Within the vast expanse of his imagination, Xavier found himself trapped in the same dream that had haunted him for years. A mother cradled her newborn in a dimly lit hospital ward, her voice soft as she hummed a lullaby. The door creaked open, and a man entered—her husband, Xavier assumed. But as always, just before he could hear the name they whispered for the child, the dream faded.
Xavier jolted awake, drenched in sweat. His breaths came ragged as his mind adjusted to reality, only to be met with an unsettling truth—he wasn't where he was supposed to be.
A massive underground cavern stretched before him, its walls lined with ancient carvings, its floor glimmering with mountains of gold and gemstones. The sight would have made any man lose himself in greed, but Xavier barely registered it. Pain flared through his body as he tried to sit up, his bandaged wounds splitting open. He gritted his teeth, swallowing a cry before grabbing a nearby stick to support himself.
Each step was agony, but he forced himself forward, scanning his surroundings. Then, something familiar caught his eye—a massive metallic gate, eerily similar to the one he had seen during his battle with the varmint. His pulse quickened.
A sudden tremor shook the cavern. Dust and loose stones rained down as the air thickened with an ominous presence. A low growl rumbled from the depths, followed by the sound of heavy footfalls approaching.
The dragon had returned.
Xavier's heart pounded in his chest. He ducked behind a jagged rock formation, his breath shallow, his mind racing. The ground trembled with every step the beast took, its sheer weight causing the cavern walls to groan in protest. He pressed himself further into the shadows, barely daring to breathe.
Then, silence.
A chill ran down his spine. Slowly, cautiously, he turned his head—only to find himself face to face with two piercing, golden eyes.
"Found you."
The voice was deep, reverberating through his very bones, carrying a mix of amusement and menace.
Xavier's body seized in terror. A strangled cry escaped his lips as he scrambled backward, his limbs betraying him. He hit the ground hard, curling into himself, his hands shielding his face as he trembled uncontrollably.
Laughter. Deep, rich, and wholly unexpected.
"You don't have to worry, child," the dragon rumbled, a trace of amusement lacing his words. "I won't eat you." A brief pause. Then, with a chuckle, he added, "Humans aren't exactly my favorite snack. They taste funny."
Xavier hesitated, his fingers slowly lowering from his face. Warily, he forced himself to look at the creature before him.
Majestic. That was the only word that could describe what he saw.
The dragon was immense, yet somehow smaller than when he had last seen it in battle. Its body was covered in brilliant, snow-white scales, each one reflecting light like polished marble. Golden patterns swirled across its muscular form, intricate and divine. Six immense wings extended from its back, their sheer presence radiating an aura of supremacy. Its tail, as long as a towering sequoia, coiled behind it, while two sets of razor-sharp horns—one grand and curved, the other smaller but equally menacing—adorned its head like a crown.
Yet, despite its overwhelming presence, Xavier couldn't ignore the deep scars marring its body. This creature, for all its glory, had suffered.
"Who… who are you?" Xavier asked, his voice hoarse.
"And where am I?"
The dragon's lips curled into a grin. "I am the almighty Dragon King Alcmena," he declared. "The King of Dragons; the Grand Herrscher of the Cosmic Realms; the Patriarch of Kings; and the Prince of Stars."
Xavier stared, his mind struggling to process the sheer grandeur of the titles. How could something so awe-inspiring exist? Weren't dragons supposed to be terrifying creatures of destruction? This one, though powerful, radiated wisdom and regality unlike anything he had ever known.
His thoughts were interrupted by Alcmena's gaze shifting toward his wounds. The dragon extended a clawed hand, surprisingly gentle as he cradled Xavier in his massive palm. A warm, soothing energy seeped into Xavier's body as his wounds began to mend.
"That battle against the varmint took quite a toll on you," Alcmena mused with a smirk.
Xavier let out a weary chuckle. "Yeah… thought I was a goner."
"Well, you're lucky I was here to intervene," Alcmena replied, his tone light but firm. "You were beginning to show signs of the Black Death."
Xavier frowned. "The Black Death?"
"A vile affliction contracted through contact with a varmint. Had I not acted in time, it would have spread through your body and corrupted your ethereal core."
A shiver ran through Xavier. "So… you saved me?"
Alcmena merely nodded.
Xavier exhaled, bowing his head. "Thank you, Sir Dragon King."
Alcmena let out a gruff noise, looking mildly embarrassed. "Just King Alcmena will do."
Xavier grinned. "Got it, King Alcmena."
With that, the dragon rose to his full height, his wings spreading wide. Without warning, he leaped into the air, his wings carrying them toward the cavern's ceiling. Xavier barely had time to react before the dragon shot through a massive fracture in the rock, ascending high above the world.
The wind roared around them as they soared higher and higher, piercing through the dense cloud cover. Then, as they reached the stratosphere, Alcmena slowed, allowing Xavier to take in the breathtaking view.
Below them, the world stretched endlessly, bathed in hues of gold and sapphire under the vast sky. Xavier clutched onto Alcmena's scales, his eyes wide with awe.
For the first time in a long while, he felt something other than fear or pain.
He felt free.
"You asked me where you were, so I showed you exactly where you were," Dragon King Alcmena explained, still holding Xavier in his left hand.
Xavier's hair flowed in the breeze as he took in the breathtaking beauty of the vibrant forest around them. The sun's rays gleamed with an ethereal brilliance, and the sky—spanning with celestial wonders—seemed far grander than anything he had ever witnessed on Earth. The very air here carried a sense of tranquility that made his soul stir with awe.
Sensing Xavier's admiration, Alcmena spoke with a calm authority. "This place is beyond the realm of humans. It is a reality I have forged, untouched by the laws of your world."
Xavier was speechless. The sheer fact that Alcmena could create an entire dimension—one teeming with life, color, and fantastical creatures—felt surreal. This was no illusion; it was a world in itself, shaped by the will of a being beyond mortal comprehension.
After a while, Alcmena carried Xavier back to the cave, encouraging him to rest. "You should sleep. Your body still needs time to recover."
"I'm fine," Xavier insisted, shaking his head. "I don't need to rest."
Alcmena exhaled, clearly unamused by Xavier's stubbornness. He had seen that same defiance before—from warriors who believed themselves invincible, only to fall from their own pride. But before he could argue further, Xavier's eyes landed on something within the cave walls.
"What are these carvings?" he asked, stepping closer.
Alcmena studied Xavier for a moment before answering. "They are stories," he said. "Memories I've preserved so I never forget what I've witnessed."
Xavier ran his fingers over one of the engravings, marveling at its intricate details. It depicted a warrior wielding a divine-like longsword, surrounded by comrades. The craftsmanship reminded him of his best friend Jupiter's drawings, causing him to glance at Alcmena with newfound curiosity.
The Dragon King noticed. With a slight smile, he asked, "Xavier, have you ever wondered why I choose to live in such isolation?"
Xavier blinked. "No... not really," he admitted. "But now that you mention it, why?"
Alcmena turned toward the deepest part of the cave, his expression darkening slightly. "Because this world holds the most powerful weapon ever created—Divine Blade, Excalibur, the Legendary Blade of God."
Xavier's eyes widened. "Excalibur?" he echoed in amazement. "Like... the Excalibur?"
Alcmena nodded. "The very same."
Intrigued, Xavier urged him to continue. The Dragon King explained that Excalibur was forged by Ulfberht, the Father of Blades, a mythical blacksmith who created weapons beyond mortal craftsmanship—ethereal instruments. But this particular blade was unlike any other—it was born from the last remnants of the Dragon God Eldora's bones, a gift from Origin, the One Above All.
"Origin himself heard the cries of humanity and granted Ulfberht a fragment of His power," Alcmena recounted. "With it, he shaped a blade that could stand against the very creatures that threatened the mortal world—the varmints."
Xavier listened, enraptured.
"But there was a catch," Alcmena continued. "The power of Excalibur was too immense. No mortal could wield it for thousands—perhaps millions—of years. Until, at last, the blade chose its rightful master: Saint Sebastian Akintola."
Xavier's heart pounded at the name. "Saint Sebastian... the Legendary Hero?" he whispered.
Alcmena nodded. "With Excalibur in his grasp, he eradicated the varmints and struck down Emperor Julius, the Harbinger of Havoc."
Xavier could hardly believe it. He had read tales of Saint Sebastian, but to hear it firsthand from someone who had lived through those times was something else entirely.
"And after Saint Sebastian fell in battle to his injuries," Alcmena added, "Origin tasked me with guarding Excalibur. That is why I remain here. And that is why the varmints disappeared for so long—until now. All because of the Great Hero, Saint Sebastian."
A heavy silence settled between them as the weight of those words sank in. Xavier could feel it—the undercurrent of something vast and ominous stirring beneath Alcmena's stoic demeanor.
"But why you?" Xavier finally asked. "Why were you chosen to guard it?"
Alcmena smiled, though there was something bittersweet in his gaze. "Because I am the son of Eldora D. Regaliath—the Supreme Being of Dragons and Beasts."
Xavier's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Wait... you're the son of the Dragon God Eldora?!"
Alcmena chuckled at Xavier's stunned reaction. "Yes. Prince Alcmena D. Regaliath."
Xavier could hardly process it. The very idea of standing before the son of a being so powerful made his head spin.
Alcmena, amused by Xavier's astonishment, continued. "My father was Origin's left-hand—the protector of Excalibur before me. He believed that true strength lay not only in power, but in wisdom, compassion, and the courage to bear responsibility. That is why he was chosen. And that is why, in time, I was chosen as well."
Xavier nodded slowly, the revelations stacking in his mind like puzzle pieces. "That must be amazing—to guard a weapon like Excalibur."
Alcmena smirked. "Not exactly."
Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Because countless people have tried to kill me for it."
Xavier frowned. "That's... depressing."
"Oh, it gets worse," Alcmena said with a hint of dry amusement. "My own twin brother tried to kill me for it."
Xavier's shock returned tenfold. "Wait—you have a brother?!"
Alcmena nodded, though his expression darkened. "Yes. We were once very close. But now, not anymore."
Xavier could feel the weight behind those words. "Why would your own brother try to kill you?"
Alcmena exhaled. "Because he was power-hungry. Always seeking to prove himself worthy of ruling. He wanted to be the next Dragon King—no, the next Dragon God. But our father knew better. He knew that leadership isn't about power alone. It's about wisdom, compassion, and the strength to bear the burdens of others."
Xavier watched Alcmena carefully. Despite the lighthearted tone he tried to maintain, there was deep pain buried in his words. A wound that time had yet to heal.
"In the end," Alcmena said softly, "it was his own ambition that led him astray. Just like my father warned."
Silence hung between them once more, thick with unspoken emotions.
Wanting to lighten the mood, Xavier joked, "Your father sounds like a very wise being."
King Alcmena gave a small, reminiscent smile. "Yes, he was. And I am proud to call myself his son."
Xavier's gaze fell upon the deep scars marring the Dragon King's body. He placed a cautious hand on one of them. "These... were they caused by your brother trying to kill you?"
King Alcmena exhaled slowly, his golden eyes darkening with old memories. "Yes, they were. We fought a battle that tore through the fabric of creation itself, many millennia ago."
Xavier's brows furrowed. "Why? What could be worth such devastation?"
"The Blade of Excalibur," Alcmena said, his voice laced with both reverence and sorrow. "My brother sought its power, and I had no choice but to stop him before he could lay his hands on it. But that battle... it cost me dearly. I am but a mere shell of what I once was."
Xavier's mind raced. Whoever Alcmena's brother was, he had to be unfathomably powerful to have fought him as an equal—let alone inflicted such lasting wounds.
Then, Alcmena's expression hardened, his voice dropping into a grave tone. "My twin brother is Destoroyah D. Regaliath. The Dragon King of Doom. The Grand Herrscher of Destruction and Chaos."
The name alone sent a wave of cold dread down Xavier's spine. His entire body tensed, instinct screaming at him that he had just heard something he wasn't meant to.
Seeing Xavier's reaction, Alcmena placed a reassuring clawed hand on his shoulder. "You need not fear him—not yet. After our battle, Destoroyah vanished, forced into hiding to recover from the wounds I inflicted."
Xavier let out a slow breath, relief washing over him. The idea that such a being was out there, waiting to return, was terrifying.
But then, Alcmena leaned in closer, his golden gaze burning with a silent warning. "Be mindful of where you travel, Xavier. Should you ever cross paths with him, you will not survive. Wherever Destoroyah treads, ruin, and inevitable death follows. Chaos is not just his nature—it is his very essence."
Xavier swallowed hard and gave a slow, understanding nod.
Then, Alcmena's stern expression softened into a smile. "Now, rest, Xavier. You'll need your strength."
Xavier nodded, ready to retreat, but then a sudden realization froze him in place. He had never told King Alcmena his name.
His head snapped back toward the dragon. "How do you know my name?"
A sly smirk curved Alcmena's lips. "I am a Herrscher, remember? We are nigh-omnipotent beings."
Xavier opened his mouth, grasping for words, but before he could respond, Alcmena's massive claw gently pressed against his shoulder, guiding him downward. The gesture was firm yet careful, as if the Dragon King himself was pleading for him to rest.
For now, Xavier relented. But his mind remained restless, haunted by the weight of what he had learned.