A/N: Unfortunately this is a shorter chapter, but I promise, the ending of this chapter is gonna leave you dying for the next one, guaranteed.

(Hiccup's pov)

For a moment, it seems that my enemies were given a brief respite, due to Drago wanting to bathe in one of the nearby rivers, so that he was presentable to Fang Nation's ruler, and not appear as a rabid animal. So, the Northern Alliance ceased its march and awaited their war master's return. Even though I had dealt the Northern Alliance a crippling blow, I wasn't going to ease up. Now I had my sights set on the enslaved dragons my enemies took from Scandinavia, which was a great many and were kept under heavy guard. I noted how cages full of dragons weren't just guarded by a handful of Mongol and Slavic warriors, but also one of the Hands of Drago, foreign warriors who in of themselves posed a deadly challenge.

If I was going to lure these warriors away, I was going to either cause a distraction large enough to gain the attention of everyone around me, or... I spring my deceased friend's dragons out of their cages and have them create a distraction while working on freeing as many of the caged dragons here.

"Of course, nothing can ever be simple," I groaned to myself. After a few minutes of pondering the choice I would make, I sighed. "Well, here goes nothing." Without delay, I sprinted towards the cages that held Stormfly, Hookfang, Meatlug, Barf, and Belch. I noted that their cage locks were will but melted now, thanks to the Changewing acid I had poured on them prior to me causing infighting among the enemy's ranks.

The dragons I had known for five years perked their heads up and gave soft growls, coos of excitement as I revealed my face to them. "Alright gang, I think you've been in these cages long enough," I then took out Inferno and grinned at them. "Let's get you free." With a grunt, I brought my blade down on the locks of each cage swiftly, thankfully we were in the rear of the enemy march, not too many of the enemy warriors were back here, which gave me an opportunity to move swiftly and free the dragons those I cared for once rode. Once free from their cages, I ripped off the muzzles and collars around their necks, and they all let out growls of content.

Retracting Inferno, I urged them to take cover in the thick bushes that surrounded us, but also to follow me without being seen. Understanding what I wanted of them, the dragons quickly took cover and trailed me while I got to work on freeing many of the captured dragons from Scandinavia, who were being forced to lug the large, heavy war machines the Northern Alliance wielded and it was sickening to see those under Drago's command working these poor dragons until they'd drop from malnutrition or dehydration. Moving swiftly, I leaped onto one of the war machines and killed an enemy warrior who was bringing a whip down a Hobblegrunt. I then severed the reins around its maw and encouraged the dragon to flee to the jungle. Seeing my deceased friends' dragons in the thick bushes, the Hobblegrunt made a break for it.

Eventually, I had freed nearly every dragon from the rear, freeing the dragons from the front would be a challenge, because the bulk of the enemy army was on the march, as was Drago, his warlords, his Chosen, and his most gifted killers.

Pursing my lips in thought, I decided to cause a distraction and lure many of the enemy warriors away from the cages that held any captured dragons. I reached for my satchel and grabbed a jar of Monstrous Nightmare gel and doused any nearby war machines and wagons full of weapons and supplies in the substance before retracting Inferno and setting the enemy resources ablaze while quickly vacating the area.

"FIRE!"

The enemy warriors assumed battle formations but noted the fire coming from their rear, and so many of Drago's commanders and generals ordered their respective troops to get buckets full of water and put the fire out. A great many of the warriors, including those under the Hand of Drago left their post to aid in putting out the fire I had started, but I would have to move swiftly if I was going to free these dragons. As I approached the nearest cage, I was able to cut the locks off thanks to Inferno being made of Gronkle Iron, and since it was able to cut through the cage locks, it made my job easier instead of tailing an enemy warrior who held keys to the dragon's cages. I was moving as fast as I could, and every dragon I freed moved to the jungle for cover and follow Stormfly and the others. For every dragon I freed, I made sure to quickly vacate the area and continue setting fire to my enemy's war machines and supplies before moving on and finding more cages that held captured dragons.

An amused smirk crept across my lips hearing the enemy commanders and generals in a panic as they aided their men in putting the fires out. Their fear of Drago was what kept them in line, yet if they couldn't protect Drago's assets, then the war master would dispose of them for their competence and sift through the wheat of his army to raise a new war council. Whilst I would ensure that the war council would remain empty, I would also kill any within the junta who were of proper standing and anyone who could potentially rise to stand beside Drago and his two warlords as commanders or generals.

But that was a concern for another time.

For now, I was freeing the last of the dragons the Northern Alliance had enslaved, the gods favored me, allowing me to move like a blur and free every dragon my enemies had enslaved. I knew I would have to free the armored dragons too, but those dragons were under Drago's fealty through years of abuse and torture, freeing them from the madman's control would take time, which I was now in short supply of. Enemy warriors were approaching and I quickly fled the area and hid behind a nearby dragon trap to overhear what these warriors had to say.

"If Drago wasn't on the warpath now, he certainly will be when he discovers what happened here."

One of the warriors grunted in agreement. "Lying to him is unwise, as soon as he has finished bathing, those who command us will suffer his wrath," the warrior then added. "All will bear witness and those of us who are of seasoned skill in both the blade and in strategy will ascend to take the place of our very soon dead commanders and generals."

Pursuing my lips, I then fled the area and made my way towards the river that Drago was bathing at. Looking to the jungle, I had the dragons stay where they are and also remain out of sight, Stormfly and the others nodded in understanding before relaying my instructions to the dragons I freed through growls and soft barks. Eventually, I saw the river where the man who took everything from me was washing away the grime, filth, and blood off his body. My jaw clenched tightly, my blood boiled, and my vision turned red just looking at Drago, but after taking deep breaths, I had calmed myself to the point where I wouldn't act recklessly.

However, there was something I wished to do.

It would be a risk, yet I wanted Drago to know who it was that has inflicted so much destruction to his army.

And I wanted to look him in his eyes and tell him that I would have his life all in good time.

With my mind set on what I was about to do next, I then made my way down to where Drago was bathing, luckily he had a tent pitched, so I hid from sight just as my enemy was exiting the water. I would make my move when he would least expect it, and then I would speak for my people and loved ones, everyone that he put to the sword in Scandinavia. Drago would not only see that I've come back from the dead but he will be consumed by paranoia and dread; because he has seen that I've singlehandedly crippled his great junta and now it's growing weaker as each day passes.

His past will come back to haunt him, and I will ensure he is tormented until I choose to take his life.

(Normal pov)

Drago exited the waters he had been bathing in and approached a thick fur towel on the riverside to dry his massive, battle-hardened body. He then wrapped his towel around his stocky hips and approached his tent to dress and resume the march with his loyalists. Although the war master was eager to reach Fang Nation's imperial city and broach terms with Chief Virana, Drago was suffering from doubt and fear, two feelings he has not felt in ages, until now. It's no secret that Drago has faced and conquered many challenges, many of which have nearly killed him. But he was a conqueror who overcame the challenges he has faced, and the ordeal he has endured has only made him stronger.

But now, here in Kumandra, his army is fractured, and with a loss of Ragnar the Rock, his mighty Bewilderbeast, his great war machine, and the loss of the Blue Lotus army, Drago was wondering whether or not he would actually accomplish his life's ambition of ruling this world as the supreme master of all people. These emotions were a weakness, and it sickened Drago that he was doubting himself. With a roar of rage, he flipped over a bench inside his tent and landed a heavy blow to a nearby water basin with his false arm, shattering the basin and spilling water everywhere. As Drago huffed and puffed with rage, he then rearranged his bench, took a seat, and took deep breaths to calm himself, but it did little good. Everything he had built, all the warriors he had amassed together was now crumbling before him.

Suddenly, cold steel touched Drago's neck, causing the madman to inhale sharply and turned to see a blade resting on top of his right shoulder, yet it was pressed firmly against his neck, one move and he was dead. The dark silhouette of a figure illuminated against his tent, and a very familiar voice filled Drago's ears.

"When a man puts a dead thing in the ground, he expects it to stay there. But sometimes, the dead comes back to haunt you."

The sword resting against his shoulder soon retracted, causing the madman to quickly get up from his bed, Drago then grabbed his own sword resting against his desk and pointed it at his assassin. Although the madman was expecting one of his own to take his life, he could not believe his eyes when he laid eyes on one he thought had perished in what felt like a lifetime ago. Despite his best efforts to deny who had been a thorn in his side ever since he and his junta arrived in Kumandra, he was struck with reality. His enemy, the one who had done what many more formidable opponents and empires have failed to do to him and the junta was standing before him, a ghost made of flesh and bone— Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the Dragon Master. Again, Drago wished to deny that this was possible, he had seen his Bewilderbeast sentencing him into an icy prison, one that would've killed him as time progressed. However, it would seem that the gods had spared the last Viking this world had to offer. Using his blade to cut inside the madman's tent, Hiccup entered, he then ripped the hood off his head and looked Drago in the eyes, and gave the genocidal monster a murderous glare.

"Drago Bludvist," Hiccup spat out after what felt like a lifetime later, his tone was laced with pure hatred and utter disgust, he then pointed his sword at the madman and gave him a grin that suited a bloodthirsty shark. "I would have words with you, prior to taking your life."

A/N: Don't you just love cliffhangers? Anyway, I just wanted to get this chapter in so that I can update the other two stories I'm working on, which will most likely happen during the weekend. Stay tuned for more!