Chapter 6

The dragon roars in pain and fury, flames pouring from its nostrils. Aedan stumbles back, narrowly avoiding being incinerated by the blast. The heat is intense, searing his flesh as he retreats. He feels the earth tremble beneath his feet, the power of his element surging through him. He channels the power into his sword, enhancing its strength once more.

The dragon lunges forward, teeth bared and claws extended. Aedan dodges to the side, rolling away from the massive scaled body. He leaps to his feet and swings his sword, striking the dragon's tail with all his might. The impact shakes the cavern, and the dragon howls in agony.

Aedan backs away, his heart pounding in his chest. He knows that he must find a way to exploit the dragon's vulnerabilities, for his strength alone will not be enough to defeat it. As he surveys the dragon's massive form, he notices a gash in its side, where his sword struck earlier. It is oozing a foul-smelling liquid, and Aedan realizes that the dragon must be in pain.

He steels himself, recalling the many stories he's heard about dragons and their weaknesses. Some say that dragons are weak to magic, others to specific elements like fire or ice. But Aedan's master had once whispered to him of a secret weakness, one known only to those who had studied the ancient texts and deciphered their cryptic symbols.