Chapter Twenty-One: Ironclad

It felt as if the world stopped… Beau has not seen Ironclad since he fled when he was captured. His brother has grown since then… He has never felt so small to him as he did now. Ironclad's bonemark glowed more intensely than ever. Same with his spine spikes have grown in length. His teeth now give him an overbite. He looks more vicious than Tyrannous their own father.

Ironclad roars in anger, like his plans, have been ruined.

Ironclad looks up sees Beau and tilts his head. Then giving a large sniff. "Hello…" He says in dragon tongue. He sees right through Beau and walks up to him.

Beau says hello in a nervous manner. Trying his hardest to look confident.

"What have you been up to brother? Never expected to see you here…" ironclad smiles as he purrs in a friendly manner. But the air was tense… Beau knew this. His brother is never this friendly.

The general immediately bows low to the large dragon without a second thought. Aaron follows suit by habit, both remaining quiet. Iolene hides behind the desk as the stranger slides next to her.

"Oh this is baaaaaad." The stranger whispers.

"Who is that? He looks… Scary…" Iolene asks as the stranger helps her to sit up.

"That is Ironclad… Very high up in the order of dragons. He would be just below the League of Eight. Real bastard…" The slave says as she takes a peek, noticing that Ironclad is talking to Beau. They both only speak in dragon tongue. Chirps, growls, soothing moans. Only specially trained people can understand this.

Ironclad walks closer to Beau and looks down at him. "What are you doing here? Did you shut the gate? I have an army that's supposed to go through."

Beau bypasses that question and asks his own. "How's mother, sister and father?"

"I don't know haven't seen them…" Ironclad growls without care.

Ironclad sighs as he looks back at the gate, it has ceased functioning. He then looks at the general… "What happened?" Ironclad growls with restrained anger. Aaron couldn't understand what the dragon said but the general does and speaks to him. Explaining the situation pointing to Aaron still in a bowing position.

Ironclad smiles and then with a sudden shift in tone. He lifts the general high into the air. He then begins to wave the man around and slams him onto the ground. Iolene crawls to the end of the console and sees what is happening.

The general remains calm as Ironclad walks up to him. Planning to crush him… However, with all his will, he decides to crush and rips off his left arm. As much as he despises humans. The great shadow Emperor still wants his

The general screams and cries. Iolene couldn't help but scream in complete fear. The stranger covered her mouth and shooshing her. Iolene began to cry as tears begin to fall down her face, trembling with fear.

Aaron looks up as Iolene screamed. Ironclad planning to hurt Aaron next turns around to see the cause of the scream. Aaron in quick movement grabs the pained general and drags the man away. Sitting him up and looking at the damage of his arm. Aaron rips off a part of his shirt and wraps it around what is left of his arm. Aaron was relieved that Iolene taught him this in case of an emergency.

"Stay here, don't move," Aaron whispers. The general winces as he tries to concentrate on his breathing.

Ironclad looks at the desk as Beau stands in front of him. Deliberately distracting him. Beau wasn't even scared when he saw his brother mutilate that human. He has seen his brother and father do worse…

"Why do you look like that?" Ironclad asks. Curious about seeing his brother as a blue dragon.

"Well, I'm a black draconium dragon. It is easier to move around without others fearing me." Beau replies as Aaron sneaks to the desk where Iolene and the stranger sit.

Aaron gestures for them to sneak away. He realises it is far too dangerous for Iolene to stay here. She should never have followed… He quickly hugs the shocked girl.

"You okay?" He whispers intensely.

"Yes, I am… Just that… It was so horrible. Is the general okay?" Iolene asks.

"As much as someone can be…" Aaron replies. He looks around the console as he sees Beau and Ironclad speak. Do they know each other? Aaron thinks to himself. He then looks at the gate. Still shut off…

Beau tells his brother that he was painted blue. He in no way can mention, what happened to him. Him being a gold draconium dragon will be an immediate death sentence. Beau remembers of how his father spoke about such creatures. He hated them… For their suspected powers and respect. Beau thinking about it now, it was jealousy. Even though Beau didn't fully understand it. Stein warned Beau over and over again. He in a way tried to convince him not to go. But Stein has no power over him, unlike Iolene.

Ironclad scoffs and looks at the gate as he starts to run over to the console. Beau follows closely next to him. Trying to make a small conversation. However, it was fruitless…

"I have a job to do Beau. You can help me, I have three thousand soldiers waiting on the other side. Kill that human who shut off the gate. I cannot have any more fallbacks." He growls with annoyance as he approaches the desk and tries to press the button. Aaron jumps up onto the console and distracts Ironclad.

Iolene and the slave remain behind. The slave prepares her gauntlets to prepare to fight. Iolene has her dagger, bow and arrows. Aaron discussed to her to run away, while he distracts the dragon. But she is refusing. She has to fight no matter how scared she gets.

Aaron unsheathes his sword and tries to stab it into the console.

Ironclad smiles and then with a quick motion he tries to grab Aaron with his mag abilities. Aaron dodges while remaining on the console. Beau stands there watching… He didn't know what to do. As much as he hated Ironclad he is still his brother and Beau has always been under his claws.

Ironclad successfully manages to mag push Aaron across the room. Ironclad races after him as Aaron clanks his sword onto a nearby pipe. The signal for Iolene to run away with the slave. They refused to move…

Iolene calms herself as she prepares to attack. Grabbing bow and arrows she aims at Ironclad. She lets go of the arrow as she hits Ironclad's rump. He immediately looks at her and smiles. It was only a pinprick to him.

The slave aims her gauntlets at Ironclad and shoots multiple light green bolts. Ironclad moves and dodges the bolts. His face smiling. He loves playing with his toys…

Aaron holds his breath as he sees Iolene standing up. She is preparing to hit Ironclad again. Ironclad shoots a weak mag beam at her knocking her down. Ironclad laughs as he saw how pitiful she is. Like many humans.

Aaron races to Ironclad and knocks him over with his brute strength. Beau standing there as he watches them fighting.

"Beau!" Iolene yells out to him.

The dragon looks at her and sneaks over to Iolene. They are hiding behind the console again.

"I have a plan. But we need your help, Beau…" Iolene says. However, she questions him about his relationship to Ironclad. He nodded yes or no to the questions as he doesn't speak human. She suspected as she saw him communicate earlier. It was somewhat friendly… She asked if he was an old friend. He nodded no… Beau thought of this carefully. Iolene was not afraid of him… When they first met many months ago. She helped him… He decided to nod to reveal the truth. "Family?" He nodded yes.

"Brother?"

He nodded yes.

Iolene takes a deep breath in. This sealed her idea… They cannot kill him. Not Beaus brother… Unknowing what Ironclad has done in the wilds.

"Beau, can you lead your brother into the portal?" She asks.

Beau turns his head as Ironclad is fighting with Aaron. But knowing Ironclad he is playing with him. Aaron is doing well keeping up with him. Aaron is dodging his mag attacks. He is occupied fighting against him. It's like he forgot about Beau.

Beau looks back at Iolene as he nods and races over to Aaron and Ironclad.

Iolene looks at the console and presses the same button again. Iolene hoping that no one else can sneak in. They only need to push Ironclad into the portal back to Inclementia. He is Beau's brother… We shouldn't kill him. But he is too dangerous to keep around. Iolene thought.

Beau reaches Ironclad getting his attention. The big dragon looks at his smaller brother and grins.

"Go on!" Ironclad growls to him.

Aaron stops fighting back for a moment. Staring at Beau. What? He thinks. As Beau looks straight into his gold eyes.

In a way Beau wanted to attack him. He hates humans… But Aaron hasn't done any harm to him. All Beau could do was stare at him. The world went silent between the two.

"You have always been such a soft shit!" Ironclad roars as he angrily charges at Aaron. Playtime is over.

Aaron raises his sword in defence and jumps onto a crate pyramid to gain ground. Ironclad swipes with his long and sharp claws. Destroying the crates underneath Aaron. He jumps on other crates figuring out how to fight such a dragon.

Beau stood and watch as his brother chased after Aaron. It was like a predator hunting his prey.

The humming of the portal activation begins as black draconium begins to swirl around the pillars.

Aaron looks at the portal. SHIT! He thought as he continues to dodge Ironclads attacks. All he needed was a split moment to slice his neck.

Iolene and the slave look at the console controls. So many buttons… Maybe they can make it a one-way path. Ironclad can go through, but others cannot. The slave pressed a few buttons. A horn sounds, gaining everyone's attention. No one knew where that noise came from.

Ironclad turns around and sees the girls in clear view. The portals' energy began to pulse faster around the pillars. Ironclad roars in complete anger, and the room shakes. He is furious… But happy that the portal is activated again.

"GET THEM, BEAU!" Ironclad roars.

Beau pretended to chase them by racing past the console. The slave and Iolene sneak away from the desk. The warehouse is large, with many crates and barrels to hide behind. Ironclad wanted to kill the girls, however Aaron is being a massive pain in the ass to him. One wrong move and Aaron will pierce his sword into him.

The indicators connected to the portal have become unstable. The pillars draconium energy is becoming too powerful to be contained. However it is technology that many dragons and people of the world are unfamiliar with. There will only be so many people who will know how to fix the problem. Metal black draconium began to crystalize on the steps. A dark fog began to seep out as it started to cover the floor.

Aaron uses his large sword to block Ironclads long claws. Sparks fly by each collision. Aaron still keeps up with him. All he needed was that moment! But he cannot keep this up forever. Aaron jumps onto another pile of crates.

In a surprise attack, Ironclad hits Aaron with his tail. Aaron flies backwards falling down the pyramid of crates. Causing a small avalanche of wooden boxes. Aaron didn't change his position quick enough as he falls onto his back. Groaning in pain he tries to get up, but Ironclad falls on top of him.

Aaron screams in pain as Ironclad laughs. He begins to pierce his claws into Aaron's chest. Aaron's small attempt to get up is futile. Ironclad is using all his weight to crush him. Aaron's body is stronger than the average human, but even his limits are being reached. In a moment Aaron hears a massive crack in his chest. His chest bone ribs are broken… Aaron screams in agony. Ironclad smiles, he is enjoying this.

Iolene and the slave hear Aaron screaming. Iolene races to Ironclad and stabs him with her dagger. She pierces it right into the rump where her arrow landed. Dragging the blade to Ironclads tail. The vicious dragon roars in pain as the cut began to bleed.

"AARON!" Iolene screams with desperation. He is going to die! She thought.

Ironclad swipes with his tail as she falls backward. Ironclad then turns around facing the blonde and the shorty. Releasing his grip on Aaron.

Aaron struggles to breathe as his body freezes up from the pain. He couldn't move as his breathing has become erratic. He tilts his head seeing Iolene as his vision began to blur. He is struggling to remain conscious.

Iolene and the slave slowly walk backward facing the portal. They hold hands as if they are friends. Even though they don't know others names. They keep eye contact with Ironclad. In a moment they begin to run to the portal. Ironclad follows as they stop at the stairs. Iolene looks down at the floor that is slowly crystallizing like Ice.

Ironclad laughs, all he has to do is push them in. But as he thought in that moment. A massive force pushes Ironclad towards the portal. Iolene and the slave jump out of the way. Ironclad loses his grip on the smooth floor as he slides right next to the portal beam. The massive dragon looks as he glimpses who it is.

It is Beau. Ironclad face contorts with fury. Beau knows the consequences of touching his older brother. The scars on Beau are proof. Beau then aims a mag beam as Ironclad does the same. Clashing together to push each other away.

Ironclad is stronger as he easily begins to overpower Beau. However, he did not realize someone is racing to Ironclad. With a massive shove Ironclad slips into the unstable portal. It was Aaron as he begins to collapse on the floor. Beau saves him by using his head to soften the fall. Iolene and the slave race to Aaron.

"BEAU!" The dragon shrieks as his body disappeared.

The room began to shake as the portal has lost its control. Draconium energy began to spit everywhere, the pillars began to crumble into draconium shards.

"We have to run!" The slave yells.

The general who is now standing waves his only remaining arm to get their attention. There isn't much time… The general created a draconium shield orb around the group as a quick defence.

The portal explodes and it is so powerful the orb disintegrates pushing everyone back by the force. Iolene hits her head on the rubble knocking her unconscious. The slave getting pierced by black draconium shards, the same with Aaron. Beau slams into the wall creating a hole in the hallway.

The palace began to shake and quake. The warehouse is beginning to collapse into the ground. The palace is now a lost cause. It is time to run.