A dragon flew overhead, his wings beating like thunder. His rich green scales flashed in the sunlight, hints of autumn orange creeping along his spine and wing tips. His dark brown eyes were filled with malice and spite as he surveyed the humans below. His wings were translucent, nearly invisible from a distance.

"You are not to attack the humans," his queen had ordered him earlier before he had left their settlement deep in the mountains. The very queen who he had served under for his entire life.

But Zerkon didn't care.

He craved the blood of his enemies too much to care. Dragon hunters had crossed the line when they killed his brother. Now, humanity was about to discover just what one pissed off primal life dragon can do.

Zerkon circled above the village, his acid sacs filling up. The humans below pointed up at him, eyes wide. Some cowered in their wooden shacks while others grabbed whatever sword or pitchfork they could find.

Pitiful.

To a regular dragon, a dragon hatched without the gifts of primal power, this display would give good cause to worry. But primal dragons, whose scales were thicker and claws sharper, would have no reason to worry unless they were injured or couldn't fly. Even then, primal dragons had much more powerful magic than their regular counterparts and, once that magic was mastered, would truly become one with their element.

Zerkon enjoyed this power. Enjoyed it a little too much as he rained acid down on his enemies. Houses melted away, screams of pain and terror sliced through the air and rang in his ears. Humans fled in every direction, but Zerkon only had to give a pull on their life force for them to freeze on the spot long enough for him to swoop down and shred them with his claws.

He could just drain the very life from them to strengthen his own, but that'd be no fun. He could also turn them into plants as long as their will was weaker than his own, but that was too merciful for the life dragon's liking. Zerkon wanted to hear the humans scream and for the hunters to know exactly what he had felt.

Zerkon roared as he claimed victory. For all the villagers were dead. Or so he thought.

One human had slipped through his claws and was now running into the nearby forest. The human, a mere boy no older than twelve, leaped over fallen trees and dodged the bramble bushes that threatened to snag on his clothes. Sweat coated his skin as he held a dagger in one hand while pieces of hay lay cluttered in his dirty tangled hair.

The boy slipped on the grass, just barely avoiding a black puddle of foul-smelling acid that the dragon above had sprayed. Branches littered the ground from last night's wind storm, making the boy's journey all the more treacherous as he was possitive that if he were caught then the dragon would surely grind his bones for lunch. His hand clenched tightly around the dagger.

Maybe. Maybe. He should kill that dragon. Avenge all the innocent people the blood thirsty beast had slaughtered.

Snap!

The boy cursed. He had stepped on a twig and now he'd have to be the luckiest boy in the world for the dragon to not have noticed. But, knowing how keen dragon ears were, he bolted towards the woods, kicking up blades of grass in his wake.

Zerkon's head whipped around in the boy's direction, a hiss escaping his maw. How had he not sensed the boy before?! He searched for the invisible string that was the boy's very life force. A string that was burried among thousends upon thousends of other strings.

It was like trying to navigate through a swamp while wearing a blindfold, but Zerkon knew this swamp well. Too well. Those with strong wills to live were pratically glowing in his mind and had a barrier around their string - a string that he couldn't touch without draining his own energy and strength. The more powerful the string, the more energy it took from him if he dared try to sever it. Those with magic had strings that pulsed steadily and almost dared the life dragon to try to steal their power.

Zerkon didn't dare. Taking too much power could just as easily kill him as it could empower him. As he journeyed through the dephts of what he called the Strings of Life, he searched for the one string he was looking for.

The boy's string.

He found it... but it was dark with only a slight pulse like a weak heartbeat. It wasn't like any other string he's ever seen. It pulsed with a magic that he had never seen in a human before. A magic that he had only seen in one other race.

Dragons.

How was this possible? Either the boy was half dragon, which he bore zero resemblence to a dragon from what Zerkon could see, or he had been touched by dragon magic. Though if that were true then the boy's string would not be dark but would rather be the color of dragon magic that flowed through his veins.

No matter.

He would just have to kill this boy the old fashioned way. Strange string or no string. This boy would die today if he had any say in the matter.

Zerkon roared, folding in his wings as he dived. The boy ducked behind a tree right as Zerkon's massive claws smashed down where the child had been standing not even a moment earlier. Dirt was upturned and a few worms flew through the air, one of the wiggly little creatures even landing on Zerkon's wing - which he shook off with a hiss.

"What do you want? Haven't you taken enough from me already?!" The boy yelled. Zerkon, either not understanding or not caring, snarled in response. The boy, skin as pale as the clouds overhead, stared up at the dragon.

The boy couldn't help but feel awe in the presence of such a powerful beast. A beast that had reduced the village that he had called home to mere puddles of black foul-smelling acid and ruin. A beast that was both admired and feared among humankind. Despite the top of his head just barely reached the dragon's elbow and the fact that this dragon could eat him in two bites, the boy stood his ground.

Zerkon himself was awed by the boy. He couldn't help but admire the boy's bravery, or was it stupidity? He could even swear he saw a flicker of magic in the boy's brown almost black eyes.

For a single, full minute, boy and beast just stood there. Staring at one another. The boy didn't dare breathe, didn't dare move, for fear of giving the dragon reason to attack. The dragon, in turn, simply observed his prey. Noted the way the boy's hands shook and how he was so sweaty that his clothes seemed to stick to his skin.

Zerkon tilted his head, his jaws parting just enough to show his bloodied teeth. A growl rumbled through his throat as he took a step forward. The boy resisted the urge to gulp as the massive dragon looked down his snout at him as if he were an ant that had crawled on his food.

That was when the dragon struck.

The boy rolled, though the tips of the dragon's claws still managed to leave three bloody gashes on the his face and a smaller scratch on his neck. The force of the blow sent the boy flying into a nearby tree where he slumped to the ground, his screams slicing through the air. He clasped one hand to his bloody face, glaring at the dragon with such hatred that it would have made any non-dragon run for the hills.

The dragon stalked forward. Slow. Deliberate. Calculated. This was when the boy understood that dragons weren't just simple-minded beasts that attacked because someone angered the gods or tresspassed on their supposed territory.

This dragon clearly knew what he was doing. Clearly enjoyed it. Clearly was a monster that needed to be slain.

The boy rolled away once more right as Zerkon's claws smashed into the tree behind him, sending debris flying everywhere. The boy turned and bolted deeper into the forest, not bothering to look back. Zerkon snarled in Draike, which was the language of dragons, "get back here and fight coward!"

The dragon shook out his wings, bark and leaves sliding off almost like a waterfall, before he reared up on his hind legs. His wings spread wide as his bloodied fangs flashed in the sunlight. Foul black acid shot forth from his maw in the boy's direction as a second dragon soared overhead, eyes wide with horror as he took the scene in.

This dragon's scales, as black as the darkest night, was decorated with pale grey flecks. His feather covered wings were shaped just like a crow's wing while black quills tipped in red resided on the back of his head just behind his horns. The dragon's eyes, as golden as the sun, locked on Zerkon as his wings folded in, letting gravity take ahold of him.

"Zerkon!" The shadow dragon roared as he rapidly approached the scene. Zerkon's head snapped upwards in surprise, freezing in place. His eyes widened in shock before swiftly composing himself, folding his wings in and straightening.

"Captain Skull! What a wonderful surprise!" Zerkon greeted, hurriedly wiping his bloodied claws on the grass underfoot. He bowed, worry briefly flashing in his eyes as the higher ranking dragon landed.

Skull's claws sank into the earth, his eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't have anything to do with this village's destruction, would you?" Skull asked slowly. His nostrils flared, no doubt picking up the scent of blood and acid.

"Who, me? No, I'd never destroy a perfectly good village," Zerkon answered, slowly rising from his bow. He briefly glanced behind him only to internally curse.

The human had escaped.

"Something distracting?" Skull asked, one eye crest raised. Zerkon shook his head, stifling the urge to kick himself. Skull was one of the most observant dragons in the colony, of course he'd notice Zerkon sneak a glance behind him. Hopefully Skull hadn't noticed the blood coating Zerkon's fangs, though knowing his luck Skull probably did.

"No, not at all. You have my complete and undivided attention," Zerkon replied, his tail tip flicking slowly.

"Tell me. Where were you as of an hour ago?" Skull asked. Zerkon blinked.

"On patrol. Why?" Zerkon answered. He tilted his head slightly, questions begining to rattle his brain. Why was Skull asking interrogating him? Did he know what Zerkon did?

"There's been an attempt on the Queen's life," Skull reported. Zerkon gasped in horror, his head rearing back in shock.

"Impossible. Her Majesty is too careful to let anyone even get close to her," Zerkon exclaimed. Skull nodded in agreement.

"Indeed she is too careful. She's alive thankfully, but she will forever be half blind," Skull told Zerkon. The black dragon spread a wing across Zerkon's back. "Do you know who was in her chambers last?"

Zerkon glanced at Skull's wing. "King Chywin," he answered. Skull examined Zerkon carefully, suspicion written all over his face.

"King Chywin was found dead in the Queen's chambers this morning," Skull growled. Zerkon looked at the other dragon, alarmed. "You were the last one to see him alive. And that can only mean you killed him."

Zerkon backed away, horrified. "No, I didn't! I swear on my life! Please, you have to believe me!" Zerkon cried.

"You know, I would believe you... if there hadn't been a witness. Princess Hella saw you kill the king. Not to mention all your past threats against the throne and past crimes of treason. Per Zerkon Mahaul, under order of Queen Seyte and myself, you are hereby exiled. If you are ever seen again, you will be killed on sight," Skull declared. Zerkon froze before he slowly chuckled, begining to circle Skull.

"You know, I was hoping not to have to kill you too. But do know that this is nothing personal, Captain," Zerkon sneered. Skull barely had any time to react before Zerkon launched himself at the shadow dragon, his talons sinking into flesh. 

Skull roared as he whipped his head around and sank his venomous fangs into Zerkon's shoulder. Zerkon was forced to bite back a scream as his veins seemed to light on fire and his mind clouded with blinding white pain. His claws dug deeper into Skull's back, pressing more of his weight down on the other dragon. Zerkon could sense the shadow dragon's legs threaten to buckle. After all, life dragons were more bulky than shadow dragons. 

Though what Zerkon didn't realize was that Skull, like himself, was a primal dragon.

Skull erupted into a vicious black raging fire that was roughly in the shape of a dragon. His fire crackled and snarled, flesh and bone becoming one with fire. The fire was an extension of his very being, as good as his own claws and fangs. It bent to his will, coiling around Zerkon and scorching his scales. 

Shadowfire. 

Zerkon slashed his claws this way and that, but the only thing he truly accomplished was the act of making his burns even worse than they already were. The venom in his system wasn't being of much help either. For the life dragon knew he was on a ticking clock that was only counting down.

Shadow dragon venom was extremely potent. It was lethal enough to kill twenty-seven dragons in a single bite if the antidote wasn't administered. Zerkon could easily grow the right herbs to make the antidote, but the plants would burn up instantly in this fire and all he'd be doing was wasting his precious energy. Something he couldn't afford when fighting a primal dragon.

Or when fighting in general.

Zerkon couldn't kill Skull by severing his life string. Severing that string would be like trying to cut down a massive tree with a human's dagger. Skull's primal magic was too strong, for he was truly a master of his element. A true dragon of the shadows. 

But Zerkon had a few tricks under his wing. 

Zerkon reached deep down into his soul, towards Skull's life string. He may not be able to sever it and end Skull's life, but there were still other things he could do. He wrapped his very essence around that string, going through the same routiune he always went through when syphoning the very life out of something to empower his own. Only in the past he had done this to plants and small critters, never another dragon. He knew doing this would extend his own life span, heal all his wounds, and give him a temporary boost in strength and energy. Though in the past those he drained life from often became so weak they died a few days or even weeks later. But doing this came with a catch.

He had to physically be touching the living thing in order to drain its life. In this case, that "thing" was Skull. The life dragon had no idea if his life draining ability would work on a dragon, let alone on a dragon that's in primal form. But it was worth a shot.

Zerkon reached a clawed hand out, touching the fire. Almost greedily, Skull's fire seared the flesh on his hand. Despite all the pain, Zerkon kept his hand in the fire. If this failed, he would loose a hand if not his own life. But if it worked...

He had to try. 

Zerkon's essence constricted around Skull's life string as he made a small cut in it. Life flowed out of the cut only to be evaporated into Zerkon himself. In the physical world, a green aura surrounded Zerkon, his eyes becoming darker and darker until they were as black as the darkest night. The frills on the side of his head flared as power rushed through him, becoming one with his mind and soul. It exhilerated him to the point where he craved more. His eyes closed as he relished in the feeling, the shadow dragon venom in his veins being eradicated as his burns healed instantly. 

Zerkon's senses heightened. He could sense the horror from Skull, hear his shocked gasp as he suddenly could no longer maintain being one with his shadowfire. Zerkon could smell the boy he was chasing earlier hiding in a nearby tree, his heart racing in his chest. Zerkon welcomed his power, the good, the bad, it didn't matter. He welcomed all his power. He let it control him. 

Skull slumped to the ground, his shadowfire dying down to just a harmless flicker. "How did you do that?" Skull gasped, his frame trembling as he struggled to even raise his head and look his enemy in the eye. Zerkon stepped towards the other dragon, his eyes opening as he rested a talon on Skull's chin.

"This is the true power of a dragon. Let yourself be free and join me. Join and your life will be spared dear Captain. Just let your power fester and grow until you become one with it," Zerkon preached, his essence uncoiling from around Skull's life string and letting the cut on it heal. 

Skull growled, his eyes narrowing. "I will never follow a dragon who's let his own power consume him."

Zerkon's face twisted into a savage snarl as he pinned Skull down. "Then so be it," Zerkon rumbled. His talons flashed in the sunlight before an agonized scream echoed through the forest. Skull's wing hung limp at his side, shredded to the point of no return. Zerkon's maw opened once more, ready to end the pitiful excuse for a dragon beneth him. 

That was, until he heard wingbeats. 

Zerkon looked up, instantly spotting an entire wyng of dragons. He cursed. There were far too many dragons for him to take on alone. Even with his powers at full strength, there was no way he could fight them all and expect to win. Only a fool would do such a thing. 

Judging from their distance to himself, Zerkon knew he had just enough time to escape. But killing Skull now would ruin those chances. So, begrudgingly, he turned back to the helpless drake. 

"Next time you won't be so lucky," Zerkon hissed before spreading his magnificant wings and taking to the sky. In just a single wingbeat, he was gone. By the time his fellow brethren arrived, Skull was unconcious.

Meanwhile, the boy from earlier had watched the entire scene. Had watched the green beast defeat the black one. Had seen the black one turn into a strange kind of fire. He held the dagger tightly in hand - the only thing he had managed to save from his melting home. 

Only when the new dragons had taken the fallen drake back to wherever dragons lived did the boy come out of hiding. By then the blood on his face had dried and his mind was made up about dragons. All dragons were evil. The acid spitters especially.

One day, he would not be that acid dragon's prey, but rather his hunter. One day, when the boy was a man, he would wear dragon scale armor and mount dragon heads on his walls. One day, he would become the greatest dragon slayer in the entire world. 

One day, he would hunt all dragons down until there were no more left alive.