Heart Of The Dragon

"Slice a piece!" 

The monstrous beast before Maxilin grumbled in pain.

"We will rule this world, you weak human," it murmured, its anguish scarcely audible. A dismembered hand dropped to the floor, pointing out Maxilin's relentless attack.

"Ah," the beast shrieked.

It mumbled resentfully as it clawed at the ground.

"You're a weak, avaricious piece of garbage. We'll be too strong for you to overcome."

"Really? Then let's see who wins this time," Maxilin shot back, his eyes glimmering ferociously. He cut through the creature's face with a single, strong blow, leaving it in hideous shards.

Maxilin heard his name being called out. When he turned, Evan was rushing at him.

"Maxilin," Evan yelled as he closed the gap.

Maxilin, a 23-year-old fighter with a leading presence, stood tall at 6 feet 2 inches. His eyes were a deep sea blue, reflecting the battle's harsh glare. His sharply drawn nose and lips, coupled with his smooth, slicked-back hair, gave him an imposing yet refined appearance. As Evan reached him, Maxilin sheathed his sword and wiped the monster's blood from his hands.

"I'm OK," Maxilin responded abruptly, although it was clear that he was frustrated.

"But this jerk wasted my time."

Evan's concern was evident as his gaze shifted to the remaining shards of the monster.

"I can see it. But take caution—this is only the start. If it has a partner, the female won't be so forgiving. It's a dragon hybrid; the male isn't particularly strong, but the female is incredibly aggressive and deadly."

Maxilin's jaws tightened. He was aware of how serious the situation was. Evan's warning was obvious, and the sense of danger in his voice left no room for question. Despite his aggressive nature, Maxilin understood the need for self-control.

Evan exhaled deeply as he reached into the monster's chest to extract a sparkling jewel from its heart.

"Don't murder them randomly, Maxilin. Some must be caged rather than just eradicated."

"I don't care about his rule," Maxilin mumbled fiercely as he made purposeful movements to wipe the blood from his hands. He spoke in a contemptuous, frigid tone.

Evan's face grew serious.

"Remember your curse, Maxilin," he cautioned. The words struck like a hammer. Maxilin froze in mid-wash, as if the blood had turned to ice.

"Maxilin," Evan went on, his voice becoming softer, "we must find a way to break the curse."

However, Maxilin said nothing, his gaze still on the ground. It appeared as though a shadow moved across him, displacing his typical defiance with something more sinister.

"Maxilin, I'm t—" Evan opened his lips to say it again.

"Shh," Maxilin said, placing a finger on Evan's lips to signal him to remain silent. His eyes had become piercing, looking around him with a keener sense of awareness.

Evan grasped the signal and gripped his blade more tightly, his senses keen. A slight humming, a peculiar breeze whispering through the trees and whirling about them, was audible to both of them. The weird sound became louder and louder until it suddenly stopped, like if the forest were holding its breath.

Maxilin ran into the woods without saying anything, Evan following closely after. The fear of the unknown pushed them farther into the forest as they ran in silence. They stopped after a time, listening for any noise. But there was an eerie silence in the forest.

Maxilin slumped suddenly, his left arm clutching his chest.

"Ah!" he said in a painful voice.

"Maxilin!" Evan yelled, running to his side.

'D*mn! This pain! Why? Why does it always strike when I feel an evil spirit or demon nearby?'

Maxilin knelt on the mud, gripping his chest, his mind racing. It was an excruciating agony that burned through him.

"I just can't seem to figure out how to get out of this awful situation."

‘It is becoming worse every day. It seems like my heart may explode at any second. If this creature attacks us, what will Evan do? I can't even hold myself up.'

"Maxilin," Evan's voice broke through the haze of pain, steady but laced with worry. Holding Maxilin's arm, he knelt next to him.

"Are you all right?"

Maxilin's breathing was ragged. He nodded unsteadily, struggling to stand up, but his legs swayed under him. The anguish was unrelenting, pulling him down.

Just as he was getting his bearings, a piercing, ominous laugh rang through the trees, chilling the blood in their veins. Maxilin's gaze tightened as his thoughts came back into focus.

"I was aware of it. It's a demon."

"Evan, leave," Maxilin said in a tight but determined voice.

"Maxilin, what are you saying? I can't leave you alone here," Evan replied, his grip on Maxilin tightening.

"Ahh," Maxilin groaned, his chest aching more and more. He forced himself to remain alert even as his vision became blurry.

"Maxilin!" Evan's voice sounded desperate.

Maxilin reached up, grabbed Evan's collar, and drew him in. 

"Hey, try to understand, okay?" He insisted, his voice a strained whisper. 

"This demon is too strong for you to handle. I can sense her power. You need to go now."

"Maxilin, I'm not leaving you here alone!" Evan yelled, his voice resolute.

"Please take my hand. I'll create a magical barrier around us. This demon will not harm us," he stated, his determination firm.

But suddenly the tension was broken by a chilly, derisive voice. 

"Oh really," the voice mocked, and then there was a spooky chuckle that echoed across the woods.

Maxilin's face became serious. "Remember that I am the one in charge here, Evan. If you try to ignore my commands, I won't take you into my squad," he said, his voice rough yet desperate. Evan's eyes softened, full of worry and annoyance.

 "Maxilin, you're my friend. Now stop pushing me away," he said, reluctant to give up.

Maxilin let out a deep breath, the pressure of the situation bearing down on him.

"Hear me out, Evan. Please… leave!" He shouted. Evan stood silently as Maxilin's anguished shout echoed around them. A long minute later, Evan knelt down and started creating the magical barrier, his hands glimmering with strength.

"Evan, stop it!" Maxilin's voice broke, and his vision blurred. He was losing strength quickly, and the agony was unbearable. 

"Evan," he said, struggling to keep his eyes open. Before Evan could react, a force violently crashed against the barrier. They were both pushed off balance by the force of the crash, and the wind howled all around them.

'Cough, cough.'

"I warned you, Evan," Maxilin said, gasping for air as he struggled to stand. The struggle to stay conscious made his body shiver, and his breath came in ragged phases.

The demon's ominous laughter echoed through the air as it talked, getting louder and more threatening.

"Ha ha..."

"Playing with young boys is a lot of fun," the voice echoed through the darkness, taunting. It floated around them and seeped into their bones.

"I can also smell the aroma of a delicious, new heart. I simply want just a little of it."

Evan's jaw tightened as he started reciting the protection barrier spells. His voice was firm, but his pulse was racing from the stress of the situation. He sensed the ominous presence getting closer.

"Little boy, you're wasting my time," the sneering voice floated, unexpectedly devoid of hatred.

"I really don't enjoy having an unwanted visitor at my place."

Evan's eyes flared with rage.

"Who is this unwanted guest? Your friends and you!" He shouted defiantly.

With chilling amusement, the voice floated.

"We? Are you talking about us, boy?"

Maxilin stumbled to his feet, fighting the pain that was pulsing through him with each step. Evan gripped his arm and steadied him as he staggered.

"Maxilin, hold on," Evan urged desperately, his attention divided between his friend and the approaching peril.

Abruptly, they heard slow, purposeful footsteps echoing through the darkness. Both guys looked ahead, their hearts falling as they spotted her.

A tall woman walked into the faint light, her long black hair flowing down her back like a dark river.

She was hardly lighted by the stars, but what they could see chilled them to the bone. A sly grin played on her lips as she approached the barrier with an eerie composure.

"Hello, boys," she said with a mocking tone, her red eyes glittering with cruel need.

In the light of Evan's wizardry, her whole body appeared. Her hair was unbelievably long, and her eyes blazed with a terrible brightness. Her dagger-sharp nails appeared poised to rip through bone and tissue.

"Pontianak," Evan mumbled. The creature shook her head slowly and smiled, her grin widening into something sinister.

Evan tried to steady his breath.

"We're safe, Maxilin. It's just a Pontianak. She won't be able to break through my magical barrier," he said.

Maxilin, still struggling with the pain coursing through his body, turned his gaze towards the Pontianak.

"No, we're not safe. She's surrounded by a much more formidable demon," he warned.

As if on cue, the Pontianak slammed her head into the barrier with a force that made the air shudder. The barrier rippled under the impact, cracks forming along its surface.

"D*mn it!" Maxilin cursed as both he and Evan instinctively took a step back.

"How can that be possible?" Evan asked.

"I told you to leave me alone," Maxilin snapped, frustration and pain mixing in his voice.

Evan shook his head, refusing to back down.

"Maxilin, running isn't the solution!"

The barrier was