New Dragon’s World
                                                 Chapter 11: Attack!


Titus smiled at his brother.

“It’s good to see you, Ben. It’s good to see you too, Jessie. I’ve missed you guys.” Titus said.

“Been a long time, Titus. Where’s Sarah?” Asked Ben.

“Still at Angela’s shop. She’ll probably join us later.”

Titus and his family walked through the mall, Titus’ parents still in awe about every little detail in the human realm. Ben and Jessie looked at them, puzzled, confused about how any person could find floor tiles or even windows intresting.

“Titus, who are those two?” Ben asked, his  left thumb pointed at Titus’ parents.

“Them? Those are my parents. In human form.” Titus explained.

“Your parents? The ones from that dragon world place?” Jessie asked.

“Yeah.  Sorry if they seem a little weird. If anyone asks, they’re immigrants, OK?”

Ben and Jessie laughed, confused at how Titus could see them as only “a little weird.” “Sure.”

Titus and his family walked around the mall a little bit more. By now, Titus had noticed that his parents seemed to be right at home in the mall. However he knew that they would probably be back to the same, childishly amazed old people they presented themselves as during their mall trip.

“You know, Titus. Something just crossed my mind.” Ben said. He sounded like he had a lot on his mind right now.

“What is it?” Titus asked.

“Why did your parents come to the human world? I doubt they’re here just to sightsee.”

Titus turned to look  at Ben, a stern, serious expression apparent on his face.

“I was going to tell you later but maybe I should just tell you now…”

“Tell me what?” Ben asked.

“Titus, what is it?” Jessie asked.

Titus took a deep breath, then proceeded to tell his brother and his sister-in-law about Saulstrance’s survival.

“Do you guys remember a dragon named Saulstrance?” Titus asked.

“How could I forget? He’s why my parents…why our parents died…” Ben said, sadly.

“Ben…the thing is…Saulstrance is a…”
But before Titus was able to finish his sentence, the family heard an explosion come from the far left side of the mall. People ran in a panicd frenzy for the exit.

“What happened?!” Titus asked to no one in particular.

Titus ran towards the sight of the explosion, his family following after him.

“Dad, wait!” Drake called out to his father.

Titus watched as everyone ran past him, his face in a scowl. The explosion came from the sports store! Smoke rose from the inside of the building, rising into the sky. Just then, someone emerged from the smoke. Oddly enough, this person was not even the slightest bit burnt. He had long brown hair that went almost completely down his neck, and wore a dark red trenchcoat. He walked out from the rubble and walked towards Titus and the others.

“Did you do this?” Titus asked angerly.

The man did not answer. He simply stood in  front of them, an arrogant grin on his face. Drake took one look at this man and…froze. Fear had taken over Drake as the boy began to shake violently.

“Drake, what’s wrong?” Jackie asked,  putting her hand on her cousin’s shoulder.

“That guy…he…he scares me.” Drake barely managed to say.

Drake didn’t know what it was, but something about this guy was…off. It was like there was something more to him. But Drake didn’t know what it was. Drake also felt like he had seen this guy before. But he couldn’t recall where.

“I’m gonna ask you one more time…did you blow up that store?”

The man’s grin changed into a smile. An evil, toothy smile.

“Why should I have to answer to you…Doulstraz?” The man said.

“What did you say?!” Titus asked, shocked that a human he had never met knew his real name.

“He called Titus Doulstraz!!” Ben exclaimed.

“Who the hell are you? How do you know my real name?!” Titus asked, scowling even harder now.

“Dad! I’ve seen that guy before!” Drake exclaimed, remembering exactly where it was that he saw his face before.

“On my birthday, when mom picked me up from school! I saw him looking at us across the street!” Drake exclaimed.

“I still don’t get how you know my real name. Tell me who you are!” Titus commanded.

The man snickered to himself. “All the dragons from Lord Saulstrance’s home village know of the traitor dragon, Doulstraz. The one who nearly killed Lord Saulstrance two decades ago.

Just then, the man’s body began to gain more mass. His fingernails extended outward, turning into blood red claws. His trenchcoat ripped art as developing wings made themselves known on his back, growing outward, becoming stronger. A long tail grew from his back, a sharp, pointed fin growing at the tip of his tail. Titus and his family watched in complete shock as his transformation continued and finally ended. Before them stood a huge dragon. It looked at them with deep, pierceing eyes. However its main prey was Titus himself.

“I am Girido. I am a devout follower of Lord Saulstrance. I will make sure Lord Saulstrance does not have to dirty his claws fighting you inferior dragons.”

Titus looked at his family. He knew he had no choice but to fight Girido. But he couldn’t risk the safety of those he loved. And Girido obviously was not willing to allow Titus’ family to flee.

“Ben.” Titus whispered, hoping Girido wouldn’t hear him.

“Listen. I’m going to rush Girido. When I do, I want you to get everyone out of here. If you guys are here, it’ll just put pressure on me. Go to Angela‘s shop and get Sarah. Then drive back to my house.”

“Alright.” Ben whispered back.

Titus rushed for Girido, switching into his dragon form. He knew he didn’t want to risk people finding out that he was actually a dragon but as of now, giving his family time to escape was the more important of the two right now.

“Come on!” Ben exclaimed. “We need to get outta here!”

Everyone except for Drake ran for the exit.
“DRAKE!!!” Ben called out.

“Go on!” Drake called out. “I’m staying with dad!”

“Drake! Get out of here, you idiot! This isn’t a video game! You need to go with them!” Titus shouted at his son.

“I’m not a kid anymore, dad! I’m staying! No matter what!”

Titus growled. He knew that whatever he told his son wouldn’t matter. He was too stuborn to really listen to Titus anyhow.

Girido swung his mighty tail, demolishing two kiosks.

“Shall we start?” Girido said, licking his muzzle.

Titus rushed for Girido and, just as well, swung his tail at Girido. Girido took to flight, hovering above Titus and Drake. He zoomed right down, right where the father and son duo were standing. Titus headbutted his son out of the way, taking the fullforce of the hit.

“DAD!” Drake screamed.

Girido leaped back, landing in the center of the mall plaza.

Dad! Dad, are you ok?” Drake asked, tears starting to flow from his eyes.

Titus stood up and looked at his son.

“Don’t worry. It’s gonna take more than that to knock me out.”

Titus turned his attention to Girido, a surge of anger coming over him.

“Why so angry?” Girido said with a wicked grin.

“How many did you kill?” Titus asked.

“Hmm?”

“How many people did you kill when you blew up that store?!” Titus yelled, angered.

“I estimate around maybe 10 or 20 at the very least.” Girido said, sounding proud of himself and not taking Titus’ question the least bit seriously.

Drake’s wings and tail grew out, his ears switching back into fins.

“Drake, I want you to stay behind me for now, alright?” Titus commanded.

“Alright, dad. Kick his butt!” Drake cheered.

Titus unfurled his wings and flew into the sky, Girido doing the same. Titus flew right towards Girido, shooting a fireball from his throat. Girido rose higher into the sky and zoomed down at Titus, smacking Titus with his tail and sending him crashing into Disco Burger. The entire building came crashing down, covering Titus in debris. Titus moved from the debris and wreckage, watching as Girido flew back down.

Titus began to feel like he would not be able to beat him. If there was such a huge gap in strength between him and Girido, then he knew he wouldn’t stand much of a chance against Saulstrance. At this rate, he’d be lucky to even live to fight Saulstrance. Standing back up, Titus prepared for one last stand against Girido, realizing full well he might die.

TO BE CONTINUED