SKYLAN

Skylan is a highborn hero agility-based ranger hero of the Draconis faction. He uses a variety of methods to apply Draconic Thunder on enemies, dealing continuous damage and disrupting them.

As Thoran descended on the Deathwing Dragon, the sun was sinking behind the jagged peaks of Bantus. The cold wind at the summit cut through the air, fierce enough to tear apart anything that dared to step foot there. In the fading light, Skylan's tall, lean figure had been waiting for some time, his purple cloak billowing wildly. A small dragon coiled around his neck, its eyes fixed warily on the Graveborn king before them. Though Skylan appeared young, Thoran sensed a depth in his gaze-an unshakable calm that could only be forged through hardship.

Beneath the full moon's gaze, an uneasy quiet settled between them, a sign of the coming verbal standoff. "King of the Graveborn, I am Skylan, elder of the Cloudpiercer tribe. I've come to make you an offer," Skylan spoke first, his tone calm but carrying the weight of his heritage. "I know you're not truly under Quaedam's control. Even though he brought you back, you've never been his puppet."

Thoran's glowing eyes flickered as he carefully weighed each word. His Deathwing Dragon had told him about this young Draconis elder on their journey here-a childhood friend, now the youngest member of Dragon Isle's council, representing the ancient but fading Cloudpiercer tribe.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Thoran rasped, "A living dragon? Hmph. How long have you been watching my kingdom? Do you think that just because I'm battling Hypogeans, I can't deal with you as well?"

A faint smile curled Skylan's lips. "I'm not here to threaten you. I want to propose a deal that benefits both of us."

"And what exactly are you offering?" Thoran asked cautiously.

Skylan raised his right hand, his body glowing faintly as a strange crystal appeared in his palm. The air grew heavy, as if all the energy in the world was being drawn toward the crystal. Skylan's expression remained calm. "This is a Draconis Gem, Thoran. The council of Dragon Isle tasked me with finding someone in the world of Esperia who is worthy of wielding it, someone who can help fight the Hypogean threat. Now, I'm offering it to you. It holds the power of the Cloudpiercer tribe, strong enough not only to drive back the Hypogeans but also to free you from Quaedam's influence. In return, I need your help to rebuild my tribe."

Caught off guard, Thoran's cold expression briefly faltered. He didn't fully understand the nature of the Draconis Gem, but he could feel its immense power. The fact that Skylan was offering it to him raised his guard.

The Deathwing Dragon beside him suddenly spoke. "The Draconis Gem is the most sacred treasure of your kind. Skylan, are you really willing to give one to us?"

A shadow crossed Skylan's face, his eyes clouded with old pain. "My friend, forgive me for leaving your remains in this distant land all those years ago. You didn't know it then, but while we were young and reckless, leaving our home behind, disaster struck Dragon Isle. Hypogeans from beyond the stars descended, and only the Cloudpiercer tribe had the strength to hold them back. But at the last moment, the council made an unforgivable choice. The Cloudpiercers were one of the five Highborn Dragon tribes-powerful and proud. But the council decided to sacrifice us, leaving us to perish with the Hypogean army, cut off and without aid. To save the other tribes and secure their rule, they condemned us to extinction."

Skylan's voice suddenly darkened, filled with rage: "After you fell at Bantus, I returned to Dragon Isle, only to find my tribe nearly wiped out. One loyal messenger narrowly escaped and found me. Before the council could bury the truth, he told me everything that had happened. We may have been young and rebellious, but we weren't wrong about the council's decay and stagnation. I knew then that I had to change Dragon Isle, to revive my tribe. But to do that, I needed time to gather strength and wait for the right moment."

"The younger me made a vow, pretending to repent and submit to the Draconis traditions. Over the years, my act of humility made the other tribes lower their guard. Outwardly, they still respected the Cloudpiercer tribe, and despite our dwindling numbers, we never lost our seat in the council. That was only because I convinced them I was the safest choice. But I never forgot my mission and waited for this day to come."

Thoran listened in silence. Betrayal and vengeance-emotions he knew all too well. The Fallen King spoke quietly, "Your story of revenge is one I'm familiar with. But what do you want from me? What does the fate of the Cloudpiercer tribe have to do with me?"

Skylan answered in a measured tone, "I need your power over the Graveborn to bring back the brave dragons of my tribe who fell in battle."

"When I came here and found that my dearest friend had been resurrected as your servant, it convinced me that you possess both the power and ambition to match mine. Quaedam gave you dominion over the Graveborn, but he doesn't see you as an ally. As long as you're just a tool for his conquest of Hathor, you'll never truly control your own fate."

Thoran frowned slightly. He agreed with Skylan's assessment but remained wary of the Lord of Fear's strength and cunning. Breaking free from Quaedam's grip would be no easy task.

"What makes you think you can help me overthrow Quaedam?" Thoran asked cautiously.

At Thoran's challenge, a cold glint appeared in Skylan's eyes. He raised the Draconis Gem high, his voice unyielding and filled with authority: "This Draconis Gem of the Cloudpiercer tribe is a relic of thunder and lightning. You will witness its power firsthand!"

As his words fell, the Draconis Gem unleashed a surge of energy. The sky instantly darkened, and the bright moonlight was swallowed by thick, swirling clouds. The wind reversed course, howling as if the very air was bending to the gem's will. The mountaintop was plunged into suffocating darkness.

Suddenly, a blinding bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, striking the Draconis Gem in Skylan's palm. The thunderclap was deafening, as if it were tearing the very earth apart. With Skylan's will, the gem flared with a brilliant light, and more bolts of lightning rained down in succession, like furious thundering dragons roaring across the heavens, shaking the mountaintop with their ferocity.

Thoran fixed his gaze on the Draconis Gem, feeling the surge of lightning make every hair on his body stand on end, like dry grass in a storm. Even the King of the Graveborn couldn't help but be awed by such immense power.

Skylan proclaimed proudly, "For mortals, the Draconis Gem holds the power to change destiny. Once we reach an agreement, this power will belong to you. With it, toppling Quaedam's rule will be a mere formality."

A greedy fire ignited in Thoran's eyes as he sensed the resolve of the young Draconis elder. This deal was dangerous yet alluring, and it might just be his only chance to break free from the Lord of Fear's grasp.

"You certainly have guts to pull this trick in front of me," Thoran rasped, his voice rising. "We can strike a deal, Skylan. Not because I care about your little sob story, but because we both want something. And you'd better remember this: if you dare betray me, I'll tear you apart myself and feed your bones to the Hypogeans."

A triumphant light shone in Skylan's eyes, knowing that the negotiation had achieved its desired outcome. "Betrayal isn't in my nature. We both understand this is a dangerous scheme, and the stakes are everything we hold dear."

With that, Thoran said no more. He mounted his Deathwing Dragon and quickly vanished into the lingering clouds. Skylan stood on the mountaintop, gazing in the direction of Dragon Isle, as the small dragon on his shoulder let out a low chirp, sensing its master's churning emotions. The future of Dragon Isle, the revival of the Cloudpiercer tribe, and even the fate of Hathor were all about to change. This gamble of power, revenge, and destiny had slowly begun to unfold.