[Author’s Note: Sorry guys Chapters are mixed up! Please read this before reading No… it can’t be…ORIGIN EMPEROR!]
The skies darkened, ominous and heavy, as two massive beasts clashed in mid-air, their thunderous roars shaking the very fabric of the jagged landscape below.
Each beat of the blue dragon’s colossal wings created powerful gusts, sending waves of wind strong enough to rip trees from their roots and launch debris into the air in a swirling, violent storm of dust and shattered rocks.
Yet, no matter how fiercely the blue dragon pressed its attack, no matter the sheer force behind each desperate strike, the black lung dragon moved with a grace that was infuriating in its elegance. It slithered through the air like a serpent through water, dodging every assault with ease, taunting its rival with a cruel, silent mockery.
“YOU WILL DIE!!” the blue dragon bellowed, its voice trembling with rage, each word igniting with a fury so intense it seemed to crackle in the very air around it. Its muscles coiled tightly beneath thick, shimmering scales, preparing for another savage strike.
Rage burned in the dragon’s eyes, blazing like the deep blue flames building in its throat, ready to erupt and incinerate its foe. The lung dragon, in response, merely grinned, a sinister, knowing smirk, as it twisted effortlessly out of the blue dragon’s path, its dark form gliding like smoke on the wind.
“SSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!” A violent roar ripped from the blue dragon’s throat as it unleashed a devastating torrent of flames, the heat so intense it caused the very air to shimmer and warp.
But the lung dragon was ready. It was always ready. With a swift flick of its long, serpentine body, it darted away with impossible speed, weaving through the flames as if they were nothing more than a mild inconvenience, a game that amused it.
The fiery breath missed its target, slamming into the mountain range below with earth-shattering force.
BBOOOOMMMMM!!!
The explosion shook the valley to its core. A massive section of the mountain was obliterated, rock and dirt erupting high into the air, casting shadows over the battlefield. The ground trembled violently in the aftermath, as if the earth itself had been wounded by the force.
“grrlollww…grrollllwwwww,” the lung dragon let out a low, guttural sound—mocking, cold, and unreadable—as it circled the blue dragon once more. It moved so swiftly that it was nothing more than a dark blur against the storm-filled sky, as though it owned the battlefield, taunting the furious blue dragon with its every move.
The blue dragon growled, a deep and primal sound, its anger and frustration boiling over, “YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS! YOU WILL DIE TODAY!!” it roared, its claws clenching with such force that its talons sliced through the very clouds. ‘Damn it! How is Pheonix bitch still alive after all these years?!!’ the dragon thought, white-hot anger searing through its mind like a blade of pure rage.
“You still think you’re untouchable?” the blue dragon growled through clenched fangs, its voice thick with the venom of its hatred. “Let’s see you dodge this!”
With a thunderous cry, the blue dragon aimed its fury skyward. It unleashed a stream of dark, electric-blue flames—not directly at the lung dragon, but into the swirling storm clouds above.
The sky responded in kind. Lightning split the heavens, bolts of raw energy bursting forth in all directions, crashing down upon the battlefield in chaotic, blinding flashes of power. Each strike was faster than the lung dragon could anticipate, forcing it into a frantic, desperate dance as it twisted and writhed to avoid the relentless barrage of lightning.
Below,
“Fuck that bastard!!” Aether cursed, his voice a mix of frustration and fear as he dodged one of the bolts that crashed into the ground just inches away.
The students were not only contending with the unpredictable strikes of lightning but were also fighting for their lives against a monstrous serpent that lunged at them with terrifying speed, its body coiling and striking as if the difficulty of the battle had suddenly increased tenfold.
HISSSSS~
Just as a red snake, its venomous fangs bared, prepared to sink its teeth into Aether’s skull, an arrow pierced its head.
Snowflake, throwing aside that dead snake from her monster.
Finnian’s holy sword glowed with righteous light as he slashed through a beast’s head, his every strike clean and lethal. Helena, concentration, cast protective barriers around the wounded, her magic pulsing with energy as she shielded those too injured to fight.
Kai, summoning the strength of the oceans, wielded his sword with a fury born of desperation, calling forth waves of water that crashed down upon the monsters, drowning them in their own vicious onslaught.
Selene’s ice spear gleamed in the stormy air as she punctured through the monsters’ bodies with deadly precision, her movements a perfect blend of grace and lethality. Nearby, Lia darted across the battlefield, her red blade slicing through enemies like a blur, her attacks swift and merciless.
“We can’t keep this up much longer!” Celestia shouted, her voice trembling with exhaustion as she clutched Aqualina. Her eyes scanned the battlefield with growing dread, watching as the students, though fighting valiantly, began to tire.
The monsters, though around level 30—matching many of the students in strength—seemed endless, an overwhelming tide of death.
“We’ve already used the prototype crystals on Jack! We can’t afford to stay here and keep fighting!” Celestia’s voice cracked with urgency, her hands shaking as the weight of the situation bore down on her.
“We have no choice! We need to move, NOW!!” she commanded, her voice rising above the chaos.
One by one, the others nodded, understanding the desperate truth of their situation. Above them, two colossal dragons continued their battle, tearing through the skies with vicious power, while below, the earth was covered in an ever-growing mass of snakes. They had no choice but to retreat or be consumed by the chaos.
Just then, a massive bolt of lightning split the sky, crashing down with an earth-shaking force.
“Everyone, stay together!!” Helena’s voice rang out, commanding over the roar of the storm.
As the group huddled closer, Helena erupted a protective barrier, her hands glowing with intense magical energy. The shimmering shield enveloped them just in time, but the lightning bolt held the power of the Ex Arcane King. With a deafening crack, it struck the barrier, obliterating it in a single, devastating blast.
The force sent shockwaves through the air, and the group stumbled, barely managing to keep their footing.
“We need to move out! Now!” Aether’s face was tense.
As the dust and debris cleared, a voice rose from within the group. “Has anyone seen Nyx?” someone asked, panic edging their tone.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, each one quickly scanning the chaos around them. She was gone.
“Where did she go now?” Kai growled, his frustration barely contained as his eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her.
Aria stood still, her face blank and unreadable. “Maybe she’s already run away,” she said flatly. “Just like before.”
There wasn’t time to linger on it. The battlefield was a hellscape of fire, lightning, and destruction. Flames danced across the charred ground, and bolts of lightning rained down, leaving craters where they struck.
The group had no choice but to move, sprinting through the perilous landscape, dodging debris and crackling energy as they followed the narrow, dangerous path ahead.
As they ran, their senses heightened and their nerves frayed, something appeared in the distance.
Figures—many of them—approached swiftly from the horizon, their silhouettes growing clearer against the stormy sky.
“Look!” one of the soldiers called out, his voice breaking with relief. “It’s the Dragon Emperor’s Private Army!”
Aether and the others turned, and what they saw stopped them in their tracks.
Dozens…. no, hundreds—of dragons soared through the sky, their massive wings beating in perfect synchronization. Beneath them, a vast army of humanoid soldiers charged forward with furious expressions, their weapons gleaming as they ran with purpose. Their presence was overwhelming, their strength undeniable, and for a brief moment, the group felt the weight of their fears lift.
A collective sigh of relief escaped their lips, the tension easing slightly.
BOOOMMM!!
Another explosion rocked the earth, and a mechanical bolt fell from the sky, embedding itself in the ground with a terrifying impact.
“What the hell is happening?”
They had all assumed that the Principal and the Dragon Emperor were fighting against the black-lung dragon, the fearsome beast that had dominated the skies. But something was wrong.
This wasn’t just the lung dragon’s doing.
Aether frowned, his mind racing. “Exactly what is the Principal fighting against?” he asked, his gaze turning to Celestia.
Celestia’s face paled, her throat tightening as she struggled to form words. “Something far more dangerous than anything this empire has ever seen,” she whispered, her voice grim and hollow.
Hearing this, the group frowned, their eyes drifting skyward. The sky, painted with ominous red lightning, charged with unfathomable energy.
‘Tsk,’ Aether clicked his tongue in frustration. Two people had already died, and there was nothing they could do. His chest tightened with guilt and helplessness.
Though he hadn’t known Thalia well, her fiery attitude had left an impression on him. ‘I suppose she was a good person,’ he thought bitterly.
Just as he was about to glance at his log… something he hadn’t checked in what felt like ages—another voice broke through his thoughts.
“Hey… isn’t that Nyx?”
Aether snapped his attention forward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the distant battlefield… Nyx walked with a slow, deliberate gait, a sly smile playing on her lips. But something was wrong—her hands were gripping a chain, and attached to the end of that chain…
“Jack?” Aether’s voice faltered, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes widened in shock.