The Earth Dragon's roar ripped through the air like thunder, shaking the ground beneath us. Its massive form descended with a force that sent tremors through the jagged rocks around us. When it landed, the shockwave nearly knocked me off balance.
"Dragon," Zainab muttered, her voice dripping with a mix of confusion and something I'd never expected to hear from her—fear.
I didn't have time to reply. An invisible force slammed down on me like a mountain crashing onto my shoulders. My knees hit the ground hard, and my breath hitched in my throat.
Dragon's Fear.
This was different from any pressure I'd felt before. It wasn't just mana—it was a primal, suffocating weight that pressed down on my chest and told me, in no uncertain terms, you're prey.
Nibbles, perched on my shoulder moments ago, was now flattened against the ground. His tiny form trembled, and his tail twitched in frantic spasms. I wanted to reach out, to help him somehow, but I couldn't even move my fingers.
Zainab, of course, looked less affected. She stood tall, though her movements had slowed noticeably, her massive serpentine body coiling tightly as if preparing to spring.
"What the hell is this thing doing here?" she hissed.
The Dragon, a creature easily twice Zainab's size, glared at us. Its scales were a rich, earthen brown that shimmered faintly with mana. The faint cracks of light pulsing beneath its rocky exterior made it look like it had been carved from molten stone.
The weight pressed harder. My vision blurred.
No. I wasn't going to pass out—not here, not now.
I forced my hand forward, inch by inch, until my fingers brushed against Nibbles. With what little mana I could muster, I activated Possession.
The shift was immediate.
Light flickered from my body as my mana surged. My hair turned stark white, my vision sharpened, and golden energy radiated from my eyes. The oppressive force around me didn't vanish, but I'd carved out a bubble of resistance— an aura of my own, creating a tiny safe haven against the Dragon's Fear.
But the cost? My mana burned like wildfire, and I could already feel the drain.
"Not bad, little human," Zainab muttered, sparing me a glance. "But don't push yourself. That pressure will crush you if you slip for even a second."
"Yeah, thanks for the tip," I shot back, my voice tight with exertion. "Didn't figure that out on my own or anything."
***
A dragon. Here.
This was wrong.
Dragons were apex predators, their power unmatched by most creatures in existence. Even a young one like this was dangerous beyond reason.
I studied it, my gaze narrowing.
What's it doing in these ruins?
Dragons were territorial, sure. But their kind rarely lingered in such barren lands. They preferred places where mana flowed abundantly—volcanoes, mountain ranges, deep forests. Not this.
The Dragon lowered its head, its glowing eyes fixed on me.
"You," it rumbled, its voice deep enough to shake the ground. "What are you doing in my territory, serpent?"
Serpent? I bristled at the insult but held my tongue. Taunting a dragon wasn't exactly on my to-do list today.
"We mean no harm," I said, keeping my tone measured. "We were passing through."
The Dragon's eyes narrowed. Its claws scraped against the rocky ground, leaving deep gouges. "Passing through? You tread too close to my domain."
This wasn't good. I couldn't afford a fight with this thing, but if it came down to it...
***
Their conversation went over my head. I was too busy not getting flattened under the Dragon's aura.
Zainab was talking, and the Dragon was responding, but all I could think about was how ridiculous this situation was. An Earth Dragon? Really? Hadn't we dealt with enough crap today?
I tightened my grip on my spear, steadying my breathing. If it came to a fight, I wasn't just dead—I was obliterated.
The Dragon growled, and its massive body shifted. Its claws flexed, and the ground beneath us rumbled. Rocks splintered and shifted, forming jagged spikes around its body.
Great. Earth manipulation.
"Leave," it commanded, its tone brooking no argument. "Or face destruction."
Yeah, that didn't sound like a bluff.
Zainab moved first. With a speed that seemed impossible for her massive size, she launched herself at the Dragon.
"Zainab, what the hell are you doing?" I shouted.
She didn't answer, her body coiling and striking with deadly precision. Rock spikes shot up to intercept her, but she weaved through them, her movements fluid despite her size.
The Battle
The Dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of jagged earth bullets. They shot through the air with terrifying speed, shattering rocks and leaving craters in their wake.
Zainab retaliated with a high-pressure stream of water, slicing through the projectiles like a hot knife through butter.
The two clashed in a storm of earth and water. Each strike was calculated, each movement a deadly dance.
I stood on the sidelines, completely useless. My spear felt like a toothpick compared to the power these two were throwing around.
"Zainab, you need to know exactly what you're doing!" I called out, fully aware she would hear me. I had a solid grasp of the situation. If the dragon decided to attack later, it would seize the initiative. By acting now, Zainab would prove to the dragon that she wasn't some weakling; the price for taking her down would be extremely high.
The Dragon unleashed a burst of mana, creating a massive wall of stone between them. Zainab didn't hesitate. Her tail whipped forward, shattering the barrier in a single strike.
But the Dragon was ready. It lunged, its massive claws glowing with earthen energy as it aimed for her midsection.
She twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with another water blast. This one hit its mark, slamming into the Dragon's chest and forcing it back.
The ground trembled beneath them, cracks spreading like spiderwebs.
***
The Dragon was young—barely more than a teenager by its kind's standards—but its control over Earth mana was masterful, surpassing mine. Every strike, and every defense was perfectly executed.
I wasn't fighting to win. That wasn't possible. I was fighting to survive.
I unleashed another volley of water bullets, forcing it back. My movements were slower now, the Dragon's aura and the constant strain of mana taking their toll.
"You fight well, serpent," the Dragon said, its tone begrudgingly respectful. "But you are no match for me."
"Maybe not," I replied, panting. "But I'm still standing, aren't I?"
The Dragon's eyes narrowed, but it didn't press the attack. Instead, it stepped back, its massive wings unfurling slightly.
"We end this here," it said. "Leave my territory. Now."
I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
***
The fight ended as abruptly as it began.
Zainab slithered back toward me, her massive body coiled tightly. The Dragon watched us, its glowing eyes a constant reminder that it could vaporize us if it wanted to.
"Let's go," Zainab said, her voice tight.
"Yeah, no arguments here," I replied, gripping my spear tightly.
We turned to leave, but a sound froze me mid-step.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed through the rocky expanse, each one resonating like a drumbeat of impending doom.
Zainab and I pivoted sharply, our senses on high alert.
From the shadows emerged a dozen monstrous figures.
They towered nearly ten meters tall, their dark white and crimson-streaked fur rippling as if alive with its own unnatural energy. Wings unfurled from their hulking frames, casting jagged, oppressive shadows across the jagged earth.
But it was their eyes that truly unsettled me—three glowing orbs, shimmering with an unholy blend of malice and raw power, fixed on us like prey caught in a predator's snare.
The air itself thickened, a palpable aura radiating from the creatures. A suffocating pressure weighed down on my chest, each breath feeling harder than the last.
"Analyze," I murmured, forcing the word out despite the oppressive atmosphere.
The Karmic System's response was immediate:
{Cursed Mutated Ice Werewolves: Creatures once known as werewolves, corrupted by demonic energy and mutated as a result. Fully grown. Rank: D-/D-. This is their pinnacle. They have reached Master rank.}
I clenched my fists, my grip tightening around my spear. "They've peaked... Master rank," I said aloud, the words tasting bitter.
Zainab's eyes narrowed, her usual confidence tempered by the grim reality before us. "I see them."
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the Earth Dragon as it stepped forward, its massive claws carving furrows into the ground. The sheer force of its presence battled against the aura of the werewolves, a collision of titanic energies that made the ground beneath us tremble.
"You dare intrude upon my territory?" the dragon's voice thundered, each syllable vibrating through the air like an earthquake.
The werewolves did not answer, their three eyes glowing brighter as they advanced, their forms radiating an eerie coldness that gnawed at the edges of my resolve.
The pressure intensified as if the air itself had been replaced with lead. I gritted my teeth, summoning every ounce of willpower to remain standing.
The Earth Dragon snorted, its tail lashing with frustration. It wasn't accustomed to being challenged, even by creatures of this strength.
Without a word, Zainab and the Dragon exchanged a glance. There was no need for discussion; their shared instinct for survival was enough.
"Guess we're working together now," I muttered, adjusting my stance and raising my spear. My voice was steady, but my heart pounded in my ears.
Zainab smirked faintly, though her usual air of superiority was tinged with seriousness. "Try not to die, little human."
The Earth Dragon unleashed a deafening roar, its challenge echoing across the terrain.
The Werewolves reacted instantly, surging forward as one, their wings creating bursts of frigid air that stung my skin.
The battle had begun.