So much energy and so little time. The task laid before him required so much energy--more energy than he could muster at this point, and yet he knew that time was against him. With as much vigor as he could muster, he grasped his sword in his hand with hard determination, and heaved himself and his heavy armor to his feet. His knee felt sore to move it, for he had been leaning on it so for what seemed an eternity. The wound on his right shoulder looked a glimmering trickle of blood, and he wasn't sure if it was still flowing or if it had stopped. It didn't matter now, what he must do might take his life and he had already resolved to use his body as the vessel to make it happen, even if such a tool was sacrificed in the process.
The beast was still paralyzed. Gasping for air and its long, curled body heaving, it slowly lifted its head, seemingly weakly, to look at the warrior before him. Darkness would scarcely allow one another much view of each other, all except for the dim light provided by the burning corpses around them. The cave stunk of charring flesh, those of the warrior's village, his comrades, his friends. But it did not deter the focus of the opposing foes, both anticipating the other's next move, knowing it meant death for either one of them.
The warrior pointed his blade upright towards the ceiling and then stretched the arm holding it toward the beast, as he lowered his head to stare intently at the sacred animal before him. Sacred though it once was, it was now a traitor, and the people it betrayed would not see another day until it was dead. Once it had been powerful, nearly unstoppable, but the Vial of Binding had done as the old witch said, robbing it of much of its strength, if only for a moment. Long enough for the warrior to plunge a dagger into the underside of its front left appendage, where it was said would slowly bleed the creature to death. Stabbing it was the easy part, surviving its awakened fury was the hard part, and the warrior was now in no better shape than the beast, with only one good arm, shaken strength, and a great disadvantage in size.
Onin knew that appearances were deceiving. Even if the creature appeared greatly weaker and injured than it had been, even its smallest movements could send a man flying far in the distance. A fact Onin had just found for himself to be true.
Onin took a deep breath, and put all his might into speaking the words that would damn the beast to the bowels of hell.
"Midol! You have been convicted of treachery by the Priesthood of Sanctity for the murders of villagers you had sworn to protect! It has befallen me to cease your existence so that no longer may you harm others unjustly! Die now as it befits your evil heart!"
The beast stared intently at the human standing before him. He gave what seemed to be a heavy sigh, as he closed his eyes and turned his head away from the man. He opened his eyes to look at the surroundings. A moment passed before the dragon finally spoke, in a voice both growling and frail.
"Thousands of years I protected your kind from the raging sea. Many creatures emerged from the waters intent on conquering your land. Some looked like you, vast in numbers with the best of what mighty machines they were able to craft. Others were like me. Creatures foretold in the old stories and brought to life by the passage of time, after their memory had left even my own. And then some came very much unlike anything you or I had ever known or dreamt of. The hallowed gem they pursued was the creator of life, and to protect it was to protect all solemn creatures including yourselves who meant no harm to themselves or others. That is why I lived here. And over time I finally thought I could understand you. Your ways, your culture. You showed love, and compassion... Things not taught among the dragons of this world. I even grew to feel those emotions myself, and found I became quite fond of you humans. But all my understanding was a falsehood. You found the secrets of the gem and sought to make them your own. You forced me to choose between what I was born to protect, and what I had learned to love. It seems we both lost sight of what was really important." The beast paused and lifted his head. A narrow opening above shown the night sky. A cloud passed over the full lit moon, revealing a ray of luminance over the face of the dying animal as he gazed toward it.
"For thousands of years I have protected you... A terribly short time for a dragon."
The sword in the warriors hand lowered to point its blade at the creature's head. His other hand weakly lifted to grasp the butt of the handle. His weight shifted forward, and his legs moved to catch him. Forcefully he pushed onward, growing in speed with each step. As he approached, the beast held its gaze towards the heavens, and with a cry that echoed through the ages, he speared the dragon in the neck. With a great thud, its head fell to the ground. The warrior dropped to his knees, still clenching his weapon. His eyes never left those of the beast's, before his vision clouded to the swell of tears. At last, the great Midol was dead.
