Chapter 111: Draconic destruction

Walking back into the End spawn room. Before heading up, I spend a moment to look over the drawings. One catches my eye, a message. Spotting a small section of the wall with writing. Next to the exit lies crumbling end stone, letters etched into it.

For all those who pass these words, a warning, for it’s all I can do. Am I the first? I don’t know. Upon reaching this bare room, I sore no signs of previous visitors. These steps lead to a beast of great power. I see no way for me to beat them, so I write this message. Its strength is fueled by floating crystals. I shall endeavor to destroy as many as possible in hopes future travelers may finish the fight. If you cannot beat the beast, break crystals as your last act. Be the stepping stone for future generations.

I see a small carving after the message; I cannot make out what it once was.

Turning my gaze to the ominous stairs. Feeling a cold shiver run up my spine at the magnitude of the task I have to complete. “I need to slay a dragon, bloody hell.” How did I get into this situation? Am I the hero? I like to think I am, but I don’t act like a hero. I am not outside, fighting evil for the greater good. Hell, this world is entertainment for Felix; what would be the point?

Pushing my thoughts aside, I take the first step. Feeling the worn endstone underfoot, I walk upwards. Seeing the slightest light bleeding down the tunnel. A black abyss at the end of the short tunnel.

Leaving the tunnel, I step into the end. The strangely colored blocks spread far and wide, crumbling at the edges into floating satellites. The milky biome is broken up by tall purple plants and obsidian towers. Purple crystals and iron bars on some of the obsidian towers; obviously some already destroyed. Sighs of broken cages and destroyed obsidian all the signs I need.

Gazing at the center, I see a strangely shaped bedrock structure. Appearing almost like a fountain, yet so much more. The exit portal; turned off while its guardian lives. A black and purple dragon is coiled around the exit portal. The size of 2 double-decker buses back to back, it dwarfs me.

“I have to kill that!” I cannot help but shout. And that is all that was needed, as the dragon stirs from its slumber. Creaking cracking as it uncoils and stands. Turning to me, I see its bored purple eyes pass over me.

Taking a moment to appreciate the majesty of this beast. Metalic obsidian scaled cover it, purple spines along its back; wings of grey bone with the thin black membrane, it’s beautiful.

The appreciation shortlived, as it immediately rushes towards me. Snapping out of my awe, I fall into battle mode. It barrels towards me like a runaway train. Speed foreign for such a massive beast, yet it achieves it easily. Fear creeps through my body as I watch the dragon get larger and larger as it approaches.

Snapping out of it, I rise with my flight. Confusion filling the dragon's face as I fly over its head. It comes to a screaming stop, leaving deep claw trenches in the end stone. I quickly rush towards the end crystals; it, realizing what I was doing, turns with the grace of a cat.

Looking at me with hate, as it takes a running start. Leaping up before spreading its gigantic wings. A shadow falls over the end, cast by the sheer wingspan.

How does the end stay lit? I can't see any direct light; it just has a glow. The purple sky illuminating the end, somehow?

Putting the thought out of my mind; as I watch the beast quickly gain on me. Using my belt of flight, I glide to the side as the dragon passes me. Turning midair, it immediately targets me again.

I finally reach the first end crystal, blasting it with fire from my wand. It shudders before exploding with the might of several TNT blasts. Leaving my ears ringing, “I was too close crap that hurts.”

My mind was stunned by the shock; I am unable to react in time. The dragon swats me away with its gleaming claws. I feel a burning sensation in my side as I rocket to the ground. Leaving a deep crater in the earth.

Standing up in a hurry, I jump to the side. Narrowly missing a large number of purple flames. Taking flight once more, I hurridly head towards the next crystal. The dragon, having exhausted its breath, turns, seeing me, rushing towards the next crystal. I look back, seeing an angry dragon hot on my tail.

Channeling my inner bird, I begin evasive maneuvers. Dodging dragon swipes left and right while coddling my left side. The burning sensation having turned to a persistent ache. Reaching the next crystal, unshielded by bars, I blast it with fire. Having only the barest moment to destroy it before an even more frenzied dragon strikes again.

“What is this? Fruit Ninja? Am I a mango?”

I manage to dodge the claw with a hairbreadth, dropping flight and plummeting to the earth. The dragon dive bombs me; I use my wings to glide to the side. Pulling up gracefully as the dragon screams past me.

Taking a moment, I see 3 more crystals. The previous travelers having destroyed many. I make a beeline for the next, feeling the dragon's ire from behind me. Feeling the pressure of the fight started to creep on me, I make a fatal mistake. Not moving aside fast enough, I get swatted like a fly. Hitting the obsidian pillar; I was aiming for, just not in the way I hoped.

My body is stunned by the impact; as I slowly fall to the ground. Scorching pain pulses through my chest with every breath. Through fear of death alone, I fly away, Escaping the maw of the beast. Hearing a snap as it bites empty air. “Thought you had me? Think again!” I say through gritted teeth.

Rising up the pillar, I shoot the crystal as I pass it. dIving to the side as we continue this cat and mouse, as much as id hope with all this armor I would be the cat, it is sadly not the case.

At a snail's pace, I slowly work towards the next obsidian piller. My speed a fraction from the sheer quantity of arial dodging I have to use. I slowly reach the next pillar, a dwarf when compared to the others. Yet it is encased in iron bars. Finally, meeting the pillar in the air, I realise it was only half the battle.

I need to find enough time to break into the iron shield. Thinking on my feet as I dodge the wild claws of the dragon. Flying straight towards the bars, I use them to turn quickly. The dragon flies past me, giving me a single moment to break the bar, but I did it, just in time.

Now, it just took a little bit of cat and mouse until I could strike it in a fly-by. Hearing the pleasant explosion as I fly towards my next target.

I feel the dragon breathing down my neck as I fly to the next pillar. Fatigue is slowly creeping into my body as I continue this exhausting chase. This one, tall, protected with iron, I use the same tactic. Breaking it like all the others. Only one remains, alone, unguarded; I can do this.

By this point, the dragon is frantic. Eyes now a deep shade of red instead of purple as bloody lust settles in. Instead of just claws, I now dodge fireballs and sweeping breath attacks. Feeling the flames lick at my armor as I narrowly escape the blasts. My agility pushed to its limit as I reach the final crystal. I break it, feeling joy spread through my body. Now, it’s time to beat the big bad boss.

With the final crystal destroyed, I see the dragon shift. Its skin cracks, with red breaking through the cracks in its scale. Like magma flowing down its skin, it breaths steam through its nostrils with barely contained hate.

I dodge to the side before the dragon flashes past me, a loud bang echoing behind the blur. It lands on the ground with its claws, turning to me and snapping its jaws towards me. I take my sword and slash its cheek as I dodge its maw.

I fly up as it sweeps its tail at me; it hits my leg, sending me through the air unbalanced. I regain my balance just in time for a claw strike to bat me across the end. I feel short of breath, glad my armor is as durable as it is.

Using my armors enhanced physical abilities, I launch to the side. Hearing a loud ‘whoosh’ as the dragon passes by me. I jump back, landing on the dragon's side. Piercing my sword into its flank, I hear a loud roar. Suddenly it snaps its head towards me, bathing me in purple flames. My armor holds, but I feel the searing heat adhere my flesh to the armor.

Splashing a healing potion onto my body, I fly away. It rushes me once more; I rule between its legs, dragging my blade under its belly. Leaving a deep wood bleeding purple ichor. With the feeling of success filling my body, I turn around. Focusing all my mind onto the dragon, I suddenly feel a force push me to the side. Hitting my head, I am sent into a daze. Turning my blurry gaze to my assaulter, I see a long figure. As it comes into clarity, I see a laughing enderman, a scarred enderman.

I see him laughing in a loud scratchy screech as he watches me. Suddenly, several other enderman tackle him, pinning him to the ground. I don’t see what happens next as my next sight is the dragons' maw closing on me. I roll to the side, but it catches my arm. It uses my arm to smash me side to side. Treating me like a chew toy, I feel extreme pain from my left arm as it IS forcefully dislocated and relocated over and over.

Smashed over and over, I feel agony over my entire body. Taking my sword, with every ounce of strength I could muster, I strike its nose. It recoils with force; dropping my limp body as it steps back. Using this moment; with my mind alone I fly up. The belt of flight using my mind rather than the body, saving me here.

Using my only remaining arm, I remove my helmet. Tossing the now visible helmet to the side as I eat a god apple. I watch as the helmet drops to the ground, my body in screaming agony. My bones realigning themselves, my flesh healing. The pain is horrible, a itch burn over my whole body; tears fall from my eyes as I endure. Using flight to dodge the dragon as best I can.

Feeling my arm snap into realignment was the worst, the pain horrendous. But with that, the agony becomes an ache, and the ache becomes a slight pain. With it having passed, I take up my sword. Rushing towards the beast I swerve to the side, slicing through the membrane of its wing. It quickly falls to the ground.

Using my flight to dive down, I latch onto the back of its neck. Driving my sword between the skull and the spine, I feel hard scales resist me. Yet, I push forward with all the strength I can muster. Feeling the hard flesh give in bit by bit as the dragon writhes under me. Spewing flames everywhere; as it attempts to buck me off.

Using my free hand, I hastily scrap away some skin cells for my genetics. As many as I can as my sword slides further.

With a final wet crack, it suddenly grows still. I fall to the earth, feeling the ground comforting. I watch as the dragon slowly crumbles into black dust. A golden heart rising from the ash. It falls to my feet, I pocket the treasure.

Standing up, I walk over the body. Feeling the invigorating rush of experience as I recover the items. A head, an eternal trophy of my accomplishment; along with scales and bones, with the last vestiges of my will, I retrieve my helmet. Setting it atop my head, I fall back onto an obsidian pillar.

Laughing into the sky, the laughter of victory, the laughter of suffering. The laughter of the winner.