her lips. "So this is the one," she murmured, a sudden warmth blooming in her chest. Gently, she lifted her hand and brushed her fingers along his chin in a tender, almost possessive touch. Her eyes shimmered with unmistakable interest, a playful, flirtatious gleam behind them. I must have him, she thought. He's absolutely stunning. And I won't let those metal-bound zealots lay a single claim on him.
She lifted her hand from his body, and the healing light faded. Fixing him with a firm, almost disappointed look, she asked, "Boy, why do you let these people bully you? Don't you know what you are?" Rex blinked in confusion. "What do you mean? I've always just been… me. Rex Dragonis."
Skarethia's expression shifted into puzzled concern. "Tell me," she said quietly, "do you feel a deep anger rising in you? Are you furious at those who bullied you—those who mocked and ridiculed you?
"Of course I'm angry—how could I not be?" Rex said. "But I'm stronger than they are. What if I actually hurt them… or worse? How would Regina feel if I killed someone who didn't deserve it? I couldn't live with myself if I saw that look of disappointment on her face. I don't think I could ever face her again." He paused, then added, "By the way… who are you?
"I am Skarethia, the Devourer of Light—your brilliance," she said. "But if that's too much of a mouthful, you may call me Thia." Her voice softened with pride. "I am the Queen of the Red Dragons." She hesitated, then turned her face slightly away, a faint scarlet blush warming her cheeks. "And… I'm humbled you wished to know my name."
"Ahem—back to the real issue," she said, regaining her composure. "You are the All-Father of dragons. Your will shapes our kind, and you have every right to stand above those who dare belittle you." Her eyes sharpened with conviction. "So rise, Rex. Punish the ones who mocked and harmed you. Show them the strength they should have never provoked."
Suddenly, a dark surge rushed through him—a furious urge to slaughter every human who had ever mocked or bullied him. But another emotion rose to counter it, urging restraint, insisting they only deserved to be punished, roughed up, and taught a lesson. It felt like two instincts battling for control. And in the end… he gave in to the one demanding Slaughter.
Suddenly, the clouds darkened and split apart as lightning cracked overhead, sending the crowd into a panic. Rex lifted his hand and casually swept aside Thia's flames as if they were nothing. Then, in a single blur of movement, he landed in front of Dirk—who froze, wide-eyed, trembling… and wetting himself in terror.
He spotted Jax trying to flee, grabbed Dirk like a ragdoll, and instantly teleported in front of him. With his free hand, he lifted Jax by the neck. Who said you could run?" Rex growled. "Didn't I warn you—if you valued your life, you'd keep your mouths shut? But you little shits never learn." He slammed both of them into the ground and began pummeling them relentlessly.
Thia chose to have some fun of her own, summoning a ring of fire that trapped the crowd in place. Oh? And where do you little ants think you're going?" She giggled. "Stay a while… let's have some fun."
M-monster," a boy screamed, and he tried to run through the flames, and his screams echoed as his body was melted down to a husk in mere seconds.
"Hahaha… what's wrong, humans? Now that the shoe is on the other foot, it's not so funny, is it?" Skarethia taunted, her voice dripping with cruel delight. "You must be scared… no, absolutely terrified." She spread her arms, savoring their panic. "Let me hear your pleas. Let me hear your screams." Her laughter twisted into something dark and echoing. "Mwahahahaha! I revel in the fear of mortals. Soon, you will all know the name Skarethia—Devourer of Light, Queen of the Reds."
Suddenly, the flames disappeared, and four silhouettes appeared in the darkness. Regina's voice echoed through the Chaos. REX, SNAP OUT OF IT RIGHT NOW! Now, her voice was calming Rex's inner rage like it was a distant memory. However, the injuries they sustained were lethal in nature; their bodies were compressed into the earth, completely deformed and unrecognizable.