Vegenrage: Dragon Reclaim

By Robert Spina

The dragons have waited a thousand years for Vlianth to appear in the Maglical System. Now he is here and the races of man have become more powerful than the dragons ever thought possible. The human race was nearly wiped from the Maglical System as the dragons concentrated on them during the second Dragon Feast. After the second Dragon Feast, the races of man hunted the dragons until the dragons were forced into hiding. Now the third Dragon Feast has come and the dragons plan to concentrate their hunger on the magic using races of man. The Maglical System has changed and this non stop fight for dominance sheds new light on the past. The dragons have read the prophecies written by Hornspire and have planned to kill Vlianth before he ever knew what was happening. The dragons call upon the lesser dragons and plan a three world united attack on all the races of man. Learn how the Staff of Barrier Breath came to be and witness its unlikely creator. Come to know that Oriapow and Cloakenstrike were once allies. Join Vegenrage, Farrah, Glimtron and his band of Glaborian dwarves along with the Erkensharie elves and the Ugorian elves as the dragons have set them up for a thousand years to fall into their trap. Not even the dragons could of prepared for all the twists, turns and unforseen events that are about to happen. Be astonished as dragon turns on dragons. See Vemenomous and his awesome power as he feeds on dragons. The battles rage everywhere and Vegenrage does all he can to protect Farrah from the haunting images pulling her away from him. While all of this is going on no one could of been prepared for the demons who have been planning to walk the outer realms bringing chaos to all. Happenings take everyone by surprise and the brutal and bloody conflicts leave the races of man on a constant search for knowledge and the dragons uniting for their survival. You can not be prepared for what is about to happen as the adventurous journey that Vegenrage is on continues. Be amazed and surprised as the phenomonom Vegenrage continues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503575493

Robert Spina

au doesnt want to put ATA on the book

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Robert Spina.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2015908779

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5035-7551-6

                Softcover        978-1-5035-7550-9

                eBook            978-1-5035-7549-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/07/2015

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Contents

Chapter 1   A New Set of Boundaries

Chapter 2   Dragon Reclaim

Chapter 3   The Long Forest Happening

Chapter 4   The Ilkergire Beasts Ascend

Chapter 5   Mourbarria Revisited

Chapter 6   Dragons Never Forget

Chapter 7   Pryenthious, Kertinkpice, and Bailseize

Chapter 8   Gisewear, Gannream, and Gairdennow

Chapter 9   Blethstole and Dribrillianth

Chapter 10   The Lair of Vergraughtu

Chapter 11   Oriapow Leads the Party Back to Erkensharie

Chapter 12   Gwithen Calls to Vegenrage

Chapter 13   The Eight Youngest Dragons

Chapter 14   Ugoria Fortifies

Chapter 15   Dawn of the Third Dragon Feast

Chapter 16   The Road to Casur

Chapter 17   This Is Why Trialani Is King

Chapter 18   The Ilkergire Minions Assault Erkensharie

Chapter 19   Vegenrage and Farrah Are Awakened

Chapter 20   The Erkensharie Surprise

Chapter 21   What Happened to Persen

Chapter 22   Rippencore, the First Slain Dragon

Chapter 23   Vergraughtu Seeks Out Hornspire

Chapter 24   The Staff of Barrier Breath Finds Its Master

Chapter 25   Vegenrage Gets Farrah to Vollenbeln

Chapter 26   Zevoncour Rises

Chapter 27   An Unlikely King

Chapter 28   The Inner Realm of Kronton

Chapter 29   Zevoncour Brings Vlianth to Gwithen

Chapter 30   Vlianth Is Vegenrage, Vlanthis Is Vollenbeln

Glossary

CHAPTER 1

A New Set of Boundaries

Logantrance goes to help Farrah up. She is stunned, weak at the knees, and can barely stand as Logantrance hugs her and holds her up. She cries with her head in Logantrance’s chest. The Dagi, Cloakenstrike, Bastrenboar, Logantrance, and Farrah are all stunned and overwhelmed from what they just saw. Vegenrage had made quite a name for himself, and all have heard of him. No one had any idea that he was meant to be a vessel for a greater form of dragon. No one had suspected that Vergraughtu had planned to use Vegenrage as a way to further his form and power.

Can somebody tell me what the hell was that?

Cloakenstrike shrugs. I don’t know, Bastrenboar. You tell me. Oriapow, what was that we just saw? Do you have any idea?

Oriapow, I thought that was you, old friend.

Logantrance, can it be?

Yes, Oriapow, it is me, and this here is Farrah.

Oriapow makes his way over to Logantrance, keeping a watchful eye on Cloakenstrike and Bastrenboar. The Dagi make their way over to Logantrance as well. Logantrance releases his grip from Farrah to greet his dear old friend.

Oriapow, we had all suspected something foul had happened to you.

Yes, very foul indeed. Cloakenstrike had captured me in a Genie prison, and I was commanded to serve his wishes. The five of them square off, looking at Cloakenstrike and Bastrenboar. Farrah makes her way over to observe Vegenrage, who still lies in the bed made of the Octagemerwell and the Sapphirewell.

Yes, Cloakenstrike has many more cruelties to answer for as well.

Well, we can fight right now and settle these differences, or we can try to figure out what we just saw. I don’t know what that thing was, do any of you? If that whatever it was has all the abilities that Vergraughtu had plus the abilities of Vegenrage, then we all have much bigger worries right now than whether we fight now or later.

Farrah looks at Vegenrage, lying in the green and blue bed. His ribs have been pushed outward to the sides, and his inner chest cavity is exposed and surprisingly intact. All his organs are there like they should be. Farrah notices his heart is pumping, and she can see the blood coursing as his inner organs throb from his heart pumping blood. Logantrance. Logantrance.

Yes, Farrah, what is it?

Come here. Something is happening to Vegenrage. Come quick.

Logantrance goes to Farrah, while the others square off. Logantrance moves to the side of the bed where he can keep an eye on the other magic users.

Logantrance, what is happening? He is alive. I know he is.

Vegenrage’s ribs start to fold over his chest to their correct position, and they fuse back together. He takes a deep breath and opens his eyes. He instantly brings his hands to his face as he starts to cry.

Vegenrage, you’re alive. You’re alive. Why are you crying? It’s all right. I am here. You are going to be all right.

Vegenrage looks around with lots of tears falling from his eyes, and his face flushes red with emotion. I am in great pain, but I don’t hurt. I’m so scared, but I don’t know why. I’m all dizzy, but I feel fine. I don’t know what is going on or where I am. I am all emotional but clueless to why. What is going on?

Logantrance makes his way to Vegenrage and helps him sit up. Come, my boy. Sit up. Vegenrage sits up, and Logantrance puts his right hand on Vegenrage’s left wrist. The Band of Life becomes visible. The Golden L has disappeared, and Logantrance removes his hand, and the band vanishes to its hidden state. Farrah looks at Logantrance.

He has a Band of Life. I never knew, Farrah says.

And you should never tell anyone that he does. Logantrance looks at Farrah with a silent gesture, and Farrah returns the silent oath to keep this secret among the three of them.

A loud explosion gains their attention as Logantrance looks to see Oriapow has blocked a lightning bolt spell from Cloakenstrike. All the magic users are chanting spells as the battle has begun.

Logantrance helps Vegenrage out of the bed. Vegenrage, come on. Get out of there quickly. It’s time to get back together because we have real danger. The evil magic user, Cloakenstrike, that I have told you about is right here, and we need to capture him if at all possible.

Stop this. Stop this all of you! Logantrance yells as he approaches from behind the bed. Before we kill each other, we should consider that if we do not join forces, we may all be doomed. What if that creature joins forces with dragons? Not only will we have to be worried about the dragons, but we will also have that beast to contend with. I know the dragons are hunting down magic users, and that puts all of us on their hit list. Am I the only one aware of this? Cloakenstrike, do we battle each other, or do we battle the dragons first and see where that leads us?

I will contend with the dragons, and I will contend with you in whichever order.

Oh yeah, then contend with this. Vegenrage flies right at Cloakenstrike and turns his body in midair feet first with a kick meant to send him flying, but Cloakenstrike is wearing his Cloak of Reflection, and the kick is reflected at Vegenrage, sending him flying out into the grass. Bastrenboar draws his sword, and with a quick step forward, he swings down at Oriapow with it. Farrah draws two of her daggers and blocks the sword slash from Bastrenboar with her awesome swords that extend on cue. She stops the blade just before it gets to Oriapow’s face, and Bastrenboar sees the deadly blades and moves back a step to apply force to Farrah’s blades. Farrah holds firm as she notices the blade of Bastrenboar’s sword melting right into her swords. She pulls her swords away and shakes her hands, shrinking them to daggers and shaking her hands again, growing them back to fantastic swords like nothing happened to them.

Those are some nice swords, my princess, but they are no match for my Lavumptom Drawer.

Don’t be so sure of yourself, pig.

Oriapow warns the Dagi and Logantrance not to cast magic on Cloakenstrike because he is wearing the Cloak of Reflection, and all magic cast on him will be reflected back to the caster. Trybill has finished summoning an earth elemental, and he sends it after Cloakenstrike.

Well, let’s see if his cloak can reflect this form of magic.

The earth elemental runs onto the metal floor, swinging a huge fist, and punches Cloakenstrike with great force, sending him flying onto the grassland. The elemental appears right next to him and starts a barrage of powerful punches, pulverizing Cloakenstrike. The earth elemental can attack Cloakenstrike. It is magic, but it is actual earth that has taken form and acts like a living, thinking being, and in fact, it is alive. Grenlew has summoned an air elemental that attacks Bastrenboar. It comes down as a small tornado and sends him flying far out into the grass and barrages him with volley after volley of punch attacks. Bastrenboar swings his sword, slicing through the air, but his sword passes through the elemental with no effect.

Logantrance advises Grenlew and Trybill that they should capture them, not kill them.

Oriapow finishes his chant and protects himself from magic cast upon him, and Blythgrin casts a Box of Force. Grenlew, I have created a cage for Bastrenboar. Call off the elemental, and I will capture him. Grenlew calls off the air elemental, and Blythgrin casts the magical cage around Bastrenboar. Logantrance, I have captured Bastrenboar. Now what are we going to do about Cloakenstrike?

He is going to be a tricky one to catch.

You leave that to me. Vegenrage has walked back from the grass to the others, brushing himself off and recomposing. Trybill, I think he has had enough. You can call off the elemental now. I got him.

The earth elemental is so cool to watch. Cloakenstrike is throwing punches and kicks at it, and his attacks simply pass through it. He kicks it in the midsection, and his kick passes through, and the earth reforms, countering with a fist the size of Cloakenstrike’s head knocking him senseless. This happens four or five times, and Cloakenstrike is not ready for this kind of attack. His face is bloodied, and he is almost out cold when the elemental vanishes. Vegenrage approaches him and straddles his chest, pulling a dagger from Behaggen and putting the tip of the blade to Cloakenstrike’s throat. Logantrance approaches quickly.

The Dagi surround the Box of Force and notice that Bastrenboar is making his way out of the cage. Bastrenboar’s sword is very powerful, and the magical force holding him can be destroyed. Bastrenboar is pushing his sword with both hands into the magical force, and just like a glass window can be melted if a blade hot enough is being pushed through it, the same is happening to the magical force. Not only does his sword get hotter and hotter the longer it is in contact with the force, but the Night Jewel on his sword also absorbs the magic it is in contact with, making that magic weaker. The magical force leaves a red incision where Bastrenboar cuts a doorway from the ground up in an arch so he can walk through the barrier. This is a slow process, and the Dagi are watching as he does so. They counter by just creating another Box of Force, and Bastrenboar has to do the same again. His sword is getting more adapted and stronger, so he moves quicker through the second cage.

Logantrance is heading toward Vegenrage, who has Cloakenstrike pinned to the ground. Vegenrage, be very careful. He is very dangerous. See if you can remove his Bag of Holding. This will make him much less lethal.

Vegenrage tries to remove the Bag of Holding from Cloakenstrike but gets a magical shock in the process and is angered as Cloakenstrike vanishes. Vegenrage stands, looking at Logantrance with a disappointed look. Damn. How did he do that?

Blythgrin looks over his shoulder looking for Logantrance. Logantrance, we need some help over here. Hurry up. We can’t hold him much longer. They all watch as Bastrenboar disappears from the center of the cage. Logantrance lowers his head, very disappointed.

That Cloakenstrike. He is so very good at his craft, evil as it may be. How did he vanish out of here, Logantrance, and how did he get Bastrenboar out of the cage?

I am not entirely sure, Trybill, but we must always beware. He is truly a master.

Farrah runs to Vegenrage and gives him a big hug. Vegenrage, I thought we had lost you. That dragon thing came out of you, and I was scared you would not come back.

What do you mean that dragon came out of me? How did I get here? Where are we? The last thing I remember was Guylumbree was about to attack Rifter, and I took him out. I was looking at Rifter when … What happened after that? I can’t remember. He rubs his forehead and looks around. His face grows tight as he looks around, and Farrah looks at him emotionally. Logantrance and the others walk up to him quietly as it somewhat comes back to Vegenrage. This is my home. This is where I live. What happened here? What happened to my home? Logantrance puts his hand on Vegenrage’s shoulder.

The dragons found your home and mine, and they are actively hunting down all magic users on all worlds. The Dragon Feast is taking new form. Not only are they feeding on all the humanoid races, but they also mean to eliminate the magic users first. They have started a war between us and them.

Vegenrage, Vergraughtu used you as a vessel to transform himself into a new form of dragon, one which has never been seen before, and by using you as a vessel to grow from, he may have your abilities as well. He must have all the abilities he had as a dragon plus all the abilities Farrah had given him by using the Staff of Barrier Breath. He now has the use of all the dragon breath attacks that Farrah had consumed while using the staff. Not only that, but he can also combine them in any way, making new and unknown attacks. By combining them all, he has the most powerful attack ever, and nothing can stop it.

I am sorry you know my name, but I don’t believe we have met. Vegenrage holds out his hand to shake with Oriapow.

Oh, I am sorry. I am Oriapow, a master of Erkensharie magic.

Oriapow, if Vergraughtu has the ability of Vegenrage, that means he can cast magic without speaking. This is what makes Vegenrage so unique.

Is this true, Logantrance? Then I am shaking hands right now with Vlianth. Yes, yes, I did not make the connection. Vlianth is Vegenrage in dragon tongue.

Vegenrage looks around at what has happened to his home, and this consumes him while the others talk.

Vegenrage is still shaking Oriapow’s hand and releases his grip as he asks Oripow. You know of Vlianth, Oriapow? You know of the prophecy and what Blethstole was talking about?

Yes, I have something very interesting to show you. We must get back to the Mystical Erkens so I can show you.

Logantrance and the Dagi look at each other. Vegenrage walks around with Farrah close by. What happened to all my books? What happened to all of my home?

"It was Blethstole. He had you captured in a magical freeze, and all the dragons were here. He cast powerful magic, and your home transformed into this. All your books were burned, and they formed one book called the book of Wogenkeld. This book was, according to Vergraughtu, a book containing all knowledge, and somehow he absorbed it and took it with him."

Vegenrage lowers himself to the metal floor and feels it with his hands. This was a short time ago a form of Dragonmire. Vegenrage closes his eyes and starts to visualize what happened.

Oriapow, I have something I should tell you.

What is it, Logantrance?

The dragons destroyed the Mystical Erkens.

What do you mean destroyed the Mystical Erkens?

I mean, they are gone. They have been eliminated completely. Erkensharie has been devastated.

The Dagi look at each other like everything has come back to them now that they have had a few moments to be at ease. The Dagi Bluffs. You think the dragons have made their way there?

Loganrance rubs his forehead. I don’t know, Grenlew. We left Glimtron and the others at Altrar. We need to get back to them. The dragons may have gone back for them.

We need to get back to them and make our way to Erkensharie. The elves may still be in need of our help. Logantrance, we must go now.

I understand, Trybill. Go to them, and we will meet you in Erkensharie.

Wait. Before you go, there is something here. Something that belongs with you.

What is it, Vegenrage?

Come, I will show you.

Vegenrage, followed by the Dagi, walks to the bed made out of sapphire and emerald. The others watch to see what Vegenrage is going to do. The bed that forms is very beautiful. It is very smooth and solid. You would think there is five hundred pounds of jewel in it. The indent on top where Vegenrage is placed actually looks very comfortable. The bed seems to have been formed in layers—one layer of sapphire and one layer of emerald and so on throughout. He puts his hands on the bed and concentrates. It starts to move and form like it is melting. The layers of sapphire move to one another, as do the layers of emerald. The bed begins to shrink. The jewels are condensing and shrinking until, unbelievably, the Octagemerwell and the Sapphirewell have returned to the natural wonder that they were created as. Vegenrage hands the Sapphirewell to Blythgrin.

I believe this is something you will be needing. Do not stop exploring the magical wealth of this. This will give you the protection you may need if you run into dragons or that bastard Cloakenstrike.

Unbelievable. I don’t know how you did that, but thank you, Vegenrage. Blythgrin accepts the Sapphirewell and rubs it with his hands, concentrating. It is complete with all its power. Blythgrin puts it in his Bag of Holding.

Logantrance, we must get back to Glimtron and the others. They may need our help.

I understand, Blythgrin.

Oriapow, we will be seeing you soon in the Erkensharie, and we can talk more. I am glad to see you unharmed after so long a time, old friend.

You as well, Blythgrin.

We will meet with the others and head to Erkensharie. We will see you there. Blythgrin and the Dagi head through a Dimension Door and are gone.

Oriapow, I believe this is something you may want to take care of. Vegenrage hands the Octagemerwell to Oriapow. His skin deepens in color, and the wrinkles in his face visibly begin to smooth out. He smiles as the green glow reflects in his eyes. I have no words, only gratitude, for having this back and soon to be returned to its rightful place in Erkensharie.

There is no time for you to waste. Go to your people and return the Octagemerwell. For right now, I need to figure out what to do about my own home, Vegenrage says.

Will you all be coming to Erkensharie soon? I have something very important to show you. It concerns you very much, Vegenrage.

I will, but I need some time to arrange and organize things here.

Okay, I must be going. It was a pleasure to meet you, Farrah, and Logantrance, I look forward to seeing you and talking about old times.

I look forward to it as well. Oriapow walks through a Dimension Door of his own and is gone.

Logantrance, what has happened here? How were the dragons able to do this? Has this happened to your home as well? What should we do? Should we rebuild or move? Vegenrage asks.

I have many secrets at my home, which the dragons, I hope, have not discovered. I must return and see what has happened there. I have not been back in a while, but if the dragons seek to destroy us, they surely have tried to set traps for me there. My home is my home and has been for a very long time. They will not drive me from there. You, on the other hand, have not been here that long. The decision is yours whether you stay here or move.

Hey, this is my home too. Even though it has been only for a short while, it is all I have along with you, Vegenrage, Farrah says. Vegenrage smiles at Farrah.

Well, there is nothing here except rebuilding, and we can do that anytime. What do you say we help Logantrance see what is going on with Richterblen? Vegenrage asks.

Sounds good to me.

Then, Logantrance, let’s go see what is going on at your place.

Slow down, Vegenrage. You are always so quick to jump into the action. We must plan and take this seriously. If the dragons have set a trap for us there, then we must be prepared. They have found all the secrets, by now, that they are going to find there. I think we should meet with the others at Erkensharie and see if they need our help. Are you sure there is nothing more for you to do here?

Vegenrage looks around. His home has all been erased. All that is left are the metal floor and the pit in the center of the room where the Wogenkeld was made. He walks up to the pit and looks in. He holds his hands on it and concentrates. The dragons were very thorough. They have absorbed everything that was here. There is nothing left, except what you see. I do have some questions now that I think about it. Behaggen, how was Cloakenstrike able to vanish when I tried to take the Bag of Holding from him?

Behaggen wakes up to answer. That Cloakenstrike. He is one seriously good magic user. The bag he carries with him is Getcher, and he is my fifth offspring. Getcher is very destructive in nature, so naturally, he was drawn to Cloakenstrike. Getcher has been magically tied to Cloakenstrike. If anyone or anything should try to remove Getcher from Cloakenstrike, then he is automatically transported to a safe place no one knows about. Quite genius actually. On that same note, if Cloakenstrike were to be killed and someone tries to remove Getcher, then he will teleport Cloakenstrike to that same place, and Cloakenstrike will be reborn. Again, this Cloakenstrike is one tough magic user and well fortified because Getcher has the most powerful holdings of all the Bags of Holding, including myself.

Well, what about the bag that Logantrance carries?

That is Quintis, and he is my ninth offspring. He is a very quiet type. He spends all his time asleep, and that is the way he likes it. He is very well suited for the calm and calculated type like Logantrance.

Well, what about the bag that Blythgrin carries? Vegenrage asks.

Ah, that is Erben, my fourteenth offspring. Erben is very inquisitive and very adventurous. Blythgrin has been on many adventures, and Erben has been steadfast at his side. They make a great team and have accumulated quite a powerful arsenal together.

So, Behaggen, can you communicate with them? Can you lead us to them? I mean, all the other offspring you have?

Well, yes and no. I can communicate with them if I am very close to them. That does not mean they have to accept communication with me. For example, Getcher would probably just ignore any attempt by me to communicate with him. As far as knowing where all my offspring are, I have no idea really. They could be anywhere.

So that is all the bags I know of except Parnapp, and he, we all know, is good for Farrah.

Yes, he is, and I can tell you Parnapp and I are the only bags that openly communicate with our master. This is a great advantage for the two of you, being that you are together, and we have lots of helpful insights for you, so don’t be afraid to ask us.

"Okay, so let me ask you about what happened to me. What happened to me? The dragon prophecy said the dragons would change to a greater form of dragon, or they would be wiped out as a race altogether. I never saw The Wattsverocy, but I have heard reference to the book written by Hornspire. His visions have come true then, and the dragons have a new form now."

Vergraughtu knew of the book and actually stole it from Hornspire. He had it in his possession, and then Blethstole began to rise as the dominant dragon. He stole the book from Vergraughtu and imprisoned Hornspire. Both Vergraughtu and Blethstole used the book to their benefit and tried to script the prophecy to their desire. When you came along, they both knew you were the key needed to transform their form. Vergraughtu won out. Farrah has taken Blethstole’s left wing from him and three of his adorning horns. These cannot be replaced. This means Blethstole will soon lose his position as dominant dragon.

So this new form of dragon, it will unite all the dragons and lead them?

No, it will try and destroy them except for the females. It needs the females to continue its new form, and it will search them out and mate with them, killing all that stand in its way. The dragons, as we know them, are about to be killed off, and new much more potent dragons will soon dominate the worlds. This will take some time, but it is going to happen very fast according to Hornspire’s prophecy. The Dragon Feast is about to begin on the races of man and on the dragons. A new set of boundaries is about to take form in the Maglical System. Vegenrage, Farrah, and Logantrance all look at one another.

Logantrance, this may take the pressure off the races of man if the dragons have to fight against this new dragon. Maybe we can use this to hunt them all down. Immediately after saying that, Vegenrage slants his head down and to the side. Inglelapse is calling for me. There is trouble in Mourbarria. We have to go and help them.

You and Farrah go to Mourbarria, and I will go to Erkensharie. I must check on Ulegwahn and make sure Glimtron and his dwarves get to Erkensharie all right.

Okay, Logantrance. Make sure we all go to Richterblen together, okay? We may need the three of us in case there has been unforeseen danger left there, Vegenrage says. Farrah gives Logantrance a big hug and tells him to be safe. He smiles and tells her the same. Logantrance walks through a Dimension Door, and Vegenrage looks around, grinding his lips to see his home has been used in this way and is now gone. Farrah rubs his shoulder, knowing what he is thinking.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I am fine. Do you still have the Staff of Barrier Breath? I can feel it, but I don’t see it, and if it is in your Bag of Holding, I should not feel it like this.

No, I don’t have it, Vegenrage. It turned into a small dragon, and he entered your body and roused that dragon beast. The staff is gone.

Hmm. I can sense the staff is not gone, but it is not ready to be found yet! Let’s go see what is happening in Mourbarria. They walk through a Dimension Door, and Vollenbeln is left quiet and empty.

CHAPTER 2

Dragon Reclaim

Blethstole flies through his Dimension Door and approaches his home. All the dragons are perched outside his mountain. They quickly realize he has lost a wing and all but one of his horns. He has to use magic to fly now, and this is a huge disadvantage for a dragon. He flies past all the smaller and younger dragons and enters his lair. He glides down and lands in the center that used to be the most vast collection of treasure and magical artifacts of all the dragon lairs. Of course, Hornspire is gone as well. He looks around to see the walls of his lair have been coated in the melted treasure he used to sleep on and gain strength from. He is surrounded by Kertinkpice, Pryenthious, Bailseize, Gisewear, Gairdennow, Dribrillianth, and Gannream.

Pryenthious always was a cocky dragon and is the first to speak. Looks like the great Blethstole is no more. Not only have you lost your treasure. you also lost a wing and all but one of your horns. I guess you took the races of man for granted.

Dribrillianth has other concerns. The races of man are no longer our biggest concern. We all know how the prophecy was written. We never saw the book, but we know that the dragon has changed its form, and now we are its intended victims. The only question I have is how did Hornspire stay hidden for so long and, just like that, he appears and transforms into this new dragon that, which is written, will be the end of us all?

Blethstole grumbles deeply. It was not Hornspire that transformed. It was Vergraughtu.

The dragons gasp because they know the story of Vergraughtu. They know that Vergraughtu accepted willfully the magic that transformed him into the Staff of Barrier Breath. This staff transferred magic from Vergraughtu to its bearer, making the bearer immune to more and more dragon attacks as the bearer uses Vergraughtu. Not only does the bearer gain all these abilities, but Vergraughtu maintained these abilities as well, and should he ever take dragon form again, he has all the abilities plus those of the bearer. The dragons know they are defenseless against Vergraughtu.

The dragons start to sniff the air; something definitely has their attention. The dragons outside the mountain sniff the air as well and are astonished to see a sight never seen before. Gwithen, the white mare, has flown into view, and all the dragons are alerted to her presence, first by smell and then by her beauty. She flies past them all and right into Blethstole’s lair. She flies down and lands next to Blethstole.

I see your warring way has finally got the best of you. I warned you, and somehow you still live. She looks from Blethstole to around all the dominant male dragons. They are stunned. A female dragon has never ventured to the lair of a male dragon. "Do not think you are the only ones aware of The Wattsverocy and its writing. My warnings to leave the races of man alone have gone unheard, and now, by trying to destroy them, you have unleashed a danger far greater than man. I am here to tell you all now that unless you find a way to unite with the races of man, you will be destroyed by this new threat."

Unite with the races of man, never. Kertinkpice gets that off his chest right away and continues. The races of man are our food, and that will not change. This new form of dragon was created by dragons, and if we are to die to further our species, then so be it.

Pryenthious agrees, If this new dragon is so dangerous that it can wipe us all out, then the races of man will go with us. I cannot see uniting with humanoids. They have become very strong in the use of magic and would use this partnership against us because they have always wanted to destroy us. I believe they would betray us and hunt us down when we least expect it. Rumbling and talking among the dragons begin, and none of them think it is a good idea to join with the humanoids.

"You all do what you think you should do, but before you make unwise decisions, check this out. The Wattsverocy written by Hornspire has come to pass just as Hornspire wrote it would. He wrote another book called The Passing. Hornspire left this book with me for safekeeping. You might want to check this out, and this time all of you should read it so you can make decisions that will affect all of us and not just a few of us. Gwithen shakes her head and flaps her left wing, and a book flops to the ground. I can tell you this. I will die defending myself before I mate with a dragon that wishes to further its own form and will kill all dragons created to this point outside of the ones it needs to mate with. I will not be ruled by this and watch as my children are killed, which includes four of you in this room."

Dribrillianth acknowledges his love for his mother, which is strong even among dragons. I will not let anything hurt you, Mother. This new form is an abomination, and we do not need the assistance of the humanoids. We will band together, us dragons, and we will destroy this force, which is bringing such grief to us. Vlianth brought all dragons together for the first time in our history, and now, through Vlianth, an evil has grown, and we dragons will unite to destroy it.

Gairdennow agrees, That is right, Mother. Maybe this dragon can kill us, but it cannot kill all of us at the same time. We are the dragons of the Maglical System, and we fear no one or no thing. We will hunt this, and I say we hunt it right now. The dragons in the room liven up, nodding to one another.

Blethstole takes the lead. I am still the dominant dragon, and though I have lost a wing, I can lead us all to hunt down this menace. We will sniff it out and unleash the greatest force in the Maglical System. The dragons then will feed on the humanoid races like it was meant to be. Blethstole rises out of his lair followed by all the dragons, except Gwithen, who stands there all alone. She looks at The Passing and magically secures it back under her wing. She takes to the wing and exits the lair. She notices all the dragons perched on the mountain are listening to Blethstole, and she flies through a Dimension Door.

This is a great scene. Dragons of all colors are all around Blethstole, who stands tall on top of a very large perch. The moon is shining silver on the shiny, smooth rock of the mountain. Blethstole addresses all the dragons. "The Wattsverocy has come to pass, and a new species of dragon has emerged. This dragon will seek to destroy us and mate with our females. We cannot let this happen, or it will be the end of us all. We must hunt down this predator to us all and destroy it before it becomes too strong for us to handle. We must hunt this new dragon, or it will hunt us. We must destroy it and continue to hunt down all the magic-using races of man and reclaim the Maglical System as ours as it was always meant to be. This is our dragon reclaim. Blethstole talks and plans with the dragons for hours. The first actions are to eliminate the magic users of man, and if the new dragon is spotted or detected, all the dragons will converge on it. We have no time to waste. This new dragon grows stronger every minute. Kertinkpice, Pryenthious, and Baliseize will take some of you to Strabalster to hunt." Kertinkpice, Pryenthious, and Bailsieze head to the sky followed by half a dozen dragons, and they vanish through Dimension Doors.

Gisewear, Gannream, and Gairdennow will head for Fargloin. Go now. Gisewear, Gannream, and Gairdennow take to the wing followed by half a dozen dragons and head through Dimension Doors.

Dribrillianth and I will hunt here on Kronton with the rest of you. Use your senses to their fullest and take nothing for granted. This is our dragon reclaim. Let us hunt. Blethstole takes to flight using his magic, and Dribrillianth and the remaining dragons follow.

The scene shifts to the Talbuterall Lowlands on the planet Strabalster. The human race has mostly been wiped out on the planet Strabalster, and there are no magic users among them. There are a few small pockets of humans living there, and they survive in the lowlands on vegetables and whatever wild game they can hunt down with handheld spears and bows. The humans have been set back hundreds of years from the thriving population that once occupied what now is Hunoria. When Bastrenboar and his army were changed into the humanor, they returned to their homeland to see that the elves had retaliated against all the humans and nearly killed them all. Bastrenboar and his humanor felt no kinship to the humans and finished the job of killing them all except for women that they used to increase the humanor population. The humans had small villages and townships throughout the rock lands, the grasslands, and the lowlands, and they were all killed and taken over by the humanor except for the humans in the lowlands. The humans there have learned to use the vast caves and network of natural underground passageways to hide in, take refuge in, and elude predation from not only the humanor but the elves and dragons as well. The lowlands provide perfect cover with tunnels and underground passageways, and there are also very thick, lush forests that run all throughout the lowlands that provide great shelter and lots of places to hide and avoid detection. There are lots of fruits and a lot of game, so the humans not only have a lot of places to hide but also have plenty of food to survive.

The warm winds blow off the Briganyare Sea to the southwest, and the northeasterly flow of air brings the cold air from the Krasbeil Mountains over the sea and freezes the Briganyare at its furthest point in the north. The warm southerly air brings a lot of moisture to the lowlands, and the rich soils grow with lush vegetation and trees, and the quiet sands provide quiet protection for the humans here. This does not give them a lot of protection from the keen nose of a dragon, however, and Ayonde, a very young dragon of sandy blond color, has made his way here to hunt. Ayonde is very young for a dragon, maybe five hundred years old. This means there is yet another female dragon that has gone unnoticed. Being as young as Ayonde is, he does not attend the summoning of the dragons. He is just too small but easily big enough to feast on the humans. He has found a dozen humans hunting in the lowlands and swooped down on them, unleashing his Breath of Sandstorm. He has not matured fully yet, and his breath attack is pretty weak, but it is strong enough to create a sandstorm that disorients the humans while blinding them. In their confused and blinded state, he easily swoops in and makes quick meals of them. As he grows, his breath attack will grow stronger, becoming a strong abrasive and a blinding storm all in one. He has two horns that grow up and forward from the top of his head, and he has four tusks in the form of four-foot blades that extend from each of his wings. He is going to be fantastically beautiful when he grows up—if he grows up. He has blinded the humans with his breath attack and glided down, slicing them with the blades on his wings. He has impaled three humans with his blades and eats the human shish kebabs as he walks around, inspecting the dead and seeing if any are trying to escape. He has front legs not attached to his wings that he can walk on and slides one of the humans off the blade on his wing and bites the legs off and chews. He raises his head as he eats, tossing the rest of the meal into his mouth, chewing as he sniffs the air deeply. He looks around curiously as something has his attention. Ayonde, your time has come. Ayonde smells the air deeply. I know you are there. Why hide from me? Are you my father come to kill me for fear of me already? I know you are dragon, but I cannot place the scent. You are very unfamiliar. Who are you? What are you? Ayonde feels a rush of air fly past him very fast. Stop with the childish scare tactics. They do not work on me. Show yourself. Ayonde sees standing before him on its hind legs the newly formed Vemenomous. He stands thirteen feet tall on very long, slender, but muscular legs. His abdomen thins as it goes up to his chest, and he has very long, slender, but muscular arms. He has two very large wings coming out his back that rise high above him and then hinge in the middle, coming back down. His head is flat with great frills coming out the back and looks very intimidating with a snakelike tongue, slithering in and out of his mouth. His eyes are very intimidating, very large and brown, peering right at Ayonde with large pronounced ridges over the top of his eyes. His belly is yellow, going all the way up his chest, neck, and ending under his chin. The rest of his body is black, and his belly is armor-like scales, while the rest of him is a reptilian type of tough skin. There is a humanoid look to this creature, but the head, tail, wings, and claws are definitely dragon.

What are you?

The new dragon