Chapter 51: The Dragon's Downfall

Nahern cursed and flicked out the arrows he readied, parts of the cavern's ceiling crumbled down. "You best know what you're doing, Saint." Cursed the elf prince.

"Do I ever?" Oz chuckled, her face then paled. "Don't answer that. Just cover me and …trust me."

Nahern shot her a hateful glare before snorting. Selene charged the Lich first, spear at the ready. The flash of metal smacked against the walking cane. Sparks came to life between them, rival metals grinding against one another. Selene snarled, her beautiful face twisted to one of bloodlust.

Between her own intent, and the magic coursing through the Lich, a miracle happened for the young saint as she reached out. A Saint's duty, Oz thought. What was a saint's duty?

Hope.

The word flooded through her as she looked above the Lich, where the Tower's Prism sparkled. There was another now floating in her vision.

The tarot card she had collected shimmered, an endless dark night about to swallow her up. The stars shifted and sparkled, giving shape to a tower. A tower? Oz blinked as time slowed down to a complete stop around her. The arrows Nahern had released froze in the air mere inches from her hand. Sparks hung motionless between Selene and the Lich, Taegan's fur shimmered like a rippling gold river.

What was this? 

She took a step forward, each footfall on the frozen salt and ice sent stars floating about her feet. Her hands cut through the frozen air, leaving stars and twinkling light in their wake. 

"This is so weird." Oz whispered only to stop when the sound of beating wings caught her attention. Her eyes drawn skyward once again, where the prism floated was the star-lit tower.

Atop was now a massive dragon. Wings so massive the stars filled the cavern, roaring endlessly into the frozen void. Beating large leathery wings with such force it was like supernovas, giving life and energy into a silent universe.

[The Dragon's Tower. Once timeless, perfect, the source of all magic.]

"Source?" Oz held her head but the voice was different now. From the stars another shape came to life, thousands, no millions of little stars started to surge the sparkling tower. Bombarding it again and again, until the spiraling tower started to crumble. 

[But Like all Towers, it must crumble so that things may change.]

Oz could only watch in horror as the tower crumbled under the dragon's weight, another silent roar as it tumbled from the heavens right atop her. She covered her face in reflex feeling the surge of power yet again raced through her.

[Obtained the Dragon's Tower Card 2/23 . Bonus +20 to Strength, +30 to Dex]

[Gained the Dragon's Tower Ability: Subspace inventory]

Another power up! She had to be the luckiest hunter ever at this rate! Starlight rushed through her veins, lightening the weight of her bones, strengthening the force in her muscles. She tasted moonlight on her lips.

She knew what had to be done.

A spike of power shot through the Dungeon's Star, a lightning struck true. Time once again fell into place, what felt like hours for Oz were mere seconds outside the small space.

"GRAAHH!" The cow skull Lich screamed out as both the lightning struck him straight on, and as Oz grasped the skull in her hands. 

"What…what was that!" Taegan cried out, nearly toppling over, "One minute she was there...the next …" 

Selene leapt back, her spear vibrated from the shockwave that just ran over them.

Oz looked over her shoulder for a moment , "I'll be right back." 

She reached above the now crumbled body, her fingers wrapped around the dungeon's prism. A crack of thunder ran across the space, suddenly fifteen massive treasure chests appeared from the ceiling. Piles of silver, gold scattering about.