For exactly forty-five minutes, the Sacred Moonlit Springs was heaven on earth.
Ignis the World-Burner had perfected the art of exhaling tiny, precise puffs of hellfire to keep the glowing mineral water at exactly 102 degrees. Maya was asleep on a floating bamboo lounger, and Leo was working on a tan, an empty coconut drink resting on his stomach.
Then, the sun disappeared.
The sky above the Verdant Realm didn't just cloud over; it shattered. A localized hurricane of crimson lightning and roaring wind ripped through the canopy. The terrified Elven Rangers, who had just started to relax, instantly began weeping again.
With a sonic boom that shook the mountains, a massive figure slammed into the marble courtyard just outside the spa.
The smoke cleared to reveal a towering, seven-foot-tall humanoid. He wore armor made of indestructible black dragon scales, his golden eyes burning with ancient fury. Two massive, jagged horns curled from his head. This was Vermithrax, the current Sovereign of the Dragon Realm.
Vermithrax took one look at the giant, terrifying Ignis—the legendary ancestor of all dragons—cowering in the corner of a hot spring like a terrified pool heater.
"Grandfather!" Vermithrax roared, his voice cracking the remaining stained-glass windows of the spa. "What is the meaning of this humiliation?! You are the Ancient Calamity! You eat mountains! Why are you serving these hairless apes?!"
Ignis whimpered, sinking lower into the water until only his snout and terrified eyes were visible. He subtly shook his head, as if trying to warn his grandson to shut up and run.
Maya groaned, slowly lifting her sunglasses. "Leo. The sun is gone. And there is a very loud man yelling in my spa."
Leo sighed, sitting up and cracking his neck. "I got it, babe. Let me talk to him."
Leo stepped out of the water, completely unarmed, wearing only his floral swim trunks. He walked up to the towering Dragon King, who was currently radiating an aura of heat so intense it was melting the stone beneath his boots.
"Look, man," Leo said reasonably. "We paid for a private cabana experience. You're ruining the lighting, and your yelling is completely throwing off the aesthetic. Can you take this somewhere else?"
Vermithrax's eyes narrowed into slits of pure, draconic rage. "Mortal insolence! I am Vermithrax, Lord of the Skies! I challenge you to a Royal Duel of Blood! If I win, I reclaim my grandfather's honor and burn your souls to ash! If you win—"
"Yeah, yeah, skip the terms of service," Leo yawned, stepping onto the courtyard. "Just serve the ball."
Vermithrax didn't understand the terminology, but he understood the disrespect. He levitated into the air, his draconic magic flaring. If this were a movie, the camera would be shaking from the sheer cinematic weight of his power.
The Dragon King raised both hands above his head, condensing pure, apocalyptic fire into a miniature, swirling sun. It was his ultimate attack—the Supernova Core. It held enough destructive power to vaporize the entire Elven Kingdom.
"DIE, HUMAN!" Vermithrax bellowed, hurling the miniature sun directly at Leo with the force of a meteor.
Leo didn't flinch. He just planted his feet in the melted stone, bent his knees, and leaped into the air.
If anyone had been able to see it, the moment would have played out in perfect, cinematic slow-motion. Leo met the apocalyptic sphere of fire at the apex of his jump. He pulled his right arm back, his muscles coiling like springs, and swung his hand down in a flawless, textbook volleyball spike.
WHAM!
The impact didn't just break the sound barrier; it broke the laws of physics. Leo's bare hand slapped the Supernova Core so hard that the magical attack actually compressed into a flat disc before rocketing straight back at Vermithrax.
The Dragon King barely had time to blink.
The spiked sun slammed into Vermithrax's chest, blasting him out of the sky. He cratered into the ground, creating a massive, smoking trench that extended for three miles into the dense Elven forest. The shockwave parted the clouds instantly, letting the bright, warm sunlight shine down on the spa once again.
Silence returned to the Sacred Moonlit Springs.
Leo landed gracefully on his feet, shaking out his wrist. "A little stiff on the follow-through, but not bad."
He walked back over to the edge of the pool. Deep inside the three-mile crater, Vermithrax groaned, his indestructible armor completely shattered, his pride entirely evaporated.
Maya smiled, adjusting her sun hat as the sunlight hit her face again. "Nice spike, babe."
"Thanks," Leo grinned, grabbing a fresh coconut. He pointed at the crater. "Hey! Dragon guy! When you wake up, grab a palm leaf! Maya needs someone to fan her, and the elves are too busy crying!"
From the depths of the pool, Ignis the World-Burner let out a very small, very smug puff of smoke.