Deá's Pov

  The Rotten Vale was as inhospitable as I remembered. The stench of decay and the oppressive miasma were enough to turn anyone's stomach, but I pressed on, determined to follow the clues about Zorah Magdaros. The Elder Dragon had caused enough havoc, and I needed to find out where it was headed next.

  I navigated through the twisted ndscape, my senses on high alert for any signs of danger. The commander had me looking into an Odogaron, but something felt off. The usual sounds of the Vale were subdued, as if the entire area was holding its breath.

  As I made my way deeper, the familiar growls and screeches of the Vale's inhabitants seemed to fade, repced by an eerie silence. I rounded a corner and froze, my eyes widening at the sight before me.

  There, in the middle of the path, stood a figure I had only seen once before in a fleeting, awe-inspiring battle with a Kirin. Imperialis was an imposing sight. Its form was a blend of monstrous power and an unsettling beauty, its scales glinting in the dim light as she moved with a predatory grace.

  It was hunched over something, It's cws digging into the ground as it absorbed the some sort of energy from a fallen creature. I watched in fascination, unable to tear my eyes away. This was the same being that had captivated me during that fateful battle, the one who had drawn me in with its raw power and undeniable presence.

  My heart raced as I took a step forward, the crunch of bones under my feet giving me away. Imperialis' head snapped up, its eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, the world seemed to hold still, the miasma swirling around us in a suspended dance.

  "Who are you?" Imperialis' voice was a low growl, filled with both curiosity and a hint of menace.

  I swallowed hard, my mind racing to find the right words. "Deá," I replied, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides. "I'm here following the trail of Zorah Magdaros."

  The dragon's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through me. "And what do you hope to find in this wretched pce?"

  I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Answers. Clues about where Zorah Magdaros is headed next. And perhaps... understanding."

  Imperialis straightened, its wings unfurling slightly. "Understanding? Of what?"

  "Of you," I said, meeting her gaze. "I saw you fight the Kirin. I've been drawn to you ever since. There's something about you... something I need to understand."

  For a moment, Imperialis was silent, its eyes studying me intently. Then, she let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "You have courage, Deá. Perhaps that will serve you well here."

  I tightened my grip on the nce, feeling the weight of the weapon in my hand as if it were an extension of my own will. "Perhaps more foolishness than courage," I muttered under my breath, trying to steady the nervous energy coursing through me.

  Imperialis's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Foolishness, is it? I see. Very well. If you seek to understand me, you shall have your chance."

  With a sudden, fluid motion, Imperialis's massive wings unfurled fully, casting a shadow over the area. The dragon's presence was both overwhelming and mesmerizing. I braced myself, the air crackling with tension as the miasma seemed to swirl more intensely around us.

  The moment Imperialis lunged forward, its cws sshing through the air with a speed that seemed almost impossible for its size, I barely managed to bring up my nce in time. The shield took the brunt of the impact, shuddering under the force. I felt the vibrations travel up my arm, but I held firm, using my stance to absorb the shock.

  Imperialis’s next strike came with a brutal swipe of her tail. I twisted sideways, raising my shield just in time to deflect the tail’s impact. The ground beneath me cracked as the force of the tail hit. I stumbled slightly, but managed to keep my bance, my heart pounding as I repositioned.

  I countered with a quick thrust of my nce, aiming for the belly of the dragon. Imperialis’s scales were thick and tough, and the nce only managed to graze it. It responded with a powerful swipe of its cws, forcing me to backpedal, the shield barely managing to protect me from the razor-sharp talons.

  Determined to find an opening, I pivoted and charged forward, the nce extended. Imperialis’s wings fred as it took to the air, avoiding my attack with a grace that belied it size. I watched as it hovered momentarily, it eyes locked onto mine with a predatory focus.

  I quickly adapted, positioning myself to block any aerial attacks. Imperialis descended with incredible speed, aiming to strike me with a cwed swipe. I raised my shield, feeling the impact reverberate through the metal. The force nearly knocked me off bance, but I steadied myself and used the momentum to swing my nce in a sweeping arc.

  The nce connected with Imperialis’s fnk, the blow solid but not enough to penetrate her tough scales deeply. Imperialis roared in response, its voice a deep rumble that shook the surrounding area. The dragon retaliated with a burst of fire, the fmes licking around the edges of my shield. I braced myself, feeling the intense heat searing against the metal.

  With a quick adjustment, I used my nce to redirect the fmes, forcing Imperialis to retract momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, I unched a series of rapid thrusts, aiming for any vulnerable spots I could discern. Each strike met resistance, but I pressed on, determined to find a way through her formidable defences.

  Imperialis’s eyes fshed with an intense glow as she prepared for another assault. She unched forward, her cws and teeth bared. I met her charge head-on, my nce and shield working in tandem. The csh was fierce, the sound of metal meeting scale ringing through the air.

  As we engaged, I could feel the strain of the battle wearing on me. My shield bore the marks of numerous impacts, and my nce was starting to show signs of wear. Imperialis, on the other hand, showed no signs of fatigue. Its movements were fluid and relentless, each attack calcuted to push me to my limits.

  Despite the intensity of the duel, I felt a strange exhiration with each exchange. It was as if every strike, every block, was revealing something deeper about both Imperialis and I. The fight was more than just a csh of power; it was a test of skill and determination, a chance to uncover the mystery behind the dragon that had captivated me so deeply.

  With a final, powerful thrust, I aimed for the exposed joint where Imperialis’s wing met her body. The nce drove through, finding a chink in her armour. Imperialis let out a roar of pain and fury, her wings fring as she recoiled from the impact.

  Breathing heavily, I readied myself for the next move, my resolve unshaken. I was tired, sure, but exhirated. God, this was so much fucking fun. Honestly, more than the dogged tiredness was the trembling of my legs as I could feel my core grow wet and weak. I wonder if she would be open to taking multiple mates...