His feeling was confirmed when he began his journey there

for monsters stronger than he’d ever faced were everywhere

the closer that the hero came to that enormous hill

the stronger were the monsters, but the stronger was his will

From the mountainside he looked toward the cloudy sky

so excited by his fate, he felt like he could fly

he ran toward the summit with a smile upon his face

no monster he encountered stood a chance to slow his pace

He worried as he passed through clouds and neared the mountain’s peak

that if there were a dragon there, it might be old or weak

but when the hero came to see the mountain’s icy top

he heard a mighty roar that seemed to make the whole world stop

It sounded more like thunder than the voice of any beast

and felt like an eternity before its echoes ceased

then he noticed, so far up that it was hard to see

the ruler of the skies announced itself in majesty

High above the mountain top he saw its fearsome wings

soaring through the sky as if it ruled all living things

a dragon so immense in size that he could only stare

and now it was his time to make a legend, then and there

He gathered up the confidence of all his years at war

envisioning the glory of the song which he fought for

only for a moment did the hero hesitate

he wouldn’t run from any dragon, no matter how great

The hero took his sword of fire in hand as he declared

challenging the dragon like no knight had ever dared

“dragon, do you rule this land of monsters from the sky

if you don’t surrender, then by my hand you shall die”

The dragon couldn’t disregard the challenge of a knight

and flew toward the mountain where the hero made to fight

“little human, why have I become your enemy

leave before I lose my patience, kindly leave me be”

When the dragon landed, the entire mountain shook

it gave the knight a terrible and condescending look

its massive form appeared to be unthreatened by his words

the hero’s voice to it was like the chirping of some birds

“Evil dragon, it is on behalf of my empire

that I come to rid the world of your unruly fire

leave this place or die, but know that I’m the chosen one

I will be the greatest hero when our fight is done”

Without hesitation he called forth his fiery sword

and reaffirmed his challenge to the mountains’ mighty lord

the dragon took a breath and then he filled the sky with fire

“if you wish to walk in hell, you’ll get what you desire”

The dragon sent a blazing breath of flames toward his foe

but the hero’s magic was enough to stand the blow

the dragon was surprised by how the brave young hero fought

it seemed that he was stronger than the mighty dragon thought

“That is not a mortal’s strength, you’re blessed with sacred fire

but I cannot imagine how that blessing could transpire

do not squander so divine a blessing in this way

leave this place now, you’d be wise to heed the words I say”

“Are you not the one who rules the monsters in these hills

responsible for everyone that every monster kills

on behalf of all mankind, I’m here to end your reign

any beast that keeps this land from us will die in pain”

Filled with righteous passion, the young hero swung his blade

but where it struck the dragon not the smallest wound was made

it seemed to be impossible, but then the dragon sighed

and with the flick of just one claw, the mountain opened wide

Rocks and rubble flew and soon the hero couldn’t see

but he held on til the dust at settled finally

a canyon had appeared beside the summit where they fought

the dragon seemed aloof despite the chaos it had wrought

“I have ruled these lands for many eras in this way

my kind has kept the chaos of your mortal wars at bay”

the dragon flapped its wings and filled the sky with storms and gales

the hero tried again, but couldn’t pierce the dragon’s scales

“Little human, do you know the powers you’d release

killing me would make a man the enemy of peace

these hills protect the demons to the north from human foes

just as they protect your kind from terrors no one knows”

The dragon’s words were lost upon the hero as they fought

glory was the only answer this young hero sought

the dragon was the strongest of the hero’s enemies

but still the hero knew that victory was his to seize

“Human child, I clearly see the powers that you hold

powers that were wielded by the warriors of old

maybe some old spirit gave you magic on a whim

but while you’ve tasted water, you have yet to learn to swim”

The hero kept attacking but the dragon only sighed

the dragon barely blinked with every blow that he defied

the hero pushed himself to overcome the dragon’s strength

to land even a single blow he’d go to any length

The dragon stood before him with an air of sad contempt

waiting for the end of this heroic last attempt

the hero lost his mind and bet his life on one attack

and finally the dragon had to take a small step back

All the hero saw was blinding light that filled the skies

the magic he had summoned took the dragon by surprise

two great swords of ice and fire against the dragon’s claws

filled with pure devotion to the hero’s righteous cause

It felt just like a lightning bolt had swallowed up the fight

even from the capital some noticed a strange light

the blinded hero wondered if the dragon was yet gone

and if he’d reached the end of the long quest which he was on

Drained of all his energy, the man fell to the ground

the dragon had been injured and he made a troubled sound

for he was truly shaken by the hero’s final stand

he’d finally been injured by a lowly mortal’s hand

The dragon raised his claw to see a single nail was cut

then looked upon the mortal one whose eyes were almost shut

he groaned and looked around at where he’d lived in solitude

and wondered why he’d spent so long in someone else’s feud

“Many generations of my kind have guarded here

but the end of this arrangement has become too clear

maybe it is for the best that humans meet their fate

if humans want a war, then they’ll no longer have to wait”