The 9th day on Mount Meru was nothing short of agony for Kent. The baby dragon, Sparky, lay curled up on the ground. Each rise and fall of its tiny chest seemed like an arduous battle. Its eyelids fluttered weakly, unable to stay open, as if every ounce of life was being drained from its small body. Kent knelt beside it, a deep worry etched on his face.
As he gently brushed the baby dragon’s head, he whispered, “Hold on, Sparky. We’ve come too far for you to give up now.”
High above, dark clouds began to gather unnaturally. The once serene skies over Mount Meru turned a foreboding shade of crimson, spreading like spilled blood. Kent glanced upward, immediately understanding the malicious intent behind the transformation.
“The Poison God,” Kent muttered under his breath. His eyes narrowed, a sharp glint of resolve flashing in them. “So you’ve decided to make your move now.”
The first drops of rain fell, sizzling as they touched the rocky surface of the mountain. The air filled with a toxic stench as the crimson rain quickly escalated into a torrential downpour.
The onlookers, Kent’s companions, and other residents of the musical hall, gasped in horror. The poisonous rain threatened to seep into their skin with every drop.
Jean screamed, “Kent! You have to come inside! This rain—it’s not normal!” She stood under the shade of the musical hall, her face pale with fear.
Gunji Zing added, “You’re going to get yourself killed! This is poison rain!”
Kent shook his head, his calm demeanor unwavering. “You all go inside. This isn’t your fight. It’s mine.” His tone was commanding, leaving no room for argument.
He took out a vial of bright azure liquid—the antidote he had prepared. With steady hands, he poured the shimmering liquid into the baby dragon’s mouth, gently massaging its throat to help it swallow. Sparky weakly opened its eyes for a brief moment, giving Kent the faintest spark of hope.
“I know this won’t be easy, little one,” Kent whispered softly. “But we’ve faced worse together. You’ll make it through this.”
The others finally retreated into the safety of the musical hall as the poison rain intensified, drumming against the golden exterior. Inside, they watched Kent through the shimmering barriers, their hearts heavy with worry and helplessness.
Outside, the crimson rain painted Mount Meru in ominous hues. Kent sat beside Sparky, shielding it with his body as the rain hissed and steamed around them. The storm above rumbled ominously, but Kent remained unshaken, his focus entirely on the fragile creature at his side.
“Poison God,” he murmured under his breath, his voice carrying an edge of defiance. “If you think this will break me, you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
The skies over Mount Meru darkened further as the crimson-tinged clouds roiled ominously. Poison seeped into the atmosphere, turning the winds into a faintly toxic breeze.
On the tenth day of the baby dragon’s agonizing trial, the storm reached its peak. Poison God’s work was evident now. Flashes of purple lightning crackled within, each strike laced with deadly toxins, poised to rain destruction.
Kent stood unmoving, his arms crossed as he stood guard beside Sparky, the baby dragon. Sparky was now so weak it could barely move its eyelids, each breath a labored struggle. Its once-majestic form was reduced to a fragile shadow of itself, yet Kent never faltered.
“I knew this was coming,” Kent muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the sky. “Poison God couldn’t resist showing his hand.”
From a safe distance inside the Eternal Musical Hall, Kent’s companions watched the unfolding chaos. Jean clutched the frame of the door tightly, her knuckles white with worry. “Kent! Come back inside!” she shouted. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”
“Stay with me, Sparky,” Kent whispered, kneeling beside the baby dragon. He uncorked another vial of antidote he had concocted days earlier, pouring it carefully into the dragon’s mouth. “You’re stronger than this. We’ve been through worse.”
Sparky let out a weak growl, its eyes flickering faintly with gratitude. Kent smiled. “That’s the spirit.”
Above them, the storm intensified. Purple lightning snaked across the sky, illuminating the mountain in eerie flashes.
The Poison God, watching from an unseen vantage point, smirked. “Let’s see how long you can last, Kent. Even you can’t protect that wretched beast forever.”
“Boom”
A deafening crack of thunder split the air, followed by a bolt of purple lightning that struck the ground mere inches from Kent and Sparky. The earth trembled under the impact, and a toxic shockwave rippled outward.
Kent stood tall, raising his arm. A barrier of golden energy materialized around him, absorbing the brunt of the strike. “Is that the best you’ve got?” he muttered, his voice calm but defiant.
The next strike came faster, more violent. This time, the lightning aimed directly for Sparky. Kent moved in a blur, positioning himself between the bolt and the dragon. The lightning struck him squarely in the chest, sending him skidding back several feet. Smoke rose from his charred robes, but his face remained calm.
“Nice try,” Kent said, brushing the soot off his shoulder. “But I’ve been bonded to lightning longer than you’ve been playing with poison.”
Inside the hall, Jean clenched her fists. “We have to do something!” She shouted angrily.
Ruby, the phoenix lady, placed a hand on Jean’s shoulder. “We can’t interfere,” she said gently. “Kent’s bond with Sparky runs deeper than any of us can understand. This is their fight.”
“But look at him!” Gunji shouted, pointing at Kent, who had just deflected another lightning bolt with his bare hands. “He’s taking all the hits himself! How much more can he take?”
Outside, the rain turned into a storm, and the lightning strikes grew more frequent. Kent’s body glowed faintly with golden and blue energy, his Nirvanic Phoenix Flames interwoven with the power of lightning coursing through him.
Each strike he absorbed pushed him closer to his limits, but he refused to step aside. “You’re almost there. Just a little longer.” Kent whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm.
The baby dragon whimpered softly, its body trembling with effort. Kent knelt beside it, placing a reassuring hand on its head. “I’ll protect you,” he said, his voice filled with unwavering determination. “I’ll protect you no matter what.”
High above, the Poison God watched with a mix of amusement and irritation. “You’re more resilient than I gave you credit for, Kent,” he muttered. “But even you have limits.”
With a flick of his wrist, the Poison God summoned a massive bolt of lightning, infused with his deadliest venom. The bolt crackled with malicious energy as it descended toward Kent and Sparky.
Kent looked up, his eyes narrowing. “Time to taste your own medicine, Poison God.” Kent said with a menacing look as he took out a dark poison veil from his storage ring. Standing above the baby dragon Kent began summoning the storm with evil look.