CHAPTER 55 – DRAGON LORD COMMANDMENT
HIRAYA MISTELTEIN
My eyes widened, and a gasp escaped my lips as another life faded before me.
The metallic glint of Johnny's claws withdrew from Lysander's chest, leaving a crimson spray in their wake. Lysander's body, limp and lifeless, plummeted, a silent descent against the vast backdrop of the sky. With a swift unfurling of his harpy wings, Johnny ascended, becoming a silhouette against the fading light.
"Lysandeeeer!" My voice cracked with anguish, echoing my desperate heart as I plunged downward, chasing the falling figure.
Just as the earth seemed ready to claim him, I reached out, cradling Lysander's weight in my arms. But as I gazed into his once vibrant eyes, now void of light, the chilling reality settled — his chest bore a gaping wound, and the life that once pulsed within him had vanished.
Desperation fueled my actions as I repeatedly slapped Lysander's cheek, each strike more frantic than the last. His face remained unmoving, unresponsive. Refusing to accept the chilling truth of his departure, I summoned every ounce of my healing magic, attempting to mend the gaping void in his chest.
"No! Not you too, Lysander!" My voice cracked, a raw, pained scream echoing in the silent expanse. Pressing my face against the torn fabric of his chest, tears streamed down my face. "You promised you'd save me. Don't leave me, Lysander!"
Silence engulfed me. The absence of a heartbeat, the stillness of his form — Lysander's journey had come to a heart-wrenching end.
High above, Johnny's eyes gleamed with malicious triumph. His lips curled into a smug grin, a chilling testament to his satisfaction. The echo of his laughter pierced the air, a cruel symphony to his victory.
"Ahahaha! Seems an Erudite is no match for a Dragon Lord," Johnny taunted with a smirk playing on his lips.
"How dare you!" Kate's voice thundered, echoing with fury. She surged forward, her crimson wings tracing fiery paths in the sky. With a swift, determined motion, she swung her flaming sword at Johnny. Yet, instead of dodging or parrying, Johnny caught the blade as if it were a mere toy.
Despite the force behind Kate's strike, Johnny remained unscathed, his smirk unwavering.
"Electric Bolt!" Gaeun's voice echoed sharply, her wand sparkling as it released three searing bolts of lightning. They struck Johnny head-on, the bright flashes illuminating the battlefield. Yet, he stood, untouched, his defiance clear.
Charlotte's fingers tightened around the trigger of her sniper rifle, each shot echoing her determination. Each bullet aimed meticulously at Johnny's forehead, but they merely ricocheted off, leaving no mark.
With a flourish, Johnny unfurled his emerald harpy wings, stretching them wide. Spreading his arms wide open, he stood unflinching, seemingly challenging his adversaries to unleash their full might upon him.
"Do you comprehend now?" Johnny's voice boomed, echoing with arrogance. "No matter the intensity of your assault, the might of your spells, or the number of bullets you unleash, they're futile against me. I stand invincible, transcending mortality. For I am not just any being — I am a Dragon Lord!" His proclamation echoed with a chilling finality.
Gently laying Lysander's lifeless form on the ground, I fixed my gaze on Johnny. His cocksure demeanor, reveling in the face of our futile attacks, fueled a fire within me. Seizing the moment, I summoned the radiant power of my Wings of Light, propelling myself skyward with unparalleled speed.
With a battle cry that resonated with my every fiber, I launched a flying kick straight towards Johnny's chin. Though caught off guard, the Dragon Lord remained unyielding, my blow failing to leave a mark.
Chuckling softly, Johnny taunted, "Easy there, Hiraya Misteltein. Your emotions betray you, clouding your reason. Just because I've dealt with one of your... boyfriends doesn't justify this reckless onslaught against a Dragon Lord. Consider your allegiances wisely; it's not too late to stand with us."
"My fists and feet will be the only alliance you'll regret!" My voice thundered, charged with determination. Twisting with agility, I delivered a skyward roundhouse kick aimed at Johnny's ear. Following up swiftly, I directed a sharp karate chop to his neck and followed it with a forceful punch to his nose.
To my bewilderment, each strike seemed to dissipate without effect. No barrier shimmered around him, no shield emerged. Yet, his indifference to my onslaught was evident. But I wasn't about to relent; I'd persist until I found a chink in his armor.
With another fierce cry, I spun, aiming another kick. However, Johnny's swift reflexes caught my heel, sending me spiraling downward. Just as the ground seemed imminent, I summoned the brilliance of my Wings of Light, stabilizing myself mid-descent.
"You underestimate my power," Johnny mused, a smirk playing on his lips as he displayed the distinctive V-mark on his palm. "This is the Mark of Vesryn, granting me unparalleled protection." With a sly grin, he continued, "Allow me to enlighten you on another gift bestowed upon Dragon Lords."
The crimson glow emanating from the Mark of Vesryn on Johnny's palm intensified, casting an ominous hue across the battlefield. A chilling familiarity washed over me; it mirrored the aura Gazelle Lockwood exuded when he ensnared Alris with his enigmatic abilities.
"Damn it!" My voice echoed with desperation as I locked eyes with my trio of dragonoid companions. "Get back!"
But my warning came too late. With a searing crimson streak across the heavens, Johnny's voice resonated with a commanding force. "By the might of my Dragon Lord Commandment, I compel all dragonoids within my reach to heed my call, unlocking the depths of your latent power!"
In a mere heartbeat, a blinding scarlet radiance engulfed the surroundings, plunging everything into tumultuous chaos.
Below, the once-human Neo Arcadians underwent a startling metamorphosis, morphing into a myriad of dragons that spanned the gamut of nature's fierce creatures. From the verdant Forest Dragons and molten Magma Dragons to the abyssal Deep Sea Dragons and majestic Sky Dragons, the battlefield transformed into a chaotic tableau of colossal, winged reptiles. Their numbers were overwhelming, numbering in the hundreds, each deploying their unique talents, vast frames, and incendiary breaths to decimate any human presence.
A colossal Titanus Dragon, towering at a staggering thirty meters, effortlessly cleaved an aircraft carrier in twain with its jagged claws. Harriers and helicopters met their demise swiftly, consumed by the dragons' fiery exhalations.
My gaze darted to my dragonoid allies, each manifesting elements of their newfound draconic heritage. Kate bore a dark crimson horn, fiery wings unfurled behind her, and a tail ablaze with fervor. Charlotte ascended with the aid of her booster-equipped flight, her horns resembling formidable bazookas. Meanwhile, Gaeun sported six luxuriant tails, each flexible enough to function as wings.
Yet, what unsettled me most was their vacant expressions, their once-familiar eyes now awash with an unsettling crimson glow, betraying their lost autonomy.
"Kate? Charlotte? Gaeun?" My voice wavered with a mix of disbelief and anguish as I called out to them.
Silence. Their faces remained impassive, devoid of recognition or emotion.
My eyes darted back to Johnny, his malevolent satisfaction evident. His voice carried the weight of authority as he commanded, "As the Dragon Lord Centurion, I command you three: eliminate Hiraya Misteltein."
Their responses were instantaneous, their actions void of any hesitation. "Understood," they intoned in eerie unison, their once-familiar names now instruments of my impending doom.
Kate lunged first, her flaming sword arcing through the air with lethal intent. With reflexes honed by desperation, I narrowly dodged her searing strike.
Next, Gaeun brandished her wand, conjuring fish-shaped projectiles that pursued relentlessly. Twisting and turning in the air, I narrowly evaded their watery onslaught.
But Charlotte's precision was unparalleled. With a sharp crack, three bullets whizzed toward me. I contorted in a desperate barrel roll, narrowly dodging the first and skimming past the second. Yet, the third found its mark, piercing my midsection. A burst of pain erupted within me, and the metallic tang of my own blood filled the air, casting a shadow over the once-clear skies.
"Kyaaa!" A gut-wrenching scream tore from my lips as searing pain engulfed me. The assault shattered my concentration, causing the once radiant Wings of Light to falter. Helplessly, I plummeted, the ominous silhouette of the ruined demonic cathedral looming closer with every passing second.
A sickening crash resonated through my being, accompanied by the sharp, unmistakable sensation of bones fracturing upon impact. Darkness threatened to engulf me, but it was fleeting.
Amidst the cacophony of muffled screams, the thunderous roars of dragons, and the relentless clatter of debris, consciousness clawed its way back to me. Blinking against a haze of crimson, my vision distorted and blurred, likely a consequence of a head injury sustained during my fall. Yet, I was undeniably alive.
Gingerly, I reached for my throbbing head, recoiling slightly as my hand came away slick with blood. My left eye remained stubbornly shut, swelling undoubtedly obscuring my vision. A sharp pain radiated from my right chest, each breath a testament to possible broken ribs. Testing my legs, I managed to rise, but a sharp jolt from my right knee suggested a fracture, adding to the litany of injuries I now bore.
Beside me, Lysander's lifeless form lay, a haunting reminder of the battle's devastating toll. "Lys...an...der..." My voice was a mere whisper, choked with sorrow.
Despair threatened to consume me. Lysander was no more. My once-loyal dragonoid allies now mere pawns. The imperial forces faced obliteration at the hands of the dragons. And against Johnny, the seemingly invincible Dragon Lord, I stood powerless, devoid of any strategy or hope.
Every ounce of my dwindling strength was mustered to inch closer to Lysander's fallen body. Each step was a testament to my resolve, even as a sharp pang, a familiar sensation known as the Vesryn Pulse, gripped my heart. Memories of wielding this power with Alris flooded back, but this time, it felt different, more potent.
A sense of foreboding compelled me to turn. Before me stood a cross, its presence ominous and foreboding. Impaled upon it, a grim tableau, was the Goddess Exceria — or what remained of her divine form.
CHAPTER 55 – DRAGON LORD COMMANDMENT
HIRAYA MISTELTEIN
My eyes widened, and a gasp escaped my lips as another life faded before me.
The metallic glint of Johnny's claws withdrew from Lysander's chest, leaving a crimson spray in their wake. Lysander's body, limp and lifeless, plummeted, a silent descent against the vast backdrop of the sky. With a swift unfurling of his harpy wings, Johnny ascended, becoming a silhouette against the fading light.
"Lysandeeeer!" My voice cracked with anguish, echoing my desperate heart as I plunged downward, chasing the falling figure.
Just as the earth seemed ready to claim him, I reached out, cradling Lysander's weight in my arms. But as I gazed into his once vibrant eyes, now void of light, the chilling reality settled — his chest bore a gaping wound, and the life that once pulsed within him had vanished.
Desperation fueled my actions as I repeatedly slapped Lysander's cheek, each strike more frantic than the last. His face remained unmoving, unresponsive. Refusing to accept the chilling truth of his departure, I summoned every ounce of my healing magic, attempting to mend the gaping void in his chest.
"No! Not you too, Lysander!" My voice cracked, a raw, pained scream echoing in the silent expanse. Pressing my face against the torn fabric of his chest, tears streamed down my face. "You promised you'd save me. Don't leave me, Lysander!"
Silence engulfed me. The absence of a heartbeat, the stillness of his form — Lysander's journey had come to a heart-wrenching end.
High above, Johnny's eyes gleamed with malicious triumph. His lips curled into a smug grin, a chilling testament to his satisfaction. The echo of his laughter pierced the air, a cruel symphony to his victory.
"Ahahaha! Seems an Erudite is no match for a Dragon Lord," Johnny taunted with a smirk playing on his lips.
"How dare you!" Kate's voice thundered, echoing with fury. She surged forward, her crimson wings tracing fiery paths in the sky. With a swift, determined motion, she swung her flaming sword at Johnny. Yet, instead of dodging or parrying, Johnny caught the blade as if it were a mere toy.
Despite the force behind Kate's strike, Johnny remained unscathed, his smirk unwavering.
"Electric Bolt!" Gaeun's voice echoed sharply, her wand sparkling as it released three searing bolts of lightning. They struck Johnny head-on, the bright flashes illuminating the battlefield. Yet, he stood, untouched, his defiance clear.
Charlotte's fingers tightened around the trigger of her sniper rifle, each shot echoing her determination. Each bullet aimed meticulously at Johnny's forehead, but they merely ricocheted off, leaving no mark.
With a flourish, Johnny unfurled his emerald harpy wings, stretching them wide. Spreading his arms wide open, he stood unflinching, seemingly challenging his adversaries to unleash their full might upon him.
"Do you comprehend now?" Johnny's voice boomed, echoing with arrogance. "No matter the intensity of your assault, the might of your spells, or the number of bullets you unleash, they're futile against me. I stand invincible, transcending mortality. For I am not just any being — I am a Dragon Lord!" His proclamation echoed with a chilling finality.
Gently laying Lysander's lifeless form on the ground, I fixed my gaze on Johnny. His cocksure demeanor, reveling in the face of our futile attacks, fueled a fire within me. Seizing the moment, I summoned the radiant power of my Wings of Light, propelling myself skyward with unparalleled speed.
With a battle cry that resonated with my every fiber, I launched a flying kick straight towards Johnny's chin. Though caught off guard, the Dragon Lord remained unyielding, my blow failing to leave a mark.
Chuckling softly, Johnny taunted, "Easy there, Hiraya Misteltein. Your emotions betray you, clouding your reason. Just because I've dealt with one of your... boyfriends doesn't justify this reckless onslaught against a Dragon Lord. Consider your allegiances wisely; it's not too late to stand with us."
"My fists and feet will be the only alliance you'll regret!" My voice thundered, charged with determination. Twisting with agility, I delivered a skyward roundhouse kick aimed at Johnny's ear. Following up swiftly, I directed a sharp karate chop to his neck and followed it with a forceful punch to his nose.
To my bewilderment, each strike seemed to dissipate without effect. No barrier shimmered around him, no shield emerged. Yet, his indifference to my onslaught was evident. But I wasn't about to relent; I'd persist until I found a chink in his armor.
With another fierce cry, I spun, aiming another kick. However, Johnny's swift reflexes caught my heel, sending me spiraling downward. Just as the ground seemed imminent, I summoned the brilliance of my Wings of Light, stabilizing myself mid-descent.
"You underestimate my power," Johnny mused, a smirk playing on his lips as he displayed the distinctive V-mark on his palm. "This is the Mark of Vesryn, granting me unparalleled protection." With a sly grin, he continued, "Allow me to enlighten you on another gift bestowed upon Dragon Lords."
The crimson glow emanating from the Mark of Vesryn on Johnny's palm intensified, casting an ominous hue across the battlefield. A chilling familiarity washed over me; it mirrored the aura Gazelle Lockwood exuded when he ensnared Alris with his enigmatic abilities.
"Damn it!" My voice echoed with desperation as I locked eyes with my trio of dragonoid companions. "Get back!"
But my warning came too late. With a searing crimson streak across the heavens, Johnny's voice resonated with a commanding force. "By the might of my Dragon Lord Commandment, I compel all dragonoids within my reach to heed my call, unlocking the depths of your latent power!"
In a mere heartbeat, a blinding scarlet radiance engulfed the surroundings, plunging everything into tumultuous chaos.
Below, the once-human Neo Arcadians underwent a startling metamorphosis, morphing into a myriad of dragons that spanned the gamut of nature's fierce creatures. From the verdant Forest Dragons and molten Magma Dragons to the abyssal Deep Sea Dragons and majestic Sky Dragons, the battlefield transformed into a chaotic tableau of colossal, winged reptiles. Their numbers were overwhelming, numbering in the hundreds, each deploying their unique talents, vast frames, and incendiary breaths to decimate any human presence.
A colossal Titanus Dragon, towering at a staggering thirty meters, effortlessly cleaved an aircraft carrier in twain with its jagged claws. Harriers and helicopters met their demise swiftly, consumed by the dragons' fiery exhalations.
My gaze darted to my dragonoid allies, each manifesting elements of their newfound draconic heritage. Kate bore a dark crimson horn, fiery wings unfurled behind her, and a tail ablaze with fervor. Charlotte ascended with the aid of her booster-equipped flight, her horns resembling formidable bazookas. Meanwhile, Gaeun sported six luxuriant tails, each flexible enough to function as wings.
Yet, what unsettled me most was their vacant expressions, their once-familiar eyes now awash with an unsettling crimson glow, betraying their lost autonomy.
"Kate? Charlotte? Gaeun?" My voice wavered with a mix of disbelief and anguish as I called out to them.
Silence. Their faces remained impassive, devoid of recognition or emotion.
My eyes darted back to Johnny, his malevolent satisfaction evident. His voice carried the weight of authority as he commanded, "As the Dragon Lord Centurion, I command you three: eliminate Hiraya Misteltein."
Their responses were instantaneous, their actions void of any hesitation. "Understood," they intoned in eerie unison, their once-familiar names now instruments of my impending doom.
Kate lunged first, her flaming sword arcing through the air with lethal intent. With reflexes honed by desperation, I narrowly dodged her searing strike.
Next, Gaeun brandished her wand, conjuring fish-shaped projectiles that pursued relentlessly. Twisting and turning in the air, I narrowly evaded their watery onslaught.
But Charlotte's precision was unparalleled. With a sharp crack, three bullets whizzed toward me. I contorted in a desperate barrel roll, narrowly dodging the first and skimming past the second. Yet, the third found its mark, piercing my midsection. A burst of pain erupted within me, and the metallic tang of my own blood filled the air, casting a shadow over the once-clear skies.
"Kyaaa!" A gut-wrenching scream tore from my lips as searing pain engulfed me. The assault shattered my concentration, causing the once radiant Wings of Light to falter. Helplessly, I plummeted, the ominous silhouette of the ruined demonic cathedral looming closer with every passing second.
A sickening crash resonated through my being, accompanied by the sharp, unmistakable sensation of bones fracturing upon impact. Darkness threatened to engulf me, but it was fleeting.
Amidst the cacophony of muffled screams, the thunderous roars of dragons, and the relentless clatter of debris, consciousness clawed its way back to me. Blinking against a haze of crimson, my vision distorted and blurred, likely a consequence of a head injury sustained during my fall. Yet, I was undeniably alive.
Gingerly, I reached for my throbbing head, recoiling slightly as my hand came away slick with blood. My left eye remained stubbornly shut, swelling undoubtedly obscuring my vision. A sharp pain radiated from my right chest, each breath a testament to possible broken ribs. Testing my legs, I managed to rise, but a sharp jolt from my right knee suggested a fracture, adding to the litany of injuries I now bore.
Beside me, Lysander's lifeless form lay, a haunting reminder of the battle's devastating toll. "Lys...an...der..." My voice was a mere whisper, choked with sorrow.
Despair threatened to consume me. Lysander was no more. My once-loyal dragonoid allies now mere pawns. The imperial forces faced obliteration at the hands of the dragons. And against Johnny, the seemingly invincible Dragon Lord, I stood powerless, devoid of any strategy or hope.
Every ounce of my dwindling strength was mustered to inch closer to Lysander's fallen body. Each step was a testament to my resolve, even as a sharp pang, a familiar sensation known as the Vesryn Pulse, gripped my heart. Memories of wielding this power with Alris flooded back, but this time, it felt different, more potent.
A sense of foreboding compelled me to turn. Before me stood a cross, its presence ominous and foreboding. Impaled upon it, a grim tableau, was the Goddess Exceria — or what remained of her divine form.
