The creature's entire being was gripped by an unfamiliar paralyzing sensation, fear. Its once confident sneer had crumbled into a look of sheer terror as the clawed hand tightened its grip. The earth continued to quake around it, the walls of its hidden sanctuary crumbling and revealing just how vulnerable it truly was.
For the first time in countless centuries the creature felt its life in immediate danger. The cold, unyielding talons that now held it prisoner emanated a power it had only ever heard of in ancient, fearful whispers.
The creature's eyes now flickered with a desperate realization. Memories of immense beings with scales as black as the void, beings whose wrath could tear worlds apart.
The word echoed in its mind like a death knell. The creature had never encountered one nor had it ever wished to. It had always considered itself too cunning, too clever to ever fall prey to anything. But now, as it stared into the darkness, its gaze fixed on the clawed hand that held.
This was the hand of a Dragon.
The creature's fear intensified, its body trembling uncontrollably as it was hoisted from the shattered remnants of its underground lair. The once-solid ground gave way completely.
When the creature was dragged into the open air its true form was revealed. It was a twisted abomination, a grotesque fusion of snake and humanoid features. Its black-scaled body coiled and uncoiled as it struggled in vain against the Dragon's grip.
Its face, once hidden in the shadows, was a horrifying blend of reptilian and human, with eyes that gleamed with malevolent intelligence now clouded with panic.
The Dragon's hand lifted it effortlessly from the pit, holding the creature aloft for the world to see. Its long, sinuous body hung limply, its strength utterly drained by the realization of its impending doom.
Then, with a powerful yank, the creature was pulled completely. Its black-scaled form writhing futilely against the overwhelming power that held it.
And there, standing at the edge of the pit, was Eccar.
The Dragonborn grinned widely, his teeth bared in a fierce, predatory smile. The creature's desperate thrashing only seemed to amuse him, as if its fear and helplessness were a victory in itself.
"I got you now!" Eccar said, his voice a triumphant growl that resonated through the air.
His grip tightened around the creature, the talons of his hand digging into its flesh, drawing out a pained, guttural hiss from the abomination. Eccar's eyes burned with a mixture of satisfaction and determination as he raised the creature higher, bringing it face to face with him.
The creature thrashed violently in Eccar's clawed hand, its sinuous body twisting and coiling in a desperate attempt to break free. Its size was no larger than that of a human on Earth.
Eccar stood towering over the creature, his talons digging into its flesh with effortless strength. His grin only widened, the savage glee in his eyes intensifying as he watched the creature struggle in vain.
"Go ahead, squirm all you want," Eccar sneered, his voice a low, rumbling growl. "You're not getting away this time. I finally caught the thing that's been causing all these spirits to rise."
The creature sensing the futility of its thrashing. It then lashed out with its tail, aiming to strike at Eccar's side. The sharp, whip-like appendage cracked through the air but when it struck Eccar's scales the impact was utterly negligible. The Dragonborn didn't even flinch. The tail bounced off his armored hide, leaving not so much as a scratch.
"Is that all you've got?" Eccar mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Pathetic. You can only hide while controling these spirit, huh."
Panic began to set in, the creature's mind now clouded by the realization of its impending doom. It then reached out with its dark power, calling to the spirits closest to them.
Above the battlefield, where the Elves fought tirelessly against the endless tide of undea several spirits suddenly broke away from the melee. Their ghostly forms flickered and shifted as they changed direction, racing toward the ridge where Eccar held their master captive.
But before they could reach hi a figure moved to intercept them. Erend stepped forward with his Starsteel sword gleaming with a light that cut through the gloom.
"Eccar, be quick about it," Erend called out, his voice composed and steady as if he were discussing the weather rather than facing down a horde of malevolent spirits.
With practiced ease Erend swung his sword. Each spirit that approached him was met with a swift blow that make their ethereal forms dissipating into mist as the enchanted blade struck them. Despite the creature's best efforts it couldn't muster enough power to overwhelm him.
The creature's eyes widened in terror as it watched its spectral minions fall one by one, their efforts to save it futile against Erend's relentless assault. The pitiful hiss it let out was drowned out by the sounds of battle, its fear palpable as it realized that its last hope was slipping away.
"What do we do with this thing, Erend?" Eccar asked.
Erend sheathed his sword and walked toward Eccar after dealing with the spirits.
"We need to know what comes next if we can," Erend replied.
"You mean this thing is what Adrius said in the prophecy?"
"Undoubtedly," Erend said.
Eccar's grip tightened slightly, enough to make the creature wince in pain. "You heard him," Eccar growled, his voice low and menacing. "Tell us what comes next"
"The next that will come… Its stronger than me. Even if you… kill me… it won't… end…"
Eccar bared his teeth in frustration, his patience wearing thin. "I didn't ask for a speech. I asked what's coming next. Answer, or you won't get another chance."
The creature's eyes darted between Eccar and Erend, fear evident in its gaze. It knew its time was running out, that there was no escape. And yet because some twisted sense of loyalty to its dark master it held its tongue. It remained silent, its only response a feeble, defiant sneer.
Eccar's face twisted into a snarl. "Fine. Have it your way." Without another word, he tightened his grip further, claws digging into the creature's flesh.
The creature's body convulsed as Eccar's powerful hand crushed the life out of it.