"Come forth, Vaelistra," Darian commanded, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The rune on his forearm ignited with an icy-blue glow, sending tendrils of light cascading across the cavern floor. A massive magic circle flared to life beneath him, its intricate patterns humming with raw power. The cavern quaked as frost crept outward, spreading with unnatural speed.
A blinding white light erupted, filling the space with an unrelenting brilliance. The dungeon boss—a hulking black wyvern with molten red eyes—recoiled slightly, releasing a guttural snarl.
"You dare defy my master, weakling?"
The voice, sharp and cold, reverberated through the cavern. From the center of the light stepped Vaelistra, her massive form shimmering like a creature born from winter itself. White scales adorned her body, gleaming with an ethereal glow, and her icy blue eyes pierced through the haze.
She roared—a sound so powerful it sent icy shards raining from the cavern's ceiling. The wyvern flinched, its wings twitching, but quickly regained its composure.
Darian placed a steady hand on Vaelistra's flank. "You're a dragon," he said, his lips curving into a confident smile. "So it's only fair I bring mine."
A voice rippled through Darian's mind, deep and calm. "Impressive, human."
Darian blinked in surprise. "You can talk?"
The wyvern flapped its massive wings, the gusts stirring dust and ice. "Of course I can," it said, its tone dripping with disdain. It shifted its gaze to Vaelistra. "But you have disgraced our kind, White Queen of the North."
Darian's brow furrowed. "White Queen of the North?" he thought, glancing at Vaelistra. He had no time to question further; the wyvern's contempt for her was palpable.
Vaelistra, however, remained unshaken. Her voice was low and resolute. "I follow my master, demon. No one else."
The wyvern sneered. "What a pitiful excuse for a dragon."
Darian felt his grip tighten around the hilt of his sword, anger simmering in his chest. Vaelistra, sensing his fury, brushed her tail against his leg. It was a subtle gesture, a reassurance.
The wyvern roared again, its mouth igniting with black flames. A torrent of fire surged toward Darian and Vaelistra, the heat searing even at a distance.
Vaelistra responded instantly, unleashing a freezing gale from her maw. The two forces collided, fire and ice twisting together in a volatile explosion. The cavern filled with steam, the sound of crackling frost and sizzling heat echoing through the chaos.
When the steam cleared, both beasts stood unyielding. Vaelistra took a step forward, her claws digging into the frost-covered ground. She turned her head slightly, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "Master, may I have the honor of defeating this demon?"
Darian hesitated. There was something different in her tone—pride, but also resolve. After a moment, he nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Be my guest."
Vaelistra roared in response, lowering her stance. The wyvern snorted and took to the air, circling above like a predator sizing up its prey.
"You turn on your kind for the sake of a human?" the wyvern mocked, its voice dripping with derision.
Vaelistra said nothing, her gaze locked on the wyvern's movements. Then, in a blur of motion, she charged forward. Despite her massive size, she moved with startling speed, her claws tearing into the ice as she leaped toward the wyvern.
The wyvern dove to meet her, and their clash was cataclysmic. Claws raked against scales, sparks flying as their blows collided. The wyvern's tail whipped around, aiming for Vaelistra's legs, but she dodged nimbly, countering with a swipe of her own.
The wyvern soared higher, unleashing another torrent of black flames. Vaelistra darted to the side, her movements fluid and deliberate. She retaliated with a blast of ice, the freezing wind tearing through the air.
The wyvern evaded, its mastery of the skies evident. It twisted and turned, staying just out of reach as Vaelistra launched another flurry of attacks. Her frost-coated claws struck the ground, sending shards of ice flying in every direction.
Then, she sank her claws into the earth. The ground trembled as massive ice crystals erupted upward, jagged and deadly. The wyvern swooped and darted, avoiding the larger crystals with practiced ease.
But Vaelistra was relentless. Smaller shards followed, darting upward like arrows. The wyvern hissed as one grazed its wing, then cried out as another pierced through the thin membrane. Its flight faltered.
Darian's eyes widened as the wyvern spiraled downward, its injured wing struggling to keep it aloft. Vaelistra pressed her advantage, her icy breath coating the ground in frost as she surged forward.
The wyvern landed heavily, its claws digging into the ice as it steadied itself. Though grounded, it was far from defeated. It roared defiantly, flames flickering in its throat.
Vaelistra didn't hesitate. She lunged, her claws aimed for the wyvern's chest. The beast twisted, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a swipe of its tail. Vaelistra leaped back, her movements as graceful as they were fierce.
The two beasts circled each other, their growls filling the cavern. Frost spread across the ground where Vaelistra stepped, while the heat of the wyvern's flames melted the ice in its wake.
Darian watched in silence, his heart pounding. This wasn't just a battle—it was a clash of wills, a test of strength and strategy between two ancient beings.
Vaelistra's claws scraped against the ice, her body coiled like a spring. The wyvern's wings twitched, its fiery gaze locked on her.
Then, they moved.
Vaelistra surged forward, her jaws snapping inches from the wyvern's throat. The wyvern retaliated with a blast of flames, forcing her back. Ice and fire collided again and again, each attack more ferocious than the last.
The cavern shook under the weight of their battle, ice crystals shattering and flames scorching the walls. Darian gripped his sword tightly, but he didn't interfere. This was Vaelistra's fight.
Finally, the wyvern let out a pained roar as one of Vaelistra's claws raked across its side. Blood spattered the icy ground, staining it crimson. The wyvern staggered, its movements growing sluggish.
Vaelistra roared, her icy breath misting the air as she prepared for her next attack. But the wyvern wasn't finished yet. It reared back, its flames burning brighter than ever as it prepared a final, desperate strike.
Darian's breath caught in his throat. The next moment would decide everything.