The lead Deadly Nadder lunged at us, claws scraping the rocks, wings flaring. Its jaws snapped dangerously close to the Speed Stinger's legs.
"Now!" I shouted.
The Speed Stinger twisted sharply beneath me, body coiling like a spring. Its red, barbed tail whipped out with blinding speed, striking the Nadder squarely in the side.
Immediately, the Nadder froze mid-step, muscles locking painfully. Its wings twitched, then fell limp. The tail's sting had injected a paralytic venom—it couldn't move, couldn't escape. Its eyes widened in panic as it toppled to the ground, unable to stand.
The other Nadders hesitated, clearly confused by what had just happened. The Speed Stinger's crimson eyes glinted as it circled me protectively, tail twitching, ready to strike again if needed.
I leaned low, gripping its shoulders, my heart racing. "Good… keep them back!"
Another Nadder lunged, and without missing a beat, the Speed Stinger whipped its tail again. Another shriek, another dragon frozen in place mid-leap. Its paralytic strike was flawless, precise, and terrifyingly efficient.
Toothless circled above, plasma glowing faintly, but he let the Speed Stinger handle the ground battle. Its claws dug into the jagged rocks as it dodged and struck, a blur of muscular power and deadly precision.
I felt a surge of adrenaline. Riding it wasn't just thrilling—it was like being part of a perfectly tuned machine. Every movement, every strike, responded instinctively.
Finally, the lead Nadder collapsed fully, trembling but paralyzed, unable to move an inch. The remaining Nadders, realizing they were outmatched, hesitated and then retreated, shrieking in frustration.
The Speed Stinger hissed low, victorious, and I leaned forward, patting its neck. "That's incredible… you're unstoppable."
It nudged my hand with its head, scales warm and surprisingly soft under my palm.
And in that moment, I realized something important: this dragon wasn't just fast. It was lethal, and I was finally starting to understand just how powerful we could be together.
After the last Deadly Nadder had been paralyzed and left struggling on the rocks, I slid off the Speed Stinger's back, crouching low beside Hiccup. The ground beneath us was rough, uneven, but I ignored it, eyes fixed on the movement ahead.
Through the gap between jagged cliffs, we saw them.
A tall, imposing man barked orders, gesturing toward cages that were lined with dragons. Not just a few—but countless Deadly Nadder variants, all trapped, their wings pinned, their eyes wild with panic. They were arranged in a tight circle, clearly part of some twisted ritual or experiment.
"Not enough… not enough!" the man shouted, voice cutting across the wind. His dragon—sleek, black, and vicious—stalked beside him, growling low.
I froze for a heartbeat. I knew exactly who they were. The name alone made my stomach tighten: Ryker. One of the most dangerous dragon hunters I'd read about in my previous life. And now, here he was, in the flesh, collecting dragons, planning… something I couldn't even imagine.
Hiccup glanced at me, eyes narrowing. "You said you knew there was something here… now, who are these guys?"
I took a slow breath, weighing my words. I can't tell him everything. Not yet. "They're… hunters. Dangerous ones. And if we're not careful…" I trailed off, letting my gaze sweep over the cages again. "…they could take all of these dragons before anyone knows what's happening."
Hiccup's jaw tightened. "Hunters? Dragons in cages? Why—why didn't you tell me before?"
I kept my tone calm. "Because you wouldn't have believed me. Not without seeing it yourself. Now we have a chance to stop them before it gets worse."
Hiccup's green eyes flicked back to the cages, then to the dragons inside. His fists clenched. "We need a plan. Fast."
I nodded, glancing at the Speed Stinger, who crouched beside me, tail twitching in readiness. It seemed to sense the danger, muscles coiling, claws gripping the rock like springs.
"This isn't just a scouting mission anymore," I said quietly. "It's a rescue—and if we're not careful, it's a trap."
Hiccup exhaled, eyes hardening. "Then we'll be ready. Toothless, stay close. Austin… you and your dragon—watch our backs."
I nodded. "Got it."
The roar of trapped dragons echoed off the cliffs, a mix of fear and anger. The first real choice of this mission was staring us in the face: strike now and risk everything… or wait and plan carefully.
And I knew—this was just the beginning.
I crouched low behind a jagged rock, peering at Ryker. He was pacing near a line of cages, yelling at the hunters who surrounded them. His voice was sharp, full of authority and menace, clearly commanding them to round up dragons into the cages.
I leaned closer to the Speed Stinger, feeling the muscles ripple beneath me. "Alright," I whispered. "We go in fast. You take out anyone who gets in our way—but do it quietly. We don't want the dragons panicking… not yet."
The Speed Stinger's red eyes flicked to me, tail twitching with anticipation. Its claws dug into the jagged rock, ready to sprint.
I pointed to a narrow path that would let us get close without being seen. "We hit the first line of hunters—paralyze them with your tail. Quick, silent, precise."
The dragon crouched low, like a spring ready to snap. Then, in a burst of pure speed, it lunged forward. Its claws scraped across the rock as we raced silently toward Ryker's men.
The first hunter spotted us too late. The Speed Stinger whipped its barbed tail, striking him squarely in the chest. He froze instantly, muscles locked with the paralytic venom. His arms flailed uselessly as he toppled sideways.
Another hunter tried to react—too slow. Tail strike. Paralysis.
We moved like shadows across the rocks, the Speed Stinger darting, weaving, tail lashing, keeping us undetected by Ryker himself.
Ryker barked orders, pointing at us, but the Speed Stinger's speed and precision made it impossible for the hunters to respond. Each hunter that got too close was neutralized before they even knew what hit them.
I leaned low, whispering encouragement. "Keep going… just a little closer to the cages."
The trapped dragons stirred inside, sensing hope, wings twitching, claws scrabbling against the cage bars.
Ryker's voice rose in anger. "Stop them! Don't let them touch the cages!"
But it was too late. The Speed Stinger had cleared a path. The first line of hunters was paralyzed, sprawled across the rocks, and I could see the cages just a few meters ahead.
I exhaled, heart pounding. This wasn't just reconnaissance anymore. This was the start of a full-on rescue—and Ryker's plans were about to crumble under the claws and tail of my Speed Stinger.