CHAPTER 11

The two combatants slam into a mountainside of a small island far away from the battlefield. They fall to the mossy earth, both unconscious and barely clinging to life.

Something wet slides along his arm as the Paladin open his eyes. He leans onto one side and notices the liquefied emerald dripping from his inventory. Aghast, he hops to his feet and rushes to the unmoving White Dragon. His inventory is ripped to shreds, yet he still rifles through its remains. His Ritual Weapon and a few magic scrolls are found intact. With an even greater stroke of luck, one of Dian Keto the Cure Master's flasks has survived the crash. He grabs it and rips out the cork from the mouth of the glass bottle. He then lifts the White Dragon's head (thanking the heavens that it is still breathing) and pours the contents down its throat.

As the last drop falls from the flask, a sharp pain shoots through his left arm. The Paladin falls to the earth, face-first and unconscious. Reinvigorated, the White Dragon looks on as its rider passes out yet again. It lets out a pained, muffled whine and slowly crawls toward him. It nudges the Paladin. Nothing happens. It shoves him. Still no reaction. With another soft cry, it takes to the sky.

Now above the small island, it searches for something, anything that might save the Dragon Champion. The White Dragon spots a small hut by the island's shore and rockets toward it. As it hovers above the thatched roof, it lets loose a small burst of white lightning, quickly burning the roof away. A terrified Magician of Faith is kneeling in front of a small religious altar, looking at the giant, brazened beast that has destroyed her roof. She instinctively jumps back and grabs the magical staff that was leaning against the wall of the small hut.

She chants a spell. A beam of dark magic is released from the orb at the top of her staff. The beam simply bounces off the White Dragon's hide. It swings its tail and smashes a wall to rubble and lands inside the hut. The Magician of Faith chants a hex (this time a containment trap known as “Spellbinding Circle”). However, with one flap of its wings, the White Dragon disbands the enchantment.

The White Dragon lets out a series of growls and roars, trying to verbalize his master's condition. The Magician is flattened against the opposite wall, fearful and not understanding a single noise from the White Dragon. Seeing this reaction, the White Dragon ceases its futile attempt at linguistics and simply snatches the Magician of Faith in its talons.

The terrified Magician screams as the White Dragon takes flight. As it charges to its master's location, the Magician fires spell after spell, each one as ineffective as before. The White Dragon lands back on the soft ground and drops the Spell Caster. She is now paralyzed with fear. Annoyed, it pushes her toward its fallen rider. She gasps as she finally snaps back to her senses, only to find this mighty warrior barely clinging to life. She inches closer and rolls him onto his back and leans over him. His breathing is very light and inaudible. She then straightens up and steps back. Twirling her staff, she chants a spell of revival. Soft white light crawls from the top of her staff and envelopes the Paladin. She calmly lowers her staff as the last strands of light exit the orb.

The Paladin inhales deeply as his eyes open. He rises to his feet and looks on his savior.

“Unh,” he groans.

“Don't worry,” the Magician tells the White Dragon. “He should be fine.”

It looks down at her with the most gratifying expression.

“Who are you?” the Paladin says as he rises to his feet.

“My name is Magician of Faith, and if it weren't for your pet-” she begins, but the White Dragon snorts so furiously that she was practically blown over. “-I mean, your friend here, you would be dead.”

“Really,” he replies, smiling at the Dragon. But, his smile fades quickly. He walks slowly to the nearby shore and looks out at the sea. He lowers his head in disappointment.

“Um,” the Magician interrupts. “Mr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, there is a certain issue about my home. You see, in all the excitement, your dragon demolished my home.”

He doesn't respond, seemingly in deep thought while he watches the waves come and go.

“Listen to me!” she yells, now mere inches from his face. “I'm homeless!”

He turns away from her.

“You self-absorbed prick! I saved your life, for Ra's sake! I need to go back to my hometown; the capital of Egypt.”

His ears perked up at those last three words.

“I think I can help,” the Paladin finally responds. “If you can wait just a little longer, I'll take you back there. First, there's a score I must settle with the demon of the sea.”

“Don't like it, but not like I have much of a choice,” she replies sarcastically. “I'll hold you to it.”

The White Dragon walks over to the Paladin. He mounts it and turns to the Magician of Faith to say, “I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I promise I'll come back for you.”

“Hold on!” she says as she runs to his totaled inventory. She grabs the now empty flask (the one used to revive the White Dragon) and taps it with the bottom tip of her staff. The familiar, life-saving green liquid fills the bottle. She then taps his tattered inventory, and it is reformed. She tosses it to the Paladin. He catches it and drops the flask back into his inventory.

“Take care!” she calls as they take to the sky and rocket back to the battlefield of Umi.

CHAPTER 12

Flying over the ocean, a distant look washes over the Paladin's face.

“How could I be beaten so easily? The Masked Beast I had slain was much more powerful than this serpent, yet this new foe nearly killed me. I am the Champion of Egypt! The Dragon Champion, for Ra's sake! The most proclaimed warrior from that grand land! I am the best around! How could I lose so pathetically?

“Can it be that I was set up for a humiliating failure? Can it be that my king lied to me? Everywhere I turn, someone's waiting there to kill me. Can it be that I'm the evil in this world, that every life that has extinguished by my hand was an innocent one? No. That's not possible. That cannot be possible. This legendary quest I have been given is exceedingly important, and only I can pull it off. Something evil brews on the horizon, an evil more terrifying than the most vivid of nightmares.

I must – nay - I will succeed! I have to succeed! I must not be intimidated by such an unworthy foe. I will fight with all my power until I give my very last gasp. For what I am fighting for is bigger than me, larger than that single freed Blue-Eyes White Dragon, larger than Egypt itself. I am fighting for the safety of our world. For every single peaceful inhabitant. For the security of my universe. For justice!

“I'm coming for you, damned Daedalus! How dare you bring such overwhelming doubt to my mind! This time, I will deal the final blow!”

Adrenaline now pumps through his veins as he arrives at the scene. He sees the maelstrom is still twisting, turning, and restlessly brewing. The White Dragon dives through the center of the funnel and bursts through the water in the bottom of the cyclone. They find the water demon resting at the bottom, seemingly asleep. The Paladin unsheathes his golden javelin and the White Dragon fires a great burst of white lightning. Daedalus was waiting for their return, and it bats the attack away. The Paladin orders the White Dragon back to the sky.

The Paladin equips himself once again with his Ritual Weapon. The White Dragon rolls tightly as it breaks through the water surface. Daedalus catches up and bites down on the Dragon's tail. It screams in pain, and the Paladin is hurled off, falling straight toward Daedalus. The Paladin clutches onto its long dorsal fin and swings onto its back, digging his heels into its scales. With a solid footing, he raises his trusty javelin. He can feel the power from his Ritual Weapon surging through every vein as he slices the golden javelin deep into Daedalus. He leaps off while holding fast to his weapon as it tears down Daedalus. It writhes in immense pain and the javelin exits through the tip of its tail. The Paladin dives feet first into the water below as Daedalus' blood pours down above him. Close by, the slain Daedalus slams against the glass-like surface.

The White Dragon lands next to the Paladin, badly wounded. He climbs onto the Dragon's back, quickly rustles through his inventory, and pulls out the life-saving vial from the Cure Master. He opens it and pours the contents into the Dragon's mouth. Within minutes, its wounds are healed.

Looking around, the Paladin notices another land mass located not far away from the soulless body of the slain Leviathan. The Paladin of White Dragon takes off to investigate the newly found island.

CHAPTER 13

The storm has dispersed and the night sky dissolves into beautiful hues of the orange and red, signaling early dawn. The sun rises to bring forth a new day as the Paladin of White Dragon flies to his destination. The water below is so calm that it alludes to be rippled yellow and blue marble. The island slowly grows into focus. It is another handsome tropical sanctum, long and narrow. However, as the land draws nearer, the Paladin notices there's no beach to land on. So, he guides his Dragon to a clearing among the tall trees located near the center of the islet.

The Dragon lands on the soft, mossy ground and the Paladin dismounts, taking in the surroundings. Tall trees encircle them; some are so tall that they appear to breach the heavens. The Paladin notices there is a small path leading northwest. Curiously, he follows it. It leads deep into the forest, and ends at an opening in the ground, with a metallic ladder clamped to one side. The Paladin climbs down, not knowing what to expect.

The sun has nearly completely risen by this time, and it faintly illuminates the dark tunnel as the Paladin reaches the bottom. He steps off the last rung onto the smooth marble tiled floor, and turns around to find himself in the presence of none other than Buster Blader. The massive warrior stands tall, holding his giant blade downward, perpendicular to the ground. Buster Blader has long been known as the Dragon Destroyer, for he has slain many mythical beasts that have terrorized the innocent. The Paladin gasps and stumbles backward. Backed against the wall, he grasps his javelin aloft in a shaky attempt to defend himself. However, Buster Blader hasn't moved an inch, only his head turned slightly to witness the Paladin’s reaction.

“Welcome,” Buster Blader warmly greets while standing guard of a marble altar. “I have been expecting a visitor, just not one so jumpy. Relax, I don't wish to fight you. Why don't you tell me why you are here?”

The Paladin lowers his guard. “I've been in search of the second legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and a reliable source led me here.”

He continues to tell Buster Blader of his journey up to this point. The Dragon Destroyer stays silent, absorbing the impressive adventure. A moment passes.

“Follow me, Dragon Champion,” He then persuades. “I may have just what you are looking for.”

The Paladin accompanies the legendary knight as they walk down the velvet carpet to the altar. Buster Blader motions the Paladin to kneel in front of the gleaming pedestal as he pushes a hidden switch. He calmly pulls a mystical orb from the now opened top of the shrine and tells the Paladin to arise. Buster Blader then hands over the orb and a small pouch of powder.

“The sun is shining brightly outside, correct?” Buster Blader asks. The Paladin nods, looking down quizzically at the two objects he holds. “Very well then. Take those outside. Sprinkle the powder from the pouch onto the orb and hold it up. When enough sunlight hits the orb, be prepared for a great surprise.” The Paladin gratefully obeys.

Using one arm to climb back up the ladder and the other to cradle his items, he manages to reach the top of the tunnel. Blinded by the brilliant daylight, he slips open the pouch and grabs the handful of dust. Dropping the empty pouch, he grasps the orb and lets the powder fall onto it.

Nothing happens. He holds it high above him, as high as his outstretched arms can reach. Still nothing. He climbs the tallest tree on the island and holds the orb aloft yet again. The orb begins to quiver slightly. The Paladin, excited by the sudden movement, leaps from the tree and lands right onto the White Dragon's back. The dragon yelps from in surprise and ascends. As they climb higher, the orb's undulation crescendos. They rise above the clouds. The orb is now shaking violently. The Paladin looks at it, gains a firmer grip, and throws it with all his might toward the sun. The orb shatters and a triumphant roar bellows through the heavens. Blinded by such radiance, the Paladin of White Dragon is forced to descend far below the clouds. He shields his eyes until the illumination diminishes. He opens his eyes to find himself confronted with the second Blue-Eyes White Dragon. The massive dragon looks upon his liberator in the most appreciative manner before it flies away, northwest bound.

Part III

CHAPTER 14

The Paladin of White Dragon lands back on the island clearing, where Buster Blader was patiently waiting.

“So, was that what you were searching for?” Buster Blader asks, grinning.

“Why have you, the legendary warrior who has hunted and slain so many dragons, helped me?” the Paladin inquires warily as he dismounts.

“Well, a week past, I received a message from a gypsy going by the name of the Ominous Fortuneteller,” Buster Blader replies. “The psychic, who was hidden underneath a large hood so that I was unable to tell the gender, instructed me to help you, the one who has killed the great sea demon.

“In fact, this is the letter I was left with,” he says.

He then recites the Fortuneteller's tale:

“The leviathan's death dealer will be a champion among dragons, but Buster Blader must not follow his instincts. He must not engage him in battle. For the one who succeeds in destroying the demon of the depths has proven his worth in doing so. However, the hero must be warned that although he has freed two of the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragons, he must not let his ego best him. Only with great wariness and humility will he achieve his ultimate goal. Failure seeks those who are boastful. He will face the most treacherous obstacles at the coming destination.”

As Buster Blader finishes reciting the message, he pulls out a piece of folded parchment from under the breastplate of his armor. He then hands it to the Paladin. The Paladin unfolds the parchment. Inscribed on it are instructions directing him to his next objective. He must fly even further east and south into an unmarked region.

“So this is where the next Blue-Eyes is,” he says aloud, to no one in particular. “What is this region? I've never even seen it on any map.”

Buster Blader only gives a look of uncertainty, telling the Paladin, “All I can say is that whom ever traveled to such desolate terrain has never returned. I doubt that you will set a precedent.”

“Well, thank you for all you've given me,” the Paladin says. He mounts his White Dragon, glances at the map, and flies southwest. Buster Blader stands still as he watches the hero disappear on the horizon.

CHAPTER 15

Two days have passed since Paladin of White Dragon departed from Buster Blader's island sanctuary. He has flown over the rocky coastline of another continent and has landed in a small village housing only a dozen humble huts. He looks at the map, and this village reads as Crothiponai. Meek farmers inhabit the small huts.

“Show me to your village leader,” he demands of a farmer.

“Yessir,” he says quietly, amazed by the bright armor the Paladin is wearing. “Asthonia's home's righ' o'er there.”

“Asthonia's her name? What's this leader like?” he asks, intrigued.

“I dunno much, but this is what I know,” the farmer explains in his plain tone. “She comes from the Harpie Lady Sisters clan. Ooh, boy! There she is right now! I – I must g-go now! Good luck, warrior!” With that, the farmer rushes off to his extremely tiny shack on the other side of the field.

The Paladin turns around to find that she is standing near the center of the Crothiponai Town Square (a simple dirt circle surrounded by a few small huts with a decorative totem pole in the middle), awaiting his approach.

“Wow,” he says silently. He stands in front of a beautiful young, voluptuous vixen. Her golden brown hair glistens in the sunlight as it rests on her smooth shoulders. He stands there -- his mouth slightly open – for what seems to be an eternity. She looks back at him with her hazel eyes, and smiles. She obviously likes what she sees. The Paladin blushes as he looks over her curvy body, from her sleek legs to her bountiful breasts. She holds one hand casually on her hip. She too blushes slightly, noticing his muscular arms, legs and toned torso. Finally, he comes to his senses. He introduces himself and, once again, retells his tale. Asthonia's eyes widen with horror as his story returns to the present.

“Come with me!” She demands. “I have something you have to see!” She grabs his hand and pulls him furiously into her hut. I can't believe this! Her voice is sweeter than her body. I've definitely lucked out, he says to himself as he is forced to follow her.

Inside, the hut seems too simplistic to belong to the leader of a village. The living quarters were four-walled, unlike the cylindrical huts that surround it. On the left side, a hammock hung from the ceiling. On the right side stood a five-tiered bookcase, filled with thick books originating from all over the world. On the back wall hangs a beautiful tapestry illustrating the grand seal of the Harpie Lady Sisters (three beautiful, yet extremely lethal winged women, wearing sleek body armor that accentuates their curvy figures, stand proudly in the foreground of the seal. A foreign character is painted in the background that roughly translates to Deadly Divas).

Asthonia explodes through the door, still clutching the Paladin's arm. She finally let go, but, due to momentum, the Paladin keeps running. He crashes right into the hammock. Asthonia flies over to her large bookcase and pulls out a glossy pearl-white encyclopedia. She kneels on the floor and throws the book down in front of her, furiously flipping through the pages. The fluttering of the pages ceases as the Paladin untangles himself.

Asthonia beckons him to read the article, labeled The Legend of the Ultimate Protector.

The Paladin reads aloud as she sidles next to him:

“The time when a Dragon Master overcomes the Pharaoh, a terrible evil will be freed. However, the Dragon Master is not to be blamed, for he was unknowing of the Forbidden Seal that dwelled within the Pharaoh’s soul. This Seal binds a mysterious and powerful evil. Once he claimed the throne of the grand kingdom of Egypt, the Seal will deteriorate.”

Asthonia inches closer, pressing against him.

“The Pharaoh has appointed the one with matchless spell casting abilities, the one known as Belmagnus, the Dark Sage. Upon the Pharaoh's death, Belmagnus must guard his tomb and attempt to regenerate the seal. But, when the Seal is completely dissolved, not even he can subdue this disastrous terror. Only the Ultimate Protector will have the power to rid the world of such horrendous catastrophe. When the White Dragon from the Wasteland, the White Dragon from the Island Shrine, and the White Dragon from the Ring of Fire are freed, the Ultimate Protector will appear and vanquish the evil. Only then will peace reign throughout the lands once more.”

The Paladin now knows the reason for his grand quest to unleash each Blue-Eyes White Dragon. His resolution is renewed, but he becomes greatly distracted. Asthonia rises to her feet, picks up the book, and returns it to its place in the bookcase. The Paladin is still kneeling, staring at the space where the book was, contemplating what he just learned. Asthonia turns to face him, blushing faintly. She gingerly grasps his arm and pulls him to her level, keeping eye contact. The Paladin sees something in her eyes that he hasn't seen since long before Pharaoh Seto summoned him. Something wonderful. She pulls him closer, breathing deeply. She presses her lips to his. Passionate heat fills the hut, radiating from deep within the racing hearts. He can feel his tongue caress hers as she melts in his arms. She even tastes sweet; his mind tells him before it shuts off, leaving only natural instinct.

Asthonia pulls her lips away and the Paladin barely manages to catch his breath. Sunlight from the nearby window filters through and highlights her feminine curves. Taking a step back, she smiles lustfully as she unfastens her blouse. The warm rays accentuate her ample, soft breasts. The beauty that stands before him takes the Paladin aback. He pulls off his armor and the Harpie Queen laughs delightfully as she lunges at him.

Sunset passes and night falls on the now calm hut. The Paladin is lying beneath the hammock, with Asthonia nuzzled on his side, her leg still wrapped around him. Such a scene would make even the likes of Aphrodite take notice. They both fall into a peaceful slumber as the full moon shines above.

Outside the hut, the White Dragon suddenly jolts awake from a deep slumber. It looks around, then unfolds its great wings and begins to ascend. Turning northwest, it flies across the night sky. Crothiponai disappears in an instant, soon followed by the continent. Now jetting along the ocean, the White Dragon darts its head back and forth, searching for something. At last, it spots the small island with the mountain.

The loyal dragon lands on top of the ruined altar. It lets out a welcoming roar, and listens to it echo against the tall mountainside. A tree begins to rustle to its right. Magician of Faith hops down from her temporary tree house. She comes face-to-face with the magnificent beast and looks deep into its beautiful azul eyes.

“Where's the Paladin?” She asks. It replies by slightly turning its head toward the ground, somewhat ashamed. “Well, whatever. At least one of you kept your promise.” She pats the White Dragon on the neck as she climbs onto its back.

The White Dragon quickly lifts skyward - so quickly, in fact, that the Magician of Faith has to hug its neck just to stay steady. It gives her a sly look and rockets toward her long awaited homeland. Terrified, but loving the ride, she screams the whole way.

They speed along the ocean's waves and over the wasteland. The White Dragon flies over Kozaky's workshop, the battlefield of the Fiend civil war. It manages to catch a glimpse of a massive winged skeleton rebuilding the ruined castle that Dark Ruler Ha Des once resided in.

Finally, they reach their destination. The White Dragon suddenly stops midair. The Magician of Faith, still clutching its neck, slides over its head. The White Dragon playfully catches her in one of its talons and gently lowers her to the ground.

Now almost completely hoarse from screaming the whole trip, she manages to croak, “This is definitely the place. Thank you!” Her robe is twisted, wrinkled, and totally askew, and her staff now has a crack in it from her grasping it so tightly.

After she regains her composure, the Magician of Faith rushes off to the palace. The White Dragon turns around and notices the Pyramid of Anubis, now looking worse for wear. It also sees light rays starting to peek over the horizon, so it dashes back to Crothiponai.

CHAPTER 16

Apollo's bright orb rises to gently awaken the two lovers. The Paladin opens his eyes and watches Asthonia quietly slumbering. He slides away from her and dons his armor. He steps outside and breathes a great sigh. Looking to the sky, he hears the familiar flapping of his dragon's great wings. The White Dragon lands nearby, clutching a 7 Colored Fish, a great sea snake and twice the length of the White Dragon with thick scales resembling a shimmering rainbow. The dragon rips its head off and chomps down on the sweet meat inside. It growls furiously as it devours the whole sea monster in mere minutes.

As the Paladin watches in amazement at his dragon's speed, Asthonia sidles up to him, placing her hand on the small of his back. He glances over at her. She doesn't even mind that she's still bare-chested. In fact, she seems to enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. He chuckles slyly as she stretches and yawns. Just then, something streaking across the sky catches his eye. Looking upward, he catches a glimpse of the newly freed Blue-Eyes White Dragon racing toward its rendezvous to the north. His White Dragon seemed to sense the same thing. It begins to flap its wings impatiently and gulps the last of what was left of the 7 Colored Fish. Urgency pulsates through both of them. The Paladin turns toward Asthonia as she stares at that same streak in the sky, bewildered.

“I need some supplies,” he tells her. “Do you have a shop in this tiny village?”

“Of course we do!” she says. “Hold on.” She darts back inside the hut and dresses.

No longer bare-chested, she wraps her arm around his and guides him to the humble village shop.

“We don't have much,” she regrettably tells him. “But what the shopkeeper does sell will be extremely valuable on the last leg of your quest.”

“Hello and welcome to the best -- and only -- shop in this quaint village!” The shopkeeper greets as they enter. She is a petite woman with very vigilant eyes. She sits on the counter next to an iron box, obviously used to store money. “Oh, Asthonia! I see you met a special friend,” She snorts back a laugh. Her face turns a vivid magenta. She stomps toward the shopkeeper and smacks her so hard that she falls backward and crashes on the floor. The merchant starts laughing uproariously and stammers, “He – he's a good lookin' fella! Quite a catch, if I say so. Aw, don' leave!” But she doesn't listen. She storms out of the shop, signaling the Paladin to meet her outside when he's done.

The Paladin looks around, only to see the small shop only has five items for sale. The shopkeeper does, however, sell an abundant quantity of each item. He purchases items until he cannot hold any more, once again using his nearly limitless funds from the Palace. He clambers to the serene White Dragon waiting outside and deposits the newly bought items into his inventory.

“So, you're just going to leave without saying good-bye?” she says, her arms folded and her foot tapping. He turns to her, grabs her around her waist, and pulls her closer to him. He kisses her deeply and passionately. He then mounts his Dragon and they take off for the final battlefield.

CHAPTER 17

Now flying at near supersonic speed, the Paladin of White Dragon is more determined than ever. The ground below blends into blurred greens, reds, and blues. The White Dragon jets straight through the starless night, only to slow down after the sun has risen yet again. In the early daylight, the Paladin glances below. The soft green pastures have faded away and are replaced with hard browns and grays. The temperature has drastically risen. The horizon dances in front of him.

The White Dragon descends as they draw nearer to a range of active volcanoes. The closest one erupts. However, it is no normal eruption. The serpent-like lava rockets toward the Dragon Champion. The heat-stream splits three ways, surrounding the Paladin. A shriek bellows from each as the three pillars compose a triplet of the ferocious Solar Flare Dragon. The three fiery serpents are consumed in protective flames. The fire links the three snakes in a way that not one of them can be slain as long as at least one other remains alive.

The Paladin grins expectantly. “How predictable.” The weakness of the serpents is a well-known strategy. The Paladin must kill the three Solar Flare Dragons at once. He reaches into his inventory and pulls out two scrolls. He unrolls one and throws the other at the middle Solar Flare Dragon. He quickly chants the Spell “Armed Dragon's Wrath”. The smoky clouds shatter above as three giant metal blades swirl and slice through each Solar Flare Dragon. The pieces of each volcano-born monster solidify to cold, dark gray boulders and rain toward the rocky surface below.

With the insignificant distraction cleared, the White Dragon continues forward. The volcanoes continue to violently erupt, but no more monsters are birthed from the disgorged lava. The Paladin notices an opening on the side of one deadly mountain. Deftly dodging the hardened lava meteors, the Paladin of White Dragon swiftly flies through the opening. As they enter, a tower of white-hot metal launches upward.
As the column dissipates, a plunging foe catches the Paladin of White Dragon off guard. His flying kick sends the Paladin off his dragon and plummeting to the molten lake below. The White Dragon reciprocates by firing a blast of white lightning at the new target. The attack hits the swift enemy directly, sending him crashing into the rock wall. The White Dragon then swoops down and catches the Paladin on its back; once again saving its master's life from imminent death. Outraged, the Paladin dons his Ritual Weapon and the White Dragon charges for the stunned, fiery martial artist named Tenkabito Shien.

The White Dragon catches the distempered foe's arm in its talon as he begins to fall from the rock wall. However, gravity had its way. Tenkabito Shien still falls as his body is ripped away from his arm. The furious Dragon gives chase as it quickly chews and swallows the arm. It ensnares Tenkabito Shien yet again, but only his leg this time. The White Dragon swings the Pyro-Warrior skyward and the Paladin holds his javelin vertically. The javelin penetrates Tenkabito Shien at the base of his skull and exits through his breastbone, shattering everything in between. The Paladin orders his White Dragon out of the volcano, for he knows if he drops Tenkabito Shien into the lava, the Pyro would be completely healed. Once outside, the Paladin flicks the massacred Master of Flames off of his javelin.

CHAPTER 18

Remembering that time is of the essence, the fearless Hero flies skyward. Hovering underneath the smoke, the Paladin discovers a soft, white glow from the most volatile volcano. Eager to see the resting place of the final Blue-Eyes White Dragon, he jabs his Dragon with his heel and they rocket toward the fiery geyser. Flying at such a greatly increasing velocity, the White Dragon inadvertently blasts through the sound barrier. The White Dragon halts immediately in front of the incessantly erupting mountain. The ensuing sonic boom passes the Paladin, instantly clearing the lava, if only momentarily. The Dragon moves quickly into the center of the crater's opening.

The eruptions return, but the Paladin of White Dragon is safe. The lava actually forms a wall to encompass the opening. The Paladin looks below and finds a blackened platform floating on a strangely serene lagoon of fluid lava. The White Dragon lowers and lands on the somewhat unstable base, facing the source of the bright beacon. The Paladin dismounts and finds the light seeping through a crack in the platform. He backs away and orders his White Dragon to fire an energy blast directly at the crack. The White Dragon kicks up, levitates five feet above the Paladin, and fires a blast of White Lightning. The energy blast breaks through the fissure and the platform fractures and crumbles under the Paladin's feet.

He falls down and lands in a cool, cavernous room with a gentle blue aura. The soft glow has grown brighter. The Paladin investigates the source with little caution. A stone tablet stands in the center of the white beam. He strides closer to read it.

The tablet states:

Welcome to the final sanctum, O great Dragon Champion.
This is the resting place of the third and final Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Only the valiant one whom has succeeded in liberating the other two beasts of legend must give the ultimate sacrifice here.
Only upon the completion of this task will the third legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon stir to life.

As the Paladin finishes reading he notices a holy box at the bottom of the tablet. He picks it up and opens it. The box is empty; save for a small piece of old parchment. Written on it is a poem entitled For the Hero Who Seeks the Legend. He begins to read it aloud:

“I am the one who freed the two legendary dragons.
I humble myself before this great sanctum,
this sanctuary of peace, this altar of sacrifice--”

He is interrupted by a terrified shriek from his dragon. He looks up. The White Dragon darts to the Paladin's side as the volcano begins to cave in. The wall of lava is cleared as a new enemy is manifested. Lava Golem is revealed, enraged.

The Paladin quickly finishes the poem written on the parchment:

“I, Paladin of White Dragon, the proclaimed Dragon Champion,
Lay down my very being to bring about the final Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
I die so others will know peace.
I give my life, now RISE O BEAST OF LEGEND!!”

At the moment that he exclaims the last syllable, every molecule of his being seems to rush to unite with his very soul. The Paladin goes numb as his dragon looks on in frightful awe. He gasps his last breath as he watches his essence emerge from his chest. The Paladin falls. His soul penetrates the White Dragon, engulfing it in a brilliant emanation. The blindingly white sphere raises, grows, and pulsates. It elevates to face Lava Golem and bursts apart, instantly solidifying any molten fire in the region. The furious volcanoes quickly cool and are transformed into lament mountains and dormant hills.

The white radiance vanishes as the Blue-Eyes White Dragon stares down Lava Golem. The giant monster tries to retreat, but its base has cooled to gray rock. Soon after, the Lava Golem has completely hardened to a giant statue. Just for good measure, Blue-Eyes White Dragon lets loose an intense White Lightning blast that cuts through the frozen tower with the greatest of ease. The once-mighty Golem is now reduced to mere rubble.

With the battle won, Blue-Eyes White Dragon darts to the northernmost region to join the other two. The Legendary Protector will soon be released. However, the Forbidden Seal has been shattered. A new evil is now free to roam the earth.

Part IV

CHAPTER 19

The third and final Blue-Eyes White Dragon is now rocketing at a rate double the speed of sound, unknowingly jetting over Pharaoh Seto's royal palace. Not far from that lies the fallen Pharaoh's tomb. It begins to quake in the wake of the Dragon’s haste. Splinters form and grow along each side of the Pyramid of Anubis. The sandstone bricks of each of the four sides of the grand pyramid fall out to rejoin the sands below. The largest, most solid boulders crumble under the immense pressure of the pyramid’s collapse. Whole sections are destroyed within seconds. A horrifying roar blares from the deepest reaches of the failing structure. A shadow reaches to blanket the sky, the darkness pours out of every seam and fissure, leaving the slain Pharaoh's tomb utterly decimated.

Just then, Blue-Eyes White Dragon has arrived at the sacred mountain summit, where the other two White Dragons wait. It stops quickly and lands between the others. The three simultaneously unleash a massive White Lightning Attack. The three blasts of energy rise high in the air and merge together, sending intense shock waves in all directions. The mountainside erodes instantaneously as the great orb of energy falls upon the dragon trio. Roaring and screeching, the energy forces them closer. The extreme magnetic heat fuses them together. They polymerize into one gigantic, three-headed dragon.

Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, the Ultimate Protector, has been formed.

It lets out a scream that reduces the surrounding mountain range to rubble. Levitating above the now flat land, it flies off to confront the destructive, unparalleled evil.

CHAPTER 20

Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Egypt, the shadow has taken a definite form. Pharaoh Seto rushes out of his palace to witness the nearly invincible Five God Dragon rising high into the air. Each of its five heads is birthed from the worldly elements of Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, and Darkness. The mere presence of this extremely powerful entity makes even the Egyptian gods tremble with fear.

It now looks around and senses something heading straight for it. Each head fires a beam in a northward direction; one of shadowy darkness, another of concentrated water, a third of bright orange fire, a fourth of cyclonic wind, and a fifth of molten earth.
Surprisingly agile for its massive size, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon dips, ducks, weaves, dodges, and barrel rolls to avoid every single deadly stream. Annoyed by such abrupt audacity, the Ultimate Dragon increases its velocity, now flying at the speed of light. Within a fraction of a millisecond, it halts mere feet away from the Five God Dragon.

The three heads of the Ultimate Dragon each release a Burst Stream of Destruction. The blasts concurrently hit their target. Five-God Dragon staggers slightly, the Water, Earth, and Fire Dragon-heads are stunned from the countless kilovolts within the attacks. Five-God Dragon descends slightly as it regains balance while treading air. The Darkness Dragon-head attacks with a great wave of bleak dark matter. The wave washes over the Ultimate Dragon. A small segment of its soul is absorbed by the deadly shadows. Five-God Dragon now raises high above Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. The Wind Dragon-head suddenly stirs a twisted cyclone with gusts of unparalleled proportions. The Ultimate Dragon slams to the ground and the winds force it deep into the earth, creating a gigantic crater.

The Water Dragon-head is the first to return to its senses. It looks downward and unleashes a tremendous waterfall with a force of one hundred thousand gallons of water per second. The waterfall ceases when the crater is nothing but a shimmering great lake. The Earth Dragon-head gains consciousness and concocts a mountainous boulder to seal off the lake.

Moments pass with no reply from Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. The Fire Dragon-head finally becomes stable. The Five-God Dragon looks upon its work with a sense of utmost satisfaction. It lands next to the humongous boulder, and all five heads let out a roar of terrifying triumph. Just then, hairline fractures begin to form, quickly growing to cracks, tears, and fissures. Heavenly light bursts from every seam. The mountain breaks, showering the surrounding area with meteor-sized crag. A wide, aquatic tower gushes hundreds of feet into the sky. A badly injured Ultimate Dragon becomes visible as the water crashes to the ground below.

The three heads simultaneously protract a roar that seems to originate from the deepest reaches of Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's being. Shocked that it could survive such devastation, Five-God Dragon cautiously flies toward it. The Ultimate Dragon begins to glow vibrantly. Bright white rays of light, brighter than anything else in the known Universe, release from the Ultimate Dragon. An unknown force pins the Five-God Dragon in place. The rays of light grow greater, stronger, and brighter still. Soon, the two combatants are hovering in the nothingness produced by the Luminous Spark. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's wounds are completely healed.

The Five-God Dragon is frightfully awe stricken, still unable to escape as its five heads flail about in futility. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon approaches it, raises a muscular talon, and slowly drives it deep into Five-God Dragon's mid-section. However, that unseen force grabs hold of the Ultimate Dragon's arm, forcing it to remain in its Nemesis's chest. The Fire Dragon-head unleashes a tidal wave of bright red lava, point-blank, at the right-side head of the Protector. It screams as the scales dissolve. The beautiful blue eyes fall out of the smoldering skull and turn to indestructible sapphire diamonds. The head and neck blacken and turn to ashes, falling into a pile on the Ultimate Dragon's body.

The remains sprinkle away into nothingness as the dragon tries feverishly to break free. Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon fires two white hot Lightning attacks, obliterating the now extremely weakened Darkness Dragon-head, along with the Wind and Water Dragon-heads. The Ultimate Dragon recharges and fires again. This time, the Earth and Fire Dragon-heads merge attacks, forming a bright orange, rapid stream of pure toxicity. Both attacks make contact.