I turned to Bram first. "You're the anchor. That hammer of yours is going to be critical. We need you to keep its attention, stay on its blind spots, and deliver heavy hits when you can. But don't get greedy. A dragon's tail is just as deadly as its claws."
Bram gave a short nod, hefting his hammer onto his shoulder. "Don't worry. I've handled worse."
"Not like this, you haven't," I shot back, my tone sharp but not unkind.
I looked to Lyara next. "You're support, as always. Shields first, healing second. Keep Bram and Kael on their feet, but don't waste mana on little scratches. We need you focused and steady. That dragon's going to be relentless."
Lyara nodded, her expression focused. "Understood."
Finally, I turned to Kael. Who's now at the face of the dragon, looking nervous. Understandable.
"And you," I said, jabbing my staff in his direction. "You're fast, which is going to be our biggest advantage. I want you on the edges, staying out of its direct line of fire. When it's distracted by Bram, go for the soft spots—eyes, wings, underbelly. Use your speed, but don't be a hero. If you go down, you're dead."
Kael only reply shortly, "Got it." He said, then kept quiet while watching the dragon.
"And I'll be focusing on the big spells," I continued. "Dragons are tough, but they aren't invincible. I'll aim for its joints and weak points to slow it down. If it tries to take off, I'll ground it. And if all else fails... we improvise."
"Improvise?" Bram repeated, raising an eyebrow.
I shrugged. "It's worked so far."
The group nodded, determination settling over us as we began moving toward the edge of the village, scanning the terrain for the perfect battlefield.
Even from a distance, the dragon's gaze burned into us. Its molten gold eyes locked onto our group the moment we entered the village, its massive head tilting ever so slightly as if it were already deciding how best to kill us.
The oppressive weight of its stare followed us as we made our way to the field, pointed out by one of the villagers. "It's mine," the man had said, his voice trembling but firm. "Use it if it means that thing's gone for good."
The field stretched out before us, a flat expanse of dry, cracked earth dotted with sparse tufts of grass. There were no trees, no rocks—just open space, perfect for what we needed.
As we reached the center, Bram rolled his shoulders, the heavy armor shifting with a metallic creak. He swung his hammer a few times, the thrusters sparking faintly as he tested its weight. "Always better to warm up before a fight," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Kael, on the other hand, was quiet—too quiet. He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, his short blade in hand, but his usual grin was nowhere to be found. His eyes flicked toward the dragon on the hill, then quickly back to the ground.
I tilted my head, watching him. "Nervous?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Kael exhaled sharply, giving me a quick, tight smile. "What? No. Okay, maybe. A little. I mean, look at it." He gestured vaguely toward the dragon. "That thing's huge. Is it... supposed to be that huge?"
"To be fair," I said, leaning on my staff, "this is my first dragon too."
Kael's eyes widened. "Wait, what? You've never fought a dragon?"
Before I could reply, Lyara spoke up, her voice calm as she adjusted her staff. "I have," she said, glancing between us. "With Bram. It was a smaller one—young, maybe a quarter the size of this one. Still took twenty people to bring it down, and even then, it was a close thing." She looked at Bram, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Without me, you'd have been toast."
Bram snorted, giving her a sideways grin. "No argument there." He gestured toward the dragon on the hill. "This one's a big boy, though. But we've got a strong team, right? We'll be fine."
Kael didn't look convinced, but he took a deep breath, nodding once. "Right. Fine. Let's do this."
As I started chanting a series of support spells, layering wards and amplifications onto our group, Lyara moved closer, her shield spell shimmering faintly as it enveloped us.
"You sure about this?" she asked me, her voice low.
"Nope," I replied, keeping my focus on the incantations.
She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that said she appreciated the honesty.
Bram stepped forward, holding the small pouch of dragon bait in his hand like it was the key to Pandora's box. "So," he said, his voice steady and calm, "are we ready?"
Kael swallowed hard, his grip tightening on his blade, but he nodded. I gave a small nod as well, finishing my spells just as Lyara's shield settled firmly around us.
"Ready as we'll ever be," I said.
Bram took a deep breath, then pulled the string on the pouch. The battlefield was set.
The moment Bram loosened the string on the pouch, the air around us seemed to change. A faint, acrid smell wafted from the bait, carried by the wind toward the hill. The dragon's head lifted almost lazily at first, its nostrils flaring. For a brief, tense moment, it didn't move, its massive golden eyes narrowing in our direction.
Then, it roared.
The sound was deafening, a guttural explosion that seemed to shake the very earth beneath us. The villagers scattered like leaves in the wind, scrambling to their homes, slamming doors and windows shut. Bram, unbothered, waved the bait high above his head, grinning like a madman.
"Bram," I muttered through clenched teeth, "I don't think it needs any more encouragement."
The dragon's massive body shifted as it rose to its feet, each movement exuding power. Its wings unfolded with a slow, deliberate grace, casting an enormous shadow across the field. For something so large, it moved with terrifying speed.
The first beat of its wings sent a wave of dust and debris rushing down the hill. The second lifted it into the air, its crimson scales catching the sunlight like molten metal. Each flap created a thunderous whoomph, the force of it whipping through the trees and tearing loose branches from their roots.
"Hold steady!" Bram bellowed, planting his feet as the wind from its wings threatened to topple us.
I gripped my staff tightly, forcing my feet into the ground to avoid being knocked over. Even with Lyara's shield encasing us, the sheer force was enough to make me grit my teeth and brace against the pressure.
Kael stumbled slightly, his face pale but determined as he held his ground.
The dragon didn't soar for long. It covered the distance from the hilltop to the field in mere seconds, its immense wingspan blotting out the sun as it descended. With a final, powerful beat of its wings, it landed directly in front of us, the ground trembling under its weight.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the field, the dirt cracking and splitting beneath its massive claws. Even the shield spell flickered for a moment under the force, though Lyara quickly steadied it with a murmured incantation.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay focused as the dragon loomed before us, its golden eyes burning with an intelligence far more dangerous than any mindless beast.
The dragon's roar ripped through the air, louder and more guttural than anything I'd ever heard. It wasn't just a sound; it was a force, reverberating through my chest and making my ears ring painfully.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to be thrown off balance, and raised my staff. "Paku!" I shouted, the word carrying a sharp, commanding edge.
The air shimmered, rippling like the surface of water, before a massive spike materialized above the dragon's left wing. The nail, gleaming with ethereal energy, plummeted with incredible speed and struck true.
The dragon screamed, a high-pitched, ear-splitting shriek that made the earlier roar seem tame. Its massive form shuddered as the nail pinned its left wing to the ground, tearing through membrane and muscle with ruthless efficiency. Blood sprayed from the wound, sizzling as it hit the ground, and the dragon thrashed, its claws digging furrows into the dirt.
But the second nail missed, landing inches away, leaving the creature's right wing free. It flapped wildly, the gusts powerful enough to send a small whirlwind of dirt and debris into the air.
"Bram!" I shouted, the word barely audible over the chaos.
He was already moving. With a guttural roar of his own, Bram leapt into the air, his massive hammer gripped tightly in both hands. As he descended, the back of the hammer erupted in a burst of fire, the thrusters sending him hurtling downward with brutal force.
The hammer struck the nail dead-on, driving it deeper into the ground with a deafening boom. The shockwave from the impact rippled outward, momentarily stunning the dragon as its body jerked violently against the restraint.
It shrieked again, the sound almost pained, its movements now clumsier as it struggled to adjust to the loss of one wing.
"Good," I muttered, gripping my staff tightly. "It's grounded now."
That's when Kael made his move.
He launched himself forward, his speed almost unnatural, a blur against the dragon's massive form. Gone was the nervous, pale boy from earlier—this was someone entirely different. Determined. Focused. Blazing.
Kael moved with precision, darting across the battlefield and reaching the dragon's head in mere moments. With a burst of momentum, he sprang upward, his fists and feet connecting with the creature's massive eyes and snout. Each strike was quick and relentless, a barrage of blows that had the dragon momentarily recoiling.
But Kael's focus on his offense left him exposed.
The dragon's free wing, massive and still powerful, swung outward with brutal force. It hit Kael squarely, sending him flying sideways like a ragdoll. He slammed into the ground hard, the impact sending a cloud of dust into the air.
"Kael!" Lyara shouted, her voice laced with alarm.
Thankfully, the shimmering shield she'd cast earlier had absorbed most of the blow. Kael groaned, rolling onto his hands and knees, his movements sluggish but steady.
"I'm fine!" he called out, though his voice was strained.
Bram wasted no time. With a roar of his own, he launched himself skyward again, hammer alight with fiery thrusters that propelled him toward the dragon's head like a blazing comet.
The first strike landed with a thunderous boom, the impact shaking the very ground beneath us. Bram followed up with a second strike, and then a third, each one aimed with precision and ferocity. Sparks flew as the hammer connected with the dragon's armored scales, but despite the force of his blows, the thick, natural plating held strong, leaving only faint cracks in its surface.
The dragon snarled, its massive head shaking off the assault. Its golden eyes locked onto Bram, burning with fury and something far more dangerous: intent.
Then its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth and a deep glow that grew brighter by the second.
"Oh, no," I muttered, realizing what was coming.
Flames erupted from the dragon's maw in a searing torrent of fire, roaring toward Bram with the force of a hurricane. The air around us grew unbearably hot, the flames a vivid, blinding orange tinged with streaks of molten red.
Bram held his ground, planting his feet firmly as he brought his hammer up to shield himself. The weapon's broad head absorbed most of the blast, the thrusters flaring to life as he braced against the onslaught. Even so, the sheer heat and pressure forced him to skid back slightly, his boots digging furrows into the dirt.
"Shield up!" I barked to Lyara, who was already moving.
I slammed my staff into the ground, conjuring an earth shield that rose in front of us like a fortress wall. The flames struck it with a deafening whoosh, the intense heat making the very air shimmer and crackle around us. Lyara's protective spells reinforced the barrier, keeping the worst of the fire at bay.
But it wasn't enough to stop the heat from clawing at my skin or the sound of the flames from pounding in my ears.
Kael, meanwhile, sidestepped with a burst of speed, narrowly avoiding the flames as he circled around the dragon. In the blink of an eye, he was behind it, his small frame dwarfed by the massive creature.
Without hesitation, Kael leapt onto the dragon's back, his movements as quick and fluid as ever. He scrambled up its ridged spine, dodging its thrashing tail and claws with an almost reckless grace.
When he reached the top of its head, he didn't hesitate. He crouched low, gathering his strength, then launched himself into the air, twisting mid-jump before driving both feet down in a powerful kick aimed squarely at the dragon's forehead.
The impact landed with a solid thud, but the dragon barely flinched. Its scales were too thick, its skull too solid. Kael's kick, while impressive, was like trying to dent a boulder with a feather.
Realizing this, Kael didn't linger. The dragon's fire breath had subsided, its maw closing as it prepared to retaliate. Kael nimbly sidestepped down its neck, leaping off its shoulder and landing lightly on the ground next to me.
"Well," he said, breathless but still grinning, "that didn't work."
"Big surprise," I muttered, already preparing my next spell.
Bram steadied himself, hammer still in hand, as the dragon shook its head, letting out a guttural growl that seemed to rattle the very air. The fire was down for now, but the beast's fury had only just begun.
The dragon lashed out, a chaotic flurry of claws and tail swipes that tore through the battlefield like a hurricane of destruction. Its massive claws carved deep gouges into the earth, and its tail whipped with enough force to splinter trees into kindling.
Bram stood his ground, swinging his hammer in wide arcs to deflect the dragon's strikes. Each swing sent out shockwaves that shook the ground, but even he couldn't gain the upper hand against the beast's relentless assault.
Kael darted around like a shadow, his speed allowing him to evade the dragon's attacks with moments to spare. He leapt and twisted, occasionally landing a kick or punch near the dragon's eyes or snout, but his strikes barely seemed to bother it, glancing off its armored scales like raindrops against stone.
Meanwhile, Lyara and I kept our distance, staying just out of reach of the dragon's thrashing limbs. The separation wasn't ideal, but it was necessary. Up close, we'd be easy prey.
Another claw swipe came barreling toward me, tearing through the air with enough force to cut through stone. I raised my staff, summoning a quick barrier to repel the strike. The impact sent a jarring tremor up my arm, but I held firm.
"Bram! Kael!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Fall back, now!"
Bram ducked under a tail swipe, then jumped back with a grunt of acknowledgment. Kael gave the dragon's snout one last fruitless kick before darting to my side.
The moment they were clear, I gripped my staff tightly and closed my eyes, focusing all my mana into a single point. A glowing orb began to form at the tip, growing larger and brighter with each passing second. The air around me crackled with energy, my skin tingling as I poured everything I had into the spell.
"Supernova," I whispered, the word a promise of devastation.
The orb, now blindingly bright, shot forward with a sharp whoosh, streaking toward the dragon like a falling star.
The impact was immediate and cataclysmic.
The orb detonated with a violent burst of light and sound, an explosion of raw, unfiltered mana that lit up the battlefield like a second sun. The force of the blast ripped through the ground, sending dirt and debris flying in all directions.
The sound was deafening, louder than anything I'd ever heard—louder than the dragon's roars, louder than Bram's hammer strikes.
The shockwave hit us like a tidal wave.
Kael and Lyara were thrown backward, tumbling across the ground like leaves caught in a storm. Bram, ever the immovable force, dug his heels into the earth and stood his ground, though the sheer power of the explosion forced him to lean into his hammer for support.
As for me, I barely managed to stay upright. The force of the blast pushed against me like a wall, my legs shaking as I fought to remain standing. My staff felt heavy in my hands, the aftershock of the spell leaving my body trembling with exhaustion.
When the light faded and the dust began to settle, I straightened, breathing heavily. Supernova wasn't just a death spell—it was destruction incarnate, a spell designed to end the strongest of foes.
And it had better worked.
The smoke cleared, and there it stood.
The dragon, battered but unbroken, its crimson scales glinting with an eerie glow amidst the fading haze. Its molten eyes locked onto me, filled with a cold, calculating rage.
It flapped its wings once. The massive spike that had pinned its left wing trembled. With a second, more powerful beat, it wrenched itself free, the broken nail crashing to the ground with a thunderous clang.
In a heartbeat, the beast was airborne, rising above us with its deadly gaze fixed below. The glow in its throat burned brighter, a fiery orb building within its maw.
It spit the fireball with deadly precision, hurtling it straight toward us.
"Bram!" I shouted, watching as he moved with practiced reflexes. He brought his hammer up just in time, using it as a shield to absorb the brunt of the fireball's impact. The resulting explosion sent flames roaring outward, but he stood firm, though the heat singed the edges of his armor.
I thrust my staff forward, conjuring a freezing orb of ice to intercept the lingering flames. The two collided midair, the explosion rippling out in a cascade of steam and frost that hissed harmlessly into the ground.
Kael darted to the side, his speed saving him as he narrowly avoided the blast. But Lyara...
Lyara wasn't fast enough.
The fireball struck her directly, engulfing her in a searing inferno. Her scream pierced the air, a sound I would never forget, before it was abruptly cut off.
When the flames subsided, she was gone. Her body lay crumpled and still, blackened by the heat, unrecognizable.
"No!" Bram's roar shattered the air, a sound so raw, so filled with anguish, that it felt like a physical blow.
He turned, his back to the dragon, running toward her, as if he could undo what had just happened.
The dragon saw its opportunity. With a powerful dive, it descended upon him, claws outstretched.
"Bram!" I yelled, but it was too late.
The dragon's talons raked across his back, shredding through his armor like paper. The force of the strike sent him hurtling across the battlefield, his massive form crashing into the dirt, leaving a bloody trail in his wake.
I didn't have time to react before the dragon's tail whipped around, faster than I anticipated. It struck my side with bone-jarring force, sending me flying. My shield spell held, absorbing the impact, but the sheer strength of the blow rattled me to my core.
I hit the ground hard, struggling to breathe as I pushed myself up on shaking arms. My staff trembled in my grip, but I tightened my hold, forcing myself to focus.
I surveyed the battlefield.
Lyara—gone. Bram—bloodied and barely moving.
And then there was Kael.
He was kneeling, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling. At first, I thought he was down for good, another casualty in this nightmare.
But then I noticed it.
Each breath he took released faint tendrils of smoke from his nostrils. His entire body seemed to hum with energy, sparks of electricity crackling across his skin and arcing down to the ground. The air around him buzzed, alive with raw power.
I stared, my heart pounding as I realized what was happening.
Kael wasn't done.
He was just getting started.
To be continued...