Puff!
Blood stained the grass red.
The first jackal to pounce was decapitated by Lide's sword.
Blood gushed from the jackal's neck like a spring.
"Eat them!"
Unfortunately, the death of the first jackal did not intimidate the rest of the pack. For these monsters, being killed by their prey was nothing more than a display of inferior skill and bad luck.
"Come on, beasts!"
Kawett and Lide rushed forward, engaging the jackals in a fierce battle.
As a princess, Ariana Celeste was not idle. She raised the magic wand in her hand and began to chant: "Great God of Wind, grant me the power of the tempest to sweep away the darkness - Tempestuous Gale!"
Accompanied by Ariana's incantation, her gown billowed and her hair danced in the wind. A swirling vortex of hurricane formed at the tip of her magic wand.
Boom!
In the next moment, a fierce gust of wind swept across the ground, slicing through the jackals' flesh with its razor-sharp blades. The dust was stirred up, disorienting the jackals and hindering their vision.
"As expected of Her Highness!"
Lide exclaimed with admiration.
"Naturally, Her Highness is a dual-element advanced mage," Kawett replied proudly.
If it weren't for the invasion of the hostile kingdom, with Ariana's talent, she could have become an empire-level mage in due time. At just eighteen years old, she had a bright future ahead of her.
With Ariana's assistance, the number of jackals was quickly reduced. However, there were still several jackals emerging from the grass, posing a continuous threat.
Kawett and Lide felt the pressure, their armor already damaged and unable to withstand the attacks of the relentless jackals.
"Ah!"
After approximately ten minutes of intense fighting, Kawett and Lide fell one after another, overwhelmed by the pack of jackals. The monsters began to tear into their bodies.
The remaining jackals set their sights on Ariana, who was still on her horse.
"I…I will make you pay, you beasts!"
Ariana was determined to use her last ounce of magical power to unleash her most powerful advanced spell, even if it meant sacrificing herself to defeat the jackals.
Just as she was about to engage in a final stand, an arrow descended from the sky, piercing the heart of a jackal at the front.
Thud!
The jackal collapsed to the ground.
"Attack them!"
In an instant, nearly eighty jackals charged towards Ariana and her fallen companions. Leading the pack was the towering figure of Xi Ye, the wolf man chieftain.
Brandishing his stone axe, Xi Ye struck down upon a jackal with immense force.
Thud!
The jackal let out a piercing cry as its shoulder was brutally severed, the axe embedded in its bone.
"Damned axe!" Xi Ye cursed, before sinking his teeth into the neck of the injured jackal, snapping its bones with a resounding crack.
The remaining jackals attempted to flee, but were swiftly brought down by their own kind.
The sounds of gnawing flesh and breaking bones filled the air.
Witnessing the gruesome scene, Ariana trembled, unable to comprehend why she had encountered a colossal dragon in this dire situation. And not just any dragon, but the fearsome Red Dragon, known for its violent nature.
A pair of dark red vertical pupils fixated on Ariana from above, as the dragon's massive form towered over her.
The dragon's horn, sweeping back like a crown, adorned Xi Ye's head. His crimson scales reflected an eerie red glow in the sunlight, exuding a menacing aura.
All the monsters around immediately ceased their feasting, dropping their prey and bowing in the highest form of respect towards their Majesty.
Xi Ye's commanding presence exuded a terrifying Longwei, a dragon's majestic aura that rendered everyone breathless.
"Tell me your name, human," Xi Ye's deep voice resonated, his gaze fixed upon Ariana.
Trembling with fear, Ariana managed to stammer, "I… I am Ariana Celeste."
Her mind raced with disbelief. The Red Dragon, infamous for its temper and destructive tendencies, had spared her life and even asked for her name? It defied the rumors that had painted the Red Dragon as a malevolent creature.
"Ariana Celeste, a nice name. Do you wish to survive?" Xi Ye inquired.
Survive? Ariana's eyes widened with newfound hope. She couldn't fathom why the Red Dragon offered her this chance, but she clung onto it desperately. She had no intentions of perishing before achieving her revenge.
"Yes! I want to survive!" Ariana's voice quivered with determination.
"Very well. Become my partner, and you shall have the right to live," Xi Ye declared without further ado, stating his conditions directly.
"Become… the partner of the Red Dragon?" Ariana's voice trailed off, her mind grappling with the gravity of the offer.
Never had she imagined that the Red Dragon's proposition would involve becoming his partner. The stakes were high, but so were the rewards.
To become the partner of the fearsome Red Dragon meant she would have the mightiest ally by her side, capable of turning the tide of any battle. It was an opportunity that few could even dream of.
Xi Ye, the mighty Red Dragon, waited patiently for Ariana's response, his eyes fixed upon her.
Ariana took a deep breath, mustering her courage. She couldn't let this chance slip away.
"Yes, I accept. I will become your partner, Xi Ye," she declared, her voice steady despite the quiver in her heart.
A faint glimmer of approval flashed in Xi Ye's eyes as a subtle smile curved his draconic lips.
"Good. From this moment forward, you shall be known as Ariana Celeste, Partner of Xi Ye, the Red Dragon."