Boreas's massive body continued its descent toward the barren wasteland as Ren stood balanced on the falling corpse with absolute stability.
His katana remained extended, the blade still pristine despite the execution that had just occurred. Around him, the assembled dragons had frozen in recognition of what they had witnessed.
One of the remaining lieutenants, Singe, one of the oldest dragons in the Herald's cadre, made its decision in the space of a heartbeat.
Flight was the only option. The creature wheeled its massive body in the air. It began to accelerate away from Ren's position, its wings beating with desperate intensity to generate thrust and escape the barren wasteland.
Ren's expression shifted. His blue eyes, which had maintained their absolute flatness throughout the execution of Boreas, flickered with disappointment.
It was the look of someone observing a violation of expectation, the visual manifestation of a creature recognizing a failure in understanding.
