A/N: Just wanna thank you guys for the positive feedback on Hiccup, the Womanizer, as soon as I'm finished with this book, I'll update that book a bit more, so stay tuned! For this story, however, we have five chapters to go, we're nearing the epic/emotional ending to this story, but I don't think you guys are ready for it. So, there're only two more champions that seek to become warlords, and once they're out of the picture, Drago will have no choice but to lead what's left of his army against Hiccup and Kumandra. All right, let's get this show on the road.

(Normal pov— Heart Nation)

The Northern Alliance war camp was bustling as its warriors and occupants were preparing for all-out war with Kumandra. Armorers had been creating new batches of dragon armor and helping the warriors place them on the dragons they had retaken as well as creating more war machines and weapons. Because of Hiccup Haddock, the resources and supplies of the Northern Alliance were severely depleted, and so Drago ordered his men to go into the forests beyond their war camp and build new war machines from the ground up. Not only was the lack of war machines an issue, but so was the state of the junta's chain of command; with no more high-standing leaders to aid Drago, the war master needed to rely on lowly captains from each sect of the armies under his banner to aid him in leading the coming war. These lowly captains were dregs, simpletons, and far too ambitious for their own good, however, Drago needed them for when the true war with Kumandra's armies would begin.

Currently, Drago was testing these lowly captains in combat, to probe their worth and see whether or not they were worth his time. The war master's messy dreadlocks were done in a ponytail and he had momentarily removed his breastplate, revealing his hulking and scarred upper body which was sleeked in sweat thanks to sparring with those who aspired to rise above their current stations. While some of the captains showed great promise, those who disappointed Drago were stripped of their rank by him and were once more mere soldiers that could be easily disposed of.

"You want to help me lead my armies?"

After disposing of one of the more incompetent captains, Drago was now facing an arrogant Slavic captain named Natalya, the Narcissist, her title told you all that one would need to know about her. Whirling her blade, she glared at Drago before replying smugly. "Good luck finding anyone better."

"A street urchin can do better than you," Drago taunted before scoffing as Natalya's passions got the better of her. She swung at the war master's head, but Drago used his bullhook to knock her blade out of her hand and then hit her across the face with the hook of his weapon, leaving a ghastly scar across her left cheek to her bottom lip. "Pathetic. A wise warrior knows how to control their emotions. Clearly, you cannot. If this was a fight for your life, you would no longer be among the living." Tears of agony flowed down Natalya's face thanks to the deep scar she had received, Natalya looked up at Drago with tear-stained eyes and found her master's eyes held no regret at the harsh, brutal lesson he had given to her. "Go to the healer, see to your wound. I will summon you if I have need of your services."

"Y-Yes, master."

With Natalya gone, Drago drove his bullhook on the deck of his mighty warship and approached a basin full of water. He cupped a handful and brought it to his face before reaching for a cloth hanging from the basin handle and washing off the sweat clinging to his upper body. Now that he had sparred with each of the captains who aspired to rise, Drago began weeding out the weak in his mind and then began to dwell upon those who had the potential to lead by his side. His thoughts were interrupted thanks to the sudden roar of a Singetail from overhead. Drago placed the cloth in the basin and looked up and see Askari descending. As the leader of the Dragon Flyers dismounted his dragon, he removed his mask and approached Drago, bowing his head in greetings.

"Tell me of Hiccup Haddock," Drago demanded in an inpatient tone. "How did he respond to my message?"

Askari stood straight and replied. "He... refused your challenge to fight him, he's well aware that it's a ruse so that you can unleash your Hands to kill him," the head flyer then tilted his head curiously. "What do you plan on doing now? Haddock is too clever, he wants to exact his revenge, but he'll do so with the odds in his favor."

"Haddock is wise, we've seen as much," Drago agreed before walking towards the side of his ship and overlooking his army preparing for war. "The boy has control over his emotions, even though I've slaughtered everyone he held close to his heart and reduced his world to ashes," he then chuckled darkly. "If Stoick's whelp wants to face me in open battle, so be it. It matters not. He cannot defeat me, no matter how hard he'll try to." Unknown to Askari, the war master was reassuring himself, after seeing his ultimate fate, thanks to Kofi.

After a long silence, Drago turned to Askari and gave him new orders. "Prepare the Dragon Flyers, Askari. When the final battle arrives, you and your flyers will play a crucial part in my plan to destroy the armies of Kumandra," he then gave his head flyer a dismissive wave. "Go. When I have need of you, I will summon you." Bowing his head in understanding, Askari urged his Singetail to follow him, leaving Drago alone.

Several men suddenly emerged from the lower deck of Drago's warship with Sisu and her siblings in tow, causing the war master to turn his head in their direction. The dragons had collars around their necks and muzzles around their maws, a precaution to keep them from setting fire to The Conqueror's bowels. Once Kumandra's champion dragons were brought before the madman, they all growled at him, though Drago was unfazed by their threatening growls. After giving the order to remove their muzzles, Sisu grunted while shaking off the pain of the tight muzzle around her head and maw.

"You receive armor like all the dragons in my army, if you refuse or resist, you will dearly regret it," Drago then summoned several armorers who had crafted armor specifically for Sisu and her siblings. Instead of silver armor, the armor that was being placed around Kumandra's champion dragons was gold armor. Their bodies were smeared in black ash to make them more intimidating, much to the dragon's distaste. Smirking at Pengu, the madman stated nonchalantly. "You wish to kill me, dragon."

Bearing his teeth, Pengu growled. "The thought had crossed my mind—"

"You won't though," Drago then gestured to the dragons in the war camp. "If you or any of your siblings provoke or resist me, they will suffer greatly."

Jagan snarled as the armorers approached him and his siblings with the gilded armor in hand, however, Sisu turned to your brother and gave him a pleading look. "Please, Jagan, don't fight them—"

"We should, Sisu! The dragons will follow our example as we rip these oppressive and vile humans to pieces!" Jagan's maw glowed with fire as he breathed a wave of deadly flames at the nearest armorers. Turning to a grinning Drago, Jagan's eyes turned to thin slits and he charged while bearing his teeth. "Die!"

Before Jagan could wrap his jaws around Drago's throat, the madman grabbed his upper and lower jaws with both hands and grunted in an effort to keep the dragon from biting down. "It seems as though you wish to remove my yoke off of your shoulders. A bold attempt, dragon," Drago laughed cruelly before driving his knee against Jagan's belly, knocking the air out of the dragon's lungs. Jagan didn't have time to recover, however, because Drago began landing ruthless blows across his face until he landed a staggering blow to his jaw with his unnatural hand. Blood and spittle flew out of Jagan's mouth and causing the dragon to collapse on the ground, panting heavily.

Placing a boot against the back of the dragon's neck, Drago then snarled. "Your attempt to rob me of my life has failed, dragon," savoring Jagan's gasps for air, Drago turned to Sisu and the others, who were held at bay with archers aiming at them and with warriors surrounding them in a ring of spears. "Because of your brother's actions, you will suffer first. The next time you make an attempt on my life, your fellow dragons will know suffering the likes of which they have never experienced." Turning to his men, Drago had four men take Sisu, Pengu, Pranee, and Amba to one of the masts and had them shacked with their backs facing their imminent tormentors. Once they were shackled and muzzled, warriors approached while brandishing whips, the men took up positions around the mast where the dragons were muzzled and awaited their master's command.

"Begin."

Flames of agony surged through Sisu's body when she was struck directly in the back, her cries were silenced thanks to the muzzle around her maw. She became aware of many things: the shackles that were tightly secured around her paws and hind legs to keep her firmly rooted. The outraged roars of nearby dragons who were witnessing this brutality. And the look of regret and fear in Jagan's eyes while he was pinned down by Drago.

"You have known existing between life and death thanks to the Druun when they had ensnared you in stone. But you know nothing of what I am capable of."

Drago's menacing words filled the ears of the tortured dragons. Jagan strained to get up but a ruthless kick to the side of his head nearly knocked him unconscious, the dragon groaned in pain. Those groans of pain soon turned to whimpers when Drago pressed down harder against the back of his neck, Jagan felt his vision going black, but the madman eased up.

Amba and Pranee's eyes were screwed shut as the whips stripped their flesh, the scent of his sister's blood caused Jagan to snarl, but again, Drago pinned him down with ruthless strength. "I won't kill you, dragon, but you will watch as your siblings suffer because of your actions," he then saw Jagan looking away, but the madman snarled and reached down for the dragon's head, forcing him to look at the brutality. "Look! Watch as they suffer because of you!"

Pengu tried to hold back his roars of pain, but even with the muzzle around his maw, the sound of his roars filled the air. As the oldest of the five, Pengu knew that he needed to be strong, and when Drago least expected it, he would see to it that this man suffered for harming his siblings. But that day was not today.

Drago savored the sight of Jagan's despair, he knew that Kumandra's champions would not submit that easily. But like all dragons, they learn their place, this wouldn't be any different. And seeing the regret in Jagan's made the madman chuckle darkly, he knew that if this dragon was wise, he would not make such a pathetic attempt on his life again, knowing that next time the punishment would be on a mass scale.

These dragons were defiant, true, but Drago knew that it was only a matter of time before their will broke and they would know their place under his heel. All the dragons would be his, as would the world, no matter the cost.

(Spine Nation)

The White Brook temple was now facing an incursion by Mongols led by Altan, Golden Son, leader of Chagatai Khan's Keshig. Even though Altan didn't bring the entirety of the Mongol forces that were under Chagatai's command, he still possessed a sizeable force to lay waste to The White Brook and send the people of Spine into spiritual chaos. The man himself was perched on his horse along with the entirety of the Keshig that had previously protected Chagatai, but now they lived to protect him. Knowing that Spine's warriors were undoubtedly aware of their presence, Altan and the Mongols under his command were ready for anything and anyone.

Altan was praying to Tengri that Hiccup Haddock would come for him. He was one of many that saw what had become of Chagatai Khan and his lover, Griselda the Grievous in Fang Nation's imperial city before the Druun destroyed it. As head of Chagatai's Keshig, Altan felt immense shame for not foreseeing an assassination attempt on his warlord's life. With Chagatai's death, Genghis Khan would see to it that he and the Keshig under his command were executed for allowing his son to be brutally murdered by a petty boy who desired vengeance. They might as well be branded as khuuli bus, outlaws, for allowing such a tragedy to happen.

Altan knew that he and his men could not return to Mongolia, instead, they would serve the will of Drago Bludvist and avenge their Khan by killing Hiccup Haddock. But killing the man who killed the son of Genghis would have to wait.

Currently, Altan and the Mongols under his command were attacking The White Brook with ferocity; several men rushed up the steps to the temple grounds and began destroying sacred shrines and statues and heavy cannons were positioned at the temple steps while the men manning the cannons tilted the war machines towards the temple weak points. However, before the cannons could be fired, the temple monks emerged with weapons in hand and lashed out against those that defiled what they considered holy ground.

"Dispatch these fools!" Altan boomed out to his men. "Let no one stand in your way from fulfilling your duty!"

Heeding their commander, the Mongols attacked the monks, those who chose to not only fight in the name of peace but also preserve the temple that was under threat. Leading these monks was a man named Bayot, Whirlwind Tiger. He was given such a title because of his mastery of animal-style martial arts, mainly tiger-style. He was also armed with two knuckledusters and three bronze claws attached to them. With the ferocity of a tiger, Bayot slew those that sought to plunge Spine's people into spiritual chaos.

Slashing across a Mongol captain's face, Bayot ducked underneath a sword that would've taken off his head, he then slashed his attacker's sword arm, successfully disarming them before using both knuckledusters to slash the Mongol's throat open. Blood painted his skin and robes, but it didn't deter Bayot from fending off the invaders. Turning to see many of his fellow monks being cut down due to the Mongol numbers, Bayot retreated up to higher ground until he reached the top of the temple steps and outside its main gates.

"Bring this temple down!"

Acknowledging the orders of their commander, the Mongols lit the fuses of the cannons before unleashing salvo after salvo of metal and fire. Large chunks of debris flew in all directions as the temple came under fire. Bayot watched in horror as the temple was suffering from cannon fire, with a war cry, he leaped over the Mongols surrounding him and rushed towards the cannons. Laying eyes on the advancing monk, archers perched on horses raised their bows with arrows at the ready and let them fly. Bayot, however, hacked and slashed the incoming arrows and continued his advance.

"You will not destroy this place, you savage dogs!" Bayot boomed out before bearing his teeth. "Die!" Removing one of his knuckledusters, Bayot hurled it straight at a charging Mongol, and the claws embedded into their throat. As they were collapsing, the head monk used their body as a step stool and leaped high into the air. Before doing anything else, however, Bayot had been shot in the chest by an arrow.

Crashing back down on the ground, Bayot groaned in agony as the impact of the fall pushed the arrow deeper into his chest. A large shadow loomed over him, looking up, the monk laid eyes on Altan, his gilded armor was blinding, causing Bayot to narrow his eyes at the man who was laying waste to The White Brook.

"Did you truly believe you can stand in our way? Quite admirable, but pointless," drawing his broad sword, Altan pointed his blade at the monk. "Die, knowing that soon, all of Kumandra will perish until there's nothing left." Accepting his fate, Bayot rose until he was seated on his knees and closed his eyes, awaiting his execution. Pressing his blade against the monk's neck, Altan then lifted his blade high above his head and removed Bayot's head from his shoulders.

The carnage continued as Altan ordered his men to sack the temple and kill all the occupants within it. With the monks of The White Brook eliminated, Spine's people would be without spiritual guidance and advice.

Anarchy would befall Spine, and the people would be restless as well as lost. Just as Drago planned.

Chief Tong was perched on his mighty war elephant, Maka, short for Makapangyarihan, meaning Mighty. Steering his elephant while firmly rooted on the howdah strapped around Maka's back, Tong was accompanied by six archers as well as Bayana. To prove his hatred towards the Northern Alliance, Benja had sent Bayana with Tong the warriors of his choosing to rid The White Brook of Drago's men, if his words of hatred for the war master and his junta were nothing but wind and air, Tong vowed to personally bury his axe in Bayana's chest.

The message Raya had sent via carrier falcon told Tong that Altan, Golden Son had a sizable Mongol force with him as he would attempt to destroy The White Brook temple. Altan's forces consisted of his Keshig, at least one hundred and fifty men as well as war machines that are capable of toppling a temple with ease. Armed with the knowledge of what he and his warriors were dealing with, Tong led the way as his elephant riders and foot warriors advanced through the frigid bamboo forest of their home until they made a thunderous entrance, catching the Mongol forces off guard. As the elephants released loud trumps, those that Tong had brought with him advanced toward the Mongol lines, and like enraged bulls, these hulking men and women easily broke the lines of Altan's men, for they were driven not only by rage for the desecration of such a holy place but also driven by spiritual zeal.

"Slay them all, my brothers and sisters!" Tong boomed out. "Show the enemy the true might of Spine Nation!" 

As the Mongol soldiers were being trampled on by both Tong's warriors and the war elephants at his disposal, the new chief of Spine had one of his men take over steering his elephant before turning to Bayana. "You. With me," Leaping off of his elephant, Tong took out his large battle-axe which was strapped to his back. "Prove you are no longer a friend to these people. Kill them." Tong then released a battle cry as he charged into six Mongol warriors, knocking three down on the ground while he landed a bone-shattering punch across one of the Mongol's jaws. Ducking underneath a blade swung at his head, Tong seized his attacker by the throat and crushed their windpipe in with horrifying ease. Turning to the third of his opponents, the large chief used his axe to sweep them off of their feet before raising his weapon high above his head and slamming it down between their eyes, blood spatter flung up and soaking Tong's scrunched face.

Bayana drew his Konda blade and struck down a Mongol in the back, causing them to crumble to their knees and allowing the defecting Hand to slit their throat open. Confused that one of Drago's Hands was now turning on fellow members of the Northern Alliance, the Mongols came to realize that this wasn't just any Hand, this was Bayana. It was no secret that he harbored deep resentment toward Drago, but he was never brazen enough to openly challenge the war master or even turn against him in years past. Now, however, it would appear that Bayana had permanently burned down the bridge leading back to the life he had been forced into by Drago. 

"Kill the traitor, Drago will reward us!"

Altan's cavalry advanced toward the former Hand with bows in hand, Bayana quickly grabbed one of the downed shields and quickly crouched one knee while raising the shield to protect himself from Mongol arrows. Discarding the shield, Bayana drew his own bow while drawing three arrows from his quiver, he narrowed his eyes at the advancing cavalry while nocking the arrows. After taking aim and letting the arrows fly, they each struck down three separate riders. Drawing another arrow, Bayana quickly shot another arrow as one of the horsemen nearly struck him down with their broadswords. Another horseman bulldozed into Bayana, knocking him down against the first step of the temple, the former Hand smacked his head against the step, breaking the skin and drawing blood. Laughing darkly that the traitorous Hand was at their mercy, the Mongol had his horse stand on its hind legs and ready to cave Bayana's head open. 

However, a flaming axe came whirling from behind and struck the horse in its backside, causing it to neigh in agony and catch on fire, resulting in its Mongol rider to burn as well, causing both mound and rider to collapse to the ground while being burned to an unrecognizable crisp.

Groaning in pain, Bayana looked ahead to see Hiccup and Raya emerge out of the bamboo forest while cutting down any Mongol in their path. The Viking eventually reached for his axe which had extinguished, though he was still mindful since it was surrounded by fire. With his weapon in his hands, Hiccup approached Bayana and extended a hand out for him, the former Hand took the hand and was lifted off of the ground. 

"Can you fight in your condition?"

Wiping away the blood that was seeping down his face, Bayana snarled in pain but nodded. "I've survived far worse than this scratch," he then pointed his Konda blade in Altan's direction. "That is the man Drago sent to destroy this place. Kill him, and this battle is ours."

Narrowing his eyes at Altan, Hiccup nodded. "Done," he then turned to Bayana. "Help Raya and Tong, I'll deal with Altan."

Sprinting towards Chagatai's head Keshig, Hiccup was mindful of the ongoing battle ensuing around him; he evaded arrows, ran past charging war elephants that Tong's men were using to break the Mongol lines, and he cut down any Mongol warrior that stood between him and his prey. Eventually, Altan saw Hiccup approaching and before the Golden Son could react, he was bucked off of his horse because the Viking had hurled Valkyrie's Fury into the side of Altan's mare. Dazed from hitting the ground, Altan slowly but surely got up, though his legs were wobbly thanks to the impact of his crash. He then saw Hiccup drawing a blade of fire while drawing ever closer to him, and though the Golden Son tried drawing his sword to defend himself, he was too late.

Hiccup slashed Altan's belly open, and the man's intestines and blood poured out of the wound, causing the Mongol to crumble to his knees and clutch at his fatal wound. Looking up into the Viking's eyes, Altan accepted his fate and knew he would join his Khan in the Eternal Blue Sky. He then removed his hand from the wound Hiccup had dealt him and closed his eyes, awaiting the death of a warrior. With a growl, the Viking decapitated the Golden Son of Chagatai and watched as his body fell to the side while blood pooled around his lifeless body. Again, Hiccup took the head of the third aspiring champion before placing the head in a sack that held the heads of the previous two champions he killed.

"One to go," Hiccup murmured to himself before retracting Inferno's blade and clipping it to his hip, he also retrieved Valkyrie's Fury by dislodging it from the fallen mare's side. The battle here was won, the last of the Mongols were being slain and the warriors that had accompanied Tong were now tending to the temple monks. Approaching Raya, Tong, and Tong Hiccup gave his allies a firm nod before speaking to the princess. "With this place secured, we should head to Tail and deal with the last of Drago's aspiring champions."

Nodding in agreement, Raya turned to Tong and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I trust that you'll join us back at Heart when you've tended to the fallen monks and the destruction that was brought upon the temple?"

"Yes. We will see to our dead and restore what can be mended, but you will see us again by the time you and Hiccup deal with the last of Drago's champions," Tong smiled at the princess. "Go on, princess. We will see each other again, soon."

Nodding, Raya then turned to Bayana. "You've proven yourself worthy of trust. Continue to do so by helping us end the last of Drago's aspiring champions," Bayana nodded in understanding while sheathing his Konda blade. The princess looked at Hiccup and nodded at her friend. "Let's finish this."

"With pleasure."

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see you in the next one!