Takid watched in horror as the hatching began. Calad was trapped in the mucus walls, doomed to die from the xeno in his chest. Kokushibyou was in the inner circle, ready to snatch any demon offspring he could. And he, Takid, second son of King Emhei, was powerless to stop the slaughter.

He watched the more Hathian-like offspring hatch, frozen in fear. The part of him that was Kokushibyou's puppet was unafraid, undaunted even. The part that was Takid was screaming for his brother.

Let me go, you stupid thing! Takid thought at the demon within him. Calad is dying, I have to save him! I have to stop Kokushibyou!

The demon-Takid cackled at his attempts to contradict it. Calad is already dead, boy, and Kokushibyou triumphs.

Kokushibyou shall never triumph! Takid thought angrily.

And what does a puny creature like you plan to do about it? His other self asked.

I plan to stop him, somehow, that's what! The young man retorted. All demons have a weakness!

Deception and Despair are here, as are many other demons. Do you think you stand a chance against all of them and the xenodragons? The remarkably reasonable evil demanded.

If I bonded, maybe I would... Takid answered, looking at the hatchlings.

None of them want you. You are too soft for them. They are evil. The other contradicted.

Not all of them! The innocent human cried in dismay.

Yes, all of them. It is in their blood. Vicious, blood-thirsty and evil. The demon within observed.

Shut up! Takid snapped at the voice as it droned on and on.

Suddenly, he felt his stomach plummet suddenly and Kokushibyou's puppet-mastery died. Takid stared at the entrance to the inner sands, his eyes flashing. "Calad..." He whispered and ran forward.



Calad felt his entire body afire with pain. He felt something inside his chest, clawing at him from the inside, yearning to get out. He was gone, doomed, forgotten and lost.

It was up to Takid to save their home now. Up to Takid to stop Kokushibyou. Why did he have to put such a weight on his brother's shoulders with his death?

Blood blossomed from his chest as he hung in the mucus. His eyes were open, though everything was hazed over in red. It hurt... It was terrible, terrible pain.

"Takid!" He cried out as the xeno burst from him like a foul insect. A parasite.



"Cal-" Takid began as he ran into the inner circle.

A sudden weight on his back made him fall forward and land on the ground with a sickening crunch. An evil cackle from the xenodragon on his back made him look up. The xeno smirked and firmly broke his neck.



Takid! Calad thought as he watched his brother fall. His younger brother, the last hope, dead. He was dying. And Kokushibyou? He saw two xenodragons - one had killed Takid - advancing on him. Let him die as well.

Calad felt the life leave him at the same time that Takid's heart stopped beating. Both brothers were no more.



Kokushibyou smirked as he saw both brothers die. He had looked forward to seeing the Princes of Aramadad die. King Emhei would no doubt go insane when the demon returned to take over the Kingdom with a xeno and their corpses. Or what was left of them.

The demon then noticed two xenodragons walking towards him. One was Takid's killer, the other unknown. However, they did not seem ready to attack him or eachother.

I am Kaelror. Takid's killer, a beta drone, said as he advanced.

I'm Korchelr. The alpha warrior added evenly.

"What about him?" Kokushibyou asked, motioning to Calad's burster.

He is Lkorth. He won't be bonding with us but I'm sure that he wouldn't mind hanging around. Korchelr said, grinning maliciously.

Lkorth hissed at them as he walked by, his eyes dark with his own intentions. Intentions that Kokushibyou did not personally care to learn about.

continue