Deep inside the fortress known as Kalaksar, Leeta sat huddled in her cell. Knees pulled up to her chest, the princess simply stared out into the blackness that was Drathsor's throne room. The pillars of fire that shed no light blazed silently. Time seemed to stretch on forever in this Goddess forsaken place. Then, suddenly, she felt it! A sudden burst of emotional power somewhere nearby. It was as if some great beast had awoken to rage across time and space.
Leeta's head shot up to look around. It didn't even take a fraction of a second before she knew the source of the power. "Cole," she whispered. She looked over at Drathsor. "He's here."
A rumbling laughter caused her to look to her left. The shadow that was Drathsor continued to chuckle. "So the boy from your dreams has arrived, daughter of the Blue Star. No matter. This Dragonmaster will still be powerless against me." A pair of fiery red eyes suddenly appeared. "Consign yourself to your fate, my dear. You are mine for eternity."
Leeta shut her eyes to hold back the tears of frustration. Despite the demon lord's words, there was one thing that allowed her to remain hopeful. Cole was here. He'd found her, and once he had a purpose the Dragonmaster never stopped until it was completed.
"Hurry, Cole. Hurry."
"Leeta!"
Cole shot up and started looking around wildly. The green eyed warrior was lying on a bed inside a tent in his brown pants and white tunic. His equipment was piled next to the bed. He carefully swung his legs around to sit on the bed's edge. Exhaustion filled his entire being. Whatever had happened on the battlefield had completely sapped him of what energy he'd had left.
"Cole? You awake?" came Alex's voice from outside the tent.
"Yeah," he replied. "You can come in." The tent flap moved aside, and Alex walked in bearing a tray of food and water. "Thanks," said Cole as he took the tray and started consuming the bread and dried meat.
"You look a little better," observed Alex. "After the fight your body seemed ready to completely shut down."
"I don't understand what happened," Cole told him after drinking some water. "I was just filled by an intense, emotional rage."
Alex pulled up a stool and sat down across from him. "I think it's time for you to know everything." Cole eyed him warily over his food. "I didn't just come over here to bring you something to eat."
Cole swallowed what was in his mouth. "What are you getting at, Alex?"
"Cole," the legendary Dragonmaster started to say. "There are certain truths that you don't know about yet, and they all stem from one thing." He paused for a moment. "You are a direct descendant of mine."
It took everything for Cole not to drop the tray in his lap. "Wha... what?"
Alex was nodding. "After I sacrificed myself to trap Ziatoch for the second time, Luna gave birth to our child a few months later. Unfortunately, her despair over losing me was too much for her to bear. Combined with the knowledge of eventual Zophar's revival and her powerlessness to do anything about it, Luna simply gave into her despair. When she... expired and became Althena again, Nall took the child and brought him back to Burg where my parents raised him. Since then, my line has been moving across Lunar mingling with other families."
He gave Cole a small smile. "At one point, my line even became intermingled with the Ausa family. What I'm getting at, though, is that because all these families were descended from the child I had with Luna there was one thing they all shared." Green eyes locked with green eyes. "Even though she was a human at the time, Luna still passed on her connection to the Goddess Tribe to our son."
"Then I really am part of..."
"The Goddess Tribe," finished Alex. "It has been many generations, but the power of the immortals is still just as strong in you. The power you displayed a short time ago was in fact the immortal power of the Goddess Tribe."
Cole was stunned. "How? How come I am only first able to use it now?"
Alex shrugged. "My only guess is that the powers of a Dragonmaster, which come from the Dragon Tribe, took some form of dominance inside you. When you lost your connection to them, the Goddess Tribe in you once again started to reassert itself." He pointed to the Pendent around Cole's neck. "Then you came into contact with Lucia's Pendent. That is an artifact of the Goddess Tribe."
Cole lifted the Pendent up with his left hand. "That allows you to focus the immortal energies within," continued Alex. "Those energies then manifested as the golden power."
"I... I was barely able to control myself," whispered Cole.
"That is because you were also accessing these powers through emotion," Alex explained. "When you do that the output is immense, but one tends to lose oneself."
Cole's left hand closed over the Pendent. "Is that all?"
"Yes," answered the former Dragonmaster. "You okay with all this?"
There was a silent moment while Cole collected his thoughts. It was a lot to take in on top of the rest of his troubles. However, the news of this was a new ace up his sleeve. A half smile spread across the left side of Cole's face. "Looks like we have a way to take on Drathsor, now."
Alex shared his smile. "I see you're a couple steps a head of me." The other man stood up. "Using your powers, we can probably at least stun Drathsor long enough to get Leeta away." Alex laughed. "Hell, we might even get lucky and kill the bastard."
"What a minute, Alex," interrupted Cole. "We're already in the Underworld. How does one die more?"
"You don't," he replied grimly. "When you die here, you're soul goes to Oblivion for eternity. You should get ready. We're having our last strategy session before the attack, soon." He made a small wave and left.
Despite his appetite having disappeared, Cole finished what food he had left. The Goddess knew he was going to need all his energy before this was all over. He'd just finished when there was a knock on the tent post. "Come in."
The flap moved aside to reveal Ninya. "How ya doing, Dragonboy?" she asked with a smile.
"Tired," he said with a smile of his own. "What's up?"
She entered and started walking around the tent. "Just wanted to see how you were doing. You put on quite a light show earlier. Oh, yeah. Welcome to the Tribe," she added.
"Gee, thanks," replied Cole as he sat down to put his boots on. "How long have you known?"
She shrugged. "Nall told me once when I told him about you."
"Can you do what I did?" he asked.
Ninya started laughing. "Hell no. First off, I'm a swordswoman. Leeta was always the mage. Second, Mom isn't Althena. She's got power, but not Althena's." She pointed at Cole. "You, my friend, are descended from a Goddess."
"A lot of good that's done me up till now," he muttered. He jumped as Ninya suddenly punched him in the arm. "Ow! What was that for!?"
"To snap you out of that," she returned. "I've been talking to Lorene and Vaul." She glared down at him. "What the hell is the matter with you? The Cole I remember was pigheaded, but he was still smart enough not to let extenuating circumstances get to him."
"A lot's happened, Ninya," he said. "People have died because of my decisions."
"Well, boo hoo," she snapped. "You had your good long cry about it, so suck it up and get on with fixing things." Cole's mouth opened to counter, but Ninya didn't let him. "Yeah, you're the great hero of Lunar and the Blue Star and a member of the Goddess Tribe, but guess what pal! You are still human, and you make mistakes! Everyone has already forgiven you, so I think it's time to forgive yourself."
Anything Cole had been prepared to say slipped away. "You know? People have been telling me that for a while now." He laughed. "Even Leeta was saying that before..."
He looked up as Ninya sat down next to him. "She was right. It's all a lot to take in, but just remember that you never have to do it alone. You have a lot of people who care about you, Cole." She punched him lightly in the arm again. "Even if you are a stubborn bastard."
They both shared a hearty laugh for a few moments. "All right then," cheered Ninya. "Now, we need to clean you up a little. If we're going to rescue Leeta, you need a hair cut and a shave."
When Cole and Ninya arrived at the strategy session, the green eyed warrior was clean shaven for the first time in weeks. His dark blond hair was somewhat neatly cut being short on the sides and back with the rest slightly longer and racked back slightly to the left with a couple of bangs falling to the side of his left eye. He'd exchanged his chain shirt for a breastplate and gauntlets. Silver Beam was secured at his left side.
"Good," said Hiro. "Now that we're all here, let's begin."
The tent held a table in the center with one map. Gathered around the table was a collection of what could only be described as a council of heroes. Aside from Hiro, Alex, and Nall Cole could pretty much put names to the other faces there. Next to Nall was the one time Head Priestess of Althena, Jessica De Al'Kirk dressed in the white robes of her station. Next to her was her renowned bandit husband Kyle, whom Cole recognized from his time in the Vincantus dungeons. The large man had on only a leather vest and pants to go along with the sword across his back. Next to Hiro was the great warrior of legend Lord Leo. The one time Head of Althena's Guard was in full plate, white armor. The final person was also, technically, one of his ancestors. Mia Ausa stood silently next to Alex in a long black dress with a simple red belt.
"Nice fireworks earlier, kid," complimented Kyle. He winced as Jessica elbowed him in the ribs.
"Will you stay focused for once," she hissed.
"Hey, I'm plenty focused, honeypie," he countered. "At least you seemed to think so last night," he added with a smirk.
"Why you!" she growled with the intent to kill.
"Will you two stop!" shouted Leo. "Have enough decency to keep your personal lives out of the war room."
"Ah, what do you know, you stuffed shirt," replied Kyle.
"Kyle," warned Alex. "Let it go. You two can have a pissing contest later."
"Alex is right," agreed Hiro. "We need to focus on the matter at hand." He tapped the map. "With the addition of Leo's troops, we can attack Kalaksar."
"I don't know, Alex," commented Mia. "We are still quite outnumbered. What about Lucia's forces, Hiro? Weren't they heading here as well?"
Hiro nodded. "Yes, but we can't wait. After our victory earlier, Drathsor knows we're probably planning something. We need to attack now before he bunkers himself inside that mountain of his. Lucia's troops are close, but not close enough. We go now or not at all."
"I don't want to knock the plan, Hiro," stated Jessica. "We all know I'm for kicking ass and asking questions later, but are you sure that your judgement isn't being clouded here?"
"Maybe," he said quietly. "But that's why there is this council. Besides, the main force is only a diversion. Alex."
Alex pointed to several places around a large mountain on the map. "The main force will launch a full attack here and here. Leo will be in command with Kyle, Jessica, and Mia as his subcommanders. It's your jobs to draw out as much of the enemy as possible."
"What will you be doing?" asked Kyle.
"A team consisting of myself, Hiro, Cole, and others will infiltrate the mountain fortress Kalaksar with the help of Nall and Vaul. Once inside we will attempt to rescue Leeta and take out Drathsor once and for all."
"Geez, you guys get all the fun," commented Kyle.
"Ha!" barked Nall. "Fine, Kyle. Next time there's a suicide mission, I'll let you turn into a dragon and take my place."
"Ah shut up, furball," taunted the bandit. "You know you love this stuff just as much as me."
The dragon and the bandit started arguing, but the rest of the tent just ignored them. "You've been awfully quiet, Cole," observed Hiro. "Do you want to add anything?"
Cole looked at everyone before speaking. Even Nall and Kyle had stopped in order to listen. Finally, Cole gave them all a thin smile. "When do we leave?"
Hiro returned the smile. "Right now."
Since the sky never changed, Cole wasn't sure how long the army had been marching. He knew that the army was functioning on a twenty four hour schedule, but unless you were the one keeping watch it was impossible to know the current time. As they marched, the mountains grew ever more dominant on the horizon. Eventually, Cole picked out one enormous mountain in particular. Soon, he was able to make out the fortress Kalaksar that was literally growing out of the mountain.
"I know this place," he whispered. He'd seen this place in a dream. Like a demon's claw, the spires of the fortress stretched up from the mountain towards the orange sky. At least a dozen levels of walls could be seen running up the side of the mountain with a large dome in the very center.
"You okay?" asked Lorene, who was walking beside him.
"Yeah," he answered without looking away.
It wasn't much longer before Alex and Hiro called for the army to stop. Alex and Nall came over to see Cole. "It's time," announced Alex. "Nall, let's get their attention."
"Right." The dragon looked to his young son perched on his right shoulder. "Ready, Vaul?"
"Oh yeah!" affirmed the Gold. There was a pair of flashes, and the two dragons were soaring towards the fortress.
Hiro's voice echoed all around. "Ready all weapons!"
Nall and Vaul loosed their breath weapons at the mountain fortress. First Nall laid down a sheen of ice, and then Vaul would follow up with a blast of fire that melted the mountain itself. The goodly aligned force did not have to wait long for a response from Kalaksar. The dried earth literally opened up to spew forth a black wave of demons. The snarling mass of monsters surged forward.
"Let's go!" shouted Alex. Weapons bared Cole, Alex, and Lorene dashed right.
The demon horde crashed against the shield raised by Mia and her mages. "That should buy us the time we need to get away," Alex told them. A couple of minutes later the broke from the main force and found the rest of the rescue team waiting.
Hiro, Ninya, and Karakus stood there waiting for them. Each one was armed with a sword. Hiro wore his breastplate and black pants, Ninya was dressed as she always was, and Karakus wore a suit of steel full plate. The newly arrived three stopped. A golden flash surrounded Lorene as she activated her Crest.
Cole gave Karakus a smile. "I thought you'd be over there in the big one?"
Karakus mimicked the smile. "Nope. I figured that since I kidnapped her once, I should help rescue her this time. Call it part of my atonement."
A pair of shadows passed over the assembled warriors. Nall and Vaul landed right next to them. "All aboard!" announced Nall.
They all climbed on to the backs of the two dragons. With mighty flaps, father and son launched themselves into the air. Cole, seated on Vaul's back, looked down as the demons succeeded in penetrating Mia's magical barrier. The forward ranks threw themselves at the demons and vice versa.
Cole forced himself to look away from the fight below. "They're fighting to keep the demons busy so I can save Leeta," he told himself.
"Their also fighting for their own survival," added Hiro, who was sitting behind him. "Remember, Cole, everyone makes their own conscious decisions. No one down there is fighting because we forced them to. They fight because they don't want to be enslaved."
"I know," mumbled Cole. "I know. I'm just tired of seeing people die."
The two dragons soared high into the sky before banking down towards Kalaksar. Nall and Vaul loosed repeated blasts at one point on the fortress's surface. Vaul loosed another stream of fire that succeeded in punching a hole in rock. The two dragons hovered for a moment to allow their passengers to leap inside. Cole landed easily with Silver Beam drawn and ready. Once Nall and Vaul returned to their mundane forms, the group started advancing into Kalaksar.
Leeta was standing now. Cole was very close. She could almost feel him right by her side. With every second that passed, her confidence and strong will began to reassert themselves. She turned to give the shadow to her left a defiant glare.
"Your time is running out, Drathsor," she told the demon lord.
Drathsor only laughed. "Believe what you like, Princess. When I have enslaved the Dragonmaster's soul for eternity, you will see that no one can oppose me. Garinthil."
The great demon stepped from the shadows to stand before the his master's throne of bones. "What do you desire of me, my Lord?"
"Bring the Dragonmaster to me," ordered Drathsor. "Alive or dead. It does not matter. Just make sure you have his soul."
Garinthil bowed his reptilian skull. "As you command." The demon turned and walked from the throne room.
Leeta carefully dropped to her knees and clasped her hands. The princess silently offered a prayer to Althena to protect her love from the approaching terror.
The halls of Kalaksar were carved out of the mountain itself. The passages were large with jagged rocks growing out from the walls, ceilings, and floor. Cole had somehow ended up at the point of the party. He led the way down the winding halls as if guided by some unseen feeling. Once in a while they entered larger cavern like rooms with different exits, but Cole continued ahead without pause.
Flames lined all the walls giving off intense heat and light as the group ventured deeper and deeper into the fortress. Cole came to a stop as they entered a large, oval chamber being held up by columns in the shapes of grotesque bodies.
"I don't like this," growled Nall. "We haven't run into any kind of resistance yet."
"Maybe we suckered them all outside?" suggested Lorene.
"Doubtful," said Karakus. "We've been fighting Drathsor for a while, now. He's not stupid."
"Karakus is right," agreed Alex. "Cole wait!"
Cole had already started towards one of the chamber's exits. "She's this way. I can feel her." Before he could take another step, the floor suddenly opened to release at least a dozen demonic forms.
The demons each stood over eight feet tall and covered in dull green scales with spines all over their backs. Horns covered their canine like heads, and acid seeped out of their fang filled maws. They all attacked instantly with razor sharp claws. Cole side stepped the first attack towards his upper body. With Silver Beam glowing bright red, he dashed past the demon. The Red Dragon Slice left the beast in two pieces.
Cole chanced a glance at the rest of the group. Everyone seemed to be holding their own. Karakus and Ninya double teamed one by first taking out its legs and then driving their blades into its back. Alex and Hiro deftly weaved through attacker after attacker dropping demon after demon. Vaul had high tailed it above the battle, while his father skillfully used magic and sword to kill his foes.
No sooner had the party defeated the first wave of demons, that another mass started to pour out from the passages leading into the chamber. This time along with the spine backed demons, serpent like monsters with spiked tails and barbed undersides attacked. One serpent tried to constrict itself around Cole, but the green eyed warrior quickly released a fire spell that burned right through the beast. He started towards the others, when Hiro shouted at him not to.
"Go!" commanded the other warrior. "We'll keep things going here!"
"You guys can't hold up against these numbers!" Cole yelled back.
"Don't worry about us!" assured Nall as he turned three demons to ice sculptures. "We're heroes after all! We live for this kind of stuff!"
"Go, Cole!" added Alex. "Go save her and take out Drathsor!"
Cole nodded confidently and ran down his intended path.
"Well, we're on our own!" Nall stated with a smile before driving his sword into the neck of a spine back.
"Then let's have some fun," added Hiro. He jumped back and released a wind spell that picked up half a dozen demons and flung them into the walls.
He made his way to Alex's side to face down a next wave that entered the room. "If we survive this one, I'm taking my wife and going to the Cloud Nine Club in the Seven Heavens for a long deserved break."
Alex only smiled and tipped his sword towards the advancing horde. "After you."
Hiro grinned. "You're too kind." Both legendary warriors powered up and charged the advancing demons.
Cole came to a slow stop as he entered a rectangular room with walls covered in glowing red crystals. A doorway was positioned at every wall leading deeper into Kalaksar. Standing directly ahead was a pair of humanoid demons in red armor with swords. They roared and charged him immediately. Cole sprinted forward right between the two demons.
The one to his left slashed at Cole's mid-section. Cole turned his blade downward, parried the attack, and then flipped both swords one hundred eighty degrees to the right to block the other demon's attack. Next Cole pushed off and dashed to his left while sliding Silver Beam's edge across the left demon's stomach. The enchanted weapon easily sliced through the armor. Cole immediately spun around and attacked the second demon before it could even react to its attack being blocked. The remaining demon's head dropped to the floor, and Cole prepared to continue his progress. He stopped short at the sound of rumbling laughter.
Cole turned his head just as Garinthil entered the chamber from the passage to his left. The great demon's wings unfolded and twitched. Cole moved to completely face the beast. Garinthil raised his right claw, and a four foot, jagged bladed sword appeared.
"I have been waiting for this moment, boy," sneered the demon.
"Where's Leeta?" demanded Cole.
"You will see her soon enough," Garinthil promised. "From within the prison that will house your soul for eternity."
Not waiting any longer, Cole roared in rage and charged the monster. He feinted several slashes before driving for Garinthil's chest. The demon's jagged blade was there instantly to parry. Garinthil shrugged off Cole's attack, sending the green eyed warrior back several feet. It followed up by charging him head on. Cole parried an overhead slash that sent him right to his knees. Somehow, Cole slipped out and rolled left back to his feet.
Garinthil pressed his attack. The jagged sword screamed towards Cole's head. This time Cole lightly deflected the attack, ducked, and dashed past the demon. Silver Beam struck home on the monster's left side, but to Cole's horror there wasn't even a scratch on Garinthil's armor. The demon laughed and attacked again. His slashes were strong, but slow. Cole was able to lightly deflect each one and get away before the demon could reset himself.
It was soon clear to Cole that he was outmatched in every way. Garinthil was bigger, stronger, and obviously invulnerable to direct attack. Cole Phase Shifted by the monster, but still not even Silver Beam could get through the armor. "Time to regroup," Cole told himself."
Cole made a quick, one handed lunge at Garinthil's chest. The demon barked a laugh as he batted Cole's weapon to the right. "You will have to do better than that, boy," Garinthil taunted as he prepared to reverse his blade.
"I intend to," answered Cole as he brought around his left hand, which just happened to contain a fire spell. "Light Ray!" shouted Cole.
A beam of hot fire shot from Cole's left hand and struck Garinthil right in his bone snout. The great demon stumbled back roaring in pain. Cole took the opportunity to make a hasty retreat down one of the chamber's exits. The green eyed warrior's mind was racing for ideas while he ran. How was he going to beat this monster?
Cole soon realized that he had been running blindly for a few minutes now. The chamber he was now in had only a single visible wall, which he was standing next to. Dimly lit pillars of stone could be seen scattered all throughout the shadow filled room. Cole tried to get his bearings, but soon realized that it was impossible. Next he attempted to feel for Leeta, but his mind was too chaotic to focus.
That's when he heard it.
At first it was a tapping sound. Then it started to grow louder and sound like a repeated thumping. Soon the thumping became a distinctive thudding. The darkness suddenly parted to reveal a charging Garinthil. The massive demon body checked Cole right through the wall behind him. Cole cried out in pain as he felt his left shoulder become dislocated. It wasn't long before he hit the ground hard and continued rolling for several seconds.
Coughing and wheezing, the green eyed warrior struggled to his feet. His left shoulder was throbbing and now his right side hurt as well. Cole lifted his head to search for Garinthil. The chamber he now found himself in was huge. It was completely filled with darkness even though great pillars of orange flame ran down the center from end to end. Once his eyes had adjusted, Cole could make out something just ahead.
First he saw the throne of bones at the end of the chamber. That sight alone chilled his blood. It was when he looked to the left of the bone pile that his heart stopped. Standing in a transparent sphere, hovering several feet off the ground, was Leeta. She wore that same long, sleeveless white dress as he had last seen her in. Their eyes locked, and Leeta began to pound at her prison with two fists.
"Leeta!" cried Cole. Despite his injuries, he broke into a dead run for her. Cole's mad dash was stopped short when Garinthil's large form was suddenly there.
Cole stumbled backwards, nearly falling in the process. However, he quickly righted himself and charged. His goal was finally in sight, and nothing was going to stop him now.
He attacked wildly in an attempt to get past the demon. Garinthil parried Cole's last thrust, and then with a burst of demonic strength slapped Silver Beam aside to follow up with a reverse slash that sliced right through Cole's breastplate. Cole loosed a pained cry as he fell forward. Garinthil's left claw shot out to grab him by the throat. Cole choked out another cry while the demon effortlessly lifted him up. He made a useless hack at Garinthil's right shoulder, but that only allowed the demon to disarm him. Being held over ten feet into the air, Cole could now see Leeta. The princess was vainly beating at her prison.
"Leeetaaaa!" croaked Cole. Garinthil squeezed tighter, and things started to go dark.
Leeta, thought Cole. I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you or save you. I just wasn't strong enough.
Cole! her voice screamed in his head. You've come so far! Don't give up now!"
I can't do it, he mentally whispered. I'm just not strong enough to do it.
Then don't just do it by yourself, she told him. Let me help you. You don't have to do things by yourself when there are those who care about you. Cole felt a power pushing at the edge of his consciousness.
Damion's words suddenly echoed in his mind. Open the Heart that lets others inside.
The last piece suddenly fell into place. It all made sense to him. Being a Dragonmaster was not just about being a powerful warrior. One needed to be in touch with certain things in order to use that power correctly. He needed Wisdom in order to realize these important things. That Wisdom allows a Dragonmaster to have Faith in others. Faith enough to allow them into his Heart, so that they can help him deliver the Hope that humanity needs in its darkest hours. Just because one is a Dragonmaster does not mean one has to do things alone. It was that trust and Faith that allows a Dragonmaster to love life and all those who are close to him.
With that revelation, Cole completely dropped the barriers around his heart and soul. Leeta's strength flowed into him like a fresh spring bringing his immortal power forth like a fountain. Cole was suddenly surrounded by the golden power of the Goddess Tribe. He roared and released the power.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The sheer power of the initial blast flung Garinthil away from Cole. Surrounded by his power, Cole floated ten feet in the air with his elbows at his sides and forearms pointing out. As the power flowed over him, Cole felt his injures patched and healed. The green eyed warrior slowly lowered himself to the ground. Once his feet were firmly planted, the Dragonmaster summoned his Armor.
"Elder Reinalthus!"
Reinalthus was sitting in the center of Ciryn-Tiell watching the place where the portal had been only a few short hours ago. The old elf had decided to take up a silent vigil until Cole and Lorene returned. The frantic call behind him only caused one pointed ear to twitch.
A frazzled young elf ran up to him. The young man had short blond hair with purple eyes and wore the silver armor of his station as a guard. "Elder!"
"What is it, my boy?" asked Reinalthus calmly.
"It's the Dragon Armor! It's moving!"
Reinalthus jumped to his feet. "What?" Their conversation was cut short by an explosion from the Tri-Towers.
All heads looked up as five colored comets flew from the top of the central tower. Reinalthus and the young guard jumped aside as the comets flew past and disappeared in where the portal had been.
"What's going on, Elder?" questioned the young elf.
Reinalthus gave him an assuring smile. "Good things, my son. Good things."
"Mom!" shouted Alleia.
Ruby looked up from the scroll she was reading as the door to Carla's study in Vane flew open. A little white blur that she assumed was her daughter flew into the room and landed on the desk. After she landed, Alleia started jumping up and down wildly.
"Alleia," asked Ruby calmly. "What's the matter?"
"Something's pulling at me!" she cried. "Don't you feel it? It's tugging at my power!"
Then the Red felt it. There was something reacting to Alleia's power as the White Dragon. Her red eyes went wide. There was also something reacting with her power as well. Only one of two things could do that, and Ruby had a pretty good guess which one it was.
She picked up her frantic child and held her close. "It's okay, sweetie." A large smile spread across her face. "It's just Cole."
Onyl nearly collapsed after the first pull. The Black Dragon was standing outside a tent in the middle of a dead forest. She pulled her black cloak close around her as the feeling hit her again.
"On?" came Rayn's voice from inside. He came outside wearing dark brown pants and a loose fitting blue shirt. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, Rayn," she told him. "It's like something is pulling at my very being."
"Don't worry, Onyl," came Luna's voice from behind. The blue haired woman walked over from the collection of tents to the right. She wore her normal dress and blouse, but this time had a gray shawl clutched close. "It's all right."
"What is it, Luna?" asked Rayn.
She smiled warmly at them. "It's only the Dragonmaster reclaiming his power."
Nall drove his sword into the skull of hulking, red scaled demon. "That's the last of 'em."
"Aahh!" came Vaul's cry from above.
"Vaul?" cried Nall with concern. He looked up to see his son glowing gold.
"Dad!" he cried again. "Something's happening!" Suddenly an ethereal dragon of gold exploded from the young dragon.
Vaul fell from the sky, but his father was there to catch him. "Quick!" shouted Alex. "Follow that dragon!"
There was an explosion behind him, but Cole didn't need to turn around to see what it was. The five colors of Althena's dragons began circling him. First an ethereal black dragon washed over Cole encasing him in the Black Dragon's Armor. Then a blue one passed over his head creating the Blue Dragon's Helmet. He extended his left arm so that the red ethereal dragon could form the Red Dragon's Shield. The ethereal white dragon came to a stop right in front of him to form the White Dragon's Wings. Finally, a golden dragon passed through the Wings transforming the cracked blue jewel into a shining, new gold one. Cole grasped the Wings and placed them in their slot at his back.
At last there was a third explosion behind him. A brilliant white ball of fire went around and around the Dragonmaster at an incredible speed. When it passed close enough, Cole simply reached out with his right hand and caught it. There was a flash, and he held the Sword of Althena in his right hand. The Dragonmaster slowly looked up to level a serious, emotionless gaze on Garinthil. The great demon was actually shaking.
"This means nothing!" he shouted. "I will still kill you, boy!"
"Then come and try," invited Cole in an even tone.
Wings spread, Garinthil charged him. The demon lifted his jagged sword at the last moment to cleave Cole's left side. He roared and slashed. Cole's only response was to lift the Dragon Shield to block the attack. Shield met sword, and Garinthil's attack had been halted in mid swing. Cole hdn't even flinched. Garinthil roared again and slashed at Cole's right, only to receive the same response except from the Goddess Sword this time.
"My turn," announced Cole.
With a flick of his wrist, he batted Garinthil's sword aside. A Phase Shift later Cole was standing twenty feet behind Garinthil, who was sporting a deep gash along his left side. Garinthil clutched his bleeding side as he turned to face the Dragonmaster. He loosed one more horrific roar and charged again.
Cole simply pointed at the charging demon with the Goddess Sword. The five colors of Althena's dragons started swirling around the ancient blade. They coalesced at the tip to form a single ball of power. Garinthil was almost upon him when Cole spoke the activation words to his spell.
"Dragon Elemental Blast!"
A beam of multicolored energy streamed out from the Sword at the demon. Garinthil had time enough to let out a strangled cry before he was vaporized. His first foe defeated, the Dragonmaster turned his attention to the being he knew to be atop the throne of bones. Cole slowly started walking towards his final obstacle.
"Dark Lord Drathsor," he called out. "In the name of Althena, I command that you return the soul of that woman and all those you have taken from their rightful destinations in the Underworld."
A pair of fiery, red eyes appeared from the shadows. "Who are you to order one such as me, human?" snarled a monstrous voice. "You a mere mortal have no right to question the actions of one such as myself."
Cole stopped at the foot of the throne. "I'll say this one more time. Release them or else."
Drathsor laughed. "Or else what, boy?"
"I kill you," stated Cole. "I hear Oblivion is nice this time of year."
Drathsor laughed again. "So be it, Dragonmaster !" The eyes suddenly exploded.
Cole was forced to shield his eyes from the brightness of the explosion. When he dared to look again, Drathsor loomed above him. The demon lord was a being of complete fire. Black and orange flames coursed all over his body outlining it bipedal shape that must have stood at least twenty feet. Flaming muscles rippled as the god like creature opened his red wings. His head was a reptilian shaped skull in the upper areas, but with a lower jaw like a deformed human. The eyes were like two infernos, and a trio of horns jutted outwards from the top of the skull.
"It is you who will be going to Oblivion!" roared Drathsor. He raised a fiery talon to loose a black stream of energy at Cole.
Cole threw up his Shield in defense. The impact of the blast pushed Cole back slightly, but he was able to stand against the attack. Footsteps echoed behind him, and Cole looked back to see his companions enter the throne room. Drathsor's attack on him ceased and was redirected at them.
"No!" shouted Cole. A spell left his lips before he even realized it. "White Dragon Protect!"
The image of a dragon that sort of looked like Nall flickered in front of the group just before Drathsor's attack hit. The black energy rebounded off of a shimmering white barrier, leaving Cole's friends unharmed. Cole spun around and attacked without hesitation. The power of the White Dragon Dash surrounded him as charged Drathsor. The fiery demon jumped off he throne as Cole plowed right past where he'd been.
Drathsor landed and released a liquid fireball at Cole. With his enhanced agility, Cole jumped over the fireball. He loosed his Dragon Tear spell at the demon in mid air. Huge blocks of ice in the shapes of dragons streaked at the abomination. Drathsor destroyed most of the ice dragons, but one succeeded in slamming into his chest knocking the monster to the ground. Cole landed and pressed his attack. He had almost reached Drathsor, when a wall of flame suddenly erupted from the ground. Cole jumped back, covering himself with the Dragon Shield to fend off the heat.
The Dragonmaster peeked over the top of the Shield just in time to see Drathsor charging him. Cole shimmied right to avoid one of the demon lord's large claws. Cole countered with several slashes of the Goddess Sword. Fearing the power of the holy weapon, Drathsor backed off. The abomination and the Dragonmaster faced each other down. Cole stood his ground waiting for the demon to attack. Cole picked up a flash of movement from the corner of his right eye and prepared for the chance that was about to present itself.
"Gold Dragon Strike!" shouted Lorene as she flew behind Drathsor. The Gold Dragon's Claws raked the demon lord across the back causing him to lose focus on Cole for just a fraction of a second.
Which was all Cole needed.
The Goddess Sword was suddenly surrounded by an ethereal mist. Cole lunged Sword first at Drathsor. "Essence Blade!" he cried.
The holy weapon's blade found its mark and sank into the fiery mass that was Drathsor's chest.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
A wave of power rolled off of Drathsor that sent Cole flying back through the air. The Dragonmaster landed hard on his back. To his dismay both the Dragon Shield and the Goddess Sword skidded away from his hands. Cole lifted his head to see Drathsor clutching at his chest.
"Enough of these warrior games!" roared the demon lord. He stretched out his right claw. "Now die!" A column of black power erupted from the claw right at Cole.
With the Dragon Shield too far away and no time to cast a spell, Cole did the only thing he could. He grabbed the Pendent still hanging around his neck, tore it free, and held it out to block the powerful blast coming his way. Drathsor's black column stopped just feet from Cole's position. The demon lord kept the attack going, but Cole's sudden shield held. The Dragonmaster slowly got back to his feet making sure to keep the Pendent between himself and a sure death.
"Impossible!" bellowed Drathsor. "No mortal can do that! None!
"Did I forget to mention!" shouted Cole. A golden aura surrounded him. "I'm a member of the Goddess Tribe!"
"Nnnnoooo!" screamed Drathsor. The intensity of his attack increased.
Cole felt his shield waver, but it held strong in the end. This was it. If he was going to defeat Drathsor, it was now or never. "It's going to take everything I have," he said to himself.
Black power threatening to overrun him, Cole closed his eyes to concentrate. His blood began to boil as he drew in as much of his immortal power as he could. When the Dragonmaster opened his eyes, they were completely gold. Lucia's Pendent was surrounded by an intense golden glow of its own. Cole's entire being from his flesh to his soul was on fire. With one final push, he released all his power through the Pendent.
"Immortal Fire!" he shouted. A cone of fire twice the size of Drathsor's black column of energy shot from the Pendent right at the demon lord.
"Iiiiimmmppppooooosssssiiiibbbbbllllleeeee!!!!!!!!!!" he cried out just before the golden fire incinerated him.
It took all of Cole's willpower not to collapse. That, and the fact that Leeta was only twenty feet from him. He quickly stuffed the Pendent in the Time Runes' pouch, retrieved his Sword and Shield, and ran to her. He was only five feet away when the entire mountain started shaking. There were cries from behind, and Cole looked back to see the rest of his companions blocked from him by several collapsed fire pillars. Chunks of rock began crashing all around him, but Cole pushed on towards Leeta undaunted.
He stopped at the sphere and motioned her to step back. Leeta nodded happily and stepped away. Cole tried several quick slashes with his Sword, but the sphere remained intact. "Damn!" he hissed.
Cole sheathed the Goddess Sword and started pounding on the sphere with both hands. "Leeta!" he shouted.
She pressed her hands where his were and mouthed his name, but her voice didn't penetrate the sphere. Cole continued to hit the sphere repeatedly. "God dammit let her out!" he cried.
The mountain continued to collapse all around them. Cole could now hear the others calling for him to answer. The Dragonmaster cursed as he hit the sphere one more time. His eyes locked with Leeta's, and tears of frustration started to fall down his cheeks.
"No," he said in a determined voice. "It's not going to end like this. Not after everything we've been through."
He stepped back and reached into the pouch at his side. He saw Leeta's eyes go wide when he pulled out the Time Runes. "All right, you three bastards! I command that you get us all out of here and to safety!"
The three Runes obeyed his command with hesitation.