Mega Dragon: Harbinger of Death

THE AWAKENING

Pan lunged at San with more intent this time, almost catching him off guard. But this time, Pan had drawn the last straw. San went for a killing blow. Pan couldn’t evade it. Life really flashed before your eyes before you die. So much that he hallucinated a young Ara coming to his rescue and forcing San back. His form was just as he remembered. The stance and the breathing were just the same. Of course, before Ara discarded it all. He no longer needed any of that to survive. He simply overwhelmed his opponent with his inordinate strength. He could hear Ara call to him. Was he dead? He was at least certain that Ara was alive.

“Sir Pan!” he heard the voice beckon to him one more time. What he thought to be a young Ara was in fact his student, Kiro Ner. He thrust Pan’s swords at him. “I thought you might need this,” he said.

The atmosphere was filled with different emotions. Kiro’s sudden appearance was a shocker, and all the other three present reacted to it differently. For Pan, it was shock and a bit of relief. He never expected that anyone would be able to find him within San’s sensory block. While he would have preferred any of Ara or Zenon, Kiro was not such a bad option. And now, he had his swords as well. They might just be able to achieve something. And if Kiro could find him, maybe there was a way others could too.

For San, while his face barely revealed any emotion, he certainly was surprised. It was the first time anyone had defied his sensory block. And it was a pointer that he should not underestimate Kiro. He was Ara’s student after all. Yeelva on the other hand was fed up. San’s duty was to make sure she wasn’t interrupted. But that was all that was happening. Was he even trying at all?

“How did you find me?” Pan asked. San would have attacked him right away if he wasn’t just as curious. How did Kiro evade his sensory block?

“I went to the healers nest to give you your sword. Thought it might come in handy. And I guess I was right about that. Then they said you left them a few miles back. And I traced your scent here. Even though I have to admit you do smell a bit different,” Kiro said.

“My scent? But that shouldn’t be possible,” Pan said. He stared at San as though he was expecting an answer from him. But San was just as confused.

“Great. First, the old man, now the kid,” Yeelva scoffed. She certainly wasn’t pleased with how things were developed.

“Old?” Pan berated.

“Kid?” Kiro followed suit.

“Well, deal with it,” Yeelva yelled back.

While the other three were making light of the situation, San noticed something a bit strange. It was disappointing that he just noticed it. Neither Yeelva nor himself realized that there was a subtle scent on Yeelva.

“I guess he didn’t trust you as much,” San said.

Yeelva stopped what she was doing. San did not speak much, so every sentence he uttered was often important. “What do you mean?”

“He left a little scent on you. Somehow, these two detected it. It must be one of the perks of the Nether since I can’t cancel it out either. Perhaps that was why he took out the wizard first,” San added.

“So, you’re saying anyone close enough, with as much sensory ability as those two can find us?” Yeelva asked even though she didn’t want to know the answer to that question.

“What do you think?” San replied.

“I guess we don’t have any time to waste then. Do away with those two. I’m almost done here,” Yeelva said.

San dodged Pan’s swift attack as he lunged for his head with his sword. A straight for San’s head followed by a maneuver into a swing. Both of which San evaded effortlessly. Kiro took advantage of San’s movement by squaring up to him as quickly as possible. A few punches might not have been enough to reach San, but it gave Pan enough time to go behind him. A fury of attacks and counterattacks went on between the three and San repelled them every time. It seemed as though they were getting closer to hitting him every time, only to be thrown across the field.

Kiro and Pan charged at San and their exchange was almost the same as all the other times. Except that this time, their effort was not for nothing as Kiro’s spinning kick landed on San’s face. It did little to deter the great beast human but it was a sign that they were finally catching up. Or so they thought.

San’s fury knew no bounds. It was the first time he had such a detailed expression on his face and it was terrifying. Pan could sense his bloodlust. It was profound as it was horrifying. His target was as clear as day. Kiro would never be able to escape an attack from San at that rate. But before Pan could warm his student’s student, San made his way to Kiro, aiming to ram his hand through his chest. Before Pan became conscious of his actions, he was already between San and Kiro. A hand in his chest was confirmation that Kiro was safe. He, however, was not.

Yeelva was livid. “Are you insane! You almost killed the boy! Adamas wants him alive!” she bellowed.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing the old man stepped in then,” San said, as he tried to pull his hand out of Pan’s chest.

But Pan would not let go. Even though he knew he would not make it, he held San’s hand as his life depended on it. If it took his death to give them such a window, he would gladly take it.

“Kiro, move!” Pan beckoned to a petrified Kiro. Pan had sustained a fatal wound because of him. It wasn’t like he didn’t think he could die, but to have someone die instead of him for the second time in his life was traumatic. Pan did not expect Kiro to be a ruthless warrior, but there was no one else to do the job.

“Don’t you want to avenge me!” Pan beckoned one more time.

Those words rang in Kiro’s head like the church bells on a Sunday morning. It was like history repeating itself. The same way Ray urged him to avenge him when he died. Kiro went into a frantic rage so intense, that San worried if he could prevent Ara from sensing it.

“Yeelva, we need to leave now. They might pick this one up,” San said calmly, even though he was in a difficult situation himself.

Kiro charged at San as he took Pan’s sword for himself and went straight for San’s head. San hardened his neck instead of trying to avoid it. To his surprise, the sword didn’t shatter, even though it did nothing to his impervious hardened skin. Unlike Ara, beast humans had to harden their skins to protect themselves. While not all beast humans were capable of this, it varied based on the individual. San’s hardening was second only to Ara’s, so it was a surprise that there was a weapon that was just as hard. In the right hands, the sword might actually break through his hardened skin.

Kiro wasted no time in launching a second attack. San was calmer now, so he didn’t want to desecrate Pan’s body any more than it already was. But he was left with little choice. He clenched his fist and created a shockwave enough to push both Kiro and Pan back. Pan could barely stand on his feet. It was a miracle that he could even stand at all. The hole in his chest had gotten bigger. Any chance of survival had gone as quickly as San and Yeelva entered into the chamber that contained the druid key. Kiro tried to pursue them but it was sealed shut. He let out a cry loud enough for all of Croft kingdom to hear. A great beast had fallen.

***

“Don’t you want to avenge me!” Pan beckoned one more time.

Those words rang in Kiro’s head like the church bells on a Sunday morning. It was like history repeating itself. The same way Ray urged him to avenge him when he died. Kiro went into a frantic rage so intense, that San worried if he could prevent Ara from sensing it.

“Yeelva, we need to leave now. They might pick this one up,” San said calmly, even though he was in a difficult situation himself.

Kiro charged at San as he took Pan’s sword for himself and went straight for San’s head. San hardened his neck instead of trying to avoid it. To his surprise, the sword didn’t shatter, even though it did nothing to his impervious hardened skin. Unlike Ara, beast humans had to harden their skins to protect themselves. While not all beast humans were capable of this, it varied based on the individual. San’s hardening was second only to Ara’s, so it was a surprise that there was a weapon that was just as hard. In the right hands, the sword might actually break through his hardened skin.

Kiro wasted no time in launching a second attack. San was calmer now, so he didn’t want to desecrate Pan’s body any more than it already was. But he was left with little choice. He clenched his fist and created a shockwave enough to push both Kiro and Pan back. Pan could barely stand on his feet. It was a miracle that he could even stand at all. The hole in his chest had gotten bigger. Any chance of survival had gone as quickly as San and Yeelva entered into the chamber that contained the druid key. Kiro tried to pursue them but it was sealed shut. He let out a cry loud enough for all of Croft kingdom to hear. A great beast had fallen.

***

Ara and Zenon heard Kiro’s cry as loudly as everyone else in the kingdom. Their eyes turned to San and Yeelva first, who were yet to do anything suspicious. Yeelva was not her usual taunting self either. Was she trying to draw attention from herself? Ara wasted no time in forcing the answers out of her. There was no way she was not involved.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ara demanded. His eyes were filled with fury even as he was yet to learn what had happened to his teacher.

“We’ve been here all this while, against our wishes just so you can keep an eye on us. Are you saying that is not enough?” Yeelva riposted. She didn’t seem unnerved, only irritated.

“I know you’re up to something and when I do find out…” Ara insisted, but Zenon’s hand on his shoulder made him aware of a feeling he was overlooking. The smell, the feel, the faint sounds, and heavy breaths. Pan!

“Stay with these two and if they move in any way suspicious, cut them down,” Ara ordered and bolted to where he sensed Pan fighting for his life.

“Talk about trust and belief. Leaving you with both of us. You can’t even handle just me,” Yeelva teased.

“You’ve been awfully quiet before now. You’re not afraid of Ara now, are you?”

Yeelva’s eyes dimmed as though she was scrutinizing every inch of Zenon’s body. “You know better than that,” she replied.

“Yes. I do. And I have to say that I found it strange that you complied with Ara’s orders without any questions. With San, I can understand. He rarely ever seeks trouble. But you, you can’t live without it. Your very essence craves the displeasure and sadness of others. Yet, you were quiet all through. Almost as if you were trying to look innocent,” Zeno said.

“Isn’t this great? If I act, I’m guilty, if I don’t act, I’m still guilty. Tell me, what can a girl do?”

“How about you start with not betraying your friends?”

“Oh, really? You’re still on about that? That was years ago.”

“Of course, you’re different now,” Zenon said with every bit of sarcasm echoing from his voice. All through the altercation with Zenon and Yeelva, San said nothing. It was as though he wasn’t even there. Zenon found it strange, just as he found Yeelva strange as well. San was quiet, but not that quiet. He should have uttered a word by now, especially after Zenon mentioned the incident. It unnerved him just as it did Ara.

“You’re not going to say anything, San?” Zenon asked.

“No,” San replied and said nothing after that. He had his usual expressionless face about him.

Zenon sighed and retreated to his position. It would be a long night watching those two. Hopefully, Ara would return quickly and they could solve the problem going on as well.***

Aroha laid unconscious while Zhiyi tended to her. An all but familiar dream ran through her subconscious.

The wind howled violently. It’s howl, a taste of the scourge that was to follow. The people believed it was rain that was months due and the sky poured out its contents with so much vendetta that the people worried if they would survive the night. The cold ran deep into Aroha’s bones that no amount of covering protected her from its sharp claws. For the first time, she thought, where was Zhiyi? No one needed to be told to stay indoors. There was no curfew but no one dared to roam the streets. Thunder crackled through the skies as it raged on for what seemed like forever. But even the thunder bowed when a greater entity appeared. Whatever it was, the thunder submitted to it. Above its ferocious frame, the clouds seized throwing tantrums. Below it was unfathomable darkness. The like that has never been seen before. It roared to establish its dominance. But it already was an open secret. The entire capital recognized the power of a royal wyvern.

In an instant, the guards were deployed to subdue this creature that manifested such an ominous aura. Aroha had only one place to be; with her sister. She had to protect her. And if she was unable to come to her, she would go to meet her instead. She stormed into Zhiyi’s room, who couldn’t hear anything above all the rancor. Underneath the clout of fear, she trembled. Aroha’s soothing hands did more to startle her than it would have comforted her. She was terrified. This was very unlike Zhiyi. She wasn’t the most brazen person alive, but she was not one to sit scared in times of trouble. And this worried Zhiyi. There was only one thing that could make Zhiyi react this way; an overwhelming presence and no possibility of defeating it.

Aroha could hear the marching of soldiers all across the manor. The Renoffs were the next family that would be protected in these kinds of cases after the Crofts of course. A soldier ran into Zhiyi’s room after knocking twice. There was no time to wait for a response. “I’m sorry my ladies, but you need to stay inside. There is an invasion,” the guard said.

Aroha’s heart skipped a beat. Very few kingdoms would dare such. Within the Croft capital reside the strongest man on Maori. And even so, Zenon; who was rumored to be among the top five strongest men as well, was in the capital. To stage a siege despite knowing all these, could they possibly have devised a way to deal with those monsters?

“We can help!” Aroha blurted out. The capital would need as much help as it could get. There was no sense in protecting capable fighters. She was sure that Ara and Zenon would have stepped into the battlefield at the time. And if matters got any worse, the king himself would step in. She and Zhiyi were top-tier fighters no matter how you looked at it. And unlike most of the Renoffs that resided in the capital, she would happily fight for Croft kingdom.

But the guard quickly dismissed her suggestion. “I’m sorry my lady. The order comes from Lord Alex himself.”

Of course. How typical of Master Alex. He was once someone who could rival their father; Gero in a fight but he had long deviated from that path. Of course, he would be hiding away at the manor. But in times of true disaster, there is no real hiding place, only death traps. And surely Aroha was not going to wait for the enemy to strike first.

Aroha made to run for the wall. With her death palm, she could make a hole in it, enough for her and Zhiyi to pass through, but Zhiyi held on to her gown. So tightly that Aroha came to a stop. The fear she felt through Zhiyi’s cold hands even though her hands didn’t touch her body gave her chills. Her eyes spoke volumes; a thousand different voices, all frightened but saying one thing – don’t go!

Aroha pressed her head against Zhiyi’s. She wanted to go so badly, but they were all each other had in the capital. Zhiyi hugged Aroha tightly and she shivered even more so when they heard explosions from the hallway – the enemy had broken in.

“My ladies, ru---” were the last words that left the guards' lips before the knife that slit their throats echoed throughout the hall. There were five of them, with masks, wielding double blades, with daggers sheathed within their pants. Not a single mark on them to suggest which kingdom was responsible. But why hide? Taking down the capital of the Croft kingdom was an accomplishment. Or were they afraid that the Lo kingdom would retaliate? Or was it just a precaution in the event that they failed?

Rancid thoughts ran through Aroha’s head. Zhiyi was for some reason in a bad shape. The only thing standing between them and her sister Zhiyi was her. And there was no way she was letting them lay a finger on her. She crouched in front of Zhiyi, like a lioness protecting her cub. But these attackers knew no fear. They unsheathed their weapons at Aroha and Zhiyi, approaching them steadily, further slowing time down.

Before either party could attack first, another explosion followed. The hesitancy that the enemies showed gave Aroha the opening she needed. In one jump, she was onto one of the attackers and snapped his neck. She took a hold of his weapon to defend herself against the other four but there was no longer a need for that. Through the door that the guards once guarded, prince Ara and prince Zenon walked through. One draw of his sword from its sheath saw all four of the attackers’ heads drop. Even Aroha’s keen senses couldn’t follow his sword. Perhaps the rumors of the duo’s strength bore more truth than she would have admitted.

“What’s going on?” Aroha asked. If anyone knew, it would be them.

“We’re under attack,” Ara said grimly.

“I can see that!” Aroha snapped. That bit of information was obvious.

“A group of sorcerers with an army...” he added, but Aroha could tell there was more. More that was the reason Zhiyi was the way she was. “Wyverns. They have wyverns,” he let out finally once he saw the wait on Aroha’s face.

“Those aren’t wyverns. They are demons. Wyverns wouldn’t attack us,” Zhiyi finally spoke out.

“How do you know that?” Zenon asked.

“Can’t you feel it too, prince Ara? Would there be any wyvern that could disobey your commands?” Zhiyi asked. Her trembling had subsided. She made a strong argument. Ara was rumored to be as strong as the original beasts. Before he decided to settle in Croft kingdom, he traveled around Maori seeking strong opponents. For a while, he and Zenon traveled together before they finally went their different ways. It was on that journey that he met and conquered many wyverns. His only reason for not bringing one with him was that the people would grow to fear him. He had since how his father had to seclude himself from his people because of his terrifying aura. Ara didn’t want to live that way. It was also the reason he learned to curtail his presence. That was the only way he could stay around people. But that also meant he had to subdue his own strength as well. But it mattered not. With the strength he had combined with that of Croft kingdom, only a fool would charge at them. But that day’s fool proved a bigger opponent than Ara would have ever envisaged.

“Let’s get out of here for now. We’ll take you to the palace,” Ara said.

“You left the king alone to save us?” Aroha was perplexed. Shouldn’t the first priority have been the king?

“My father can take care of himself.”

The aisles were choked with corpses; of both friends and foe alike. Most parts of the manor had been ravaged and the girls spared no thoughts for their uncle Alex; the master of the manor. For all they cared he was hiding somewhere and he only bothered to keep them trapped within the manor instead of taking them somewhere safe. Everyone knew the manor was no safehold. It was a house like every other; only bigger and with more guards. Nothing more. No defensive setups or traps. Nothing. The Renoffs had always been known to be able to take care of themselves, much like the Crofts. And unlike other noble families, in the past, the Renoffs rarely stayed in the manor. It was just a resting place before they were on the move to wherever war-stricken areas that they were needed in. But the Renoffs’ fire had long gone cold and only politicians remained. And as such, not a single Renoff stood to defend their homes. They either fled or were killed before they had the chance to.

The streets were worse. They offered no reprieve to those who were still alive. Corpses lined the ground like spilled rice after a harvest. There was no semblance of the capital that Aroha and Zhiyi arrived in a night ago. No guards, no soldiers, no one was running around. Not even the enemy. And that was when Aroha realized something was off about the two. “Ara, where’s the king?” she asked one more time.

A flicker of sadness flashed across his eyes. Something had happened to the king. “I don’t know,” Ara replied. “Zenon and I were coming from the eastern market when we heard the explosion at the palace. I haven’t seen my father since then. But I’m sure he’s alright. There’s no way he would have gone down so easily.”

Aroha wanted to respond but she knew better. The prince was in denial. If the king was alive and, in the capital, surely, he would be battling the enemy at that very moment. But looking around, the four of them were the only souls still breathing. “Where is everyone?” she asked.

“Killed or eaten. We don’t know if they took any prisoners,” Zenon said. His words only dealing more damage to the prince’s fragile mind. But they had no time to solve the puzzle at hand. The roars of the wyverns crackled through the skies, all heading towards one point; them!

They ran through the now desolate capital as they looked to escape plain sight. The wyverns controlled the air. They would stand at a great disadvantage if they fought in an open plane. On their own, Zenon and Ara would outrun the wyverns. But the girls would be left behind. Even though they barely knew them, they tried to save the only people that were still alive.

Zenon came to a halt and for the first time since they met him, unsheathed both his blades. “Keep moving. I’ll join you when I’m done with this bunch,” he said.

Ara didn’t give the girls a chance to defy Zenon’s wishes as he pulled them with him. it might look like a suicidal attempt but he trusted Zenon more than anyone else. He could hold his own.

Ara and the Renoff girls continued their run to no end. Where were they headed? Aroha looked back several times to see if Zenon was behind them, but nothing. The only reprieve she felt was the screams of fallen wyverns that continued to echo behind them. But why wasn’t he on the move already? They had gained enough distance.

But Zenon probably had better luck than they did. Before them, was a shadowy presence that oozed a terrifying aura. It was similar to what Zhiyi had felt from the wyverns. An aura strong enough for them to resist the commands of Ara Croft. But this time, Aroha and Ara could feel it very clearly. Before them, was the progenitor of that energy. And for the first time, Ara felt a presence stronger than his.

“Take your sister and go. Don’t wait for me,” he said to Aroha, but she didn’t budge. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not trying to save you. This might be the only time I get to fight a being stronger than myself. I want to savor this experience. Now go! You’ll only be in my way,” he said.

Aroha mustered the courage to leave him behind. She wasn’t close to him but it still felt wrong. Those two could escape if they wanted to and yet they stayed behind for their sake. No matter what Ara said, she refused to believe that he wasn’t doing it for them.

They ran as fast as their feet permitted them to. The skies were filled with even more wyverns this time. It confirmed their worst fears. Zenon had fallen. And amidst all the wyverns that roamed the skies was one that she remembered all too well – the wyvern that spoke to her!

The girls ran as fast as their feet permitted them to. The skies were filled with even more wyverns this time. It confirmed their worst fears. Zenon had fallen. And amidst all the wyverns that roamed the skies was one that she remembered all too well – the wyvern that spoke to her! It was strange, but its presence brought a sense of calm. Amidst the rancor around her, that was most the most soothing moment. For her alone, however. Zhiyi was still quite a mess.

“What are you doing here, my lady? It is still too early for you to be here,” the wyvern said. But like last time, only Aroha heard it. Its words were even more puzzling this time. The entire atmosphere was puzzling. They were running heedlessly with no certainty that safety lied ahead of them. But they ran nonetheless. This was no time for riddles. Aroha had enough on her plate, but a royal wyvern was not the type of creature you would throw a tantrum at.

So, she spoke calmly. “I don’t understand,” was the only thing she could utter that was not fueled by anger. Only desperation.

“For all our sakes, I hope you never do,” the wyvern said. And like their previous encounter, it left Aroha with a mystery she had no hope of solving.

That moment of solace only lasted a few seconds. The moment the royal wyvern took off, the other wyverns resumed their chase. The girls had nothing in them to run. Not that they were exhausted but that they were exhausted. Of trying to run, of leaving everyone behind to save themselves, of everything that was around them.

***

Zhiyi noticed Aroha sweating profusely. She was worried it was another nightmare, but before she could do anything to help, Aroha’s eyes widened and the glow that emanated from them was blinding!