Dragon Quest [35th]

[The Fight Continues}

**Dragon Quest 35: The War of Storms (Continued)**

As the lightning-wielding warrior advanced, the crew braced themselves for the fight. Maverick readied *Remark*, while his teammates took their positions around him. The air crackled with tension, and the forest seemed to hold its breath in anticipation.

Before the battle could truly begin, Sir Nibbles let out a startled bray. "Oh no, this looks serious! I-I think I need to make a quick exit!" Without another word, the ancient donkey turned and bolted into the forest, his hooves kicking up mud as he disappeared into the trees.

"Sir Nibbles!" Lyra called out, but the donkey was already gone.

The crew was left facing the lightning warrior alone. The figure moved with lightning speed, his sword slicing through the air with crackling energy. Maverick and his team fought valiantly, their weapons clashing against the warrior's electrified blade. The battle was fierce, each strike and parry accompanied by bursts of light and thunder.

Despite their best efforts, the warrior was incredibly powerful, and the crew struggled to keep up. They fought with everything they had, and after a grueling fight, the lightning warrior’s movements began to slow. He was visibly weakened, his lightning attacks less frequent and less intense.

"Keep pushing!" Maverick shouted, determined to end the battle.

The crew managed to push the warrior back, their coordinated attacks forcing him into a corner. With a final, powerful strike, they brought the lightning-wielding foe to his knees. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his sword fell from his hand, crackling with fading energy.

Just as they were about to deliver the finishing blow, a loud braying sound erupted from the trees. Sir Nibbles reappeared, his usual cheery demeanor replaced by a look of fierce determination. He carried a large rock in his mouth, his eyes fixed on the defeated warrior.

"Hey, I heard you guys needed a hand!" Sir Nibbles declared, dropping the rock in front of him. With a grunt, he pushed it towards the warrior, and it landed squarely on his chest.

The lightning warrior let out a final, strained gasp as the rock struck him. He slumped to the ground, clearly defeated. The crew stared in disbelief, their exhaustion turning into confusion as Sir Nibbles strutted up, looking immensely proud of himself.

"Well, that was quite a fight," Sir Nibbles said, puffing out his chest. "I have to say, I’m quite the hero! I mean, it’s not every day you get to throw the final blow, right? Saved the day, I did!"

Maverick, still catching his breath, couldn’t help but laugh despite himself. "Nice work, Sir Nibbles. We couldn’t have done it without you."

Sir Nibbles beamed, his tail swishing with satisfaction. "Of course! I always say, a hero’s work is never done. Just a day in the life of an ancient donkey, really. Now, let’s get back to the fortress. I need to rest my heroic hooves!"

The crew shared a relieved chuckle as they regrouped and began making their way back to the fortress. Sir Nibbles, though he had only played a small part in the battle, was in high spirits, and his exuberant chatter helped lift their morale.

The day had proven to be an unexpected test of their strength and unity, but with their new companion by their side, they felt more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

And so, the story continued, with Maverick, his crew, and their quirky new ally, Sir Nibbles, heading back to their fortress. The storm had not yet passed, but they were ready to face whatever came next, knowing that together, they could overcome any obstacle.

To be continued...