Bloodline

This is completely different from the original plan!

Arygos gritted his teeth and flew rapidly, bleeding profusely. Most of his body was injured by Kalecgos's accurate strikes, but fortunately, he had paid special attention to his wings to facilitate his escape. Barely managing to fly, Arygos felt an extreme sense of fear and despair at his failure.

The situation had become utterly terrible. That power, that status, should have been his. He hadn't just lost the title of Arcanist; more importantly, he had lost his dragonflight. The Blue Dragonflight considered him a traitor and would never trust him again.

Like any beast hunted by its hunter, Arygos was filled with fear and disgust, and all he wanted now was safety—a guardian dragon was chasing him from behind.

A safe place, a place that could provide him with refuge. Arygos kept repeating this to himself.

Even severely wounded, he felt no chill of the polar cold. His wings were still relatively stable, but his injuries were constantly eroding his Will. Arygos flew through the clear, frigid night sky of Northrend. For a moment, his taut nerves mistook the stars in the sky for ice shards released by Kalecgos's magic.

Son of Malygos knew many Twilight Dragons were covering his escape, but he remained highly vigilant, making sure Kalecgos hadn't caught up. He flew eastward, glancing back frequently, his right hand clutching something. The force of his grip worsened his injuries. Fear, like icy claws, pierced his heart, making his heart pound faster and faster.

Soon, flickering lights appeared on the slightly flatter plains of Dragonblight. Large amounts of steam billowed from the sacred grounds of the Black Dragonflight, accompanied by resounding roars. Not far away stood the Wyrmrest Temple, its spire appearing like a shadow in the moonlight.

Many shadows of different colors lay lazily on the Obsidian Dragonshrine. Arygos was certain he had arrived.

He was spotted as he dove downwards.

The Twilight Dragon guarding the area didn't pounce on Arygos. They merely growled at him as he Arygos, as if mocking him for being a stray dog.

Upon landing, Arygos didn't immediately stand up. Exhausted, he lay down on the scorching ground to rest, panting heavily, while gripping what he was holding even tighter. He knew this was a necessary condition for his agreement with the Twilight's Hammer.

While he was resting and feeling flustered, he saw a huge, concealed object placed on the flat ground.

That shape looks a bit like...

"Arygos, son of Malygos." The owner of this voice had made a pact with him not long ago.

"It is I," Arygos replied in the loudest voice he could muster. At the same time, he immediately felt a sense of calm. A feeling of security made him stand up.

Under the watchful eyes of the many Twilight Cultists, the owner of the voice emerged from the cave in the sacred ground. Arygos could not see his face clearly, but still respectfully bowed his head.

"You don't look well. What happened? I don't know much about the Guardians. But... it seems you didn't become a Guardian." The other person sized him up and said something that angered him.

"My affairs... haven't gone very well," Arygos admitted through gritted teeth. "Kalecgos," he uttered the name viciously, a name he loathed. "That incredibly weak blue dragon... stole what should have been mine!"

"You promised me that you would become the new Arcanist," Twilight Father reminded him. "You also promised to dedicate the Blue Dragonflight to your great master."

"Do you think I don't know?" Arygos lashed the ground with his tail in anger, his pent-up frustration finally bursting forth. "But neither of us has achieved our goals, and neither have you!" Arygos slowly opened the hand that was holding something, letting Twilight Father see what it was. Just as he expected, Twilight Father's eyes, hidden beneath his hood, were now fixed on the closed Prism of Focus.

"Put away your anger and think about how to get things done," Twilight Father said, then nodded and added, "In fact, you've done very well. Welcome back, Arygos."

It's safe! Arygos finally calmed down. He had been worried that his failure would incur Deathwing's wrath. After all, failing to become the Guardian would mean Neltharion losing a considerable portion of the Blue Dragonflight.

Thinking of the Arcanist... Arygos's jealousy and resentment grew stronger.

"Perhaps I can reclaim my power," Arygos said, "If you are willing to help me."

Twilight Father stared at the Prism of Focus and said, "Continue."

"What about that secret weapon you mentioned? That Chromatic Dragon named Chromatus. Send him with me to deal with Kalecgos. If Chromatus ultimately kills Kalecgos, the Blue Dragonflight will realize their foolish and wrong choice. Their loyalty will waver, and then I'll have the opportunity to become the Arcanist." A smile gradually crept into Arygos's tone, making it seem like his plan was hastily conceived. Moreover, he seemed to already know how to execute it; his manic state suggested he had lost his mind, to the point that he didn't notice someone had already appeared behind him. "I gain the power of the Guardians; this is exactly what Deathwing wanted to see."

Are you sure about this?

"Of course, this is a perfect plan."

Twilight Father nodded and said, "Then, I regret to inform you, I cannot agree."

"Believe me. You won't regret it," Arygos pleaded. He needed this man and the Chromatic Dragon in his hands.

"What I mean is, Lord Deathwing no longer needs you."

A sudden, intense pain assaulted his nerves as a greatsword pierced his neck. Betrayal and rage filled the blue dragon's body, Arygos watched his blood trickle down his arm onto the Prism of Focus.

Prism of Focus has been launched!

Why is that?

Arygos knew he had been betrayed and was about to die. But he wanted to know why Twilight Father would do this. Although he hadn't become the Guardian, he had stolen the Prism of Focus and thus completed Deathwing's mission. Why then did he have to be eliminated?

Twilight Father stared at Arygos's contorted face, reading the blue dragon's thoughts. He laughed and said, "Don't be so surprised. As Malygos's son, you don't know that the Prism of Focus requires the blood of Arcanist to Innervate? You could have avoided death simply by becoming Arcanist, but alas..." He shook his head regretfully, only deepening Arygos's despair. "You failed to obtain the Guardian's power, making you far less powerful than Malygos. So, having the bloodline isn't enough; you must also offer your soul to this artifact."