DragonBane Knights.
Around four thousand years ago, a man named Ailward emerged among the Arbian race, rising from the mundane ranks of his Brothers. Ailward was not content with the status quo; he had a vision, a vision that would give rise to a unique knighthood known as the Brotherhood. The name, simple yet fitting, highlighted the shared prana-wielding pedigree among its core members.
The Brotherhood was created during a time when the central continent was far from the welcoming place it is today. Their primary mission was to secure a safe haven for the Arbian race to flourish. Under Ailward's leadership, they didn't settle for mere protection. Instead, they launched expeditions against the newly awakened and enlightened beasts roaming the land of Ainerax.
Under Ailward's command, the Brotherhood achieved numerous victories eventually claiming the territory now known as the central continent. This place would soon be named after their symbol and sigil: Iiris, the Arbian Precursor.
Ailward, along with his brothers and associates, was hailed as heroes for securing a haven free from monsters and fear. However, this accomplishment did not satisfy him. As a Lord of Old and the second wielder of the title, he had greater aspirations that only he wished to see realized.
To pursue these aspirations, Ailward ventured further south, toward the previous holder of the Lord of Old, leaving behind his hero's legacy. With his departure, the Brotherhood fractured. Half chose to remain on the Iiris continent, the land they had fought so hard to secure. The other half followed their brother on his new quest: to slay Agna, an elder and a Precursor of the Dragon race, and thus exterminate the newly awakened race of dragons as a whole.
The men and women who chose to follow Ailward on this perilous journey adopted a new name for their brotherhood, calling themselves the "DragonBane Knights."
Name
H.P
P.P
A.P
DragonBane Knight Parch Ironweaver Lvl.15▼
97▲/126▼
942▲/1149▼
⥈
Born in an era long predating the very concept of prana-cores, the DragonBane Knights got their prana-wielding abilities differently than the modern Rajs and mages. Their abilities were not acquired later in life through prana core melting into their chest but were rather inherited from their predecessors, much like most awakened beasts.
Skill: [ Aspect ]
Aquamorphism
[Morphogenesis]
150
In response to the unexpected increase in the man's stats, Dream swiftly activated his lesser aspect as Aquamorphism. The ground beneath the DragonBane Knight transformed into a deep, engulfing mud, causing the man to sink partially into it, up to his shoulders. A satisfied smile played on Dream's lips; he always enjoyed using this old trick against his opponents. He was prepared to follow up with a cryo-elementalis attack when something extraordinary happened.
A massive pillar surged from the mud, forcefully propelling the DragonBane Knight out of the mire. Caught somewhat off guard, Dream retreated several meters away, his gaze locked onto the emerging figure. The man's eyes, much like Dream's, possessed a unique shade of blue. In the heat of the moment, the DragonBane Knight clenched his fist and muttered with unconcealed anger, "An arcane user... just like them!"
“Just like who?” Dream was about to inquire further when he witnessed the one-armed DragonBane Knight, now atop the towering pillar, conjuring a shield that enveloped his entire body. He then summoned a spear, clutching it with his sole remaining hand. Dream quickly realized that now wasn't the time for questions.
With a resigned shake of his head, Dream muttered to himself, "I guess I can't really expect friendly encounters, can I? If it breathes, it's most likely an enemy. If it's not an enemy, then it's a target, food for the power-hungry." He wasted no time and called out to his Battle Maiden, Nox, who promptly came over, picking Dream up. The other three Battle Maidens followed suit, ready to take on whatever opponent Dream was sending onto.
Cradled securely in the arms of Nox, Dream soared high into the air with a series of powerful flaps from her metallic wings. From his elevated position, he looked down at the one-armed DragonBane Knight below. With a confident and determined tone, Dream addressed him, "I've heard quite a bit about you and your DragonBane brothers. They told me that the me from back then wouldn't even last a second against the weakest among you. But that was then, and this is now. Let's find out just how long 'you' will last against the current me."
In these words, Dream mentally ordered his Battle Maidens, “get him girls.”
***
As he observed Selene and Luna battling the DragonBane Knight, Dream felt a surge of excitement coursing through him, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time. He had refrained from actively participating in the fight, choosing instead to delegate the duty to his vanguard, Selene and Luna, with Atlas standing by as backup if needed. The outcome of the battle was unfolding as expected; his Battle Maidens were clearly more powerful than the DragonBane Knight, their superior stats evident in their dominance.
But there was something intriguing about the DragonBane Knight's resilience and determination as he held his ground against the two valkyries. It stirred a peculiar emotion in Dream, a feeling that he hadn't encountered in a while—a sense of admiration for the opponent's unwavering spirit.
No, it wasn't just admiration for the DragonBane Knight's resilience that stirred within Dream. It was a more complex, selfish emotion, driven by his competitive nature. Dream couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy as he watched the DragonBane Knight hold his own against Selene and Luna, both of whom were, in essence, valkyries.
What truly captivated Dream was the DragonBane Knight's ability, his sheer pranakinetic prowess, to engage in battle with, or at the very least survive for more than a few seconds against, opponents who were essentially valkyries.
The difference in stats between the DragonBane Knight and his battle maidens was glaring, and by all logic, he should have long since been torn apart by them.
Name
H.P
P.P
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
A.P
DragonBane Knight Parch Ironweaver Lvl.15▼
43▼/125▼
312▼/1148▼
⥈
However, there he was, still standing and fighting.
Dream had learned from experience that close quarters weren't his forte. His small stature made him more inclined towards long-range or, if culled, mid-range elemental attacks. As he observed the DragonBane Knight's boldness in confronting his battle maidens in close combat, he couldn't help but marvel at the man's proficiency in this particular style of fighting. It was a stark contrast to Dream's own approach to battle.
The DragonBane Knight's combat style was nothing short of impressive. With just one arm and a single spear, he expertly wielded three different elementalis simultaneously: aero, geo, and cryo. He showed a clear preference for close-quarters combat, fearlessly confronting his battle maidens head-on. His skill and adaptability were truly remarkable, as he seamlessly transitioned between thrusting his spear, launching elemental attacks, and even using kicks when the opportunity presented itself.
Dream couldn't contain his excitement as he marveled at the DragonBane Knight's boldness in confronting his battle maidens in close combat. He watched with anticipation as the DragonBane Knight materialized rocks beneath his feet, using them to navigate through the air.
Selene and Luna, their spears at the ready, charged at the DragonBane Knight, but he quickly unleashed an aero-elementalis attack that reminded Dream of his own [Wind Blizz], albeit on a smaller scale. It was enough to stall the Battle Maidens' charge. What happened next surprised even Dream. The DragonBane Knight rushed past the Battle Maidens, charging straight for Dream, who hovered high in the air.
Rather than closing the remaining distance, the DragonBane Knight summoned a large, pointed rock and viciously unleashed it with his aero-elementalis. The projectile hurtled toward Dream with incredible speed and precision.
"Woah, woah, calm down, mister. Long-range attacks now? That's my thing, not yours," Dream quipped as he observed the DragonBane Knight's change in tactics. He didn't miss a beat and immediately mentally called for one of his Battle Maidens, "Atlas, stop that."
Without the slightest hesitation, Atlas wedged herself between the projectile and Dream, her shield ready to intercept the DragonBane Knight's attack. The massive projectile collided with Atlas's shield, knocking her back but splintering into thousands of pieces upon impact and failing to reach its intended target: Dream.
With a smug grin on his face, Dream locked eyes with the DragonBane Knight as he descended to the ground. But this time, he adjusted himself and thrust the spear in his hand. Using the remnants of his prana reserves, the spear, charged with aero-elementalis, crossed the distance between Dream and the DragonBane Knight in an instant. However, before it could reach him, Nox, acting without a mental command from Dream, shielded him from the attack with her wings. As she retracted her wings, Dream smiled at the DragonBane Knight.
"It seems I wasn't lied to about how ruthless you DragonBane Knights can be. As expected of forgotten heroes," Dream remarked.
Instead of having his Battle Maidens pursue the DragonBane Knight further which considering how depleted his current reserves were would be the smart course of action, Dream had them return to his side.
Dream stood there, suspended in the air, his Battle Maidens at his side. He gazed at the DragonBane Knight, his eyes aglow with a childlike radiance. "You know, DragonBane Knight, I too aspire to be a hero someday. Set the phoenix free the Child hero did in the stories," he declared, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. But he quickly snapped back to reality, saying, "But for now, I'm still too young to be a hero, too young to be as daring as I'd like to be. Maybe one day when I'm all grown up. Just kidding."
He paused for a moment, as he and Battle Maiden descended upon the DragonBane Knight. In that moment, as they did, in Nox arm, Dream's small form crackled with lightning and his Battle Maidens surrounding him, also enveloped in the electrifying energy. "Since you're already at your limits, I think we both know that this’ll mean the end of this little game."
With that, a powerful surge of lightning was unleashed, not just from himself but from his Battle Maidens as well. The crackling bolts of electricity surrounded the DragonBane Knight, forming a dazzling and deadly cage of lightning.
"Truth is," Dream continued, his voice filled with determination. "I have something I would like to try. Thank you for your cooperation, DragonBane Knight Parch."
From his earliest battles along his very Battle Maiden, Dream had realized that they shared an immunity to his lightning, just as he was immune to it himself. However, there was more to this newfound partnership.
He had noticed that not only were they immune to his electro-elementalis, but they also served as conduits for his lightning. Dream could pass his bolts of electricity through his Battle Maidens, effectively extending the reach of his powers. It was a phenomenon that left him both bewildered and intrigued.
Dream pondered whether the credit for this unique ability that was proper to his electro-elementalis and didn't apply to his aero-elematalis should be attributed to the transformation that the Valkyries went through before becoming his Battle Maidens, or if it was somehow tied to his own mastery of the lesser aspect known as [Electrokinetic Resonance]. Perhaps it was a combination of both factors. Ultimately, he decided that it was a complex interplay between these elements, for one could not exist without the other.
Skill: [ Aspect ]
Electrokinetic Resonance
Elemental Resonance
150
As the lightning continued to crackle, connecting Dream to his Battle Maiden, it formed a dazzling and intricate web-like structure that encased the DragonBane Knight, trapping him within a cage of pure energy. It was a mesmerizing sight, the bolts of electricity weaving around the DragonBane Knight like a cage, arcing and dancing in intricate patterns.
Dream watched with intense focus, his eyes locked onto the center of the electrified spectacle. He was intent on seeing himself the outcome of this experiment, eager to understand the full extent of his newfound powers and their potential.
With a deliberate and commanding motion, Dream reached out his hand toward the DragonBane Knight, the gesture in itself was harmless, but what promptly followed was far from merciful. In an instant, he clenched his hand into a tight fist, causing the lightning web that encased the DragonBane Knight to suddenly constrict around him.
The result was a spectacular yet strangely anticlimactic display of power. The lightning zapped and crackled with intense energy, engulfing the DragonBane Knight in a blinding and deafening storm of electricity. It was as if the very essence of a thunderstorm had descended upon him.
But then, as quickly as it had begun, the storm subsided. All that remained was the lingering acrid smell of burnt ozone and the unmistakable scent of scorched flesh.
Dream gazed at the now empty space where the DragonBane Knight had once stood, muttering to himself, “Could it be that I overdid it?”
The DragonBane Knight was no more, reduced to little more than ashes in the aftermath of Dream's devastating display of power.
"Yep, I clearly did. But well, it’s done now; there's no reason to dwell on that," he mumbled, calling forth the blessing of the Guardian, allowing the skill to do its thing.
I don’t know why I have a bad feeling about this.
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy initiated…
Blessing of the Guardian Dragon: Synergy failed…
At the sight of the skill failing before it could even achieve Dream, clicked his tongue.
“From the moment I saw the thread missing, I had the feeling it would end up like this… Tsk, this is so annoying, now I feel like I wasted my energy for nothing,” he ranted, kicking the ground.
Dream didn’t really wasted much of his energy as he mostly left the chunky part of the job to his battle Maiden, but the fact that he was left with little to no reward for the not-so-hard work left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Had I known it would’ve ended like—well, I did know but,” as he kept on ranting, his gaze was suddenly drawn to the other statues.“They won’t come to life too like did that man and gang up on me, won’t they? Something definitely felt amiss about that battle against that DragonBane Knight,” Dream spent a minute straight fixing onto the seemingly just normal statues.
“Sigh… what am I saying, thinking, of course they won’t, did struggle become so much part of my daily life that having it easy feels simply off?”
Dream clicked his tongue in frustration, his annoyance evident. "From the moment I saw the thread missing, I had the feeling it would end up like this… Tsk, this is so annoying, now I feel like I wasted my energy for nothing," he ranted, his dissatisfaction with the situation clear.
In truth, aside from the attack he conjured, Dream hadn't expended much of his own energy in the battle, largely relying on his Battle Maidens, but the lack of a reward for their efforts still left a sour taste in his mouth.
"Had I known it would've ended like this, I would have—well, I did know but…" Dream trailed off, his gaze shifting to the other statues nearby. He couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension as he eyed the seemingly ordinary statues.
"They won't come to life too, like that DragonBane Knight, and gang up on me, won't they? Something definitely felt amiss about that battle," Dream mused, his gaze fixed on the motionless statues.
But he quickly shook his head, trying to dispel his unfounded concerns. "Sigh… what am I saying, thinking, of course they won't. Did struggle become so much a part of my daily life that having it easy feels simply off?" He chuckled wryly at his own overactive imagination, though the unease still lingered in the back of his mind.