A Dragon Summoned

Boy was on the ground, barely able to move, watching as General Varian loomed over him, sword raised for the finishing blow. But just as he began the final blow…

A voice like thunder split the air.

"Enough."

Before Varian's blade could fall, another sword intercepted it, a clash of steel ringing across the battlefield like a bell of judgement. 

Clang!

Sparks flew as the force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, clearing the dust and debris in the area around them.

Boy blinked, struggling to focus… Standing before him, between him and the general was the commander.

His presence was overwhelming and shone with authority as he stood strong, his armour was dented and stained from battle. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, shone with resolve as he stared down General Varian.

"You've done enough, General Varian," he spoke again, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Varian smirked, unfazed, "So you finally show yourself."

"It's funny that a commander would only take on an enemy general once he is weak and handicapped don't you think, Commander Darius?" he mocked as he looked at his own hand which was now missing before turning towards Boy, "Though through my own carelessness, I must admit. But no matter. The outcome remains unchanged."

At this, the commander's eyes flicked towards Boy, and in that moment, Boy saw something he had seen before… Concern… Acknowledgement… Things that he had felt back with Lady Elaria…

"You fail to see his true potential," Darius said, bluntly.

In that moment something in his voice made Boy's breath hitch, as his body tensed and conflicting emotions churned within him.

Varian simply scoffed as he spoke, "then, let's put that to the test."

As he said this, he raised his sabre again, shifting into a battle stance.

The commander sighed as he also gripped his blade.

Boy, still weak, couldn't do anything but watch as he felt the shift in the air as both warriors prepared to fight. It was going to be his first time properly seeing two masters fighting and one of them would fall.

Blazing Raze!

The commander struck first, his blade igniting in a surge of crimson flames, a series of rapid thrusts so fast that they blurred, leaving afterimages of fire in their wake. 

Each strike was like a storm of embers, relentless and precise. The sheer speed forced Varian back, his blade barely able to keep up as he deflected the attacks with practiced efficiency.

The air itself sounded as if it was hissing at each clash with countless sparks dancing between them.

The clash continued- feints, counters, brutal efficiency. This was the first time Boy had seen true martial mastery. There were no wild swinging or desperate strikes but skill, strategy, and precision.

He was left mesmerised, 'So this… this is how humans fight…'

Thunder Fang!

Varian growled, planting his feet after a few steps backwards as he brought his sword down in a massive overhead slash, bolts of lightning arcing around the blade.

Boom!

The sheer force split the very earth beneath them as the impact sent out shockwaves of electricity, scorching the ground where the commander had stood a moment before. 

Darius had sidestepped at the last second, twisting his blade in an upward arc, using Varian's own momentum against him. 

And at this moment, he struck again, his flames roaring into life.

Infernal Breaker!

His sword became a streak of flame. The air shimmered with heat as the commander blurred forward, the flames along his blade twisting into a concentrated inferno.

A blur of motion, a streak of steel suddenly sent Varian staggering backwards, his armour split open along the chest as blood sprayed into the air, his breathing ragged.

"What-?" he barely had time to react before the commander surged forward again.

Boy watched, mesmerised. This was beyond skill- it was absolute control. For the first time, he saw the depth of human strength, not just in raw power, but in technique. If he wanted to reach that level- if he wanted to be more than prey- then he had a long way to go.

Varian snarled and went for a desperate counter as his sword began to crackle intensely with violent arcs of lightning. The aether and lightning emanating from this was far more intense than the rest of the attacks that he had used earlier. This technique was meant to finish the fight in one decisive blow.

Stormbringer's Wrath!

Yet the commander did not flinch. He did not retreat.

Instead, he became fire itself, stepping into Varian's attack at the last second, twisting his body just enough for the massive strike to graze past him. 

He then drove his flaming blade straight into Varian's shoulder, the fire surging on impact, scorching armor and flesh. 

Varian gasped, his weapon slipping from his grasp. The commander did not stop as he planted a boot against his chest and sent an explosive blast of flame through his foot, kicking Varian to the ground with enough force to leave a smoking crater beneath him, sending him sprawling.

"You were never my equal," the commander said coldly.

Varian coughed, struggling to move as pain flooded his body, his once-confidence smirk replaced with pure disbelief.

"Damn… you…"

The fight was over. The difference in power had been made clear.

"You think you've won?" he rasped, voice hoarse yet laced with amusement, "This battle was never about you and me."

As he said this, the ground beneath them shuddered violently. Dust and debris lifted into the air as crack spread across the battlefield. A deep resonant sound, like the growl of an ancient beast, rumbled as if coming from the very depths of the earth.

The commander's eyes narrowed. His grip tightened around his sword. Something was wrong.

Varian's eyes gleamed at the scene that was taking place, "You fools. Did you think you could possibly stop the Kingdom of Zevareth?"

As soon as he said this, a deafening roar erupted, splitting the sky itself. Soldiers and summons froze mid-strike, their weapons trembling in their hands. 

The air turned oppressive, thick with a heat so intense that even the strongest warriors instinctively backed away.

The commander stepped forward, grabbing the hilt of his blade that was still attached to Varian, "What have you done?"

Varian gave him a look of mocking pity as he replied, "Oh, you'll see."

Then the ground exploded.

A massive fissure tore open the battlefield, jagged rock formations rising like broken ribs from the earth. From the chasm's deepest shadows, something colossal emerged.

All the entities at the battlefield felt it before they saw it- the sheer pressure of an ancient force waking from its slumber.

A pair of golden eyes snapped open, glowing like miniature suns.

The battlefield fell silent. 

Then, in one fluid motion, the dragon rose. 

"You summoned a dragon?" Darius asked in shock, it was his turn to be in disbelief.

"Jealous?" Varian replied with an evil cunning smile with no fear.

"The only way to summon it is to sacrifice a million lives…" Darius mumbled in deeping how far the enemy was willing to go to win.

Hearing this, Varian began smiling and laughing through his bloodied teeth, "Victory belongs to Nevareth!"

The sky darkened as its enormous wings unfurled, sending torrential winds surging across the battlefield. Soldiers were thrown from their feet, banners ripped from their poles.

The commander exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. He pulled out his sword and sharply decapitated Varian, ending his life before turning around.

Then, he raised his voice, cutting through the chaos like steel, "ALL FORCES, FALL BACK! NOW!"

In that moment, the battlefield came to life again as the soldiers and summons all scrambled to retreat.

The dragon's gaze swept across the battlefield, not with the hunger of a beast, but with the cold intelligence of a ruler. It wasn't just a creature- it was a force of nature, a living calamity that had been summoned through an evil ritual.

It exhaled. 

A torrent of golden fire exploded from its kaws, devouring entire battalions and legions in seconds. Screams rang out, but they were brief, the heat reducing men and summons alike to nothing but ash.

The air itself ignited, turning the battlefield into a realm of pure destruction.

Boy's breath froze as he witnessed this… This…This was power beyond comprehension…

He was in awe.

The dragon was like a god among insects, its sheer presence bending reality around it. Boy and all the summons could feel it, an overwhelming force that demanded submission.

Yet… instead of fear, something deeper took root in his heart- hunger.

His eyes tracked every motion, every ripple of muscle beneath the dragon's massive scales while its claws crushed steel and bone as if it were made of paper. Its wings sent hurricanes across the battlefield with each beat.

And then there were its eyes, a deep shade of molten gold that radiated an intelligence far beyond that of mere beasts.

This was not just strength. 

This was sovereignty.