"All of this chaos was caused simply to capture you.."
Zaratros spoke with a voice not short of emotionless and cold.
"Do not be afraid, rest assured that no harm will come to you, so surrender quietly and we won't have to cause anymore senseless death and destruction..."
He assured her she'd be safe if she chose not to play the foolhardy hero and resist. In the end, she'd only be digging her friends' graves.
Shockingly, Rosemarie was able to overcome her fear of this man. She wasn't entirely sure that he was this Dragon King he claimed to be. Yet, his aura said it all.
Casting [Fire Storm] Rose placed her hands together and generated enough energy to project numerous converging streams of fire.
The attack wasn't necessarily fast but it was precise and packed with enough magicube to cause damage. And yet, Zaratros erected a purple dome of energy around him. It acted as a defensive measure to parry the attacks away.
He stood there, nonchalantly watching Rose attack with futility.
"Leave now Belitha! I'll hold him off!"
Frankly, he was getting bored. "Okay, that's about enough.." an omnidirectional energy wave emanated from the force-field. This wave repelled Rose forcibly blasting her off her feet.
The wave had done more harm than originally anticipated. Rose was barely able to stand up, her joints felt weak. Incapable of climbing to her feet, she could only groan in pain.
"Now I suppose I should make an example of you.." the Dragon King formed a stormy torrent of energy in his palm. Ready to waste this insignificant girl who'd attacked him.
Relentless, Belitha charged for him "Keep your hands away from her!" she seemed determine to protect her friend.
Her advance was inconsequential. It took a half-hearted strike with his fist into her abdominal region. The force was still great enough to make her cough out saliva and bring her to her knees.
"You can do whatever you want with me! But you will not touch Rose!"
Belitha coughed vehemently while she spoke. That punch made it difficult for her to breathe.
She barely even noticed when Zaratros chopped her on the neck, and almost immediately she went into an unconscious state. He carried her by his side prepared to take his leave.
His dragonlike wings sprouted, it was of a pitch black colour with very bold scales. The wingspan was about twelve meters. Truly a length to behold.
It was around now Rose had mustered to strength to speak.
"Don't take her, please!"
But her pleas were insignificant to Zaratros. They'd planned carefully for the day he'd acquire his prized possession and give rise to the new world. He hadn't stated why he needed Belitha in particular but it was only she that could propagate his next action.
"Be glad you get to live a day more, cherish that time with your loved ones.."
He flew upwards after one strong flap of his ginormous wings. They generated strong forces of wind that pushed rocks away.
...
• East Rivendell
A quarter of Rivendell was in a state of discord. Blue demons soared the skies and the mere sight of them troubled the humans who once lived in a state of harmony. They felt an apocalypse was upon them.
"It seems Greerheart showed no interest in accompanying us today.."
Vania Croft uttered amidst the people running back and forth. Behind her was one of her summons by way of Necromancy. Azagoth a powerful emperor that died about three hundred years ago.
Azagoth had a grotesque appearance. He possessed sharp canine teeth, and his lips were covered in dark lipstick. His forearms and hands were covered in scales and each sprouted a fin-like protrusion on its outer side. He also has a large, stocky tail seemingly made of metal plates or scales, that got smaller and smaller near its end.
"It's a delight to witness all this chaos... these humans don't have a chance against monsters, they're too weak."
Vania lifted an eyebrow at his words. "I'm a human too you know.."
"Yes, but of the finest specimen.." his inhumanly elongated tongue came out obtrusively while he looked at her. "You're so beautiful and your power is unmatched!"
He started fawning over her again, he altered his size so he'd be small enough to rest on her head.
"I don't have time for your frivolous comments.." she was focused on the task at hand.
"Silly me, I went too far milady.." said Azagoth while he rested gently atop her head.
He had pledged his undying loyalty to her and the thought of it was a bit ironic. Now that he was resurrected by means of necromancy, he really was undying.
Vania was one of the few people who could study the sorcery of reanimating the dead without being significantly weakened. She could reanimate about five at once, but it was only for one reason.
She'd eaten so many souls that she could offer them in exchange for the dead. And she only wanted to summon the strongest she could muster, it took about ten souls just to reanimate Azagoth.
...
• West Rivendell
• Shelter #3
A shelter was developed to support the wounded, seeing as the Coliseum was located on the western parts of the City a shelter was made there.
The shelter needed to be big, there was a lot of casualties caused by the demons after their attack on the coliseum. It was important they carried these wounded individuals to safety.
In the shelter, only a few people attended to the wounded which consists of students and townsfolk alike. Other students were kept in the academy protected by a barrier erected by Elena White, a woman excellent in the use of [Light Magic].
"Help him please!"
Rose rushed into the shelter carrying Sir Kylian in her bloodied hands.
Normally, they'd have asked her what she was doing here and why she wasn't in the academy. Definitely. But, it seemed less important after noticing the gaping hole in the afflictedʼs chest.
"Carry him to the room at the end of the hall.." The headmaster ordered her.
She didn't waste anytime in paying heed to his words.
"Count Polpe... What's the situation?!" the principal; Gertrude Hornet asked him after barging into the shelter. There wasn't much time to spend asking nicely, she didn't plan on letting anyone die today.
Count Polpe; the headmaster was in a state of panic, unlike the principal who was a Grand Sorcerer and used to witnessing this sort of chaos. He wasn't. "Uh-uh I-I c-can't!" he didn't know much of what to say.
"Cool your jets Polpe!"
She grasped him tightly by the shoulders prior to demanding that he calm down.
His intense, laborious breathing reduced. And slowly the breathing speed was much more gradually and less instigated by mental stress and torture from having to deal with these problems. He regained his senses again.
"We have three dead and fifteen wounded.." he said.
"What?! That bad?" Gertrude reacted abruptly.
"That's just for the students... about ten civilians died and thirty wounded, other shelters have significantly worse results."
His report was concise, but it worried Gertrude. They had to by any means necessary circumvent the danger and lessen it. So far, the eastern Rivendell was the most overrun with demons, if they could regain their city little by little it would greatly be advantageous to them.
"Lady Ophelia is heading for the eastern fraction of the city, let's hope she can reclaim it.."
"Alone?" Polpe said in disbelief.
Gertrude didn't say a word, instead she turned her back on Polpe before exuding a confident smile. Maybe Polpe didn't know, but Ophelia Algren wasn't called the "Golden Empress" for nothing.
They'd have had a better chance at ending this large-scale conflict if she joined the offensive forces. But her help was crucially needed her, she had to focus on doing this much at least. The people mattered to her.
Unbeknownst to both Polpe and Gertrude that Lord Spriggan watched them from the eyes of the former. His irises flashed red momentarily.
He was always watching.
Carefully planning his next step.
The city was in a state of "chaos" one that had befallen them all too quickly. Nyx was presumed missing when in actuality he was dead. Belitha had been taken by Zaratros, Chaotic King of Dragons.
Several new threats had entered the frame. Vania and her underling Azagoth the Mountain Crusher. A powerful general from three hundred years back.
So much trouble and so little comprehension of the situation. What happens next?