Dark Dragon '97: Madara’s Revenge & The Dream Eater Prophecy
The air in the Sanctum of the Pale Root smelled of ash and decaying moss. High above, the crown of the Tree of Life dripped glowing, sickly sap onto the stone floor. Its bark, once radiant silver, was now covered in black, spiderwebbing veins. With every sluggish beat of the tree’s heart, a dozen pixies dissolved into pale mist, their faint cries whispering through the hollow branches before fading into nothing. If the Tree died, the magic binding the realms together would vanish forever.
Deep beneath the drooping roots, Kane—once known in forgotten legends as Phalanx, the Svall of Kuruda—stood before a stone altar. The ancient, stylized Sigil of the Somnium burned like white-hot iron into the flesh between his shoulder blades. In his trembling hands, he held the Mask of Soma, a featureless obsidian faceplate pulsing with an unstable, dark power.
"The magic is contained within the mask," Kane rasped, his breath coming in shallow, painful hitches. "But perhaps I can use it on myself. It's dangerous in my condition... but it's my only choice."
"Don't do it, Kane!"
The voice belonged to Leo, who, along with Maya, Sam, Chloe, and Ben, stood at the entrance of the chamber. Just days ago, they were five ordinary kids on Earth, dealing with algebra tests and ruined shoes. Now, thrust into an alternate universe on the brink of total collapse, they were all that stood between the realm's survival and total annihilation.
Beside the five children stood Will Vandom, holding the Heart of Kandrakar tightly as it pulsed with pink light. Next to her, Queen Elyon stood guard, her golden crown catching the dim light of the dying tree as she shielded her long-lost sisters from the shadows.
"You became exactly what that sigil on your back represents—a Dream Eater—just to protect your sisters, Will and Elyon, from Nightmare!" Maya shouted, stepping forward, her shield raised. "But you failed! After all your efforts to command the darkness, you sealed it away because it almost destroyed you!"
A low, resonant chuckle echoed from the balcony overlooking the tree's heart.
Madara Uchiha stepped out of the shadows, his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan glowing blood-red in the dimming light. Flanking him were three siblings bound by fire and dark magic: Bloom, her fiery aura flickering with uncertain rage; Daphne the Nymph, her ethereal mask floating in disarray; and Valtor, his dark eyes gleefully drinking in the room's despair.
Madara's armor clanked softly as he looked down at the five children and the dying Svall of Kuruda.
"It's a shame that you locked the power away in the end, Kane," Madara said softly, his voice dripping with icy contempt. "Set the darkness in you free, and you can rescue them. Or hold onto your fragile fear, and watch this world crumble alongside Prince Phobos's sisters."
Ben stepped in front of the group, pulling his broadsword from its sheath. "Spare us your words of warning and fear, Madara! Pain has never lost a single battle. We aren't backing down!"
Valtor stepped forward alongside Bloom and Daphne, a cruel smile spreading across his face as dark flame danced on his fingertips.
"Very soon, all our goals will be achieved," Madara murmured, his gaze shifting up to the withered canopy of the Tree of Life. "Everything is falling into place. The true power of Soma belongs to me."
"Look, friend," Madara added, turning his head slightly toward the shadowy figure standing in the doorway behind him—his partner, a looming specter enveloped in absolute night. "The sky is crying."
Heavy, black rain began to pour through the shattered dome of the temple, splashing against the dying roots.
"No doubt the strongest man will rise against me," Madara whispered, his red eyes settling finally on Kane, who was slowly raising the obsidian mask to his face.
Madara turned fully, looking straight toward his partner, the dark aura surrounding them both flaring to life like a wildfire. "Darkness... the Svall of Kuruda, G—aka Kane. Phalanx is coming."
Comments
Post a Comment