"He's… now a dragon!" Hunter exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes!" Oropher roared triumphantly. "I am now invincible!"
He spread his massive wings and breathed fire into the sky. Flames burst into the air, turning the heavens blood red as burning leaves rained down around them.
Martha reacted instantly. She transformed into a flying wolf and launched herself at him, sinking her teeth into his neck.
Oropher roared in fury.
With a violent jerk of his body, he flung her through the air. She crashed hard against the ground, instantly transforming back into human form.
Nolee rushed to her side.
"My arm…" Martha groaned.
It was broken.
Before anyone could react, Oropher swung his massive tail across the battlefield.
The impact sent Kai, Loki, and Maya flying through the air.
"Ahhh!" they screamed as they crashed to the ground.
Oropher laughed thunderously.
"Come and get me!" he boasted. "And I'll destroy you all one by one!" "We're not coming one at a time!" Wulf shouted.
He fired two arrows straight into Oropher's wings.
The dragon shrieked in pain.
Furious, Oropher opened his jaws and unleashed a stream of fire toward Wulf.
But Hunter reacted instantly.
He raised his shield just in time, blocking the flames.
Wulf stared at him in surprise, about to thank him, but Hunter cut him off.
"Save the thank you for later," he said firmly before rushing back into battle.
"Guys! I have a plan!" Roxanne called.
Kili quickly threw a spear at Oropher's leg to distract him while the others rushed behind a large rock.
"If we're going to stop Oropher, we need to retrieve the ring," Roxanne explained quickly. "Fighting him won't get us anywhere." "So what do we do?" Wulf asked.
"We tie him down," Roxanne said.
"Kili, Mateo—get some thick vines or ropes."
"Nolee and Wulf, distract him." She turned to Hunter.
"You're with me."
"Okay!" Kili said before running off.
"On it!" Mateo added, following him.
"Here goes nothing!" Nolee muttered as she pulled Wulf along.
With Martha's help, Mateo and Kili managed to gather a long, strong rope.
Meanwhile, Nolee and Wulf kept Oropher busy.
Hunter and Roxanne climbed a tall tree, waiting for the perfect moment.
As soon as Oropher passed beneath them— They jumped.
They landed on the dragon's back.
"Get off me!" Oropher roared, thrashing violently.
Hunter grabbed both of Oropher's horns, forcing his head downward while tightening his grip.
Behind him, Roxanne wrapped her arms around Hunter to keep from falling.
Above them, Claws screeched and charged forward to attack.
But Martha quickly raised her hand.
With a flash of magic—
Claws suddenly turned into a tiny hamster.
"Take him down!" she shouted.
Hunter forced Oropher downward.
The dragon slammed into the ground.
Martha quickly created a magical muzzle around his mouth while Kili and Mateo rushed forward, throwing the rope over him.
Hunter and Roxanne grabbed the rope and began tying him tightly.
By then, Maya, Kai, and Loki had returned to the fight.
Oropher struggled violently, trying to break free.
But Martha stopped him.
"Don't waste your time," she said coldly.
"It's over, brother."
Oropher could not speak because of the muzzle, but his furious glare said everything.
Roxanne stepped forward and carefully removed the ring from his finger.
Instantly, Oropher shrank back into his human form.
But he was still tied up.
"What should we do with him?" Kai asked.
"I say we take a spear and finish him right here!" Wulf said, picking one up.
"Let Martha decide," Hunter said calmly. "After all… he's her brother."
They were still discussing what to do when suddenly— Oropher sprang to his feet.
While they were talking, he had secretly used his magic to cut the ropes binding him.
Before anyone could react—
Chains of dark magic shot out and pinned Kili and Martha to a nearby tree.
Then a giant cage appeared, trapping Kai, Nolee, Wulf, Maya, Mateo, and Loki inside.
For the first time— Roxanne felt true fear.
The ring slipped from her hand.
Before she could grab it, Oropher seized her and pressed a dagger against her neck.
The ring rolled across the ground… And stopped at Hunter's feet.
Hunter slowly picked it up with a trembling hand. His eyes met Oropher's glowing, triumphant gaze.
"Hand over the ring," Oropher drawled slowly,
"And save your girl."
"No, Hunter! Don't listen to him!" Roxanne cried.
Oropher pressed the dagger harder against her neck.
"Release her!" Hunter demanded.
"After you hand it over," Oropher replied calmly.
Hunter didn't hesitate.
Slowly, he placed the ring on the ground and stepped back.
Nothing else mattered to him.
He loved Roxanne.
And he couldn't lose her.
"Very wise," Oropher said with a wicked smile.
"Now release her!"
Oropher shoved Roxanne roughly to the ground.
Hunter rushed forward to help her.
Behind them, Oropher laughed darkly as he picked up the ring again.
His eyes glowed red.
With a wave of his hand, he forced Hunter and Roxanne apart with invisible power. Then—
He lifted an arrow into the air using his mind.
The arrow turned and aimed straight at Roxanne.
"No!" Hunter shouted.
Without thinking, he threw himself in front of her.
The arrow shot forward.
And struck him directly in the chest.
Hunter collapsed to the ground.
Everyone was shocked and speechless at the same time.
But Kili was the most stunned of them all.
He may have liked Roxanne… maybe even loved her.
But he could never imagine dying for her.
What Hunter had done was something else entirely.
It was more than love.
It was sacrifice.
"No… Hunter, no!" Roxanne cried as she gently lowered him onto his back and looked down at his pale face.
"Why did you do this?" she sobbed, placing her trembling hands on his cheeks.
"I don't want you to die."
Hunter managed a weak smile.
"I don't regret it, Roxanne," he whispered painfully.
"Not even a little bit." He winced.
"Hunter!" she cried.
"There's something… I need to tell you before I go." "No!" Roxanne shook her head desperately.
"You're not going anywhere."
Tears streamed down her face.
"You can't leave me! Dad is gone… I never even got to know my mom… and now… you…" Her voice broke.
Hunter spoke softly.
"You still have Nolee… Kai… and Wulf."
Dark clouds slowly gathered above them, rumbling quietly.
Hunter took a slow breath.
"There's just one thing I want you to know…" His voice trembled.
"I always loved you."
Then his eyes closed.
"No!" Roxanne screamed as she hugged him tightly.
But Hunter was already gone.
Wulf could no longer hold back.
He broke down in tears.
Nolee cried too, while Kai wrapped his arms around them both.
Even Oropher stood frozen in shock.
He stared at the scene before him.
He didn't understand it.
But suddenly…
A tear slipped down his cheek.
"What the—?" he muttered in confusion.
"No!"
He quickly wiped his eyes. "I must be sweating through my eyes." But the tears kept coming.
Oropher had never seen such love before.
Not even from his own parents.
And that was exactly why he had grown up believing love didn't exist.
Yet here it was.
Right before him.
Everyone slowly looked toward him.
With Hunter dead, they expected Oropher to destroy them next.
But instead—
He walked slowly toward Roxanne.
And to everyone's shock…
He handed the ring back to her.
"The ring has healing powers," he said quietly.
Without hesitation, Roxanne slipped the ring back onto her finger.
Her hair instantly turned white.
Oropher carefully pulled the arrow from Hunter's chest.
Roxanne placed her glowing hand over the wound and closed her eyes.
The ring began to shine brightly.
Light spread through Hunter's body.
Slowly…
The wound disappeared.
Everyone watched in silence.
Then suddenly— Hunter stirred.
His eyes opened.
"Roxanne?" he murmured weakly.
"Where am I?"
But before he could say anything else— Roxanne hugged him fiercely.
Oropher smiled faintly.
He released the magical chains holding the others.
Nolee, Kai, and Wulf immediately ran toward Hunter.
"Hunter!" they shouted together as they hugged him.
Maya wiped away tears of joy while Mateo and Loki smiled with relief.
Only Kili stood quietly to the side, watching everything silently.
Martha walked toward her brother, holding her broken arm.
"I'm sure that must have cost you a lot to do," she said softly.
"Maybe," Oropher replied.
"But it was worth trying."
He turned to face everyone.
"I am very sorry, Martha… and all of you."
"If there is a word greater than sorry, I would say it." He sat down on a nearby boulder.
"The truth is… my life has always been filled with sorrow and pain." "I had a family… but they denied me the one thing I always wanted." His voice trembled.
"Love."
Martha stepped forward and hugged him.
"It's alright, brother," she said gently.
"The love Father and Mother couldn't give you… Mateo and I will." Mateo blinked in confusion.
"Wait… why me?"
"Because we're siblings!" Maya suddenly exclaimed.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Mateo stared in disbelief.
"What?! How is that possible?"
"I didn't expect Grandma would tell you anything," Oropher said with a small, rueful smile.
"She didn't tell Mateo," Maya explained.
"But she told me."
She turned to Mateo.
"Mateo… this is Mikal, your older brother. And Martha is your older sister." Mateo's eyes widened.
"Wait… what?"
"Wow," Loki said.
"So Tomato has siblings?"
"But Martha is a sorceress… and Oropher is a sorcerer. How can we be siblings?" Mateo asked.
"Forget that," Oropher said.
"Maya is telling the truth."
"My father was Chief Mabu, and my mother was Morgana."
"You were just a baby when Father banished me, so it makes sense that you don't remember."
Martha pulled Mateo into a warm hug.
"It's all in the past now," she said.
"From today onward, we are one big family."
"You, me, Mikal… and Grandma." Mateo was overwhelmed with happiness.
He hugged Oropher tightly.
"Now that's settled," Nolee said, "let's return the ring to where it belongs." Everyone cheered.
They returned to Orion's and placed the ring back into its sacred place. At first—
Nothing happened.
Then a green light began to spread across the land.
Slowly, life returned.
Trees regained their color.
Flowers bloomed again.
The blackened plants turned vibrant.
And the villagers who had been turned into stone returned to normal.
The sky cleared.
"We did it!" Wulf shouted.
Everyone erupted into celebration.
Back in the village, Mateo introduced Oropher—now known as Mikal—to the villagers.
They welcomed him back.
Years ago, the village had abandoned centralized leadership after Chief Kuda's cruel rule.
But now Mikal promised to lead them with peace and justice.
So the villagers crowned him their new chief.
Grandma Millicent hugged him warmly.
"I never imagined things would turn out like this," he told her.
"That is fate for you," she replied.
"Long live Chief Mikal!" someone shouted.
"Long live Chief Mikal!" the entire village chorused.
A grand celebration followed.
During the festivities, Roxanne noticed Kili quietly leaving the party.
She followed him.
He stopped beside a small stream and stood there silently.
"Kili… are you alright?" she asked.
He turned slowly.
"Yes," he said softly.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"About us."
Roxanne looked confused.
Kili met her eyes.
"You love Hunter, don't you?" She froze.
How could she say yes?
Wouldn't that break his heart?
But Kili spoke again before she could answer.
"You should stay with him," he said gently.
"What Hunter did back there… no one could do that."
"Not even me."
"If you truly love someone, you must be willing to take the risks that come with loving them."
He sighed quietly.
"And that's something I can't do." He took her hands.
"I don't want to hurt you. That's why I'm being honest."
"I'm lucky to have met you." He smiled faintly.
"But Hunter is the one who is truly lucky… because he won your heart." He released her hands.
"Goodbye, Roxanne."
"I'll never forget the little time we spent together."
Then he walked away, leaving Roxanne standing there in stunned silence. She stood quietly beside the stream long after Kili had disappeared into the trees.
The water flowed gently, reflecting the moonlight.
Her mind replayed everything that had happened that night.
Hunter's sacrifice.
Kili's goodbye.
The village being saved.
So much had changed in just one night.
"Roxanne."
She turned.
Hunter was standing a few steps behind her.
He looked pale, but he was alive.
Very alive.
"You shouldn't be walking around yet," she said softly, wiping the remaining tears from her eyes.
"I could say the same thing about you," he replied.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Only the quiet sound of the stream filled the air.
Hunter finally stepped closer.
"I heard what Kili said." Roxanne looked down. "I didn't know you were there." "I wasn't," Hunter said.
"But I know him." He sighed.
"He's a good guy."
"Yes," Roxanne said softly.
"He is."
Another silence settled between them.
Then Hunter spoke again.
"Roxanne… about what I said earlier." She looked up at him.
"You were dying," she said gently. "You don't have to explain anything." "But I meant it," he said firmly.
"I've always loved you."
Roxanne's heart skipped.
She remembered his pale face… the arrow in his chest… the way he had thrown himself in front of her.
No one had ever chosen her life over their own before.
Hunter stepped closer.
"So… what happens now?" he asked quietly.
Roxanne looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled softly.
"I guess," she said,
"we stop trying to pretend we're just teammates." Hunter let out a small laugh of relief.
"About time."
Roxanne shook her head with a smile.
"You almost died before saying it." "Worth it," he replied.
She rolled her eyes.
Then suddenly—
She hugged him. Hunter froze for a second before wrapping his arms around her. Above them, the sky was clear again. The land of Montunoi was peaceful once more.
And for the first time in a long while… So were their hearts.