Chapter 10: The Quest of Vengeance
December 14, 2025 at 11:27 AM
The wind roared past Flora’s ears as the dragon carried her and Aestus high above the battlefield. The world below shrank into a patchwork of shattered earth, molten trenches, and the smoldering remnants of Malum’s army. The dragon’s wings beat with steady, thunderous force, each stroke lifting them farther from the chaos.
Flora leaned into the creature’s warm scales, letting the adrenaline ebb from her veins. Aestus sat behind her, gripping the saddle with one hand and her arm with the other — steadying himself, steadying her.
“We did it,” Flora whispered.
“For now,” Aestus replied, his voice softer than the wind. “But Malum isn’t finished. I’ve seen it.”
Flora turned. “What did you see?”
Aestus hesitated, his prismarine eyes clouding. “A quest. A dangerous one. We must find the Sword of Vengeance — the only weapon capable of destroying Dr. Malum completely.”
Flora frowned. “Why that sword?”
“Because it vaporizes anyone who seeks revenge,” Aestus said. “And Malum’s entire existence is built on vengeance.”
Flora stiffened. “And you thinkIwant revenge?”
Aestus raised an eyebrow. “You don’t?”
“No,” she snapped. “I want justice. That’s different.”
“Is it?” he murmured.
Flora didn’t answer.
Aestus continued, “There’s another problem. We don’t know where the sword is.”
“Can’t we just get a map?” Flora asked.
“We could,” Aestus said, “if the only map hadn’t been stolen by a master thief named Tenebris.”
Flora groaned. “Of course it was.”
The dragon rumbled beneath them, sensing their frustration.
Aestus pointed toward the horizon. “His hideout is on the other side of the world.”
Flora exhaled slowly. “Then we go.”
The dragon dipped its wings, soaring toward distant mountains.
But before they could reach them, an arrow sliced through the air — embedding itself deep into the dragon’s wing with a sickening thud.
The dragon roared in agony.
Blood sprayed into the wind.
And the world tilted violently as they spiraled downward into the void.
