Junior and his hired muscle fought against the backstage crew, who were growing increasingly committed to their task despite their confusion. In the struggle, Max moved and showed how to get things done. He grabbed one of the commoners by the collar, uncorking the vial and forced him to drink it.
GLUG!
GLUG!
Then after some consumption, Max kindly splashed the rest on him.
"That's how it's done. Just follow my lead."
"Careful with those and don't let them drink too much!" Larry cried out in alarm.
But it was too late.
The potions had already begun to take effect.
One of Junior's companions suddenly let out a yelp as his hands began to develop scale-like skin. Another gasped as his teeth elongated into noticeable fangs. Junior himself stared in horror as his perfectly manicured nails hardened and curved into claw-like limbs.
"What have you done to us?!" Junior demanded, his voice taking on an unnatural rasp.
"Made you part of something memorable. No need to thank me."
Max wickedly grinned.
"Now, who's ready for their stage debut?"
The stage manager appeared, looking completely overwhelmed.
"Two minutes until the dragon sequence! What in the Mother Goddess's name is happening back here?"
"Making history. The Dark Lord and his minions will accompany the dragon. Tell the lighting crew to adjust accordingly."
"Dark Lord? Minions? What are you talking about? And who authorized this?"
Max simply handed him the illegible note.
"Director Taellon's vision. Unless you'd prefer to explain to him why his artistic direction was ignored?"
The stage manager's face paled as he tried to decipher the scrawled mess.
Of course, it couldn't be read.
"But... but..."
"Enough questions! Everyone get to your places! The show must go on!"
"The show must go on!" the backstage crew shouted back!
On stage, Act One was concluding. The hero's village scene showing the peaceful life that would soon be threatened. The music began to shift to a more ominous tone, signaling the transition to Act Two.
Max positioned himself near the stage entrance, where he could see two muscular young men preparing to wear the elaborate dragon costume. They were clearly aura path specialists, their movements were skilled as they adjusted harnesses and checked connection points.
"Who's Kent?"
The taller of the two looked up with a frown.
"I am. What's this about a rider? The costume can't support extra weight—"
"It's just for the entrance. I'll dismount once we're center stage," Max lied smoothly.
Kent and Tyne exchanged dubious looks.
"This wasn't in rehearsal."
Tyne pointed out.
"And our balance points are finely tuned."
"Director's orders."
Max waved the now-crumpled note.
It couldn't be read anyways, so why not just wave it as 'proof.'
"Go get someone to hear your complaints later. Right now, we've got a show to put on."
Before they could protest further, the stage manager called out:
"Dragon entrance in thirty seconds! Places!"
Kent sighed in resignation.
"Fine. But if you throw off our movement sequence—"
"If it bothers you so much I will take responsibility."
Max was already climbing onto the harness that connected the two performers.
"Trust me, this will be the most memorable performance of 'The Eternal Flame' in academy history."
As Max settled uncomfortably atop the dragon harness, he could feel the two adjusting their stance to accommodate his weight. It was an awkward arrangement, with Max essentially straddling the connection point between the front and rear segments of the dragon.
Meanwhile, Junior and his five companions were being forcibly positioned near the stage entrance, their transformations continuing to develop as the potions took full effect. They struggled against their captors, but the backstage crew—now fully committed to "the show must go on!"—held them firmly.
The ominous music reached its crescendo and a black fog rose from the floor.
Drums boomed.
The floor vibrated with heavy stamps.
Something big was coming.
ROARRR!
To the audience, it appeared as though a massive, scaled beast had emerged.
A dragon!
But there was something odd about this grand display.
There seemed to be a wild-looking figure riding triumphantly on its back?
"HEY, PATHETIC MORTALS!"
The Dark Lord raised his staff high.
The crystal at its tip caught the stage lights, creating a red glow of dread.
"I AM THE DARK LORD, MASTER OF THE INFERNAL BEAST! YOUR WORTHLESS LIVES END TODAY!"
The audience, comprised of students, faculty, and visiting nobles, reacted with astonishment.
"A Dark Lord?" some members couldn't help but gasp in question.
This was not the traditional staging of "The Eternal Flame" they were familiar with.
The unfamiliarity grasped the audience's attention.
Max soaked in it.
And hidden beneath him, were Kent and Tyne struggling to maintain the dragon's movements while supporting his weight.
Not only did they have extra luggage, they found their control was not in their hands!
Whenever they attempted to follow their practiced routine, Max would deliberately shift his weight, forcing them to adapt or risk collapsing entirely.
Choreography?
Rehearsal?
There was only one rule that they had to follow.
Max's Order!
"Forward, my pet!"
Max whipped his staff down like a whip against the dragon's side.
"Show them your FIRE!"
The effects team was confused.
It was too early for that.
But what was once said could not be taken back. Helplessly, they triggered the fire breath illusion.
FOOOOM!
The dragon appeared to exhale a massive gust of flame toward the village set, causing the actors playing villagers to scatter in terror.
Max scanned the audience quickly, noting with satisfaction that at least a hundred—no hundreds of students were present. It was more than enough to fulfill the quest's witness requirement.
But mere witness wasn't enough.
He needed to create something truly memorable.
Time to let the dogs out. Whoops. I mean minions
"But I am not alone in my conquest!"
He pointed backstage with his staff.
"BEHOLD MY SLAVES!"
Ah shit… my words ended up slipping again. Oh well, who cares.
On cue, though not willingly, Junior and his five companions were shoved onto the stage, their potion-induced transformations now fully manifested.
Each of them appeared with monstrous features—scales, fangs, elongated limbs, and other bestial traits.
The audience gasped at the impressively realistic transformations. They were unaware of the 'secret.' These weren't real actors but unwilling participants forced into a performance they never agreed to join.
"Go forth, my slaves!"
The Dark Lord swept his staff through the air in a grand gesture.
"SPREAD TERROR AND DESTRUCTION!"
"YOU INFURIATING PEASANT, GIVE ME THAT CRYSTAL!!"
The furious, desperate scream echoed across the stage.
One of the transformed figures lurched forward, his skin now tinged an unnatural green, his eyes glowing with eerie light. His hands, once well-manicured, had warped into jagged, claw-like limbs.
He looked less like the noble scion he once was and more like a demonic goblin found in the Demon King's army.
Junior Carrington had become a monster.
Max laughed as he saw the mad beast charge at him.
Anticipating the move, he brought his staff down hard on Junior's reaching hands.
Smash!
The sound of wood meeting flesh rang out like a crack of thunder.
Max wasn't putting on an act.
He genuinely struck Junior with all his strength, the impact sending a shock of pain through the air. Junior's screech of surprise and agony filled the stage as he stumbled back, his monstrous hands clutching at the swollen knuckles.
Junior snarled, his monstrous features twisting with rage, but before he could lunge again, he was frozen by Max's sudden roar.
"DISGUSTING GOBLIN!"
Max then spat on the ground with disgust.
"YOU DARE DEFY YOUR MASTER?"
The audience gasped!
Max's brutality against his own minions was stunning enough, but to also shoot out one's own saliva after that? It was so uncivilized it momentarily made everyone freeze. Certainly, nobody has seen such performance even in the most amateur of stage plays.
The perpetrator was unbothered and continued his performance.
"MONSTER OR MAN, YOU BELONG TO ME!"
He once again struck another monster, sending the monster flying.
The sudden jerk of movement almost failed.
It was fortunate that Kent and Tyne had reached a level of coordination worthy enough to be partnered together for this special performance. They once again tried to follow the rehearsed pattern, attempting to move toward stage left, but Max deliberately leaned right, throwing them off balance.
"Where are you going, PET?"
"THE VILLAGE IS THERE!"
He pointed dramatically with his staff toward center stage, leaving the dragon performers no choice but to adjust their course or risk falling.
Even the Dark Lord's dragon was defiant to its own master.
Meanwhile, Junior and his companions had regrouped, their initial shock giving way to combined fury. They spread out, attempting to surround the dragon and its rider.
"GET HIM!"
Junior snarled, his voice distorted by the transformation.
"DON'T LET HIM ESCAPE!"
Max, seeing their strategy, used it to his advantage.
"Ah? It appears my slaves need another beating?"
He declared to the audience:
"SHALL I REMIND THEM WHO IS MASTER?"
With that, he deliberately guided the dragon in a tight circle, forcing Kent and Tyne to execute a difficult turn while maintaining balance. As they moved, Max swung his staff in wide arcs, keeping Junior and the others at bay while appearing to be casting spells.
"Darkness!"
He continuously swung, striking out at his pursuers whenever they came within range.
"Feel the burn of BLACK FIRE!"
The lighting technicians, adapting to this unexpected sequence, created flickering shadow effects that made it appear as though dark energy was emanating from Max's staff.
Hm? There seems to be a change in music?
From the dark, gloomy, dangerous music of the orchestra, he could hear the slow ramping of a new transition different from before.
A theme that traditionally accompanies the hero's approach.
With this now in mind, Max began to speed-up his performance.
Let's hope the Hero finds his way back on time.
"The blood of the ancient kingdom flows through me!"
he proclaimed during one exchange.
"The same blood that will be your doom!"
And later, when striking out at Junior:
"The flame may burn but… FAMILY TIES BIND TIGHTER THAN FEAR!"
These cryptic lines may appear random and were definitely still not part of the script, but Max had this all set up for his planned finale.
The dragon performers were struggling further, their movements becoming increasingly labored under Max's weight and chaotic guidance. Max began laughing like a psychopath, swinging his staff at the villagers' heads without a care in the world, killing them.
Of course, Max made sure to control his strength.
After all, he had no grudge against them.
He was 'merciful.'