"Be on guard, stay vigilant, the enemy is out in hiding," the chief shouted to his men as they walked the streets in search of Indura. Their armored boots struck the stone roads in a steady rhythm, weapons drawn, shields ready, eyes scanning rooftops and alleyways. Torchlight flickered against their armor as tension hung over the kingdom like a coming storm. "He couldn't have gone far—"
"CHIEF, IN THE SKY, SOMETHING IS COMING!" a dwarf warrior yelled out, his voice cracking as he tilted his head upward, and others followed his gaze.
The chief looked up to the sky, and he saw it. The very beast he had sworn to take down was right above him, above his kingdom, diving at a ridiculous speed. Its massive body tore through the clouds like a falling star, red aura blazing around it. His breath caught in his throat as fear gripped his chest. "T-take cover, EVERYONE TAKE COVER!" the chief shouted as the dragon's descent drew closer.
In the sky, Indura dove down without decreasing his pace, without slowing down. His massive size blocked out the stars as he descended straight toward the heart of the dwarf kingdom. When he landed, the impact shattered the ground beneath him. A violent shock tore through the streets, followed by heavy winds and crushing shockwaves sweeping across the kingdom, destroying houses and buildings. Stone walls cracked. Roofs collapsed. Towers split—all efforts were destroyed.
He was massive. He was tall. His landing created devastating tremors, the shockwaves leading to many casualties as dwarves were thrown across the streets or crushed under falling debris. Dust filled the air. Cries echoed through the ruins.
Indura stood at the center of it all, looking down on the kingdom falling into devastation. The scale of the impact and shockwaves swept away the dwarf warriors. A few died instantly. Some survived, barely, crawling from rubble with broken armor and bloodied faces.
The chief, buried by debris, forced himself out from beneath broken stone. He stood unsteadily, faintly gazing at the ruin of the land. It was a horrible sight. Streets once full of order were now shattered. Once proud buildings were reduced to rubble. And behind it all stood a mighty tyrant, shaped like a mountain, eyes radiating golden aura — the red dragon, Indura.
The chief panted heavily, looking around for his fallen comrades, many of them wounded or unmoving. "No… no no no… what has become of my kingdom… my people…" The words came out heavy, filled with disbelief. He looked up to the dragon, gritting his teeth in fear and anger.
Indura watched the dwarves scatter in fear. Some ran. Some stood frozen. "What a terrific sight," Indura murmured, his glowing eyes tracking through the chaos as he searched. "Where are you, oh great chief?" he called out. Then his voice deepened as a smile formed around his jaws. "I am here."
"Now would be the perfect time to unleash your weapon; it's now or never, chief," he spoke out, still scanning the broken streets.
Behind fallen buildings, the chief lay trying to breathe, sweat forming across his face, wounds burning with pain. "The dragon… it can speak!" he muttered with curiosity and fear. I have never heard of a dragon that could speak. If this one does, could it be!? The chief thought to himself, struggling to understand what he was facing. It knows of my weapon… could it be… Indura?! The chief thought again, his breathing uncontrollable. I let the dragon walk beside me? The whole time? The chief thought again, unable to accept it. No… If this dragon could speak and had a name, then no weapon of ours could kill it. He thought, chest tightening. Where are the priests? They need to summon our guardian. The chief thought, trying to stand. He who spoke boldly about the desecration of the dragon now could not grasp the difference in scale, wishing he could take back his words.
Indura's eyes finally locked onto the chief's position. His massive head lowered slightly, golden aura blazing brighter. "There you are… come out and face me," Indura spoke out to the injured chief. "You said you would use my organs to fuel your works, well, now I'm here… so do your worst," he said, leaning closer to the ruined streets. His voice thundered across the kingdom. "I Am Here!"
The chief stood, leaning on debris, unable to raise even an ounce of hostility against what towered before him. "PRIESTS… SUMMON THE GUARDIAN!" he shouted with all the strength he had left, his voice echoing across the broken land.
"Guardian!" Indura murmured, curious. An eerie smile spread across his jaws. "You won't use your weapon?" Indura spoke out to the chief. "Well… that's disappointing. Fine… call out your guardian; your judgment depends on them, puny dwarves." He remained still, patient, allowing them to act.
Below, five priests gathered despite their wounds. Blood stained their robes as they formed magic circles on the broken stone ground. Their hands glowed as they cast spells for the summoning ritual. Together they called out, "Hear us, hear us, oh great guardian of the dwarves. Descend below from beyond, from beyond to below, we welcome our great guardian…"
White light burst from the circle, lighting up the ruined streets. Wind swirled violently around the glowing center as a being slowly took form.
Indura watched as a figure emerged from the light. A warrior of the sky palace descended, dressed in white and silver armor, wielding a bright silver sword. Its eyes had symbolic pupils, filled with grace and presence. It looked upon the dwarves and spoke, its voice calm and clear. "I have answered your call. What it is you want, dwarves of Varta?"
"Help us, oh great guardian," a priest pleaded as they bowed before the shining figure. "The underworld has unleashed a beast upon us. Save us, oh great guardian," another priest cried out.
The guardian turned its eyes toward the dragon, gazing at its enormous form with steady calm. "A dragon, one that's large enough. It seems younger, a servant dragon?" the guardian murmured, studying him.
Indura stared at the guardian, then let out his eerie smile. "Well… guardian. Will you save these dwarves from my wrath?" Indura spoke out.
There was silence.
Then the guardian suddenly flinched backwards, panic breaking through its calm. "Impossible… it can speak!" he said, losing composure. "No… no way, it can't be… it's colour… "Its size… it can't be," the guardian muttered, fear rising in his voice.
"Why are you here… why are you in this world… why are you not in Chaos?" the guardian demanded.
"Here?… why am I here?" Indura responded with curiosity.
"Yes. You're not supposed to be in this world. You belong in Chaos, along with your kind," the guardian replied.
"Chaos?!… with my kind?!… I'm not alone?" Indura asked.
"What!… you don't know about Chaos?" the guardian asked, stunned. "Listen here. I will not fight you, Red Dragon; both our powers are too much for this world. Let the dwarves be, and we shall be at peace," he continued.
"Hold on… You mentioned my about my kind. Do you know who I am? Do you know me?" Indura asked.
"What!… of course I know—" the guardian stopped mid-sentence as realization struck him. "Wait, if all the other dragons are over in Chaos, and you are in Varta… you… You must be the lost dragon!" the guardian muttered. They couldn't destroy the dragon egg because it had a will of its own… the egg that got away, the guardian thought to himself.
"Hhmm… so there is a world beyond my own! My kin… this is interesting, but first, I will destroy this kingdom," Indura spoke out firmly.
"No, you can't… If you do, the sky palace will come for you," the guardian warned.
"Then protect it… from me," Indura replied as heat rose from his belly to his mouth.
"NO!" the guardian shouted, raising his arm as a mystical barrier formed instantly before him.
Indura unleashed his breath — highly compressed red and yellow flames — slamming against the guardian's barrier. Fire spread across the shield in a blazing wave, but it did not break.
The flames did no damage to the guardian's barrier. The raging blast of red and yellow fire poured over the glowing shield, spreading like a burning tide across its surface, yet it held firm, shining steady beneath the assault. Heat rolled through the ruined streets, ash drifting through the air, but the guardian remained untouched behind the light.
"You don't have to do this, Red dragon. Let us resolve this less aggressively," the guardian told Indura, his voice calm even as the fire reflected across his armor.
"You don't seem to understand. I'm not destroying this kingdom because I feel threatened, no...I decided that it should not exist anymore," Indura responded, unwavering. His massive form rose higher above the broken land, wings stretching wide as power gathered within him. He opened his jaws and released a roar that shook the heavens.
It was no ordinary roar. It had a name — 'Roar of Judgement'. The sound exploded across the kingdom, carrying high-intensity sound waves and authority, slicing through stone and ground alike. The force stunned everyone below, locking bodies in place. Some dwarves were killed instantly by the sheer pressure. Others collapsed where they stood, unable to move or think. The roar surged beyond the kingdom itself, echoing far across the lands beyond.
The guardian was still stunned. Impossible, it can use the authority of judgement!, he thought, struggling to comprehend the power that had just washed over him.
Indura ceased, the silence afterward heavy and crushing. He raised his claw and swung it down toward the land, imbuing it with explosive magic. A third of the kingdom's land erupted instantly, explosive flames bursting upward like a volcano. Buildings were obliterated, stone melted and torn apart, and whatever remained standing was destroyed in the blast.
Then Indura lunged forward toward the guardian, his claws crashing against the barrier with brutal force. The impact rippled through the light shield, yet the guardian stood unwavering.
"Perhaps I underestimated you, guardian!" Indura said to the guardian, excitement and intensity mixing in his voice.
"Let's take this somewhere else, Red Dragon," said the guardian. He raised his arm toward Indura, his hand glowing white as energy gathered. "Divine Light."
Blinding brightness exploded outward, overwhelming the senses. The light swallowed the battlefield, followed by an attack, striking Indura directly and sending his massive body flying. He crashed outside of the Kingdom, tearing through ground and stone as he landed beyond the ruined borders.
The brightness faded slowly. Dust settled. The guardian lowered his arm and turned toward the dwarves who remained near him. His expression softened, voice steady and reassuring.
"You're safe. Gather with your loved ones, mourn the dead...I will deal with the dragon," he spoke to the dwarfs near him, offering them a warm smile, giving them hope for survival.