The night was quiet, and the Fire Peak slumbered beneath the stars. Rayder, exhausted from the day's ordeal, didn't bother searching for a proper bed. Instead, he lazily sprawled across the back of the Black Dragon Im, who was unusually docile that evening. Using its rigid scales as a makeshift pillow, Rayder quickly drifted into a deep sleep, unaware of the cataclysm approaching.
Time ticked away silently. The mountain wind howled occasionally, but nothing seemed amiss. The deep hours before dawn—the time when the human body is most vulnerable, most deeply asleep—passed slowly. Yet beneath the surface, disaster was quietly fermenting.
At the volcano's summit, faint wisps of black smoke had been rising steadily throughout the night. But suddenly, they thickened ominously. Without warning, the solid-looking crater at the mountain's peak let out faint, unsettling groans—like some ancient door creaking open. The volcanic throat started to crack and tear apart, almost as if it were alive and writhing in agony.
Searing fissures of lava split across the blackened rock, branching like lightning through the earth. Molten magma oozed out from the widening cracks, forming streams that glowed red in the darkness. These rivulets of destruction merged, forming a deadly torrent.
A deep, guttural rumble rose from within the mountain's bowels. The ground trembled, first faintly, then violently, as if the very heart of Fire Peak had begun to awaken. Stones cracked. The once-solid foundation of the mountain fractured under the strain, and with a tremendous groan, slabs of rock began to break free, tumbling down the slopes with thundering roars.
It was this terrifying noise—louder than any storm, heavier than any war drum—that snapped Rayder awake. His eyes flew open, heart pounding. He bolted upright, instinct screaming that something was terribly wrong. He turned his head toward the source of the sound—and what he saw chilled him to his core.
Just above them, the volcano's summit had ruptured. Crimson magma was now surging down the slope, a burning tsunami descending with terrifying speed. It was already approaching their temporary dragon lair.
Rayder's earlier suspicions now turned into stark reality. He hadn't dared sleep too deeply, and now he was grateful. What he saw was not a slow, graceful eruption. It was a violent, all-consuming flood of fire—death made liquid.
Cold fear shot up Rayder's spine. His body tensed instinctively, all thoughts wiped away except one: run.
"Run! Run!" he shouted, his voice cracking with panic. There was no time to plan, no time to think. The lava was too close—within moments, it would engulf everything in its path. One misstep, one second of hesitation, and they would be turned to ash.
The ground shook beneath him. The air grew heavy with heat, each breath scorching his lungs. The lair they had rested in just minutes ago was now a deathtrap.
"Kidora! Wake them up!" Rayder shrieked, barely able to contain his fear. His hands clung tightly to Black Dragon Im's rough scales, knuckles white as he tried to steady himself.
Thankfully, Kidora—the three-headed dragon—was the first to react. Its massive body stirred, all three heads snapping to attention in unison. Blood-red eyes glowed in the darkness, reflecting the fire around them. Alarm and determination flashed across its faces.
Without hesitation, Kidora sprung into action. Understanding the urgency, it quickly turned to the still-sleeping Black Dragon Im and Red Dragon Egon. Two of Kidora's heads crackled with energy and unleashed arcs of ghostly, golden electricity. The bolts hit Im and Egon directly on the neck—precise, calculated, and just strong enough to shock them awake.
The dragons roared in surprise, their massive bodies convulsing from the sudden electric jolt. The intense sting was enough to jolt them out of their slumber, minds now fully alert and aware of the mortal danger surrounding them.
Rayder, still on Im's back, wasn't spared from the wake-up shock either. As Im trembled from the blast, Rayder's limbs were struck by residual electrical arcs. One bolt zinged straight into his groin, making him squeal and nearly launch into the air like a spring.
"Damn it, Kidora!" he hissed, his face twisted in pain. But there was no time to be angry. The molten tide was almost upon them.
Amused, Kidora's three heads exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting a mischievous gleam. Despite the dire situation, they found Rayder's reaction rather funny. The dragon's instinctive smirk showed a rare moment of levity amidst chaos.
"Im! Yigen! Take off—now!" Rayder yelled, trying to focus despite the lingering sting in his body. His voice was desperate, commanding, filled with urgency.
Thanks to Kidora's unconventional wake-up call, both dragons were now wide awake and fully aware of the blazing threat coming their way. They had little time. The lava was flowing fast, devouring the ground, turning rocks to slag, and lighting the very air with heatwaves.
Instinctively, the dragons understood: it was fly or die.
The lair was no longer safe. The rock beneath their feet had already begun to crack, flames licking up from the fissures. The rising temperature made the very air shimmer, distorting their vision and burning their skin.
Black Dragon Im and Red Dragon Egon roared, shaking off their fear. Their giant wings spread out like dark sails, preparing for the most important takeoff of their lives.
They had only a narrow strip of land left—just enough space to run and flap their wings. Their massive bodies weren't built for vertical liftoff. They needed momentum. They needed lift. And they needed it now.
Meanwhile, Kidora, being lighter and younger, had already launched itself skyward with relative ease. With a few strong flaps of its half-grown yet powerful wings, it soared above the fire, leading the way. Its three heads scanned the surroundings, eyes alert, ready to spot any new threats.
Rayder held on tight, urging Im and Egon with every ounce of strength in his voice. "Go! Go now! Don't stop!"
The dragons responded, roaring in unison as they thundered across the platform, wings pumping, hearts racing. Behind them, the lava surged forward like a beast chasing its prey, closing in with terrifying speed.
Then—at the very last possible moment—they took flight.
With a powerful thrust of their wings, they soared into the air just as the lava reached the edge of the platform. The rocks behind them hissed and shattered from the heat, fragments breaking away and falling into the glowing red abyss below.
The heat was unbearable. Scorching winds buffeted them as they gained altitude. The smell of sulfur and burning earth filled their nostrils. But they were airborne—and alive.
Rayder dared a glance down.
Where their lair once was, there was now only flame and smoke. The entire area had been consumed, transformed into a hellscape of molten rock and fire. No creature could have survived down there.
Still clinging to Im's back, Rayder took a shaky breath. The fire reflected in his eyes, the adrenaline still surging through his veins.
They had escaped death—barely.
Above, Kidora circled patiently, waiting for them to join. Its eyes, while still playful, now reflected something else—respect. The older dragons had proven their might. Rayder, despite being a human, had shown bravery under pressure.
As they climbed higher into the sky, leaving behind the erupting volcano and its wrath, the first hints of dawn began to creep across the horizon.
The long night was finally ending.
Rayder exhaled slowly. They had survived, but only just. The dragons flanked him, and the wind carried away the smoke and heat. Above them, the stars began to fade, giving way to a pale morning sky.
The world below burned. But up here, there was still hope.
---Ãdvåñçé 60 çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)