The Unrivaled Holder: Rise of the Dragon Monarch

The streets of Asnor were alive with the chatter of adventurers preparing for their next quests, but our group stood apart. This was no ordinary mission. As we stood before the grand gates of the Adventurers Guild, Eldrin himself had come to see us off.

The elf Guild Master folded his arms, his silver hair glinting under the afternoon sun. "This path you walk is perilous," he said, his gaze moving over each of us. "But if anyone can face Zarathorak, it is you." His voice softened as he looked at me. "Everyone, fate has marked you for something great. I only hope you will not regret where it leads you."

We gave him a firm nod. "We'll return, Eldrin. Count on it."

With that, Eldrin raised a hand, offering a rare smile. "Then may fortune favor you all. Good luck."

Asnor faded behind us, the walls of the city shrinking into the distance as we began our journey south.

The journey had been quiet for hours, save for the occasional rustling of leaves or the distant cry of a monster. The air carried the fresh scent of pine, but there was an unshakable tension between us.

It was Fafnir who broke the silence first. "Chad," he said, his golden eyes flickering with curiosity, "If you wouldn'd mind me asking, where exactly is Zarathorak hiding?"

Before Chad could answer, Ronan, the most experienced tracker of the adventurers, spoke up. "Duskveil Hollow," he said, his tone grim. "It's beneath the Obsidian Wastes—an underground fortress built into the ruins of an ancient kingdom. As far as I know, few who've gone looking for it have ever returned."

Fafnir clicked his tongue. "Tch. Figures he'd hide in some forsaken pit. Makes it harder for us to locate him"

"Don't get too cocky," Adrian added, adjusting his sword belt. "Zarathorak isn't some mindless beast. He's calculated, and he's been planning something for a long time." I exhaled, letting their words sink in. 

Elven Queen's Palace

Far from our path, within the towering spires of the Elven Kingdom, Queen Luviyah—known as the Sky Queen—stood on her palace balcony, gazing toward the horizon. Her long, silver hair swayed in the wind, but her expression was grim.

"They are moving," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Fate is shifting."

Behind her, a kneeling elven commander bowed his head. "Your Majesty, do you truly wish to intervene?"

She clenched the railing, her golden eyes burning with determination. "I have no choice. If they speak with Zorathorak, it may trigger something we cannot control. Prepare the ambush. Do not let them reach the Obsidian Wastes alive."

"As you command."

As the elf departed, Luviyah let out a quiet breath, but suddenly, a sharp pain twisted through her chest.

She gasped, staggering forward as a wet, metallic taste filled her mouth. Her gloved hand trembled as she wiped at her lips—blood.

The curse… It's worsening.

She gritted her teeth, swallowing back the pain. The curse placed upon her long ago was growing stronger, draining her life essence at an alarming rate. There was little time left.

Going back..

A day had passed since we left Asnor, and the journey ahead still stretched far. As we set up camp near a quiet riverbank, I turned to the adventurers.

"How long until we reach Duskveil Hollow?" I asked.

Cedrick, the most precise among them, answered immediately. "If we keep a steady pace, about 10 more days. Maybe less if we push harder."

I nodded, glancing toward the darkening sky. Ten days until we reached the lair of Zarathorak. 10 days until we would finally confront him. "Ugh, this is frustrating"

The sun was setting now, casting a deep orange glow over the horizon. Shadows stretched across the land, and the temperature dropped slightly. But rather than rest, we pressed on, moving deeper into the wilderness.

The first sign of danger came in the form of glowing red eyes peering at us from the darkness. Then, with a sudden snarl, a pack of Nightfang Beasts lunged from the shadows. Their black-furred bodies moved like streaks of smoke, their razor-sharp claws gleaming under the moonlight.

"Monsters," Chad muttered, drawing his spear.

"Nothing we can't handle," Ronan added with a smirk, gripping his daggers.

The creatures rushed forward, their fangs bared—only to be met with immediate and overwhelming force.

Cedrick aggroed the monsters, and Chad struck first, his spear cleaving through two beasts in a single swing. Ronan, agile and precise, weaved between them, delivering lethal dagger strikes to their throats. Adrian's arcane magic flashed, blinding and cutting through the pack like a reaper in the night. 

Fafnir let out a low growl, his dragonic aura flaring. "I'll take care of the rest," he said, raising a clawed hand. A sphere of blazing crimson light formed in his palm.

Dragon Blast.

With a single motion, he launched the fiery projectile forward. The explosion illuminated the dark forest, and in an instant, the remaining beasts were nothing but ash.

The battle had lasted mere moments.

I exhaled, lowering my guard. "That was easy," I admitted.

"Too easy," Ronan muttered, scanning the area. "Something feels… off."

The next day..

The night passed without further incident, yet an eerie presence still lingered in the air. Whether it was paranoia or a genuine threat, I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching us.

As the first light of dawn peeked over the horizon, the golden rays filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the forest floor. The fresh scent of damp earth and morning dew filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension that weighed on my chest.

I stretched as I rose from my resting spot, my muscles sore from days of walking. Around me, the others stirred, preparing for the next leg of our journey.

Cedrick, ever the disciplined one, was already on his feet, adjusting the straps on his shield. "We should move quickly. If we keep a steady pace, we can cut down our travel time by a few hours."

"Agreed," Ronan nodded, securing his daggers to his belt. "The less time we spend out in the open, the better."

Fafnir yawned, his golden eyes flickering toward me. "You didn't sleep much last night, did you?"

I hesitated before answering. "I had a weird feeling, like we weren't alone."

Chad furrowed his brow, gripping his spear. "You think something's tailing us?"

Adrian, who had been adjusting his gloves, scoffed. "If something was following us, they missed their chance to strike last night. They would've had the advantage while we slept."

I frowned but said nothing. Though the battle had been quick, a strange unease settled in my chest. Was it just my imagination? Or was something—someone—watching us from the shadows?

The morning sun gradually climbed higher, warming the air as we pressed deeper into the wilderness. The path ahead was well-worn, likely used by travelers and traders in the past. The occasional rustle of leaves or distant growl of unseen beasts reminded us that we weren't the only ones moving through these lands.

Despite my unease, the trip remained uneventful—almost too uneventful.

"Something's off," Chad muttered, twirling his spear absentmindedly. "We haven't run into any real threats since last night. This area is supposed to be crawling with monsters."

"Something might've scared them off," Adrian mused, his fingers sparking briefly with arcane energy.

"Or someone," Ronan added, his voice low.

The thought sent a chill down my spine. If something had driven away the monsters, it had to be more dangerous than the creatures themselves.

Fafnir exhaled in frustration. "Let's' just observer for now."

Meanwhile..

High above, hidden within the thick canopy of trees, silent figures observed us. Their movements were precise, their breathing controlled. Cloaked in enchanted elven armor, they blended seamlessly with their surroundings, waiting for the command to strike.

One elf whispered through a magical communication link. "They are proceeding as expected, Your Majesty. The ambush will commence soon."

Far away in her palace, Queen Luviyah sat upon her ornate throne, her golden eyes gazing into the distance. Despite her regal posture, she was struggling.

She clenched her jaw as another violent cough racked her body. Blood splattered onto her delicate glove.

The curse is spreading faster…

Her vision blurred for a moment, but she forced herself to regain composure. No matter the cost, she had to act.

"Proceed with the ambush," she commanded, her voice steady despite the pain. "Do not let them reach Duskveil Hollow."

"As you command, my Queen."

The connection ended.

Luviyah exhaled, wiping the crimson stain from her lips. Her hands trembled slightly, though whether from weakness or hesitation, she wasn't sure.

As we pushed forward, the warmth of the sun did little to dispel the unease in my chest. The air itself felt heavy, like the quiet before a storm—yet the sky remained clear.

Chad tightened his grip on his spear. "I don't like this silence."

"Stay sharp," Ronan muttered, his eyes scanning the treetops. "If they've been tracking us, they'll wait for the best moment to strike."

Cedrick shifted his shield into position, standing slightly ahead of the group as a precaution. "If we're being followed, let them come. We'll be ready."

Adrian smirked, arcane energy crackling at his fingertips. "Let's see if they're stupid enough to attack us head-on."

We continued forward, our pace steady but wary.