Legacy - Christopher Pastrana (books to read in your 20s TXT) 📗

single weak spot on the creatures body besides it's eyes. Reinhardt knew he was in serious trouble, without a way to escape, the fire and buildings would trap him with the red dragon.
         Throwing him off, it regained as much composure as an angry, injured dragon could muster. Still trying to get to his feet Reinhardt was vulnerable. Using its tail as a hammer the beast was able to bring the muscular tail up over his head before bringing it crashing down onto where Reinhardt was standing. Watching helplessly, he could feel his heart slow. Even after everything he had managed to do this creature would be his end. Those cloaked bastards were right, he was doomed to die just like all of the others, and there was nothing he could do.
         The thought of Briccio's lifeless body flashed before his eyes and he thought of that night near the fire. He had said that nothing would stop him from getting what he wanted, but he had never considered fighting a dragon as something he would have to do. Nobody has actually seen one this large in a long time.
         Unfolding its wings the dragon raised its muscled body off the ground and onto its back legs. It's chest started to expand again as it drew in air. It would only take a few more seconds before it could end this fight with a wave of fire. Having no other options Reinhardt reached onto his back and grabbed the handle of the massive longsword the cloaked men had given him.
         When this weapon was given to him he had decided to not use it. Something about it just didn't feel right, almost like it had its own mind. Often he realized that he was thinking about it when he was just walking or not concentrating on anything in particular. Not having a choice now he drew it from its sheath.
         Reinhardt's mind slowly cleared. The pain of his past flowed from his heart and out of his body. Everything around him seemed to realign itself. As a massive wave of fire roared towards him he was surprised to see that he could tell exactly where the attack would break apart if struck. Following his intuition Reinhardt lashed out and watched as the fire parted and missed him. A smile spread across his lips when he saw a surprised look on the dragons face.
         “Fine, if death is what they think I am, then I will be death.” All doubt left Reinhardt's mind. A strange pain ran just below his skin forcing him to grimace. Looking at his arms he watched as black veins spread under his skin like tattoo's. Examining his entire body he realized it wasn't just his arms that were now covered with the strange markings. If the cloaked men had mean anything by awakening his power than this had to be what they meant.
         Power coursed through his body like fire. Every inch of him was in pain but he felt amazing. Every muscle hardened, and his desire to fight was almost too much to hold back. More alive than it had ever been, the strange sword was now shaking with excitement. Reinhardt could feel his power flowing through the sword and realized that was the real purpose of the intricate design crafted beneath surface of the black blade. Dropping back onto its front legs the angry red dragon folded its wings behind it and let out a deafening roar.
         "I would prefer to not kill." Reinhardt grinned and rested his long sword on his shoulder. "But to be honest I don't think anybody will miss you once you're dead." Awakening

    Gravel began crushing under the monumental weight of the dragon as it began to shift its weight. Steam puffed from the beast's nose and mouth, echoing it's deep breaths. Reinhardt could see scales beginning to flex across the beast as it's lungs filled with air. He couldn't think of a greater way to test out his new abilities. 
         Taking the chance to go on the offensive, Reinhardt sprinted towards the unsuspecting dragon. Within a few steps he was within striking range. The distance he had covered should have taken him twice as long but the newly awakened powers coursing through his body made him endlessly stronger, and faster.
         Side stepping the blast of fire, he threw his sword, end over end, driving it into the animal's side. Crying out in pain Reinhardt easily dodged an attempt to crush him with one of it's massive claws. Closing the distance between them, he grabbed hold of his sword and ripped it free of the beast.
         Raising onto it's back legs the dragon attempted to crush Reinhardt again with one of it's clawed hands. Putting his sword between himself and the beast he caught the strike and held it from crushing him. Although his arms and back were straining to keep the weight of the beast off him it would have been impossible for him to have fought like this before awakening.
         The ground beneath him began to break and he started to lose his balance. Focusing more of his energy into his arms, Reinhardt turned the blade of his sword and sliced through the dragon's hand, letting the other half drop to the ground behind him. Pressing the attack, Reinhardt dodged another blast of fire and drove his sword straight into the creature's chest.
         Not used to fighting anything that could match it's own strength the Red dragon spread its wings and took flight. The speed it jerked up at ripped his sword from his hands. Unlatching his Dragon's tail, he lashed out with it, trying to catch the hilt of his sword.
         "Give me back my sword!" Pushing up with his legs, Reinhardt jumped into the air. As he flew through the sky he couldn't help but feel more free than he ever had before. All of the power that flowed through his body had made him something completely different than he believed was possible.
         Grabbing hold of the hilt, he placed his feet in the beast's body and pulled his sword free. No longer holding onto anything he began to fall back to the earth. While he fell he could hear the essence of the sword calling to him again. The darkness from within his body was gathering inside the blade, waiting to be used. Finally willing to give himself over to the will of the sword he followed its guidance and cut.
         A beam of dark energy tore away from the sword and impacted the fleeing dragon, cutting it in two. Turning over in the air, he impacted the ground, cracking it into thousands of pieces.
         Taking a moment to brush the dust off his body he fell to the ground in pain. The black tattoo's had begun pulsating with heat, nearly burning his body. Pulling his mind back into focus he stood. Since most of the city had been burned to the ground it was impossible for him to find anything, or anyone, that could help him.
         Looking back towards the gates he remembered Roas and her fight with Briver. Searching nearby he managed to find a cloak that would keep his body hidden for the time being. If she was alive he didn't want her seeing him like this, or not until he could fully explain what was happening.
         Taking one last look at the body parts of the large Red Dragon felt a sense of pain for the loss. It was a beautiful creature, but it had been extremely dangerous and it would have killed him, and many other, if he hadn't stopped it. Picking up a steady run, Reinhardt finally began his search for Roas.

Pursuit

    Fires still burned throughout the city of Nivged as Reinhardt searched for Roas. He cursed himself for not having been able to protect her better. Just before his fight with Astraeus she had been thrown into a fight with the Fire Master, Briver. The man was blood thirsty and far more experienced than Roas in combat. 
         Knowing there was nothing he could have done to change what happened he kept searching for her. Bodies of fallen soldiers lay all over the battle field. An eerie silence now rested over the battle field as countless numbers of people lay dead and burned. Without the chaos the dragon had wrought the place was devoid of all life.
         Wind rolled through his hair as he ran through the streets. Reaching the entrance of the city he was happy to see that the fire had burned human size holes in the thick wooden gates. Leaping through one of the holes two stories above where he was standing. After his full powers awakened Reinhardt had never felt so strong, fast, or alive. Blood had begun slowly dripping from the tattoo's on his body, and he could feel all of them burning into his skin.
         Landing outside the city walls and back onto the original battle field, he turned and headed in the direction of the first ball of fire. It was strange how this much destruction could be brought down upon a single place in such a short period of time. Only a few hours ago they had broken through the cavern wall and rode into the battle field. Now hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were likely to be dead.
         That dragon had expanded the battlefield into the city itself and before long had killed more, by itself, than him and all of his men combined. Even with many of them being armed members of the military, there were still countless innocents among them.
         Arriving where he saw the ball of fire he began searching for Roas. He was surprised to see that most of the bodies lying around were that of the Duzee army