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After taking care of his brute of a cousin Zeng and his friends finally arrived in the first area of the volcano region. The Ocean of Black Sand, if you traveled without a ship to look over the horizon you'd wander in circles until driven mad in this area but this was also the most profitible part of the region cause wherever there is black sand there is usually gold or gold dust and for Kerric this was real paydirt as he got to the lowest level of the ship and began scooping up several pails of it.

Bronn however used this time to train Zeng after seeing the results of his fight with Tien, for what seemed like forever Zeng was being thrashed and thrown all across the deck as Bronn easily weaved and dodged his attacks while knocking Zeng all over the place and pushing to his limits.

"Come on Zeng! at this rate you'll never be ready to fight Kairos!"

Bronn used a simple shortsword and broad shield but was able to use them at a master leve since he was one of the great sword masters in Gaia and the only one able to kill two dragons alone. After another brutal beating Zeng was finally allowed to rest as Bronn simply went back to his quarters with a look of disappointment on his face.

He knew Zeng had more than enough potential to become a powerful dragon slayer but without the proper discipline and training he feared that his reckless habit of charging into battle without thinking would be the end of him.

The next day Zeng prepared himself for another brutal day of training but noticed something odd. The ship had come to a halt in front of a narrow passage and outside stood Sir Bronn dressed in full armor carrying a supply sack and another one at his feet, Zeng knew that it was meant for him and that they were going to train in the wilderness while the others waited.

For two days and nights they walked through the passage without end until finally they came upon what seemed like an abandoned temple, why they were here Zeng did not know but to Bronn it was like coming back home as he took in a deep breath and sighed at the amazing sight of the ruins.

"Sir Bronn why are we here?"

"As I said before Zeng. If you are going to face Kairos before the ceal is reinforced you'll need to learn how to harness the power of your mark and I am the only one who can help you with that and be warned the training will be long and ruthless, each day will be a struggle for survival. If you want to back down now I understand, just remember the fate of our entire kingdom rests on your victory."

In that moment Zeng stood there in deep thought and it seemed like time just slowed down then in his mind he could see Lindas smiling face, he began to hear her laughter then in the blink of an eye he remembered the promise he made to her and clenched his fist in confidence as he stared at Bronn with a determined look in his eyes.

"I'm ready."

"Very well...let us begin!!"

The training was as ruthless and as tormenting as Bronn had promised but Zeng refused to give in and slowly he began to master the power of his mark as he did things that would seem impossible, from instantly dashing to one side of the temple grounds to the other from forming a shield using the air around him, each power was unique but the one thing Zeng needed to master was the Dragons Bane.

Zeng rememebered that when he first used that attack it knocked him out completely and left him exhausted but with Bronns help he was able to withstand the effect but what Zeng didn't know is that the mark came with another special power which Bronn would reveal on their final day of training.

The sun began to rise on the horizon as Zeng held his sword in hand practicing his swings then he noticed Bronn smiling with pride since he had progressed so much in such short time but he knew that after today his life would never be the same.

"Zeng....after today you will walk away from this place as a full fledged dragon slayer, are you prepared for your final lesson?"

"I am."

"Good. Now as you know the dragons bane technique responds to your will and the stronger the will the stronger its power becomes but there is another secret."

"What?"

"The dragons bane can also unlock memories. memories that have been buried far too deep in the mind but only if two combatants who know the dragons bane face each other in battle which is what your final lesson will be."

"HUH?!?"

Bronn brought out his sword and shield with a fierce look in his eyes, it was clear that he wasn't giving Zeng much of a choice in this fight and the two instantly clashed weapons.

It seemed like they were an even match as they parried and blocked each others moves while using all their abilities to their advantage but since Bronn had more experience in battle Zeng kept getting pushed back most of the time, both combatants were drenched in sweat yet still they stood there weapons in hand then both their marks began to glow as Bronn prepared to charge in while Zeng readied himself for the attack.

"PREPARE YOURSELF ZENG!!! GYAAAAGH!!!"

"HOAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Bronn charge in at lightning speed while Zeng gave an upward swing as he neared his target, then the only thing they saw was a blinding flash of light and in that light Zeng saw memories he did not know he had. A male and female tiger with their cub sat by a river near a mountainside, the male looked like Sir Bronn when he was younger and the female was no doubt his wife then after getting a closer look Zeng could see that the little cub was him.

Then in the blink of an eye a landslide came out of nowhere and Sir Bronn quickly rushed his wife and child to a nearby tree as they hanged on for dear life but amidst the chaos Sir Bronns wife lost her grip on the baby and both followed after it, when the chaos had settled Sir Bronn found his wife crushed under a small pile of boulders and her eyes aflood with tears of sadness.

*Flashback*

"Bronn...."

"Be still my love! you need to save your strength!"

"The baby....I lost our baby...*sobs*"

"I'll find him Saline!! I promise! now please rest!"

The flashback soon ended as Zeng snapped back to reality with a look of shock on his face, as he turned to face Bronn he found him bleeding with a great cut across his chest and soon fear began to fill Zengs heart, he had just found out he had a father and now he was losing him as Bronn smiled through his pain and looked upon his long lost son.

"On that day your mother was bedwridden for months while I searched for you....but when I found your blanket torn to shreds your mother and I fell into despair and in time she left me and you should know she is a sorceress and she has been watching you....and Zeng....I'm sorry I...failed....you...*last breaths*"

".....FAATHEEEEER!!!"

Zengs crie could be heard all the way back to the ship and the others knew something terrible had happened and in the shadows of the temple a hooded tigress watched in sadness as a tear streamed down her face.

The End.