“That thing is way too big,” Tyr muttered in awe.

Overhead, the monstrous dragon circled around them, letting loose low, throaty roars while it’s massive wings kicked up dust and ash. It was still a few hundred feet off of the ground, but its size made one feel like they were standing right beside it.

The dragon was a total of 300 ft. long, give or take. This included the 50 ft. long and fiercely spiked tail that ended in a tri-barb that swished back and forth like some prehistoric predator. Its scales gleamed a sandy brown in color, emblazoned with a hint of red by the flickering firelight that was cast from the surrounding trees still burning merrily. Each scale was half the size of a human body and overlapped together into a jagged sheet of impenetrability.

Where there weren’t scales, there were bones - gigantic bones that pierced out of the skin at vicious angles. Judging by how the scales and bone protrusions were arranged in sweeping horizontal segments over the entire body, like segments of armor, it could be imagined how durable it was. It reminded her a bit of the armadillo lizard that lived in desertous regions. Except with wings… and there was also the fact it was the size of a stadium.

Alexis felt her blood run cold as she looked at the passing shadow. She felt it in her soul. There was nothing that could damage this thing. If the man in front of her hadn’t mentioned that he was low on power, she wouldn’t worry. But this was a dragon. She had to warn Tyr.

Sliding over to the man that was stained with spider guts and sporting laceration all over his body, she leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Tyr, this is one of the strongest beings in myth. Their entire body is better than armor and some variations can even breathe a torrent of fire. They are intelligent, ruthless, greedy, and arrogant. In most stories, they are also immortal or close to it and can even speak.”

Tyr’s eyebrows went up in surprise as he glanced back at her. A flash of consternation passed across his face before he settled back into calm. He shot her a smile, “We may be able to get out of this alive then.”

Alexis was bewildered. What could he possibly mean by that? After he finished speaking, however, she caught him sending looks at his horse, Ruin. What are they talking about?

Before she could explore the thought further, a wave of wind hit them, almost knocking them down. An accompanying rumble, like that of an earthquake, rippled beneath their feet.

That massive, tyrannical body had finally joined them on the ground.

The dragon beat his wings once and then folded them onto its body while an enormous, spiked head regarded them with red eyes so large a person standing next to one would barely be able to touch the other edge of the eye.

Tyr quickly grabbed hold of the weird green fruit she’d seen him snatch earlier. Alexis watched out of the corner of her eye as a curtain of green energy pulsated over its exterior, like the man was willing it into the fruit bit by bit. It was barely noticeable, but she caught it. After that, he walked forward, nonchalantly placing it beside Ruin’s hoof while also blocking it from the dragon’s view.

Alexis looked on as the sickly green glow began to transform before her eyes, shifting hues from green to red. Just like how Tyr had been willing energy into the fruit, Ruin seemed to be manipulating it in another fashion. Flames licked the air quietly, burning up the noxious fumes that were being emitted and replacing the aura of death with one of life.

Tyr suddenly gave a flourishing bow, making the young girl’s mouth drop open. What the hell is he doing?

The handsome blonde man cracked a grin at the ground before his gaze and said loudly to the air, “It is a privilege and honor to meet someone as majestic as yourself, sir Dragon. I confess that we had thought your kind to be myth! Might I know the name of this esteemed elder?”

A deep rumbling sound echoed out from the dragon’s maw, its cruel vermillion eyes squinting in amusement as it drew up its neck and monstrous head proudly.

“I am pleased to see that the people of the surface know of my kind,” he quaked. His voice was like crashing waves and straining mountains, sending Alexis to her knees. Off to the side, Tyr and Ruin were largely unaffected. How, she had no clue.

The dragon continued thunderously, “Your deference and thought towards decorum is also appreciated. I… am Tartarus, Firstborn of the Desert Drakes, Ruler of the Desert Dragonkin, Keeper of Titans, Devourer of Dunes, and Deity of Earth, Night, and Time.”

Alexis minds whirled at the titles. Tartarus, as in the abyss that serves as the dungeon of torment for the wicked and imprisoned Titans? Wait, there are deserts beneath the Earth’s crust? And their are dragonkin as well?

As she was caught up in her deliberations, Alexis missed Tyr’s subtle change of expression. Once the word “deity” was uttered, his eyes gained a momentary cruel glint and his jawline set resolutely before finally relaxing.

Tyr’s voice bounced over the desolate area with humble flattery, “Truly, it is my life’s greatest fortune to be able to stand in your presence, o’ subduer of Titans! Word has lingered from ancient times of your greatness.”

Tartarus humphed in satisfaction and slightly shifted his body, his scales roughly grinding against their neighbors and producing a sound that gave the illusion of sabers and armor rattling on a battlefield. Tyr gave a fake start and hastened to “collect” himself.

Placing a hand on Ruin’s neck to stabilize himself, he looked fearfully towards the monstrous beast a couple dozen yards away and asked, “Noble Tartarus, I know it is above my station to inquire after the affairs of those beyond me, but may I be so bold as to ask how you have ended up on the surface lands? We have never seen your likeness.”

Puffs of flame came from the dragon’s nostril as he squinted for a moment, digesting the words. Alexis thought the move was too obvious on Tyr’s part to gather information, but as she watched for any aggressive actions from Tartarus, she soon realized that this existence merely thought of them as ants.

“That isss very brazen… however, I will make an exception,” the dragon said slowly. “The truth of the matter is that none who came to the surface did so willingly. One day, a hole was punched in our realm, shattering the night above the dunes of my region and the very volcanic rock beneath our wings. Shattered star crystals fell like rain. I flew to personally investigate and soon found an enormous tower that was alien in design.”

Tartarus shook his head in memory. “Sadly, I was naive. I did not notice that the lower creatures were being drawn to it like moths to a flame. I myself was overcome with this compelling desire to enter the tower,” he emphasized. “Afterwards… I do not know. I am still confused as to what happened. The next thing I knew I was peering out into the fabled light of day over a lush, green land.”

The dragon turn his massive snout skyward and said reverently with his eyes closed, “That sacred energy that cascades from the heavens… can you fathom the pleasure that finally experiencing it after several billions of years brings? I may be the deity of night, but what creatures of the same doesn’t yearn for the light of day?” His eyes opened back up and the wistful look was replaced with one of ferocity. “I think I like it here. I shall make it mine.”

A shiver traced Alexis’ spine as those tumultuous words spilled from that savage maw. Wasn’t this a declaration of war on the species who lived on the surface? Tyr, however, was largely unmoved by the behemoth’s words.

Nodding as if considering such a vision of the future, he replied while absentmindedly stroking Ruin’s black mane, “Of course. Is there someone more deserving and capable of ruling the world? Absolutely not!” He paused dramatically and offered cautiously, “Your majesty, I know I don’t have much that could be considered of interest to one as great as yourself, but I did recently find a treasure that might be worthy of you.” With those words, Ruin sidestepped, revealing a now red and pulsing fruit that danced with flames.

The three moved backwards in a show of submission and Tyr narrated while they backed up, “My servant and I were traveling through the land when we came across this devastated area. At the center of the conflagration was this fruit on a vine. After meeting you, it is obvious that only a figure such as yourself is worthy of possessing such a gift from nature.”

Hearing Tyr’s words, Tartarus snaked his giant head towards the tiny fruit that was like a seed in comparison before him. Sniffing it heavily, inciting mini twisters to form in the surround ash and cinder, he quickly reared back in surprise.

“This is the purest essence of fire I have ever seen!” the dragon exclaimed. He turned to the bowing blonde man and added, “You have discerning eyes, little human. I will accept this gift.” A moment later, the monster snaked out a forked tongue the size of a car and flicked up the flaming fruit into his mouth. With a gulp it disappeared.

Tyr bowed again and ask, “Mighty one, we are still trying to find a place to live under this dangerous sky that now contains monsters beyond our comprehension. May we depart?”

Alexis sucked in a breath of ashy air and held it, also bowing her head in a show of supplication and deference. She didn’t know what would happen if the dragon refused. Would they be outright slaughtered as a tasty snack? Or would they be enslaved to do work for the dragon? Tyr and Ruin were too spent to fight back it looks like, so their situation hinged on this moment.

After a few moments, the dragon rumbled, “Very well. Go, and declare my coming to those of this land. I will spend some time digesting this flame and then I will begin my subjugation.”

“I look forward to that day, your majesty,” Tyr answered back and the three started to back away.

With an ear-splitting roar that announced, Tartarus suddenly began flapping his wings and lifted off from the ground. Alexis’ eyes watched those incredibly large canvases that gripped at the air to provide lift, and noticed that there was a distortion every time they made a downward beat. Is it using magic? Pondering on how that could be the case, she turned and followed the pair as they walked towards one of the still covered cocoons.

***

Tree husks passed slowly on their sides, and they soon arrived an untouched portion of land where the first survivor lay.

Tyr grimaced as he thought mentally, I’m down to 1%. I vastly underestimated that beast. If I had tried to fight conventionally, I would be dead within the span of 10 breaths, even if I had burned the Gift’s power to aid me. The frustration he felt was overwhelming. Without even realizing it, he had developed an incredible pride after all these years.

You made a wise choice, master, Ruin replied. It would require our combined might to defeat such a foe in a direct confrontation. However, I myself, am also down to 1%. I channeled everything that I could spare into the fruit’s alteration. It should take about five days for the flames to subside and the poison to be revealed.

Tyr nodded. When it does, even a dragon will come to understand that it is not invincible in the world. It probably won’t kill it, but it’ll at least inflict grievous injuries to his internal organs. Even with the strongest vitality, it would require months to years of recuperation to stand, let alone seek us out. A flame seemed to have been ignited in his gut. He’d never suffered such humiliation before. Just the thought of having to pretend in such a manner made his blood boil.

We’ll have to make preparations for that day, then.

“You two are doing that thing again, aren’t you,” Alexis suddenly spoke up and tapped on the back of Tyr’s head. “What did you and Ruin do back there? I about fell over in shock when you started acting like that.”

Tyr groaned. Turning his head to the side, he glared at her, “Never speak of that again. Trickery was the only method we had to walk out of there alive. I had initially thought that I could fight the beast, but upon seeing his armor and finding out that he had intelligence, I realized that it would take much more than the small scraps of power I had left to wound or kill him in a direct fight.

“So I poured the majority of my remaining power into enhancing and mutating the poison characteristic of the fruit. Ruin then added an… explosive… aspect to it and disguised the fruit with flame. From your description, that seemed the element closest to what all dragons would crave. What we’ve done has bought us time. In five days, the fruit will erupt, inflicting massive damage to his insides and organs. Furthermore, the poison will seep into his blood, halting any normal regenerative ability.”

“Will he die then?” Alexis looked a little bit regretful and it instantly soured Tyr’s mood even further.

“Little girl, let me be perfectly clear. That is a monster. Even worse, he claimed to be a deity. There is only one Being worthy of such a title and it is He that I serve. I, we…” he motioned towards Ruin’s bobbing head as they walked closer to a tied up man, “Will not allow a pretender to live peacefully under the same sky as us. However, since we’re so weak, we lack the ability to strike him down at the present moment. All that I can guarantee is that he will not be terrorizing the region for many months or years yet to come.”

“For the mean time, we will prepare for the day that he recovers,” he finished seriously.

“Ah,” Alexis quietly uttered.

Seeing her suddenly turn so demure, Tyr shook his head with a sigh. Through his link with her he could tell that she was normally more, well, fiery, it practically oozed from her soul, but it was obvious that the deaths of her family were going to take a long time to leave her mind. Hopefully within a week or two she would start acting in a way more true to herself, if that was even possible.

Reaching out a hand that still had its tattered glove on, Tyr yanked on the spider cocoon that was emitting muffled noises of help! Help! However, his strength wasn’t up to the task. A desolate chuckle came from his lips as he reached out and conjured the smallest, most nondescript dagger from the Armory. He couldn’t afford to summon much else. If he so much as used one of those other weapons too fiercely, it would drain the last remaining 1% that he was dearly holding onto.

After ten minutes of rigorous sawing, Tyr managed to split the cocoon 70% of the way down, enabling the sticky and disheveled man housed within to help force the rest open. The man who was covered in a suit took in a deep, trembling breath from the air and then looked around bewilderedly. Everything was soot and ash.

Tyr snapped in front of his face, bringing his attention back to the armored individual who helped him out. He said calmly, “You’re okay. Hey. You hear me? You’re fine. What’s your name?”

The black haired man with furtive eyes blinked at him and then stuttered back, “I’m..I’m Bryan. Bryan Jones.”

“Alright, Bryan. What is your profession?”

Bryan looked up at him confused, but still answered, “I’m a banker.”

Tyr shook his head and then looked towards Alexis.

“He deals with coin and loans at a bank that keeps other people’s money safe. He is very good at finances and math,” she answered as she looked on.

Tyr gave a soft ah and then patted the man on the shoulder. I can tell that he isn’t the one keeping the money safe. Looks like he’s never even been in a fight. “We may have need of you in time, then. But for now, you’re going to have to help pull some weight so we can all survive, okay?”

“Okay…” Bryan replied with trepidation.

“Good man.” Tyr helped him to his feet. “For now, help me get everyone out.” He pointed towards their surroundings and Bryan’s eyes grew large.

Odd… Tyr remarked to his steed. Could he not hear inside the cocoon? All he got back was a snort.

It took two whole hours to get everyone out, even with Tyr and several others helping. In large part, it was due to the fact that there was only a single knife between everyone. At the very end, however, they managed to rescue 12 men and 4 women. Not a single one had heard their conversation with the titanic beast. Four of the cocoons had asphyxiated their occupants and the group could only bury them in the organic coffin where they died.

A few said prayers, while others watched on in mute shock. Tyr could tell that everyone was badly shaken. Who has ever lived through being attacked and bound by giant spiders only to wait in silent horror for the time to come where their insides are liquified by venom and slurped like a smoothie? They all huddled together under the gathering moonlight

The time they needed to recover was probably large, but he couldn’t give them long. They needed to make it to a safe place first and night was already upon them. Even if he’d eliminated the ground species, he knew that they weren’t necessarily safe from the air or subterranean variety if such existed.

Waving his hands, he got everyone’s attention, noting the few looks of suspicion that fell on him. He was the only there that had any kind of armor on after all, so it would suspicious.

“Everyone, I know you just went through something difficult, but I’m afraid we don’t have time to stand around. The first thing is to make it to town and secure shelter, food, and a water source. The monsters have retreated for now due to an unknown cause, but they will be back. So defenses are in order. We need to find the survivors there and erect fortifications as soon as possible.”

“Screw that,” a young woman in her twenties suddenly stood up. “I have to go find my boyfriend! He’s probably out looking for me right now!”

Another man looked at Tyr with a silent plea in his eyes and said, “I have to find my family. My wife was at home with our two month-old daughter.”

“My mom…”

“My dog Chichi…”

A tumult suddenly roared to life as they all started talking about the places they thought they should go. While it was admirable that they all started to think of their families or loved ones, he couldn’t help feeling frustrated at their lack of survival instinct. What the hell did they think was going to happen afterwards? Did humans really become so peaceful in the time that he was away that they had no concept of danger?

Tyr quietly pinched the bridge of his nose and then raised both hands, shouting, “Silence!” After they’d all quieted down a little bit, he continued, “I understand your concerns, but we have no clue when the monsters will return! If measures aren’t taken, you will die this next time for sure.”

Another man that was in a grungy suit scoffed off to the side, “Where is the army or national guard? Why am I listening to some fucking kid, who obviously hasn’t finished growing hair on his chest, try and order us around?”

A few faces brightened at the mention of what Tyr could only guess what this country’s military. Another pretty woman in her thirties wiped spider silk from her glasses and spoke out, “Yeah! Where is the national guard?”

Alexis strode forward to stand beside Tyr and answered chillingly, “Did you all forget the fact that technology no longer works?”

Suddenly, there was silence all around. A bookish man offered up, “Maybe guns still work at least?”

A solidly built black man who’d been standing off to the side shook his head and shot down that hope. “No, I’m a Sergeant in the Army. The first thing I did when I saw the fuckers was reach for my AR. Damn thing didn’t work. I fought em’ off with my combat knife until I was finally snatched on the outskirts of town trying to head to my ex-girlfriend’s house.”

Tyr watched the gears turn in their heads some more before he said, “Time is of the essence, people. We need to go.”

The same snide man from before spoke up again, declaring, “I’m not arguing with what you’re saying, but I can’t take orders from a kid.”

“What about we vote democratically as to what we should do?”

A few people nodded and the twenty something girl added an enthusiastic, “Yeah!” afterwards.

Their fervor was soon interrupted by a mocking laughter, however, and all eyes turned to rest on Tyr. He was shaking his head in exasperation. “When did humans become so stupid?” he asked condescendingly. “The word “democratically”, as in the Greek approach to governmental decisionmaking, is being bandied about by commoners like it’s applicable in this situation?”

He turned his eyes, which looked as if he was gazing at idiots, towards the crowd and went on to say, “This is a survival and combat situation. What right do any of you have, besides the soldier standing there, to even hope of having a say? Did you forget that I saved you?”

Tyr stalked in between them, eliciting a flinch here or there as he spoke in their faces, “Democracy is a grand concept for nations or city-states, not for small group dynamics in times of conflict. If you want to survive, I highly suggest you listen to me. If you think that you can’t do that…”

He stopped and threw his knife upwards. Eyes all around watched the blade as it spun up into the air and then arced back downwards, sinking perfect into the ground like a “t”. “You are free to challenge me for leadership. Or, of course, you can leave the group. I will not stop you. However, it is a decision that you will have to live with if you choose it,” he finished with a cold glint in his eye.

The sergeant strode forward confidently and asked, “If it is a “might makes right” rule you’re trying to establish, I will challenge you. It’s my duty to protect these people, especially from those who would seek to use and abuse them.”

Tyr nodded in appreciation. “A true soldier of the people. However, you are mistaken. I only wish to lead them towards survival.”

The black man snorted and took off his t-shirt, revealing the corded muscle beneath. “I can’t take your word for it. Too much is at stake.”

“Very well, let’s play then.” Tyr flexed and cracked his knuckles.

What followed couldn’t be said to be a fight so much as it was a stomping. The sergeant tried to utilize his training to deal with the smaller looking teen, but every time he tried to grapple him, the blonde youngster would slip away, dealing damage on his way by or skillfully disabling the bigger man by pressure points or perfectly placed counters.

After five minutes of acting as a punching bag, the sergeant finally sat down heavily in the ash and said in between pain-filled pants, “You’re a freak, you know that? I’ve practiced my MCMAP skills to the point where I can easily beat everyone else in my division. I even went to the Army competition for it last year and placed second, but you…” He raised his dark brown eyes up towards Tyr’s face that was illuminated by the full moon. “You handled me so easily, I felt like a toddler in front of you. Who are you?”

Tyr offered him a hand while smirking; he wasn’t even out of breath. “My name is Tyr and I’m a... foreigner. What’s your name?”

“Malik Johnson,” he replied. Malik paused for a moment and then leveled a gaze at the smaller blonde man with long hair. “Did you mean what you said about everything being about survival?”

Tyr nodded. “Every word. And I can promise you that my tactical skills are even more frightening than my hand-to-hand.”

Malik nodded and then turned to the wide eyed group around them. Everyone had gathered around in a ring to watch the challenge and were now looking at Tyr with a small measure of horror. The loud man from before had blanched a pale white and now said nothing, choosing to stay out of the man’s vision at all costs. The only one that had a soft smile on her face was Alexis as she looked at Tyr’s imposing figure. No one could tell what she was thinking at that moment.

The sergeant looked around and spoke, “I think the best option is to follow him. At the very least, my intuition is saying that it’ll be safer. I know you’re all concerned about your loved ones, but staying alive for them has to take priority here. Who knows, they may be holed up safe and sound. I’m sure we’ll be able to look for them in the future. Tyr.” He turned back to the handsome man in ripped leather armor and wild blonde hair. “What’s the next move?”

Tyr smiled tiredly and answered with a shrug, “What I’ve been trying to do for the past six hours… go to town.”