I walked past Heracles and Atalanta, my eyes fixed on the formidable golden dragon before us. Its sheer power had overwhelmed even these heroes, blessed by the Gods, and logic dictated that it should surpass my own strength as well. Under ordinary circumstances, defeating such a creature would have been beyond my capability.
But fate had granted me an unexpected advantage—Medea.
Fucking her didn’t only give pleasure and her loyalty. I drew a long, black sword, feeling the surge of darkness emanate from my very core, enveloping my body in a tangible shroud of power.
“Darkness magic…” Atalanta muttered in shock, her voice barely audible over the chaotic sounds of battle.
“I’ve seen darkness magic before, but his… it’s so dense,” Heracles remarked, his tone edged with both awe and concern.
I had no interest in their observations. What did they know of the true nature of my power? Ignoring them, I advanced slowly, my steps gaining momentum until I burst forward, kicking off the ground with a powerful leap.
A trail of darkness followed my ascent, and the golden dragon’s eyes narrowed upon seeing me. Its gaze was a mix of recognition and wariness.
“A true dragon,” I smirked, unable to suppress my excitement. It was my first encounter with such a mythological creature, a testament to the fantastical nature of this world.
With a resounding crash, I brought my sword down, unleashing a wave of darkness that struck the dragon’s massive body head-on.
“Grahaahaha!” The dragon roared in agony, its colossal form slamming into the rocky wall behind it.
My attack had failed to leave a mark on its impenetrable scales, but that was not the essence of darkness. Darkness magic was insidious, designed to inflict internal wounds rather than external ones. This was why practitioners of darkness were often seen as harbingers of evil.
The golden dragon shook itself, dislodging debris from the cave walls, before turning its fierce glare upon me. Flames began to dance in its nostrils, and it opened its cavernous maw, the glow of a fiery breath building within.
I could not afford to hold back against a creature crafted by the Gods themselves.
“Celestial Rank Magic,” I intoned, leveling my sword at the dragon.
With a deafening roar, the dragon released its inferno.
“Black Mirror.”
I summoned a swirling vortex of darkness in front of me, its depths pulsing with an ominous, inky blackness. When the dragon’s burning breath collided with my Black Mirror, the impact was tremendous, sending shockwaves through the air and pushing me back slightly.
Resisting the fiery onslaught, I called forth more darkness, fortifying the barrier against the relentless assault. The dragon’s breath battered against my shield, trying to pierce through the void. With teeth gritted in determination, I swung my sword with all my might.
BADOOOOM!
The burning breath split into two, tearing through the space behind me, but leaving me unharmed. Exhaling a tense breath, I surged forward, closing the distance between myself and the dragon.
Reaching into my cloak, I pulled out a vial crafted by Medea herself, its contents shimmering with a sinister gleam. I coated my sword with the liquid, the blade hissing as it absorbed the potent poison. The dragon lunged at me with its massive claws, but I wove through them with agility, evading each strike. Leaping onto its arm, I used the momentum to vault onto its head.
Grasping its horns for stability, I plunged my sword deep into the dragon’s skull.
“GRAAAH!”
The dragon’s agonized cry echoed through the cavern as Medea’s poison began its lethal work. I quickly activated my skill, Deep Voice, amplifying my words with an otherworldly resonance.
“Abandon and bend your will to mine,” I commanded, my voice echoing with authority.
“GRRAAAH!!!”
Despite the searing pain, the dragon roared in defiance. Unyielding, I drove the sword deeper into its skull. The dragon thrashed wildly, but I held firm, my grip on its horns unwavering.
Calling upon more darkness, I began to envelop the dragon’s golden scales in an encroaching shadow. I could feel its fear, the terror of being consumed by my darkness.
“Bend your will to mine,” I demanded once more.
“RAGHHH!!”
A cold smile twisted my lips. “Interesting. Then I will break your will.”
Withdrawing my sword from the weakening dragon, I leaped and positioned myself in front of its eyes. Raising my black eyepatch, I revealed my ice-blue eye, Khione’s eye—a Goddess’ eye.
The Golden Dragon shivered under the gaze of my demonic left eye and my pure, chillingly cold right eye. I touched its maw, and an icy hue began to spread from my fingertips.
“Killing you would be disappointing,” I said, my voice a blend of icy resolve and dark promise. “Submit to me, and I will release you from your shackles. No gods will force you to anything, for I do not fear them.”
The ice spread rapidly, intertwining with the darkness. The dragon’s eyes quivered with palpable fear before it finally lowered its head in submission.
“Rrrrr…”
I smirked, satisfaction curling through me. “Good.”
The mighty Golden Dragon, a creature forged by gods, had bent to my will.
°°°°
Outside, an uneasy silence settled over the group. The air was thick with tension and the scent of sulfur from the dragon’s flames.
“What happened?!” Jason shouted, his voice cutting through the stillness.
None of them could comprehend the events unfolding before them. Samael had engaged the dragon alone, and then a cocoon of darkness enveloped both him and the beast. All they could do was listen to the agonizing cries of the dragon echoing through the cavern.
“He’s fighting the dragon alone…” Orpheus muttered, dumbfounded.
“So what? Just like us!” Jason retorted, irritation evident in his voice.
“No, but this fight is worthy of any Hero…” Orpheus mumbled, almost to himself. To him, Samael seemed the embodiment of a heroic tale—his strength and courage spoke volumes, even if his actions did not align with traditional heroism.
Next to them, Atalanta gripped her bow tightly, biting her lips in frustration. She was one of Artemis’ strongest warriors, yet she doubted she could face such a creature alone.
“The darkness is vanishing!” Orpheus interrupted, pointing at the dissipating cocoon.
“GRAAHAHH!”
The entire cave rumbled, threatening to collapse as the golden dragon emerged from the darkness, its wings unfurling majestically.
“He failed! I knew it!” Jason grinned triumphantly.
“No… look,” Heracles said, his face a mask of shock as he pointed at the dragon’s back.
There, standing resolute with his black sword, was Samael. He didn’t spare the onlookers a single glance.
“Semiramis.”
At Samael’s call, Semiramis, who had been speechless until now, quickly shook herself out of her stupor and joined him on the dragon’s head.
Jason’s face contorted with disbelief when he noticed the golden fleece draped around the dragon’s horns.
“WHAT THE HELL?!”
BADOOOOM!
Light poured out as the golden dragon ascended into the sky.
“Let’s follow them!”
Jason and the others leaped out of the cave, gaining a clear view of the scene below. The golden dragon soared above Colchis, its wings casting a vast shadow over the land.
“What is he doing?” Orpheus asked, but no one had an answer.
Samael’s cold, golden eye glared down at the castle below.
“Burn it down.”
“GRAAAAAH!”
The dragon’s burning breath unleashed at frightening speed, striking the castle with devastating force. The walls melted and crumbled, and the structure was obliterated in a fiery inferno that lasted a full minute. Silence fell once more as the flames subsided, leaving only ruins in their wake.
Samael turned toward his companions, his gaze sending chills down their spines. But his eyes were fixed beyond them. A girl stood there, her cheeks flushed, wearing a black robe with a hood that obscured her features. Slowly, she lowered her hood.
Jason gasped. It was Medea, the Princess of Colchis. She looked up at Samael, her eyes wide and adoring.
“Lord Samael…” she murmured, clearly enamored.
Samael extended his hand, and a tendril of darkness sprouted forth, lifting Medea until she stood beside him on the dragon’s back.
“Leave now.”
At Samael’s command, the golden dragon soared into the sky, its wings sending tremors through the heavens.
Jason, Heracles, Atalanta, and Orpheus could only stand there, stunned and speechless.