Twelve years...twelve years that the Knightly Birds had forced him into hiding during the Ice Dragon and phoenix battle! Raptor birds forcing a stronger force - that couldn't have been right. It had brought much shame down upon him, and the Ice Dragons. It made him look like a coward.

    But now, he would show them all what the true power of an Ice Dragon could do. Yes, he'd destroy the phoenix kingdom, and be the king of this land once in for all.

                                                                                            ~~~

    ~Strikimir~

    Canyon was not killed - he could feel it in his guts. Ice Talons had transported him to this ice cave room. Strikimir felt good to be here - pleased, even. But he so missed Canyon - oh, his own Canyon! Strikimir was once a brother, but they all died - in protest, and battle, against his choices. His other known relatives fled, never to be heard from again. Strikimir was once named something else, but saying his old, treacherous name was strictly forbidden to his beak. It was at that cavern, that he had heard that strange voice. And this was not the first.

    "Why, Strikimir. You have changed. And what I mean is, not by much." The voice laughed harshly. "Maybe you will change, but not in this era."

    "Wha-what is it that I must do to be different? And you're not the one to command me now, but I shall give it a chance for once. And...never mind," Strikimir stuttered, as it was unusual for him to cower in fear of someone else.

    No comment. No answer. No reply. He waited...where had that thing gone?

    "My, you really do not know who I am," The voice said in a mocking tone. "You'll see me, and soon bow down to the might of my power!" The air in front of Strikimir started to move. Strikimir heard the crackle of electricity, and quickly backed away from the strange air. Strange blue fog came up from the ground, drifting around like a mini tornado. There was a flash, lightning, and the fog dropped away. Strikimir tried to contain his excitement, but to no avail. "I AM KRAKENIAN! THE LORD AND KING OF THE WORLD!!!"

    Krakenian! It couldn't BE! Krakenian was the true creator of the universe, and the king of the universe! "Wow. Couldn't be more impressed! C'mon, I know it's you, Abyss! Come out from that magic right now!" Strikimir knew that he shouldn't've said that, but he just had to mock the god.

    Krakenian seemed amused. He shot a bolt of lightning at Strikimir, knocking him off of his feet. Strikimir smashed into the walls, and quickly got up.

    "It is you!" He just couldn't hide his amazement, and awe.

    "Yes, I am."

    Strikimir gasped, as suddenly a strange, luminous light flickered to life, glinting Krakenian. Krakenian, apparently, decided to take the form of an Ice Dragon. There was a mysterious fog that reflected the light. And an image came to life, right in Krakenian's talons.

    Krakenian stroked with his other talons, the image. His eyes glowed a brilliant blue, and ice blue smoke came out from his mouth and nose. "This is what would happen to you if you continue down your dark path. You will unleash endless death, if the war carries on. And it could end up that you, are the fault that was to jeopardize both sides in this new war. You could destroy the whole universe."

                                                                                               ~~~

    Ice Talons just couldn't believe that Strikimir would just go on ahead, and create a flaw in their plan! This was the perfect plan, and Strikimir just had to go on out, and ruin the surprise ambush right of the bat! And it all had to be traced back to his so called relative, Carer, Carson, or something! Oh, he is so going to destroy her, or any other members related to Strikimir! Even though Ice Talons wanted to give Strikimir the boot, he just couldn't. 1) Strikimir had freed them, so now he has to be allied with him, or at least, for some time. 2) Strikimir was an alliance with one of the most powerful phoenixes, so killing Strikimir wouldn't help his cause. If he made an enemy against Strikimir now, then the Water-Xs, and the Thunder Ices will also leave, and plot against him. Horrible. Well, he didn't care much for the Thunder ICes, but still. So he just couldn't eat Strikimir. Yet. Once he was king, he will then eat him. No matter, the Water-Xs would already be his alliance, and not Strikimir's anymore.

    The phoenixes now know about our existence, what shall we do now? Ice Talons though, in a sort of panicky way. No matter, whatever. I will right this wrong, and kill all of them myself. He paused, wondering if he should do this next. I should get out the secret weapon!

    Once again, he felt that strange surge of power. He could do it all by himself. No haughty followers to create a flaw in a plan. No more allies. That meant that he could have more land to himself. Destroy everything! Suddenly, Ice Talons felt it rather hard to control all that power. He became unconscious, and toppled over onto the ground. He lay there, twitching.

    As Ice Talons regained conscious again, he just couldn't shake the feeling as if he was being controlled. No. Ice Talons cannot be controlled by anyone. And will not. He thought fiercely in his head. I am not someone's stupid puppet player. There just can't be some force stronger than me. Then a sickening thought struck him. Vuldrix. He was the one who had exiled him long ago. So if there was anyone stronger than him, it was Vuldrix.

    Arrogant, just like all of the villains...

    Ice Talons snapped up. This voice was not of Vuldrix. It sounded more...colder in some way...

    Of course, you cold hearted creature...

    Ice Talons shivered for the first time in his long life. This sounded serious. He ignored the voice, and the voice faded away. Phew.

    Now, back to Vuldrix. Strikimir had poisoned him, so at least Vuldrix wasn't around anymore. So it wasn't that possible for Vuldrix to survive the deadly poison, Arsenic Ralmont. One drop alone could kill twenty full grown Ice Dragons. So, Vuldrix was supposedly dead. Now, that's what made Ice Talons recruit Strikimir for the job. And also, Ice Talons had created a secret weapon eons ago. So, if otherwise, the time was right, and now to launch it. If he didn't use it now, then the phoenixes would overtake them again! Ice Talons wouldn't allow that again. What a horrible leader he would be! Unless...they always said that he should've cared for them more, instead of doing it like everyone else thinks about his ways - disciplining by threatening, training, and directing icy attitudes - but that wasn't entirely true. Okay, maybe it was, but it wasn't his fault. It was just simply the ways of the Ice Dragons from Vhladkronkus. But he did, harshly, put his warriors into battle too soon. Sure, the Ice Dragons had enslaved the birds long before they had created fire, but what harm did that do? Birds were already covered in fluffy feathers, and were great assistants. Despite all of the complaints. That probably lead all of to the war.

    Now, back to focus.

    Ice Talons used his magic, and created a rift (portal) to the realm of his weapon. The place was simply created from the sheer ice aura magic from his mind. Ice Talons let out a deep breath, and stepped in. For a moment, all that filled the rift was a tornado of cold, ice colors, and bright light that made his eyes hurt. It made him feel a bit dazed and light headed. So he just closed his blue eyes. All of a sudden, a few seconds later, the swirling of the eddies stopped. Ice Talons opened his eyes, and sight of his land met him with a chilling greeting. An icy desert in which no phoenix would ever dare to venture in glared back with welcoming. Yes, this had got to be the deadliest place in all of the realms. This was a realm that was unforgivable, and forbidden. Ice Talons smiled, and on all fours, lumbered out.

    Yes, I'll let those phoenixes feel true agony. He though savagely, By Krakenian, let them feel true, sheer agony!

    Ice Talons could feel the deadly power as he got closer to his weapon. Yet, the reason why this realm was forbidden was because this was not only a place of danger, this was a place beyond all realms. Only the realms beyond realms held only one coordinate, and that was Ice Talons.

    Ice Talons soon stood before a massive ice place that spewed blue fire things. He looked all around him. Yes, he was sure that this was the place.

    "Hail King Ice Talons as he destroys the phoenixes!" He shouted up into the gloomy sky, his voice resounding throughout the barren landscape. And all the while, holding up the weapon in his mighty jaws.