Pain coursed through her entire body. Alana could not feel her feet or arms at all. She wondered if the explosion had made her entire body paralyzed. However, that would be close to impossible since Alana could still move her fingers.

A heaviness burdened Alana's chest as she tried to open her eyes. She had no idea where she was, where her friends were, or if they were even alive in the first place.

Expecting a blinding light, steadily, she opened her eyes only to be greeted by nothing but darkness. When her blurry vision cleared, she found herself staring at a sumptuous ceiling. The perfect circular dome-like architecture stared right back at her.

There was a chandelier hanging right above her injured body. But for some reason, it wasn't lit.

Alana put the force upon her elbows and attempted to sit up straight. With much struggle, ultimately, the girl managed to have herself in a stable and erect position. Once she did so, while massaging her forehead which was perturbing her already enough with pain, Alana decided to have a look at her surroundings.

An absurd thought had crossed her mind when she had found herself lying on the cold, hard, marble floor. Along with the thought, a fear had struck her. The thought was nothing but her own imagination of being either at the Dragonesian Palace or Castle. The mere thought of losing the chance of achieving freedom haunted Alana like a deadly nightmare. She was at least relieved to find herself not there.

Alana stood up with utmost struggle.

An ominous ambience was surrounding her. Black walls, relatively more black curtains hiding the majestic moonlight from penetrating the dark atmosphere formed inside the place. Moreover, Alana was standing at the centre of a huge throne room. Well, without thrones, which was seemingly weird. Except for the large windows, curtains, walls and an unlit chandelier above her, there was nothing more to look at. Yet, the monotonous room exhibited a classy aura.

Before Alana could think how to get out of this anonymous place and find her way to her friends, who hopefully were alive, the sound of boots clacking on the marble floor, alerted her.

The girl let out a sigh, finding her faithful dagger. Without turning back, she swiftly brought her dagger out from her dagger leg-holster. She kept it hidden behind her as she turned around.

Two individuals seemed to be walking towards Alana, in their majestic gait. No wonder, they were either royalties or nobilities. Now the question that bothered her was whether they were Dragonesians or simply wealthy humans who were in defence of the Dragonesians.

Alana did not step back either. She waited patiently and in silence for the two individuals to approach her.

The two's physique were, however, completely different. One of them happened to be broader, more muscular than the other, taller and also, much older. As for the other, they were young. The two, due to having hoods covering their entire faces, Alana was unable to identify them.

"Who are you?" Alana stated, as she clutched the handle of the dagger behind her, in case of any danger.

No answer was received.

"Who are you?" Alana repeated her question, more commanding this time.

Finally, the one who was taller than the other removed his hood. Yet, due to the darkness in the room, it was hard to make out his face.

Slowly, he stepped in front of Alana.

The girl was close to staggering away at the revelation. She knew him. She knew him all too well.

He was Jocasta Heirora. The High Lord. Dragonesian King.

A smirk formed at the corner of his pale, dark lips, at the realization that Alana was successful in recognizing him. "It is astounding, and shocking, I might as well add, the way you are able to identify me. Even when you never clearly saw my face."

It did not take long for anyone to identify a monster's face. Alana wanted to spit the words out, but something was restraining her courage to do so. Her eyes traced the scars engraved on Jocasta's skin, some faded away and some still present, over the years. Those crimson eyes glowed especially more...malevolent.

"Where are my friends?" Alana asked without any hesitation.

In response, the King chuckled as he stepped back a little, confusing Alana. "Not so soon, Alana. First, why do you not try to beat him? If you succeed, I will let you on several secrets."

The other individual stepped forward and came right in front of Alana. When he removed the hood, Alana was close to losing her mind.

All in flesh, without any difficulty, Eluscan was standing in his glory, in front of Alana. The girl stepped back, unknown to her, making Eluscan smirk in the process. He had definitely grown over the years, but that did not stop Alana from recognizing the murderer of her innocent mother. Eluscan Heirora.

"H-How you—"

"Scared?" Eluscan chuckled as with each step he took, he found a shocked Alana moving back. "Let's begin once again. The fight that was left abandoned twelve years ago, let us do it now. Right here, fair and square. The rule?

The one who dies first, loses. I hope you will be able to keep up against my mighty sword for at least five minutes, with that pathetic dagger of yours."

Alana, thanks to her quick reflexes, dodged the first strike at her by none other than Eluscan. But the elder Dragonesian prince was not to stop. He believed in aggressive attack, rather than steady and planned ones. He kept lunging towards Alana with big leaps and swings of his sharp sword.

Meanwhile, Alana, who had to endure the pain of her body and at the same time defend herself, was having quite a hard time.

"Fight back, you coward bitch!" Eluscan growled, slashing the blade against Alana's arm. As a result, the girl fell down on the floor, while clutching onto her profusely bleeding arm.

"I am not a coward," Alana mumbled as she looked at the taunting eyes of Eluscan, "You are, Eluscan. You are the coward one, who takes advantage of people, when they are in a weak condition."

"Shut your foul mouth," Eluscan's lips trembled with fury as he couldn't believe the audacity of this lowly human girl in front of him. "Let's finish the fight once and for all. Let me finish you."

Eluscan's eyes glowed maniacally, as he raised his sword to behead Alana. However, he could not, as his anger had made him unable to view what Alana was doing.

The dagger.

When Eluscan was busy with his arrogant talks, Alana had already positioned her dagger towards Eluscan's feet. For sure, it wasn't coated with poison, like twelve years back, but that didn't mean the small weapon would not be able to slow down Eluscan for a while.

The Dragonesian prince lowered his sword down when he found the dagger piercing the bridge of his right feet. Howling in pain, Eluscan busied himself in taking the filthy dagger out. He always despised this very dagger, which was the cause of his despair for twelve long years. And that same dagger had managed to injure him once more.

Taking the opportunity, Alana crawled away from Eluscan's reach. However, there was one flaw in her plan. The dagger, the only weapon that Alana had, was no longer with her.

"Such a bother." Eluscan spat, throwing the dagger away. The blade clanked against the hard floor. His brutal eyes lurked over the dagger for a moment before moving to where Alana was. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, not being able to find the girl.

Eluscan would have loved to transform into his dragon form, but twelve years of being paralyzed had eventually resulted in him not being able to, anymore.

A smug smile came over Eluscan's face, as he sensed Alana approaching him from behind. With a quick turn, he swung his sword at the same time.

But what he had not expected was that Alana wanted him to think that she was attacking him from behind.

When Eluscan turned around, he found a crouched Alana instead. Before he could stab Alana's back with his sword, with as much strength as she could muster, Alana flipped Eluscan by his feet.

The Dragonesian prince absolutely hated how he had grown weak over the years. If he had not been in a paralyzed state for twelve years, he was sure that Alana would have been dead by now.

Even though Alana was now on top of Eluscan, the male had not let go of the sword. Instead, he swung it at the girl's face, but Alana blocked it with her bare palms. Blood dripped down her palms, yet Alana was not ready to give in to Eluscan as she, with much force, obstructed the blade from hurting her.

"Stop resisting, Alana," Eluscan chuckled, his eyes having the same maniac glint. The blood being shed from Alana's palms was giving him nothing but pure joy.

"I will not. Not until I finish you."

"You think a young girl like you can defeat the eldest Dragonesian Prince? Grow up and have a look at the reality. Your sneaky tricks won't take you anywhere."

"We will see that in a few minutes."

"Minutes?" Eluscan laughed. "You are bleeding already and look at me, I have one little injury from your dagger which has been healed. You will die tonight, and I will devour your flesh like I did that night, of your mother's."

"What did you just say?" Alana let out through gritted teeth, as she let the words seep in.

"I will kill you, like your bitchy mother—"

The mention of Alana's mother from Eluscan's mouth is what took for the girl to turn the tables. Startling Eluscan, as if a sudden inhumane strength had possessed Alana, the girl grabbed the sword from the male Dragonesian's grasp.

And stabbed his heart. Dragonesians were not easy to kill, but at the end of the day, everything lied in the heart.

A horrible, blood-curdling scream left Eluscan's throat as black blood splattered everywhere and especially over Alana. But she remained unfazed and got up from the dying Dragonesian's body. Wiping off the blood dripping down her chin, Alana watched Eluscan howling in pain as he slowly succumbed to death.

And then, his body was virshed. To see the body of a Dragonesian being virshed was something unexpected but unexpectedly satisfying.

The clap took her attention. With the bloody sword still in her hand, Alana moved her attention to Jocasta clapping for him, a proud smile on his face.

Alana was confused. Should he not be furious or hurt due to his son being killed in front of him? Then why in the world was he applauding for Alana?

"I knew it. Alana Thornheart never disappoints. Anyway, welcome to Dravenue."

Alana did not respond. With heavy breaths, her phlegmatic eyes met with Jocasta's red ones. She had lost all energy within her, yet she needed to know where her friends were.

"Where are they?"

A teasing smirk appeared on Jocasta's lips. "Who?"

"My friends."

"Well..." Jocasta drawled longer intentionally, to irk Alana more. And the girl waited. Waited patiently to hear a positive answer.

"They are dead. All of them."

A sudden jolt went through Alana's chest as she let go of the sword from her hand.

"You are lying." Alana stated. She did not want to believe that something atrocious could take place, all so suddenly. "It cannot be true."

Jocasta sighed dramatically, taking a seat on a throne which had appeared there out of nowhere, since before. "Poor girl. I wish I was lying, though. Consider the death of your friends as your punishment for running away."

With clenched fists and tearful eyes, Alana growled in anger, "Did you kill them?"

"No."

"Then who is the killer?"

"1103," like a Cheshire cat, Jocasta grinned.

"Of course," Alana couldn't help but scoff, hearing the familiar name of the spy, "And what is this 1103's actual name?"

"Wouldn't you like to meet him directly? 1103, your most awaited visitor is here."

Alana's brows furrowed when another pair of boots clacking on the floor was heard. Her eyes went towards the arrival of a new figure, who no doubt was 1103, the killer of her friends. However, Alana could not help but wonder why he was wearing a hood as well, when Alana already knew that he was the criminal.

And then, 1103 removed his hood and revealed who he truly was.

"No." An audible gasp left Alana's mouth as this time, she did not control her ample tears to plummet down her eyes. The shock to realize who 1103 was, had been all this time, was so severe that Alana stepped back in disbelief.

"He is blackmailing you, isn't he Leon?" Alana asked, pleading to Leon Heirora to deny the assumptions she was having of him.

But the tragic truth was the sole fact that those assumptions were completely true.

Long gone was the warmth and love he had held for Alana. And now, in those crimson eyes which once made the girl feel safe, comfortable, and happy, was the presence of a growing and sadistic evil.

"Never knew Alana Thornheart could become such a fool." Leon's lips crinkled in a villainous grin. "It was a piece of cake to manipulate you, Alana Thornheart."

Alana felt like she was under the water, having trouble breathing. She was suffocating. Her entire being was suffering from lack of air, and she just couldn't think anymore.

"So you are really Jocasta's son. Manipulation runs in your blood," Alana chuckled, wiping the never ending tears off. Slowly, as the hurt faded, it got replaced by pure resentment.

In reply, Leon laughed as if Alana had just said something hilarious.

"What are you saying? He is not my father. In fact, his name is not Jocasta Heirora. He is The Master you have been running away from, all this time."

"Alana." The Master made Alana, who was clearly confused with all the information, look at him. "Have you ever wondered why you have always been given special treatment?"

Alana shook her head. She was now desperate to get to the roots of this ridiculousness.

The crimson eyes of the Master sparkled as he uttered the next words, shattering Alana down completely.

"You are my biological daughter, Alana."

Alana knew it could not be possible. It was not even close to being possible. She grew up with both her parents by her side. Before her father passed away, Alana had memories that she would never forget and then, till she was alive, her mother raised and looked after her. There was no mention of The Master. "That is utterly fatuous. You don't have any proof."

"I do not need evidence to prove that you are my daughter, Alana. Have a look at your Dragonesian eyes."

Leon stepped forward and harshly moved Alana's face by grabbing her chin, to the mirror he was holding. The girl could only stare at her now glowing red eyes, similar to Leon and the Master.

The sudden surge of anger took over Alana again, and she punched the mirror, without caring about the shards of glasses penetrating her skin. The mirror fell down on the floor, with blood coated all over its broken glasses.

"Did you see that?" The Master's voice rang through Alana's ears. "You are a true Dragonesian. You have the strength, agility, intelligence, and viciousness of that of a Dragonesian. Your eyes, they are the sole proof of your Dragonesian existence. Even though you do not possess the power of turning into a dragon, due to being a half-Dragonesian, you can easily take over powerful opponents unlike your pathetic half-brother Eluscan.

You are my true heir, Alana. That is why, I had to kill your adoptive mother twelve years ago, through Eluscan, so that I could take you in. You were trained and treated differently than others because that is what I wanted.

You are the Insurrection that I was looking for who will take over humans and Dragonesians alike, completely."

"Who is my biological mother and where is she?" Alana demanded, her red eyes meeting with the Master's.

The Master smiled. "Was my dear daughter. I killed her."

"How monstrous could you be?"

"Well, you cannot expect me to stay low when she had the audacity of hiding my own daughter from me," the Master retorted. "It was funny how she was so bent on protecting you from Dragonesians and all that shit, even though, you were not meant to be born in the first place. Humans and their silly little protests. At first, I couldn't be bothered to look after the daughter I never knew I had because it was just a fun pleasurable moment for me. But when I heard that you possess unimaginable strengths, I knew it in my bones.

You have the true blood of me running through your veins. Your blood colour might not be black, but that does not mean the nature of your blood is weak.

That human woman gave you away to her friend, your adoptive mother, after you were born and told to take you far away from here. But oh well, she did commit a heavy crime."

Teardrops narrating tales of anger, sorrow, and pain drenched Alana's face. She lost every single person who loved and cared for her, yet she could not save them. Except for the pretentious Leon, who was standing there, still, with an unfazed demeanour.

"What about him?" Alana particularly snapped her fiery gaze to the silent boy. "Why is he known as your youngest son, then?"

"Ah." The Master hummed. "Leon isn't a full Dragonesian, you see. He is a hybrid. When Leon was born as a human, he was taken away and injected with some chemicals to see if we Dragonesians actually have the ability to transform a human into a Dragonesian. We were partially successful, considering the fact that Leon cannot fully transform like a true Dragonesian. And then, he was adopted by your mentor—oh sorry, long dead ex-mentor.

However, due to his genius mind, I made him my fake son and 1103, till you were properly ready. Leon had been spying on you all this time, and you what? Fell in love with him?

Pfft. Love makes us weak, Alana."

"Was it all a game to you?" Alana asked Leon, looking into his emotionless eyes, "Tell me the truth. You told me about the illusion that the Driren had shown you; how you feared losing us. Your constant nightmares about being seen as an outcast; this filthy Dragonesian right here, treating you pathetically; your wish to befriend humans, and coexist with them, since the time you were a child; your pain when those human kids feared you and this monster here, caged you forever in the palace. Even how you willingly got angry at me for not helping Cynthia that day." Alana laughed without humour, recalling the past memories, "Helped her and her sister. Was it also an act of kindness just to buy my trust, Leon? The good memories. Friendship you shared and created. The moments that seemed too real to be false. Tell me truly, Leon. Was it all created by you? Just for the sake of manipulating me?"

"Stop," Leon breathed with clenched teeth. For some reason, he could not bear himself to stare into Alana's eyes anymore.

"Why did you make me believe that you loved me?"

At that exact statement, Leon tittered. The wicked glint returned to his eyes, as he declared the untold truth. "I never said I loved you, Alana. You said those despicable words, not me. Weren't you embarrassed for being so desperate to be loved? I genuinely pity you, Alana."

Alana inhaled sharply, her teary gaze now glancing back at her father, "Why put up all this act of allowing Leon to follow me around and lead to the Main City? As far as I know you, you could've ordered him to bring me to you immediately."

The Master snickered in response. "Oh come on my dear daughter, Leon was merely monitoring you on my instructions. I grabbed the opportunity of you running away, and used it to see if the training that you had gone through all these years, was being effective. If you had become what I wanted you to become."

Without a warning, right after the Master finished speaking, Alana dashed towards him to attack, but with one flick of his hand, the girl was on the floor and crying hysterically.

"This love blinded you from recognizing your true enemy. Hypnotizing Lucian, deliberately saving you all from the Driren in order to gain your trust, putting himself in danger in front of the Devil Class Dragonesian, it was all his deed. Even his obsession towards herbs. Well, that part could be real.

Can you believe the irony though? Leon, who was born a human, turned out to be a villain, and you, who was destined to be born as a Dragonesian, tried to become the hero. The mighty saviour of all.

I did not send Leon just for anything. I knew that he would be able to provide me with valuable information, bring you to me and at the same time, make you realize that there is no such thing as love in this world. Power is what we require."

The Master stood up from his throne and went towards the weeping Alana on the floor. He crouched down and patted her hair. "Do you not see, my daughter? You and I are the same. Both of us are connected by blood and as long as we are together, no one holds the power to defeat us."

Alana's eyes burst open. The words echoed through her brain.

Both of us are connected by blood and as long as we are together, no one holds the power to defeat us.

Her eyes went over to the dagger lying close to her hand. Clenching it in her palms, she stared up at the Master.

The red eyes of father and daughter clashed. Noticing the dagger in her hand, the Master laughed mockingly. "You cannot expect to kill me with that dagger, can you now?"

"Yes I cannot." Alana answered, her voice clearer than ever. The smile, she had on her face, resembled that of the devil. Yet, the pain she hid in those teary orbs, portrayed the story of a broken girl who wanted to give love and be loved in return.

"But I can kill myself."

Before the Master could contemplate Alana's words, the girl stabbed her own heart with an ever-grinning face. She smiled in relief and through the unbearable pain, she watched the Master clutching his own heart and burning up in flames. And soon, there was nothing but his ash.

Alana's presumption was correct. In those few words, the Master had given away his dark secret. He was no ordinary Dragonesian. He had special powers. The ones that were unimaginable to other Dragonesians. And Alana being his daughter and possessing the nature of his blood, rather than the colour, was connected more to his soul.

Alana was destined to die if the reign of Dragonesians had to end one day. And she had no regrets whatsoever.

A gasp left Alana when the dagger was pulled out of her chest, and her eyes met with the familiar crimson ones as he held her in his arms. The confusing part was that he had tears pooling in those eyes.

"Drink the elixir." Leon tried to be as cold as possible but eventually, his voice wavered.

Alana pushed the elixir away, the vial breaking immediately. She wasted no time in taking the dagger lying beside her and stabbing Leon in his heart.

As for Leon, who saw it coming, did not protest. He himself was unaware of the answer, but he felt relieved getting killed by Alana.

Before Alana submitted herself to death, she uttered out one last thing.

"I do not regret killing and despising you now, Leon." A tear slipped down Alana's red eyes as she breathed her last.

A painful chuckle left Leon's throat. Following Alana's, almost in sync, a single tear left his crimson eyes.

He gazed at the face of girl before saying, "Damn it. I really have fallen for you, Alana Thornheart."

Leon collapsed on the floor, with the body of the deceased Alana in his embrace, and pecked the girl's forehead.

As in the world outside, humans were suddenly being able to defeat Dragonesians who seemed to be growing relatively weak, possibly due to the death of The Master, Alana and Leon lied dead, in one another's cold embrace.

Fall of Dragonesia did occur, but at the cost of several mortals' death.