By Richard LeBlanc
Chapter Nine
The Jade Dragon began its descent. it watched as the small army of mechanical constructs began to pile on top of each other. It was at that moment that he realized that something was - different. The beasts should have risen up as they had before. why was the pile of mechanical parts unmoving? It was then that it realized - they were not forming a small group of large monsters - they were forming - one huge monster. The dragon watched as the mess of parts began to take on the shape of a giant almost the same size as himself.
"I will not be bested by your two bit toys!" it roared. It opened it's massive jaws and exploded a pillar of emerald green flames towards the slow moving giant. Before the flames could touch the massive robotic giant - a huge mystic veil appeared on the giant. the flames danced harmlessly along the veil and did no damage what so ever.
"I couldn't see the forest through the trees Dragon." Toymaker began. The giant slowly stood up. Thortan was amazed at how huge the creature was. It stood at least three times taller than any castle he had ever seen. It was almost as big as big as the dragon - but was still a bit smaller.
"Now - you will see my power!" Toymaker continued. He extended his arms outward as he had before. The Golden Heart of Growth appeared over his head. Thortan watched as the skull sized jewel began to spin. The towering giant began to throb with power. he watched as it doubled in size. The dragon got bigger too - but now they were almost the same size.
"H-hurts..." Toymaker strained as the upkeep of the heart took effect on him. his creation grew large still. The dragon grew as well - now the two were the same size. The jewel began to spin faster. His giant grew even bigger. The dragon grew as well - but now - the giant was bigger.
"Attack!" Toymaker screamed. His giant leaped up and flew towards the startled dragon. as it flew it doubled in size again. the dragon watched as the giant's mighty arm wound up and punched a hole right through its armor plated chest. Down below - the two watched as gears and other parts fell from the Jade Dragon. Toymaker then let out a scream. Much like before - his giant exploded. all of the debris disintigrated within seconds. Thortan looked up and saw the remains of the now dead dragon slowly falling.
"Oh - shit. Time to run!" he muttered. he picked up the fallen wizard and began to quickly run. Just as he had gotten several meters away from where Toymaker had fallen - the Dragon smashed into the earth. The force of the impact sent Thortan soaring.
Moments later - the dust began to settle. Thortan looked back and saw the dead dragon. The head of the dragon had fallen off, the armor plating was severly damaged and now showed metal joints that held the limbs and wings in place, and the hole the size of a fair sized lake that went right through the former dragon's chest.
"That - was messy." he muttered. Just then the dragon began to sparkle. He watched as the dragon began to slowly shrink in size. The power that had made it so big and strong - had clearly expired. by the time the transformation had completed - the monstrous dragon was only the size of a house.
"No wonder he tried to swarm the thing. wonder how it got so powered up." Thortan muttered. seconds later, Toymaker slowly regained consciousness. He looked over and saw the unmoving dragon.
"It worked." he muttered.
"So it would seem. You going to live?" he asked.
"I'll be fine. Wait - what is that?" he asked himself. Thortan looked over in the direction that the wizard was looking in but saw only the remains of a dead artifact dragon.
"What are you looking at?" he asked.
"Wait here." he replied. Thortan watched as Toymaker made his way over to the dragon. he watched as the wizard reached into one of the holes in the dragon's armor and slowly pulled out a small device.
"Don't tell me that thing is another piece of that puzzle." Thortan said in disbelief.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough." he replied. Thortan watched as Toymaker took out the other pieces that he had found and slowly touched the new item to the old ones.All of the items glowed and melded into one piece. A bright flash of light engufled the dragon. Toymaker looked at the item that was now in his hand - it appeared to be an old looking jewelery box - with a crystal jade dragon in it.
"Was that the last piece?" Thortan asked.
"No - one piece is missing." he answered. he slowly began to turn around. as he did - he noticed that the dragon turned to face in one direction. Toymaker looked up and smiled.
"And i have a feeling that i know where it is." he added.
"Where?" he asked.
"Where my old friend is. How convienient for me. Hold my hand." he instructed. Thortan did as he was told. Toymaker and Thortan vanished.
Several miles away - the two reappeared. Toymaker looked at the dragon and saw that it was still facing in the same direction. He slowly looked straight ahead. There it was - a huge fortress that stood in the center of the huge Savanna. He knew that it could be no place other than the keep of his foe.
"That is where i will find the last piece of this puzzle - and my enemy." he said coldly.
To be continued...
