Chapter 7
….
Ryan laughs cruelly as he gazes into the smoke cloud that was produced from his attack. Was this the boy that Cade had forewarned him about?
What a joke.
Ryan's face twisted into an evil visage. Cyrus's body burns on the ground. Around the Dragon Prince's body was a trench that had formed from Ryan's attack.
Slowly, the dust began to settle revealing Cyrus' body was a charred and bloody mess, he was struggling to breathe, coughing up blood.
Ryan's laughter faltered as he saw Cyrus healing, albeit slowly, but healing nonetheless. 'Guess the boss wouldn't want the boy dead if he wasn't a threat.'
Cyrus's wounds sealed shut, skin crawling back over muscle as his blood flowed in reverse. In seconds, he looked untouched."
Ryan grinned as he raises his fists in front of him. "Your pretty impressive, boy. Come, show me what you've got!"
Cyrus gazes at Ryan anger in his eyes. This man had no doubt claimed countless lives, even before he killed Anna and Tanya.
It was as if killing was all the Fire dragons knew how to do, how many people had to die until they were satisfied.
Cyrus came out of his thoughts, several punches and kicks showered down on him. His body swayed, evading each strike.
He catches one of Ryan's punches shocking him. Before the Flame dragon could react he was slugged across the jaw and then several blows strikes across his body. Each blow caused a shockwave, Ryan was sent flying carving up the ground creating a small trench sbd dust trailing along the way.
"What is this power?!" Ryan exclaimed as he crashed through a tree, said tree snapping in half.
He grunted in pain as he rose to his feet, scowling at the sight of the dragon prince. The power of Cyrus's Dragon Core was rising.
Cyrus looks at him eyes filled to the brim with anger but most of all determination. However this only seemed to inferiorate Ryan.
"Don't you dare look down on me, you scum! I'm Cade's right hand! I've served at his side for centuries! My power far outclasses yours, you damn brat!" He has his pride as Cades right hand, pride of a Dragon.
Ryan unleashed a barrage of fire blasts, each one whizzing past Cyrus as he weaved through the inferno. The searing heat licked his skin, but he never faltered.
Flames erupted from his palms, streaking toward Cyrus like meteors. The Dragon Prince ducked and weaved through the inferno, lightning crackling across his skin, his eyes narrowed in focus. The air shimmered with heat as fire blasts scorched past him.
Ryan surged forward, flame-fueled speed warping the air behind him. Cyrus met him head-on, lightning bursting from his body in arcs. Their fists collided with a thunderous boom, shockwaves tearing through trees and toppling buildings.
A massive oak cracked in half. A nearby structure collapsed, reduced to rubble by the sheer force of their clash.
Ryan gritted his teeth in anger as wings red as fire itself spread behind his back. He took to the skies , his skin was replaced with red scales and his lips turned a dark shade, his eyes a fiery red with black pupils. A tail swished ominously behind him.
It was obvious he was going all out now, his intent clear. The destruction of the Dragon Prince.
Cyrus balled his hands into fists as he gazed up at the enemy. He couldn't afford to lose here. So many had been killed by the fire dragons, he couldn't let this be the end of his journey.
He would fight with all he had. Slowly Cyrus's form began to change. His body morphing to that of a Dragon. His skin was costed in blue scales, his eyes an electric blue with his pupils being black slits, a blue scaled tail swished behind him.
His form held a certain amount of grace. His wings sprouted out from his back, almost immediately he floated in the air, his body hovering in the sky.
Cyrus gets in a stance, his talons in front of him defensively.
Ryan sneers at Cyrus. This boy really thought he stood a chance against him. Cyrus was a child a thirteen year old barely in his teens and he thought he take him on?!
The Flame Dragon roared, the sound echoing throughout the area. The roar was filled with Rage, but a hint of his pride as Cade's right hand shined through.
Ryan sent a barrage of fist sized fireballs at Cyrus, the Dragon prince matched his ferocity sending several lightning blasts at him.
The night sky came to life with explosions as the flames and lightning collided.
"You damn brat!" Ryan growls as he continues to send fire blast after fire blast. "I'm gonna turn you into ash, Nothing will be left of you, not even your bones!"
In a blur of motion, Ryan vanished then reappeared right in front of Cyrus, slamming a fist into his gut and sending him flying.
Cyrus grunts in pain as he caught himself in the air but widened his eyes as he rent Ryan's core rising.
Ryan gathered flames into his lungs, the area getting hotter.
'This isn't good. I have to make a move that matches this and considering what he's planning…' Cyrus thinks about moves to counter Ryan's and could only think of one move.
Cyrus gathers lightning to his lungs lightning crackled across his body in dangerous arcs. Ryan narrows his eyes angrily.
Ryan unleashes a vortex of flames from his mouth, the inferno carving a deep trench in the earth as it rushes toward Cyrus. In response, Cyrus roars and fires his own breath attack, lightning crackling through the air as it collides with the flames.
The two elemental forces collided in a defeaning roar, exploding in a blinding flash of light. The two dragons attempting to overpower the other. The shockwave uprooted a tree and sent debris everywhere.
The air was filled with intense heat and the scent of ozone lingered. Neither Ryan or Cyrus could be seen through the smoke and dust around them, needless to say neither combatants could see the other.
Cyrus looks around but all he could see was smoke and flames. 'I have to get out of this smoke-' his thoughts were interrupted as a something struck him in the side.
like a demon wrapped in fire he burst through the flames driving his fist into Cyrus's ribs.
The Dragon prince cried out in pain as he was sent flying out of the smoke and flames. Cyrus struggled to defend himself from the storm of punches.
With a final blow Cyrus was sent flying several feet away. Ryan grinned smugly.
"Pathetic, little Dragon."
Cyrus struggled to stand. He was running low on stamina, it was true Dragons had a bizarre amount of stamina, but he had taken out 300 dragons and this battle with Ryan was taking his toll on him.
He observed Ryan, his breathing was ragged. It would seem he was nearing his limit as well.
'This…' Cyrus struggled to breath his throat aching. 'This next move will have to be my last.'
Cyrus gets in a stance his talons glowing with crackling lightning. Ryan looks startled, a surprised look on his face as he gazes at him with an exhausted expression across his dragonoid features.
The Dragon Prince rushed forward, lightning trailing behind him. He moved in a blur, the crackling energy augmenting his speed. In a flash, his talons pierced Ryan.
Ryan screamed in agony as lightning surged through his body. Cyrus's vision blurred with blotches as he continued the onslaught,
Cyrus increased the voltage, arcs of lightning dancing wildly as Ryan convulsed. With a final surge, Cyrus pushed beyond the limit—Ryan's body disintegrated into dust, his final scream swept away by the wind.
Cyrus breathed heavily, his mouth opening and closing with exhaustion.
"I… did it…"
He collapsed to the ground, his dragon form flickering and fading, shifting back into his human shape. His vision blurred again, the world around him swimming in and out of focus.
As his vision faded into the abyss, the last thing he heard was the sound of echoing footsteps—heels clicking steadily against the ground.
"Shit…" Cyrus cursed under his breath, his consciousness slipping away. What he thought was a victory… now left his fate uncertain.
….
Cade sat at the dining table enjoying a nicely cooked well-done steak.
'If there's one thing these humans are good at it's their food.' Cade's thought then drifted to Ryan and the men he sent to conquer North Carolina. He knew Cyrus didn't stand a chance especially against Ryan, he had been his right hand for over two centuries.
It had been a day and a half since Ryan left with those 300 Dragons. He should be returning pretty soon.
Cade glanced at the waiter as he arrived with another steak. The man trembled as he set the plate down in front of him by now, there wasn't a single person who didn't know the Fire Dragon King.
Humans always knew of the existence of dragons. The Lightning Dragons more often than not defended the world from threats like the Fire Dragons.
Fire Dragons were feared and for good reason too, they've done nothing but cause pain and destruction everywhere they go.
The Lightning Dragons were praised for their herorics, grace and bravery. They were the complete opposite of Fire Dragons.
Cade cut into his Steak and took a bite, the flavor exploding in his mouth. From the expression on his face he was satisfied.
The Waiter inwardly sighed. He knew what happened to those that didn't meet Cade's expectations.
Footsteps prattles against the ground followed by the sound of commotion. Cade could tell who it was by the scent alone.
Several Fire Dragons bowed to Cade, their actions portraying respect and loyalty.
"My lord, we apologize for interrupting you, but there's something you should know. It's urgent."
Cade rose a brow and placed his fork down, his attention drawn to his men. "Go on, what's so important that you had to interrupt my meal?"
"It's about Ryan and those Dragons that left with him to claim North Carolina." One of the dragons speaks.
Cade had an amused look on his face before bursting into laughter. "I see, so North Carolina is ours eh? He certainly didn't waste any time."
"Sire…I'm afraid those 300 Dragons along with Ryan have fallen in battle."
Cade's eyes widened dramatically. For the first time in over a decade he was genuinely surprised. He knew Cyrus had potential, but to think he was a match for Ryan was startling to say the least.
"Are you absolutely certain?"
The Fire Dragons exchanged glances before looking back at Cade.
"Yes, my lord. It's all over the media," one of them said, holding up a photo of a massive crater in North Carolina.
There was no mistaking it, that was the aftermath of a dragon battle and an intense one at that.
'Like Father like son eh?' Cade thinks with an amused expression on his face.
"Sire?" One of the Fire Dragons questioned. Cade rests his face on his knuckles.
"I think it's time I call in the Four Generals."
The Fire Dragons widened their eyes in shock. They knew Cyrus was powerful and a threat but calling In those guys was something else entirely.
They were in a league of their own, Ryan didn't hold a candle to them despite being Cade's right hand for centuries.
"Sire are you sure that's completely necessary?"
"Well, the boy is bound to be injured. This is our chance to claim North Carolina. Bring me the Four Generals."
"As you wish my lord."
Cade grins as his men left to carry out his orders. Things were getting interesting, very interesting indeed.
Cyrus shouldn't be a problem right now, he was bound to be injured, this was their chance to take North Carolina, but they had to be wary because they didn't know when the Lightning Dragon Clan would make their move against them.
To be continued