Chapter 63: Awakening (IV)
The Guardian Glyph had already detonated, but Bennett suddenly noticed another rune nestled in the rocky corner—Alerting Spell.
"It's an Alerting Spell!"
"Damn it—this is a Dragon's Nest, not a Wizard Tower! Why are there spells scattered everywhere like this?"
"Could it have anticipated our arrival all along?"
"That's impossible."
The thought struck him like a blade. His breath hitched, his heart pounding violently in his chest. A terrifying realization unfolded in his mind—
This wasn't just a dragon.
It was a Spell-Eating Dragon.
And worse—it had been waiting.
It had foreseen their hiding place, prepared every trap with the cold precision of a master mage.
This wasn't a realm of glory or riches.
It was a death trap—crafted by an Evil Dragon Mage—and they were already walking straight into it.
Far off, the roar of a thunderbolt echoed through the air, as if the storm itself mirrored Bennett’s rising dread.
"Retreat…!"
"Move! Everyone—retreat now!"
"The Red Dragon is coming!"
Bennett raised his staff and bellowed, unwilling to die out here in the wilderness, a meal for monsters.
But his teammates stood frozen, staring upward, utterly still.
"Stop gawking—run!"
Ivan looked up, voice trembling.
"I… I think…"
"It's already here."
A vast shadow swallowed Bennett whole. Cold sweat dripped from his brow, tracing paths down his face. He turned his head slowly, dread coiling in his gut.
"Good heavens…"
What loomed above was no ordinary Red Dragon.
It was colossal—fifteen meters long, a beast of titanic proportions, on par with a mature Red Dragon.
Its body was armored in gilded crimson scales, shimmering like molten metal. Around it, floating fragments of raw energy drifted like countless tiny stars. Beyond that, blinding lightning crackled and writhed in a violent halo.
Behind it, storm clouds churned across the sky, wind howling like a beast in rage. The Red Dragon hung in the tempest, wings slowly unfurling, commanding the storm as its own.
"Damn northern bastard…"
"Your intel was shameful…"
"What kind of young dragon is this?"
Bennett wiped sweat from his brow, muttering under his breath.
He recognized the spell in the sky—Eighth Circle Weather Manipulation.
Only a true master could wield such power. His own teacher had once shown him the spell—something far beyond the reach of a half-trained mage like himself.
The Red Dragon above regarded them with a flicker of amusement.
"Human… how dare you…"
"Invade my domain!"
Its voice thundered like a storm unleashed—so powerful it sent waves of deafening resonance through their skulls.
Then, the beast dove.
It opened its maw wide, and a blinding light began to gather deep within its throat.
"Damn it—it's charging its breath! Prepare!"
The team snapped into action. Despite the awe-inspiring terror of the sight, they were veterans. They recovered quickly, falling into battle formation.
Paladin Tristan stepped forward, raising his dragon-scale shield. The moment he did, a faint golden aura flared—Dragon-Resistant Aura. The protective spell enveloped them all.
"Force Wall!"
Bennett chanted, and a vast, invisible barrier erupted before them—solid, unyielding. It would hold the incoming breath.
Vincent silently drew his black longbow from beneath his cloak. From the shadows, he pulled a single arrow—Dragon-Killing Arrow, its shaft etched with runes that seared the soul, soaked in Dragon Blood, forged for one purpose: to kill dragons.
Ivan gripped his sword, muscles tensed. His fingers traced the emerald-green scales embedded in the blade, whispering prayers beneath his breath.
"Boom!"
A torrent of white-hot fire erupted from the Red Dragon's maw. The heat warped the air, a furnace wave that surged toward them.
For a moment, the fire was held at bay—shielded by the combined might of Force Wall and the Dragon-Resistant Aura.
But it was only a test.
Bennett's brow furrowed. Sweat poured from his forehead. He could feel his spell weakening.
"This fire… it's too much…"
Ivan roared, "We'll burn to ash if we stay here! Attack—follow me!"
The veteran warrior darted sideways, avoiding the fire's path. He leapt high—several meters into the air—aiming to strike the beast’s flank.
But before he could reach the dragon’s outer energy field, a flash of blinding lightning struck him. His body convulsed, limbs locked in agony.
Storm Resonance Body!
And then—crack!—the Red Dragon swiped with one massive claw.
The lightning surged through Ivan’s body, amplified by the storm above. A bolt the width of a barrel split the sky, crashing down directly onto him.
For a split second, he glowed white—almost transparent, bones visible beneath his skin.
Then he collapsed, a charred corpse, landing in a heap on the ground.
Ivan was dead.
But he had bought his comrades precious seconds.
"Whoosh!"
Vincent released the arrow.
The black shaft shot through the air—straight for the Red Dragon's heart.
Through Fire and Flame!
The arrow pierced the inferno, but it was useless.
It burned away in the flames, falling lifeless to the earth—no damage done.
Vincent’s face darkened. "Where… is it?"
Before him, only fire remained.
Even his rogue’s instinct—sharp as a blade—could not pierce the illusion.
"Alert!"
"Damn it—what is that?"
Suddenly, the flames in front of them shifted.
With impossible speed, the fire coalesced—twisted, shaped—until it formed a monstrous, roaring dragon.
A thunderous roar tore from the flames.
"You dare defy me?!"
The Red Dragon emerged from the firestorm, its colossal body tearing through the Force Wall like paper. The impact sent shockwaves through Bennett’s body.
The team’s warriors fired arrows—dozens of them—but the energy shards surrounding the beast deflected every shot, scattering harmlessly.
The sky turned black. Thunderbolts crashed down like divine judgment, striking at random, targeting the fleeing adventurers.
"Break formation! Split up!"
Tristan raised his shield, shouting, throwing himself in front of his allies.
Others scattered in panic.
But the Red Dragon only needed a moment.
It exhaled—three short, searing bursts of fire.
One struck the ground behind Tristan.
The second—directly—hit Vincent, the rogue.
"Boom!"
The fragile man collapsed, his body charred, his cloak fused to the ash. He was dead.
Then—crack!—a lightning bolt, thick as a tree trunk, split the sky and struck Tristan’s head.
His dragon-scale shield deflected dragon damage—but not lightning.
"Aaagh!"
Tristan screamed in agony.
The sky raged. The earth burned. Lightning and fire clashed in a maelstrom.
The Red Dragon moved through the chaos like a god of war, tearing through the team with effortless cruelty.
Bennett stared in despair, his hands trembling as he raised his staff.
He channeled every ounce of power left in him—his final spell.
"Beast Paralyze Spell!"
A crimson aura shot forth—his ultimate weapon, meant for slaying dragons.
Now, it was his only hope for survival.
But then—he froze.
A faint, shimmering barrier encased the Red Dragon.
The surrounding magic weave stilled, flattened—no spell could form.
"Spell Nullification Barrier…"
Bennett’s soul sank.
The truth was undeniable now.
This was it.
A cursed dragon.
A Spell-Eating Dragon.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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