The Monster** (in a deep, mocking voice):
*"Oh… so you've come, little lizard! Do you think your black scales frighten me? Look around you… these weaklings* (pointing at the trembling soldiers) *are hiding like mice! Even if they all banded together, they couldn't scratch your smooth skin!"*
**The Black Dragon** (slowly spreading its wings, eyes burning with cold fire):
*"You claim to be the strongest? You repulsive beast—you've forgotten that humans crafted you from their pitiful imagination. You're just a fleeting nightmare!"*
**The Monster** (chuckling darkly, then whispering menacingly):
*"No… they crafted* you. *A dragon!* (mimicking a child's voice) *'Wow, a legendary creature that spreads terror!'* (back to his deep tone) *But you're just a puppet in their stories. To this day, not one of them has dared touch your tail!"*
(Some soldiers exchange terrified glances, while others smirk with sick amusement.)
**The Dragon** (roaring, but with a hint of sorrow):
*"At least I don't debase myself hunting these insects! You slaughter them because… they remind you that you're* nothing*!"*
**The Monster** (pausing abruptly, then bursting into laughter):
*"And* you… *you flee to the clouds when a child raises a wooden sword!* (whispering) *Tell me, oh mighty dragon… how many of these weaklings would it take to kill you? One? Two?* (pointing at the soldiers) *Here they are—take them! But you won't. Because you* fear *them!"*
(A heavy silence falls. The dragon stares at the monster, then at the soldiers. Suddenly, it laughs too—but its laughter sounds like a groan.)
**The Monster** locks eyes with the Black Dragon, then slowly raises its hands. A blazing red fireball forms between its palms, exploding violently in the dragon's face with a deafening roar. Yet the flames scatter harmlessly around its obsidian scales like a passing breeze, leaving no mark. The dragon doesn't flinch—only raises an eyebrow mockingly as the soldiers watch in horrified awe.
**The Monster** (ignoring the failed attack, laughing hoarsely):
*"Ah, the lizard forgot to mention its scales are immune to* boredom*! Is this the best you've got? Even the midday sun burns hotter than your fire!"*
**The Black Dragon** (stretching lazily, as if flaunting its immunity):
*"Don't blame your feeble flames… blame your feeble mind. How long have you wasted energy on attacks that don't even scratch me?* (shaking its head) *Maybe if you focused instead of yapping, you'd be more than a* joke*!"*
(The soldiers exchange glances. One whispers: *"Why don't they just kill each other and end this?"* Another replies: *"Because we'll die first!"*)
**The Monster** (rolling its eyes, then slamming its claws into the ground, splitting the rocks):
*"Do I care if your scales burn?* (pointing at the soldiers) *These weaklings think we're competing!* (laughs wildly) *But you know the truth… we both do."*
**The Dragon** (stepping forward, its voice suddenly somber despite the sarcasm):
*"Yes… we're just monsters in a children's tale. Even if we vanish, they'll create others—* (glancing at the sky) *maybe a winged beast, or a three-headed dragon! As long as they stay afraid."*
(The monster falls silent, then turns to the soldiers, now frozen in place. It raises its hands in mock surrender—before suddenly striking the earth again. A hail of boulders cascades from the mountains, trapping everyone in a stone circle.)
**The Monster** (whispering sweetly, yet chillingly):
*"So… what if we change the rules? No fire… no scales… just teeth and claws. Which of us will survive when these 'weaklings' finally decide to fight?"*
(The dragon stares at the monster, then the soldiers. Its eyes widen as if realizing something horrific. The soldiers grip their weapons, trembling—but the youngest steps forward, his voice shaky but clear:)
**Young Soldier** (voice trembling but resolute):
*"Enough… We're tired of fearing you! We're not weaklings—we're* human*!"*
(The monster and dragon glance at him, then erupt in bitter laughter. But this time… there's something different in their eyes. Something like respect.)
**The Dragon** (suddenly laughing, a deep rumble that shakes the earth, then sighing):
*"Why do you think I came here, blind beast?"*
(Silence. The monster doesn't answer, only stares. The soldiers hold their breath.)
**The Dragon** (roaring like thunder):
*"SPEAK! You sightless eye! You shapeless shadow!"*
(The monster's lips twitch, but no words come. The dragon advances, each step quaking the ground.)
**The Dragon** (calmly, but seething):
*"Fine… I'll tell you. Because* you *woke me from my slumber."*
(The soldiers go utterly still. The monster lifts its head slowly, as if remembering.)
**The Dragon** (narrowing its eyes):
*"I slept deep in my cave, dreaming of eras long gone—when beasts fought for* glory*, not to terrify these* insects*!"* (gesturing contemptuously at the soldiers) *"Then I heard… your laughter."* (pausing, as if the words burn) *"That endless, creaking sound. I opened my eyes, thinking heroes had returned… but all I saw was* you*."*
(The monster tries to smirk, but its face stiffens. The dragon snarls, black smoke rising from its jaws.)
**The Monster** (scoffing):
*"Ah! So* that's *why you came?* (pointing at the soldiers) *For an easy meal?* (mocking whisper) *Or… were you tired of chasing helpless villagers?"*
[The dragon roars, but the monster raises a finger like scolding a child.]
**The Monster** (grinning):
*"Don't rage, oh mighty lizard!* (mimicking a child) *'I'm the Black Dragon, King of Terror!'* (normal voice) *But we see the truth—you came because you're* hungry*, not because you're* wicked*!"*
(The soldiers stifle nervous laughter. The dragon glares, silencing them instantly.)
**The Monster** (fake-friendly whisper):
*"Better crawl back to your cave… before these 'weaklings' realize your scales don't even scare* sparrows*!"*
---
The Bloody Climax
The dragon lunges like a poisoned arrow, claws gleaming. The monster doesn't move—until the last second, then strikes! Its fangs sink into the dragon's throat, spraying black blood like rain. Soldiers scramble back, splattered.
*"Ah, is this all you've got, lizard?!"* The monster wraps its arms around the dragon's neck, squeezing—
But the dragon twists midair, slamming its tail into the monster's chest. The impact sends the beast crashing through a distant house! Debris flies, dust choking the sky.
**The Monster** rises from rubble, eyes burning orange. *"That's IT?!"* It leaps, claws shredding air. Four gashes split the dragon's chest—blood fountains!
The dragon roars in pain but doesn't retreat. Instead, it coils around the monster, crushing. Bones crack, yet the monster *laughs*, madly! *"I can't even remember… the last time I felt* pain*!"* Then it bites the dragon's wing, tearing the membrane!
Now both bleed freely. The ground is a swamp of black and red. Enraged, the dragon fires a fireball point-blank into the monster's face. Flesh melts, skin peels—yet the monster just *grabs the dragon's head* and slams it into the earth, *over and over!*
*"Is THIS what you want?! REAL terror?!"* Each impact cracks the earth. Soldiers collapse from the tremors.
**The Dragon**, in desperation, surges up with a roar that shakes mountains! Its claw *plunges* into the monster's left eye—
The eye *bursts*. Thick fluid gushes. The monster screams… then the scream becomes *laughter*.
*"Yes… YES! Finally! A fight WORTHY of me!"* With a final effort, it sinks its fangs into the dragon's neck and *rips*. A major artery tears—blood floods like a river!
The dragon staggers… then falls. Its body shakes the earth. The monster stands over it, breathing hard, half its face gone, body shredded… but still *laughing*.
*"That was…* fun*."*
It turns to the soldiers, frozen in terror. *"Don't worry… my game with him is over."*
A heavy silence—then suddenly, the universe *shudders*.
The monster freezes. Its remaining eye widens, pupil shrinking to a pinprick. *Something* behind it… something that makes even its *shadow* tremble.
The soldiers don't scream. Don't move. Time stops in their wide-eyed stares. One drools soundlessly; another wets himself unnoticed. The stench of urine mixes with scorched blood.
The monster tries to turn. Its hands—bloodied for centuries—*shake* for the first time. As if remembering it was once human.
Then… the *step*.
A single sound. Like a mountain walking. The monster hears its own ribs *break* before anything touches it. True fear—the kind it bred in others—crawls into its gut like an icy knife.
In that moment, they all understand:
They were *always* prey.
The shadow behind the monster stretches, devouring light. The soldiers see *eyes* in the dark… too many eyes…