Chapter 376: Breath of the Dragonbane

 

  “I am the only one who can offer us the one thing we need to win this war!” Marek shouted in front of the gathering of chieftains.

  Sylaril, the chieftess of the venerable Adder Tribe, narrowed her scarlet eyes, “And what might that be?”

  Marek smiled, his expression half-crazed. 

  It was time. Time to show them all the creature that lay dormant outside.

  “A weapon capable of destroying the very walls of Hollow Shade,” Marek said.

  “That’s impossible!” yelled the dwarf chieftain Skogard. His voice dripped with skepticism. “The walls of that cursed city are protected by ancient magic forged by the Ebon Lords themselves. If the walls were so easily destroyed then the city would have been sieged centuries ago!”

  “Who said anything about easy?” Marek turned around and walked to the tent's entrance. “You are right, Skogard. It was thought to be impossible. So I searched for the impossible, and after years of searching, I found it. Come, let me show you all, the bane of our enemies.”

  Marek walked outside without looking back, the archmage twins following silently behind him. He hoped his speech would draw enough curiosity to bring the others outside as well. Sure enough, he could hear the grumbling of Skogard behind him, along with the clacking of Sylaril’s cane over the hard dirt floor. 

  Soon, Maerk could hear dozens of footsteps and the low chattering of the chieftains and their bodyguards. But Marek didn’t turn around, afraid it might show uncertainty, and in doing so weakness. Instead, he kept his back straight and walked to the wagon where the Unildyr beast slept.

  Nokti was already at the wagon, helping the centaurs unhook the latches that kept the tarp over the wagon. She spotted Marek and the entourage of chieftains behind him and gave Marek a questioning look. 

  He nodded and silently mouthed, “Do it.”

  “What is that? What are you hiding?” Sylaril asked with suspicion.

  Marek’s lips curled up in a proud smile, “Our greatest hope. Allow me to introduce you all to an Unildyr.”

  At his words, the centaurs pulled off the leather tarp. A massive pale grey beast lay curled sleeping on top of the large wagon. The chieftains and other onlookers staggered back at the sheer size of the beast.

  “It’s…! It’s… not moving…?” Sylaril muttered warily.

  “He is sleeping,” Marek explained lightly, trying his best to appear calm and confident.

  As Sylaril hesitantly stepped closer she noticed the beast’s smooth hide wasn’t grey, but mostly translucent, like a foggy window on a cold night. The corded muscle fibers underneath the hide were a pale grey with black veins that stretched across his body. 

  The Unildyr’s head slowly moved up and down as he slept. Thin cold wisps of vapor blew out of his short snout with each lumbering breath. Two long black horns curled around his skull and rose up to form a pair of sharp points.

  The eyes suddenly opened and the inner eyelids swept back, revealing a pair of black eyes. There were no irises, pupils, or sclera, his eyes were orbs of glassy black like obsidian.

  Sylaril stumbled back in fright and her lamia escort swept in and quickly dragged her back. The Unildyr’s eyes followed them as they hurried back into the crowd. The wagon’s wheels creaked as the beast stood to his full towering height. The long serpentine tail slowly uncoiled itself and the long black spike at its end dragged across the ground, leaving behind a deep scar in the ground.

  The crowd backed away even further in fear as they realized how truly massive the beast was. The Unildyr didn’t seem to notice their terror and instead cocked his head to the side as he studied them with mild curiosity. He leaned back on his hind legs and sat on his haunches. His jaw opened unnaturally wide, displaying a row of ebon fangs as long as shortswords, and he yawned, his black serpentine tongue curling out. 

  Sylarila narrowed her scarlet eyes, “He’s calm…?”

  “Why isn’t the beast attacking us? Is it under some spell?” the elderly chieftess Agnes asked.

  “We couldn’t put him under a spell even if we wanted to,” Marek chuckled. “No, he is calm because we raised the Unildyr from hatchlings. While around my archmages and I, they usually have a calm temperament.” Unless they’re hungry, he thought wryly.

  “We do advise none of you get too close to the creature,” Vaughn warned.

  “The Unildyr are picky about their personal space,” Dawn added.

  “Wait, you said you raised them from hatchlings? You’re saying you have more than one of these monsters?” Skogard asked anxiously.

  “We have almost twenty of them under our control,” Marek said smugly.

  Sylaril tapped her cane thoughtfully then spoke up, “This… Unildyr… is the most magnificent creature I have ever laid my eyes on. I have never seen such a massive creature before and judging from his incredibly sharp teeth and long claws I’m quite certain he would be a terrifying presence on the battlefield. But I do not see how such a beast could overcome the army of shades lurking within the ebon wall.”

  Marek laughed lightheartedly, “I understand your skepticism, chieftess. However, it is neither his claws nor fangs that should terrify our enemies, but something far more… unique.”

  Sylaril furrowed her brow, “What are you getting at?”

  “I believe a demonstration is in order,” Marek said. He raised his hand and conjured a ball of flames over his palm. With a flick of his wrist, the fireball splashed over the Unildyr’s chest. 

  The crowd’s eyes widened in shock as the flames dissipated right before they touched the creature's hide. The beast tilted his head down and glanced at Marek curiously. A small flicker of white light burned in the center of its ebon eyes.

   “What just happened? What was that?” Sylaril asked.

  Marek opened his arms wide and gestured to the Unildyr, “That, my friends, is how we win this war. Spells break down when they near him and his body absorbs the mana. He is immune to magic. He is immune to the shades.”

  “So he is a mage’s ultimate bane,” Sylaril muttered.

  “Is that even possible?” Skogard sneered. “That must be a trick!”

  “You are welcome to try it yourself,” Marek said. “Feel free to cast whatever spell you like, I assure you he won’t bite.”

  The chieftains looked at Skogard expectantly but the dwarf’s face grew red in embarrassment and anger.

  “I will not fall for another one of your tricks!” Skogard yelled. “You want me to anger the beast so it attacks me!”

  Marek shook his head, “Not at all—”

  Sylaril pointed her outstretched fingers at the Unildyr and hurled a lightning bolt at his face. The storm spell splashed harmlessly across his snout and the blue mana was quickly absorbed into his skin. The small white glow in his eyes burned slightly brighter.

  “So it's true then, he really is immune to magic,” Sylaril said in admiration.

  Sokagrd looked at the vampiress as if she were insane.

  Marek smiled, “He isn’t just immune to magic.” He glanced at Dawn and nodded.

  The vampire-drow hybrid raised a crossbow and fired. The steel bolt hit the Unildyr’s forearm harmlessly and snapped in half. 

  Marek picked up the broken bolt and showed the blunted tip to the crowd. “Their skin is harder than any enchanted steel I have ever seen. Not even the ballistas on the shade walls will penetrate their flesh.” He pointed at the deep groove on the ground where the Unildyr’s barbed tail had swept past, “As you can see his tail is quite sharp, as are his claws. I’ve seen the Unildyr tear through steel plate armor as if it were parchment paper. I’ve seen their fangs crush bone and rock as if they were eating bread.”

  “So you have unkillable monsters who are immune to magic and capable of laying waste to countless men?” Sylaril said thoughtfully.

  “Capable of destroying the shade walls,” Marek added. “The Unildyr are the only ones capable of destroying the walls that our enemies have hidden behind for centuries. And the Unildyr answer to me and me alone. If I die, I cannot guarantee the safety of our people.”

  Sylaril glared at him, “So what you’re saying is that we cannot kill you lest your ‘little pet’ murders us all.”

  “You’re threatening us,” Skogard scowled.

  “I’m warning you, that without me the valley tribes will fall,” Marek said. “The enemy is already at our door. It will not be long until we have nowhere else to hide and Hollow Shade and Undergrowth slaughter our people. But with the strength of the Cairn Tribe, we won’t just survive, we’ll take back Dusk Valley and no one will ever dare threaten our people ever again.”

  “…Tell me, Marek. If I agree to this and I help join all our tribes together, our armies together, I take it you will wish to lead us?” Sylaril asked warily.

  “An army of such magnitude would be the greatest this realm has seen in the last thousand years. Naturally, it would require a general of great experience to lead it. And unlike all of you, I have been fighting against our enemies for years now. I am the most, no, the only qualified person for the task at hand.”

  “You greedy little bastard!” Skogard shouted.

  Marek shook his head, “I see the path ahead of us and what must be done to achieve victory. A future for our people. Is that not what you all want? A future where we don’t have to hide?”

  “It is what many of us want, but not what you want,” Sylaril said carefully. “No, Marek, you want something else. Revenge, perhaps? For the murder of your father. Or maybe something more. The title of king is not very far from being in command of an entire nation’s armies.”

  “I seek no crown. I only seek to save our people, once and for all,” Marek said adamantly.

  Sylaril stared at him intensely in silence. She sighed to herself and slammed her golden cane into the ground. “I do not trust you will not seek a crown once this is all over. However, I trust that you will make certain that our people win this war… Lord Marek, the Adder Tribe stands with you.”

  Marek smiled gratefully, “Thank you, chieftess. Your support will not be forgotten. Nor will the fact that you were the first to join us.”

  “I fear our people will never forget this moment,” Sylaril said darkly.

  The crowd exploded in arguments and fearful whispers.

  Skogard’s jaw hung slack in surprise, “S-Sylaril, you cannot be serious! You cannot join this man. He is a power-hungry lunatic!”

  “That doesn’t change the fact that he is our greatest hope against Hollow Shade,” Sylaril said.

  Skogard spat on the ground and marched towards the Unildyr. He pointed his ax at the creature and shouted at his brethren, “This thing isn’t our hope! It is our doom! If we let this dire human lead around a pack of these monsters our people will surely pay the price!”

  The Unildyr paid no mind to the little funny man dancing with a stick. He had seen many men like that before. None of them had ever tasted very well, their souls always left him hungering for more.

  HUNGRY… the creature thought passively.

  A faint breeze blew by, a sound like no other carried on the wind. The monster raised his head and stared at the blue horizon. What would have seemed like nothing at all to anyone at the camp, was instead a faraway speck to the heightened vision of the  Unildyr. It was small, barely visible but the creature immediately recognized it for what it was.

  DRAGON…!

  An uncontrollable hunger welled up inside the Unildyr. His translucent claws swept low and sliced apart the funny dancing man.

  “Skogard, no!” a woman screamed.

  The crowd of little people ran around in a panic, trampling over each other in terror.

  The Unildyr paid them no mind and scooped up the bloody remains of the dwarf and swallowed it all in one gulp. His mana and soul dissolved quickly in one of the beast’s stomachs.

  MORE…

  “What are you doing!?” Marek called out to the Unildyr. “We’ll get you some food, so just calm down—”

  MORE…

  The Unildyr’s tail swiped at the dire human with a flash. Orange mana surged into Vaughn’s body. He kicked off the ground and pushed Marek out of the way as the barbed tail swiped mere inches past their heads.

  “You’ve lost control, we need to run!” Nokti screamed.

  “N-No, not yet, we can stop this, it’s not too late!” Marek said desperately.

  “I warned you, we cannot control them,” Vaughn said grimly.

  The Unildyr suddenly jumped forward and slammed into the swarm of fleeing tribesmen. His tail whipped out and crushed dozens of people and several tents with each strike. The monster walked hunched over on its hind legs and grabbed screaming mortals in its foreclaws. Their screams died out in an instant as the creature crushed them in his paws and swallowed their broken bodies.

  Numerous spells splashed over the Unildyr’s hulking body harmlessly. The fractured spells fell away and their mana sank into the creature's body.

  “Get him out of here, Vaughn. I’ll distract it,” Dawn said.

  Vaughn’s eyes widened in fear, “Wait, don’t—!”

  “Go!” Dawn dashed off towards the beast. She poured green mana into the soles of her feet and kicked off the ground with all the flora magic she could muster. 

  Giant vines erupted from the earth and wrapped around the Unildyr’s massive body. The vines quickly withered away and turned to dust, but not before the beast turned to Dawn with a rumbling growl. 

  Dawn felt the attack coming before she saw it. Yellow durability scales covered her skin in an instant. The Unildyr smacked her away with the back of his hand, sending her body careening into the hillside.  

  “Sister, NO!” Vaughn screamed in a wretched voice. Orange mana flooded his veins and the fabled Black Amber spell dyed his veins black. He dashed across the camp with blinding speed towards his sister.

  The Unildyr watched the archmage move as though he was swimming through water, barely a blur in its ebon eyes. The beast’s tail swiped out, faster than before. Vaughn jumped away in surprise, but the tail jerked back and struck out in a flurry of lashes. Vaughn’s eyes flicked around as he evaded each strike, the attacks slowly but surely getting closer.

  Suddenly, the Unildyr’s hand swiped at the ground and hurled countless shards of rock at the archmage. Vaughn gritted his teeth and danced around the hail of stones, but a small rock smashed into his leg and tore a hole through his shin. He cried out in pain and slammed into the ground hard. His body rolled several times before finally slowing to a bloody halt.

  The Unildyr lumbered towards him and opened his jaws unnaturally wide.

  The world flashed blue and a storm of lightning crashed down from the sky and formed a single pillar of burning energy, crashing into the Unildyr’s shoulder. The monster roared back in surprise, the ground rumbling beneath its feet. A small patch of translucent skin sizzled over the beast’s shoulder.

  Dawn stood at a distance, the last bit of electricity fading from her fingertips. Her durability scales had been shattered, her left arm hung limp at her side, and blood dripped down over her forehead and blue cheek. Her each breath was labored and painful, but her deep purple eyes were clear and full of anger. 

  “I finally got you, you fucking monster,” Dawn muttered with tired breaths. It had taken the greatest spell in her arsenal and most of her blue mana, but she had finally managed to injure the beast.

  They’re not completely immune to magic! Dawn thought triumphantly.

  The ancient monsters weren’t invulnerable. They could be killed!

  The Unildyr glared at her and growled. The burned skin over his shoulder healed in a matter of seconds and left behind not a single mark.

  “That’s not possible…!” Dawn paled and fell to her knees in despair.

  The monster roared in anger. Two grey leathery wings stretched out from the Unildyr’s back, each wing twice the size of the beast. He opened his mouth wide and his ribcage swelled as he took a deep breath. The air suddenly grew quiet and the dozens of mages running throughout the camp began to topple over unconscious.

  Nokti’s legs grew weak and she fell over with a groan.

  The white fox goddess jumped off her shoulder and nudged the vampiress’ cheek. “What’s happening to you?” Lin-Lu asked, a rare trace of worry in her voice.

  “I can’t… I can’t breathe!” Nokti gasped weakly.

  Dawn looked up at the ancient monster with utter disbelief. She could feel the mana in her heart being ripped from her body.

  This isn’t possible! It’s absorbing everyone’s mana!

  A white light grew in the Unildyr’s ebon eyes until they were burning bright like the sun. His ribcage swelled even more and an ominous silver light began to shine at the back of the monster’s throat.

  Dawn fell to the ground, her breath ragged, and her vision fading. She had heard the story, Crow had mentioned it one late night. She hadn’t been sure if he was telling the truth or simply speaking in one of his riddles. 

  Breath of the Dragonbane, the Void Flame…