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Chapter 441
~Zara’s POV~
Immediately, we left the room and headed straight back to the throne room.
The grand doors creaked open, and the dimly lit hall stretched before me, torches flickering along the towering obsidian walls.
At the far end, Davion sat on his throne, a smirk tugging at his lips, his fingers tapping lazily against the armrest. His violet eyes gleamed with amusement as I approached.
Kaid walked beside me, his presence steady, but I could feel the tension in his stance. He didn’t trust Davion—not even for a second. And neither did I.
"Are you ready for your next trial?" Davion’s voice echoed through the hall, smooth and taunting.
I squared my shoulders. "I’m ready."
His smirk deepened. "Good."
With a flick of his wrist, three figures stepped forward from the shadows behind his throne. My breath hitched as they emerged into the torchlight, their presence overwhelming.
Varian. Davion’s right hand. A tall, lean man with piercing silver eyes and an unsettling calmness. His power radiated from him in waves, restrained but undeniable.
Beside him, a hulking figure with deep blue scales along his arms and neck—Stormbringer, the Storm Dragon, whose very presence crackled with latent lightning.
And the last... a creature of night itself. Shadows clung to his form, his eyes glowing violet—Nyx, the Phantom Dragon, as they announced him. His power was eerie, suffocating, like a nightmare given form.
Davion leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Choose your opponent."
I hesitated, my gaze sweeping over them. Stormbringer’s sheer power was terrifying, and Nyx’s unpredictable nature made my stomach twist. But Varian... He was tall, lean—he looked fast, not overwhelmingly strong. Maybe I could use that to my advantage.
I pointed at him. "Varian."
A chuckle rumbled from Davion’s chest. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
Varian gave a slow nod, stepping forward. "Shall we take this to the arena?"
Kaid shot me a look, concern flashing in his eyes, but I nodded. This was my trial. And I wasn’t backing down.
"We shall."
The arena was a massive stone coliseum, its floor covered in sand that carried the scent of blood and burnt flesh. The stands were filled with warriors and dragons alike, their eyes locked onto the battlefield.
I stepped forward, my heart pounding but my face unreadable. Before me, weapons lay scattered—swords, spears, daggers. But I noticed Varian made no move toward them.
I took a deep breath and turned away from the weapons.
Davion raised a brow. "You don’t want a weapon?"
"I don’t need one," I said firmly. "The quicker I finish these trials, the quicker I get back to Snow and give him the scale. So yeah, I’m ready."
Davion grinned. "Very well. May the test begin."
Varian stepped back, giving me space. I tensed, readying myself for his first move. But then a golden light exploded from his body.
The light intensified, so blinding that I had to shield my eyes. A surge of energy crackled through the air, and then a monstrous shadow loomed over me.
I lowered my arm. My breath caught in my throat. A dragon.
A massive, fucking gleaming golden and black-scaled dragon stood before me, his wings stretching wide, casting an enormous shadow over the battlefield. His silver eyes, the same as Varian’s, locked onto mine.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath.
Davion chuckled from the stands. "Sorry, love. You have to fight Varian in his dragon form."
I barely had time to react before Varian’s dragon roared, the sound shaking the entire arena.
Then he charged.
Damn it! I was tempted to glare at Davion for not telling me the twist in the game.
First of, I guess I made a mistake judging and picking Varian but to punish me with fighting them in their dragon form?
Yikes!
I leapt to the side just as his massive clawed foot slammed into the ground where I had stood, sending sand flying. My heart pounded as I rolled, barely dodging the tail that whipped toward me like a steel whip.
I had no time to think. No time to breathe.
Varian struck again, his enormous claws swiping at me. I twisted, barely avoiding them, but the force of the wind from his strike sent me skidding backward.
I couldn’t win this fight with brute strength. I had to outthink him.
Fire erupted from his mouth, a massive wave of heat rushing toward me. I sprinted, my feet barely touching the ground as I dove behind a broken pillar, the flames licking at my heels.
I needed a way to end this. Fast as time was ticking.
Think, Zara. Think.
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