Inktober 2019 #1: Ring

a ring of flame
in the black sky
and the earth
trembled underneath
the silence broken
by a single cry
and a thousand
gnashing teeth

from its depths came
the great Dragon
breathing fire
and bringing devastation
its wingbeats caused
a hundred typhoons
all despaired before
the King of Destruction

then there stood
a young man of eighteen summers
shouting his defiance
against a force of nature
garbed in his loincloth
bearing his sword Wyrmcutter
and his shield Peacemaker
he set forth for the ring's center

with the benevolent help
of the winged diwatas
who gave him the wings
of the fallen King of Eagles
he waged war in the sky
with the Dragon Bauta
time stood still
as the two did battle

fangs dripping poison
against black hued steel
each clash ringing
across the land
one clawed foot
forced the youth to kneel
his end now
is near at hand

then a boom was heard
as the people took up arms
cannons made from
gigantic bamboo
shoot up fire
and other charms
to save the hero
the Dragon subdued

thus distracted, the youth
was able to recover
and plucked the right eye
from the Dragon's head
with a roar of pain
the World Destroyer
turned tail, wailing,
bellowing, as he fled

the hero was spent
and the diwatas bore him down
back to earth to his people
now free from strife
but he was deathly pale
hair plastered to his crown
and as the eclipse ended
so did the youth's life

thus the world was saved
by an unknown hero
who battled a dragon
who fled away half-blinded
may the world never again
see that golden halo
framed by a black sky
may we always be reminded
of the sacrifice
to save us from darkness