Hellfire

As Alex went about his usual routine in the camp, honing his skills and gathering more information, the air buzzed with an unusual excitement. Whispers spread among the soldiers that the King himself was arriving for a surprise visit—a rare and prestigious event that had everyone on edge. The soldiers scrambled to prepare, ensuring every detail was perfect, from their uniforms to the condition of the camp.

When the King finally arrived, he did so with a grand entourage, his presence commanding immediate respect and awe. Clad in resplendent armour that gleamed in the sunlight, the King was a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression that softened only when he addressed his men. He moved with the assurance of a seasoned ruler, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the camp and its soldiers.

Alex stood among the ranks, observing everything with his usual calculated detachment. He noticed how the soldiers straightened their postures, how their voices became more reverent when speaking of the King. Even the hardened veterans, who rarely showed emotion, seemed to carry a glint of pride in their eyes as they watched their sovereign.

After a brief inspection, the King was led to the central tent, where the camp's leadership had gathered. The Captain, a grizzled veteran named Thorne, stood at attention, waiting for the King to address him. Alex, who had already made himself indispensable to the leadership, was also present, standing just behind Thorne.

The King spoke first, his voice a deep baritone that resonated through the tent. "Captain Thorne, I have heard much about this camp's resilience and success against the demon forces. I came to see for myself the men who have been holding the line against these abominations."

Thorne bowed his head respectfully. "Your Majesty, it is an honour to have you here. We have indeed been pushing back the demon forces, but it is a constant battle. However, we've had some exceptional help as of late."

The King raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell."

Thorne stepped aside slightly, revealing Alex. "This man, Alex, has been invaluable to our efforts. He appeared not long ago, but his knowledge of demons and his combat prowess are unlike anything we've seen. He's helped us understand the demons in ways we couldn't have imagined."

The King's gaze shifted to Alex, who met his eyes with a calm, measured stare. "Is that so? And where did you acquire such knowledge?"

Alex bowed his head in feigned humility. "Your Majesty, I've travelled far and wide, surviving in lands others fear to tread. I've learned much through trial and error, and I offer that knowledge to your kingdom in hopes that it might aid in our fight."

The King studied him for a long moment, clearly sizing him up. Alex could feel the weight of the monarch's scrutiny, but he remained composed, knowing that any sign of weakness would be disastrous.

Finally, the King nodded approvingly. "You've done well, Alex. A man of your talents is rare indeed. I trust Captain Thorne's judgment, and if he speaks highly of you, then I shall as well."

Alex inclined his head, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, Your Majesty. It is my honour to serve."

As the conversation continued, Alex's mind was already at work, calculating how he could turn this unexpected visit to his advantage. The King's favour was a powerful asset, one that could open doors to the highest echelons of the kingdom's military and political circles. With the right manoeuvring, he could gain access to even more sensitive information, perhaps even leverage the King's trust to secure resources or allies for his own purposes.

Malum's voice, ever present in his mind, whispered darkly, "You see? This is an opportunity, a chance to rise even higher. Play your cards right, and you could have the King eating out of your hand. Imagine the power you could wield… imagine what you could achieve."

Alex didn't need much convincing. He already saw the potential in aligning himself with the King, even if only temporarily. The more influence he gained, the closer he could get to his ultimate goals. And if that meant playing the loyal soldier for a while longer, then so be it.

As the King and his entourage left the tent to continue their inspection of the camp, Captain Thorne clapped Alex on the shoulder. "You've impressed the King, lad. Keep this up, and there's no telling how far you'll go."

Alex gave a modest nod, hiding the flicker of cold calculation in his eyes. "I'll do my best, Captain."

But inside, his mind was already spinning with plans. The King's visit had provided him with an unexpected opportunity, and Alex was determined to exploit it to its fullest potential. He would continue to gather information, ingratiate himself with the kingdom's leadership, and bide his time until the perfect moment to strike.

Because in this game, he knew there were no allies, only pawns to be used. And right now, the King was just another piece on the board.

As the King and his entourage began to make their way out of the camp, a sudden, ominous shift in the atmosphere gripped the air. The once clear sky darkened as if a massive shadow had passed over the sun, casting the entire camp in an eerie twilight. The soldiers, who had been standing at attention, now looked around in confusion and fear, murmurs of unease rippling through their ranks.

Then, the ground trembled with a low, reverberating rumble, and a deafening roar split the air. The sound was so powerful it felt like it shook the very souls of those who heard it. Panic spread through the camp as the soldiers realized what was happening.

From the darkened sky, a colossal figure emerged—an ancient, legendary dragon, its scales shimmering like molten gold and obsidian. Its wings spread wide, casting a vast shadow over the camp, and its eyes glowed with an intense, fiery malevolence. The dragon's presence was overwhelming, an embodiment of pure, destructive power.

The King's guards immediately moved to shield him, forming a protective circle as they drew their weapons, though they all knew how futile their efforts would be against such a creature. The soldiers scrambled, many running to the weapon stores or readying the camp's meagre defences, though the looks of despair on their faces made it clear they knew their chances of survival were slim.

Captain Thorne, with his sword drawn, barked orders to his men, trying to maintain some semblance of order amidst the chaos. "Hold your positions! We've faced worse, and we'll face this! Archers, to the towers! Mages, prepare your spells!"

But even as he spoke, there was an undeniable quaver in his voice. The dragon let out another earth-shattering roar, its massive maw opening to reveal rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth. The air around it crackled with energy as it prepared to unleash its devastating breath.

Amidst the panic, Alex stood rooted to the spot, his eyes locked onto the dragon with a strange, almost serene calm. Malum's voice echoed in his mind, dripping with excitement. "A legendary class dragon… such power… If you could harness that, think of what you could become."

Alex's mind raced, but unlike the others, his thoughts weren't of escape or survival. He was calculating, analysing, wondering how this unexpected appearance could be turned to his advantage. The dragon was a force of nature, something that could annihilate armies with ease, yet it also represented a challenge, an opportunity to test the limits of his strength—and perhaps even gain something more.

As the dragon descended lower, the King stepped forward, defiant despite the looming threat. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, but even he seemed to know the futility of such an action. "Everyone, hold your ground!" the King commanded, his voice firm. "This beast may be powerful, but we are the might of the kingdom! We stand together!"

But as the dragon's roar grew louder, even the King's words felt hollow against the impending doom.

Just then, the dragon's gaze locked onto Alex. Its burning eyes narrowed as if it had sensed something different about him, something other than the fear that radiated from everyone else. The connection was brief, but it was enough to set Alex's heart racing—not with fear, but with a dark thrill.

The dragon's mouth opened wide, and with a flash of light, it unleashed a torrent of searing, fiery breath. The camp erupted into chaos as flames engulfed everything in their path. Soldiers screamed as they were incinerated where they stood, the ground around them turning to molten slag. Tents and supplies were reduced to ashes in seconds, and even the King and his guards were forced to retreat, barely avoiding the dragon's wrath.

Amidst the inferno, Alex stood his ground, the heat and flames licking at his skin. For a moment, he felt the edges of his consciousness blurring, the presence of Malum growing stronger, more insistent. "This is your moment, Alex. Show them all the true power that lies within you."

Something deep inside Alex stirred—a primal, unyielding force that demanded to be unleashed. The world around him seemed to slow as his perception sharpened. He could feel the raw energy of the dragon's attack, the immense power it wielded, and for the first time, he felt something akin to kinship with the beast.

In that instant, Alex made a choice. He would not flee, he would not cower—he would face this legendary dragon head-on. But not as Alex. He would do so as the being he was slowly becoming, the one who could look into the face of a dragon and see not an enemy, but an opportunity.

The flames around him seemed to part as he strode forward, his eyes locked onto the dragon's. The soldiers who had been fleeing or fighting stopped and stared in disbelief as Alex advanced towards the beast, unscathed and undeterred.

The dragon's gaze met his once more, and in that moment, an understanding passed between them. The battle had only just begun.

As Alex prepared to confront the immense dragon, more information suddenly flooded into his mind, as if Malum was feeding him knowledge from some dark, ancient source. The dragon before him was not just any dragon, but a **Legendary A-Tier Hell Dragon Descendant**—a direct progeny of the original Hell Dragons, creatures born in the deepest, most infernal pits of the underworld.

This dragon was an apex predator among its kind, known for its unmatched ferocity, regenerative abilities, and the hellfire it could summon from the very core of its being. The scales that covered its body were nearly impenetrable, forged from a combination of otherworldly metals and demonic energy, making it resistant to most forms of attack. Its blood was said to burn like acid, capable of corroding even the strongest armour, and its breath could incinerate an entire army in mere seconds.

Moreover, its lineage granted it a terrifying intelligence. Unlike lesser dragons, which relied purely on brute strength and instinct, a Hell Dragon Descendant was a strategic thinker, capable of anticipating its enemies' moves and adapting to any situation. It was as much a general on the battlefield as it was a force of nature, making it an even more formidable opponent.

As this knowledge settled in, Alex's resolve only hardened. This was no mere creature to be feared; it was a rare, unparalleled adversary. Defeating it—or even surviving an encounter—would elevate his status far beyond anything he had previously imagined. He could feel Malum's excitement, a dark glee that pulsed within him as if this was the moment they had both been waiting for.

"Do you see now, Alex?" Malum's voice whispered in his mind, dripping with anticipation. "This isn't just a battle. It's a chance to prove your strength—to prove that you are not just another mortal, but something far greater. The Hell Dragon is legendary, but legends can be rewritten."

Alex clenched his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins. His gaze never wavered from the dragon, which now seemed to recognize the challenge before it. The air between them crackled with tension, both of them understanding that this was more than a simple fight. It was a test of dominance, of who would emerge as the true force of destruction.

The soldiers around the camp watched in stunned silence as Alex faced down the Hell Dragon Descendant, unaware of the internal battle raging within him. To them, this was madness—a lone man challenging a beast that could lay waste to entire kingdoms. But to Alex, it was destiny.

The dragon, sensing the shift in the air, let out a low growl, its fiery eyes narrowing. It began to circle Alex, each step causing the ground to tremble beneath its immense weight. Smoke curled from its nostrils, and the heat radiating from its body was almost unbearable, yet Alex stood firm, unflinching.

As they sized each other up, Alex felt the dark presence of Malum growing stronger, as if the entity was pushing him to his limits, urging him to tap into the full extent of his newfound power. This was no longer about survival—it was about asserting dominance, proving that even a Hell Dragon was not beyond his reach.

"Take this power, Alex," Malum urged. "Show the world what happens when they dare to challenge the darkness within you."

With a final, determined breath, Alex felt the shift within him as his darker side fully took hold, not in a moment of weakness, but in calculated determination. This was his fight, and he would win it—not just for survival, but to carve his name into the annals of history, just as the Hell Dragon had done with its own.

The battle was about to begin, and only one would emerge victorious.

The dragon struck first, unleashing a torrent of hellfire that roared toward Alex like a tidal wave of molten death. The heat was overwhelming, the very air igniting around it. But Alex was faster. Channeling the dark power within him, he moved with impossible speed, dodging to the side as the ground where he had stood turned to molten slag.

As he evaded the attack, Alex retaliated with a dark energy blast, his hand crackling with Malum's malevolent power. The energy collided with the dragon's flank, exploding on impact. But as the smoke cleared, Alex saw that the attack had barely scratched the dragon's impenetrable scales. It turned its gaze toward him, eyes burning with fury and contempt.

"You'll have to do better than that," Malum's voice sneered in his mind. "Use your hatred, your rage-unleash everything you have!"

The dragon lunged at Alex, its massive claws tearing through the earth as it charged. Alex leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the beast's grasp. He landed behind the dragon and struck at its hind leg with a blade of pure dark energy, aiming for the joint. The attack sliced through the scales, drawing a spray of fiery blood, but the dragon barely faltered. It spun around, whipping its tail with lightning speed. The tail slammed into Alex, sending him crashing into the ground with bone-crushing force.

Pain shot through his body, but Alex forced himself to stand. His vision blurred for a moment, but he blinked it away, focusing on the towering dragon before him. The beast loomed over him, its jaws opening wide to unleash another blast of hellfire.

This time, Alex didn't move. Instead, he braced himself, calling on the deepest reserves of his power. As the hellfire surged toward him, he raised his hands, and a dark shield of energy formed around him, absorbing the inferno. The flames battered the shield, but Alex held firm, his eyes locked on the dragon's.

"Now, Alex!" Malum's voice roared. "Strike now, while it's focused on the flames!"

With a roar of his own, Alex dispelled the shield and charged through the lingering flames, his body enveloped in dark energy. He leaped at the dragon's head, aiming for its eyes. The dragon, momentarily surprised by his audacity, reared back, but Alex was too fast. He drove his energy-infused blade into the dragon's eye, pushing with all his might

The dragon roared in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge him. But Alex held on, twisting the blade deeper. The dragon's thrashing grew more frantic, its massive claws raking the ground as it struggled against the pain.

With a final, desperate surge of power, Alex tore the blade free, and the dragon's eye exploded in a burst of fire and dark energy. The beast howled in pain, rearing up on its hind legs, blinded and enraged. But even as it staggered, its other eye blazing with fury, it began to regenerate, the torn flesh knitting back together at an alarming rate.

Alex landed on the ground, breathing heavily, his body aching from the strain. The dragon was wounded, but far from defeated. Its regeneration was relentless, its power seemingly inexhaustible. He knew that he couldn't keep this up forever.

"You're running out of time, Alex," Malum's voice whispered. "End this now -use everything you've got, or you will die here."

Summoning the last of his strength, Alex prepared for one final assault. He focused all of his energy into a single point, forming a massive, dark sphere in his hands. The power within it was immense, a swirling vortex of destruction that pulsed with malevolent intent.

The dragon, sensing the danger, lowered its head and prepared to charge. Its remaining eye burned with determination, and its jaws dripped with molten fire.

With a roar, Alex unleashed the dark sphere, hurling it at the dragon with all his might. The sphere flew through the air, crackling with energy, and collided with the dragon's chest. The impact was catastrophic. The sphere detonated with a blinding flash of light, engulfing the dragon in a maelstrom of darkness and fire.

The explosion shook the ground, sending shockwaves through the camp. The soldiers, who had been watching from a distance, were knocked off their feet by the blast. When the smoke finally cleared, the dragon lay on the ground, its body broken and smouldering. The once-mighty Hell Dragon Descendant was dead, its life snuffed out by the overwhelming power of Alex's final attack.

Alex stood over the dragon's corpse, panting heavily. His body was battered, his energy nearly depleted. But he had done it-he had defeated the legendary beast. The camp was silent, the soldiers too stunned to speak.

But as Alex stared at the fallen dragon, he felt no satisfaction, no sense of victory. Instead, there was only the cold, empty voice of Malum, whispering in his mind.

"Well done, Alex. But this is only the beginning. There are greater challenges ahead-greater enemies to destroy. You have tasted power, and now you must crave more. Never stop, never rest, until you stand above all others."

Alex clenched his fists, the coldness in his heart growing. He was no longer the man he once was. The battle had changed him-hardened him. He had become something darker, something more ruthless. And as he walked away from the dragon's corpse, he knew that the path ahead would only lead him deeper into the abyss.