Strength of Dragons

(this is when I lived in Stony, and I am still only 21. My hair is short like Peter Petrelli's from Season 2 of 'Heroes', my teeth are straight, and my acne, CP, shunt, tube and scars are all still long-gone! Marc and his friends are still completely normal humans, although they eventually gain dangerous power)







Everyone knows of various dangerous areas around the world. And the most famous of these is the Bermuda, or Devil’s, Triangle, located between Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and Florida.

However, a lesser-known area, located around Miyake Island in Japan, around 100 km south of Tokyo, is known as the Dragon’s Triangle.

Although around the same size as the Bermuda Triangle, the Dragon’s Triangle is far more mysterious, and much more powerful.

And, although not well known, the Dragon’s Triangle is in fact the birthplace of the legends we know today, and Miyake Island, in the heart of the Triangle, is said to be the very place where the first dragon was born.

Just over one thousand years ago, the stars of the constellation Draco the Dragon passed over Miyake Island, and the soul of one dragon, Drageth, in the constellation passed into a star that fell from the constellation as a meteor.

Crashing onto the island, the meteorite cracked open, revealing a young dragon of Draco’s kind, from Dragonheart.

Drageth explored Miyake Island, finding it deserted of human inhabitants. However, Marc, Judas, Moloch, Curtis, and Dallas, having learned of Drageth’s existence, crossed the ocean from Japan’s coast on a boat they secretly stole from some fishermen.

While exploring the island, Drageth found, at its heart, in the jungle, a large pyramid very similar to the Scorpion King’s, from ‘The Mummy Returns’. However, even though built of solid gold like that one, there were a few notable differences.

One was that, at the top, instead of a scorpion, there was a huge, solid silver anthropomorphic winged dragon holding a large obelisk of pure ruby between its hands.

This led the pyramid to be called ‘El Nar Dam Maebad’, or “The Dragon Blood Temple” in Arabic.

Another was instead of having many hidden chambers and tunnels, the pyramid simply had a short stairway leading down to a ramp that ran to the centre of the pyramid, branching off into four large chambers, one at each corner of the pyramid’s inner structure, joined by a tunnel that ran around the entire edge of it.

In the centre of the pyramid was a massive open cavern with a sort of ‘cupola’ opening to the outside, fitted with a clear glass roof that allowed light from the sun to shine through into the space, but the ruby atop the statue, over the cupola, gave the light an eerie, fiery red tinge.

Drageth found the island to be a suitable place to reside, and built his pyramid with his powers, placing a giant ruby he found in a cave, at the apex of the pyramid.

He happily lived on the island for close to 200 years, but in the 8th century A.D., Marc and his friends, leading an army, came upon the pyramid’s temple after reaching the island while seeking shelter from a storm.

A bloody battle raged between Marc, his friends, and Drageth, but Marc managed to crack a shard from the ruby atop the pyramid, and kill the dragon with it by stabbing him in the heart after tearing away one single scale.

Immediately afterwards, unnoticed by Marc or his friends, Drageth’s soul ascended to the constellation Draco, and the ruby shard then burned Marc’s left hand, forever branding him with Satan’s mark, 666.

Afterwards, the shard of ruby disappeared, and Drageth, now a star in the dragon’s constellation, used what power he had left to banish Marc, Judas, Moloch, Curtis, and Dallas, casting them away from Miyake Island to disappear into the Dragon’s Triangle, and they haven’t been seen since.

But, close to a thousand years later, Marc and his four friends, now undead demons, arose from the waters of the Dragon’s Triangle, but a powerful enchantment placed over the pyramid also protected the island, although they did break through the barrier erected by Drageth’s spell, only because they bore power from Satan himself.

Since then, they have resided in the jungle around the temple, prevented from entering due to the spell being strongest around the pyramid, but weakest at the island edges.

And they have been waiting…


Present day…June 30, 1999

I slowly awoke to the bright morning sunlight shining into my room, and sat up, yawning and stretching.

After a quick shower and breakfast, I cleaned up, and went out to sit on the front step.

I sat quietly, just thinking of my family.

After a moment of grieving for my father, my brother Brandon, and Barb as well, I looked up, wiping away my tears.

I knew in my heart that my family was now with Jesus, and I vowed to be strong for them.

I got up, and went for a walk to the quarry.

Standing on the cliff, I breathed the fresh air, enjoying the silence. However, as I closed my eyes, raising my head to feel the wind on my face, a sudden gust hit me as I winced, feeling intense psychic static as a vision of Miyake Island, within the Dragon’s Triangle, came to me, alongside flashes of the jungle, and the pyramid temple seen at a distance, as the ruby atop the apex flashed blood-red in the sun…

My eyes snapped open, as I looked up toward the horizon.

I knew at that moment what I had to do…


Going home, I proceeded to gather all I needed for a journey to Tokyo, Japan, including my wallet, shades, my fedora, a water canteen, a walking staff, and my compass.

This was all I really needed, because I knew that I would not be coming back.

Readying my belongings, I stored them in the seat compartment of my Harley Davidson V-Rod motorcycle, donned my shades and helmet, and headed out of town toward the Winnipeg airport.

Once there, I left my motorbike safely in a special hangar with some personnel, and told them that they could use it however they wished, because I would not be returning. They agreed, and helped me board a flight bound for Japan after I donned my fedora and jacket, looking somewhat like a young Indiana Jones!!

I quickly gathered my possessions, and boarded a private flight with a pilot and private attendant. 'I have enough fuel for a trip all the way to Japan and back, so there shouldn't be any problems, sir!' the pilot informed me with a smile, as I shook his hand, smiling.

'Thank you, but I don't think I will be returning!' I replied. The pilot nodded, understanding, before the attendant, a young woman in her mid-twenties, helped me get comfortable, and brought me a cool lemonade drink.

I felt my eagerness grow as the plane took off, knowing that I was pursuing a legendary talisman that had been virtually unknown for millennia! But now, I would find it, and be given a whole new beginning!!

Forty hours later, I soon could make out the Japanese coast, and smiled.

The flight soon landed at a small airport, as the attendant helped me collect my belongings, then I bade farewell to the pilot, who wished me good luck.

Stepping out onto the warm tarmac in the morning sun, I stretched, yawning, and raised my head skyward, breathing the fresh morning air.

A young Japanese-Canadian man, Ryu Yuudai, whose name literally meant “great dragon”, greeted me there, saying that he would be my guide in the quest to find the pyramid and its secret. He was about my age, tall and handsome, with a clean-shaven though weathered Japanese complexion, kind blue eyes, and short black hair slicked back. He wore black runners, bluejeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a black leather jacket.

"I must warn you though, Charlie, that Marc and his friends have been tailing us!"

I looked shocked. "They have, Ryu?"

"Marc wants the power as much as you do, but if he reaches the temple before us, its power could turn him into something that is all but unstoppable!"

But a defiant expression crossed my face, as I put a hand on Ryu's shoulder, looking him in the eye.

"God has promised me that He will guide me, Ryu!" I replied confidently. "If I change, and Marc or his friends try to hurt you, just call my name, and the Lord will let me come to you! I know that while I will be powerful, no man or beast under Heaven will ever equal His might, Ryu!! Satan was guilty of that in the very beginning, and it was unforgivable!! But please understand that God will use man in wonderful ways to do His will, Ryu, and I also believe God will use me in wonderful ways to ensure the freedom of all humanity from evil!!"

He smiled, and nodded knowingly. It turned out that Ryu knew the directions to the very location of the jungle where the pyramid was, and so he and I rode two horses that he had sometime earlier gotten from a shepherd. We both knew the journey across the jungle would not be easy, but we had more than enough water for our horses, and Ryu was an expert at jungle survival, which was invaluable on such a dangerous mission.

Heading out of the flatlands close to the airport, my friend and I soon reached hilly terrain, but we managed.

As we travelled, Ryu told me about himself. He had lived a good life in Tokyo with his parents and sister, but Marc, Judas, Moloch. Curtis, and Dallas had snuck into the city by way of baggage on a flight, and had hurt many people during their journey. The police had caught them, but they had secretly escaped.

Soon discovering families with children, Marc and his friends secretly discussed about which family to target.

They had chosen Ryu’s family, and had come in the night, gagging and stabbing Ryu’s parents, before raping and murdering his sister, but he had awoken to the sound of her screams, and had tried to fight Marc, but was outmatched, although he escaped before Marc or his friends could hurt him.

Luckily, Ryu was a young man by now, having just completed college, and knew how to survive on his own.

He landed a job as an adventurer and archaeologist, which he really enjoyed.

But Ryu never forgot the night his family was murdered, and vowed to one day pay Marc back in blood.

Also, unknown to me, my friend already had knowledge of the island and the hidden temple.

Upon reaching the end of the hills, Ryu and I found ourselves on the coast.

The sun sparkled on the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, which seemed limitless!!

It was indeed a beautiful sight!

My friend helped me aboard his boat, the Blue Topaz, a small schooner he’d bought several years ago.

And so, Ryu and I set sail for the Dragon’s Triangle.

I’d heard tales of many men facing various dangers on journeys near, or into, the bounds of the Dragon’s Triangle, just like the Bermuda Triangle is dangerous. But Ryu assured me that we would be safe, in that my enemies would have a difficult time pursuing us.

This was soon proven to be true, but Ryu asked that I keep an open mind, as he proceeded to explain to me the legend of the Dragon’s Triangle:

Several millennia past, God had foreseen various different areas around the world, the most famous being the Bermuda Triangle.

He had known of its power, and having also foreseen Marc, Judas, Moloch, Curtis, and Dallas’s existences, vowed to create several different sites around the world; a few being Hamakulia, near Hawaii, with extremely powerful and deadly volcanoes, the South Atlantic Anomaly, and the Bridgewater Triangle.

All of these sites were prone to strange occurrences and otherwise unexplained phenomena.

The angel Gabriel had foreseen the moment when the stars of the constellation Draco would align over the area known as the Dragon’s Triangle, and by its power, dragons of myth and lore came to be, whose souls reside in the depths of the Triangle, which is how the area was named.

God had hoped to one day lure Marc and his friends to certain disaster in one of these locations, and now that they were in pursuit of my friend and I into one of the deadliest of all, the Dragon’s Triangle, He knew that our enemies would face a certain and unfathomable end!!

I hadn’t the slightest idea that I, Charlie Lucas, shared some surprising similarities to Drago, from ‘Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer’s Curse’.

Sure, I knew well my beliefs and ways, but never imagined that they paralleled me to Drago himself!!

In this way, I came to understand some truth in Ryu’s story of the Triangle.

Soon, in just a few days, my friend and I came within sight of Honshu, Japan.

One of the entrances to the Triangle lay on the other side of the island, as I recalled.

As we ventured around the coast of Honshu, I felt slightly uneasy, knowing that Ryu and I were venturing into an unknown and possibly deadly region.

The stories of similar occurrences to the Bermuda Triangle, happening here in the Dragon’s Triangle, kept nagging at me.

But I was on a mission.

Later, just after sunset, Ryu and I dropped anchor, and checking the GPS navigation, found that we had travelled nearly a thousand miles across the sea to reach this place!!

However, strangely, our systems were all functioning and working just fine, but I knew I’d heard tales of strange readings and otherwise haywire malfunctioning of equipment due to an unknown force surrounding the Dragon’s Triangle, just like what was reported to have occurred in the Bermuda Triangle.

Why our own GPS systems were still working perfectly, I had no idea, but dismissed it, seen as we’d hoped nothing bad would happen.

Around midnight, I awoke abruptly from a sound sleep, and quietly got out of my bunk, being careful to not disturb Ryu.

Slipping on my boots, I quietly headed out onto the deck.

A gentle wind was blowing, creating small, white-capped waves that glistened under the moon.

I breathed the fresh night air, and looked up at the stars.

I smiled as I saw the constellation Draco was just starting to rise over the northern horizon, and for some reason, the closer we came to the Dragon’s Triangle, the gentler the wind and the weaker the waves became, until there was a breeze so soft that the water was like a mirror, only occasionally broken by a ripple or two!!

I smiled as I saw the 17 stars of the constellation Draco reflected perfectly in the waters of the Dragon’s Triangle, seemingly just beneath the surface!

I smiled, then headed in and went to bed.

Around 9 am the next morning, my friend and I woke up, had showers, then prepared a tasty breakfast of ham, eggs and apple juice, eating together out on the deck.

The breeze was warm, and the azure waters sparkled under the morning sun.

It looked like a wonderful day was ahead.

After cleaning up after breakfast, I quickly went in to slip into my swim shorts, then grabbed a towel, and dove off the top deck of the boat, knifing into the warm azure waters of the sea, only 30 yards from the boundary line of the Dragon’s Triangle!

’Man, my friend’s brave, AND crazy!!’ Ryu thought with a grin, shaking his head.

I surfaced shortly after a dive.

“I’m goin’ in, Ryu!” I shouted. “See you there!”

“Charlie, wait!” he shouted, but I was already gone.

I noticed something I hadn’t before: the very bounds of the waters in the Dragon’s Triangle were unusually warm, like hot bathwater, extending for about one meter thick, before cooling again, as if there was some sort of thermal field along the edges, and I was amazed to find that if I stayed in that area, and looked both directions, I was precisely on one of the three bounds of the Dragon’s Triangle; the islands of Luzon and Honshu visible in the distance on either side!!

According to the GPS in my own military watch, I was in the exact centre of the boundary line, with exactly one mile in either direction to the islands!!

It was a moment I wouldn’t soon forget!!

However, as I laid back, floating lazily on the very edge of the Dragon’s Triangle, something very strange began to happen.

Slowly, the sky began to fade over with clouds, and soon, a thick fog rolled in, completely obscuring my views all around!!

I soon became worried. Where was the ship, or my friend?

I yelled Ryu’s name, but there was no answer.

Suddenly a faint sound caught my ear. I stopped, listening hard, and thought I heard the sound of flapping wings.

I shook my head, dismissing it as a product of anxiety due to my sudden loneliness.

But I was wrong.

I chose one direction, and began the breaststroke to conserve my energy.

I had gone almost twenty meters, when I suddenly heard a sound that chilled my blood:

Snorting, and flapping wings.

Frantic, I started swimming as fast as I was able, but then, a huge shape suddenly loomed out of the fog, as I screamed!!

A dragon!

It exactly resembled the one from the TV series ‘Merlin’, and as it slowed down over the water, I distinctly felt a flash of faint psychic static in my mind, amid a soft voice:

'Please, don’t be afraid, young one! I am here to help you!'

He then opened his hands, before grasping and lifting me so gently that I hardly felt it!!

Soaring high, the dragon headed toward the shores of Luzon, before landing on the sandy shore and setting me down gently on my feet!!

“Charlie…!” I whirled to see Ryu running toward me from the ship, which had now docked.

We hugged each other. “I’m fine, Ryu!” I said, as my friend breathed a sigh of relief.

He then saw the dragon standing a ways behind me, and nodded in thanks, and my friend was surprised when it returned the gesture!

I then hurried to the ship to change into some dry clothes.

After arriving back, I saw that many other dragons, of all kinds, had emerged from the forest!!

Wyverns, blue ice dragons with scales like the sky, eastern dragons, medieval dragons, and even black Shadow Dragons!!

They all eyed Ryu and I with obvious curiosity, and we were both relieved to see no suspicious or malicious expressions on any of the dragon’s muzzles.

It was at that moment that my friend and I felt welcomed.

A sudden wink of light caught my attention out of the corner of my eye, as I turned, glimpsing a flash of vibrant red among the trees.

I smiled. “Ryu!” I yelled. My friend came running up.

“What is it, Charlie?” he asked. I simply smiled, and nodded toward the jungle.

He glanced over, and gasped upon seeing the gleam of red within the trees.

We exchanged glances. “Let’s go!” he said excitedly.

Grinning, I followed my friend into the jungle.

We had gone almost a kilometre when Ryu picked up a distant sound. He signalled for me to stop, as we both listened.

Upon hearing Marc’s voice in the distance, we both turned to run.

“After them!” I suddenly heard Judas shout.

Ryu and I picked up speed, but then, we heard another sound in the distance, followed by Marc’s cry of shock.

Suddenly a huge dragon came flying over the trees, and I instantly recognized a dragon strikingly similar to Draco from the 1996 action movie ‘Dragonheart’, but his horns were all slanted straight backward at a sharp angle, and his muzzle was narrower! He also had piercing blue eyes, and was midway in size between Drake and Draco, with heavy, strong wings, with claws as long as a man’s forearm on the wing-joints!!

He was also slightly darker in colour than Draco, with black spine spikes; the colour running between his horns, and down his muzzle, giving the dragon a striking appearance!

My friend and I continued running, but the dragon suddenly swooped down, grabbing me!

However, due to my earlier encounter with the other dragon, I wasn’t afraid this time.

I shifted slightly in the dragon’s grip, and sensing my intent, he gently lifted me up, opening his hands, as I quickly slid from them, onto his back, and leaned forward, gripping his spikes.

With a snort of amusement, the dragon flapped his wide wings, gaining some altitude.

My friend came running through the trees below, shouting in surprise when he saw me astride the dragon!!

I laughed at his stunned expression, giving him a thumbs up, as he laughed.

Disappearing momentarily, I soon heard a rustling beneath the trees, followed by an excited whoop, before my friend shot out of the forest and into the sky beside me, now riding one of the Shadow Dragons!!

Ryu’s dragon, if my eyes didn’t deceive me, looked like it was laughing, and immensely enjoying giving my friend a ride!!

We had a blast riding our dragons, and they even let my friend and I race each other on our journey!

After about 15-20 minutes, having gone almost four miles, Ryu and I saw we were less than a quarter-mile from the lot surrounding the pyramid.

I grinned, leaning down and whispering something softly in my dragon’s ear, as he grinned!

Flying gracefully down, he landed, folding his wings, as I jumped down off his back; my friend coming to land his Shadow Dragon close beside me a few minutes later.

Ryu and I walked toward the temple, glancing momentarily up to see the pyramid gleaming brilliantly as the sun reflected off its golden sides; the silver dragon at the pyramid’s apex flashing brilliantly, as a blood-red flash winked in the distance; the sun gleaming off the ruby held in the dragon’s claws!!

We then checked again, and saw they were only a quarter-mile away.

“We have to hurry!” I whispered, as Ryu nodded. My friend and I raced toward the temple, but were only fifteen feet from the entrance, when we both heard the sound of a gun being cocked behind us.

We turned, and there stood Marc, with his friends behind him. Ryu and I stood still, glaring at him defiantly. “So, this is where it ends!!” Marc sneered triumphantly. “I will enjoy killing you and your friend, Charlie, after I use that ruby to bring an end to the dragons! You both can either choose to die by the power it will give me, or be exiled to live miserable lives while I gain the power to rule this wretched world. It's your choice! But know that neither one of you will ever be saved!!”

My expression could have melted ice. “Do you honestly believe that you will lay hold of the Dragon Ruby, Marc?” I asked in a voice that rang like iron. “It is said in the Bible that the ruby symbolized wisdom, glory, and value; none of which you or your friends have!! So, for the unrighteous, the ruby would hold eternal perdition, but only for them. If you obtain the Dragon Ruby, your evil will infect humanity forever!” I looked him in the eye. “Do you truly believe God would let that happen, because I don’t!!”

“And neither do I, Marc!” Ryu said defiantly. With that, both he and I turned, and raced through the doorway into the Temple.

“After them!” Marc shouted. Ryu and I raced down the long hallway towards the central chamber.

But, with a sudden burst of speed, Marc was upon us, kicking me in the back as I sprawled onto the ground, and Moloch slugged Ryu, making him fall beside me.

Then both Marc and Moloch stood; their guns pointed at us. “So, this is the end, for you both!” Moloch said triumphantly; an evil gleam in his eye. “My friend will gain ultimate power, and rule the world forever! All will prosper, while you both die in Gehenna!”

I spat on his pant leg. “You filthy bloodsucker!” I shouted. “The Dragon Ruby is meant for those who are good and pure!! For him, holding the Dragon Ruby would only mean perdition by its power, and I will MAKE SURE he is annihilated, once and for all, alongside both you and Judas!!”

Moloch's face twisted in rage, as he pulled the trigger; the blast making me jerk back onto the floor and squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the excruciating pain, and ultimate death. But just when I expected the bullet to strike, there was a sudden loud sound like a retracting measuring tape, just like on 'Heroes', whenever Sylar, Arthur, or Peter used telekinesis!!

When the feeling of impact, or the pain, never came, I slowly opened my eyes to find the bullet frozen in midair, slowly spinning, six inches from my forehead!!

Marc and his friends were staring in utter disbelief, and I was secretly stunned! If I no longer had any of my powers, how on earth could I have stopped the shot like this?!

Then, a sudden realization came to me. God will work in wonderful ways for those pure of heart and soul, and who seek His guidance. In other words, God had acted His will through me, to save my own life, and Ryu's as well!!

Then, before either Marc or Moloch could react, I willed the bullet to drop to the ground, then swiftly raised my feet, and sprang up, flipping onto my feet, before spinning to slam Moloch with a perfect round kick, sending him flying across the room!! He slammed into the stone wall, and collapsed to the floor, before I spun and leapt, landing a flying back kick to Marc's head, as he flew into the wall beside Moloch!

Landing foot-first, and slowly turning, I walked toward the chamber, where the very centre of it shone red as blood due to the sunlight shining down through the Dragon Ruby!

I was very close to obtaining the ultimate power now, but…

I suddenly heard an enraged yell, glancing back see my enemy running to stop me from reaching the centre of the chamber.

But then he was grabbed from behind by my friend, and spun as Ryu slugged him so hard that Marc saw stars!!

Then he heard a yell as Ryu ran, leapt, and slammed Marc with a flying side kick, sending him crashing into the wall!

Then Judas ran toward me; his hand outstretched to grab and pull me away, but I leapt clear…

FLASH!

A blazing red spear of pure power suddenly shot down toward me as my head snapped back; the force making my arms fling wide open!!

As Ryu, Marc, Judas, Moloch, Curtis, and Dallas all watched, the blazing red light swiftly spread down over my body; my clothes completely incinerating to ashes as thick copper-brown scales swiftly ‘flowed’ out of my chest; my human proportions rapidly changing!!

My shoulders suddenly split apart, flexing as two massive glowing red dragon wings sliced out of the second set, just beneath my original ones, spreading and broadening to an impressive 12 meters (36 feet) in span, and my human fingernails and toenails all cracked and split, falling off and disintegrating, as huge ebony talons replaced them!!

My torso lengthened as powerful muscles weaved across my chest and back, as well as my legs; my heels rising as a dewclaw formed high up on each foot!!

My human face was rapidly overtaken by the scales before it began to elongate with sickening cracking sounds; my brown human eyes literally fading into bright amber dragon eyes!!

My spine began rapidly extending into a huge 2 meter (6-foot) twin-spiked dragon tail, as several ‘spears’ of light suddenly flashed atop my skull; the unmistakable horns of a dragon forming!!

And soon, in just under ninety seconds, the brilliant red power faded from around me; some of it seeming to vanish into my eyes as I lowered my head!!

For a few tense seconds, no one moved, only staring transfixed at a powerful anthropomorphic dragon, similar to Draco from ‘Dragonheart’, now standing where I, Charlie Lucas, had been only moments before!!!

I breathed slowly, before opening my brilliant amber dragon eyes and gazing menacingly at Marc, my most hated enemy!!

“Ahhh, it does feel so good to be back after two thousand years!!”

My voice was entirely different; stronger and deeper, coming from a much wider and deeper chest!!

Glancing up at the Ruby, I saw it was now just an ordinary gem, but its shine had considerably weakened!!

I slowly spread my arms, flexing my powerful muscles as my wings slowly unfurled!!

“Come get some, punk!!” I snarled at Marc.

He screamed in rage, running at me while swinging his fist, but in the blink of an eye, I instantly grabbed his arm and spun, slamming him like a rag doll into the chamber’s stone wall!!

Breathless, Marc dropped like an empty sack, coughing and spitting blood!

Judas ran at me with a yell from behind, but I easily thrust my tail between his legs, and flipped it upward, nailing him square in the nuts, as well as lifting and flipping him, before he slammed into the ground, wheezing and holding his groin.

I glanced at him, and grinned. “Can’t make an omelet without breaking some,” I paused for effect. ”eggs!”

At this, Ryu cracked up, laughing hysterically as he used some impressive karate moves to beat Moloch.

Curtis and Dallas both yelled angrily as they rushed me from behind, but I simply spun, thrusting my left hand at them, spreading my fingers wide; a low humming sound echoing across the cavern as I telekinetically channelled energy from the Dragon Ruby to stop them dead in their tracks!!

Then, so fast that all my friend saw was a blur, I leapt to land a spinning Tornado kick between them, sending both Curtis and Dallas flying back to slam into the walls, and collapse unconscious to the floor!!

Turning to Ryu, who smiled, I walked with my friend out of the temple, as we strode together down the path.

However, we’d only gone about ten meters, when we turned back to see the Dragon Ruby blaze, then heard a roar from within the temple!!

My eyes widened. ”No…!”

But my greatest fear was confirmed when a huge red Eastern dragon, whom I instantly recognized as Griffin from ‘Dragonheart: A New Beginning’, came shooting out of the temple doorway, straight at me!!

Thinking fast, I thrust my right hand toward the Dragon Ruby, as it blazed like fire; a thin stream of light blasting from it and reaching my hand in seconds, before the ring both Ryu and I instantly recognized as Narya, the Ring of Fire, worn by the wizard Gandalf, materialized on my middle finger!!

Thrusting my hand down to my side, I clenched it into a tight fist as the ruby in the ring blazed, then swung my fist…

BOOM!

With a sound like a crack of thunder, I landed a swift uppercut to Griffin’s jaw, sending him literally blasting into the sky like a bullet from a gun!!!

Snarling, I crouched as I spread my huge wings, and took off after my enemy, easily reaching his flailing form, and pile-driving him, then grabbing his left arm, spinning, and releasing him for a bone-breaking dropkick, sending Griffin blasting across the sky!!

Back on the ground, both Curtis and Dallas were no match for my friend’s impressive karate skills; Ryu literally throwing them around like rag dolls!!

Griffin managed to slow himself down, and regain his senses, before spinning toward me and roaring insanely as he flew as fast as he could toward me, but I was ready.

I slowly spread my arms wide open; the ruby stone in my ring beginning to glow like fire once more, only this time, the Dragon Ruby started to exude power as well!!

The gem in my ring, Narya, was just as powerful as the Dragon Ruby, and I glanced up, watching Griffin fly down toward me like a torpedo while roaring insanely!!

I could feel the power in both my ring, and in the Dragon Ruby, building rapidly…

Griffin came closer, as I slowly clenched my hand into a fist, drawing my arm back as Narya’s gemstone began glowing once more, rapidly intensifying to match the Dragon Ruby’s power!

”Just a little closer, you scumbag…!”

Then, when Griffin was just about to reach for me, I swung my fist…

BANG!

I landed an uppercut so powerful that Griffin was blasted back away from me, and due to such a violent attack, he was completely stunned, unable to see that he was tumbling right into the path of the Dragon Ruby, until Griffin regained his bearings, and looked straight down; his face twisting in horror…

BOOM!

The pillar of power from the Dragon Ruby nailed Griffin square in the chest, as he felt it slice right through him; his eyes suddenly bursting into flames as he threw back his head and flung his arms wide to unleash an unearthly demonic scream that would’ve woken the most jaded fool!!

Then as Griffin’s scales cracked, Judas and Moloch, in the pyramid’s chamber below, screamed as their eyes burst into flames as well; the fire rapidly consuming them and burning them to ash in seconds!!

Curtis and Dallas also were literally speared with two shafts of pure energy; their own bodies bursting into flames!!

Finally, as Griffin burnt completely to ashes, the pillar of energy suddenly slicing downward toward the Dragon Ruby, but the influx of power was so strong that the ruby literally exploded as a ring of fire flashed outwards, swiftly coursing down the sides of the pyramid and setting the forest ablaze!!!

But, as I spun and dived toward my friend who was running down the path away from the temple, somehow an intact shard of the Dragon Ruby came flying out of the inferno, and sliced into his back, but instead of killing him, the shard’s remaining power rapidly flared into fire that flowed over Ryu, as I watched in shock!!

But when it cleared seconds later, I gasped in disbelief at a huge brown dragon that looked exactly like Eustace’s form from ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’!!!

Spreading his huge wings, the new dragon took off just as the flames raced down the path, consuming it!!

Flying high, Ryu spun toward me, and seeing my shocked expression, laughed, and winked!!

“Funny how the greatest things can happen under the most dangerous circumstances, eh, Drageth?” he laughed.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah, Ryu! It is funny!!”

Then my friend smiled, before taking off ahead of me. “C’mon! Time to enjoy our freedom!”

I grinned. “Right you are on that one, buddy!”

And with that, both Ryu and I flew away from the pyramid, soaring together over the forest, and left the island behind as we headed east, never again to return.

And soon, half the forest around the pyramid was destroyed.

But we both knew that the island’s secret, which was the power that had resided in the pyramid, had allowed my friend and I to triumph over evil, and destroy it forever, thus bringing peace back to the world!!


              The End!