Nina, Rayla, Ash, Flint, Aurora, and Drago came out of the cave in that order respectively, one every two seconds than the other. The exit was no more than the entrance itself.
"How's everybody?" Nina asked, assuming what they went through.
"I'm fine" Rayla replied, "Ugh, now I understand why the test was so difficult"
"Don't even say it," Aurora commented, "But I think, not only have I become stronger, I feel different, as if…"
"Would you have grown up?"
"Yes something like that…"
"Hey, Drago," Ash told him, "I just want to say that I was a fool. I think I got carried away… also, because of what happened… I know I should never have challenged you to something you didn't want so… let's drop the rivalries and just be friends"
"Well... Ok" Drago answered surprised.
"Guys, I don't want to interrupt," said Flint, "But how long have we been in the maze?"
The others took that into account: Cyril was not outside to greet them. When they began to wonder about it, a rumble was heard, and the next second there was a seismic movement.
"Oh, no," Nina said, "The war has already started. Come on, they sure need help"
With everyone agreeing, they hastened to leave the underground cave.
Once outside, they did not like anything they found: the door to the hall of ice sculptures had been broken down and several of the ice sculptures lay in pieces on the floor. The guards were still alive, but unconscious. In the middle of the room, Cyril was also lying, being choked with the whips of a dark dragon.
"Grandpa!" shouted Drago and Aurora in unison.
The Dark One noticed his presence, but upon seeing them he just began to laugh like a mad-man.
"I thought I should face a strong opponent" he said, "But I only find an old man and some children"
Drago was quite angry.
"Let go of my grandfather right now or I'll burn you whole!" he yelled at him.
"Who? This old? Bah, it doesn't matter, there's almost nothing entertaining about him anymore" he said releasing him,"But I like killing more children, I wonder how it would feel to gut some dragon children "
The Dark One flung his whips at them. They all scattered before they were hit. At the gate, a huge number of dark creatures were about to enter through the shattered entrance.
"Go" Aurora told the others, "Drago and I will take care of this"
Nina and the others understood and went out to fight the dark army. Before they could escape, the enemy tried to reach them with their whips. Nina almost gets caught, but she escaped thanks to her shadow ability.
While distracted, Drago dashed towards the enemy and tried to land a blow on the enemy, but the enemy saw his intentions and, grabbing him with a flick of his whip, flung him against the wall of ice.
"Drago!" Aurora yelled as she went to save her brother.
But she was also caught and they both began to be whipped like dolls against the walls and the floor, in addition to those whips weakening her powers. When they were lashed about twenty times, it seemed that both of them were about to become unconscious as well.
"Ice Storm!"
A strong blast of ice struck the Dark One from behind, knocking him to the ground. Cyril had risen with what was left of his strength and attacked suddenly.
"No... I'll... let you... hurt them" he said tiredly.
It seemed that the Dark One would not get up, but suddenly, a third whip reached his throat, making him choke.
"Looks like this old dragon is still alive…" the Dark One sneered, "Well, you'll be the first…"
"Leave it alone!" Drago yelled.
The Dark One turned his gaze: Drago was firmly holding the rope. Wanting to taunt him some more, the enemy tried to throw him back, but he didn't budge. Then, Drago's body began to burn strongly and the whip began to burn.
As the dragon tried to think of what was wrong, he felt a tug from the other end: now it was Aurora pulling on the whip as her mana chilled him. The next second, both were free. Then both brothers prepared to attack at the same time.
"Aurora storm!"
"Blazing Dragon!"
The lunatic, without being left behind, counterattacked both brothers:
"Photon Discharge!"
The clash of powers of fire, ice and darkness was brutal, but both brothers had just come out of their ordeal and their powers had undoubtedly grown in such a way that the blow of both powers destroyed the Dark One who vanished in a laugh (he was really sick in the head).
(Meanwhile, outside…)
"Shadow-Dragon!"
With her new strength, Nina managed to finish off about twenty moving spectral apes. Meanwhile, the others were finishing their fights as well when these enemies vanished out of nowhere.
"What happened?" Ash asked, "There were at least a hundred of them."
"I don't know, let's go back inside" Nina suggested.
Inside, Drago and Aurora was with Cyril, who was happily still alive.
"I see that all of you have taken a strong look at the occult powers in the seventh sense," Cyril said once up, "Really fascinating for his age. Although I never doubted it"
"I'm sorry it took us so long to see our faults," Nina apologized, "Otherwise, we would have been ready sooner and…"
"Even the oldest realize their mistakes too late, don't worry. For now, you must continue with your mission."
"It's true!" Rayla said, "We must get that scroll of time."
"That's how it is. To do this, they must go to the valley of Avalar. The people of the cheetahs are the ones who know the exact location of the scroll. Take this…"
Cyril showed them a medallion with a tricolor symbol.
"It is a sign that they are in peace" he explained to them, "The parchment is a sacred treasure and has never been used, but with this they can explain that it is a desperate situation and they will give it to them"
"Okay…" Nina accepted the medallion.
"Grandpa, will you be alright?" Aurora asked.
"The dark army has withdrawn; the people and I will be fine" Cyril laughed, "You are the best hope we have to bring light back to this world. Go, you have no time to waste."
(Minutes later…)
The six young dragons said goodbye to Cyril at the doors of Dante's freezer (which was being rebuilt while they still had time) and took flight in the direction of Avalar.