Chapter 106: The Legendary Azure Dragon and the Black Tortoise
"What are you waiting for, you brats? Becoming a true Transformer is impossible without a Spark! Those robotic dinosaurs and those eight senile old fools following them are your prey. I won't ask for anything in return now go!"
As if obeying a single command, the prehistoric mechanical beasts before the Fallen suddenly stirred. Their crimson eyes seemed to spit fire as they roared and charged at their targets from every direction.
"Grimlock, get out of here now! Don't worry about us old-timers. Our parts are rusted, and our Sparks are nearly extinguished. You are the greatest Autobot warriors spread this message! From the distant mythic ages of this planet, this Fallen has relentlessly watched over these creatures. We can't allow them to succeed!"
It turned out that in ancient legends, both Eastern and Western, there existed tales of evil gods who commanded terrifying beasts to ravage humanity. The true prototypes of these gods were none other than the Fallen, and the monstrous beasts mentioned in myth were mighty creatures transformed by their hands.
Because of the limited understanding of ancient humans, these events were only recorded through the language of myth and metaphor.
Of course, the brave Autobot predecessors had been at war with the Fallen since time immemorial. These cosmic warriors, who fought for the survival of humankind, were later deified in human legend as the Yellow Emperor, Xuanyuan, and Yinglong, among others.
The mysterious Eastern humans that Starscream had briefly encountered even claimed to be descendants of the dragon, proof of the deep connection between these people and the ancestors of the Autobots.
Likewise, in the West, the fabled Knights of the Round Table were said to be towering giants likely mechanical beings in disguise. But over the centuries, through deliberate concealment and the erosion of memory, these mechanical entities hidden among humanity became known only through mythology.
"Hahaha! So, you geezers finally admit your weakness! Maybe thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago your forms were considered powerful, but now you're obsolete! This is the inevitable result of your ignorance toward technological evolution!"
Watching his eight aging opponents struggle, the Fallen felt immense satisfaction. Though his newly created Primeval Beasts were mere hollow shells, their numbers allowed him to invoke a twisted law of "survival of the fittest." The stronger among them would evolve and rise as leaders of his army.
"No! Autobots have never abandoned their comrades! Even if we're torn apart today, we won't let anyone stain the honor of the Autobots! Veterans, show them your true strength!"
Perhaps responding to this call, the eight elderly Autobots weak and seemingly on their last legs suddenly transformed. The one wielding the bronze sword became a massive Azure Dragon, while his companions took the forms of other legendary beings: the mechanical Black Tortoise (Black Turtle) and a mechanical Blue Bird, among others.
Unfortunately, this scene unfolded in the desolate northernmost lands. Had an Eastern traveler such as General Rylenwitnessed it, he would surely have knelt in awe for these were the sacred totems of ancient Eastern legends.
"Grimlock, my friend! Allow us old ones to fight beside you in this final battle! We will ensure the glory of the Autobots endures forever on this unknown world!"
With a thunderous dragon roar, the Azure Dragon charged headlong into the incoming tide of Primeval Beasts.
"Hahaha! So you old relics have finally shown your true forms! But times have changed. I can already sense your fading embers soon to be snuffed out! It seems the final victory belongs to our Chi You Legion. I quite like that name!"
Indeed, this Fallen once bore the name of the infamous Chi You, the evil war god of Eastern myth. Legends say Chi You commanded millions of monstrous beasts so fearsome that even the gods had to unite to seal him away at great cost.
The Fallen's behavior explained the origins of those terrifying creatures of legend, and why they fed on metal, sand, and stone they were never natural beings at all, but mechanical puppets forged by the Fallen's hand.
"Damn you, Fallen! We don't care whether you call yourself Chi You or the so-called Dark Angel we won't let you spread chaos on this planet! We will never stand by while you turn every creature into a machine. That would violate the very laws of the universe!"
Well said! Though the aged Autobot, now transformed into the Azure Dragon, had become incredibly powerful, he couldn't afford to be arrogant. The savage Predacons showed no fear when one managed to leap onto the dragon's back, the colossal creature's body was quickly swarmed by countless mechanical golems.
"Filthy beasts! Release the Azure Dragon!"
Seeing the elder in peril, the mechanical Tyrannosaurus, Grimlock, crushed the skulls of several kangaroo-like mecha beasts blocking his way, then unleashed a torrent of flame at those biting into the dragon's back. The sudden blaze incinerated the exposed inner circuits of the creatures instantly.
A moment later, numerous plastic-like fragments made from unknown carbon-based materials scattered from the bodies of the fallen beasts.
Tap tap tap!
These newly transformed prehistoric beasts resembled those Starscream and his group had fought in the plains mindless creatures charging recklessly with little defense. Apart from sheer numbers, their combat ability was pitifully low.
Starscream, now in the form of a mechanical saber-toothed tiger, was keenly aware of this. At first, he had planned to blend in among the Primeval Beasts, but the burning aura emanating from his body attracted a horde of pursuers, forcing him into battle against the primitive mechanical creatures.
(End of Chapter)