Chapter 15

We finally managed to get inside the evacuation shelter. It was still packed, even inside, with barely any room to move around.

Soon, we spotted Papa, shouting at the guards at the entrance.

"Sir, please understand, we can't let you out right now; that would endanger everyone here!" one of the guards explained.

"My daughter and wife are outside! Please, let me go! I'll make sure not to reveal the shelter's location!" Papa shouted desperately.

Just as things seemed to grow more tense, I heard a familiar voice.

"Honey!" Mama shouted, rushing to his side.

Papa blinked in surprise. "Leena?" he whispered, quickly approaching Mama.

They embraced tightly while I was caught in the middle of their hug, a little squished but happy to see them together again.

"I'm glad you're okay!" Papa murmured, tears filling his eyes.

Mama's voice trembled as she clung to him. "I was so scared, honey! I didn't know what to do!"

After a brief reunion full of tearful joy, I interrupted with a pout, "Mama, it's too tight!"

Mama pulled away slightly, realizing I was wedged in the middle of them. "Oh, sorry!" she apologized softly, backing up a little.

Papa chuckled as he saw my pout. "Aw, my cute little princess! Everything's going to be okay. Stay calm and—"

Suddenly, the entire shelter trembled. The lights flickered and people screamed in fear.

"What's happening?" I muttered to myself, feeling the tremors in the air.

I concentrated, using my senses to track down the source. A surge of magical energy was building rapidly.

"That's... no ordinary creature," I thought to myself. The energy was too intense—it had to be a greater dragon.

I closed my eyes and focused, reaching out with my telepathy.

---

The Dragon's Perspective:

The dragon soared through the skies at incredible speed, crushing everything in its path, its massive wings creating shockwaves. It couldn't reach the humans, though—it could sense they were hiding underground. Furious, the dragon continued to unleash blasts, trying to break into their shelter.

Then, it heard a voice echo in its mind.

"Hey, Greater Dragon!"

The dragon flinched, taken aback.

"Who is this insolent being?!" it demanded. "You dare speak to me?"

"Please, mighty dragon, leave this place," the voice responded. The tone was respectful, but also commanding.

"Hah, that's a nice tone, but I reject your words," the dragon boomed. "Humans have ruled this world for far too long. It's time for us to reclaim it!"

The voice replied, "Can't we coexist?"

The dragon laughed harshly.

"Dragons don't negotiate, child!"

The telepathic connection crackled. "This is your last warning. Back off now if you value your life," the voice threatened.

But the dragon refused to listen, continuing to smash the ground with powerful blows.

The entire area seemed to shake again as the dragon's wrath intensified.

---

Inside the shelter, I turned to Zoth.

"Zoth!" I called telepathically, my mind desperate.

"Yes, my lady?" came his voice, calm as ever.

"This dragon is beyond reason. Do as you must," I replied, my patience thinning.

---

Zoth's Perspective:

A swirling shadow appeared from nowhere. Zoth emerged, his presence commanding.

"A mere Greater Dragon dares to disrespect our goddess?" he muttered, his voice tinged with disdain.

The dragon looked toward him, sensing the immense power radiating from Zoth.

"What is this...?" the dragon grumbled.

Zoth's eyes burned with fury.

"I will show you why you should fear us!" he declared.

A pulse of dark magic surged around Zoth as he prepared for battle.

"Ray of Annihilation!" the dragon shouted, unleashing a devastating beam of fire.

The beam hit Zoth head-on, obliterating everything in its path, but Zoth remained unharmed.

"You think that can stop me?" Zoth's voice echoed as the dust cleared. He grinned. "You'll regret mocking our goddess."

The dragon roared in anger, its wings spreading wide, ready to strike again.

But Zoth moved in an instant, closing the distance between them. With a swift motion, he kicked the dragon aside, sending it tumbling through the air.

"You still dare challenge my goddess?" Zoth sneered, grabbing the dragon's left wing and crushing it with his bare hands.

The dragon roared in pain, but Zoth was relentless. He twisted and shattered the dragon's limbs with brutal efficiency.

"This is for mocking my goddess' mercy!" Zoth growled, breaking the dragon's legs one by one.

The dragon's roars grew louder, but Zoth showed no mercy.

He held the dragon's mutilated form in his hands.

"And this is for laughing at my goddess!" Zoth hissed, snapping the dragon's remaining wings and claws.

The dragon, now helpless, tried to plead.

"P-Please... have mercy..."

Zoth paused for a moment, his expression cold.

"Weren't you the one who rejected the mercy of our goddess?"

The dragon's voice quivered.

"I... I was wrong. Please... I misunderstood..."

Zoth's eyes narrowed as he summoned a sword, walking towards the dragon with purpose.

"You misunderstood? I think it's a little too late for that."

"Please! I'll do anything! Spare me!" the dragon begged, trembling.

Zoth smirked, amusement flickering in his gaze.

"Anything?"

"Yes!" The dragon's voice was desperate.

"I will swear loyalty to you! I'll serve you!"

Zoth chuckled darkly.

"Loyalty is one thing. But ownership... that's something else entirely."

The dragon hesitated, clearly confused.

"Ownership?"

Zoth's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Yes, ownership. A one-sided contract. You will be mine, body and soul."

The dragon's fear intensified, and it quickly realized the stakes.

"I swear... I swear an oath of ownership to you! Please, spare me!"

Zoth's grin widened as he stepped back, vanishing into the shadows along with the dragon's defeated form.

"Thank you for calling me, my lady," he murmured as they disappeared.

---

Back in the shelter, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The danger had passed, but I knew this was only the beginning. The world was changing, and I was ready to face whatever came next.