Chapter 1 – New Business Idea
The day was calm and warm, the kind of peaceful afternoon where even the wind seemed lazy. In the little bakery, Dravyss was busy selling pies to smiling villagers, while in the hall of the house, Strom and the team sat together in what looked like a serious council meeting.
Of course, with Strom leading the discussion, serious was questionable.
---
Strom leaned forward, tapping the table with a spark in his eyes.
Strom: "We should charge money on people for saving them. Let's call this… a business idea."
Astrid's face twisted.
Astrid: "But why the hell you think that?"
Wraith crossed his arms, glaring.
Wraith: "Yes, Strom, it's our responsibility. It's a duty."
Sam shook his head in disbelief.
Sam: "Bro, people would rather die than pay us."
Nia tilted her head, confused.
Nia: "I don't think it's a good idea. Why do you think like that?"
Strom spread his arms wide like he had just invented magic.
Strom: "Guys, guys, it's a great idea. We can even get money by saving people. Twenty coins per person!"
Astrid slammed her fist on the table.
Astrid: "Hell nah. I do this because I have powers to save lives, not to rob them!"
Sam leaned back with a smirk.
Sam: "Bro, I think you are mad."
Strom: "We are literally the most broke heroes you know."
Wraith shook his head.
Wraith: "No, I don't think so. We are still happy."
Strom: "Have you ever seen a hero kidnapping a princess to enjoy vacation?"
Sam raised his hand instantly.
Sam: "Yes, I did. It's you. You do that."
Astrid jumped in without hesitation.
Astrid: "Yes, you are the hero who kidnaps princesses to enjoy life."
Strom pointed at himself like they were accusing the wrong guy.
Strom: "Okay, I admit I did that… but we wanted money at that time!"
Wraith: "So your plan is charge money on people… so we can go on vacation?"
Strom: "…No… but yes also. Maybe."
Astrid: "I don't think this business idea is good."
---
Just then, Dravyss walked into the hall, wiping flour from her hands after closing the shop.
Dravyss: "What's going on?"
Wraith wasted no time , pointing to Strom.
Wraith: "This greedy knight wants money from people for saving them."
Astrid smirked.
Astrid: "Strom, now you feel like greedy Green Goblin."
Strom: "I'm not that freak-ass goblin, okay? But this plan is insane!"
Sam: "No, you are insane. Where the hell you get these types of ideas?"
Nia: "I'm not charging money on people for saving them."
Strom: "Come on, guys, it's a brilliant plan!"
Dravyss gave him the classic mom glare.
Dravyss: "Son, greed is not good."
Strom: "Mom? Now you also? Okay fine—different plan. We change… five coins per person."
Wraith smirked.
Wraith: "I think you should become a tax collector instead of Dragon Knight."
Sam: "Yes, you are right, Wraith."
Nia: "This is a flop business."
---
The whole group burst out laughing, the hall echoing with their voices. The debate slowly melted into jokes, then into dinner, and finally everyone drifted off to their homes.
Later that night, Strom sat by himself, reading a book in the quiet. Upstairs, Dravyss closed her door, exhausted from the day's work. The house was calm again, but in the silence, the sparks of Strom's wild ideas were still burning.
Chapter 2 – The Bounty Hunter
The night was quiet. The house was dark, with only the faint creak of wood and the sound of Strom pouring water into a cup. He was about to head back to bed when he froze.
Someone had broken in.
Through the shadows of the hall, he spotted her — an elf, dressed in green, clutching a bow and a quiver of arrows. But unlike every other bounty hunter he'd faced, something was off. Her eyes weren't greedy, her stance wasn't sharp. Anyone could see it — this girl wasn't a killer. She looks… innocent.
Strom narrowed his eyes as he studied her. The elf stood about five-foot-eight, with sharp ears and wide, trembling eyes that didn't belong to an assassin.
Still, she raised her bow.
The string twanged — an arrow shot past and slammed into the wrong wall entirely.
Strom: "Bad aim, girl."
Another arrow came, then another. Strom dodged them easily, barely even moving. She tried again, fumbling clumsily with the quiver. By the third arrow, her hands were shaking so badly she dropped it — twice.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her hands trembled. She couldn't even load the bow anymore , she thought Strom would kill her now.
But Strom stood silently, watching.
Strom (thinking): "I don't think she's going to hurt me."
The elf finally gave up. She threw her last arrow weakly with her hand — it didn't even fly straight — and then panicked, bolting to hide under the table.
Strom sighed, caught the arrow, pressed it to his chest, and fell to the floor dramatically.
Strom (acting): "OMG! Girl, you shot me. I think… it's my last time…"
The elf gasped. For a second, her face lit up — not with cruelty, but with confidence. For once, she thought she had done something right.
She crawled toward him cautiously, eyes wide, hands trembling as she shook his arm.
Elf: "Don't worry… I'll help you."
Strom blinked. Help him? That was new.
He kept his eyes closed, pretending to die, while she struggled to lift him up. She couldn't even move him an inch. In the end, Strom walked on his own feet, eyes still shut, pretending to be unconscious just so she could feel like she had won.
Watching her stumble and sweat, holding the bow wrong and dropping her arrows, Strom couldn't help but think: this girl would cry before killing an ant.
She dragged him all the way to the harbor. A small boat was waiting, stocked with a few supplies. She tried shoving it into the water, but didn't even know how to push it properly. She held the map upside down, squinting at it like it was written in another language.
Strom wanted to laugh out loud, but kept silent.
This wasn't like the others. Every other bounty hunter had come with greed in their eyes, lusting for the coin on his head. He had killed them all. But this girl? She was different. She wasn't here for money.
She was here because… she was happy to capture him.
And that alone made Strom suspect.
---
Chapter 3 – The Journey in Water
The boat drifted quietly across the dark sea. The elf had fastened a chain to Strom's wrists, locking him in place.
Except Strom wasn't really unconscious.
He opened his eyes, flexed his arms once, and the chain snapped like twine.
Strom: "Hey you! I'm good, I don't need them."
The elf nearly screamed. She stumbled back so hard she almost fell overboard.
Elena (panicking): "W-wha—?! How is a dead guy talking?!"
In her panic, she grabbed her bow, tried to load it—only for her quiver to slip from her shoulder and tumble into the sea.
Strom (raising his hands calmly): "Easy. I'm not going to hurt you."
Elena (screaming): "Please help! Help, please!"
Strom: "You brought us here. No one's going to listen."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Tears pooled in her eyes.
Elena: "Please don't kill me! I was just following orders!"
Strom's eyes narrowed. There it is again… orders.
Strom: "Here we go. Just tell me who gave you those orders, and you can go free."
Elena (hesitant): "…Are you telling the truth?"
Strom: "Yes. Pure truth. You'll be free."
(In his mind: I need to know who's behind these bounty hunters.)
The elf swallowed, then looked down.
Elena: "…My name is Elena. And you must be Strom—the Danger Knife."
Strom blinked, then almost laughed.
Strom: "I'm Strom the Dragon Knight, not a knife."
Elena: "Yes, right. Sorry… it wasn't my fault, okay? I'm not good at this."
Strom: "You say 'I hope you're Strom'? You don't even know me?"
Elena: "No… I don't know who Strom is. My only work was to bring a man from… from Mom's Magic Bakery."
Strom stiffened at the word "Mom."
Strom: "…So you don't even know about my mother?"
Elena (shaking her head): "No… I don't know anything. My work was just to bring you to my castle."
Strom (raising an eyebrow): "Castle? What, are you a princess or something?"
Elena: "Yes… I'm Princess Elena of Cersenta. Daughter of Tousif… and sister of Zanis."
The moment the name left her lips, Strom's expression darkened.
Strom: "Tell me more about yourself."
Her voice softened. Even when she spoke of pain, her tone was sweet—like music, even if the words were cursed.
And so she began her story.
Her father had been a human king. He had fallen in love with an elf woman, and Elena was born half-human, half-elf. But her mother had died giving birth to her. By the time Elena opened her eyes, her father was already married.
Elena: "I became a princess overnight… but the castle never felt like home. My stepmother cursed me every day. My brother and sister never even spoke to me."
Strom stayed silent, listening carefully. It shocked him that Elena still called them family.
Elena: "Then… one day, my father and stepmother died. Their ship sank in the sea. Only me, my brother Zanis, and my sister Zyada were left. Zanis… he was the noble one. He let me stay in the castle. But… my sister… she died too. I don't know how. She just… disappeared."
Her voice cracked, but she forced a smile.
Elena: "I always tried to talk to him. But Zanis… he always ignored me. Always walked away."
Strom clenched his jaw.
Strom: "…And now you came here because he needs help from me?"
Elena (shaking her head quickly): "No… he doesn't want anyone's help. He wants you dead."
Her expression shifted—strangely happy, as if the thought of Strom's death was tied to something more than blood.
Elena: "You won't believe it, but he spent so much money to hire bounty hunters. All of them failed."
Strom (dryly): "Yeah. I know."
Elena: "But then… for the first time, he spoke to me. He entered my room and said: 'Headache, if you bring me the Dragon Knight, I'll give you something special.'"
Strom: "…What special?"
Elena (shaking her head): "I don't know. But he always called me 'Headache.' Always ignored me. For the first time, he actually spoke to me."
Strom's chest tightened. ( In his mind ): Zanis… you bastard. You knew she'd fail. You wanted her dead.
Elena (smiling faintly, eyes watering): "I just… I just want to see him happy. I already imagined it—when I bring you there, he'll smile at me. Maybe hug me. Maybe call me his sister. That… that would be the biggest gift for me."
Strom turned away, unable to look at her. His blood boiled.
To use his own sister's innocent hope as a trap… to send her to die by Strom's hands.
Strom swore in that moment: he would never forgive Zanis.
Because Elena wasn't evil. She wasn't a killer. She was just a girl who wanted her brother's love.
Chapter 4 – A Mom's Heart
The morning sun warmed the bakery windows. Dravyss woke, her throat dry.
Dravyss: "Strom! Water, please."
Silence.
She frowned. Strom never ignored her. She pushed herself out of bed and went downstairs—only to see three arrows scattered on the floor. Strom was gone.
Her chest tightened. Anger, fear, and instinct collided at once.
Dravyss (roaring): "My son!"
Her voice cracked like a dragon's roar—like a mother dragon who'd lost her egg. Her eyes glowed bright blue, and fire boiled in her veins.
Dravyss: "Greed hunters. Always them."
She spotted the dragon pendant Strom left behind, snatched it, and fastened it around her neck.
Her body shimmered with light—scales overtaking skin, wings bursting out. In seconds she was in full dragon form, soaring into the sky.
She searched across rivers, mountains, villages—but Strom wasn't wearing his pendant. She couldn't locate him.
Snarling, she landed in Astrid's village and stormed into her home. Astrid was fixing her armor while Flowra and Wraith cooking nearby.
Dravyss: "Have you seen Strom?"
Astrid: "No, Dravyss aunty. Why?"
Dravyss (tense): "He is missing. And… he wasn't even wearing his pendant."
Flowra and Wraith dropped what they were doing and rushed in.
Wraith: "Mom, what happened?"
Dravyss: "Strom is missing. No clue where."
Flowra: "Did you check Sam's house?"
Without hesitation, Dravyss, Wraith, and Astrid launched into the sky. They landed heavily in front of Sam's home.
Sam's father's jaw hit the ground at the sight of Dravyss in dragon form.
Sam's Father: "A D-DRAGON?!"
But Sam's mother, Drati, ran forward with tears in her eyes and hugged Dravyss tightly.
Drati: "I missed you so much!"
Sam's Father (panicking): "Stay away from her! She'll eat you!"
Drati (snapping): "Shut up! How dare you talk to my big sister like that?"
Sam's Father (pointing): "Big sister?! She's big enough to eat you alive!"
At that moment, Sam walked in.
Sam: "Hey guys. Hello Aunt Dravyss. What's up?"
Dravyss (sharp): "Have you seen Strom?"
Sam (laughing): "What happened, he went to complete his business idea?"
The place went dead silence in moments..
Wraith and Astrid glared at him like he just signed his death certificate.
Sam (gulping): "…Okay. I think this is serious."
Astrid: "He's missing."
Sam: "Have you checked Nia's place?"
The team flew again, this time into the lush forest of Nia's home.
Nia (welcoming): "What happened? Need help?"
The team explained—but again, the same answer. Strom wasn't there.
Sam (thinking hard): "I think this will help… but I need something that belongs to him. Even something from his real partner."
Dravyss shifted back to human form and handed Sam a bangle Strom had once given her.
Sam (shaking his head): "No… this has your mana pulse stronger than his."
Dravyss (sighing): "…Then I don't know."
Sam: "Come on, anything!"
Dravyss remembered something and pulled out a pendant—a keepsake from Strom's real mother.
Sam (examining): "Hmm… weak mana pulse, but… it's something. I think he's far away from here."
Astrid (sarcastic): "We all knew that, stupid."
Wraith (deadpan): "You just wasted our time."
Nia (crossing arms): "Even a brainless dude would give us a better answer."
Dravyss (pleading): "Please… anything we can do."
Sam: "Since Strom loves to fight, if he uses his abilities, then I can track his mana signature."
Astrid: "So we need to wait?"
Sam: "Yes. Until he fights."
Wraith (smirking): "Okay… I know that madman. He lives for battle. He'll definitely use his powers."
The group fell silent, waiting for a signal.
But Strom?
He was casually sailing across the sea with Elena… heading straight toward destiny.
Chapter 5 – The Castle
Strom and Elena finally reached the castle. Elena did not see Strom as an enemy; instead she saw him as a friend now, because he had actually talked with her — a real talk.
Strom approached the royal gates, hand chained (part of his act), thinking one step ahead. He planned to find Zanis, and when he did, he would not let him walk away. Now he knew Zanis was evil — someone who would send his own sister to die like this.
Elena: "are you okay!"
Strom: "yeah , I'm okay nothing to worry about"
Elena: "I don't know but I think it's not good , you should run away"
Strom: "don't be mad , your brother will kill you"
Elena: "I will tell him I failed, he will believe because I'm dumb"
Strom: "you are not dumb just soft hearted"
They entered the large hall. The castle looked hollow — like joy had been drained from its walls. Zanis stood waiting, face half-covered by hair, fingers digging into his palm. At the sight of Strom, hatred flared; he wanted to end him instantly.
Strom: "you want me , so here I'm"
Zanis: "I have waith enough to end you , now let's see"
Zanis called his dual blade spear and Strom called his spear from far away. As Strom summoned, a mana pulse shivered through his body — just enough for Sam to lock onto the signal.
Sam: "got him"
Dravyss: "where!"
Sam: "2 options, aunty you have to fly there or I teleport all there"
Astrid: "then teleport us there little mage"
Sam: "okay but if I die or mess up then don't blame me"
Before he could cast the spell, Dravyss cut him off, grabbed everyone, and flew.
Dravyss: "okay tell me where"
Her flight speed was terrifying — she could travel a mile in fifteen seconds.
Inside the castle, the clash began. Sparks flew as metal met metal and a crystalting sound echoed through the hall. Both fighters were fast and fierce. Strom wasn't wearing his pendant, fighting on raw strength, while Zanis—trained and precise—moved like a practiced killer.
Five minutes later the rest of the team landed and rushed in to help. Elena sat beside them, watching. Wraith remembered Dravyss's earlier words — "arrows on floor and Strom is gone." She saw the bow in Elena's hands and her anger snapped; she assumed elf had hurt Strom. Without thinking, Wraith grabbed her sword and charged, slicing the bow in half with one strike. Elena fell to the ground.
Elena: "who are you"
Wraith: "your death , bitch!"
Strom threw his spear between them as a warning. He wouldn't let Wraith touch her.
Dravyss hurled her dragon pandent toward Strom — but Zanis was faster. He snatched it out of the air.
Zanis: "thanks dragon"
Strom: "it's mine"
Zanis: "not from now"
The floor folded. People fell through traps Zanis had prepared. Zanis had planned for every angle; he landed safe. Below, the room was under his complete control. With a single motion, he locked everyone in place — except Dravyss attempted to transform. A band materialized at her neck and constricted; it grew as she shifted into dragon form and matched her size, forcing her into pet-like obedience.
Zanis: "Sorry Strom but now this all are mine"
He began a spell that ripped at Strom's dragon aura, draining it away. As Zanis consumed Strom's power the band on Dravyss tightened its hold and her obedience deepened. The more Zanis fed, the closer Dravyss became to being his pet.
Astrid was the one who managed to break a magical mana-steel chain — but Zanis was ready. A magical shield protected him from her strike.
Astrid: "what are you doing!?"
Zanis: "something that I have done earlier"
The moment came. Strom and Zanis screamed in the same instant — Strom from the pain of his soul being torn, Zanis from the shock of housing another's essence — and then Zanis succeeded. He absorbed all of Strom's Dragon Aura. Power flooded him; he felt new strength, and with Dravyss under his control he is unstoppable.
Strom: "what have you done with my mother"
Zanis: "now she is not your dragon mom now she is my dragon pet , the one whose place is in my foot"
Those words ignited a rage inside Strom. He lunged and punched Zanis in the face, but his strength was drained. Zanis barely flinched.
Zanis: "what's up kiddo"
Zanis landed a single blow in Strom's stomach — Strom coughed blood from his mouth. The team realized they couldn't beat Zanis alone. Astrid freed the others so they could mount a coordinated assault — but then Dravyss attacked them. The dragon-mother they knew struck with merciless precision, obeying Zanis's commands. The team staggered under her onslaught.
Elena: "Brother please stop, you told me you are not going to harm the innocent"
Zanis: "you little rat how dare you call me brother"
Elena: "you said if I bring him then you give me special suprise"
Sam prepared to teleport everyone out — but teleportation required every hand to hold. Wounds racked them as Dravyss's strikes found flesh.
Zanis (laughing): "a special gift, so here is your special gift you were never my sister never forever"
Elena: "you promised me , what is my fault"
Zanis: "your fault is being born , you are nothing just a mistake of my father, and here is your special gift"
Zanis charged a massive strom blast spell; the hall itself began to crumble as debris flew. Dravyss's strikes were unforgiving. The team scrambled, preparing to teleport — but Elena was crumpling to her knees. Her tiny world had shattered into a thousand pieces. All she had wanted was family; she had only been given the cold truth that she was a pawn.
Before Zanis could kill her, Strom scooped Elena into his arms and ran. He refused to leave her. Zanis, enraged, hurled the blast after them, but Strom and Elena vanished in the teleport just as the spell struck.
Zanis: "no problem if you escape, I will destroy you because now you are nothing"
Chapter 6 – The Plan to Follow
The team landed hard in a shadowed forest, the castle's faint outline glowing in the distance. Sam collapsed to his knees, drained from teleporting everyone. Strom barely kept himself standing, sweat dripping, his body scorched from within. His wounds bled fresh, but worse — his mana was gone. His dragon aura ripped away, leaving him hollow, like a normal human, almost.
Astrid, see things, turned her fury on Elena. She gripped her great blade, rage boiling.
Astrid (snapping): "she's the reason Dravyss turned on us, the reason we're bleeding!"
She swung — but Strom yanked Elena behind him, covering her with his own body, willing to take the strike himself if needed.
Wraith (anger rising): "but why the fuck you are saving her"
Astrid: "yes Strom tells us"
Sam: "bro she is the reason why you are here, she is the reason why your mom turn hostile"
Strom looked at Elena. She was already broken, on her knees, silent tears cutting through the dirt on her face. Her small world — shattered.
Wraith's grip tightened on her sword.
Wraith (low growl): "I'll end that bitch now"
Strom (roaring): "I will rip them apart if anyone even dares to touch her!"
The forest went dead silent. Strom never spoke like that to his friends. For the first time, they saw him drawing a line in blood.
Strom (firm): "no one will touch her"
Wraith (cutting back): "what is She for you"
Astrid: "yes Strom, we are your friends — and who is she?"
Nia: "I don't want to say that because you help me when I was literally dead, so I'm with you at any cost"
But the others — Sam, Wraith, Astrid — glared with doubt. They had no answer for Strom's defense of Elena. She had come to kidnap him. She was the reason they were in this mess.
Astrid (snarling): "that's enough Strom. You see that guy? He stole your powers. He has Dravyss. And that brat is the reason you're here."
Strom (steady, voice sharp): "NO. It's me. I'm the reason. I wanted to know who kept sending bounty hunters. I'm the reason for this mess — not her."
But no one saw how badly Elena wanted to die. Her entire life had been for nothing — her hopes crushed in seconds. In a flash of despair, she hurled herself forward and hugged Strom, sobbing violently.
Elena (screaming through tears): "please Strom let them kill me. I'm sorry. I only saw my happiness. I thought he would accept me as his sister, but I was wrong. He's right — I'm nothing. Just an unwanted child. Please kill me. Forgive me if possible."
Strom (soft, steady): "it's okay. I'm not angry."
Even Wraith froze. Jealousy bit her heart, but she couldn't insult Elena anymore. Not after hearing that pain. She knew what it meant to be unwanted too.
The forest settled into silence. Wounds still bled, but Strom's mind was already racing.
Strom: "we will attack him again"
Astrid (in disbelief): "are you mad? Don't you see who's protecting him?"
Wraith: "The dragon you know — your dragon mother — is his guardian now, not yours."
Strom's shoulder ached, claw marks burning where Dravyss had struck him with no mercy.
Strom (clenching his fist): "mom still remembers me."
Wraith (snapping): "Then what is on your shoulder?"
Strom (low, determined): "it was the heat of the moment."
Sam: "so what's the plan?"
Strom: "we attack Zanis. But we need a big force — someone to hold Mom down for a while."
Everyone's eyes turned to Nia.
Nia (jumping): "what? Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Strom: "You can transform into something big — enough to handle Mom."
Nia (horrified): "wait the fuck — don't you dare say I'm going 1v1 with Dravyss aunty. She'll RIP ME APART MID-FLIGHT!"
Wraith (pressing): "come on Nia, you can do it."
Nia (bitter laugh): "you can do it? She'll eat me alive. I'm unmatched against her."
Strom (calm, encouraging): "you're daughter of Mother Nature. You can do anything."
Nia (snapping): "I'm daughter of this nature. She's from a different one. I'm fucked up either way!"
Sam: "come on girl, you must have something — even a trick to keep her busy for a few moments."
Nia (hesitant): "only if you have something from someone big."
Sam: "even a small piece?"
Nia: "yeah, even the size of an ant."
Sam (grinning): "hell yeah, you got me girl. Take this."
He pulled out his locket. Inside, gleaming with dark energy, was a fang — a tooth of Gorgon, the nightmare beast from the deep waters. The very creature that had once bitten into Dravyss's chest.
Nia (taking it, whispering): "I hope I bring you guys enough time…"
The team exchanged glances. Bloodied, bruised, but unbroken, they began walking toward the castle again. Their steps echoed with purpose.
But high in the corrupted halls, Zanis stood waiting. He already knew. A cruel smile carved across his face.
Zanis (whisper, to himself): "I knew you'd come back."
Chapter 7 – Clash in the Hall
They reached the castle again. Strom found his spear lying nearby and grabbed it instantly. He held it like an old friend.
Strom holding his spear: "what's up my love" (and literally kissed the spear)
Wraith( disgusted ): "you can't be real!"
Sam: "bro it's on dirt"
Astrid: "Strom please do this type of thing when we are out"
Nia: "if I die then you all are going to see my sprit , I will hunt you all I swear"
They pushed into the large hall. Zanis was already there, standing and laughing — and behind him Dravyss stood like a statue, eyes cold and predator-sharp, no expression left on her face.
Strom: "let get that son of bitch"
Everyone launched at Zanis. Nia shifted — not into some normal form, but into Gorgon: a serpentlike nightmare, a massive snake-dragon with no limbs, a powerful tail, teeth sharper than any blade, rough green skin and two burning red eyes.
Nia: "what's up sweet auntie"
She moved like a nightmare come to life, impossibly fast on land also. Dravyss met Gorgon in brutal combat. Nia wasn't only buying time — she was fighting for survival. Dravyss's battle experience was a razor; one claw could end Nia if she caught her.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Zanis and his stolen dragon aura faced Strom and the team. The fight was merciless — every blow meant to kill. Sam's spells stunned Zanis long enough for the team to press an attack, but Zanis had been trained for group fights. He knew how to counter and punish coordinated strikes.
Wraith's speed was unmatched, but Zanis's armor shrugged off hits. Strom's spear strikes were precise; the blade was forged from Dravyss's tail scale — sharp enough to cut through magical steel like air — but Zanis dodged or let the armor take the hits. Astrid held the frontline in full plate, her massive blade keeping Zanis occupied so the team could keep pressuring him.
Elena tried to shoot arrows, but her aim was terrible. She was the type of elf who should be perfect with a bow, but she had no training — not a single lesson.
Zanis unleashed an aura blast that shoved everyone aside. The force threw them across the hall. An arrow struck Zanis — not enough to pierce his armor, but enough to ignite his rage. He hated Elena now more than anything and stepped toward her, spear glowing.
Elena fumbled, hands shaking, trying to load another arrow. Before Zanis could finish her, Strom and Astrid intervened. Strom hurled his spear straight at Zanis's face; Zanis parried with his own spear, but Astrid grabbed him and threw him away.
The fight of titans continued.
Dravyss's strikes were merciless and brutal. Nia as Gorgon struck with tail and teeth, and whenever Dravyss had her, Nia would shrink or shift into a tiny form — bee, eagle, human, tiger, snake — slipping free just in time. She had tricks, and she used them to keep herself alive.
Zanis: "you think you can defeat me"
Strom: "yes we are"
But Zanis's power crushed them. In seven minutes he wore them down. One by one they fell to their knees. They were no match.
Zanis: "some little brats try to stop me from taking revenge"
Sam: "revenge?"
Strom: "who the hell are you, we don't even know you"
Zanis: "glad you ask , but you monsters are the reason for my sister's death and especially you Strom"
Wraith: "your sister? But Elena was alive"
Zanis: "that bitch is not my sister"
Elena's eyes dropped. Tears ran silently down her cheeks; she had never felt the warmth of having a true brother.
Strom: "how can I be the reason for your sister's death"
Zanis: "you are the reason why the demon lord is awake , if you don't kill the death stalker then he won't wake up his strong servant to come to this planet"
Strom: "we don't know at that time"
Zanis (laughing bitterly): "huh, we don't know, you are the reason why she die , you bring demon lord here and he bring the nightmare to all, I saw my sister die in my hands in front of me in the nightmare and when the curse broke she is actually dead because her nightmare was too scary she can't survive that pain , my nightmare comes true in seconds , she die only because of you all"
Wraith: "your sister is not strong enough to survive a single nightmare and you are blaming us for that"
Zanis: "shut the fuck up demoness, you all are the reason if you all haven't kill his weak servent then , nothing has happened"
Strom: "okay I know what you feel but we try our best to save everyone"
Zanis: "save everyone, you don't know how many lives are ended by that nightmare only because you don't think what can come after that"
Sam: "we try to save people"
Zanis: "that's why I keep training and keep preparing myself to end all of you , now with these powers I will guard this planet , full of strategy and I won't let anyone die"
Strom: "you can't save everyone, no one can save all"
Zanis: "you are right but when I protect everyone I won't let any innocent die like my sister, you all are the reason for my loneliness"
Astrid: "Then pay for being alone"
Astrid struck, but in six seconds Zanis broke her—one brutal punch to her stomach, an elbow to the jaw, and a kick that sent her sprawling.
Strom watched Nia. It was time. Nia shifted, shrunk to a bee, and darted in. Zanis sneered.
Zanis: "see Strom you take my sister and now what you have left"
Strom: 'At least I accept love from others and don't cry on corpses like you"
Zanis: "you talk too much"
Zanis lashed, but Nia transformed into a bull and rammed him. In the chaos, the team teleported away.
Zanis laughed, triumphant. Dravyss stood like a statue behind him, eyes burning blue fire, immobile and controlled.
Zanis: "you all are stubborn I know you all will come again"
Chapter 8 — The Last Try
The team was blasted far across the plateau after the teleport explosion. Everyone managed to stand—
except Sam.
Astrid rushed to him instantly.
Astrid (panicking): "Sam… SAM!"
Sam (heavy breaths): "I'm okay… just need… a minute…"
Strom clenched his fists.
Strom: "Why is it so damn hard to defeat him?"
Nia: "Because of Aunty Dravyss."
Elena: "And because of that pendant. He always plans around it."
Strom: "Plans? What plans?"
Elena knelt down and started drawing in the dirt. At first, no one got it.
Then the picture formed:
A sky filled with dragons—
A massive one leading them.....
Dravyss.
Strom's eyes widened.
Strom: "…He wants his own army."
Astrid: "That's why he was so confident. Dragon-kind… the legends themselves."
Strom kicked the ground so hard a boulder shot upward—
far up, disappearing into the clouds, still climbing
—because he unconsciously used mana in his rage.
Sam: "Bro… breaking the sky won't help."
Strom: "I don't care about anything else.
I just want my mom back."
Nia: "But she doesn't even know who we are right now…"
And then—
A wild, insane, absolutely Strom-style idea hit him.
A plan that could kill them all…
or save everything.
He stood up again.
Strom: "Follow me… if you believe in me."
No one hesitation. They followed.
Because power or not—Strom is the leader.
---
The Return to the Castle
They reached the castle grounds. Zanis was already waiting, confident, armored, smiling like a maniac.
Zanis: "Well well… what a surprise! All of you came to die!"
Strom: "Not us.
But you will, asshole."
Zanis: "How? You have nothing to fight me with.
I have your powers. Your guardian. I'M Zanis."
Strom: "Maybe.
But you forgot something…"
SMIRK.
Strom: "I'm The Dragon Knight."
He snapped his fingers downward.
Strom: "FIRE STRIKE."
The same stone he kicked earlier—
the one that flew beyond the sky—
came crashing down like a meteor…
Not toward Zanis.
Straight into Dravyss's head.
BOOOOM—!!
The impact shook the castle. Dravyss collapsed instantly.
Zanis: NOOOO !!
Before he could react, a blue blade flashed like lightning—
SLASH!
The chain holding the dragon pendant snapped.
Before the pendant could hit the ground—
Wraith snatched it mid-air and hung it around Strom's neck.
Zanis fell to his knees, stunned instantly...
Strom stood before him, wearing the pendant, smiling like a demon of justice. Because of dragon blood he gain almost half of his powers.
Strom: "What's up, kiddo."
And then—
A brutal punch straight to Zanis's stomach. Blood burst out instantly.
Then another punch.
Then an elbow to the ribs.
Then a savage uppercut that broke his jaw.
Strom pulled out his blue blade to finish him—
But Elena ran between them.
Elena: "Sir, wait! Don't kill him! Please!
He's… he's the only one I have left…please forgive him
Strom froze.
He wasn't "friend" anymore—
She called him sir now like Strom is the master and she is just a small servant of him.
He stepped back heartbroken...
Elena gently removed Zanis's helmet.
Elena: "You don't have to carry the pain anymore… brother."
Zanis lowered his eyes in shame.
But he was never noble.
Never kind.
He lunged—snatching Strom's blade—
and raised it at…
Elena.
Before the blade touched her skin—
Strom grabbed his wrist and kicked him away.
Strom: "You don't deserve to live, psycho!"
Elena grabbed Strom's arm, stopping him.
Strom: "Don't stop me, Elena. I'll kill him now."
Elena( cold with tears ): "You don't have to.
Because… I'll do it myself."
Silence fell like a smoke.
The innocent elf was gone.
What stood there now was someone forged in pain, betrayal, and nineteen years of rejection.
Elena walked toward Zanis, blade trembling in her hands.
Zanis: "Takes guts… to kill someone… little rat."
Elena: "You gave me enough pain.
Now… I have the will."
SCHK—!!
She stabbed him straight in the chest.
Elena: "This is what I felt…
every time you hated me."
She pulled the blade out—
then hugged him tightly.
Her green dress stains crimson.
Elena: "And this…
is what I always wanted from you."
Zanis realized everything but it's Too late now.
Zanis (dying): " I'm S…sorry… sist—"
He died.
Elena didn't cry.
She just held the blade firmly.
Strom: "Are you okay?"
Elena: "Yes… I'm okay."
Strom: "What will you do now?"
Elena: "This kingdom suffered under monsters for too long.
But I'll change that.
These people don't deserve pain… like I did. Now no innocent will suffer.
---
Time to Run...
Dravyss tried to stand but collapsed—bleeding everywhere.
Sam: "Strom!! We need to leave! She's dying!
I have potions at home—move!"
Strom used the pendant, turning Dravyss into human form, scooping her up.
They climbed onto Nia—
now transformed into a massive griffin.
They prepared to fly.
Elena hesitated, then called out:
Elena: "Strom!"
Strom: "Yeah?"
Elena: "Brother…
May I keep that blade?"
He smiled.
Strom: "Anything for my sister."
They flew away into the morning sky.
Elena stood below, watching them fade into the clouds—
For the first time in her life, she understood something real something special:
Family isn't blood.
Family is the people who choose you…
and stay.
Family is where people love each other.