CHAPTER 102 – OPERATION DEEPTHROATER

GAEUN MEDIZIN

After baptizing Prince Earvin Lancaster as the Fifth Dragon Lord, the Daybreaker Squad, along with the vampire prince, boarded the Windwalker. Captain Hiraya declared that we would head straight to the source of all our troubles—the Famine Dragon, nestled at the heart of the desert.

With the ULYSSES AI handling the navigation, we gathered on the deck of the airship. The wind tousled our hairs as we ascended above the vampiric castle, soaring toward the desert below. Thankfully, the sky remained clear, free from any sandstorms that could obscure our path.

As we approached, the towering black tree that was the Famine Dragon came into view. According to Kate's earlier report, it stood a staggering kilometer tall, making it the largest dragon we had ever encountered. Despite still being a few kilometers away, a sense of unease washed over me, sending shivers down my spine.

"Your Highness," Hiraya addressed the vampire prince, who gazed solemnly at the ominous figure in the distance. "It just occurred to me, but I must inquire... Are you familiar with Cathedral Exa, specifically a bell tower on this island?"

"Yes," Prince Lancaster confirmed, gesturing toward the location of the Famine Dragon. "It was situated there, where that abomination now stands."

"So, that dragon destroyed the bell tower?" Hiraya inquired. "But how does it maintain its dragon form without a Vesryn Pulse or even the bell tower itself?"

"Not exactly," Prince Lancaster clarified, shaking his head slowly. "You see, the head priest of our Cathedral Exa was a dragonoid aligned with the Republic. When the Purge of Humanity began, the bell tolled, and the head priest transformed into a smaller Famine Dragon, about eight meters in size. Then... the Famine Dragon devoured the tower."

"You mean... the Famine Dragon deepthroated the bell tower whole without any issues?" Hiraya asked, feigning innocence.

"Captain, enough with the innuendos," Charlotte scolded, her tone laced with sass as she flicked her hair.

"Haha, my apologies," Hiraya chuckled sheepishly.

"That's one way to put it, I suppose," Prince Lancaster remarked. "But yes, the Famine Dragon's insatiable hunger knows no bounds. After consuming the bell tower and Cathedral Exa, it grew to its current size. It continues to consume everything in its path, and we fear it may eventually devour all of Nocturnia."

As Prince Lancaster finished his explanation, we found ourselves about eight hundred meters away from the looming Famine Dragon. Even from this distance, the scales of the colossal creature resembled withered tree bark, a testament to its ancient power.

Peering downward, we observed that only the midsection of the Famine Dragon was visible, while the rest of its body was concealed beneath a swirling vortex of sand. Within that whirlpool lay an abyss of pure darkness, a chilling sight that sent shivers down my spine.

Being this close to such a formidable foe was undeniably daunting. I clutched my magic wand tightly, my nerves on edge. Yet, Charlotte's reassuring pat on my shoulder and her comforting smile helped bolster my confidence for the impending battle.

"Be cautious," Prince Lancaster warned. "The Famine Dragon possesses only two abilities, but they are potent. While its eye lasers may not pose a significant threat to battle-hardened veterans like your squad, it's the second ability that renders it nearly invincible, even to us immortal vampires."

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"Um, what exactly is this second ability?" I asked nervously, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

"It has the power to consume anything it touches, atom by atom," Prince Lancaster explained gravely. "Once even a single cell of the Famine Dragon makes contact with you, you'll be erased from existence. Therefore, it's crucial to maintain your distance and avoid its physical attacks at all costs."

"Based on this information, you've faced the Famine Dragon before," Hiraya observed.

Prince Lancaster nodded solemnly. "Indeed, we've attempted to defeat it three times, often resorting to full-scale warfare. However, each endeavor ended in failure. Our immortality holds no sway against its abilities. Once it makes contact, it's game over."

As we closed in to a mere three hundred meters from the Famine Dragon, Hiraya's expression grew serious as she locked her gaze onto the colossal creature.

"We'll devise a plan," she declared confidently. "But for now, I need to assess the full extent of its capabilities firsthand."

Turning to us, our captain stood tall, hands on her hips, radiating determination. "Listen up, Daybreaker Squad. Our primary objective is to bring down this Famine Dragon. It's going to be a battle of attrition. We'll need to pinpoint its weaknesses and strike with everything we've got."

"Roger that, Captain!" We all chorused, saluting in unison.

"Mariko, Kate, utilize the Vesryn Pulse to scan the skies for any vulnerabilities. Begin with minor attacks, and we'll observe its responses," Hiraya commanded.

"Understood," Mariko and Kate affirmed. They leaped off the airship, and soon after, we heard Mariko's voice shout, "Activating Vesryn Pulse!"

Kate transformed into her fiery Warflame Dragon form, with Mariko perched atop her head. Together, they ascended above the clouds, circling the Famine Dragon's tree-like horns.

"Gaeun," Hiraya addressed me, then turned to Prince Lancaster. "Your Highness, remain aboard the airship and utilize any long-range area-of-effect spells to target the Famine Dragon."

"Got it," I replied, feeling a surge of nervous energy.

"Okay," Prince Lancaster acknowledged.

"And Charlotte," Hiraya continued, "keep a close watch on the Famine Dragon's reactions. Notify me immediately if anything seems out of the ordinary."

"Yes, Captain," Charlotte responded promptly, swiftly equipping her sniper rifle.

"As for me..." Hiraya's smile turned wry. "I'll venture down there and investigate that sand whirlpool."

"Um, Captain, isn't that risky?" I voiced my concern nervously.

"It is, but don't worry about me, Gaeun," Hiraya reassured me, patting my head before enveloping me in a brief embrace, pressing me against her comforting presence. "Thank you for your concern, though."

With a final smile, Hiraya released me and made her way down to the hangar. A few minutes passed in silence until the powerful roar of an engine pierced the air, followed by Hiraya's voice through our earpieces.

"Operation Deepthroater, commence!" she exclaimed, her voice resolute.

The hangar doors opened, revealing a sleek, brand-new sports bike that Hiraya had acquired with her salary. With her green and white motorcycle, she descended to the sandy desert below, maneuvering around the Famine Dragon's midsection.

Beside me, Prince Lancaster let out a scoff. "Your captain is quite the badass... and a little bit of a jokester."

"That's just her way, indeed," I chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood.

"I must admit, I envy your camaraderie. Unlike how you see your captain as a big sister figure, my people don't place much trust in me. I'm merely a placeholder until my mother regains consciousness," Prince Lancaster confided.

"That's not true, Your Highness," I protested, feeling a surge of empathy. "I believe your subjects hold you in high regard, just as we do with our captain. And, um, if it matters at all, I respect you. Leading your people through such trying times is no small feat. You continue to be their beacon of hope."

As I spoke, I couldn't help but notice a blush creeping onto the vampire prince's cheeks. Embarrassed by the unexpected attention, I quickly covered my face.

"P-Please, don't stare at me too much," I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I-I'm rather shy, Your Highness!"

"Miss Gaeun," Prince Lancaster spoke softly, his voice gentle and soothing. I kept my eyes covered, unable to gauge his expression. "You don't have to be so formal with me. Just call me Earvin from now on."

"O-Okay, E-Earvin," I stammered, feeling my cheeks grow warmer.

I felt his cold fingertips gently lowering my hand from my face. As I uncovered my eyes, I saw the malnourished vampire prince smiling shyly, a blush adorning his cheeks. Slowly, his face drew closer to mine, and I found myself gazing at his chapped lips.

Suddenly, a loud interruption blared from the radio.

"Hello? We're currently in the middle of a boss battle!" Charlotte's voice echoed through the air, breaking the tender moment.