CHAPTER 33 – DIRGE OF THE CERBERUS
LYSANDER FARADEISS
I stood frozen, my eyes transfixed on the unfolding spectacle of Alris' transformation. Before me loomed the monstrous figure of the Nova Dragon, a creature that had claimed the lives of my comrades in a previous timeline. Its colossal form, standing ten meters tall, was adorned with bluish flaming scales, teeth as sharp as razors, claws extending like katanas, and a spine that bristled with menacing spikes. The very air around it shimmered with an ethereal glow as its wings unfurled, releasing blue embers that danced in the atmosphere.
Perched atop the dragon's head was Hiraya, an elven beauty with wide golden eyes that reflected both awe and amazement. She clutched her chest, feeling the palpitations of her heart. In a hushed voice, she murmured, "So this... is the Vesryn Pulse. This warmth, this joy I'm feeling... It's fantastic!"
The Nova Dragon roared, asserting its dominance with a primal force that echoed through the air. With a powerful sweep of its wings, it ascended into the skies, confronting Doctor Voltaire and his Pure Dragon. The doctor, his astonishment evident, could not conceal his disbelief at witnessing the genuine activation of the Vesryn Pulse. The clash between Alris the Nova Dragon and Doctor Voltaire's Pure Dragon seemed inevitable, set against the backdrop of a sky filled with uncertainty.
"So you're a Dragon Knight all along!" Doctor Voltaire's exclamation echoed in the charged air.
"No," Hiraya denied with a shake of her head, but a subtle smile betrayed her true intentions. "But I will be. With the power of the Vesryn Pulse, I will become the ally of justice and protect this town from Neo Arcadia!"
The Nova Dragon, embodying Hiraya's newfound resolve, gathered a blue flaming ball in its menacing jaws. Simultaneously, the enemy Pure Dragon mirrored the gesture, charging a fiery projectile within its own maw. As both dragons unleashed their destructive fireballs, a violent clash erupted, enveloping the surroundings in a wide cloud of smoke reminiscent of an erupting volcano.
"Alris, go around the blast range!" Hiraya commanded her transformed companion, her hand already gripping a raised pistol, ready for the ensuing battle.
The Nova Dragon gracefully maneuvered to the right, skillfully avoiding the billowing smoke. As they circled the skies, Hiraya's vigilant golden eyes scanned the surroundings in every direction – left, right, up, and down. Suddenly, her knife-like elven ears twitched.
"Go up!" she cried, and in a swift response, the Nova Dragon surged upward. Just in the nick of time, three violet fireballs narrowly missed them. Thanks to Hiraya's heightened senses, they evaded the potentially devastating projectiles by a hair's breadth.
With a swift motion, Hiraya spread out her right hand, conjuring a massive green magical circle. Charging mana on her palms, she crafted a green magical missile, its size rivaling that of a bike. "Wind Arrow!" she exclaimed.
Empowered by the Vesryn Pulse, Hiraya's magical prowess had expanded fivefold. The Wind Arrow pierced through the dense smoke and exploded in midair, giving birth to a feeble tornado that dispersed the clustered smoke. Amidst the dissipating haze, their adversaries came into view – the imposing Pure Dragon and Doctor Voltaire, now seemingly at his wits' end.
"D-Darn it! She's too powerful!" Doctor Voltaire's exclamation echoed through the chaos. He hastily climbed onto the head of his Pure Dragon, prompting the majestic creature to descend rapidly, distancing itself from the formidable Nova Dragon.
"I won't let you escape!" Hiraya's determined cry cut through the air. "Alris!"
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In agreement, the Nova Dragon nodded, then swiftly pursued the retreating Pure Dragon through the skies. Two distinctive contrails painted a dynamic chase across the blue expanse, leaving me and the three dragonoid girls watching helplessly.
"Go get his ass, Prez!" Kate pumped her fists in spirited encouragement.
"Rule the skies, queen!" Charlotte added with a sassy cheer.
"Um, do your best, Prez!" Gaeun, overcoming her shyness, forced a loud shout into the fray.
On the other hand, there I stood, gritting my teeth in a mix of anger and horror. The activation of the Vesryn Pulse and their impressive tactics served as a stark reminder of the monumental task I was striving to accomplish. It was no longer about petty feelings of jealousy or romantic entanglements. The fate of the world now teetered on a precarious edge.
Hiraya had attained the ability to activate the Vesryn Pulse, bringing her one step closer to the coveted status of a Dragon Lord – a near-invulnerable force. I couldn't be certain whether she hadn't already achieved this status, and the uncertainty gnawed at me. The daunting question lingered: How could I prevent her from becoming a force that could potentially tip the scales irreversibly?
Regret clouded my thoughts. I should have ended her when I had the chance. Why did I hesitate? The romantic feelings I harbored for her had clouded my judgment, and now it seemed too late to rectify my mistake. If, in ten years, humanity faced the brink of extinction, the responsibility would squarely rest on my shoulders.
"Hey, is that Pure Dragon coming for us?" Kate's question snapped me out of my internal reflections.
Indeed, the Pure Dragon, accompanied by Doctor Voltaire, was hurtling towards us at a breakneck speed. The doctor clutched his artificial heart, undoubtedly plotting to employ it once again.
My attention immediately shifted to the two defeated naked dragonoids nearby. It was clear – Doctor Voltaire intended to revive them.
"Watch out!" I shouted, a surge of mana propelling me into action. "Lightspeed Accel!"
In a burst of speed nearly matching that of light, I whisked Kate, Gaeun, and Charlotte away from the impending danger, depositing them safely beside a stack of worn-out tires within the empty compound. The Pure Dragon, driven by Doctor Voltaire's relentless pursuit, roared past the spot we had just vacated. As the tension in the air crackled, it was clear that the battle was far from over, and the stakes had risen to a new, perilous level.
"Ow... owowowow." Kate winced, holding her head, which had accidentally bumped against her sword's hilt when I laid her down.
"Can't you carry a lady properly, Lysander?" Charlotte sassily complained, brushing dust from her school uniform.
Furrowing my eyebrows, I responded with sarcasm as I performed a mock curtsy. "I just saved your lives! You're welcome!"
"U-Um, thanks for saving us!" Gaeun bowed, displaying some manners in the midst of the banter.
"Are you okay?" Hiraya exclaimed as she and her Nova Dragon landed in front of us. Her golden eyes welled up with tears, conveying genuine concern for our well-being. Alris the Nova Dragon joined in, his crimson eyes scanning for signs of injuries.
"We're fine," Kate declared, standing up and nonchalantly stabbing her sword into the ground, leaning on it as if nothing embarrassing had just occurred. "Thanks to Mister Jealousy here."
"I'm not jealous," I hastily retorted.
Hiraya managed to chuckle adorably, her laughter akin to that of a princess. Normally, I might have found it charming, but my emotions were now shrouded in pure dread and anger, and I maintained my poker face.
My attention swiftly shifted to Doctor Voltaire, who had successfully retrieved his two naked dragonoid companions. Rising in altitude, he looked down on us, holding the artificial heart in his hand.
"Just so you know, I'm not going to run just because you, elven bitch, managed to activate the Vesryn Pulse. I may be using a counterfeit ancient magic, but there's nothing that says the original one is always better than the artificial one," Doctor Voltaire declared with pride, a smile playing on his lips and a glint in his eyeglasses as he adjusted them.
Suddenly, the Artificial Heart pulsed intensely, generating a weak shockwave. The crimson eye with a black sclera on the heart began to glow, casting an ominous light. The Pure Dragon and the naked dragonoids accompanying it also began to radiate with a dark aura.
"Overloading Artificial Pulse!" the doctor announced, his voice echoing with a sinister resonance. The unfolding events marked a new phase in the battle, as the power of the Artificial Pulse threatened to tip the scales in an unpredictable and potentially catastrophic direction.
The Pure Dragon and the two unconscious dragonoids seamlessly merged into a more formidable entity, giving rise to a twelve-meter-tall abomination. This new creature bore three heads, each adorned with a spiky collar. The Cerberus Dragon, as it came to be known, boasted sleek black scales, and from each of its three tails, violet flames emerged, casting an eerie glow.