Diamondlot

Hope

Nadya was still able to move her head and look up at her surroundings. She saw lying on the ground all the brave warriors that gave it their all: Birkaran, Ishaan, Eshaan, Aaryav, Ranak, Cole, Jawad, Kabir, Amisha, Maggie, Zara, Rayan, Bharath, and even Jiyah. “Looks like this is it.” She thought to herself, as she was completely out of tricks and tactics.

Dragkonis slowly made his way closer to the fallen warriors, paying close attention to Nadya and Jiyah. “You two, for being so small, have been a huge thorn on my side. Once I get rid of you two, this resistance is all but over.” He readied to release a blast of fire from his mouth to finish the two girls off but the attack had no affect. A forcefield appeared to protect them from the dragon’s assault. Nadya and Jiyah were astonished that their body sustained no damage from the attack. They turned their heads towards the entrance where they saw Sediya, Jasmine, and Remy helping support Reina as she channeled all her energy to cast the protective shield.

Nadya and Jiyah looked concerned as they saw Reina exhausted from casting the protection magic but when she saw them look her way, she began to wave, “Hiiiiiii!” However, their reunion would be interrupted, “So you managed to survive our encounter at the wastelands. No matter I will finish you off here.” Dragkonis said in his menacing voice.

“You aren’t unstoppable.” Reina yelled. Dragkonis wasn’t sure if he heard wrong and demanded that the girl repeat herself. He let out a laugh and stomped the ground. “So you really think you can stop me?! Very well then, I will show you how powerful I truly am!” He began to take to the skies and began to concentrate its power. While he was harnessing all his energy, the skies darkened and lightning was thundering ferociously.

Remy was beginning to feel nervous and asked Reina in a shaky voice, “So um, what kind of plan do you have to stop that!” He pointed to the dragon. Reina gave a weak smile and a nervous laugh, “You see, well, I don’t know.” Remy began to feel despair fall upon him, “We are doomed…”

As the dragon continued to charge up its power, Reina slowly made her way to Jiyah and Nadya. The three embraced each other with a hug as they had been reunited after spending some time apart.

Jiyah: Is this the end of the line for us?

Reina: Jiyah!

Nadya: I hate to agree with her, but it doesn’t seem like we can get out of this one. All of us are out of energy to fight and I’m out of plans.

Reina: But…

Jiyah: Nadya and I are pretty badly injured, but you can probably still escape if you try.

Reina: No I won’t leave you all!

Nadya: Reina, it's okay. Jiyah and I knew and accepted the risk of the plan. We are both very happy to see you one last time…

Reina: No! This is not the last time we will see each other. I refuse to believe that. We are all going to get out of here alive! I have decided that!

The resolve in her voice and actions completely stunned the two fighters. They had never seen their friend like this before, they were wondering as they stared at each other what happened to her.

Their moment was unfortunately cut short as Dragkonis had reached the threshold of his power. He was glowing with an ominous aura, readying to display his dominance. “This is it! Say goodbye to everything you care about!” And out of its jaws came a destructive wave of power, aimed to decimate the entire Grasix arena and everyone in it.

The wave of destruction came hurling towards them with great velocity. Everyone closed their eyes as they anticipated their final moments but the massive energy was held back. They all opened their eyes and they saw a human spirit shielding them from being eradicated. Many people didn’t recognize who the spirit was initially but the mages; Jawad, Kabir, and Cole said in unison, “That’s the great wizard!”

Everyone watched as the wizard continued to block the attack by himself, but it was clear that he was expending a lot of energy doing so and his spirit was slowly fading away. Seeing what was happening, Reina reached out to the wizard, “Stop! You won’t be able to take all that energy.” His legs were already beginning to disappear and soon his upper body would go. Before that could happen, he turned his head and with a smile on his face he began to speak to Reina.

“Go!” The familiar words echoed through her ears and into her mind. “Let go of your restraints. You have the power to stop Dragkonis.” She was confused as to what he meant, “What power? You have been lending me your power this whole time…” He interrupted her, “No, the power you have been using is your own. I might have enhanced it at times but that power is yours. Use it to protect the world that everyone has risked their life for.”

Now, his torso was gone as well, he still managed to hold back the attack with his hands. “I’m sorry there wasn’t more I could do for all of you. But this much I can still do.” As he uttered those words, Dragkonis’s ultimate attack was fully absorbed away. Shortly after, he got one last look at everyone on the battlefield before his face completely vanished into the air.

Everyone began to feel a rush of emotions for the sacrifice that had just been made. Dragkonis descended back down to the arena after his unsuccessful attack. “So, that’s where my great nemesis was hiding this entire time. In the mind of a useless little princess. Pitiful!” After those words, he stomped the ground in anger, ready to finish them off this time.