THE PALADIN’S QUEST

Written by S. T. Gray

2006 - 2007









Prelude

Five millennia have passed since that single adventurous hero was summoned to return peace in the wake of ultimate destruction. Some say the hero can still be seen flying through the darkest of night skies like a guardian of the heavens.

About fifty miles from Cairo, a team of five archaeologists has unearthed an ancient tomb. With modern technology at their disposal, the three men and two women manage to enter to investigate the secrets hidden within. They follow a mysterious tunnel leading deeper and deeper underground, until they reach a dead-end. The wall in front of them is beautifully engraved with picturesque hieroglyphics.

The translator of the group steps forward and holds her bright flashlight aloft as she begins to read the amazing tale aloud.

The writing tells of an unnamed Pharaoh who ruled Egypt in a forgotten time. The land and the people were both prosperous and peaceful. In fact, Egypt was the richest country where even the lowest peasant was taken care of well. However, as the history books have repeated time and time again, peace never lasts. There loomed an evil on the horizon so terrifying and disastrous; the likes of which none in the world have ever seen.

This seemingly indistinguishable Pharaoh was a fair and just ruler, according to the writings. His top advisor was also a warlock, a master of the greatest of ancient magic. The two were long time friends, even though they showed conflicting personalities. The Pharaoh was very outgoing and knew what his people wanted and how to give it to them. Contrastingly, the warlock was introverted, only to speak out when crucially necessary. They grew up within The Great Palace of the Gods, wherein the Pharaoh ruled. Throughout their childhood and adolescence, they witnessed (and participated in) some great battles fought against the invading Persian Empire. The grand Egyptian army was able to stave off each and every strike and succeeded in protecting the homeland. After 15 years of bloody and futile attempts, the Persians gave up and moved to conquer another region. Some historians say it was Rome, others tell that it was somewhere in Southwest Asia. Wherever the Persians swarmed to was irrelevant, and this Egyptian victory brought about a golden age for the people of this land.

The warlock's close friend was appointed Pharaoh after the previous leader died of what seemed to be natural causes, leaving no heirs to the throne. During this peaceful time, the warlock honed his skills and learned to yield the power to conjure great hexes and potent spells. With these great magic-wielding abilities came the constant curse of The Eye of Truth (the ability to hear the thoughts of those around him and to see that which has not come to pass).

One day, during his meditations, the warlock saw very dark and disturbing images involving his good friend, the Pharaoh. Something was dwelling within the darkest reaches of his soul, growing more massive and more powerful. The warlock immediately transferred his prophetic visions into writing. He knew that he had to act quickly in order to subdue this evil before its darkness destroys his country, then turning its sights on the rest of the known world.

With the mastery of his skills also came the ability to play a game with the highest of stakes: known only as the Shadow Game. Within the game, the two opponents use magic to summon demons from the deepest evils, spirits from every element of nature, guardians from the heavens, and other mystical monsters in attempt to pummel their opponent while using chants written on sacred scrolls and the contents within magical vials to outwit each other. The winner will walk away sans wounds, but the loser will pay for his failure with his very life. The warlock has even passed the needed knowledge of the complicated magic to play this game onto the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh thought of this as a great way to pass his free time, not knowing the cost the loser would have to pay. One day, the warlock engaged his friend in this game. The warlock named Seto has set his plan into motion.

Part I

CHAPTER 1

A heated duel commences between the Pharaoh and Seto the Warlock. The Pharaoh stands confidently; clutching a significant golden medallion shaped like an inversed pyramid hanging around his neck on a cast iron chain. Seto the Warlock remains firm, standing on the other side of the Great Hall of the Pharaoh’s Throne Room.

As the duel continues, Seto finds himself backed into a corner. He is staring down the Pharaoh's only monster: Chaos Sorcerer. The evil conjurer hovers inches from the ground, his dark velvet robe blowing in the breeze produced by the power that dwells within him. Combining his masterful skills and his long, crooked, metal staff (with its power derived directly from Pandora’s Box) he chanted hexes that have banished two of the Warlock’s most prized creatures to another realm. One of the erased monsters was named Luster Dragon (a beautiful, young dragon birthed deep within a sapphire cove). The second was known as Horus, the Black Flame Dragon (the post-adolescent beast originating from the bowels of the most disastrous, destructive, wide-spreading wildfires).

“What will you do now that Chaos Sorcerer banished two of your precious dragons from this dimension?” the Pharaoh retorts proudly. “Don't worry, though. You will join them soon enough. But for now, I believe it is your turn.”

Seto has one last chance to save himself from vanishing like his beloved dragons. He searches the inner reaches of his soul for an answer to the riddle in front of him. Then, flash of ingenuity strikes him.

“So, you think you've beaten me, old friend?” He looks to his friendly opponent with a sly smirk. “I'm glad to see you're having fun. Now, I call forth my trusted servant, the Lord of Dragons!”

A man short in stature appears seemingly from thin air, clothed in an old armor plate that has seen many battles. He holds a decorative horn in his right hand. Seto then pulls a vial from underneath his long white, blue, and sapphire robe, opens it, and splashes the contents onto the Lord of Dragons. As he does this, he chants a spell entitled “White Dragon Ritual”. The Lord of Dragons instantly vanishes in a hazy mist that hovers in place, leaving nothing but his blood-curdling scream echoing through the Great Hall.

“Show yourself, Paladin of White Dragon!” Seto yells enthusiastically.
The haze begins to pulsate and solidify to form the Paladin of White Dragon. This mighty warrior rides a beautiful white dragon like a noble steed, holding his polished golden javelin aloft. His platinum armor gleams valiantly as every silver scale on his dragon’s body shimmers with a beautiful brilliance.

“Now you shall feel the wrath of the Dragon Champion. Paladin of White Dragon,” Seto calls out as the Pharaoh cranes his neck to look at the magnificent beast and its rider. “Finish this so-called master of the Different Dimension with the spell 'Hammer Shot'!”

He pulls out a scroll and recites the words written thereupon. The Paladin raises his free hand high into the air. A giant bronze hammer appears within it. The White Dragon adjusts its position so that the Paladin is staring directly down at Chaos Sorcerer. The Paladin cocks his arm back, thrusts it forward, and releases the hammer. The gigantic hammer rockets toward the earth and lands on its mark. Chaos Sorcerer is slain.

“NO!” The Pharaoh shouts. “I – My...”

The Pharaoh is left speechless as the giant sledgehammer dissolves into mist, revealing a flattened, bloody pool of the Sorcerer's former self. With no defense to stop him, the Paladin goes in for the kill. The White Dragon makes a nosedive straight for the ground. The Paladin, with his cape billowing, leaps off his dragon and lunges at the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh has no time to react. His golden javelin cuts through the Pharaoh's heart. Landing flat on his feet, the Paladin stares directly into the Pharaoh's eyes. He notices a dark presence within them, a terrible power growing like an ultraviolet flame as it reaches dried brush. That power takes hold of the Pharaoh as blood pours from his chest. He grabs the javelin and smiles, his eyes turning a deep magenta. Shocked, the Paladin instinctively finishes the battle. He clutches his weapon with both hands and tears upward along the Pharaoh's spine, splitting his skull wide open.

The darkness pours out of the Pharaoh's severed body like a flood of a thousand nightmares. Before it can completely exit the body, Seto rushes to the Paladin's side. He throws his long robe aside, revealing a golden decorative rod strapped to his chest by a thick chain.

“No, you don't!” yells Seto. He violently tears the rod out of its resting place. He spins it while saying, “You are the one from my dreams, the terror that continuously jolts me from the dead of sleep. I refuse to let the world become a helpless witness to you and your unquenchable thirst for ultimate destruction! Be gone, back to the bowels of Hell with you! I will seal you away!”

The rod spins faster and faster in his hands. It magically grows longer. The spinning ceases suddenly as Seto points one end at the shadow still pouring out of the Pharaoh's body. The tip bursts apart, revealing a golden eye within a glimmering diamond. The darkness has now invaded more than half of the Great Hall. The spectators who have not already fled have dissolved into piles of blackened dust.

“I banish you to the Unknown Realm!” Seto shouts. He then furiously recites a forbidden spell in a forgotten tongue. Golden thorns shoot out of the golden eye in every direction. The thorns grow into bright rays of light, which meld together to fill the Great Hall with its blinding majesty. Seto struggles to keep a steady footing as the light he controls forces the darkness back into the Pharaoh's body. When the last shadowy strand retreats into the Pharaoh's body, Seto chants the effective paralyzing hex “Shadow Spell”. The utterly lifeless body of the Pharaoh falls backward, as rigid as stone. Servants arrive to scoop up his remains, wrap what is left of his tattered body in beautiful, dark linen of the highest quality.

“Place him deep within the Pyramid of Anubis,” the warlock sternly demands, slightly breathless. “The funeral will commence soon.”

The servants abide obediently and carry the slain ruler away. He turns away from everyone and says silently, “I am so sorry, old friend. I am sorry for giving you such a horrendous power, leaving you with this terrible fate. I could not have seen it grow into this so rapidly. It is my fault for bringing this magic onto you, just so your soul could handle a bout within the Shadow Game. I have done this, and it is I who must undo it. However, I cannot leave this city. I will become the new ruler of this land, so I must send someone else in my stead.”

Seto and the servants enter the pyramid through a hidden underground tunnel and follow it to where his golden tomb awaits. The body is laid to rest until the memorial ceremony is prepared.

CHAPTER 2

That night, a funeral procession marches from the palace to the Pharaoh’s tomb. Musicians play somber music with their pipes. At the helm of this dark, solemn parade is Seto the Warlock. His face shows a sullen sense of victory since he has averted certain catastrophe. However, as he enters the tomb, he sees the darkness stirring violently within the slain Pharaoh’s being. The seal of the “Shadow Spell” cannot possibly hold much longer. Keeping a vigilant silence, he lets the ceremony conclude, keeping the people unaware of the doom that will undeniably arrive.

The tomb closes, and faint rumblings are felt as the last of the servants to exit. Thinking nothing of it, they slide a thick stone tablet to enclose the tomb. At that time, a soft, low growl is birthed deep within the Pharaoh’s soul.

Upon the death of the unknown king, Seto the Warlock is crowned Pharaoh Seto, the Master of Dragons. At his right side stands the Paladin, recently promoted to the most elite rank: Champion of the Great Land of Egypt. He proudly gleams as he receives the numerous spoils of his recent conquest.

As a reward, Pharaoh Seto gives the Paladin an ultimate quest.

“Paladin of White Dragon,” Seto begins as observers enter the room and surround the two. “As the champion of this grand land, you are now obligated take a glorious and difficult journey. You will face great perils and learn to stare death straight in the eye. Your goal is to summon the three beasts of legend, the nearly indestructible three Blue-Eyes White Dragons. However, this is where the legend gets hazy, since no one has ever been able to unleash one, let alone all three. Every warrior, every spell caster, every fiend, and every other being that has departed on this journey has never been seen again, presumed to be dead shortly after they have departed from here. But I have full confidence that you will succeed where they have failed.

“Before you leave this city, visit the marketplace to stock up on much needed supplies. There you will find a mysterious, insect-like creature. This bug is the only one that has learned the location of the first Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Best of luck and may the gods above be with you.”

On that note, the Paladin of White Dragon coolly exits the Great Hall.

“I know what you search for, Champion,” hisses the reliable source, known only as the Map Keeper. The Paladin almost tripped over it while walking down one of the many narrow alleys in the nearby town.

“Travel through the vast wasteland that surrounds this city. On the other side lies an evil place shrouded in constant shadow. Nobody knows the true name, but I have come to think of it as Pandemonium.” The little insect reaches up to hand the Paladin a piece of parchment quadruple its size. The decorative ribbon that holds the rolled parchment closed reads as Map to the Sacred Legends, and it is well worn from being in the possession of many travelers.

“Remember: above all else, be prepared for the worst.” As it concludes, the Map Keeper scurries frantically and disappears into the shadows.

After receiving the priceless information, he visits the Spell and Trap Emporium: an area comprised of countless merchant stands. He uses the virtually limitless funds he received from the Palace for his shopping. First, he buys a very large and very sturdy burlap sack.

“Excellen' choice, strangah,” exclaims the Magical Merchant (a scrawny, large insect holding and waving many exotic items in each of his six limbs as he sits on a large wooden crate). “That be th' Inventory, as I calls it. Open 'er up! There be nearly a hundred compahtments in it. Use it to store as many weap'ns, spell scrolls, bottles, anything you c'n ahmagine!”

The Paladin then buys two powerful Ritual Weapons, a Lightning Vortex scroll, and five Mirror Force hexes. He then enters a small, dank building to the left of the Magical Merchant's stand. Inside, he meets a highly regarded pharmacist named Dian Keto (affectionately deemed The Cure Master by the droves of people saved by his astounding concoctions). The Paladin purchases plenty of vials of his medicine.

“This is a very good choice, sir,” Dian Keto warmly replies as he tallies the rather large purchase. “Do not be afraid when you ingest the green liquid. For when you do, all your wounds will be instantly healed. No, no, no. No need to thank me for my genius. 'Tis all in a day's work. Now, off you go! I have an appointment to keep with the Mystical Elf. Ta-ta!”

The Paladin quickly exits and approaches a lonely bandit slouched against the wall of Dian Keto's pharmacy. With no words needed, the bandit opens a side of his long dark coat, displaying a solitary device. The Paladin purchases his Seven Tools, knowing far too well of the power they hold. The bandit then flicks away his cigarette and slinks away, leaving his calling card at the Paladin's feet. The Paladin grabs it, only to watch it disappear in a puff of silver smoke. One side of the card (underneath the foreign character that easily translates to “Counters any Trap”) reads Seven Tools of the Bandit, and on the flip side is written Caution: Not for the feint of heart or dimwitted. Potentially deadly to those who lack the necessary life energy.

Throughout all this, the White Dragon stays obediently by the Paladin’s side. Satisfied with his inventory, the Paladin mounts his White Dragon, looks up at the sky for direction, and takes off toward the wasteland ahead.

CHAPTER 3

A day has passed since the Paladin has departed from the palace, not knowing if he'll ever return. His dragon glides effortlessly along the swift breeze flowing above the monotonous dunes of sand. Each mound of white and gold grain looks exactly like the one before. Above him, the sun blazes with not a single cloud to lessen its intensity. Yet, even in this nothingness, the Paladin remains unnervingly resolute.

Suddenly, the bright sky is extinguished by overwhelming shadows. The dragon continues its constant pace. Off in the far distance, explosions light up the darkness. The dragon slows. The blood-red explosions grow greater, brighter, and closer. The Paladin pulls the dragon higher to get a better look at the scene. A war rages; the nearby city is in ruins. Nothing but smoldering rubble remains. The Paladin lets his dragon creep toward the battle. Now much closer, he notices that there are two armies, each led by a world-renowned and incredibly feared commander. One side of the feud towers the powerful Dark Ruler Ha Des, a darkened giant constantly shrouded in murky shadows created by his dark velvet robes such that only his evil, fiery eyes shine through. On the other side of the deadly battlefield looms the horrible Terrorking Archfiend, a thickened skeletal emperor cloaked in dark silk and heavy armor. He holds his Scepter of Lost Souls aloft, pointing directly at the Paladin of White Dragon. He lets out a ferocious deep roar. The battle ceases frighteningly quickly, as each combatant looks skyward to watch the White Dragon shining brightly against the infinitely dark sky.

The Paladin orders his dragon to charge head-on into the hostile crowd. He dons both Ritual Weapons and feels a great bolt of energy surge through his very core. Swooping through the violent crowd, the White Dragon unleashes burst after burst after burst of White Lightning, obliterating any Fiend unlucky enough to be in the way. As they speed through the pit of devil soldiers, the Paladin fires a constant stream of bronze arrows from the bows of his Ritual Weapons. Wounded and lifeless bodies fly through the air, ricochet to the left and right, forward and backward as the Paladin of White Dragon jets through the massacre.

The Paladin and his dragon reach the other end of the battlefield, and he waits for the imminent reply. Dark Ruler Ha Des and Terrorking Archfiend frustratingly scream simultaneously, shocked by this newcomer's audacity. They order their remaining fighters to attack the Paladin with all their might.

The White Dragon hovers in place, only several feet above the ground. The Paladin holds his great javelin aloft and steadfast, watching the mob rush at him. He waits until he can distinguish the expressions of each Fiend. It isn't until he sees the fiery, blood lust look in the front-line troops' eyes that he confidently grins and chants the Mirror Force hex. A bright orange lightning bolt strikes his weapon and sends out a gigantic wave of thermonuclear power. The blast completely disintegrates the charging troops. Terrorking Archfiend and Dark Ruler Ha Des are stunned. They have obviously never seen such power like this before.

“How dare you! You will not leave this land alive!” shouts Terrorking.

“You unholy bastard!” curses the Dark Ruler.

Dark Ruler Ha Des chants the powerful hex Royal Decree to ensure the Paladin won't pull another horrible stunt like that again; however, Terrorking Archfiend has a different idea.

“Behold, you vile executioner! DEUS EX MACHINA!” chokes Terrorking. “Return from the depths of Hell, my Vilepawn Archfiend!”

As the Dark Ruler was chanting to end the bloodshed, the Archfiend activates his revival hex: Call of the Haunted. Terrorking Archfiend lets out a vile, raspy, high-pitched laugh and turns to the Dark Ruler.

“Now to end your pathetic life, my former king! Curse of The Masked Beast!”

The Paladin orders his dragon to charge at Terrorking Archfiend. The Archfiend throws his arms out as he unleashes the horrendous Ritual Spell, catching the Dark Ruler completely off guard. The ground beneath them cracks and fissures as a great serpent-like Fiend slithers from the hellish depths. The White Dragon becomes frozen with fear. The risen creature is veiled in shadows, constantly hiding its true identity with a terrifying mask. Only bloodstained teeth filter through the mask.

“This spawn of the Underworld is known as The Masked Beast,” Terrorking Archfiend proudly exclaims. The horrible Fiend devours the newly revived Vilepawn Archfiend within seconds and swallows it with an echoing gulp. It then catches the Dark Ruler in its constricting coil

“Damn you, Terrorking Archfiend! You will re... regret this...” wheezes Dark Ruler Ha Des. His ribcage has punctured one of his lungs. “You... will burn! Mark... my... words!” A final, shuddering gasp explodes from his mouth.

The Masked Beast squeezes him into submission, watching hungrily as thousands of cracks signal every bone in the Dark Ruler's body is crushed to powder. The giant beast bends down; slimy saliva showers the slain Fiend. It clutches the Dark Ruler's head with its contorted claw, twists, rips it off, tosses it in its mouth, chomps down, and swallows. Blood drips down the front of its body. The beast releases the decapitated Dark Ruler Ha Des' body from its coiled grip. It grasps an arm in each claw and pulls. The arms are torn from the body. Blood erupts from each new orifice as the Beast engulfs the limbs.

“My god,” the Paladin gasps, undeniably horrified. “What creature is this?”

The White Dragon simply hovers in place. It can barely contain the shivering fear from overtaking its body.

With its hunger satisfied, The Masked Beast turns to face the one who brought about its resurrection.

“Now, my pet, attack this unabashed interference!” Terrorking Archfiend demands.

The Masked Beast advances on its summoner.

“What are you doing, you disgusting serpent? KILL HIM!” the Terrorking pleads.

The Beast slowly approaches the Archfiend leader. The Archfiend has stopped trying to command it and is now desperately searching his inventory for some way to stop its advance.

“You will obey your master! You will obey me or... or... You will die!” Terrorking Archfiend shouts.

He finally pulls out a flask, hidden within his cape, labeled Ekibyo Drakmord and opens it. But the attempt to paralyze this king of demons is all too late. The Masked Beast is now towering over the Archfiend, saliva streams down its body like a great waterfall. It raises one massive claw and launches it. The claw cuts straight through the Archfiend's skull. The horrendous beast lifts his body off the ground and slowly brings him closer its hidden face. With its free hand, it removes the mask to reveal its indescribable ugliness and inhales. Aghast, the Paladin can only watch as the Beast sucks in the very soul of Terrorking Archfiend. Instantly, the Archfiend falls limp in the Beast's grip.

The battlefield is now clear of any fighting, explosions, and any life at all, sans the Paladin and his dragon. The Masked Beast tosses the lifeless Archfiend aside and returns the mask to its face. It then turns to face the Paladin of White Dragon. He closes his eyes as the powerful Fiend slowly slithers toward him. He grips his javelin tighter and breathes deeply to regain control of his nerves. The White Dragon mirrors his actions. Their eyes snap open and their courage is rejuvenated.

“This is going to be fun!” he says with the greatest level of confidence.

The White Dragon rises airborne once again and dives at the evil serpent. The Paladin lunges off the White Dragon as it grazes the earth and pulls skyward. Now staring up at the ferocious beast, he holds his javelin defiantly. Hissing loudly from behind its fearful mask, it charges at him. The Paladin dodges and thrusts his javelin into the beast's spine. However, it failed to penetrate the Fiend's thick, scaly hide.

The Masked Beast grunts and quickly turns around, swiping at the Paladin. He ducks, but the Fiend catches him by his silver helmet. It roars and hisses excitedly as it raises the struggling Paladin off the ground. It slowly removes its mask with its free, deformed hand with the greatest of hungry anticipation.

Suddenly, a blast of white energy knocks the Paladin free of the beast's grip. The White Dragon roars, somersaults, and flies toward the monstrous serpent, firing blast after blast of White Lightning.

The Paladin regains his balance as he watches his dragon's barrage of attacks pummel the Masked Beast. Its angry growls grow into deep, loud, long roars as the countless blasts of White Lightning pressure it to the ground. The earth cracks underneath as the White Dragon lands next to the Paladin. He proudly pats its neck as he climbs onto its back.

“Well done,” he tells the dragon. It flies toward the decimated city and begins to scour the surface for the first legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Somehow the victory seemed too easy for such a powerful enemy, the Paladin ponders.

How right he was. At that instant, a large spire of gravel tags the White Dragon. It screams out in pain as the spike tears through its left wing.

“AH! You fucker!” screams the Paladin as he struggles to keep his balance on the wounded creature. The White Dragon struggles to turn around and face the risen Masked Beast. The Fiend stretches as high as its reach will allow and bellows a deafening howl. The mask has crumbled away to reveal an indescribably terrifying face, resembling a contorted melding of a thousand damned souls and a swirling black hole. It scoops more rubble to form another deadly arrowhead. As it cocks its arm back, the Paladin grabs something from his inventory.

“Time to end this! Lightning Vortex!”

He tosses one of his Ritual Weapons into the clouds above, pulls out a magical scroll, and quickly recites the words inscribed thereupon: “Destroy all those who oppose me!”

The blackened sky shatters and a gigantic streak of lightning crashes onto the Beast below. The ten Gigavolt bolt dissipates, leaving a giant smoky crater in its wake. In an instant, the Masked Beast is no more.

CHAPTER 4

The dark clouds in the sky clear away, reveal a breathtakingly beautiful hue of the most vivid blue. The Paladin lands his injured Dragon and dismounts near the ruins of what was once a populated city, still smoldering from the violent civil war. He pulls out the first of many vials from the Cure Master and pours the contents onto the White Dragon's torn wing. Within seconds, the wound completely heals, leaving nothing (not even a scar). The Paladin proceeds through the town and finds no visible sign of any single survivor. Dismayed, he turns around and makes his way back to the Dragon. Just then, he hears rustling to his left and clutches his javelin, as if by reflex. A charred shell of a house turns to mist. The smoke clears to reveal a big robotic machine, the likes of which the Paladin has never seen before.

“Wait! Stay right there!” yells a nervous voice from inside the contraption. The Paladin cautiously approaches the machine.

The robot raises a mechanical arm with a high whine, and a door opens on its side. A small man climbs down the machine and clambers over to the bewildered Paladin.

“My name is Kozaky, scientific genius and the greatest engineer in the world,” explains the humble small man. “That monstrous machine behind me is my latest invention, Giant Kozaky, namesake of yours truly.” He then stammers incoherently, pacing back and forth in front of the machine, tapping random spots on its body.

“Gah, I gotta fix that... Oh, you're still here. This place?” He begins to mutter something when the Paladin interrupts.

“I'm looking for a Blue-Eyes White Dragon...” he starts to say, but ceases when as he watches the somewhat off genius climbing feverishly up and down Giant Kozaky. He is now punching and kicking loose bolts. “Listen to me! I need some help here!”

He walks up to the machine and whaps Kozaky with the broadside of his javelin.

“Hello,” Kozaky introduces himself again, unaware that the Paladin even said anything. “Welcome to Pandemonium, home of the great Fiend armies.”

Gesturing to the depressing surroundings, he begins to explain that the battle the Paladin had interrupted was a part of the three-year-old civil war between the two power-hungry Fiend commanders. He pulls out a journal from a compartment on the backside of the rickety robot. He hands it to the Paladin and tells him to read it.

“I don't have time for this,” the Paladin says, now thoroughly annoyed.

“Fine then,” says Kozaky. “I'll read it to you, Mr. Impatient. I didn't keep this history for nothing!”

As he reads aloud, his voice gives the impression that this is the first time that he is learning this information as well.

“Dark Ruler Ha Des was once the governing king of this city. He ruled with an aggressively authoritative power. He and his police of monstrous Fiends kept peace in the streets by immediately executing any criminal. (There was no running from the police. They were everywhere). Following Hammurabi's example, he carried out that effective form of retribution. At first, it seemed like the city would be safe due to the code. Burglars didn't steal, murderers didn't kill. The city prospered and commerce ran like a well-oiled machine.

“Not unlike most rulers throughout history, Dark Ruler Ha Des soon became bored with this trend of tranquility. Nothing went wrong. The citizens were actually happy to be safe. Most of the policing force became lethargic due to the overt inactivity. One day, this nothingness became too much for the ruler to bear. Something within his mind snapped. He stormed into the police headquarters and disbarred half the force. That night, half past the stroke of midnight to be exact, the Dark Ruler randomly executed much of the sleeping population (including all those that were just relieved of their duties).

“This night soon became an extremely bloody genocide. Within a few hours, the psychotic demon killed over 150,000 of his own citizens with only his bare hands. He spared no one. Men, women, children, newborns, animals. None were safe from his frenzied wrath.

“When he plowed into one particular house, he found something incredibly powerful. After finishing off the young family within, he stumbled over a locked box lying beside a solid stone table. On its lid was an embroidered engraving of a frightening, fiery, fissured skull. The Dark Ruler smiled an evil grin as he cracked the lock of the safe. Inside, the box was completely bare, sans a small roll of parchment and a rag doll with its stitched head ripped from the few strands of yarn at the top of its head to below its frayed chin. He grabbed the parchment and read it. His smile grew even wider. Ha Des laughed hideously and dashed back to his castle, killing anyone who dared to look in his direction or was brave enough to walk down the same alley as he did.

“That morning, the remaining police force joined him on the castle grounds for the mandatory roll call. Dark Ruler Ha Des' evil smile has not faded. The peacekeepers were terrified when they saw the new hellish side to their once great ruler. News of that night's genocide has not yet traveled to their ears. A few of the new cadets tried to run away, but the Dark Ruler blocked their paths (this terrifying evil brought about incredible agility). Laughing at the horrified looks around him, the demon unrolled the parchment and chanted the spell, “Brain Control”. Each officer's eyes grew dull and listless. Their mouths were sealed shut, as if sewn by some twisted seamstress. The whole police force truly became the puppets of the Dark Ruler.

“Meanwhile, in a hidden building deep within the center of the once bustling marketplace, Terrorking Archfiend rallied a large band of rebel Fiends. Each one demanded retribution for this senseless slaughter. Exceedingly glad to see so many vowing to give their own lives to take down his longtime rival, he assigned ranks to each participant. The swiftest, youngest combatants became Vilepawn Archfiends. Those who could take the most punishment without giving an inch became Desrook Archfiends. The magical medics became Darkbishop Archfiends. Those mercenaries who were the masters of any blade gained the rank of Shadowknight Archfiends. Finally, the most capable and powerful female rebel earned the privilege to stand by Terrorking's side as the Infernalqueen Archfiend (or so he made her believe). With the troops rallied, Terrorking ordered an attack on the Dark Ruler's castle.

“Realizing that his actions would bring about great repercussions, Dark Ruler Ha Des predicted the ensuing siege on his castle. He ordered his dark puppets to march forward and attack the charging rebels. Both sides fought viciously. Every fighter would rather die than submit. Ha Des' mind-slaves targeted the Infernalqueen Archfiend, and she was the first to fall tragically. Terrorking became outraged as he watched his new bride shredded by those vile, witless Fiends. He ordered the rebels to burn the city, and they delightfully obeyed. Terrorking Archfiend retreated, if only for the moment.”

CHAPTER 5

Kozaky continues the history lesson from his journal. Now, he reads with more vigor, reacting excitedly to the plot twists.

“Still fuming from his new bride's murder, Terrorking and his band of rebels regrouped at their hidden base after incinerating the city. He quickly concocted a sting strategy using the few remaining Shadowknight Archfiends. He preached his foolproof plan to his troops.

“The night sky was a fiery magenta as Pandemonium continued to burn. Terrorking Archfiend led the fraction of his army on another charge straight for the castle gates. Dark Ruler Ha Des laughed as he watched them face-off with his two new puppets: the Flash Assailants. The assassins quickly slaughtered most of the Archfiend army as Dark Ruler Ha Des retreated deep into his castle. Terrorking stood stagnant on the far side of the battle, and kept his eye on the darkened entrance, waiting for a signal from the Shadowknight Archfiends.

“However, the two Flash Assailants finished their gruesome slaughter and were charging for Terrorking. He remained confidently still as he drank the contents of a glowing bottle labeled 'Rush Recklessly'. A great streak of dark energy sped across the battlefield. The Archfiend watched behind him as the great assassins fell. He proceeded into the castle. Passing many slain Fiends, he finally reunited with the only surviving Shadowknight. The Fiendish samurai informed him that the Dark Ruler fled the castle, leaving no trace behind him. Satisfied with this great victory, Terrorking Archfiend assumed the throne, promoting the fighter to the elite rank of Summoned Skull (the first Archfiend to reach the esteemed goal in one hundred years).

“Once the feuding Fiend armies destroyed Pandemonium, they set their sights on another prize: Technology.”

Kozaky turns another page and continues on to recite the time when the team of Magical Scientists was captured by a squadron of the Archfiend army.

“These researchers were developing new powerful weapons to stave the rebel attack. One such invention was a giant vehicle that could travel on any terrain and demolish the Archfiends' forces in one blast from its gigantic cannon. However, the Archfiends caught on before the Magical Scientists could even begin to build the machine. The Scientists weren't killed, but held hostage so they could grant Terrorking Archfiend's wicked wishes.

“Upon receiving that information, Dark Ruler Ha Des became infuriated and quickly set up a sting operation using a Night Assailant armed with the ability to conjure a single, extremely powerful spell. The Assailant found the Scientists' holding cell with relative ease, located in an underground bunker. He picked open the lock, and released the captive Scientists. However, before the Scientists had a chance to escape, Opticlops guards (recently brainwashed to become the guards of Terrorking Archfiend, rather than their true leader, Dark Ruler Ha Des) surrounded them. The eight powerful orange-skinned Cyclopes held their stone clubs and waited for the rescuer to make the first move. The Assailant panicked, and threw every shuriken he had at the giants. Each star sliced into the chests of the encircling guards, but they didn't even flinch. They advanced even closer. The dark ninja unsheathed his katana. He attacked one of them, chopping off its leg. The Opticlops didn't swagger. Instead, it simply stared down at him and pushed him back to the center of the enclosed circle.

“The one-legged Opticlops raised its stone club. Night Assailant reacted quickly by chanting the spell, “Dark Hole”. Suddenly, the room split violently apart. Everything and everyone were vaporized into nothingness. The Opticlops guards, the Night Assailant, the team of Magical Scientists, even the bunker itself were instantaneously ripped into trillions of atoms. The black hole swallowed everything before collapsing upon it, leaving only a blank void, an opened seam within the universe.

“After hearing of the Night Assailant's disastrous failure, Dark Ruler Ha Des and his scouts scoured the ruins of the city for any surviving Magical Scientist, but they could not find one. This only managed to further infuriate the Dark Ruler. With nothing more to lose, he declared an all out, take-no-prisoner war on Terrorking Archfiend's army.”

CHAPTER 6

Kozaky concludes by admitting that surviving the war was nothing short of a miracle. As his tale arrives at its end, he looks up from his journal. He notices that the Paladin was beginning to doze off. To snap him back to consciousness, Kozaky reaches as high as he can and smacks him across his chest with the book.

“Welcome back,” he exclaims. “So, what brings you this desolate wasteland in the first place?”

The Paladin grumbles and yawns loudly. “Well, as I told you before, you mind-numbing chatterbox, I am here in search of the first of three legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragons.”

Kozaky's eyes widen as he wanders aimlessly around the Paladin.

“Ha! Well, my friend, my colleague, my...” he trails off again. He rushes into a small tunnel hidden behind a dried overgrowth. This tunnel was actually home to the small former genius. Inside, he shouts, “You've definitely come to the right place. Let's see... Ah, here it is!”

He pushes buttons, flips switches, and pulls levers, making a lot of ruckus in doing so. Kozaky then scurries back outside, back to the slightly confused Paladin.

“Here we go!” he shouts excitedly. “Here he comes, here he comes!”

Just then, a tidal wave rushes toward them from somewhere in distance of the vast desert. It dies down to nothing more than a puddle in front of the two observers. Within the water stands a merman warrior named Kaiser Sea Horse, holding his silver trident proudly.

“Hello again, old friend,” begins Kozaky, desperately trying to keep his mind on track. “This is Paladin of White Dragon. It just so happens that he is searching for a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I know you can help, right?” Without waiting for a response, he wanders toward a pile of rubble, writing long, senseless equations in the sand.

The Paladin skulks toward the Fiend, raising his javelin. Distracting him, Kaiser Sea Horse takes three steps forward, spinning his triple pronged spear proudly. He stabs the three points of his weapon into the ground, steps aside, and crosses his arms over his chest. Suddenly, a burst of light comes from the very heart of the Sea Serpent. His body instantly falls to the ground. The bright aura of his soul raises high above, increasing in size as it elevates.

As suddenly as Kaiser Sea Horse fell limp, his soul explodes. The first Blue-Eyes White Dragon appears in the glittering mist brighter than the desert sun. It lets out a bellowing roar, locks eyes with the Paladin, and immediately flies to the far north. The Paladin stood, awestruck, watching silently as the magnificent beast disappears into the blue sky.

Kozaky looks up at him and beckons him back to his senses once again.

“Wait, where is it flying to? Why isn't it staying here with me?” the Paladin quizzes.
Kozaky doesn't answer, but rather runs back into his home. He returns, clutching a map. He breathlessly unravels the map and feverishly pokes at a location marked with a bold white “D”.

“This is your next destination. Some nomad left this chart with me while I was putting the finishing touches on Giant Kozaky over there.” Kozaky explains. The Paladin snatches the map from him.

“Righty-o then,” retorts Kozaky, rubbing his head. “One more thing. This next dragon is out in the middle of Umi. You know. H2O. Aqua, the liquid of life. The ocean blue. The sea breeze. The...”

The Paladin walks away, leaving the muttering former genius with his thoughts. With no further reason to stay, the Paladin mounts his dragon. It reacts to its rider's attitude and whips Kozaky with its tail. He tumbles backward. Without saying a word of farewell, Paladin of White Dragon flies to the next destination.

Part II

CHAPTER 7

Three days have passed since Paladin of White Dragon departed from the war-ravaged city. The smooth eastern coast of the continent has come and gone, and now the White Dragon is gliding over the ocean blue. The water below is strangely calm, except for the harmless army of hungry piranha swimming frantically and aimlessly just under the surface.

Night falls with no island in sight. The sky transforms to a deep, dark violet, speckled with countless constellations. The bright, full moon illuminates the water to create the illusion of rippled silver. Hours pass and the surroundings do not change. The White Dragon glides along the calm breeze. A strong hunger pain grabs hold of the Paladin's abdomen and disrupts this serene scene. The White Dragon senses this as he guides it toward the water below. They break the sparkling surface and begin to look around for their dinner.

The dragon flaps its wings enthusiastically as it spots a Giant Red Sea Snake. It draws the Paladin's attention. He holds on to the dragon as it approaches the great serpent. The serpent becomes alarmed as it notices the brilliant dragon shining against the night's darkness. It coils nervously and darts into the shadowy depths below. The White Dragon jets after it. Due to its massive size, the Giant Red Sea Snake moves extremely slowly, making it an easy catch for the agile dragon. It immediately snatches the serpent in its powerful jaws.

The Paladin smiles as he guides the dragon above the surface. It lands on top of the water, lightly treading as it chomps down on the snake's head. With a last quick yelp, the snake falls limp in the dragon's mouth. The dragon then flips the serpent onto its back. The Paladin pulls out a Ritual Weapon from his Inventory and slides it onto his arm. Using the sharpened edge, he slices the Giant Red Sea Snake into a more edible size and pushes each segment back into the water. The White Dragon ascends a few feet in the air and unleashes a small, steady stream of White Lightning, surrounding their meal. The water temperature rises to a rolling boil. The flavorful scents of the cooking food greet the Paladin, who begins to salivate, awaiting this nice meal before him.

The White Dragon flaps its wings furiously to cool off the water when the food becomes thoroughly cooked. They descend and tread water as they feast on what is now delicious seafood. The White Dragon scoops each segment with its mouth and the Paladin stabs his share with his javelin.

With the water completely cleared of the cooked Giant Red Sea Snake and their hunger satisfied, the Paladin of White Dragon takes flight and resumes the search for the island. There is still no land in sight. That is, until Paladin of White Dragon is enveloped suddenly by giant cyclones, reaching from the ocean depths to the heavens above. His dragon tries to furiously fight its way through, but the winds are too powerful. They are flung, tumbling end over end, out of the towering wall of tornadoes.

His dragon treads midair as the Paladin rustles through his inventory, searching for a way past this obstacle. Then, a bolt of ingenuity strikes him. He pulls out the Seven Tools of the Bandit, a unique contraption that has many hidden components able to get the Paladin out of any trap he unknowingly stumbles upon. He taps a button on its broadside and it begins to violently vibrate and flash a deep red. The Paladin throws the device at the Tornado Wall and a blast of supersonic wind is unleashed. Instantly, the windstorm is subdued.

He continues his search for that tiny island. Luckily, he didn't have to look long, for the island was just beyond that diffused trap. There is a perfect landing spot on the coastal beach. Excited to see what could potentially be the location of the second legendary dragon, he orders his White Dragon to the island. They safely land on the warm, soft beach. A lush forest surrounds them on three sides. The situation is finally improving for the Paladin. That is, until three mighty aquatic fighters unexpectedly encircle them: Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness (a slimy, blue-green scaled merman armed with a rusted trident), Gagagigo (a reptilian adolescent offspring of what will soon be the next king of the great sea), and Aqua Madoor (a wise and strategic wizard who makes up for his weak attacks with strong defensive maneuvers). The Paladin deftly clutches his golden javelin as he swiftly dismounts his dragon, waiting for one of this trio to make the first move.

However, not one of them budged.

“How dare you trespass on our quaint isle,” says Aqua Madoor angrily. He steps forward and demands, “Why have you so carelessly disrupted our peace?”

“I am Paladin of White Dragon, Champion of Egypt. I have been given a quest to bring forth the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, and I know one exists in this grand sea,” he relays while keeping an eye on the others, who remain poised for attack.

“Pah, I have never heard of such a creature,” Aqua Madoor tells him. “Leave now or I will see to it that you will face dire consequences.” Then, with a nonchalant wave of his hand, he turns and calmly disappears into the forest.

“You foolish liar!” the Paladin bellows. “Get back here!”

CHAPTER 8

Kozaky told the Paladin that the second dragon would be on this island. Could that self-proclaimed genius have been mistaken? He did seem somewhat off. On the other hand, if that dragon were not here, then what would possibly cause such dire consequences Aqua Madoor spoke of? Many questions are now flooding his mind.

“He must be hiding something,” he says quietly. “That's the only logical answer. The second dragon is here!”

The Paladin pursues the aquatic warlock without hesitation, only to be blocked by Gagagigo and the Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness.

“Halt,” the two exclaim.

“Stand aside, you incredible wastes of scales,” he responds, but they refuse to listen.

Instead, they lunge at the Paladin simultaneously. The Sea Serpent stabs his trident, but the Paladin instinctively dodges. He reciprocates by slicing the Sea Serpent from his left shoulder to right hip. He then catches the stunned Sea Serpent body and uses it to block Gagagigo's attack. Gagagigo looses his balance. He stumbles and falls face first into the sand. The Paladin thrusts his javelin upwardly through the Sea Serpent Warrior's abdomen. The tip exits through the base of the brain of the short-lived soldier.

“Hmph,” he says with an overconfident tone. “One down.”

The Paladin drops the now limp Sea Serpent and approaches Gagagigo, the Sea Serpent’s turquoise blood soaking his entire arm. He is now mere inches from Gagagigo, when a fistful of sand flies at his face. Gagagigo swiftly jumps to his feet and pile drives the blinded Paladin, slamming him onto the beach. Down but far from out, the Paladin rubs his eyes clear of sand, and gets quickly to his feet. Gagagigo peers over his shoulder to notice that the incredibly hard hit didn't seem to faze his opponent. He performs an about-face and dashes again toward the Paladin and, with all of the strength he could muster, launches a tightly clenched fist at near supersonic speed toward the Paladin's stomach.

Contact!

Or so Gagagigo believed. However, what really happened was nothing of the sort. The Paladin's javelin pierced his right knee and deeply sliced his upper leg before his fist even left his side. Gagagigo falls onto his left knee as he stares, flabbergasted, at the damage. The Paladin has grown annoyed of this senseless distraction. He decides to finish this battle. He delivers a swift kick to his foe's neck. CRACK! The reptilian warrior's skull shatters. His head is almost completely ripped from the body as he falls to the ground, never to rise again.

“Like I said,” he says coolly. “Complete wastes of existence. Pitiful.”

A refreshing wind blows over the beach as the Paladin breathes in the sweet tropical air. He steps on the lifeless body, digging his heal deep into the slain Gagagigo's ribcage. A smile crawls across his face as he listens to the satisfying crunch beneath his silver dragon-skinned boot. Without further hesitation, he enters the forest.

“A trail,” he notices. “Aqua Madoor, You're next!”

He follows it at a quick pace. Before long, he faces the mouth of a huge cavern. He takes ten cautious steps inside when the dark cave is suddenly blasted with brilliant illumination. There were no torches on the walls, but the cave was brighter than the clearest of skies. He then notices a blurry figure standing before him.

He clutches his bloodstained javelin as the stranger comes into focus. Aqua Madoor confidently stands in front of him and explains, “You underestimate too much, Paladin. Lower your futile weapon. No matter how much you struggle, you cannot break free from my 'Swords of Revealing Light'.

“You were indeed right,” Aqua Madoor admits. “Your precious legendary beast is somewhere nearby. Exactly where? Well, you'll have to figure that out for yourself, if you live long enough, that is. Now, I must attend to a more pressing matter. Adieu, Paladin.”

The Water Warlock then turns, taps a hidden switch on the stony wall to open a concealed door, and confidently disappears. The door slams shut behind him.

“Cocky bastard,” the Paladin says as he is left alone once more.

The glowing daggers dissipate, returning the Paladin to darkness. He turns to face the bright entrance of the cavern and starts walking. A swirling cloud of dense shadow blocks his only exit. He bravely dashes full-speed straight ahead, holding his javelin aloft. As he runs through the thick blackness, he hears the sounds of thousands of tiny wings fluttering frantically. Something is gnawing at his armor, eating away at his arms, consuming his legs. He has to get out of this living acid before he is disemboweled. He sees needles of light piercing through this cloud of death. He staggers to break through, barely alive. The swarming darkness pursues.

Panting and gasping for air, he shouts “Mirror Force!” and points his javelin at the Swarm of Scarabs. A blade of razor-sharp light blasts out of the tip of his weapon, exterminating the insect swarm. Every tiny man-eater boils, burns, explodes, melts, pops, smolders in this energetic thermonuclear blast. The recoil slams him into a tree. He barely manages to drink another one of Dian Keto the Cure Master’s vials before passing out.

CHAPTER 9

Within the hidden passage of the cave, Aqua Madoor rushes to a small room at the end of the tunnel. He casts “Sparks,” a simple spell to shed light onto the darkened area. Groping a nearby wall, he finds a tablet that was set in such a way that it seemed to be flush with the cavernous stone. In the distance, the Spell Caster can hear the fluttering of thousands of hungry insects.

“I wonder...” he begins. “No, somehow I doubt my tiny monsters succeeded in killing that brazened newcomer. I must complete my task.”

He kicks open a hidden door in the floor and hops down the hole. The sound of his bronzed boots made from rare and durable seaweed landing on the solid marble echoes through the next narrow hallway.

He rushes toward the soft blue light at the end of the cave. This passageway leads to an underwater ledge protected by a magical barrier. As he reaches the bubble, he is confronted with Eria the Water Charmer, a young female descendant of the Queen of Atlantis. She alone defends a large mysterious door carved from a single solid diamond.

“Stand down,” he demands.

She doesn't budge, seemingly ignoring him altogether. He approaches her and raises an open hand, but she blocks it with a single swipe of her staff of ice. His blood begins to boil.

“Move aside, little girl,” He once again demands through gritted teeth, his face turning a deep red.

Once again, she disregards his existence.

Outraged by such insubordination, Aqua Madoor steps back and says, “Fine, I'll move you myself! 'Stop Defense'!”

He waves his hands and a magical mist washes over Eria. She is forced to lower her guard. He walks up to her and smacks her hard across the cheek with the back of his hand. She falls to the floor and looks up at him. Her eyes begin to well with tears as she slowly stands up.

Her ragged, brown cloak begins to billow as the giant diamond door bursts open. Water floods the narrow corridor. The liquid encases Eria in a frosty ice crystal.

“Whatever,” Aqua Madoor breaths.

He casually walks to the other side of the opening. The large ball of ice follows the wizard as the solid door closes behind him. The frosted cocoon shatters to reveal a more powerful Eria, fully possessed by King Poseidon's rage.

“How dare you follow me!” he shouts, utterly shocked. “Time for you to pay for not learning your place, little girl. 'Bottomless Trap Hole'!”

A great current catches the Familiar-Possessed – Eria and pulls her to the dark ocean floor far below. A black hole leading to the Different Dimension opens within the coral. Eria is banished for the rest of her existence. The hole disappears, leaving a gaping crater in its wake. Bits of coral and rock swirl in the whirlpool created by the powerful trap.

“Useless guardian,” Aqua Madoor says unabashed. “If only she obeyed...”

Just then, the whirlpool ceases. The crater erupts as Eria is torpedoed from its center. She rises through the water to face Aqua Madoor. Her cloak is now torn and ragged, bits of it floating around her. She smiles as she holds up one arm.

“Wh-why are you...” he begins. He notices what is clutched in her raised hand. “'Royal Decree'?! How dare you!”

With the same raised hand, Eria punches the cocky warlock. Her jab to his face sends him tumbling through the water. She chases after him. He regains his composure just as she kicks his ribs. She then grabs his neck with one hand and punches his abdomen furiously with her other fist. He breaks free from her grip and retreats behind an underwater mountain peak. He pulls out a small vial from underneath his tattered robe.

“Th-this should do the trick,” he breathes. He glances around nervously to see Eria rocketing toward his position. He swims around the rock and throws the vial at her after drinking half of its contents. “'Shield & Sword'! Now you will die, you little whelp!”

The water turns to a steamy green as the contents of the potion absorb into Eria's skin. Aqua Madoor grabs the now weakened guardian and slams her into the mountain peak behind him. She yelps with pain and spits blood in his face. He clenches a fist with all his might as he pins her to the stone and uppercuts her breastbone. She gasps deeply as the unnerving crack vibrates the stone peak. Her body becomes limp. Aqua Madoor wipes the blood from his face as he releases his grip, letting the lifeless Eria submerge to the murky depths below.

He raises his hand to gain control of the spiraling current caused by the ferocious combat. It envelops the magician, the flow of the whirlpool to raise him to the sky above. He breaks through the surface and separates himself from the water. He then commands the water to form a great wave and climbs to the high crest. He pulls the island's tablet from underneath his well-worn robe. Standing tall on the wave and facing away from the island, he reads the tablet aloud:

“From the heavens of Zeus to the aquatic depths of Poseidon, let these words reverberate all around. Ancient terror from the darkness below, I command thee to rise. Rise and destroy my enemy. Show thy self and unleash thy true power! Rip away from Umi's slumber. I summon thee, mighty Leviathan!”

A tremendous storm begins to brew. As he finishes the tablet's enchantment, a great lightning bolt hits the wave the witty Spell Caster stands on. The conduit wave spreads the electricity like a virus, which jolts Aqua Madoor. The crest shatters. He falls to the water below. The electricity proved to be too much for this mighty warlock. Unable to move, he sinks deep underwater. Yet, as he faces his imminent death, he manages to smile a wicked grin. With a silent swoosh, he is helplessly swallowed by a giant, twisted shadow.

CHAPTER 10

CRACK-A-SLAM! A bolt of lightning streaks across the sky and thunder ensues instantaneously. The island quivers in the storm’s wake. The Paladin regains consciousness, and is soaked from the pouring rain. He staggers to his feet. He looks around. Behind him lies the forest leading back to the beach; ahead of him is the cave. To his left is a babbling brook, and to his right is a cliff face, too slick to climb. He decides to turn left and walk toward the stream.

Arriving at the small riverbank, he notices that it has a swift current, but to his luck, it isn't wide. He heads back to the beach, where his dragon awaits his return. The beach is no longer sandy. Due to the storm, it has completely turned to soft red clay. The ground was fairly springy. The tide was quick and the sea on the horizon grows restless. The great mounds of white foam contrast the dark, violent sky.

He passes his deceased foes, now picked clean to the bone.

“Maybe they weren't a complete waste.” He chuckles as his dragon calls to him. His White Dragon is licking its talons clean of the delectable Sea Serpent blood. He pats it on its neck and realizes it is quite contempt waiting on the beach. It even seems to enjoy the storm, finding the weather soothing and at the same time entertaining. He opens his inventory lying on the ground nearby and equips his last Ritual Weapon. He walks back to the site where he had regained his bearings earlier. Using his weapon, he chops down a tree from the forest's border. He then drags the tree to the bank of the brook and drops it into the stream, creating a slender dam sturdy enough to cross.

After walking a short distance, he reaches another coastline. Another, larger lightning bolt splinters the dark sky. An even greater rumbling of thunder rolls across the sea. At that instant, a whirlpool grows in the water beyond the shallow waters of the coast. A bolt strikes the surface of the water, creating shock waves of steam. Although the thunder died away, the whole island is still shaking. The ever-growing whirlpool seems to be pulling the island toward it. Knowing something is amiss; the Paladin dashes back over the stream. The log splits in two just as the Paladin clears the stream and the halves rush down the now speedy current into the ocean. He continues through the forest, and arrives back on the beach. He mounts his White Dragon, making sure to grab his Inventory with one swift motion. It kicks up and lets out a sudden, adrenaline-filled roar.

Hovering high in the sky, he notices what appears to be a giant head breaking the water's surface, with a neck attached to the island he just stood upon.

“What?” he wonders. “The island is... Alive? It looks like a giant... Turtle?!”

The maelstrom consumes the massive being. This Island Turtle sinks until even the tallest tree is engulfed. The whirlpool calms if only for a few seconds.

The sea foams and heats to a boil. Steam rises from a focal point of the now stagnant pool. The Paladin can hear mysterious roars and screeches from the deepest trenches. A shadow grows larger as the creature rockets toward him, exploding through the surface. Mist is blasted in all directions with such force that the White Dragon struggles to stay airborne. Visibility clears as a terrifying beast named Levia-Dragon Daedalus lunges straight for the Paladin, and catches him in its giant jaws, leaving the White Dragon still treading air, dumbfounded.

The White Dragon gives chase to the gigantic, winged, dragon-like sea demon. Firing one, two, three blasts of White Lightning directly at its head, the White Dragon frees its beloved master. Daedalus lets out a thundering, painful roar as the Paladin free falls into the sea. His dragon plunges in after him with Daedalus following closely behind. Underwater, the White Dragon catches the Paladin on its back and speeds toward the surface, barely dodging Daedalus.

Daedalus turns quickly and chases the White Dragon yet again. It begins to spin and twist its long body into a spiral, encircling the White Dragon. It attracts torrential winds, creating a giant cyclone. The twister grows to massive proportions, sucking much of the surrounding sea within its vortex. Letting out a monstrously powerful scream, Daedalus stops spinning and lunges at the Paladin of White Dragon. The Paladin easily dodges and Daedalus falls back to the ocean below.

However, the ferocious tornado gains momentum and the forces of the winds pull the White Dragon in all different directions. At this speed, the wind has turned the trapped water into lethal missiles. The White Dragon tumbles uncontrollably and the Paladin barely manages to hang on. They are pulled toward the stratosphere as these aquatic torpedoes continuously bombard the White Dragon's now ragged wings. They unknowingly reach the top of the cyclone. With a last burst of force, the tornado flings the two toward the horizon.