CHAPTER 91 – EVER THE AVENGER
LYSANDER FARADEISS
As we stood amidst the aftermath, the once-defeated bodies of the dragons stirred, their forms emerging from the decimation Hiraya and I had wrought mere moments before. It was a testament to Gazelle's formidable power, his mastery extending even to the ancient bell towers.
No words were needed to convey the dragons' hostility; their roars echoed through the air, their eyes ablaze with crimson fury as they fixed their gaze upon us once more, eager for a rematch. Energy crackled around them as they prepared to unleash their elemental wrath upon us.
With a determined furrow of her brow, Hiraya made her move, wordlessly removing her glove to reveal the distinctive V-mark on her palm, the Mark of Vesryn. As she raised her hand skyward, a luminous glow emanated from the mark, a silent command issuing forth.
"By the authority vested in me by the Dragon Lord Commandment," Hiraya's voice rang out, commanding and unwavering, "I order all dragons to stand down!" With a crimson pulse, her directive swept through the air, enveloping the dragons in its wake.
In response to her commanding presence, the dragons ceased their advance, their fiery onslaught halted mid-charge. Hovering obediently in the air, they remained still, their obedience a testament to the power of Hiraya's ancient command.
Our sole adversary now stood before us in the form of the Alientech Dragon, Gazelle Lockwood. His demeanor exuded a sense of pride, a smirk playing upon his draconic features as he regarded Hiraya with a knowing glance.
"It appears my Commandments pale in comparison to the Oracle's," his telepathic voice echoed in our minds, acknowledging Hiraya's superiority with a begrudging respect. "It's no surprise you carry the essence of Exceria within you."
Hiraya's facade wavered momentarily, a forced smirk masking her inner turmoil. I could sense the strain etched upon her brow, beads of sweat glistening upon her temples. Through our Vesryn Pulse connection, I could feel the immense expenditure of mana required to overpower Gazelle's Dragon Lord Commandment. With a sigh, she knelt before me, her touch upon my dragonic forehead a silent reassurance amidst the chaos.
"Lysander, I'm sorry," Hiraya's voice was strained, remorse coloring her words. "That last commandment drained me. I'll be immobilized for a while. Gazelle is yours to handle."
I nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of her sacrifice. "Rest now. I'll handle Gazelle," I reassured her, determination firm in my tone. "Just hold on tight."
With a nod of acknowledgment, Hiraya gripped onto my dragonic horns, her silent trust a tangible anchor amidst the impending confrontation.
Turning my gaze toward the Alientech Dragon, a primal fury surged within me, fueled by the events that had transpired since the bombing of Tasty Town. Every fiber of my being thrummed with anticipation as I prepared to unleash my pent-up rage upon Gazelle. Through relentless image training, I had honed my skills, ready to anticipate and counter every move of our formidable foe.
"Gazelle Lockwood, you will answer for your crimes against Tasty Town, and for defiling the ideals of Alris," I declared through telepathy, my azure eyes ablaze with righteous fury.
The Alientech Dragon's response came as a mocking echo in my mind. "Ah, Lysander, always the avenger. But revenge is a hollow pursuit. Do not paint me as the villain in this tale."
"You are the villain!" I bellowed aloud, unable to contain my rage any longer. Gathering my energy, I unleashed a torrent of blue flame from my jaws, aiming squarely at Gazelle.
Yet, before my attack could find its mark, a formidable barrier materialized, comprised of hexagonal green forcefields. Realizing my assault had been thwarted, I swiftly altered my course, banking sharply to the right at full speed, leaving a trail of blazing blue contrails in my wake as the Trailblazer Dragon.
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Anticipating my evasion, the Alientech Dragon spread its left wing, revealing a myriad of eye-like green orbs. From each orb, green meteors hurtled toward my position with deadly precision.
With lightning reflexes, I veered sharply, executing a series of barrel rolls and increasing my speed to evade the oncoming barrage. The green meteors crashed into random parts of Onishira, igniting emerald flames upon impact, casting an eerie glow across the landscape.
Pressing onward, I accelerated until I was within striking distance of the bell tower. With the towering structure now positioned between us, the Alientech Dragon ceased its assault, retracting its metallic alloy wings in a calculated move to safeguard the vital landmark.
I understood his strategy well. The bell tower was his stronghold, essential for his control over the land of Onis. It was a place he would not risk destroying. But my allegiance lay elsewhere. The mission of the Daybreaker Squad, my mission, was clear: to dismantle the bell tower at any cost.
With my dragonic claws enveloped in searing energy, I descended toward the base of the bell tower, intent on delivering a single, decisive blow to shatter its foundations. But as I neared my target, the Alientech Dragon's V-mark flared with a brilliant light.
In an instant, a powerful screech erupted from the dragon, a shockwave of sound propelling me away from the bell tower with incredible force. The sonic assault, fueled by his Mark of Vesryn, sent me hurtling through the air, unable to resist its strength.
"If you believe you can hold the bell tower hostage, you are sorely mistaken!" his telepathic voice boomed in my mind.
"I have no interest in the bell tower!" I retorted mentally, my determination unwavering. "My focus is solely on you!"
As I hurtled towards the ground, I executed a daring backflip, a feat of agility uncommon for a dragon of my size. With precision timing, I summoned a colossal magical circle beneath me, its azure hue glowing brilliantly against the backdrop of Onishira.
As my dragonic foot hovered inches from the earth, the magical circle sprung to life, transforming into a makeshift trampoline. With a surge of energy, I rebounded off the enchanted surface, harnessing the momentum of the Alientech Dragon's powerful sonic assault and my own colossal strength.
In a breathtaking display of force, I became a living projectile, hurtling towards the Alientech Dragon with unstoppable velocity. The shock on his metallic visage was palpable as he prepared to unleash a counterattack, charging a ball of green light within his maw.
But before he could release his onslaught, I thundered through the air with unstoppable force, a roaring declaration ringing out in our telepathic connection. "Too slow!"
In a blur of motion, I closed the distance between us with the speed of light itself. My dragonic claws found purchase on the Alientech Dragon's left metallic wing, while my gaping maw targeted the vulnerable flesh of his neck.
With a primal roar, I unleashed my Baryon Blaze breath at point-blank range, a torrent of nuclear energy erupting from within me. The force of the blast reverberated across the entirety of Onishira, casting a brilliant light that illuminated the skies as if it were day.
The attack struck true, Gazelle's once-invulnerable form rendered vulnerable by that risk. The Alientech Dragon's left wing, arm, and feet were obliterated by the ferocity of my onslaught. The crimson gleam in his eyes dimmed, and the Mark of Vesryn upon his forehead flickered like a dying flame.
Slowly, inexorably, the Alientech Dragon's mangled form began to tilt in midair, descending towards the earth below. With a final, resounding crash, he fell, defeated at last.
The colossal remnants of the Alientech Dragon crashed with a deafening impact, creating a crater within a nearby shrine. With measured movements, I glided towards the crash site, my gaze fixed upon the neutralized form of our adversary.
"Excellent work, Lysander," Hiraya's voice rang out with admiration. "You certainly handed him a well-deserved defeat."
As I pondered our next course of action, a sense of uncertainty lingered in the air. "What now?" I queried telepathically. "Should I... end him?"
Before Hiraya could respond, the skies above us began to darken, clouds swirling ominously as orange lightning crackled across the heavens. The thunderous roars reverberated through the air, casting a foreboding shadow over our victory.
Our astonishment deepened as the ominous clouds parted, revealing a sight that sent shivers down our spines. A black dragon, wreathed in crackling orange lightning, emerged from the darkness, its piercing red eyes fixed upon us. It was unmistakably a Tachyon Dragon, a creature of unparalleled speed and mystic.
But what truly stunned us was the figure perched atop the dragon's head. With crimson hair cascading in a ponytail and eyes blazing with vengeance, he bore an uncanny resemblance to someone I never expected to encounter in this tumultuous scenario.
"Johnny," I breathed, disbelief coloring my words.
Before we could fully comprehend the gravity of Johnny's presence, the Alientech Dragon underwent a grotesque transformation. Long, spider-like legs sprouted from its severed limbs, while its remaining appendages contorted into centipede-like forms, a bizarre and unsettling sight to behold.