The Two Legendary Dragons
The mist from the Waterdeep River clung to their boots and the edges of their cloaks, swirling as the group stepped carefully along the slippery riverbank. Caspian's violet aura pulsed faintly from his fingertips, a residual hum from his newly evolved High Copy. Zephyr's lightning danced over his knuckles, crackling with anticipation, while Thane's stone armor shimmered, reflecting the muted morning light. Kai's deep blue water magic hovered in tiny droplets around his wrists, ready to surge.
The river stretched before them like a silver mirror, calm and deceptively serene. They had been traveling for hours, the Fen's gauntlet behind them, the sunlight now warm on their faces. But peace was a stranger to warriors like them.
⟢ SYSTEM ALERT ⟢
LEGENDARY DRAGONS DETECTED
Male Dragon & Female Dragon
Age: Over 1,000 years
Element: Fire & Air
Level: Unknown — Extremely High
Danger Level: LEGENDARY — Avoid direct confrontation unless prepared for catastrophic damage
Caspian's heart thumped in his chest. "Two dragons… here? At the Waterdeep River?" he muttered, voice low.
Zephyr's fingers crackled with lightning. "They've lived a thousand years… their strength alone could flatten us in seconds."
The dragons moved with fluid grace along the water's edge—a male and female, scales glinting like molten metal under the rising sun. Their sheer size made the group pause in awe and fear, each easily three times the height of a house. Horns curled along their heads like jagged crowns, eyes sharp and intelligent, glimmering with ancient power.
The group froze. One wrong move, and the beasts could incinerate them in an instant.
Caspian raised a hand. "Stay calm. Let's move slowly."
But dragons are creatures of instinct. Their keen eyes flicked toward the group, and in an instant, the serene riverbank erupted into chaos.
The male dragon reared, chest expanding as blue flames curled from his maw. FSSSHHH! The female coiled her long, serpentine body, scales reflecting sunlight as she bared fangs sharper than any sword.
Thane slammed his stone-covered fists together. THOOM!The ground trembled, and jagged stone spikes erupted, forming a protective circle around the group.
Kai raised his hands, summoning a dome of water that shimmered like crystal. "Aqua Shield—Full Barrier!"
The male dragon unleashed a torrent of fire. CRACKLE! HSSSSSS!Steam hissed and boiled from the river as the flames collided with Kai's barrier, scattering into harmless bursts of mist. The female lunged forward, claws slicing through the air, barely deflected by Thane's stone spikes. CLANG!
Caspian's violet glow flared as he activated Echo Weave. Multiple illusions appeared around him, each one mimicking his movements perfectly. The dragons hesitated, confusion flashing in their ancient eyes.
Zephyr leapt high, sending arcs of lightning over the water. ZZZZT! ZZZZT! Sparks bounced off the dragons' scales hardened by centuries, but the attack made them roar in irritation, wings flaring as they kicked up mist and spray. ROAAARR!
The battle escalated—water and lightning collided with flame and talons. SPLASH! CRASH!Kai's Aqua Shield morphed into twin water blades, slashing at the dragons' claws as they lunged. Thane's stone armor expanded, forming blunt, spiked gauntlets that shattered small boulders as he struck the dragons' tails and legs to unbalance them. SMASH! THUD!
Caspian phased around the dragons, illusions splitting and merging as he copied their movements in real time. "Echo Weave—Mimic Attack!" he shouted, replicating a claw strike from the female dragon and redirecting it toward her exposed flank. WHAM!The blow earned a hiss of pain, but the dragons were far from subdued.
The male dragon slammed his tail into the riverbank, sending a wave of water and mud toward them. SPLASH! CRRRASH! Zephyr dodged, firing a focused bolt of lightning into the dragon's side, causing sparks to fly. ZZZZT!
"You've gotten stronger, Caspian," Thane muttered, striking the male dragon's claw as it came down. CLANG!"But they're testing us!"
Kai swung his water blades in wide arcs, deflecting flaming debris as the female dragon lunged. SLASH! FWOOSH! "Keep moving! Their attacks are relentless!"
Caspian nodded, forming six illusions around him to confuse the dragons further. Every strike the dragons made was met with parried water, reinforced stone, or his copied attacks, each movement synchronized with his friends'.
The male dragon roared. ROAAARR!Flames licked the air as it swept its massive wings, creating a gale that knocked mud and water over the group. Caspian phased through the air, striking the dragon's exposed chest with a combination of High Copy lightning and Kai's water energy. BOOM!The impact made the dragon reel, but it recovered quickly, snapping its jaws and forcing Caspian back.
Zephyr jumped atop a nearby boulder, unleashing a chain of lightning so bright it lit up the river's mist. ZZZZT! CRACK!The female dragon shrieked and recoiled, her focus split between illusions and the real threat before her.
Thane slammed his fists into the ground again. THOOM! CRASH! Jagged spikes pierced the dragons' legs. The male dragon faltered, staggering slightly, but lifted its wings and roared. ROAAARR!Fire licked the sky.
Caspian's violet light pulsed like liquid fire. "Now—coordinated strike! Water, lightning, stone—together!"
Kai surged forward, slashing with water blades. SWISH! SPLASH!Zephyr's lightning arcs intertwined with the Aqua stream. ZZZZT! CRACK!Thane's stone gauntlets struck in unison. SMASH! THUD! Caspian's illusions darted in and out, confusing the dragons and amplifying each attack. For a moment, both dragons reeled, fire sputtering, wings faltering.
But legends like these dragons do not yield easily. With deafening roars, both dragons spread their wings and ascended, fire flickering along their jaws. WHOOSH! ROAAARR!Gusts from their ascent threw the group off balance, river water churning violently beneath them. They circled once, wings beating with thunderous force, then disappeared toward the horizon, leaving only smoke, steam, and the echo of their roars behind.
The four of them panted heavily, soaked from Kai's water barriers and cinders from the dragons' fire. Mud and water clung to their clothes, hair plastered to their faces, but their eyes shone with exhilaration.
"That… was too close," Kai muttered, lowering his hands. Water droplets slid off his arms. "They weren't just hunting us—they were testing us."
"Testing us?" Zephyr said, sparks fading from his knuckles. "I say they almost roasted us alive."
Thane shook his head, wiping mud from his stone-like armor. "Legends, yes… but even legends have limits. We survived. That's what matters."
Caspian touched the silver amulet around his neck, feeling its faint warmth and pulsing energy. High Copy… works. I can handle this.
With the dragons gone, the river's surface calmed. They crossed the Waterdeep River cautiously, keeping an eye on the horizon, and eventually arrived at the capital city of Elyria. The Argentum Spires glimmered in the sunlight, towers stretching impossibly high, streets bustling with life, and the aroma of food drifting from the open-air restaurants lining the square.
They entered one such restaurant, sitting at a wooden table polished smooth by countless patrons. Platters of roasted meat, steamed vegetables, and freshly baked bread were laid before them. They ate quickly while savoring every bite, replenishing the energy spent in their encounter with the legendary beasts.
Caspian's violet glow from High Copy still tingled faintly across his skin. Danger was never far away. He scanned the streets through the restaurant's open windows, noting the people moving about without a care.
Suddenly, a deep rumble shook the city streets. RUMBLE! CLATTER!Windows rattled, and the crowd outside froze.
Two massive silhouettes tore through the clouds above the Argentum Spires, wings wide, scales shimmering in sunlight. The male and female Legendary Dragons from the Waterdeep River had returned.
The citizens screamed, scrambling in panic as the dragons let out deafening roars that echoed between the towers. ROAAARR! CRASH! THUMP!Horses bolted, carts overturned, and people scattered in fear.
Zephyr slammed his fists on the table. THUMP! "They followed us."
Kai's eyes narrowed, water magic shimmering around his hands. SWISH!"And this time… they mean business."
Thane rose, fists clenching, stone armor gleaming like obsidian. CLANG!"Caspian. Prepare yourselves. This isn't random—they're testing us again."
Caspian's violet eyes glowed with determination. The High Copy energy pulsed across his body, syncing with the residual energy from the Fen. Each friend was ready, their elements evolved and sharpened.
The dragons circled high above, fire and lightning reflecting in their eyes, their immense presence casting shadows over the Argentum Spires. WHOOSH! ROAAARR!
Caspian tightened his fists, illusions forming faintly around him, pulse quickening. "They're not leaving this time," he muttered. "We have to be ready… whatever comes next."
The wind picked up, carrying the scent of smoke and ozone.
⟢ SYSTEM ALERT — LEGENDARY DRAGONS DETECTED
⟢ DANGER LEVEL: CATASTROPHIC
The city trembled beneath the shadows of two ancient, legendary dragons. They circled once more, wings slicing through the sky, before vanishing in a sudden dive toward the distant horizon—leaving only the memory of their roars and the promise of their inevitable return.
And in the silence that followed, Caspian knew it was only a matter of time before the next battle began.