Chapter 33
Dragon's Head Island had been well named, although it wasn't until the invention of airships that the true shape could be appreciated. It sat majestically in the ocean to the northwest of the rocky coastline of northern Asgard. Through the mist few small mountains that were visible were surrounded a wide of expanse of grasslands covering the island to edges. No trees were in sight anywhere. Most of the island was oval except a pair or peninsulas on the western shore that looked like the toothy jaws of some fearsome monster.
Diablos frowned. "Nowhere to hide,"
Ifrit smirked, shouldering his scimitar. "You mean from us or from Bahamut?"
"Make all the jests you like," said Diablos faintly sneering, "But when the fighting begins, don't interfere."
"Where are we landing?" asked Kelvin.
"At the foot of the largest mountain," replied Diablos, "There must be a cave in it."
"How do you know it's that mountain?" asked Shiva.
Diablos grinned. "That's where I'd make my home if I was him."
Shiva rolled her eyes as Cid gently landed the Blood Rose on the lower slopes of the towering mountain. They clambered out. Kelvin stood at the hatch.
"Is it safe to wait here?" he asked.
"Bahamut doesn't seek trouble," said Siren, "Trouble seeks him."
The four Espers made their way up the rocky barren slopes with Diablos in the lead. About halfway up he abruptly stopped.
"There it is," he said smugly.
He pointed to an enormous crevasse further up. They climbed up to and peered into the darkness. Diablos tossed a torch to Ifrit.
"Light that would you?" he asked.
Ifrit clenched his teeth and held up the torch. Flame burst forth on the end. Siren applauded.
"Are you mocking me?" he asked angrily.
She shook her head. "I think it's great you can use fire so well. Your control is perfect."
"Not perfect enough," he sighed, glancing at Shiva.
Shiva put a hand on his arm. "It's okay, I don't blame you now."
Siren looked down. "I know what it's like to loose control of your powers."
"Humans are so fragile," said Shiva.
"Exactly!" said Ifrit.
"We're only safe with our own kind," said Diablos, "Humans will never fully accept us."
"Some will!" said Shiva.
Diablos shook his head slowly and walked into the cave. They followed him down the steep winding passages. The deeper they got the warmer it got. They reached a large natural underground cavern. In the middle of it was a pile of coins and jewelry. Sleeping on top of it was an enormous bright blue dragon with dark steaks though his scales. Even with his jaws shut, sharp dagger-like teeth protruded from the gums. The room echoed with his faint breathing. A pair of long twisted horns decorated the back of his skull and two enormous folded up bat-like wings protruded from his shoulders. His relaxed face looked bizarrely innocent, like a benevolent demon.
"Even better," said Diablos unsheathing his sword.
"Wait, you're going to attack a sleeping opponent?" asked Ifrit.
Diablos turned back and chuckled. "Why not? It gives us the advantage, or at least a cheap shot."
"Even you wouldn't be so low!" said Shiva.
"Siren, get ready to silence Bahamut after my first attack," said Diablos turning away from them.
A fireball streaked past Diablos and hit the wall behind Bahamut. The dragon's glowing red eyes opened.
Diablos clutched the hilt of his sword angrily and shot a furious glance at Ifrit.
"Another mortal come to challenge me?" Bahamut bellowed in a resounding terrible voice.
Diablos drove his sword into the ground in front of him. "Great Bahamut, King of all dragons. Hasdrubal, the King of Golgatha, requests your presence in Styx."
"Hah!" roared Bahamut, "I do not bend to will of monarchs!"
"Then we will make you," said Diablos his crimson eyes gleaming darkly.
Bahamut reached up and unfurled his wings and roared, causing the coins to swirl around him in a cyclone. The coins rained down on top of everything. Diablos stood there impassively.
"Those who came to best me have all perished!" Bahamut growled, "Leave now or else suffer their fate!"
"I appreciate your concern for our safety," said Diablos holding up a hand, "But I'm afraid we must insist."
"So be it!" said Bahamut.
Dragon's Head Island had been well named, although it wasn't until the invention of airships that the true shape could be appreciated. It sat majestically in the ocean to the northwest of the rocky coastline of northern Asgard. Through the mist few small mountains that were visible were surrounded a wide of expanse of grasslands covering the island to edges. No trees were in sight anywhere. Most of the island was oval except a pair or peninsulas on the western shore that looked like the toothy jaws of some fearsome monster.
Diablos frowned. "Nowhere to hide,"
Ifrit smirked, shouldering his scimitar. "You mean from us or from Bahamut?"
"Make all the jests you like," said Diablos faintly sneering, "But when the fighting begins, don't interfere."
"Where are we landing?" asked Kelvin.
"At the foot of the largest mountain," replied Diablos, "There must be a cave in it."
"How do you know it's that mountain?" asked Shiva.
Diablos grinned. "That's where I'd make my home if I was him."
Shiva rolled her eyes as Cid gently landed the Blood Rose on the lower slopes of the towering mountain. They clambered out. Kelvin stood at the hatch.
"Is it safe to wait here?" he asked.
"Bahamut doesn't seek trouble," said Siren, "Trouble seeks him."
The four Espers made their way up the rocky barren slopes with Diablos in the lead. About halfway up he abruptly stopped.
"There it is," he said smugly.
He pointed to an enormous crevasse further up. They climbed up to and peered into the darkness. Diablos tossed a torch to Ifrit.
"Light that would you?" he asked.
Ifrit clenched his teeth and held up the torch. Flame burst forth on the end. Siren applauded.
"Are you mocking me?" he asked angrily.
She shook her head. "I think it's great you can use fire so well. Your control is perfect."
"Not perfect enough," he sighed, glancing at Shiva.
Shiva put a hand on his arm. "It's okay, I don't blame you now."
Siren looked down. "I know what it's like to loose control of your powers."
"Humans are so fragile," said Shiva.
"Exactly!" said Ifrit.
"We're only safe with our own kind," said Diablos, "Humans will never fully accept us."
"Some will!" said Shiva.
Diablos shook his head slowly and walked into the cave. They followed him down the steep winding passages. The deeper they got the warmer it got. They reached a large natural underground cavern. In the middle of it was a pile of coins and jewelry. Sleeping on top of it was an enormous bright blue dragon with dark steaks though his scales. Even with his jaws shut, sharp dagger-like teeth protruded from the gums. The room echoed with his faint breathing. A pair of long twisted horns decorated the back of his skull and two enormous folded up bat-like wings protruded from his shoulders. His relaxed face looked bizarrely innocent, like a benevolent demon.
"Even better," said Diablos unsheathing his sword.
"Wait, you're going to attack a sleeping opponent?" asked Ifrit.
Diablos turned back and chuckled. "Why not? It gives us the advantage, or at least a cheap shot."
"Even you wouldn't be so low!" said Shiva.
"Siren, get ready to silence Bahamut after my first attack," said Diablos turning away from them.
A fireball streaked past Diablos and hit the wall behind Bahamut. The dragon's glowing red eyes opened.
Diablos clutched the hilt of his sword angrily and shot a furious glance at Ifrit.
"Another mortal come to challenge me?" Bahamut bellowed in a resounding terrible voice.
Diablos drove his sword into the ground in front of him. "Great Bahamut, King of all dragons. Hasdrubal, the King of Golgatha, requests your presence in Styx."
"Hah!" roared Bahamut, "I do not bend to will of monarchs!"
"Then we will make you," said Diablos his crimson eyes gleaming darkly.
Bahamut reached up and unfurled his wings and roared, causing the coins to swirl around him in a cyclone. The coins rained down on top of everything. Diablos stood there impassively.
"Those who came to best me have all perished!" Bahamut growled, "Leave now or else suffer their fate!"
"I appreciate your concern for our safety," said Diablos holding up a hand, "But I'm afraid we must insist."
"So be it!" said Bahamut.