High atop the cursed Zalgrad Mountains, silence hung heavy, broken only by the endless swirling of storms. Amidst the chaos stood a colossal black dragon, its body seemingly carved from solid darkness, its eyes glowing a terrifying red.
Valzareth. He closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them. A strange sensation washed over him. A familiar energy, yet different. He smiled faintly, as if he had found what he had long awaited. "Another dragon...?"
He lashed out with his claws, digging them into the rock beneath his feet. "Come to me... I am waiting for you."
At the foot of the mountain, Void, in his dragon form, flapped his enormous wings, his eyes fixed on the summit disappearing behind the black clouds. The air around him was turbulent, the storms trying to hold him back, but his mere presence was enough to unsettle them.
He ducked slightly, then sped off like an arrow. He pierced through the black tornadoes unscathed, but suddenly the sky ignited. Giant fireballs began to tumble down the mountain, hurtling toward him at terrifying speed. Void narrowed his eyes. "So… you're testing me, Valzareth?"
He slowly opened his mouth, and a thick purple energy gathered within him. Then he released it. The purple fiery jet exploded, meeting the incoming fireballs head-on. A massive impact vanished in an instant, as if the attacks had never existed.
In the demon realm, the commentator's voice blazed with excitement: "What a spectacular show! The competitor, Saruto, having transformed into a dragon, doesn't just climb… he mimics the power of dragons themselves!"
The crowd roared, and the stands filled with noise. But then, suddenly, a tremendous burst of energy erupted from one of the dukes' palaces. It was Astaroth palace.
Inside the palace, Astaroth stood before a huge window, her eyes fixed on the televised spectacle. The energy emanating from her was saturated with rage. "That boy… Saruto…"
She narrowed her eyes. Her voice held a mixture of doubt and unease. "Can he transform into a dragon too?"
In the sky, Paimon said telepathically, "Well done, Void! At this rate, we'll reach the summit…!"
But before he could finish, a tremendous roar tore through the sky. A roar unlike any other, one that carried a pressure so great it made the air itself tremble. Void froze. Black clouds completely covered the mountaintop. "It seems Valzareth… couldn't wait," Void said quietly.
A gigantic shadow began to form within the clouds. Something moving, approaching, then the clouds burst open. From their heart emerged a colossal black dragon. Valzareth. His body was many times larger than Void, his wings seemed to cover the sky, and his red eyes shone with terrifying majesty.
He let out a thunderous roar, followed by a massive surge of energy that swept across the entire area. Mountains trembled, tornadoes swirled, and the very air itself seemed to recede. Void paused, taking in his own size. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Will I face... this monster?"
He was silent for a moment, then smiled. "It looks like it will be a long fight..."
He raised his head steadily. "But I... will not lose."
Valzareth looked at him silently. Then, slowly, he spread his wings, as if accepting the challenge without words. At that moment, Void unleashed his power. A dark, purple aura erupted from his body, colliding directly with Valzareth. The two energies clashed in the air, creating a tremendous pressure wave that shook the heavens.
This was a clear declaration of the start of the battle. Between two dragons, their clash would determine who was the stronger.