CHAPTER 17 – ARCTIC DRAGON
LYSANDER FARADEISS
Horror gripped my allies, etching fear upon their faces as they laid eyes on the icy behemoth dragon, a colossal creature looming five hundred meters away. It might have marked their very first encounter with a dragon, considering that the use of the Vesryn Pulse by the Dragon Knights had become a heavily regulated relic of the past in this era of peace. The sight of a dragon accompanied by a knight was an ominous harbinger, suggesting that chaos had erupted.
A deafening roar shattered the tranquility, emanating from the Arctic Dragon itself. Monstrous walls of ice, standing at a towering forty meters in height, materialized and encased the entire Tasty Town's Magic High School, a prison of frost.
The magnitude of the dragon's magic left Hiraya in stunned silence, her voice quivering as she muttered, "So, this is the power of a Dragon Knight."
Gregory's clenched fist and the curl of his lips behind his mustache were visible signs of his frustration. He posed the pressing question, "What can we possibly do now, trapped within these frigid walls of ice?"
Hiraya clenched her teeth in frustration, her swift steps carrying her back to the planning table. She reached for her phone, determination etched into her features.
"Gaeun, can you hear me? Gaeun, give me a status update. Is the evacuation proceeding as planned?" Hiraya's voice held a sense of urgency.
A nervous response came through the phone, "Y-Yes, Madam Vice Prez! Gaeun speaking. We seem to have encountered a problem here. The sewer exits are frozen solid. No matter how hard I try to melt it with fireballs, it won't budge!"
Hiraya's determination only grew stronger. "Stay put. I'll explore other escape routes," she declared.
Turning to her next contact, she gritted her teeth and spoke into her phone, "Kate, do you copy?"
"Loud and clear, Vice Prez," Kate's voice responded with a tone of seriousness.
Hiraya swiftly issued orders, her voice laced with resolve, "Head to the western gate and attempt to breach the ice wall."
Silence hung heavily in the air as the communication line remained open, and we listened intently to the clanging of steel and the echoing sounds of Kate casting her spells, "Phoenix Geiser!" and "Garuda Buster!" Each incantation was accompanied by a burst of blazing sounds, creating a vivid mental image of her efforts.
After her valiant attempts, Kate's voice cut through the suspense. "No use, Vice Prez. My swords and skills can't make a dent in these ice walls."
Hiraya's frustration seeped through her voice as she muttered, "Darn it." A solitary droplet of sweat meandered down her temple, tracing a path to her chin.
A new voice joined the conversation. "Vice Prez, this is Charlotte," she reported. "Using my 4x zoom scope, I've detected an overwhelming concentration of mana within the ice walls encircling the campus. The freezing effect is creeping across the ground. The auditorium and cafeteria building have been frozen solid, and it's only a matter of time before the entire campus becomes a colossal icebox."
Hiraya's face paled, her silence echoing the frustration of reaching an impasse in her strategy. Her tactical expertise was effective against overwhelming odds, such as a large number of terrorists, but the might of a Dragon Knight proved insurmountable.
Sensing the need for a different approach, I rose to my feet, standing before the blonde elf Vice President and locking eyes with her. "I'm going to confront the Dragon Knight," I declared.
"Eh?" Hiraya snapped back to reality as my words pierced through her despair. "W-Wait, Lysander! You can't be serious! You'll freeze to death!"
My tone remained resolute. "I am serious. I have knowledge about dragons and knights," I replied coldly before exiting the room.
Hiraya hurriedly followed, her voice pleading, "Wait, Lysander! I said, wait!"
As I glanced back, I found Hiraya holding a black leather jacket, which she then draped over my shoulder. "I'm coming with you," she declared.
I promptly slipped into the jacket over my blazer. This elf clearly understood the necessity of warmth in the face of the freezing cold, and she was doing her part to support me. Recognizing her potential value in battle, I accepted her presence without objection.
Together, we made our way to the veranda on the sixth floor, offering a clear view of the northern gate. From there, the imposing figure of the colossal Arctic Dragon and its knight, perched atop its head, came into sight. The school grounds had been utterly transformed into an icy expanse that resembled a frozen skating rink.
Hiraya voiced her concern, her words laced with worry. "What's your plan for this? One wrong move, and you'll become a popsicle."
I contemplated our options for a moment before responding, "Let's start with long-range attacks." Extending my hand towards the looming Arctic Dragon, I conjured a blue magical circle, focusing my energy to cast my spell. "Lightning Arrow!"
A bolt of lightning erupted from the magical circle, streaking through the air at incredible speed. However, as it neared the icy battlefield, its velocity gradually diminished, reducing to a mere fraction of its original speed.
Just before the arrow could strike the Arctic Dragon, its Dragon Knight leaped into action, using his sword to deflect the magical projectile. He taunted us, his voice filled with arrogance, "So, these are the high school students who took down my men. Too bad, your attacks will never reach me."
Hiraya and I exchanged determined glances, acknowledging that defeating this formidable adversary would be no small feat.
I disregarded my experimental attack magic, instead, focusing on Hiraya, who was intently analyzing the results of my previous attempt. The elf's arms were crossed, and her narrowed eyes indicated her deep concentration as she dissected the previous parrying action of the enemy.
"The freezing field slowed down the air molecules, making your magic missile so sluggish that the knight could easily deflect it. Long-range magic won't work," Hiraya concluded.
With unwavering resolve, she withdrew her pistol and aimed it at the Arctic Dragon. "Let's see if it can stop bullets." Three gunshots echoed through the icy air as she pulled the trigger three times, sending bullets hurtling toward the Arctic Dragon. However, the bullets quickly froze in midair, their added weight causing them to lose accuracy and plummet to the ground just before reaching their target. It was a stark reminder of the overwhelming power of the Dragon Knight and their icy domain.
Volk, the renegade Dragon Knight, laughed arrogantly. "I already told you, your attacks are futile. Nothing can breach the chilling defenses of my Arctic Dragon!"
Hiraya was quick to interject, providing a loud and thoughtful analysis. "The bullets froze at the two-hundred-meter mark, rendering them too heavy to maintain accuracy over long distances. Physical long-range attacks won't work. We need to address the freezing effect of that dragon."
A determined smile crossed my face as I lifted my foot and positioned myself on the railings. "I've got this," I assured them.
Hiraya's eyes widened with concern. "W-What are you doing!?"
"Charging the enemy. Stand back," I gestured, resolute in my intent to confront the threat head-on.
With a determined breath, I conjured the ethereal Wings of Light, a spell unheard of in this timeline, their radiant blue hue flickering to life behind me. Hiraya's eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld the enigmatic wings materialize on my back. With newfound wings, I propelled myself towards the freezing field at a fraction of the speed of light, my resolve solidified to confront the enemy head-on.
Upon entering the range of the icy magic, I thrust my hands forward, conjuring two immense fireballs without releasing them. Instead, I dove into the flames, engulfing myself completely in the searing heat.
"Hah! Are you some kind of radical?" mocked the Dragon Knight, Rene Volk, his laughter echoing in the frozen air.
To his surprise, I emerged unscathed, steadily closing the distance between us. The two fiery orbs I had conjured served a dual purpose - they not only warmed my body but also shielded me from the freezing cold. Yes, my clothes and skin suffered minor burns, but it was a small price to pay in the face of the Arctic Dragon's icy onslaught.
"What the—"
“One more!”
The dragon knight's exclamation was cut short as I roared defiantly, creating two additional massive fireballs and enveloping myself in their blazing inferno.
Only fifty meters separated us now, and the Dragon Knight was within my grasp. Once the flames on my body extinguished, I would seize the opportunity to bring this battle to a decisive end.
"Lysander!" Hiraya's voice pierced through the crackling flames from a distance, filled with concern.
In that moment, an excruciating, searing pain surged in my chest, causing my heart to skip a beat. My right hand bore the brunt of the pain and underwent a transformation, taking on an otherworldly, dragonic appearance.
CHAPTER 17 – ARCTIC DRAGON
LYSANDER FARADEISS
Horror gripped my allies, etching fear upon their faces as they laid eyes on the icy behemoth dragon, a colossal creature looming five hundred meters away. It might have marked their very first encounter with a dragon, considering that the use of the Vesryn Pulse by the Dragon Knights had become a heavily regulated relic of the past in this era of peace. The sight of a dragon accompanied by a knight was an ominous harbinger, suggesting that chaos had erupted.
A deafening roar shattered the tranquility, emanating from the Arctic Dragon itself. Monstrous walls of ice, standing at a towering forty meters in height, materialized and encased the entire Tasty Town's Magic High School, a prison of frost.
The magnitude of the dragon's magic left Hiraya in stunned silence, her voice quivering as she muttered, "So, this is the power of a Dragon Knight."
Gregory's clenched fist and the curl of his lips behind his mustache were visible signs of his frustration. He posed the pressing question, "What can we possibly do now, trapped within these frigid walls of ice?"
Hiraya clenched her teeth in frustration, her swift steps carrying her back to the planning table. She reached for her phone, determination etched into her features.
"Gaeun, can you hear me? Gaeun, give me a status update. Is the evacuation proceeding as planned?" Hiraya's voice held a sense of urgency.
A nervous response came through the phone, "Y-Yes, Madam Vice Prez! Gaeun speaking. We seem to have encountered a problem here. The sewer exits are frozen solid. No matter how hard I try to melt it with fireballs, it won't budge!"
Hiraya's determination only grew stronger. "Stay put. I'll explore other escape routes," she declared.
Turning to her next contact, she gritted her teeth and spoke into her phone, "Kate, do you copy?"
"Loud and clear, Vice Prez," Kate's voice responded with a tone of seriousness.
Hiraya swiftly issued orders, her voice laced with resolve, "Head to the western gate and attempt to breach the ice wall."
Silence hung heavily in the air as the communication line remained open, and we listened intently to the clanging of steel and the echoing sounds of Kate casting her spells, "Phoenix Geiser!" and "Garuda Buster!" Each incantation was accompanied by a burst of blazing sounds, creating a vivid mental image of her efforts.
After her valiant attempts, Kate's voice cut through the suspense. "No use, Vice Prez. My swords and skills can't make a dent in these ice walls."
Hiraya's frustration seeped through her voice as she muttered, "Darn it." A solitary droplet of sweat meandered down her temple, tracing a path to her chin.
A new voice joined the conversation. "Vice Prez, this is Charlotte," she reported. "Using my 4x zoom scope, I've detected an overwhelming concentration of mana within the ice walls encircling the campus. The freezing effect is creeping across the ground. The auditorium and cafeteria building have been frozen solid, and it's only a matter of time before the entire campus becomes a colossal icebox."
Hiraya's face paled, her silence echoing the frustration of reaching an impasse in her strategy. Her tactical expertise was effective against overwhelming odds, such as a large number of terrorists, but the might of a Dragon Knight proved insurmountable.
Sensing the need for a different approach, I rose to my feet, standing before the blonde elf Vice President and locking eyes with her. "I'm going to confront the Dragon Knight," I declared.
"Eh?" Hiraya snapped back to reality as my words pierced through her despair. "W-Wait, Lysander! You can't be serious! You'll freeze to death!"
My tone remained resolute. "I am serious. I have knowledge about dragons and knights," I replied coldly before exiting the room.
Hiraya hurriedly followed, her voice pleading, "Wait, Lysander! I said, wait!"
As I glanced back, I found Hiraya holding a black leather jacket, which she then draped over my shoulder. "I'm coming with you," she declared.
I promptly slipped into the jacket over my blazer. This elf clearly understood the necessity of warmth in the face of the freezing cold, and she was doing her part to support me. Recognizing her potential value in battle, I accepted her presence without objection.
Together, we made our way to the veranda on the sixth floor, offering a clear view of the northern gate. From there, the imposing figure of the colossal Arctic Dragon and its knight, perched atop its head, came into sight. The school grounds had been utterly transformed into an icy expanse that resembled a frozen skating rink.
Hiraya voiced her concern, her words laced with worry. "What's your plan for this? One wrong move, and you'll become a popsicle."
I contemplated our options for a moment before responding, "Let's start with long-range attacks." Extending my hand towards the looming Arctic Dragon, I conjured a blue magical circle, focusing my energy to cast my spell. "Lightning Arrow!"
A bolt of lightning erupted from the magical circle, streaking through the air at incredible speed. However, as it neared the icy battlefield, its velocity gradually diminished, reducing to a mere fraction of its original speed.
Just before the arrow could strike the Arctic Dragon, its Dragon Knight leaped into action, using his sword to deflect the magical projectile. He taunted us, his voice filled with arrogance, "So, these are the high school students who took down my men. Too bad, your attacks will never reach me."
Hiraya and I exchanged determined glances, acknowledging that defeating this formidable adversary would be no small feat.
I disregarded my experimental attack magic, instead, focusing on Hiraya, who was intently analyzing the results of my previous attempt. The elf's arms were crossed, and her narrowed eyes indicated her deep concentration as she dissected the previous parrying action of the enemy.
"The freezing field slowed down the air molecules, making your magic missile so sluggish that the knight could easily deflect it. Long-range magic won't work," Hiraya concluded.
With unwavering resolve, she withdrew her pistol and aimed it at the Arctic Dragon. "Let's see if it can stop bullets." Three gunshots echoed through the icy air as she pulled the trigger three times, sending bullets hurtling toward the Arctic Dragon. However, the bullets quickly froze in midair, their added weight causing them to lose accuracy and plummet to the ground just before reaching their target. It was a stark reminder of the overwhelming power of the Dragon Knight and their icy domain.
Volk, the renegade Dragon Knight, laughed arrogantly. "I already told you, your attacks are futile. Nothing can breach the chilling defenses of my Arctic Dragon!"
Hiraya was quick to interject, providing a loud and thoughtful analysis. "The bullets froze at the two-hundred-meter mark, rendering them too heavy to maintain accuracy over long distances. Physical long-range attacks won't work. We need to address the freezing effect of that dragon."
A determined smile crossed my face as I lifted my foot and positioned myself on the railings. "I've got this," I assured them.
Hiraya's eyes widened with concern. "W-What are you doing!?"
"Charging the enemy. Stand back," I gestured, resolute in my intent to confront the threat head-on.
With a determined breath, I conjured the ethereal Wings of Light, a spell unheard of in this timeline, their radiant blue hue flickering to life behind me. Hiraya's eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld the enigmatic wings materialize on my back. With newfound wings, I propelled myself towards the freezing field at a fraction of the speed of light, my resolve solidified to confront the enemy head-on.
Upon entering the range of the icy magic, I thrust my hands forward, conjuring two immense fireballs without releasing them. Instead, I dove into the flames, engulfing myself completely in the searing heat.
"Hah! Are you some kind of radical?" mocked the Dragon Knight, Rene Volk, his laughter echoing in the frozen air.
To his surprise, I emerged unscathed, steadily closing the distance between us. The two fiery orbs I had conjured served a dual purpose - they not only warmed my body but also shielded me from the freezing cold. Yes, my clothes and skin suffered minor burns, but it was a small price to pay in the face of the Arctic Dragon's icy onslaught.
"What the—"
“One more!”
The dragon knight's exclamation was cut short as I roared defiantly, creating two additional massive fireballs and enveloping myself in their blazing inferno.
Only fifty meters separated us now, and the Dragon Knight was within my grasp. Once the flames on my body extinguished, I would seize the opportunity to bring this battle to a decisive end.
"Lysander!" Hiraya's voice pierced through the crackling flames from a distance, filled with concern.
In that moment, an excruciating, searing pain surged in my chest, causing my heart to skip a beat. My right hand bore the brunt of the pain and underwent a transformation, taking on an otherworldly, dragonic appearance.
