Shut Up, Malevolent Dragon! I Don’t Want to Have Any More Children With You

"The last time we met was at the Empire’s Lantern Festival," Elizabeth said, her voice carrying an air of casual reminiscence.
"You led a rebellion that day, killed some of the Empire’s most promising talents, toppled the king, and yet here you are, alive and well. Truly, I’m impressed. You even look more mature now, Leon."

She smirked. "I heard you represented the dragons in negotiations with the Empire. What’s the matter? Finally abandoned your humanity—"
Bang!
The sharp crack of a gunshot interrupted her. The enchanted bullet spiraled through the air, heading straight for Elizabeth, but was blocked by the skeletal bird beneath her.

Rebecca, holding her hand cannon steady, aimed directly at Elizabeth.
"Shut up already, you bitch. You weren’t this chatty before."
Rebecca had despised the queen for years. During her time in the Dragon Army, she’d frequently bad-mouthed Elizabeth to Leon and Martin, using one term above all others: "bitch." When asked why her dislike was so intense, she’d only shrugged and said, "Women know women best."
Time had proven Rebecca’s instincts correct. Elizabeth’s pompous demeanor and smug expressions were enough to justify the insult.

Elizabeth, her composure briefly rattled, snapped,
"I wasn’t talking to you, you insolent brat! I should’ve sent you to muck out stables back then."
Rebecca grinned. "You’d make better feed for the animals."
"You—!" Elizabeth seethed, pointing a trembling finger at Rebecca but unable to retort effectively.

Rebecca spun her pistol lazily and said,
"By the way, Queenie, what have you been doing all these years? Feeding these birds of yours? Looks like they’re on a strict bone-only diet."
She stuck her tongue out at Elizabeth, completing her mockery with a playful face.
Elizabeth’s eye twitched in irritation. She had hoped to dominate the encounter with her opening taunts, forcing Leon to react defensively. Instead, Rebecca’s relentless barrage of insults had completely derailed her plan.

Finally, Leon raised a hand to signal Rebecca to stand down.
"Elizabeth," he said, his voice calm and measured. "After you fled the Empire, did you pledge yourself to the Shadow Lord?"
Elizabeth sneered. "Pledge? That’s not the word I’d use. You clearly have no understanding of my relationship with the Shadow Lord, so allow me to enlighten you before you’re burned to ash."

Leon crossed his arms, unimpressed. He’d heard this type of boast before and waited for her explanation.
"The Shadow Lord is the most capable visionary I’ve ever met. Everything he does is for the betterment of Luor Continent. When he approached me, I couldn’t begin to describe my feelings.
"Being part of such a grand plan is an honor beyond words. The Shadow Lord imparted truths to me I’d never imagined, pulling me from ignorance into enlightenment. Without him, I would still be one of the countless fools deceived by this world’s falsehoods."

She raised her chin, her voice brimming with conviction.
"So no, there was no ‘pledging.’ I’ve been loyal to the Shadow Lord from the start. Do you understand now, Leon?"
Leon blinked, a faint smirk forming. After a pause, he said in an overly serious tone,
"Got it. You’re a simp."
"You—! Leon Cosmod!" Elizabeth roared, her composure crumbling.
Leon ignored her outburst. "Enough posturing. What’s the Shadow Lord’s great plan?"

Elizabeth scoffed. "You wouldn’t understand."
As expected, Leon hadn’t anticipated a straightforward answer. He shifted his focus, glancing at the boulders blocking their path.
"So, this is a trap, isn’t it?"
"Not entirely," Elizabeth replied with a cold smile.
"You’ve proven to be far more resourceful than the Shadow Lord anticipated. You uncovered this location in just a few short years, forcing us to consider activating the ‘Eternal Flame’ project early."

Leon narrowed his eyes. The mention of the "Eternal Flame" piqued his interest—it sounded like another layer of the Shadow Lord’s intricate schemes.
"But the Shadow Lord is always ten steps ahead of you," Elizabeth continued.
"When you arrived at Fire Valley, we decided to lure you in and reduce you to ash. Do you see these skeletal birds, Leon? They’re a special fusion species created by the Shadow Lord just for you."
Leon’s eyes flicked to the creatures hovering «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» around them.

"These skeleton birds aren’t just an unusual species," Elizabeth said.
"They’ve shed their flesh, leaving only their indestructible bones. They cannot die, cannot be grounded, and they dominate the skies."
She sneered. "Your lightning magic is useless against them, and unlike the Dragon Kings you’ve fought, they’re faster, smarter, and immune to anger or fatigue.
"They were designed specifically to kill you, Leon."

Leon clenched his jaw. As much as he wanted to dismiss her taunts, she wasn’t entirely wrong. The skeletal birds demonstrated formidable regeneration, an aerial advantage, and overwhelming numbers. Combined with their origins as fusion species, they posed a significant challenge.
"This is… tricky," Leon muttered.
"Feeling the pressure, Leon? Good," Elizabeth said, her tone triumphant. "But I’ve saved the best for last. I wouldn’t dream of holding back on you."

The ground trembled violently, but this time, the source was unmistakable.
Leon turned to see magma bubbling from the mouth of the massive volcano. Deep, guttural roars echoed from within its depths.
In an instant, waves of heat and bursts of flame erupted, casting an ominous red glow over the valley.

From the heart of the inferno, a towering figure emerged.
Its horns were razor-sharp, its limbs rippling with muscle. A thick, powerful tail lashed behind it, while its eyes burned with crimson fury. Its body radiated flames, the very air around it warping from the intense heat.
There was no mistaking it.

The being before them was the progenitor of fire itself, the incarnation of searing destruction—
"The Flame Demon," Leon murmured.