Nemesis was pacing the corridors of the elite quarter that Draco had alloted him, in the letter that he left for Master.
Master was very, very sceptical but he did follow Draco's order.
Nemesis however was having a sleepless night because he knew that he had sent Draco to his eminent demise while he himself was sitting there, enjoying the hospitality of his cousin.
"Ahhhhhhh....! "
He let out a loud roar in frustration.
"This is all that I ever wanted. I am finally at the point where I will be able to see all my plan work. Damn it! Why then am I feeling so restless? What is this guilt that is weighing around my neck? "
Just then the door flung open,
" May I come in Nemesis? "
It was Master.
" Yes. Yes of course. "
He made way for Master as he came in with his hands behind him, his half moon glasses all the way down on his nose and his eyes glaring at Nemesis, but he had a pretend smile on his lips.
" I hope there is nothing lacking in our hospitality? "
He asked as he circled around the room slowly.
" No, no... Everything is perfect. Thank you. "
Nemesis looked like he was absolutely out of place.
" Nemesis, I think that is the name that your mother blessed ? "
Nemesis nodded.
" Well, then Nemesis, why do you look so agitated? Would you mind sharing the cause with me? "
Master continued.
Nemesis didn't know how he aught to tell Master that he had sent Draco off to die.
However he was finding it very difficult for himself to just sit around and do nothing while his plan, took another life.
" Umm, Master, I had a query... "
Nemesis said.
" Go, ahead, " Master added.
" How important is the human for the Dragon Lord? "
Nemesis asked.
Master stared right into his soul. His eyes were glaring,
" Why do you ask? " Master was emitting that other worldly aura which was making Nemesis's knee shake.
He was split . Whether he wanted to save his sorry self from the wrath of the Divine Law or if he wanted to save his cousin.
Given any other day, the former option would no doubt be his choice. But that day was different. The circumstances were not the same.
...
So, it seems , finally ,that Nemesis did man up. He mustered up the courage.
Master dropped everything at his confession and the next moment the entire fleet of the elite dragon guards were rushing towards the Netherworld. Master took the lead, his massive wings beating powerfully as he soared through the air. The other dragons followed closely behind.
"Keep your guard up," Master bellowed, his voice booming across the sky. "We don't know what we'll be facing when we get there."
The dragons nodded in agreement, their expressions were that of absolute determination as they flew towards their destination.
When they arrived at the entrance to the Netherworld, Master stepped forward, his claws flexing as he prepared for battle. "Stand back," he warned the other dragons. "I'll handle this."
It took the others some time to understand what he was talking about but within a few moments, they saw a swarm of undead demons, charging towards their direction. Their eyes disoriented but they were snorting with anger.
" Why do the dragons keep disturbing this sanctum of the dead? They will be taught a lesson. Minions, do not back away! "
A voice bellowed in air, sending chills, down everyone's spine.
" Let me explain. We are not here to cause disturbance... "
Master tried but the demons gave them no chance to explain.
With a mighty roar, Master charged towards the demons, his massive body slamming into them with incredible force. The demons fought back with ferocity, but Master was too powerful for them. He batted them aside with ease, his claws and teeth tearing through their flesh.
Meanwhile, the other dragons fanned out, engaging the demons in battle. They fought with skill and determination, their bodies moving with incredible speed and agility as they dodged attacks and struck back with deadly force.
Despite the dragons' best efforts, the demons had the upper hand. One after another, the dragons fell injured, withering in pain.
Nemesis, could no longer hold himself. He could no longer stand aloof as a mute spectator.
He plunged in, aiding the fallen dragons, draging them to safety and then stood between them and the demon army, himself.
*******
Failed attempt
The battle raged on with a deafening cacophony of roars, screams, and blasts of fire and dark magic. The sky was shrouded in a thick veil of smoke and ash, and the ground trembled with the impact of every blow.
The dragons, led by the fierce Master had been fighting tooth and claw to defend themselves from the undead demons of the Netherworld. The demons, however, seemed to have an endless supply of minions, and they had been slowly overpowering the dragons.
Just when it seemed like all was lost, a voice boomed from the shadows of the Netherworld, startling both the dragons and the demons. The voice was deep and powerful, reverberating through the air like thunder.
"Hold on, dragons," the voice said. "Do not lose hope. For I am with you."
The dragons looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice. They knew that the Netherworld was a place of darkness and evil, and they had never expected to hear anything but the cackles of demons and the screams of the damned.There was trickery in every step. They could not be sure of what they heard. Not yet.
But then, a figure emerged from the shadows of the Netherworld.With slow and dragged steps.
It was Draco and he was walking calmly towards them.
The dragons were overjoyed to see their leader finally, for whom they had come. They roared with delight.
For a moment, there was a lull in the battle, as the dragons and demons eyed each other warily.
As he approached the battlefront, the demons stepped back and retreated.
Draco's face was pale. There was a redness in his eyes and profound sadness loomed over them.
" Draco! Are you alright? " Master ran beside him and patted him down, checking for any injuries. There were some but they didn't have any gravity.
" What happened down there Draco? Did you find her? " Master finally asked looked behind him, since he came out alone and looked so torn.
Draco looked at Nemesis, who was standing there , heaving from all the fighting that he had done.
He then shook his head slowly with dejection.
" I went to the deepest pit. I searched all over the human realm in the Netherworld. Her soul could not be found. What do you think happened to her Nemesis? "
He asked.
Nemesis gulped. This was a twist he didn't expect.
There was no way that the soul of the girl would not be there .
" I... I do not understand what happened to her soul.... It should have been there... "
He looked equally confused but relieved that Draco didn't manage to find her. That was the reason he was expelled from the Netherworlds, alive.
" We will talk about that when we get back. If there is anyway that Liana can be brought back, I assure you Draco, that I will aid you in that process. Now let's get back home.
You have been exposed to the evil energies in the Netherworld for long. We must give you it's anecdote. "
"If there was a way known to you, why did you not try to talk to me about that earlier? "
Master was trying to support Draco's weight but he shoved him away and took off, his mighty beast, spreading it's majestic wings, in the serene air.