Richard Astherson
Unbeknownst to Amphere, the young duchess harbored an extraordinary gift – the ability to mimic a bloodline magic. The enigma of her capability remained shrouded in mystery, but Eva had discreetly disclosed this well-kept secret to our team, illuminating the value of her unique talents. Recognizing her vulnerability, I swiftly created a portal for Duchess Corasell and her faithful Fairy Dragon companion to escape the impending bloodshed. An underage girl had no place in the midst of this brutal battle.
As Amphere's arms enfolded Airelina's weakened form, Reina, perched atop my dragon's head, erected a colossal portal. Exceria, the Pulsar Dragon, surged forth and seamlessly entered the portal's embrace, only to emerge beneath the falling pair. With adept precision, Exceria caught them in her embrace, then reentered the portal, swiftly depositing them alongside us.
My gaze shifted to Amphere, who clutched the scarlet dragonoid tenderly. Airelina's pallor spoke of her exhaustion, a consequence of wielding the Dracaryx for an extended duration. Even as Amphere's determination radiated, his grip on his resolve unyielding, the strain etched upon his features was undeniable. In hushed tones, his conviction solidified, a vow of retribution against the scheming Zac taking root.
In the vicinity of the dissipating smoke, a vivid crimson flash materialized, gradually coalescing into a colossal silhouette. The ominous figure of the demon emerged, twin red eyes gleaming with a sinister radiance reminiscent of lurking shadows. Gradually, the entity unveiled itself, its draconic form unmistakably similar to the one Kyle Leviticus had assumed after succumbing to a black heart's power. The darkness that shrouded both their appearances was as pervasive as ever. A pair of twisted, ram-like horns adorned its head, a sinister emblem of its nature. The Light Bringer Dragon had resurfaced, its ominous presence casting a foreboding shadow over the tumultuous scene.
The true nature of those enigmatic black hearts became clearer with each unfolding event – instruments of devastating destruction, capable of functioning as nuclear explosives or conduits for transforming humans into demonic dragons. Their malignant potential was as staggering as it was terrifying.
Amphere's gaze, one of furious intensity, bore into the scene before him, a storm of emotion brewing within his unactivated Eye of Deus. His brown eyes smoldered with a fusion of anger and an insatiable thirst for vengeance. His voice, a resounding battle cry, echoed through the air with primal might.
"Expanded Clearance! Deus Ex Dragonica!"
In an instant, his back erupted with the emergence of metal plates, reshaping themselves into a configuration unlike the original Deus Ex Machina. A transformation had taken place – the metallic construct now bore the semblance of a dragon's head, a hybrid of machine and draconic might. Armor-clad arms extended, their forms resembling shields, while a pair of wings – once a standard complement of arms – were now shaped into massive protective barriers.
Deus Ex Machina, now transformed into a dragonic embodiment, melded seamlessly with Exceria, the Pulsar Dragon. The fusion was a spectacle of cybernetic mastery, rendering the white dragon a majestic behemoth encased in adamantine plating, enhanced with chimera-technology prowess. Glistening photon feathers cascaded from the additional wings, a visual prelude to the impending onslaught. A deafening shockwave erupted, resonating with raw, unbridled power.
"Amphere will confront that demon," Reina's voice cut through the turbulence, her words carrying authority. "The rest of us will take on the other threat."
Her directive found focus as she gestured toward a point two hundred meters north of our position. A colossal form loomed – a forty-meter-tall dragon, resembling a terrestrial lizard standing on two legs. Though outwardly resembling a creature of nature, the underlying truth was undeniable. It was the Titanus Dragon, renowned as the largest known dragon species, surpassed only by the Monolith Dragon in sheer scale.
Recognition settled in – this was none other than Noira, the dragonoid lady. Duchess Corasell's mastery over the Vesryn Pulse and Dracaryx had severed the connection between Noira and Airelina, yielding a peculiar outcome. Noira persisted in her draconic form, despite the absence of a knight's Vesryn Pulse to sustain it. The magical anomaly was manifest, and the colossal Titanus Dragon stood as a testament to the mystery unfolding.
In that moment, a palpable undercurrent of suppressed fury emanated from Reina. I recognized the powerful emotions simmering beneath her controlled exterior – Noira, the very dragonoid responsible for her mother's murder, stood before her, a living symbol of her tragic past. Her intent for vengeance was unmistakable, and I was resolute in my commitment to stand by her side.
"Let's end this swiftly," my telepathic communication reached Reina, and she responded with a measured nod.
As the portal unfolded, we materialized in close proximity to the colossal Titanus Dragon. Reina's command, laden with determined resolve, rent the air. "DRACARYX!!! Activate Hyperspace Fury!"
The sky erupted into a tapestry of portals, an intricate lattice that encased the Titanus Dragon in a web of light. The barrage of eternal beams surged forth, punctuated by deafening explosions that reverberated through the air. Amidst the tumult, Noira's anguished cries were drowned out by the sheer force of the detonations.
Reverting to my humanoid form, I watched as Reina created a new portal, seamlessly transporting us to the safety of a relatively unscathed five-story building. With bated breath, we witnessed the spectacle outside – when the smoke cleared, the colossal Titanus Dragon was nowhere to be found, the aftermath of Reina's Hyperspace Fury rendering it naught but a memory.
Simultaneously, the Cyber Pulsar Dragon and the Light Bringer Dragon engaged in a fierce aerial conflict, their motions akin to colliding stars, radiating intensity as they exchanged volleys of projectiles. Yet, my senses faltered, my vision growing hazy, and my strength waned. Struggling to stand, I leaned on Reina's support, both of us grappling with our limitations.
The clash of the dragons surged onwards, their duel spiraling two hundred meters away from our refuge. Through our communicators, I discerned Amphere's seething anger, his determination a palpable force. "I won't allow you to exploit Airi any longer! DRACARYX!!! Activate Requiem Aeternam!!!"
Rudolf had recounted the tale of the most formidable Dracaryx, Requiem Aeternam, and its execution. However, the Requiem Aeternam I bore witness to diverged from his description, possessing a unique nature and a startling display of power.
The armored Pulsar Dragon, now bearing a shimmering golden sword, raised its arms. The blade shimmered, manifesting a luminous ray that absorbed the sun's light particles. Before the Light Bringer Dragon could react, the golden sword swept through the demon's form, cleaving it effortlessly in half with surgical precision.
Reality itself seemed to shatter as space and time warped, birthing a blinding sun-like dimensional tear. A brilliant flash engulfed everything, leaving in its wake neither cacophonous explosions nor lingering echoes. The malevolent Diablo Zac Schneider ceased to exist, the abrupt conclusion of his existence marking the conclusion of his nefarious pursuits.
Exceria, exhausted from the ordeal, succumbed to unconsciousness and reverted to her human form. Amphere, displaying unparalleled strength, shouldered both slumbering dragonoids and approached the rooftop where Reina and I had found temporary respite. Gently placing them down, he clutched his temples with a grimace of agony.
Concerned, Reina hastened to his side. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Slowly, Amphere unveiled his blood-stained palms, his anguish etched across his features. "This is the feedback from utilizing my Expanded Clearance."
"Such a pity," a voice spoke from behind me, laced with a grim smirk. Turning, I beheld a woman with crimson eyes and ragged attire. Her right arm had undergone an ominous distortion, its proportions grotesquely enlarged. Noira, presumed to have perished amid the torrent of light, stood before us – a menacing figure with bloodshot eyes. Her gaze bore the malevolence of a being defying death itself. With a menacing flourish, she revealed a black heart clutched within her other arm, a harbinger of impending maleficence.
"We'll all go boom here in this very city! HAHAHA!!!" Noira's chilling declaration echoed through the air, the threat of imminent destruction hanging like a dark cloud over us. The full weight of our vulnerability bore down upon us – Airelina, Exeria, and I, all incapacitated from our exhaustive use of Dracaryx. Amphere's agony was palpable, his bleeding eyes a testament to the dire consequences of his immense power.
But in the face of this dire situation, Reina alone remained capable of movement. Swiftly unsheathing her short sword, she lunged forward, driving the blade into Noira's heart. Blood gushed from Noira's lips, yet her maniacal smile persisted, an unsettling display of deranged resolve.
Reina's fingers danced behind Noira, conjuring a portal that materialized with swift efficacy. Her intent was clear – to force the suicidal assailant into the portal's embrace. However, in a sudden twist of fate, Noira's grotesquely enlarged arm clamped around Reina's form, her grip unyielding, her vice-like hold a harbinger of imminent peril.
A chilling smile adorned Reina's face as she cast me a glance, a smile that spoke of acceptance and purpose. "I'm sorry, Richard. I love you. But I must bear the cost of my own vengeance."
My heart raced, a primal fear gripping me as the gravity of her intentions took hold. "Reina!" I cried out, my voice laden with desperation and disbelief. What reckless plan was she concocting?
Summoning her strength, Reina propelled herself and Noira into the waiting portal, their figures vanishing from view. I attempted to drag myself towards the portal, my body racked with a mixture of agony and terror, but it disappeared before I could reach it.
In a cruel twist of fate, the mountains, approximately ten kilometers from the ravaged city, bore witness to a towering mushroom cloud, an explosion that shattered the tranquil sky and disrupted the natural currents of the wind.
No.
This can't be happening.
"REINAAAAAAA!!!" My anguished scream reverberated through the devastated landscape, a desperate plea that faded into the bleak echoes of the aftermath.