“Here we go again.”

I climb up these rocky steps yet again, determined as I was the very first time I climbed them. Let me ask you, what would you give to live your dream? Upon reaching the top, I call upon the stars in the night sky the 100 names of those I will need for the task ahead. Would you still chase your dream even if you knew it was impossible? The names I called take the shape of various creatures of various forms from the largest, strongest cyclops to the slimmest, daintiest dryad; I then chant aloud the words to empower not only myself but those I have summoned. Finally, how far would you push yourself to realize your dream?

A lot of people wouldn’t sacrifice anything, uncomfortable to give up anything of value unless they were certain they would gain from the sacrifice or were simply too desperate enough to not care. I walk forward with my summons, my cherished companions, to our greatest battle yet. A lot of people wouldn’t chase their dreams unless they knew it was in some way attainable or they are somehow delusional and don’t care for what reality says about it. We walk onto the battlefield, a harsh, expansive cliff of brimstone and igneous rock overlooking a field of igneous roses where our enemy has made their nest. A lot of people are afraid to leave their comfort zone; fearing the slightest discomfort or resistance and thus don’t give anything they do their all. For me however, the answers are quite simple. Everything, of course, and all the way.

“Alright everyone, this is it, we’ve got the strategy down this time, all we have to do is win!”

The reason for my answers is just as simple because, as completely unrealistic as it is, I want to live my dream no matter what. The ground beneath us heaved violently as a scaly claw as red as blood and far bigger than I, had gripped the cliff edge, pulling itself up. The creature that the claw belongs to revealed itself to be a drake that easily towered over my summons and I who remained stalwart and ready despite its gargantuan size. The drake stared down at us, no doubt annoyed at the mere mortals who dared to disturb its slumber and I stared back at it with the determination that always kept pushing me forward, the determination to realize my dream, my dream to become a wizard.

The drake, for but a moment, draws slightly back; its face making out an expression of what I could vaguely infer was confusion only for it to just as quickly snap back to annoyance which it expressed by letting loose an earthshaking roar. Taking the roar as an invitation to battle, Captain Akillees followed by his Cyclops Legion charged at the drake, collectively roaring back at it with valorous fervor. Akillees striking at the drake drew its attention and aggression onto himself and his Legion which would then give time for the Faye Force, led by Lady Azalea, who was to assist them by providing the healing and magical enhancements the Legion needed to maintain their position. Force’s assistance came just in time as well with Akillees landing before Azalea alongside a dozen of his men.
The drake, with great irritation, continuously swatted at the hordes of cyclops rushing at it claws, trying to maintain its grip on the cliffside until it reasonably finds the muscle headed pests too irritating to deal with and rears its head back, taking in a deep breath of air as it does. However, it was that exact moment the I and my Caster Core were waiting for.

“Water Jet! Fire!”

Before the drake could even let loose a single spark, the Caster Core collectively let loose a powerful stream of water directly into the drake’s open mouth forcing it to cough up clouds of steam, temporarily disabling it.

“Lighting Barrage! Fire!”

Wasting no time, the Caster Core fires off a rapid-fire barrage of lightning bolts targeting the wettest parts of the drake’s head in order to effectively damage it. The drake heavily staggers back roaring loudly in pain, nearly losing its grip in process.

“Alright! Everything’s going as planned! Let’s keep up the pressure everyone!”

———————————————————

As the battle continued to wear on, the drake began to become infuriated from the fact these mere mortals were beginning to push it into a corner. They were moving against and countering everything the drake attempted to do fight back. It thought that none of his forefathers would have been fazed by mere mortals like this. It was then that the drake decided that it was thoroughly finished with the mortals, spread its wings, launched itself off of the cliffside into the air, and began taking in massive amounts of air. I knew exactly what was coming.

“Everyone fall back! Behind me! It’s coming!”

I rush to prepare the ritual of magma warding; a ritual normally used for construction in harsher environs now being used in battle. All of my summons rush back and surround me in the ritual circle. The Faye Fore huddle close to me providing whatever assistance they can to complete the ritual; next, the Caster Core circles around us and throws up numerous fire warding spells, finally, the Cyclops Legion with their shields circle around everyone else forming a tight testudo formation.

“Please work this time.”

With a roar that could shake a nation, the drake fires. The ritual actives only seconds before the sea of rock melting fire could impact us, creating a wall of pure mana causing the flow of fire to split apart like a rock before a stream of water. I struggle to hold the ritual, my pool of mana rapidly draining before the absurd cost of what would normally be an entire island’s worth of mana, however, despite the cost, despite the scorching pain within my soul, I will hold.

The fire dissipated no sooner than both the ritual and I collapsing onto the ground. The drake, following suit, also fell out of the air and back onto the cliffside, as exhausted and out of breath as I am.

“He’s…weak…FINISH THIS!”

Exasperated, I toss up a couple of potions of restore mana to each of the two group commanders, they’ll need them more than me. For even if I had mana, there wouldn’t much more I could actually contribute towards this battle.

—————————————————————–

With the drake greatly weakened itself, the battle, thankfully, did not go on for much longer as the drake was now struggling to stand, much less put up a solid resistance. It was when the drake let out a painful and exasperated moan that I ordered everyone to cease fire immediately. I drank a restore mana potion, got back up on my feet, and calmly walked up to the now defeated drake.

Climbing up it formerly crimson red snout, now scorched black by lighting, I climb up to its open eye and stare down upon it with the exact same determination I stared at it before.

“This the thirty fifth time we have done this whole song and dance and the sixteenth time I have defeated you. I have seen everything you are capable of; there is nothing more you can do that I haven’t already accounted for. Give yourself to my service for if you struggle any further, you will be defeated again and again until you submit. I will not cease until you are under my command so I will demand once again, give yourself to my service.”
The drake who once stared down at my summons and I with a fierce and prideful gaze of superiority now looked upon me with a meek and fearful look of resignation. Signaling its resignation towards it fate, the drake closes it eyes and I climb down, drawing the circle for the contract ritual in my head.

I place my hand upon the drake and begin the ritual. The ritual circle in my head draws itself in the scorched rock around the drake’s head and I begin to recite the incantation.

“With this ritual I tie our fates together, your fate shall be in my hands and mine in yours, your power shall be mine and my power yours, your struggles shall be mine and my struggles yours. When I call your name upon the stars you shall hear my voice and I shall hear yours. My name is Quinn. Now tell me what is your name?”
“……”

End of chapter