Looking at the man before her—someone weaker than herself yet the one who had raised her, the man to whom she had poured all her emotions—Talonixa felt an abrupt impulse to lay a clutch of eggs with him.
—But now was not the time.
—After all, a dragon in human form could only give birth to mortal offspring, and in his true dragon form, the man before her was not yet fully matured.
—No, there was no need to rush. This was neither the time nor place for such thoughts.
Suppressing the sudden surge of emotions, Talonixa composed herself, feigning unfamiliarity as she approached Alaric and softly spoke.
"Thank you for your plan, mortal," she began, relishing the role of an exalted being before her "father."
"Thanks to you, we finally have a chance to capture Deathwing, something we have sought to achieve for thousands of years but failed."
"It is my honor, Your Majesty Talonixa." Alaric bowed to the Golden Dragon Queen, but at an angle unseen by others, he shot her a sharp glare.
Amusement flickered in Talonixa's golden eyes, though she did not let it show. She continued, "It was originally our responsibility to protect this world.
That you must now bear such risks on our behalf fills us with shame. I wish I could say that the rest is up to us, but there is still one thing only you can accomplish."
"I am at your service." Alaric nodded.
"Because of its magic, none of us dragons can directly touch the Demon Soul," Talonixa explained.
"A portion of my siblings' power is sealed within this artifact, empowering Deathwing while weakening them. Now, Deathwing is far stronger than before.
Even I cannot say with certainty that I can defeat him."
"Then, what do you need me to do?" Alaric looked at his "daughter."
"Anything possible." Talonixa blinked at him playfully.
"Destroy the artifact, or at the very least, channel its power back to my siblings. Only then can we truly defeat Deathwing and bring peace to the world."
With that, she turned and transformed into her true dragon form.
A golden dragon, nearly as large as Deathwing himself, emerged. Her resplendent scales gleamed with a dazzling brilliance. Her wings, adorned with white and golden feathers, gave her an air of majesty and grace.
Without hesitation, Talonixa soared toward the other Dragon Aspects, joining their battle.
Before her arrival, the four Dragon Aspects had struggled despite their numbers. Even though they surrounded Deathwing, they were at a disadvantage.
Due to an ancient curse, Deathwing had long possessed the Dragon Soul but could not wield it himself. That was why he had manipulated the orcs into enslaving dragons and capturing Alexstrasza.
However, the Dragon Soul was ultimately his creation. The power within, drawn from the other Dragon Aspects, resonated with him whenever he neared the artifact, strengthening him considerably.
His opponents, on the other hand, were in a dire state. They had expended all their remaining power, desperately attacking Deathwing with magic and physical strikes—only for him to nullify their efforts effortlessly.
No matter how fiercely they fought, the cruel truth remained: by offering their strength to the Demon Soul long ago, these once-mighty guardian dragons had been reduced to mere shadows of their former selves. Proximity to the artifact further suppressed their abilities.
Alexstrasza breathed flames of life upon him, attempting to purify his corrupted body and soul. Yet, the dark energies within him boiled and roared in defiance, nullifying the cleansing flames entirely.
Nozdormu unleashed the Sands of Time, seeking to steal Deathwing's vitality momentarily.
For a brief instant, Deathwing felt his body weaken, his bones stiffen, and his mind slow.
But before the effects could cause lasting damage, the chaotic power within him surged, evaporating the sands and breaking the spell.
Malygos launched the fiercest assault. Enraged, the spell-weaving dragon summoned spears of lightning and ice from all directions.
Searing heat and piercing cold struck Deathwing simultaneously. Yet, his armor of enchanted black scales deflected most of the force, allowing him to endure the residual damage with ease.
However, the most cunning and dangerous of his foes was Ysera.
At first, she lingered at the rear, seemingly indifferent to her allies' futile efforts.
But after a while, Deathwing felt an odd sense of satisfaction creeping into his mind, lulling him into distraction.
By the time he realized he was slipping into a daydream, it was nearly too late.
He shook his head violently, dispelling Ysera's web of illusions—just as the other three Aspects lunged at him, aiming to pin him down.
With a frantic beat of his wings, Deathwing tore free from their grasp and retaliated. He conjured a massive sphere of pure energy between his claws and hurled it at his attackers.
The moment the sphere made contact, it exploded with tremendous force, sending Ysera, Alexstrasza, and Malygos tumbling away.
"Fools! Use every trick you have! The outcome will not change!" Deathwing roared with disdain. "I am the embodiment of power! You are but relics of the past!"
"Black dragon, do not underestimate those of us from the past..."
A golden shadow filled Deathwing's vision—the one he feared the most.
Talonixa had joined the fray.
"You wish to challenge me as well?" Deathwing sneered. "Very well, but what difference does it make? The power of the Dragon Soul makes me invincible. Your time is over, Talonixa. My reign is about to begin!"
The golden dragon spread her wings and flexed her claws. "Does a mere artifact embolden you so? How brave you have become, black dragon!"
"Thanks to them, I have endured the flames of life, the ravages of time, the curse of nightmares, and the illusions of magic! What do you bring to this battle?"
Talonixa locked eyes with him, her gaze proud and unwavering. "Face my storm and lightning, black dragon! Behold the wrath of the heavens!"
Deathwing laughed.
"So, the sky dares to challenge the earth?"
The two dragons charged at each other, the battle reaching its climax.
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