The Third Tome: Power

The Phoenix race is a mystery even to us. Cloaked in flame, they fly between both our realm and theirs, when the Humans attacked a Phoenix appeared in a flash of fire within Egradim. It offered us power, and in exchange we would give them eggs.

This was a difficult decision, our hatchlings required a certain type of environment to grow up healthy and strong. However, our circumstances did not allow us to ponder for long, we agreed and 10 dragon eggs were given to the Phoenix. Thus, the legend was born. Firey runic patterns flew out over the world, Time paused in Miniviel outside the confines of Egradim, These avains shrouded in fire opened a flaming gate through which thousands of members of their race materialised. I make no exaggerations when I say the heat was unbearable, I myself far away within a cave, felt as if my scales would melt, I shielded my sons corpse beneath my wings, though naught but scales and bones remained of his once proud form.

When the heat began to dissipate all but one Phoenix flew back into the gate and disappeared. But with their absence we noticed a distinct change had come over the world. Their magic had allowed us a second life; to die and be reborn in magma, a fire breathing beast of vengeance. This was their gift, we did not know then what we'd signed ourselves away to. We did not understand, however, the knowledge made us braver, more confident. It allowed us to enter battle without fear, until one of us fell...

I tell you the sight was horrifying, to see the land that we loved cracked and wounded, bleeding magma upon the soft earth and eating away at the vegetation. It was frightening to see our brothers, wounded, no longer breathing, alive and yet...dead...

Their minds twisted and fire spilling from their gaping maws, this was our first victory against the Humans, but at what cost...

I watched this scene from afar, the Fallen did not sleep, or eat, or feel. They were dead in every sense of the word that mattered.

Unfortunately, Apophis was not satisfied and again called upon the Phoenix race.

He requested the Fallen be...modified. Improved. The Phoenix agreed to show that it understood, it asked for 100 dragon eggs for every ten Fallen. The sound of Apophis' great teeth grinding against eachother resonated throughout the hall, but in the end, he agreed.

50 of the fallen were brought forward, and the Phoenix created 5 new breeds of Fallen.

The Copper, Bronze, Iron, Steel, and Silver Metal Dragons, with this Apophis was satisfied...

I may as well tell you now he would not be satisfied for long, in the end he offered even living Dragons to be modified, emptying the hatchery of our offspring and threatening us with extinction. In exchange he received his beloved trump cards, Gold Metal Dragons, and his personal guards, Molten Metal Dragons.

If you tugged my claw hard enough I'd be forced to admit that they were indeed a powerful fighting and defensive force, but if you asked me if it was worth our children- I would immediately tell you no. I would have preferred to abandon this world before I did so. But I am no longer King, Apophis rules and his word is absolute.

The Metal Dragons were fielded immediately among thousands of other Fallen and Living Dragons, the stench of blood that filled Dragon Valley reached even my secluded cave, and the reports that were sent back were promising, the Humans were being pushed back! And something else...it was quite strange, the Living Dragons discovered they were growing in strength, they had...changed. It is said that those who were in attendance during these oral reports witnessed a gleam fill Apophis' eyes, greed and desire and...madness.

Soon there was not a battle Apophis did not take part in, they say his claws were bloodiest, slick with Human guts and entrails, where he fought was always where the fighting was thickest, where the aura of death could be felt like a tangible net. Pressing heavily upon those who found themselves beneath it, the Humans were forced to retreat and the war stopped...for a year.

The Humans returned allied with the Elves and resumed their assault. But we Dragons were no longer as weak as we once were, we had changed, we had...Evolved.

Ra's eyes blurred with realization, "Evolved Dragons," he whispered, "We caused it-" his eyes were glued to the symbols but he could not currently register the words.

The Tomes were true artifacts, and Ra felt exceedingly guilty, for while the truth existed on its pages and he must read to learn it, his power was steadily increasing as long as he remained in close proximity to the books. There were thousands of pages in each Tome, but each chapter was only 50 pages long. The rest were techniques, skills, spells and secrets that belonged to the Dragons.

He was nearing the end of the story in the third Tome, and he was no longer a level 1 Evolved Dragonknight but a level 3 Immortal Dragonknight, When he felt his current level he was shocked by his leveling speed, "12 levels from touching 3 Tomes, how is something like this possible?" he felt awe fill him, with his current strength he could flatten his enemies with a thought! "And there's still 4 more," he thought, amazed.