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for another swing. His calf muscle flexed and pain seared through his body from the open wound. Kale could feel blood trickling from the gaping hole where the monster had torn a chunk of flesh. He gritted his teeth and forced his eyes to focus on the monstrosity before him.
    The creature lowered its lids as if pondering where to lash out for an attack. The skin above the creature’s top set of teeth raised as it snarled, wrinkling its nose. Then, unexpectedly, it parted its pointed teeth, releasing an ear piercing scream.
    Kale was momentarily stunned. He had not yet struck the monster, and thus, there was no reason for it to cry out in what sounded like bone-chilling agony. The creature soon ceased screaming and began to chatter its teeth together. Kale was baffled by the gesture, unsure of how to react.
    Is this abomination attempting to surrender to me ? Kale wondered.
    The creature continued to hammer its top and bottom rows of teeth together in a repetitive, steady rhythm. Within seconds, Kale heard multiple splashing sounds as a dozen pairs of yellow eyes blinked along the shore of the lake, positioned in a perfect circle—surrounding him. Kale realized the scream had been a battle cry, used to summon more of its kind to aid in the fight. He swallowed hard, knowing that swarmed by such a large number, and already injured—things were not going to be in his favor.
    Kale looked toward the sky. Pan, I hope you’re watching over me... he thought while wistfully praying to the mighty dragon god said to live among the stars. He took in a deep breath, holding it as he ducked before springing back to avoid another swing of the creature’s long arms. The surrounding monsters began to rhythmically chatter their teeth in unison as if it were their drums of war.
    “What did I do to deserve all this?!” Kale yelled out in anger. The veins on his neck pulsed as he tightened his jaw. “At least when I was to die as a dragon I could have kept some dignity!” He began to recklessly swing the orange glowing iron rod in a mad frenzy. “I’ll kill you all!”
    The rod struck the creature standing closest to him. As it made contact, the weapon sliced through the monster’s torso with ease. Its smooth skin singed and the smell of burnt flesh filled Kale’s nostrils. The creature staggered toward him, still determined to attack as if hunger was the dominant thought on its mind. It stepped forward, a long string of intestines trailing  from its gut, and fell to the ground in a bloody heap.
    Kale barely found the time to inhale before many of the surrounding creatures thrashed angrily through the water toward him. The chattering of teeth ceased; they were now hissing as they closed in on him.
    “It looks as though my time has come, my brethren.” Kale whispered into the air, speaking to the fallen dragons. Although Kale intended to fight until his last breath, the thought of death weighed on his mind, causing the joyful times he had spent in life to flash before his eyes. He pulled back the rod, readying himself for his final battle. The creatures were only feet away when Kale noticed a spark of light, followed by a loud snapping noise—something approached in his direction.
    “Kale, do as I say and do not move!” a voice bellowed above the hissing. Kale immediately knew it was Thomas.
    “I sure hope you know what you’re doing!” Kale yelled. He knew that with one false move he would become a feast for the creatures. They were so close now that should Thomas delay Kale would meet an inevitable demise.
    Kale froze in place—his mind swarming with doubt as half a dozen creatures advanced toward him. He pinched his eyes tightly shut, placing his life within Thomas’ hands.
    Thomas’ open palm rose to the sky. “ Mischenda lok vixairea. ” He then tightly balled his fingers into a fist and struck the ground. A large, red nova of light flashed brightly outward around Thomas’ body. It hovered inches above the ground as it