"Any last words?"

My eyes were widened as I stared speechlessly at the Enderdragon, who put on a fake sympathetic tone. "That's too bad."

Something - fear? - gripped me. Finally, I spoke, pausing after each word as if I was breathing heavily. "I... will... kill you."

In a blink of an eye, my sword was in my hands. I swung it with an upward swipe, slicing the dragon's claw. It let out a vengeful roar of pain, distracted. I rolled to the side, free from the Enderdragon's claws.

"I will destroy you!" it thundered, unleashing a torrent of purple flames.

I took cover behind a pillar, wincing at a pain in my right arm that I just realised. All my fear vanished, all that remain was determination harder than diamond.

I peaked around the corner to see the Enderdragon charging towards the pillar and Hailbert standing on top of a nearby pillar.

He leaped, landing on the Enderdragon. "I'll hold it off!" he called, stabbing it continuously with his axe while the dragon was trying to shake him off. "Destroy that last crystal!"

My gaze landed on an obsidian pillar where the Ender Crystal was protected by iron bars. I would have to get up that tower to destroy it.

I searched my pockets and found an ender pearl that I found in a random chest in the stronghold. This better work.

I gave my best toss and found myself at the side of the tower, but close enough to the top for me to grab the edge. With much difficulty, I threw myself up and took out a pickaxe. I started breaking the iron bars hastily, knowing that Hailbert wouldn't be able to distract the Enderdragon for long.

"No!" the Enderdragon screamed, realising that I was destroying the last crystal. It flung Hailbert off its back and flew straight for me.

The Ender Crystal was exposed now. The only thing I have to do was to smash it, and it's over for the Enderdragon. As soon as my pickaxe touched the crystal, it exploded, throwing me off the obsidian tower.

With a snarl, the Enderdragon swooped towards me, like an eagle wanting to finish its dying prey.

No... I wouldn't be prey here. Not anymore.

I whipped out my sword and brought it down the massive monster's head. The outrage of noises that came afterwards was so deafening that it could have been heard in another dimension.

The dragon began to pummel towards the pale yellow ground, with me on it. I held on tightly on my sword, which was still buried on the dragon's head as I braced for impact.

The sheer force of the impact sent me tumbling to the edge of the End. Luckily, Hailbert caught me just as I felt my feet slipping off the edge.

"I got you," he grunted, pulling me up.

Once I was safely on the ground, I gazed at the fallen Enderdragon. It made no sound, unmoving.

"Did we kill it?" I asked weakly.

"I'm not sure," Hailbert said.

Slowly, I moved towards the great winged beast, my hand reached out to retrieve my sword. Just then, the Enderdragon's purple eyes burst open and it seized the opportunity to trap me in its claws.

I began to choke, gasping for breath as the Enderdragon shook my sword off its head viciously. "Fool! It's the end for you now!"

Black spots dotted my vision as I could only feel my own struggles getting weaker. I was almost unconscious when a small shape threw itself at the Enderdragon.

The Enderdragon's choking grip loosened. I fell, and as soon as I hit the ground, I blacked out.

"Have you ever wondered... what the Void is like?"

"Emptiness. Just like this place."

"It won't be for long." The first who spoke stood up, a plan forming in their head. They showed a vial with purple liquid to the latter, who scoffed.

"What's that supposed to be?"

The other figure grinned. "The catalyst."

There was a ear piercing howl that jolted me awake. The moment I saw my dog, whimpering in pain due to the multiple wounds on its body, I felt an intense hate gathering inside me.

Without thinking, I threw my sword towards the Enderdragon. While in midair, it ignited into dark blue flames and struck its target.

The Enderdragon roared.

Hailbert gasped.

I only watched as the black dragon crumpled to the ground as its last roar died away. Its body faded away, leaving only an egg behind.

I did not look at Hailbert as I bent down and cradled my dog in my arms, limping towards the portal. I felt his searching gaze scorch me before I left the End behind me.

The return journey to the Kingdom was awfully silent. Strangely, I felt slightly numb to everything that happened. Defeating the Enderdragon was supposed to be a glorious feat, but all I felt was a hollow sense of regret.

The curious stares of everyone were on us when we entered. I ignored the growing crowd and limped towards the infirmary, setting my dog on a bed.

"We have never treated a dog, but we will do our best."

I barely heard the words of the doctor as I stroked my dog's fur, trying to comfort it.

Something came to my mind. If my dog hadn't did what he did, I would have died and the battle with the Enderdragon would not end.

The white dog opened his eyes, letting out a weak bark and cuddling the side of my arm.

"Ender..." I whispered. "Your name will be Ender."