I was overseeing various transports that were being prepped for the assault into the dragon lands. I was going through all the gear I would need for this.

"Ash?" I turned to see Spike walk up to me. "What's this I'm hearing from Soarin and the others? Did they really quit the Brotherhood and army?"

"They did Spike. I was actually wanting to come collect your ring and tags yesterday but you were...busy shall we say with a certain thestral." I said making Spike blush.

Spike cleared his throat and looked at the ring on his finger.

"I'd be lying if I said the thought of quitting hadn't crossed my mind," Spike said. "But...I don't think it's time yet."

"And why's that?" I asked.

"Because you're headed to the Dragon Lands, right?" He asked and I nodded.

"Me and my fellow Harbingers, yes," I said.

"Then count me in too," Spike said.

"No offense, Spike, but that's out of the question," I said sternly. "Even Rage turned in his ring but he's still a Harbinger. So that means you and I are the only assassins left. Besides, I only formed the Brotherhood in order to face the threat of the Templar order and we already succeeded in its destruction."

I looked down at my assassin ring and sighed. "The assassins already played their part and rid this world of the Templar threat. Now we must focus on a new threat. Speaking of which, you shouldn't come because a quarter of our forces have either been killed or taken prisoner since the attack and we barely have enough supplies for the Dragon Lands as it is. And don't get me started on the Snake. That bastard is tougher than the Bear, probably even the Hawk too."

"Yeah but Ember is still there, possibly Smolder too I want to help them." Spike said.

"And I will help them," I reassured Spike. Spike looked at me as if he was holding something back. "Why is this so important to you?"

"...Shadow," Spike said and looked away. "Shadow...is pregnant."

Hearing this I was both happy and also concerned.

"Spike you do realize the stakes in this don't you? You could die out there before you meet your child. Are you sure you want to risk that future?" I asked.

"I know that, but I can't just leave Ember and Smolder!" Spike said. "They're my friends too!"

I gazed into Spike's eyes which held an intense determination one I have seen many times making me nod.

"Very well I can't stop you Spike just as long as you're fully aware of the consequences that will lie ahead with your choice." Ash said.

"I'm well aware," Spike said and turned away from me. "Just so you know, once we save Ember and Smolder, then I'll turn in my ring and tags."

I watched Spike walk away and placed my hands on my hips. The young drake certainly has come a long way since the day I first met him.

"Kid has fire in his heart," I heard Rage say as he and my fellow Harbingers walked up beside me. "Wonder who he gets that from?"

"Is the Snake as tough as you say?" Elisa asked me.

"Marco was the name of the one that the Snake took over. He was the youngest in our group using a thrusting sword in those days to slip into the gaps in one's armor leaving the victim to bleed to death and he was always light on his feet...only problem is he didn't have much self-confidence it was his Achilles Heel...but when Snake took over that weakness was gone." I explained.

"So what's our approach this time?" Ethan asked.

I led them over to a table and activated a display crystal that showed us a map of the Dragon Lands.

"The Bloodstone Scepter has the power to control every dragon, a relic from a time long gone and now it is in the hands of Diann's son who is using it to force the female half to submit to males and controlling the males who refuse to follow his orders." I said as I created a 3D image of the scepter.

"I remember this thing," Ethan said.

"I have a possible way to pry the thing from Dainn's son's hands, but it's a longshot," I said. "We need to track down Torch."

"Torch?" Rage asked.

"The Dragon Lords held the most knowledge of the scepter and have passed that knowledge down through time to their successor. Right now he might be the best chance to tell us of the limits the scepter has." I said.

"What about Ember? Is she the current Dragon Lord?" Rage asked me.

"From what my spies and interrogation have revealed Ember is forced to service Diann's son Turnanus as a slave getting to her and getting out is a difficult all on its own while Torch will most likely be an easier process." I explained.

"I hate to bring this up. But what if Torch is on Diann's side?" Ethan asked.

"...We'll have to just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best but be ready for the worst." I said.

"Didn't you hear?" Rage said over to my side with a smirk. "We are the worst."

"Ha true that." I laughed.

(Sometime Later border of the Dragon Lands)

As I stood at the guard rail of my ship, I overlooked the Dragon Lands. And I had to reel in my anger at the state of it.

"What the fuck have they done here?" I growled as I looked at the scattered bones of dragons that lay before me.

The Pale Horse had touched down on the border of The Dragon Lands and what first we thought was a rocky plain was actually a mass grave of dragon bones.

"Those animals!" Rage yelled while gripping the handles of his axes.

Spike, my fellow Harbingers and myself disembarked the ship and told the crew to wait before we began our journey through the valley of bones.

"These ribs have been decimated, something really powerful must have punched through them." Elisa said as she examined a skeleton.

"But what is what I wanna know?" I said.

"No." I heard Spike mutter before he spread his wings and took off.

"Spike!" Rage shouted before going after him with the rest of us doing the same.

We flew a short distance to where Spike landed. Spike was shaking in front of a massive skull, but whether it was from sadness or rage, I couldn't tell.

Ethan stepped up and approached Spike. "You alright?"

"Torch." Spike said in a low whisper.

Snapping my head towards the skull I saw Spike was right despite the lack of scales and muscle there was no mistaking the body of the former dragon lord which caused us all to take a knee to honor the fallen dragon.

After a moment of silence I stood up and approached the skull and held my hand up.

I was trying to see if Torch's soul lingered here and managed to find it so using my magic I brought forth the dragon's soul so we could all see it.

"Torch...can you hear me?" I began.

"I can." The former Dragon Lord said. "I assume you wish to know what happened to me and the others?"

"Please." I asked.

He let out a long sigh, which even being just his soul, gave off power. "When the Caribou came, we thought nothing of it but a small nuisance to our land. How wrong we were. They started taking our females and influencing many of our males to join their sick cause." He grumbled in fury before continuing. "Those of us that wouldn't be corrupted, were hunted like animals."

"It was decided we the oldest and most powerful of us would make a surprise attack...but our enemy was more devious then we realized they had managed to plant spies and backstabbers into our ranks who fed them intel of our attack and then led us into an ambush where the caribou fired a strange weapon at us that pierced our scales as though it were wet parchment." Torch said.

"Do you know what this weapon looked like?" Rage asked.

"It was large like one of those ballista that was used to fire at my kind in ancient times but it only had two long prongs that...seemed it needed time to fire like a charging phase.”

"A railgun." Rage said, making me think.

"Yes that has to be it, something like that would be able to tear through dragon scales but how could they get one working?" I wondered.

"Torch, who was it who betrayed you?" Spike asked.

"A pathetic excuse for a welp that lusted after my daughter. A dragon that went by the name, Matches." Torch said, causing Rage to stifle his laughter at the mention of the dragon's name. "Your laughter is warranted. One of the reasons he betrayed us no doubt."

"Then he is doubly wretched." Spike spat.

Torch took a moment to look at Spike before a smile graced his face. "I remember you. You're the one who showed me how much potential my daughter has." He chuckled a little before continuing. "It's funny. I had thought you and her would become mates and have a strong clutch."

At this Spike started sputtering as his head turned red as a tomato.

"I personally thought so too." Rage stated.

"Agreed." I replied with a smirk.

“C-Can we please stay focused?” Spike groaned.

“Ash…” Torch said, sounding somber. “I would like to share my last request before my spirit joins the Dragon Lords of old.”

“Anything, Torch.” I said.

“Take my bones, along with those who have fallen beside me, and render them to dust. Cast our ashes from atop the highest peak in the Dragon Lands so that we shall always be a part of the winds. And…tell my daughter that I have always been proud of her. Even before she took the mantle of Dragon Lord.”

"You have my word my friend." Ash said before he placed my hand on the bones that formed the snout of the titan dragon. "Go in peace knowing this; We will save your daughter and we will soak the ground with the blood of the invaders and traitors. This I swear to you."

“One…last…thing,” the voice of Torch echoed as it faded away. “Her…mother…lives…”

"Her mother...Ember's has a mom!" Spike shouted.

"Dude everyone has a mother." Elisa said before slightly slapping herself on the side of her head.

"Yeah but...you know what I meant." Spike said.

"One thing at a time guys for now let's get a move on we will tend to the dead later." Ash said.

"Right. Finding those bastards and tearing down their operation." Spike growled as his shadow started to flail around him.

Leaving the boneyard behind the group journeyed onward and came to a secluded cliff ledge that overlooked a valley that contained caves and stone buildings that were no doubt built by the caribou; there were also dozens of factories that seemed to be billowing out smoke.

"Care to wager what those factories are for?" Eliza asked before seeing a large dragon push a cart full of raw materials into one of the factories.

"Weapons." Ash said as he watched many male dragons dressed in chains and covered in wounds walk in a line while being escorted by guards

Above them along the rocks stood caribou and treacherous dragons who watched the enslaved dragons as Overseers.

We watched as an older dragon collapsed from exhaustion. Two of the Overseers flew down and started beating the dragon that collapsed to get up. When he wouldn't budge, one of the caribou soldiers came over with an odd-looking spear before plunging it into the dragon's neck.

Spike silently gasped before he stepped away from the edge while me and my fellow harbingers glared in righteous fury.

"They're dead...all of them." Rage growled.

“As much as I want to let you off the rails to wreak havoc and spill blood, we need to retrieve the scepter first." Ash said.

"Bet you 20 bits it's in that palace where all the female dragons are being herded toward." Ethan said while pointing to a large castle where the female population of dragons was being held. Just then, a red glow could be seen from the windows for a brief moment. Worse yet, it was placed upon the throne where Torch had called home.

"That has to be the place...Diann's sons love to flaunt their status and spite the dead it would seem." Ash snarled as he looked at the structure.

"Well I imagine teleporting and barging in are out so how exactly do we get inside?" Evan asked.

"I have something for that courtesy of Rarity and Twilight sneaking into the Dragon Lands the first time." Spike said.

(Not long later)

"I dislike this...I feel like an idiot sneaking around with this thing on.

Me and the others were wearing a covering that looked like a boulder. Thankfully Spike remembered how they were made.

"Well guess what Rage no one cares now shut up and keep up we are almost to the palace and through some seriously dumb luck no one has spotted us so let's not waste it." I responded as I led us up the giant throne where Torch once resided and soon we saw the castle in view along with its defenses. "Plenty of guards."

"And I can see two of those railguns on the east and west towers." Evan said..

"Wonderful...Rage you handle the railguns, Elisa and Evan civilians and infantry, Spike you and me are going to the throne room." Ash directed.

They all nodded before heading for their objective.

Spike and myself silently made our way through the halls being cautious to avoid the guards till we arrived at a massive set of doors that must of led to the throne room but before we entered I used a spell known as Dark Sight to look through the walls and saw five dragons were inside one of them being a female four caribou and what looked like a man, snake hybrid.

"Six guards three of them are dragons other three are caribou one female dragon currently being raped by another dragon and there is another caribou in there sitting on what I can guess is the throne, no doubt that is Diann's son. There is also a creature inside that I can only surmise is Snake." I explained.

Spike took out his blade and had his green flames lick between his teeth. "You take the snake, the rest are mine!" Before I could tell him different, he melted into his shadow and went for his target.

"Bugger it." I groaned.

I made my way over to the doors and took out six throwing knives and looked at them before I put two back before I used Dark Vision to take one last look into the room before I took a breath and deactivated the spell.

I then proceeded to kick the doors open and tossed all four knives at the three caribou guards and the last at one of the dragon guards.

The three knives struck the caribou in the neck and the last one impaled one of the dragon guards in the eye and went through to the brain.

The sudden entrance shocked most of the individuals who were still in the room but their gaze was on me and not on Spike who descended from above and used his ability to slice off the heads of the two remaining guards Spike then let out a growl before he launched a torrent of flames at the dragon having his way with the dragoness who was indeed Ember and as for the male dragon he had bronze scales and wore armor that was well decorated leaving me to assume that this dragon was Matches but I didn't let that distract me I flash stepped forward and leapt into the air and drew Whispering Wind and came down on the creature I saw earlier which was indeed Marco but the face was changed parts of his skin were covered in green scales his hands were like claws, his eyes reminded me of Chrysalis when she was possessed.

As I descended on the creature I drew my blade intending to impale it but The Snake managed to block my attack as it drew two cut and thrust swords that were on its hips.

"Hello old friend." The Snake said with a grin as he bared his teeth and I saw his canines had grown to become long fangs.

Snake then pushed me backwards but I managed to land on my feet and Spike also landed on his claws behind me and when I looked I saw Matches was a little cooked but was now armed with a sword.

At first both Spike and myself stared our opponents down before chaos erupted as Spike launched himself at Matches, meanwhile Snake and I began to slowly circle each other ready to move at a split second. I kept my eyes dead on his as he gave me a low chuckle.

“How long has it been?” Snake asked rhetorically. “You look well. For a corpse.”

"A better sight than you are that's for sure." I replied when suddenly a bolt of lightning shot past me and when I looked I saw it was Diann's son.

"So the infamous Sixth Knight has risen from his grave...this is quite a development."

"Wait your turn Turanus can't you see we're in the middle of something." Snake snapped.

"I'm afraid that is out of the question you see I have a sneaking suspicion that this one is the one who has been executing my brothers as the Harbinger of Conquest and if that's the case then as a member of the Stonehoof family I cannot allow your continued attacks against our kingdom slide." Turanus said.

"Fuck off you balless pathetic excuse of a prince." I said.

"How dare you." Turanus said with distaste in his voice.

"If anyone should be ticked here it should be me after everything that has been done so instead of wasting my time in debating who should fight me first." I said before I pulled Whispering Wind in two. "Come at me at the same time."

"Fair enough." Snake said before unleashing a cloud of venomous gas from his mouth before charging at me.

I jumped back from the cloud and managed to intercept Snake's attack and countered with my own attack to which he dodged before bolts of lightning descended on me forcing me to evade them and when I looked I saw Turanus had somehow managed to lift himself into the air and move about while hurling balls of lightning at me.

"Damn this is gonna be interesting." I thought.

“You were always the tenacious one!” Snake mocked as he zipped in front of me and I barely managed to dodge his sword aimed for my heart. “To return from the dead after giving up your soul?!”

I swung my sword and it was met with Snake's blade with a loud clang of metal.

"I decided my soul was a suitable sacrifice...to save those I love...and I was fortunate the one who had my soul seemed willing to allow me to return...to ensure they stay safe." I growled as our blade clashed again.

"Oh such a noble hero." Turanus said before he threw more balls of lightning so I used my swords to deflect the attacks when suddenly Turanus appeared before me his hand alight with lightning in order to punch me so I unfolded my shield and moved to counter his attack but I moved too early and his punch knocked my arm aside leaving me open for his follow up attack which hit me in the solar plexus knocking me back and causing me to fall to my hands and knees from the force of the blow. "A pity heroes often die."

“Do they have to die though?” Snake said as he walked up beside me. “Come now, Ash, do we truly have to fight?”

“Snake, you better make sense or-” Turanus was about to say.

It was then that Turanus stopped his sentence when Snake slowly looked at him with a bloodlust glare. Despite the stag’s efforts to keep composed, Snake’s gaze seemed to be piercing his very soul as venom dripped from his fangs. Snake’s aura flared like a flame, forcing Turanus to take a small step back.

“Shut that fucking shit hole you call a mouth up, you fucking brain dead daddy’s bitch. I’m having a conversation with an old acquaintance…” Snake hissed. His voice sounded as venomous as the corrosive venom that melted the floor we stood on before he turned his attention back to me.

"You are a persistent lot but let me ask you this if none of the others can convince me what in all of creation makes you think you can." I said as I spun around to slash Snake but he was quicker and moved out of my attack but I straightened up and held my arm up horizontally with the point of my blade aimed at him. "That thing you called Geralt tried but failed in fact he told me exactly where you were...goes to show how much he cares huh? Really opened my eyes when I was left behind.”

Hearing my words, Snake smirked before chuckling. "Clearly he thinks you're no match for me. Those three weaklings were a pitiful excuse compared to me." His swords started steaming as a dark, sickly green liquid coated them. "And now, it's time you returned to your dirt nap."

Snake lunged at me faster this time and I just barely managed to avoid the lunge but it wasn't over yet because his attacks just kept coming.

As we kept fighting, the air around us started to become thick with poisonous fumes that left my vision blurry. After parrying an attack and going for a blind thrust, my sword sunk into the wall before I felt what was akin to large needles sink into my left arm.

"Argh!" I screamed before I spun my blade around and used the hilt to bash Snake in the head causing him to release his grip on my arm before I clutched the spot before I snarled at him.

When I looked back at him, I saw that his teeth had broken off in my arm. While he kept smiling at me, I saw that his fangs were growing back. That was the last thing I saw before the fumes completely blinded me, leaving me in the dark.

"Feel that Ash right now my poison is spreading through your body which I have to say is impressive to say the least because you are the longest living creature to take my poison because most would die as soon as they were injected with but a drop of it…must be feeling tremendous amounts of agony about now yes…and it seems my poison has robbed you of your sight how unexpected." Snake said

"If...you think...this is enough to stop me...you are dead wrong." I growled as I began to feel a burning sensation spread from my arm to the rest of my body.

I heard him give a low chuckle as I heard him circling me.

"Well no sense letting a wounded animal to suffer I suppose so I think I’m going to run my blade through your heart!"

I could only growl as I shakenly stood up and used my magic to act as my eyes and fight back against the poison before I took a stance. This technique was difficult to do as it was complicated to maintain but I had little to no choice if I was not gonna allow myself to die here.

(Third Person P.O.V.)

Turanus scoffed before readying his weapon. "This is dragging on too long! I'll finish him myself!"

Turanus conjured a sword made from lightning and moved to finish off Ash but Ash managed to use his sword to block the attack before he spun around and delivered a kick to Turanus's face sending the buck flying back but was quick to get back on his feet and was momentarily flabbergasted at how Ash kicked him before it turned to rage.

"You'll find I'm not as easy to beat as my idiot brothers!" Turanus growled before conjuring two bolts of lightning in each hand.

Ash dodged as best he could and was beginning to feel like he was slowing down. If he couldn’t figure out how to turn this fight around soon, there’s no telling how pissed Luna and the others would be at him if he died a second time. Just as Tarunas came at him with dual lighting blades aimed at Ash’s skull and heart, time slowed down until it stopped completely. It was a moment of crisis for Ash’s senses as he focused as hard as he could to pinpoint where the blades would go. Suddenly, there was a distinct echo in the depths of Ash’s mind. It sounded like a voice calling out to him.

“…move…right…”

At this Ash moved his torso to the right and managed to avoid the strikes and then he reached out grabbed Turanus by the front of his shirt and delivered a headbutt to his head right on his snout.

“…jump…”

Ash suddenly sprung upwards and leaned backward as he felt the brush of a gust of wind against his back as he was in midair before he flipped over onto his hands and feet.

"What is going on?" I thought.

“…duck…then swing…your sword…diagonally.”

I ducked down just in time to avoid an attack from Turnanus to take his head before he gripped Hingure's handle in reverse and drew her and managed to slash the buck across the chest.

"Think on this later right now gotta deal with these two I just hope Spike is having a better time than me." Ash thought.

(Ash’s P.O.V)

“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!” Turnanus shouted loudly. “YOU SAID HE WAS BLIND!”

“Sidestep…then…unleash a technique…behind you…on your left…”

"Not that blind yet." I lied as I couldn’t keep my magic for my surroundings going and had to focus on healing.

Doing as I was hearing I stepped to the side then spun around and then launched a Tempest Slash to my left unsure where the attack was going.

“GAAAHH!” I heard Tarunas yell in pain. “HOW DID HE HIT ME FROM THAT ANGLE?! SNAKE! KILL HIM ALREADY?!”

“Duck…while splitting your legs…then…cast a spell…”

Doing the splits I felt the attack pass over me before I lunged my right hand forward and launched a fireball before me and this time I heard Snake scream in surprise at the attack.

“This is interesting.” Snake hissed.

“Together then!” Tarunas yelled.

“Unleash…yourself! Now!”

Suddenly I felt a fire in me, a spark I had not felt in eons I could feel scales growing along my arms and around my neck as my fingernails sharpened into claws and then a desire sprung forth in my throat one that demanded release so with a lungful of air I released it.

I then plunged my arms into the ground and suddenly I felt an intense heat suddenly around me and despite not seeing it I knew it was actually dozens of pillars of flame springing from the ground.

“Fucking…hell…” I heard Snake say.

I could feel the flames then envelope me like I was submerged in water. It was rather soothing, despite the overwhelming power coursing through my very being. The stinging I felt in my nerves and eyes began to fade away until I could see a flicker of light. The light grew and grew until I was finally able to see clearly again. I blinked once until I looked down at myself to see what I transformed into.

My hands and arms were covered in scales that looked like the night sky with my fingernails like claws and I could feel more scales around my neck and legs even my teeth felt different I then looked around me and saw that most of the room was scorched however the only one that I could see that took damage was Snake. It would seem Ember, Spike, Matches and Turanus were wise enough to get to cover but Snake was barely clinging to life as it was. I then got up and stepped towards the fallen creature who weakly gazed up at me.

“I didn’t think…you had it in you…” Snake spat. “As always…you’re a cut above the rest…”

"If you thought I was trying to kill you then you’re mistaken." I said before I fell to one knee and looked Snake in the eye. "I just needed you weak enough to do this."

I then charged up the purging spell into my hand before I placed my hand on Snake's chest causing clouds of black smoke to come pouring off Snake's body while the creature it said nothing it didn't even put up a fight and soon the smoke vanished and when my spell powered down all that was left of Snake was a very young man who looked 16 years old with short dirty blonde hair the boy looked to be sleeping peacefully and I couldn't help myself by brushing a few stray locks of hair that obscured his face.

"Hey Marco." I whispered.

“You…insufferable mongrel…!”

I looked over my shoulder to see Turanus glaring at me.

“You think just because you took out my bodyguard, I’ll go out quietly?!” Turanus snapped.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’d surrender and accept your fate.” I said plainly.

“Never…NEVER…NEVER!!” Turanus screamed. He then reached under his armor to pull out a fancy-looking bottle. My gut told me whatever it was wouldn’t bold well for me.

“Tell me…Lord Ash…” Turanus said with a manic grin. “Does the name…Queen’s Venom sound familiar?”

My heart sank a little as my eyes widened at the name as information flooded my brain when Turanus mentioned those words.

"How in hell did you get your hands on that?" I demanded.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Turanus grinned as he uncorked the vial.

“Surely even you aren’t crazy enough to drink that Turanus! You have no idea what that’ll do to you?!” I yelled.

"Of course I do. So what it takes a few years off my life in case you haven't noticed I have all the life force to spare and I can always collect more you know." Turanus said smugly, making my blood curdle in fury.

“If you drink that…” I said while gripping my swords and preparing myself. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Turanus said with a smirk before he lifted the bottle towards me.

"Bottoms up." Turanus said before he began to chug the contents of the bottle so I acted quickly and teleported Marco over to Ember.

"Watch him!" I shouted.

Turanus downed the whole vial in one go. As soon as he swallowed the last drop, he grunted and let the vial slip from his grasp. He then fell to his knees as black veins spread all over his body and his aura felt twisted with malice and unnatural power.

“You bloody fool.” I said.

I suddenly felt the wind get knocked out of me as I staggered back. I coughed hard as drops of blood escaped my mouth and looked down to see a fist mark on my chest. Bastard somehow hit me hard enough to breach my scales as I looked up at him. His eyes were blood red but I saw no pupils. He had a crazed smile and his muscles were bulging exponentially. In his other hand was a blade made of black lightning as it crackled violently.

“I…HAVE…ASCENDED!!” Turanus shouted, his voice sounded distorted as bolts of lightning descended from above and began to destroy the roof .

I spat out whatever blood remained in my mouth before I straightened up and summoned my blades back to my hand. I sheathed Whispering Wind on my back and gripped Hingure in both hands before I widened my stance.

"Come then show me what your false power has given you." I growled.

He disappeared with a flash of black lightning, before he reappeared over me, with his blade of lightning held overhead. I barely had time to react as I raised my swords to block his downward strike. The force of his attack pushed me back but he wasn’t done as he began to unleash a barrage of strikes unto me.

“Fall to me!” Turanus shouted as he fired off two balls of lightning that flew through the air and curled towards me.

I then used my shield to block the attack and when I lowered my shield to use flash step to get in closer I was hit by a surge of lightning that came from the opposite side of when I blocked the first two of Turnanus’s attacks

As the electrical sensation passed I looked around and suddenly Turnanus was right in front of me with his hands raised above him and encased in lightning as if he were pulling it from the heavens before he thrust his arms forward discharging all the lightning into me and sending me flying into one of the pillars behind me hard enough for a good portion of the pillar to crumble.

I then collapsed to the floor and was slow to get up and when I did I coughed up smoke before I looked at Turnanus to see him smirking at me arrogantly.

“And here I thought the great hero of Equestria was supposed to be tough.” Turnanus laughed before he crouched down and jumped unexpectedly high before he began to plummet down like a meteor causing me to jump forward into a roll before I spun around and activated my shield and braced and after a few seconds Turnanus impacted the ground and discharged a blast of lighting like a shock wave which I was able to defend against.

Successfully avoiding that attack I deactivated my shield and used Flash Step to close the distance and as Turanus turned around to face me all that greeted him was my fist sending the little shit flying towards the throne he was sitting upon not too long ago.

Suddenly Turanus snapped his fingers and I felt a electrical sensation in the air and when I looked up I leapt backwards to avoid getting hit by a giant hammer made from lighting and the thing about this hammer is that it was bigger than me in terms of size suddenly Turnanus managed to grab the giant hammer and swing at me with speeds that shouldn’t be possible and managed to knock me off my feet but I was quick to recover

“Is that all?” Turanus laughed as he looked at me mockingly.

Gritting my teeth I looked down at my kite shield and deactivated it before I turned the dial before I stood up.

“Come over here and find out boy.” I spat.

Hearing this Turanus adjusted his grip on the massive weapon and charged at me ready to deliver another swing and as he came into distance and started his attack I activated my shield and moved to intercept Turanus’s attack but instead of a kite shield an aspis shield was what unfolded and I managed to parry Turanus’s attack much to his surprise before I slashed at the caribou prince with Hingure before I struck him in the face with my aspis and followed up the strike with another slash of my blade before hitting him once more with my shield.

Suddenly Turanus vanished in a bolt of lightning and reappeared hovering above me on the other side of the Throne Room while all the wounds I gave him began to heal.

“Damn you!” Turanus roared as he called down a series of lighting bolts forcing me to move so that I wasn’t struck.

However while I was busy Turanus launched a series of homing bolts of magic at me. At first there was only two which I managed to use my aspis to block but the next attack was four bolts in one that broke my guard leaving me open for an attack which Turanus took by summoning his blade of lightning and flying at me and slashing me across the waist which hurt from both the electrical discharge and the fact that the blade cut me which caused me to roar in pain but Turanus wasn’t done yet because I could feel him about to make another attack only this time when he came in close I spun around and used my sword to deflect his strike before I slashed at his chest diagonally causing the buck to scream in pain before I kicked him in the chest sending the bastard tumbling back. But, I wasn’t done yet. I sheathed Hingure and bent my legs and began to take deep breaths to calm my body.

“Ittoryu Iai.” I said as I closed my eyes and ground my foot against the floor.

To me there was nothing different but to those who were watching me an aura had begun to surround me before it began to take the shape of a cloaked figure standing atop of a boat and holding a barge pole.

“Final Crossing.” I finished as I opened my eyes and dashed forward using Flash Step and slowly began to draw my blade.

I could see Turanus was frozen with terror as I closed in on him. I could see Turanus trying to move but it was as if he was locked in position and had no choice but to accept my attack which I did not hold back and drew Hingure as I struck Turanus with all my strength as I passed him before I began to sheath Hingure again, bringing myself to a stop. As I fully sheathed Hingure again I heard a scream from behind me and when I looked I saw Turanus was now covered in hundreds of cuts and coughing up blood as he stumbled to turn around and look at me.

“You…bastard.” Turanus gurgled as he continued to spit up blood.

“Give up Turanus. I'm gonna give you one opportunity to have a quick and painless death otherwise you won’t like what I do next.” I said as I noticed Turanus’s body was already beginning to recover.

“You think…that after everything I’ve done…everything I’ve gone through I’m gonna just let you take me…SCREW YOU!” Tunanus roared as he created a shockwave that knocked me back out of surprise.

Suddenly I felt something around my neck before I felt a jerking motion before I felt my body crash into something followed by the feeling of several of my bones break

“Tell me something Ash Blade, why do you get to be the one with all this power, why should you be so blessed and yet never use it?” Turanus before I felt him kick me in my stomach hard enough to launch me into the air.

Turanus then grabbed me by the ankle and swung me around before he slammed me into the ground leaving a crater leaving me distorted for a second but I knew he wasn’t done with me yet as I felt him grab my leg in both of his hands.

“What makes you so worthy huh?” Turanus growled as he proceeded to snap my leg making me howl in pain.

“…recite…it…” I heard the voice from before speak.

“What? I thought.

“You who chose to live as an equal to those who are so beneath you when they can be worshiping you like a god!” Turanus shouted as a new sensation of pain hit me in my arm and wing.

When I turned my head I saw it was a spear of lightning piercing my left arm and wing pinning me in place as Turanus placed his hoof on my back.

“…recite…the incantation…release…your powers…once more…” the voice said

“But no matter after I kill you I’m going to drain every ounce of power from you and then I’m going to use it the way it was meant to be used by bring every female bitch in this world to heel and once we’re done here we’ll spread our influence to every single dimension there is!” Turanus shouted.

I then closed my eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling.

"Oh ethereal chains that hold power in check I call to thee." I whispered.

“What was that?” Turanus asked as he leaned down towards me just before a small wind blew through the castle from every opening it could find till suddenly the wind became violent and Turanus was thrown from my back and as that happened there was a single booming sound of a great bell

"Tethered to the highest seat of creation to the bedrock of destruction." I spoke louder as the spear of lightning pinning me vanished allowing me to extend my wings and for my aura to explode just like it did with Bear while the bell continued to cry out its calls and I began to stand. "All who stand in the light of the glimmering lights that shine overhead shall bear witness as I untether the bound."

My aura was now sending out wisps of power leaving the whole room feeling heavy at the intense power that was coming off me.

"Limit off." I said as the invisible bell sounded one final time

Suddenly there was an explosion of light and my body felt stronger and lighter just like when I fought Bear. But this time the sensation was more intense. It was actually a sensation that I had not felt for a very long time.

"Wha-what is this power?" Turanus demanded.

"Well this is unexpected.” I said as I looked down at my hand and flexed my fingers. I haven’t felt this sensation since…a couple hundred years after my kingdom fell...it has been a long time since I've felt it."

"You mean...all this time you've been holding back!?" Turanus demanded.

"Yes. You see I was already powerful but that fact isn't always a good thing it means I have to be careful so I don't end up harming or killing someone accidentally and if you were paying attention before I mentioned that I did not intend to kill Snake just weaken him so I could remove it from my friend." I explained.

"But the poison." Turanus declared.

"A very real threat to be sure normally poison would be no issue for me but this particular one was...nasty to say the least." I said before I summoned Hingure to my hand and sheathed her. "But now seeing as I have no reason to keep you alive and also since you took the Queen's Venom I believe I am given the rare opportunity to cut loose a little here."

"Oh for, shut up and carve his ass like a Thanksgiving Turkey!" I heard Red say in my head.

“You…you bastard!” Turanus roared as he coated his arm in lightning and made to punch me

I then raised my right arm towards him and activated a spell around my hand before I snapped my fingers. Suddenly buckets of blood exploded from Turanus as his body was ripped apart and sent flying backwards dead and after a second I created a magic circle and suddenly Turanus rose from the circle as though he was never reduced to a gory paste.

"Wha- What did you do?"

"Which one? The one where I turned the snap of my fingers into a shock wave that ripped you apart or the fact that you are here right now unscathed." I asked.

Before he could say anything else, I snapped my fingers again and he exploded in a gory mess before coming back. I repeated this process a multitude of times, each time more gruesome than the last.

“Normally, this spell doesn’t let the one I cast it on remember how they died. But thanks to a little tweak of my own, you are experiencing the pain from each and every death you experience.” I said as I killed him before reviving him. “And I know you can revive on your own but that’s gonna take too long. This is just faster.”

After about an hour of repeating the process of blowing him up and reviving him, Turanus fell to his knees and threw up. His whole body was convulsing as he screamed at the top of his lungs while continuing to vomit.

"Painful isn't it...but this is mercy compared to all the victims of your actions. All those souls trapped inside you screaming for it to just end, this is the mercy I am giving them…But for you your suffering is yet to begin." I said before I snapped my fingers again exploding him before bringing him back.

"This...this is insanity...how are you doing this!" Turanus demanded.

"I'm honestly impressed you can still talk let alone have the mental fortitude to think up what it is you wished to say." Ash said.

"D-damn you...how can you do this...rewriting the laws of nature just so you can punish me...no one should be able to do that!" Turanus screamed.

"Well you’re wrong this spell Perfect Revival was a spell used by the greatest magic healers once upon a time and even among them most couldn't perform the spell over and over as I have and another flaw is that this spell can't be used outside of three seconds of death." I said before snapping my fingers making him explode before reviving him once more.

“STOP! STOP THIS MADNESS!” Taranus screamed but I just ignored him and killed him again. This went on for another hour until he started seizing on the floor.

"And I'm bored of this." Ash said.

Meanwhile Turanus lay upon the ground and sounds were coming from his mouth but no one could clearly hear him. All except Ash who interpreted it as a beg for death.

"Very well I suppose I should wrap this up now." Ash said as he turned his right hand up and suddenly two bolts of red lightning appeared in Ash's hand and were twisted around the other making it look like some kind of spear.

"This is a magic I developed once with the sole purpose of piercing dragon scales...you should feel honored Turanus you're the first soul I'm using this on that isn't a dragon." Ash said before he raised the spear of lightning above his head and aimed it at Turanus. "Farewell."

With that I plunged the spear into Turanus creating an explosion of red lightning leaving nothing but Turanus's horns and his soul floating in place so I retrieved both of those and then I turned to face the other occupants in the room Ember was bewildered and afraid Spike was in shock but Matches was downright terrified I saw his eyes darting between me and the fallen Bloodstone Sceptre for a few seconds before he lunged out of his cover and used his wings to make a mad dash for the scepter.

"Stop." I ordered and just like that Matches stopped dead in his tracks while an aura of white surrounded him. "Stand in the center of the room." I commanded and Matches did as I commanded but the expression on his face showed confusion and fear. "So let me guess you were gonna use this to summon every dragon to come to your defense while you flead is that about right?" I asked as I summoned the Bloodstone Scepter to my hands.

“I-I-…” Matches stuttered when he looked like he had an idea. “D-DOTHRAC BAL!”

"Oh?" I asked with mild interest as I sat in a chair made from shadows. "And what makes you think you have the right to demand such a thing after all you've done?"

"It is our way." Matches said.

"Hmm Spike I know he has more brains then to challenge me after what he just saw so that can only mean he is calling you out how do you want this?" Ash asked.

“Leave him to me.” Spike said as he approached Matches.

“If I win, I keep my life.” Matches declared.

"And you Spike this can only proceed if you have something to gain." Ash pointed out.

"His life is the only thing I want from him." Spike said with a growl.

"So be it. Then I shall serve as witness to this duel any and all abilities are at your disposal." I said before the two dragons squared off against the other. "Begin."

Matches took this opportunity to fight dirty and tossed some dust in front of Spike, making him back away to clear the crap out of his eyes. When he opened them, Matches came at him with a knife aimed at his gut.

Spike stepped to the side and grabbed Matches wrist with his right before elbowing his gut with his left then smashing his snout, making him drop the knife.

Matches wrist was released before Spike brought out his Kukri and shaved off a few scales over Match’s right brow.

"Gah!" As blood started to flow, Matches let out a roar before biting down on Spike's sword arm.

Clenching his teeth in pain, Spike used his claws to slash at Matches face, one of his digits got lucky and sliced across the prick's left eye, damaging both eyes within the first five minutes.

The bastard pulled back, tearing at Spike's arm real good.

"Aaaahh!!" Spike dropped his weapon and clutched his arm, this gave Matches ample time to get around Spike and sink his teeth into Spike’s tail.

Spike roared in pain again just before Matches bit down harder on Spikes’s tail and ended up tearing a quarter of it from Spike’s body making the drake howl in agony and for me to clutch my fingers in anger and with Spike distracted Matches retrieved his knife and started to try stab and slash at Spike and he managed to get a few hits in but not for long.

Spike then suddenly let out a growl and as Matches made a lunge to try and stab Spike in the heart, Spike turned sideways so Matches missed his target but provided an opening to Spike who then grabbed Matches by the hand with his right hand and used his left hand to claw at Match’s face getting him to release the knife and allowing Spike to seize it before he jammed the blade into Match’s shoulder making the traitor roar in pain while Spike let his shadow engulfed him.

Spike grabbed Match’s neck and launched into the air and slammed him against the walls but it wasn't over yet. Spike then dragged Matches across the rock, tearing away the scales and flesh of the miserable dragon as he went.

After smearing a bloody line across the walls, Spike bit down on the base of Matches wings and pulled, tearing them off. Matches let out a scream before Spike tossed Matches into the center of the room before Spike landed with a thud beside the battered and broken drake who moaned in horrible pain.

"Looks like you lost." Spike said.

"Piss off you little fucker!" Matches yelled before he chuckled. "I remember the stories coming from that little shit town you were in charge of. How you kept this one bat bitch on your pathetic little dick 24/7."

That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Burn in hell!" Spike roared before stomping on Matches neck. He wasn't done yet, he grabbed the whelp by his snout and pulled with all his strength. Through all the yelling and pleading, Spike kept pulling and pulling until.

Snap!

Spike succeeded in prying Matches lower jaw from his face causing bouts of blood to spurt from the dying drake. After a moment Spike stepped back and fell to his knees in exhaustion and blood loss but the latter was soon resolved as Ash mended the injuries including restoring the tip of Spike's tail however there were still parts that had scars on Spike's body including a jagged scar where Spike’s tail was bitten off.

"You good?" Ash asked as he helped his friend onto his feet.

"Yeah, I will be." Spike cracked his neck before looking at his arm. "Neat scars." He then looks around. "Where's Ember?"

I turned my gaze to where I last saw the Dragon Princess and saw her fashioning a crude garb out of some curtains so that she was more presentable.

"She's over there and she seems fine." I stated.

"Of course I am...and just so you know Ash I'm not exactly a babysitter." Ember snapped.

"Glad to see you've still got your spunk princess. I'm actually impressed you're not tripping over yourself knowing that I'm still alive." I said.

"Oh believe me I am shocked. I have a great many questions for the both of you but right now we need to free the other dragons." Ember stated.

"Well at least your priorities are strong and as for the rest of the dragons I believe I have an idea for that." I said with a smirk.

(Outside) (Third Person P.O.V.)

Ever since Ember was overthrown things had been grim for many dragons. Females were enslaved and made to serve the caribou and male dragons and those male dragons who refused to follow Turanus's rule were enslaved in mines to find gems and this day those under the boot of oppression thought that today would be just as miserable as the last that is until their scales started to glow calling all dragons to the palace which in turn brought the caribou since they knew their prince held the Bloodstone Scepter they figured the prince must of wanted to make a public announcement.

Once every single dragon was present a massive beam of orange flame shot out of the palace that was perched upon the throne of the Dragon Lord suddenly the beam turned blue and the palace exploded creating a massive shockwave that blew everyone off their feet.

When everyone recovered they saw a massive shadow looming in the clouds of smoke created by the destruction of the palace of the caribou prince and when the smoke cleared the audience was greeted by a massive dragon who's scales were a silvery blue and looked to made from celestial light with wings that were brightly luminescent and gave of a powerful glow.

"Dragons hear my words!" The unknown dragon shouted which caused shockwaves but were less powerful then the one created by the earlier blast.

"I am here to tell you that the caribou prince is dead, The traitorous whelp Matches is dead, The beast known as The Snake is dead the seat of power that has held many of you shackled is vacant and if you desire proof then in my hand is The Bloodstone Scepter!” The dragon bellowed as he held up a claw to show everyone present that he had indeed acquired the scepter. “Those who forced your submission are no more so if you desire freedom then now is your chance to drive the Caribou out and bestow your wrath upon the traitorous filth who had their claws on your neck! Seize your freedom, your justice and let the enemies that robbed you of both know your wrath!"

The words of the dragon bolstered the oppressed who roared at his words before turning on those they were forced to serve. Many dragons who were forced to shrink themselves for the convenience of the caribou grew tenfold and reduced the caribou to snacks while the dragons who sided with the caribou were torn apart.There were some caribou who made it to the railguns in order to quash the sudden rebellion only to discover that the mechanism couldn't be activated and soon became a victim themselves to the dragons they ruled over.

Meanwhile the dragon that bolstered the victims of the caribou and traitors watched as the oppressors were dealt with before he began to shrink and change till finally the dragon had become a certain god.

(Ash's P.O.V.)

"There we are." Ash said as he dusted himself off.

"Dude, that was awesome!" Spike cheered while looking at all the carnage happening down below.

"Hmm, good to see we haven't lost our touch." Ember said while coming up to watch the carnage and liberation. "Thank you, Ash."

"No worries." I told her before Spike took my hand and planted his ring on my palm. "Saying goodbye so soon?"

"Not goodbye, just a change of career." Spike smirked at me.

"Hey, you mind telling me how you were able to summon everyone? I know you didn’t use the scepter, was it some kind of spell?" Ember asked me while straightening her makeshift dress.

"Ah yes." Ash said before he held up the scepter. "You ever wonder why this was called The Bloodstone Scepter?"

"I know the legend. The first dragon leader made it with a rock and his own blood." Ember explained while crossing her arms.

"Close but not quite you see the red stone is indeed the blood of The First Dragon King but he didn't make the scepter." Ash said.

Ember was confused which changed to shock as she watched the red stone of the scepter become liquid as it floated into the air before it was absorbed into Ash's hand.

"What the!?" Ember shouted.

"This will be a long story and it's one I feel my family should also hear so if you can indulge me with your patience mayhaps we can discuss this back in Aephoceria." Ash suggested.

At this Ember looked at Ash hesitantly but a hand on her shoulder from Spike along with a nod seemed to encourage her to which she nodded.

"Thank you." Ash said.

"What do we do next?" Spike asked.

"For now let's regroup with the others and return you to your throne then I suggest we tend to the fallen before returning." I suggested to which the others nodded.

Next Chapter: Chapter 59 The Dragon Hunter Estimated time remaining: 56 Minutes