Minzu summoned his magic and hurled a massive fireball at the dragon. It tore through the air like a burning comet, aiming directly for the beast—but just before impact, the fireball transformed into solid ice and crashed harmlessly to the ground.
Minzu's eyes widened in shock. "Last time, when I attacked Engorg the Red Dragon, my fire pierced through his scales. But this time… this dragon turned fire into ice?"
At that moment, Sirab used the opportunity. He had leapt earlier, just as Minzu launched his fireball, and now stood behind the great beast. His sword gleamed with shadowy energy as he raised it high.
"Black Sword: Cutter of the Sky!" Sirab roared.
A wave of dark energy surged from his blade and slashed across the dragon's face. The beast growled and turned, stunned.
"Black magic?" the dragon muttered to itself, staring at Sirab. "How can a mere mortal possess such power? Only a few in this world can control darkness… Don't tell me he is one of them."
Without warning, the dragon launched a wave of freezing breath from its mouth. The icy blast slammed into Sirab, hurling him across the battlefield.
The dragon stomped forward, glaring. "I must eat you before anyone else. You… you're more dangerous than I imagined. If I can consume you, I'll become powerful enough to fight Boreas, the god of ice, and take his throne!"
Minzu, seeing Sirab fall, clenched his fists. Flames surged from his body, and the dragon mark on his chest began to glow brightly.
"Give me your strength… Red Dragon!"
Minzu's arms morphed into dragon-like claws, engulfed in flame. He charged with blazing speed and slashed at the ice dragon's side. The creature roared in pain and retaliated, grabbing Minzu in its massive jaws.
But Minzu didn't panic—he grabbed the dragon's jaws and forced them open. The dragon's mouth glowed as it prepared to unleash its ice breath again, attempting to freeze Minzu where he stood.
Minzu shouted, "Dragon Mouth: Fire!"
A pillar of fire burst from Minzu's mouth, colliding with the dragon's icy breath. The two elements clashed violently—but the dragon's magic was stronger. Minzu was blasted backward and slammed into the icy ground.
He rose again, wounded but not defeated. Then something strange happened—two wings began to form from his back, made of red dragon flame.
The Ice Dragon sneered. "So you've fully bonded with the Red Dragon. Impressive… but still not enough to defeat me."
Sirab, now recovering from the earlier blast, pushed himself up. Blood dripped from his mouth.
"If I can't defeat you," he muttered, "how will I ever defeat real gods? Compared to the power of Azazel… you're nothing!"
Sirab clenched his fists. Flames erupted from his arms like exploding suns.
"Fire Magic!" he shouted, releasing a massive blast that set the dragon ablaze.
The dragon screamed. "This fire—it burns! How?! How can you use two types of magic?"
Sirab didn't reply. Instead, lightning surged around his body.
"Electric Magic!"
With blinding speed, Sirab dashed behind the dragon and slashed again and again with his sword, carving deep wounds into its hide. The dragon thrashed wildly and eventually threw Sirab from its back. It turned and unleashed another wave of icy breath, but Sirab raised a magical shield.
"Shield Magic!" he yelled, protecting himself just in time.
The dragon glared at him. "Four types of magic? What are you? A real monster?"
It lunged forward and sank its jaws into Sirab, who struggled inside its mouth. He activated another shield, but this time, the dragon shattered it.
And then—it swallowed him.
The dragon smirked. "One problem dealt with. Now it's your turn, Red Dragon!"
But Minzu had changed. His entire body now glowed with draconic fire, his form shifting.
The Ice Dragon paused. "You… or him? Who is in control?"
The Red Dragon's voice emerged from Minzu's mouth. "This man is mine now. Until I destroy you, I will use his body. Let us begin."
The sky cracked as the two dragons clashed.
Their fists collided with the force of mountains. The battle grew so fierce, the mountain beneath them began to shake and crumble. The dragons soared into the sky, exchanging blows like ancient gods.
The sky lit up with fire and ice—Red Dragon's flaming breath against White Dragon's icy storm. The elements collided with explosive force.
But the White Dragon was stronger. His final icy blast knocked the Red Dragon from the sky. The fiery beast crashed into the frozen land, and the White Dragon landed on top of him, slashing furiously.
"You're weak. Too weak," the White Dragon growled. "Now I'll eat you and take your power too—"The Ice Dragon roared, but something was wrong. Flames had begun burning deep inside its frozen body. It growled in confusion—ever since it had swallowed Sirab, its insides had started to heat up, melt, and twist in agony.
Within the dragon's body, surrounded by ice, Sirab lay unconscious, trapped in the frozen prison of its core. But slowly, his eyes opened.
He wasn't in the real world anymore.
He stood in a strange realm—dark, vast, and dreamlike. It was the dream world created by the same ancient being he had met once before.
Sirab looked around and muttered, "I'm here again… That must mean I'm dead. Again."
Suddenly, he saw her—the old woman sitting on her black throne.
"Well, well," Sirab said with a smirk. "How are you, old lady?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Old?! I am only three thousand years old, thank you very much. That's not that old."
"Three thousand…?!" Sirab blinked.
She ignored his shock. "Do you know where you are?"
"I'm guessing… inside the stomach of that crazy white dragon?"
She nodded. "Yes. The White Dragon—he's far too strong for you. But I can help you… if you're willing to make a deal."
Sirab's eyes narrowed. "What kind of deal?"
"When you kill him," she said, her voice echoing, "you must take the ice crystal inside his heart. It's ancient. Powerful. It will give you strength beyond imagination… and it will help me as well."
Sirab raised an eyebrow. "How exactly does it help you?"
"That's none of your concern," she said coldly. "You want power? Or not?"
Sirab paused for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. I agree."
"Then listen carefully," she said. "The dragon's body is made entirely of enchanted ice. If you use your dark magic from within him, you can cut through it. That's the only way to kill him."
Sirab clenched his fists. "Then I'll do it."
"There are two ways to awaken your magic," she added. "I can show you the most painful moments of your life to trigger your anger, or… you can face them yourself."
Sirab met her eyes. "No. I'll do it myself. You can sit there and watch."
Suddenly, the dream realm began to shatter like glass.
Sirab's eyes snapped open.
He was still inside the dragon—trapped in ice, deep within its body.
"Fire Magic…" he whispered. "Open."
Flames erupted from his body, heating the ice. The dragon screamed in pain and thrashed, but the ice remained unbroken.
Sirab closed his eyes. He remembered everything—his mother's death, his father's last words, the destruction of his village, the countless lives lost. Pain. Rage. Grief.
His magic burned hotter.
The dragon howled louder than ever, leaping from mountaintop to mountaintop, thrashing wildly as the heat within grew unbearable. Even the Red Dragon's spirit began to weaken, fading from Minzu's body.
Now, only Minzu remained—exhausted and barely standing.
Inside the Ice Dragon, Sirab gripped his dark blade, Khtan, and raised it high.
"Dark Magic: Black Sky Cutter!"
The sword glowed with pitch-black energy. Then, with a mighty roar, Sirab slashed downward.
From inside the dragon, his blade tore through frozen flesh and bone.
A storm of blood burst from the dragon's mouth and wounds. It wailed in agony, writhing in madness, trying to escape the pain inside.
And then…
The blade pierced through its chest—from the inside out.
Sirab stepped out of the hole he had carved with his own hands.
His sword in one hand, covered in dragon's blood, his breath heavy.
"We won…" he said.
Minzu stood there, staring in disbelief.
Sirab turned toward him, wounded and burning with magic, and smiled.
"We won, Minzu."