CHAPTER 93 – HANGED
LYSANDER FARADEISS
"Activating Vesryn Pulse!"
Johnny's voice reverberated across the battlefield, a surge of energy rippled through the air, announcing the activation of the Vesryn Pulse. At the edge of my vision, I witnessed Johnny's dragonoid companion undergo a breathtaking transformation, morphing into the formidable Tachyon Dragon.
Kate, embodying the fierce essence of her Warflame Dragon form, wasted no time in lunging forward. With her cybernetic arm transmuted into a blazing steel blade, she propelled herself toward the looming threat.
Just as Kate's sword was poised to strike, the Tachyon Dragon vanished into thin air, only to reappear moments later, suspended twenty meters above ground. Crackling with raw power, it conjured a searing sphere of orange electricity.
In response, the Warflame Dragon unleashed a torrent of flames from her jaws, matching the Tachyon Dragon's fervor. The two mystical beings locked eyes across the battlefield, each summoning their formidable arsenal.
Their attacks collided mid-air in a cataclysmic clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the surroundings. Trees bowed under the force of the impact, and wooden structures groaned as they struggled to withstand the immense power unleashed upon them.
Amidst the chaos, a familiar voice pierced through the cacophony, calling out my name with urgency: "Lysander!" It was Hiraya, her voice laden with concern and determination.
My attention snapped forward as a colossal spider leg belonging to the Alientech Dragon loomed perilously close, poised to strike. Reacting instinctively, I activated my Trailblazer Accel, momentarily slowing the passage of time. With the world around me moving in sluggish motion, I swiftly veered to the right, narrowly escaping the lethal blow.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I couldn't help but acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Were it not for Hiraya's timely warning, I would have undoubtedly met a grim fate at the hands of the Alientech Dragon's menacing appendage. It was clear where my focus should lie – battling this formidable foe took precedence over all else, even Johnny.
The Alientech Dragon pressed on, its spider-like limbs slashing through the air with deadly precision, claiming the lives of any dragon unfortunate enough to cross its path. With each fallen comrade, its grotesque form absorbed their essence, growing stronger with each kill.
Summoning my inner strength, I conjured a brilliant blue flame within the depths of my being, channeling it through my jaws. With a forceful exhale, I unleashed a barrage of searing blasts aimed at dismantling the Alientech Dragon's spider legs. Each fiery projectile found its mark, reducing the sinister limbs to smoldering ruins one by one. Yet, to my dismay, for every leg I destroyed, another sprouted forth in its place, testament to the relentless resilience of my adversary.
Ascending into the sky, I scanned the chaotic battlefield in search of the abomination's core. High above, nestled within the heart of its UFO-shaped wings, I pinpointed its crimson-eyed head, a beacon of malevolence amidst the turmoil.
Before I could react, the creature's eyes ignited with an ominous glow, heralding the unleashing of a devastating sonic assault. The crimson wave crashed into me with merciless force, shattering my equilibrium and sending me spiraling into disorientation. The acrid scent of singed blood filled my nostrils, accompanied by the deafening cacophony of ringing ears.
Desperately clawing for stability amidst the vertigo-inducing onslaught, I felt the ground rush up to meet me as my senses spun in disarray. "Shit!" The expletive echoed within my mind as panic surged through me.
With swift determination, I spread my wings wide and beat them with all my strength, arresting my downward descent just moments before impact. As the rush of wind buffeted my face, I regained control of my trajectory, hovering defiantly amidst the tumultuous skies.
High above the chaos, Hiraya hovered amidst the swirling winds, her focus intense as she channeled mana into her fingertips. A radiant green magical circle blossomed at her touch, crackling with untapped power. Yet, this was no ordinary spell – intertwined with the emerald energies, a secondary blue circle danced, amplifying the magic's potency. From these intricate patterns, verdant wings unfurled, pulsating with arcane energy.
"Trailblaze Nova!" Hiraya's voice reverberated through the air, a command that unleashed a colossal arrow of pure magic hurtling toward its target – the bell tower.
Sensing the imminent threat, the Alientech Dragon scrambled to intercept, its grotesque form lurching forward in a desperate bid to shield its prized possession. But in its haste, it unwittingly exposed its vulnerable flank, a fatal mistake that did not go unnoticed.
With unwavering determination, I locked onto the Alientech Dragon's head, my resolve solidifying as I invoked the power of my Trailblaze Accel. Momentum surged as I propelled forward, my speed tripling in an instant.
As I closed the distance, I focused my mana into my right claw, enveloping it in a corona of sapphire flames. With a swift and precise motion, I slashed through the air, the blazing arc of my claw cleaving through the Alientech Dragon's defenses like a scythe through wheat. Spider legs crumbled and burned in my wake, shattered by the searing inferno of my assault.
"Raaaaaah!"
With a primal roar reverberating through the air, I surged toward the Alientech Dragon's exposed flank, my determination fueling every stride. Simultaneously, the Trailblaze Nova struck its mark, engulfing the bell tower in a cataclysmic explosion. A brilliant blue mushroom cloud billowed into the sky, obliterating the structure into a cascade of debris.
In the wake of the detonation, the world seemed to dissolve into a blinding expanse of light, rendering me momentarily blind and deafened by the deafening roar of the explosion. For an eternity, all senses were overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the blast.
After what felt like an eternity, the brilliance subsided, revealing a desolate landscape beneath the night sky. Trees lay splintered and charred, buildings reduced to rubble, leaving naught but a barren wasteland in their wake. Yet amidst the devastation, a silver lining emerged – the majority of the onis had heeded the warning and evacuated, sparing countless lives from the ravages of war.
"Bell tower has fallen. I repeat. Bell tower is down." Hiraya reported.
Surveying the aftermath, I found myself in my Partial Dragon Form, wings, tail, and horns adorning my formidable frame. My dragonic arm bore the grim visage of Gazelle Lockwood, leader of the Republic, his weakened humanoid form marred by the loss of his left arm and the crimson flow of blood from a grievous wound to his neck.
Gazelle Lockwood's laughter mingled with the grim sound of his coughing, blood staining his lips. Despite his precarious state, he managed a mocking tone. "Haha. You defeated me, you damn Regressor. Good job."
"Serves you right," I retorted, my voice tinged with satisfaction. "Now I've got you for real."
But Gazelle's grin remained, undeterred by his injuries. "The same is true for you, Regressor. You may have won our battle, but you will never win the war."
His words hung in the air like a dark omen, sending a shiver down my spine. Suddenly, a menacing presence filled the air, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind. As I turned to face the source of the disturbance, dread gripped my heart.
There, looming before me, was a black dragon with crimson eyes, its maw gaping wide in a silent roar. It was the Tachyon Dragon, a harbinger of destruction summoned by Gazelle's chilling command.
"No! Lysander!" Hiraya's anguished cry pierced the chaos, her voice laden with desperation as she sprinted toward me, her outstretched hand a futile attempt to bridge the distance between us.
In that fleeting moment before darkness claimed me, I caught a glimpse of Hiraya's tear-streaked face, her golden eyes brimming with unspoken fear and sorrow. Her expression etched itself into my mind, a haunting image that would linger in the depths of my consciousness.
Then, with a sickening lurch, I was enveloped by the gaping maw of the Tachyon Dragon, swallowed whole by its abyssal depths. Darkness consumed me, swallowing me whole as the world faded to black.
In the void of unconsciousness, I was subjected to the relentless onslaught of G-forces, the sheer velocity of the Tachyon Dragon's flight pressing against me with bone-crushing force. Blood surged in my veins, pooling heavily in one side of my brain, a suffocating pressure that robbed me of consciousness and plunged me into the abyss of oblivion.
As consciousness gradually returned, I found myself in a dimly lit dungeon, the air heavy with the scent of mildew and decay. Confusion clouded my thoughts until I became aware of the disorienting sensation of the world inverted in my view.
With a jolt of alarm, I realized that my ankles were bound tightly, suspending me upside down like a bat. Waves of constricting pain radiated from my limbs, a grim reminder of my precarious predicament.
Struggling against the bindings, I frantically surveyed my surroundings, searching for any sign of escape from the grim confines of my prison. Yet, in the oppressive gloom of the dungeon, hope seemed but a distant memory, swallowed by the shadows that engulfed me.
CHAPTER 93 – HANGED
LYSANDER FARADEISS
"Activating Vesryn Pulse!"
Johnny's voice reverberated across the battlefield, a surge of energy rippled through the air, announcing the activation of the Vesryn Pulse. At the edge of my vision, I witnessed Johnny's dragonoid companion undergo a breathtaking transformation, morphing into the formidable Tachyon Dragon.
Kate, embodying the fierce essence of her Warflame Dragon form, wasted no time in lunging forward. With her cybernetic arm transmuted into a blazing steel blade, she propelled herself toward the looming threat.
Just as Kate's sword was poised to strike, the Tachyon Dragon vanished into thin air, only to reappear moments later, suspended twenty meters above ground. Crackling with raw power, it conjured a searing sphere of orange electricity.
In response, the Warflame Dragon unleashed a torrent of flames from her jaws, matching the Tachyon Dragon's fervor. The two mystical beings locked eyes across the battlefield, each summoning their formidable arsenal.
Their attacks collided mid-air in a cataclysmic clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the surroundings. Trees bowed under the force of the impact, and wooden structures groaned as they struggled to withstand the immense power unleashed upon them.
Amidst the chaos, a familiar voice pierced through the cacophony, calling out my name with urgency: "Lysander!" It was Hiraya, her voice laden with concern and determination.
My attention snapped forward as a colossal spider leg belonging to the Alientech Dragon loomed perilously close, poised to strike. Reacting instinctively, I activated my Trailblazer Accel, momentarily slowing the passage of time. With the world around me moving in sluggish motion, I swiftly veered to the right, narrowly escaping the lethal blow.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I couldn't help but acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Were it not for Hiraya's timely warning, I would have undoubtedly met a grim fate at the hands of the Alientech Dragon's menacing appendage. It was clear where my focus should lie – battling this formidable foe took precedence over all else, even Johnny.
The Alientech Dragon pressed on, its spider-like limbs slashing through the air with deadly precision, claiming the lives of any dragon unfortunate enough to cross its path. With each fallen comrade, its grotesque form absorbed their essence, growing stronger with each kill.
Summoning my inner strength, I conjured a brilliant blue flame within the depths of my being, channeling it through my jaws. With a forceful exhale, I unleashed a barrage of searing blasts aimed at dismantling the Alientech Dragon's spider legs. Each fiery projectile found its mark, reducing the sinister limbs to smoldering ruins one by one. Yet, to my dismay, for every leg I destroyed, another sprouted forth in its place, testament to the relentless resilience of my adversary.
Ascending into the sky, I scanned the chaotic battlefield in search of the abomination's core. High above, nestled within the heart of its UFO-shaped wings, I pinpointed its crimson-eyed head, a beacon of malevolence amidst the turmoil.
Before I could react, the creature's eyes ignited with an ominous glow, heralding the unleashing of a devastating sonic assault. The crimson wave crashed into me with merciless force, shattering my equilibrium and sending me spiraling into disorientation. The acrid scent of singed blood filled my nostrils, accompanied by the deafening cacophony of ringing ears.
Desperately clawing for stability amidst the vertigo-inducing onslaught, I felt the ground rush up to meet me as my senses spun in disarray. "Shit!" The expletive echoed within my mind as panic surged through me.
With swift determination, I spread my wings wide and beat them with all my strength, arresting my downward descent just moments before impact. As the rush of wind buffeted my face, I regained control of my trajectory, hovering defiantly amidst the tumultuous skies.
High above the chaos, Hiraya hovered amidst the swirling winds, her focus intense as she channeled mana into her fingertips. A radiant green magical circle blossomed at her touch, crackling with untapped power. Yet, this was no ordinary spell – intertwined with the emerald energies, a secondary blue circle danced, amplifying the magic's potency. From these intricate patterns, verdant wings unfurled, pulsating with arcane energy.
"Trailblaze Nova!" Hiraya's voice reverberated through the air, a command that unleashed a colossal arrow of pure magic hurtling toward its target – the bell tower.
Sensing the imminent threat, the Alientech Dragon scrambled to intercept, its grotesque form lurching forward in a desperate bid to shield its prized possession. But in its haste, it unwittingly exposed its vulnerable flank, a fatal mistake that did not go unnoticed.
With unwavering determination, I locked onto the Alientech Dragon's head, my resolve solidifying as I invoked the power of my Trailblaze Accel. Momentum surged as I propelled forward, my speed tripling in an instant.
As I closed the distance, I focused my mana into my right claw, enveloping it in a corona of sapphire flames. With a swift and precise motion, I slashed through the air, the blazing arc of my claw cleaving through the Alientech Dragon's defenses like a scythe through wheat. Spider legs crumbled and burned in my wake, shattered by the searing inferno of my assault.
"Raaaaaah!"
With a primal roar reverberating through the air, I surged toward the Alientech Dragon's exposed flank, my determination fueling every stride. Simultaneously, the Trailblaze Nova struck its mark, engulfing the bell tower in a cataclysmic explosion. A brilliant blue mushroom cloud billowed into the sky, obliterating the structure into a cascade of debris.
In the wake of the detonation, the world seemed to dissolve into a blinding expanse of light, rendering me momentarily blind and deafened by the deafening roar of the explosion. For an eternity, all senses were overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the blast.
After what felt like an eternity, the brilliance subsided, revealing a desolate landscape beneath the night sky. Trees lay splintered and charred, buildings reduced to rubble, leaving naught but a barren wasteland in their wake. Yet amidst the devastation, a silver lining emerged – the majority of the onis had heeded the warning and evacuated, sparing countless lives from the ravages of war.
"Bell tower has fallen. I repeat. Bell tower is down." Hiraya reported.
Surveying the aftermath, I found myself in my Partial Dragon Form, wings, tail, and horns adorning my formidable frame. My dragonic arm bore the grim visage of Gazelle Lockwood, leader of the Republic, his weakened humanoid form marred by the loss of his left arm and the crimson flow of blood from a grievous wound to his neck.
Gazelle Lockwood's laughter mingled with the grim sound of his coughing, blood staining his lips. Despite his precarious state, he managed a mocking tone. "Haha. You defeated me, you damn Regressor. Good job."
"Serves you right," I retorted, my voice tinged with satisfaction. "Now I've got you for real."
But Gazelle's grin remained, undeterred by his injuries. "The same is true for you, Regressor. You may have won our battle, but you will never win the war."
His words hung in the air like a dark omen, sending a shiver down my spine. Suddenly, a menacing presence filled the air, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind. As I turned to face the source of the disturbance, dread gripped my heart.
There, looming before me, was a black dragon with crimson eyes, its maw gaping wide in a silent roar. It was the Tachyon Dragon, a harbinger of destruction summoned by Gazelle's chilling command.
"No! Lysander!" Hiraya's anguished cry pierced the chaos, her voice laden with desperation as she sprinted toward me, her outstretched hand a futile attempt to bridge the distance between us.
In that fleeting moment before darkness claimed me, I caught a glimpse of Hiraya's tear-streaked face, her golden eyes brimming with unspoken fear and sorrow. Her expression etched itself into my mind, a haunting image that would linger in the depths of my consciousness.
Then, with a sickening lurch, I was enveloped by the gaping maw of the Tachyon Dragon, swallowed whole by its abyssal depths. Darkness consumed me, swallowing me whole as the world faded to black.
In the void of unconsciousness, I was subjected to the relentless onslaught of G-forces, the sheer velocity of the Tachyon Dragon's flight pressing against me with bone-crushing force. Blood surged in my veins, pooling heavily in one side of my brain, a suffocating pressure that robbed me of consciousness and plunged me into the abyss of oblivion.
As consciousness gradually returned, I found myself in a dimly lit dungeon, the air heavy with the scent of mildew and decay. Confusion clouded my thoughts until I became aware of the disorienting sensation of the world inverted in my view.
With a jolt of alarm, I realized that my ankles were bound tightly, suspending me upside down like a bat. Waves of constricting pain radiated from my limbs, a grim reminder of my precarious predicament.
Struggling against the bindings, I frantically surveyed my surroundings, searching for any sign of escape from the grim confines of my prison. Yet, in the oppressive gloom of the dungeon, hope seemed but a distant memory, swallowed by the shadows that engulfed me.
