Chapter 43: Ahbiilok, the Dragon of Morrowind part 1 (re-edit)

Sivreth stood at the precipice of a vast ash wasteland, his heart hammering in his chest like a blacksmith's anvil. He was a creature of the shadows, a Falmer, once a noble Snow Elf, now twisted by the cruel touch of the Dwemer and their hated sun. He was the last pure Snow Lef left that he knew of. In his past life he was a Human that played the video game of the Elder Scrolls, but after his transmigration onto this body his life had changed.

The air grew tense as the distant roar grew closer, shaking the very earth beneath his feet. Ahbiilok, the ancient dragon, was approaching, his fiery breath lighting the skies like the wrath of a volcanic god. He had spent years in preperation for this very battle. He had to succeed.

Ahbiilok's shadow loomed over him as the beast descended, the fiery glow of his eyes piercing the dusty air. The Falmer's hand tightened around his enchanted spear, the runes along its length pulsing with the anticipation of battle. His magical familiars, a flock of ice birds and a pack of spectral wolves, circled overhead, ready to strike.

The dragon's roar was deafening, a cacophony of power and rage that seemed to resonate in Sivreth's very soul. He took a deep, shaky breath, his plan racing through his mind. The first trap was sprung, the steel bolts shot from the ground with a thunderous sound, aiming for the dragon's wings. Ahbiilok roared, flapping his wings to dodge the projectiles, but not fast enough. One pierced through the leathery skin, sending a spray of blood into the air.

The beast's descent grew erratic, and Sivreth knew it was time to act. He gave the signal, and his spectral wolves leapt into action, distracting Ahbiilok as the ice birds dove at his eyes. The dragon reared back, swiping blindly with his massive claws. Sivreth took advantage of the momentary distraction, sprinting towards the fallen giant, his enchanted spear held high.

With a swiftness that belied his size, Ahbiilok swung his tail, narrowly missing Sivreth. The Falmer felt the heat of the dragon's breath on his neck as he ducked and rolled, the ice spear glinting in the harsh light. He stabbed at Ahbiilok's exposed underbelly, the frost magic biting into the beast's scales, leaving a trail of frost in its wake. The dragon bellowed in pain, thrashing its head from side to side, trying to locate the source of the sudden assault.

Sivreth's spear was not an ordinary one like many others, he had plans to further enhance this spear to become capable of harming a God, but as of now it was made using a few rare materials including some ores provided by Sheogorath himself when Sivreth had beat the Mad God in a card game. The spear as of this moment was the strongest but it did its job and could harm a dragon even if only slightly.

Ahbiilok's movements grew more erratic as Sivreth continued his relentless barrage of attacks, his agility and speed surprising for one of his size. The dragon's fiery breath washed over the battlefield, but Sivreth remained nimble, his years of experiene preparing for this very day and about the ecology of Dragons giving him an edge against the creature of fire and ash.

The dragon, enraged, lunged forward with surprising speed, jaws wide and gleaming with teeth the size of swords. Sivreth barely had time to react before the ground beneath him erupted in a spray of ash and rock. The dragon's weight sent a shockwave through the ash wasteland, knocking Sivreth off his feet and sending his spectral wolves scattering.

Ahbiilok's tail swung again, but Sivreth anticipated the move, rolling away just in time. The dragon's scales were now pockmarked with ice, his breaths coming in heavy, pained gasps. Sivreth knew he had to end this quickly, before the creature regained his full strength. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes scanning the battlefield for any sign of his Senche-Raht, Rael.

In the chaos, Rael emerged from the dust, his fur standing on end, eyes blazing with the same fiery determination that burned within Sivreth. The Falmer leaped onto the mount's back, the muscles beneath him tensing as they bolted towards the dragon. Ahbiilok roared, his gaze locked onto them, the intensity of his eyes like molten lava.

Sivreth felt the warmth of Rael's body against his legs, the rhythm of his gallop a steady beat in his chest. He had to stay focused, to stay alive. The dragon took to the skies, his wings unfurling with a sound like thunder. Sivreth's eyes darted to the horizon, spotting the perfect place to continue the battle. A series of ancient Dwemer ruins, now half-buried in ash, promised the cover and elevation they needed.

"Rael, to the ruins!" he shouted, and the Senche-Raht understood. They charged towards the ancient structures, weaving in and out of the towering pillars and collapsed bridges. Sivreth knew the dragon's agility in the air would be limited here, giving them a chance to even the odds.

Ahbiilok gave chase, his fiery breath leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. As they approached the ruins, Sivreth spotted a concealed entrance and urged Rael inside. The dragon's massive form filled the sky, casting a terrifying shadow over them as it descended. The Falmer's heart pounded in his chest, the sound echoing in the confined space.

The ruins were a labyrinth of twisted metal and stone, a silent testament to the power of the Dwemer. Sivreth's eyes darted around, searching for the perfect spot to make his stand. He had studied these ancient structures, knew their secrets, and had prepared traps within the very heart of the ruins. The walls trembled as Ahbiilok's roar grew closer, the dragon's fiery breath lighting up the dark corridors with an eerie glow.

"Joor! You have the nerve to call my name and now hide away like a little mouse! Once I find you I'll roast the Eleven flesh from off your hones even if you've the blood of Auri-El in you! It will not pardon you from facing Oblivion!"

Ahbiilok's fury resonated through the ancient Dwemer ruins, sending echoes through the corridors. Sivreth's eyes narrowed as he listened to the dragon's taunts, his mind racing with the possibilities. He had studied the ruins, knew the layout like the back of his hand. The dragon's rage was a double-edged sword; it made him predictable and dangerous.

Guiding Rael through the winding tunnels, Sivreth led them to a chamber where his most ingenious trap lay in wait. The air grew colder, hinting at the presence of the frost runes he had etched into the very stone. As Ahbiilok's fiery breath filled the air, Sivreth whispered an incantation, activating the runes. The ground beneath the dragon's feet shimmered, turning into a sheet of ice that sent the beast skidding, roaring in frustration as it struggled to regain its footing.

Ahbiilok tried to regain its posture but head a ominous pulsing sound. He looked around and saw many copies of a spear made of pure ice impaled into the ground all around him like a formation.

Ahbiilok's eyes went wide as he sensed the type of enchantment within the spear of the Elf child.

As if to answer him, the ice spear all glowed vibrantly before exploding at once. A trail of frost engulfed Ahbiilok and the effect multiplied with each ice spear there was, Ahbiilok's body had been completely frozen, but only for a short time.

The dragon roared and thrashed, the ice crackling and shattering as he flexed his massive wings. Sivreth knew he had only bought himself a moment's respite. He had to act now. He slammed his fist into a pressure plate on the wall, and the chamber's ceiling began to crumble, sending a cascade of heavy stones plummeting down.

Ahbiilok, now free from the ice, took to the air again, dodging the falling debris with surprising agility for his size. Sivreth leaned into Rael, urging him on as they sprinted through the ruins. The dragon's breath washed over them, searing the metal and stone. They had to keep moving, keep the dragon off balance.

They burst into a chamber where the walls were lined with ancient Dwemer machinery. Sivreth had studied these devices, had learned to manipulate them to his will. He jumped from Rael's back, landing with a thud. His hand reached out, touching a glowing rune on the nearest wall. The machines whirred to life, sending a storm of steel darts hurtling towards Ahbiilok.

The dragon roared, dodging and weaving through the deadly rain, but not fast enough. The darts pierced his wings, his sides, leaving a trail of blood in their wake. Ahbiilok's movements grew sluggish, his breaths labored. Sivreth's eyes lit up with grim satisfaction—his plan was working.

He sprinted to the center of the chamber, his spear pointed at the sky. "Now, Rael!" he shouted. The Senche-Raht charged, and Sivreth leaped off his back, his spear piercing Ahbiilok's eye as the dragon swooped down. The beast reeled back, shrieking in agony, temporarily blinded by the sudden assault.

Sivreth had to leave his spear pierced within the Dragon's eye as he needed to evade the follow up attack and right he was.

Ahbiilok's head snapped back in pain, his body convulsing. Sivreth watched in horror as the spear was ripped from his grasp, lodged deep within the dragon's skull. The beast's body hit the ground with a thunderous boom, shaking the very foundations of the Dwemer ruins. For a moment, everything was still—until Ahbiilok's massive tail whipped around, smashing into the wall behind them, sending a cloud of ash and rubble into the air.

Sivreth coughed, his eyes watering from the dust. He had to get out of here, had to find a way to finish this before the dragon could kill him, as he saw its form slowly approaching him. He scanned the chamber, searching for a weakness, something he could exploit. His gaze fell upon the Skeleton Key, a Artifactt of with Nocturnal, the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness. It was a tool of great power, capable of unlocking any door, physical or metaphysical. But to what end would he use it now?

Ahbiilok lunged again, his jaws snapping shut just as Sivreth threw himself to the side. The dragon's teeth clattered against the stone, sending shards flying. The Falmer rolled to his feet and took off one of his rings, a simple band of silver with an intricate design etched into it. He had filled it with a dangerous, unstable magic, a last resort.

The ring grew hot in his hand, the magic inside it pulsing with a sickening rhythm. He threw it into Ahbiilok's open mouth, the dragon's fiery breath searing his hand as he did so. The ring exploded, the force of the blast sending the dragon stumbling back. Sivreth didn't wait for the dust to settle. He turned and sprinted, his heart hammering in his chest like the beat of a war drum.

Sivreth immediately used the Skeleton Key on the ground beneath them and unlocked a portal of which they both plummeted through and into the depths of Red Mountain.

Ahbiilok roared in fury as he felt the sudden change in environment, his fiery breath illuminating the dark, fiery depths of the volcanic cavern. Sivreth, still clutching his spear, searched for a way out, his eyes scanning the walls for any signs of an exit. The lava beneath them was rising rapidly, and he knew they had to ascend quickly.

The Falmer's thoughts raced as he urged Rael forward, the Senche-Raht's powerful legs digging into the rocky surface. They scaled the wall with surprising ease, the ash and soot falling away as they climbed. Ahbiilok, unfazed by the heat and pressure, latched onto the walls with his sharp claws, his eyes never leaving Sivreth's form. The dragon's determination to kill was palpable, his breath leaving trails of fire in their wake.

"Joor!"

Ahbiilok's roar echoed through the fiery depths of Red Mountain as Sivreth and Rael scaled the volcanic walls, the lava below threatening to swallow them whole. The Falmer's breath was hot in his throat, his muscles burning with exertion. He could feel the heat of the dragon's breath on his back, a constant reminder of the death that pursued them.

With a flick of his wrist, Sivreth used the Skeleton Key again, opening a new portal in the chamber's ceiling. "To Valenwood, Rael!" he shouted, and the Senche-Raht leaped upwards, clawing its way through the fiery air. They burst through into the cool, verdant embrace of the forest, the stark contrast making Sivreth's eyes water with relief.

Ahbiilok followed them through the portal, his fiery form silhouetted against the lush canopy. Sivreth could see the dragon's determination to kill him had not waned.