899. The Order's Support_Leveling up the World

Another dragonlet froze, captured by coming into contact with the prison sphere. The issue was that the hunter who used them only had three. He was one of those specialized in taking on large game; matched against a pack of small creatures, he fared no better than anyone else. The issue was that with six people remaining, there was no one who could exclusively focus on the smaller pests.

Although incapable of flight, the new large dragon had learned a lot from the group’s encounter with the previous one. It was much better at evading point attacks, and line attacks—even when infused with spark—had no effect on its magic coated scales. To make matters worse, it also made attempts at using standard guard skills. In comparison to the attacks, the attempts were clumsy, always ruined before a full sequence could be completed, but it was one more thing to worry about.

Performing a line attack with his aura sword, Dallion used the motion to cast another healing spell aimed at Abla. Knowing that speed was of the essence, the high noble had focused exclusively on attack. As a result, several of his attacks had gone in, dealing minor damage. The price was getting a few hits of his own. Individually, they weren’t anything much, but as everyone knew, even small things mattered in large amounts.

TERMINAL STRIKE

Damage dealt is increased by 1000%

A dragonlet plopped on the ground, moments before its body disappeared into a cloud of fading particles.

“Eight left!” the Count shouted.

“Seven and one big one,” Astra corrected.

With the white rectangle revealed, fighting the creature was significantly easier than before, although not to the point they could relax. It was notable that no one, not even Dallion, used any of their top tier attacks.

“I can take some of the pups,” the spectral shardfly whispered to Dallion. “I think I could take the big one as well.”

“No,” Dallion said firmly.

Slashing the air with his aura sword, he drew more weight symbols on the dragon’s body. The creature was probably bearing the weight of a mountain, but that only marginally slowed it down.

Every instinct in Dallion screamed for him to end with his support and join the attacking group. Five people dealing with seven dragonlets was feasible. After that, everyone could focus on the big one again. The wiser him decided to wait. If his suspicions were correct, the enemies he’d face this hunt wouldn’t just come from outside the party.

“I’ve softened the eyes,” he shouted, as a new set of magic symbols took hold.

Abla and the Count darted at full speed. Each took a side from which they charged, aiming at the creature’s weak spots. The dragon seemed to be expecting that, for it spun around, using his wings and tail as weapons.

The strikes were unsuccessful, though they forced the two nobles to pull back. Astra, on the other hand, took it upon herself to leap over and focus a point attack aimed at the dragon’s head.

MINOR ATTACK

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

A few scales tore off the side of the monster’s cheek. Not losing determination, Astra followed up with a second attack, though the dragon quickly extended its wing, using it as a shield.

It’s catching on quick, Dallion thought.

Magic spheres emerged in the air, pouring aether shards on the back of the dragon. Facing an attack it was unfamiliar with, the creature moved its wings, shielding itself from the new source of damage. That proved just enough for Abla to do his thing. Taking a step back, the man threw his sword as if it were a spear.

The weapon split the air, changing shape as it did. The massive blade shrank in width, taking on the form of a five-foot needle. Then, it struck.

TERMINAL STRIKE

Damage dealt is increased by 1000%

First strike, Dallion thought.

The attack was identical to last time. Now all that was left was the second phase.

MINOR STRIKE

Damage dealt is increased by 10%

Dozens more red rectangles appeared, stacking on one after the other. Whatever changes the blade was going through, it was devouring its target from the inside, like a shoal of piranhas. The dragon roared and twisted in agony for a few seconds, after which it fell lifelessly to the ground. Another moment later, the second large dragon was gone, its body vanishing in a cloud of particles.

Now, there were only seven creatures left, all of them dragonlets.

“Tors, focus on the mist!” Dallion ordered. “There might be more.”

“I know that!” The Elazni hissed. Still, he had the discipline to keep himself from doing anything senseless. Both he and Dallion remained at the ready, carefully observing the void mist.

Nothing appeared in the next ten seconds. Another ten seconds later, Tors refocused his attention on the fight against the dragonlets. While clumsy and considerably smaller, they proved more difficult to deal with than initially expected. For one thing, they shielded their eyes a lot more, forcing the awakened to take them using brute strength. For another, they weren’t bound by Dallion’s magic symbols.

Line attacks ceased with everyone shifting to close range point strikes. Every few moments, a series of red rectangles would cluster above a dragonlet, preceding the dematerialization of its body. After close to a minute, the only dragons left standing were those trapped by the prison items.

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“Are we good?” the Count asked.

“Difficult to tell,” Dallion and Abla replied simultaneously. Wisely, Dallion let the party leader continue. “I don’t feel anything, but I didn’t feel them approach the first time, either.” He turned to Dallion.

“I don’t see any magic glow,” Dallion added. “We might be safe for the moment, but don’t count on it too much.”

“Guess we’ll have to take our chances.” Abla unsummoned his weapon.

Shortly later, the others followed.

The first order of business was to check everyone’s condition. Most had gotten away with a few minor scrapes that Dallion quickly healed. The only one who had suffered any serious damage was the hunter who had been taken out at the start of the fight. In addition to losing half his health, he had apparently also suffered a nasty permanent effect, rendering him semi-useless in any serious future fights. Dallion tried a few spells to remedy his condition, but neither proved effective. For all intents and purposes, the party had just been reduced to five.

“Tell Pierce what happened, then return to the capital,” Abla ordered.

The hunter didn’t look in the least bit pleased, but he nodded. A blink of an eye later, he was gone.

“Two dragons, two wounded,” Astra said. “Not a total disaster.”

“Those were adolescents,” Dallion said in a dark tone. “Adolescents and dragonlets. They were also feral.”

“Feral dragons?” Tors asked. “Didn’t know such a thing could exist.”

“Happens with creatures when they breed uncontrollably,” the count explained. “Haven’t seen it occur with dragons, but if there’s a pair that’s been left undisturbed for a long time, well…”

A pair of dragons, Dallion thought. With creatures made entirely of magic, a partner wasn’t necessary for them to multiply. Magic threads could be split off from the main body, retaining the essence of the original beast but with enough personality to create a being with its own personality. At the same time, the Count was also correct—a pair of hidden ancient dragons could well fill out an entire nest.

“A nest of ferals,” Dallion said. “They must have ventured out on their own, copying behavior they’ve seen from their parents.”

“Cast out,” the Count corrected. “Three skills, unable to fly. It’s safe to say that they were the weaklings of the litter.”

“A bit convenient they’d appear now, isn’t it?” Dallion glanced towards Tors, then Abla.

“Hardly. The Shimmering Circle has been dragon searching for years. All the ones they’ve found so far weren’t worth the Order’s effort. This was the first one they weren’t able to handle. Which is why the emperor thinks it’s worth the prize.” He went up to Dallion and tapped him on the shoulder.

The explanation made sense, although it still didn’t provide a reason for the dragons not being discovered until now. Subtly, Dallion slid off his blocking item.

Adzorg, any reason why dragons that remained hidden for centuries would suddenly become active?

Dragons aren’t my specialty, dear boy. However, I suspect you might be onto something.

“It’s the mate,” the Count said, examining one of the living dragonlets. “With the war covering half the world, the creatures in hiding must have gone to a place where it’s calm. There’s the fallen south.”

“Which is impossible to reach unless you’re already there,” Astra added.

“And the forbidden north. It’s safe to say where this pair decided to go.”

“Two great dragons, both heading north?” Dallion looked at the Count. “Pretty big coincidence.”

“The world isn’t as big as it once was. The empire has the continent. The Azures have the sea. You do the math. The little buggers must have been conceived in the realms. I’d bet my hair that they’ve probably never set foot in the real world.”

A terrible thought occurred to Dallion. If feral dragons were awakened creatures, all this fight achieved was to drive them out of the realm with their powers sealed. Although, since the creatures were made of magic, that could also mean that they’d been killed. If awakened mages had their powers sealed, they’d lose their magic, being driven insane as a result. What if a creature was composed of magic itself? Would there be anything left to return to the real world? Judging by the party’s lax behavior, they didn’t seem to think so.

“What now?” Dallion unsummoned his weapons.

“What else?” A bubble of reality surrounded Abla. “We continue through the mist wall.”

Passing to the other side of the void revealed a sight no different from the one they had left. The terrain remained dark, bleak, and shifting, covered with occasional void clouds sticking to the ground. Looking into the distance, the faint outline of another thick mist wall was visible. Ten minutes later, it was confirmed—a wall of void mist surrounded the area like a thin band.

Initially, one might suspect that it was meant as a protection keeping hunters and curious awakened out. However, it could equally be meant to prevent the feral dragons from leaving.

Splitting into hundreds of instances, each of the remaining members explored the encircled area foot by foot. Other than some magic traces—which clearly came from the dragons—nothing of interest was found. The entire place was one big nothing, leaving the group to the single conclusion that the path had to continue into the real world. Summoning their weapons, the nobles formed a circle, their backs to each other, then simultaneously left the awakened realm.

The change was abrupt, causing sunlight to flood their senses. Caught off guard, Tors split into a dozen instances. Everyone else remained as they were, staying vigilant.

“Doesn’t look like any are here,” the Count said. “Prodigy, any magic traces?”

“Nothing I can see,” Dallion replied. “Nothing fresh in any event.”

Fresh is a relative term, Gleam said, fluttering above him, wrapped in an illusion of invisibility. There’s nothing on this spot, but that’s not the case everywhere.

“I think there might be something,” he added out loud. Show me.

Just to let you know, Eury has done what you asked, Veil told Dallion now that his blocker item was removed. She’s not too happy about it.

I bet, Dallion replied as he kept walking after Gleam. Did the archbishop break his promise?

The bishop who met her claimed to be an old friend of yours. Of ours actually. Remember the albino cleric who was with us during the first chainling hunt?

That was a bad turn of events. Dallion knew for a fact that Cleric was a copyette posing as a human. Officially, he had taken on the role of archbishop of Nerosal and the de facto ruler of the city. There was no reason for him to go so far east, unless the archbishop had something specific in mind.

Cleric has granted you full control of the Land of NEROSAL.