Virginia let out a thunderous, sky-shaking roar as she descended, a sound that reverberated through the very stones of the royal palace.
She circled the tallest watchtower one final time, her massive crimson wings sweeping a gale-force wind across the terrace, sending the ministers' lavish robes flying and forcing the guards to shield their faces in terror.
With a resonant, heavy thud, the colossal dragon landed right on the wide courtyard connecting to the main palace gates. The ground trembled beneath her weight, cracks spider-webbing across the polished stone tiles.
Virginia flared her nostrils, exhaling a plume of scalding white smoke that instantly raised the temperature of the courtyard, her reptilian eyes locking onto the trembling crowd above.
The King of Corals stood at the front of the terrace, his hands tightly gripping the stone railing.
