CHAPTER 92 – ALIENTECH DRAGON PHASE 2

LYSANDER FARADEISS

The Alientech Dragon unleashed a cacophony of sound, a primal blend reminiscent of a whale's mournful cry, a siren's piercing wail, and the grating scrape of a chair dragged across a floor. Its eyes blazed crimson once more, but any semblance of rationality had vanished. In its Second Phase, it had spiraled into uncontrolled chaos.

"Get us out of here, Lysander!" Hiraya's voice cut through the chaos, urgency lacing every syllable.

Responding to her command, I beat my wings with all the strength I could muster, propelling us away from the rampaging Alientech Dragon. As we soared past a tolling bell tower, Hiraya seized the opportunity for destruction. With determination etched on her face, she rose to her feet, veins pulsing with mana, poised for battle once more.

"I never imagined the bell tower could be so effective for Gazelle," Hiraya murmured, her voice barely audible over the din. With a swift motion, she conjured a bluish-green magical circle, directing it towards the tower. Gathering her mana into a potent charge, she unleashed it in the form of a magical missile. "Trailblaze Arrow!"

Meanwhile, Johnny's voice pierced the chaos from above, his Tachyon Dragon crackling with golden-orange lightning. With a resolute cry, he invoked his spell. "Tachyon Boost!"

In an instant, Johnny and his dragon surged forward, surpassing the Trailblaze Arrow, and shielding the bell tower. With a swift motion, he conjured a reddish-orange magical barrier with his werewolf claw, deflecting Hiraya's attack completely.

Hiraya gasped in realization. "Your dear friend... he's become faster and stronger."

I clicked my tongue, torn between relief at Johnny's survival and frustration at his sudden appearance. While I was glad to see him unharmed, his intervention added another layer of complication to our already dire situation. We still had to neutralize the bell tower, subdue Gazelle's rampage, and now contend with Johnny's new dragonoid partner, boasting speed faster than light itself.

"Cap, what's our plan?" I reached out to Hiraya telepathically as we soared away from our adversaries.

Before Hiraya could respond, a streak of orange lightning darted past us. In an instant, we realized that Johnny and his Tachyon Dragon had outpaced us, blocking our path.

"You shall not pass!" Johnny's voice boomed with determination.

"Fool, move aside!" I bellowed telepathically, my frustration boiling over as I unleashed a primal roar. "Raaaaaah!"

With all the force of my flying momentum, I surged forward, aiming for a headbutt directly at the Tachyon Dragon. The impact unleashed a powerful shockwave, sending both Johnny and his dragon hurtling towards the forest, where they plowed through the trees like a row of falling dominoes.

"Gah! Damn it!" Johnny's cry echoed through the air as they crashed, rolling over the forest floor.

As the Tachyon Dragon lay there, its head throbbing from the impact, it reverted back to its humanoid form—a teenage girl with vibrant orange hair. She sat on the ground, cradling her forehead in pain.

"O-Ouch," the orange-haired dragonoid woman muttered softly.

"Meike!" Johnny's voice carried worry as he rushed to the side of his new dragonoid companion, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Are you okay?"

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"I-I'm fine... just a bit shaken," Meike replied with a nervous chuckle, her tearful gaze meeting Johnny's. "I'm sorry, Johnny. Combat has never been my genre."

"It's okay," Johnny reassured her with a shake of his head, offering a comforting smile.

Meanwhile, I continued to ascend into the sky, while Hiraya observed the scene below. "Looks like your best friend has found himself a new companion," she remarked.

"I'm just glad he's finding some happiness, even if it's just a small step," I replied telepathically, reflecting on Johnny's ability to move forward.

As I watched Johnny attend to Meike, conflicting emotions churned within me. On one hand, seeing him find companionship again after Maggie's death brought a glimmer of hope. Yet, the reality of our situation loomed large—Johnny remained an adversary, a threat to our safety.

"Lysander, look!" Hiraya's urgent voice broke through my thoughts, directing my attention to the forest near the bell tower. There, the Alientech Dragon began its ominous advance, its metallic form morphing into something beyond recognition.

Gazelle, once a mere cybernetic dragon, now resembled a monstrous fusion of technology and malevolence. Its elongated robotic spider legs, bristling with spikes, marched relentlessly into the Onishira forest. Suddenly, its wings coalesced into a sinister flying saucer adorned with pulsating green orbs.

Two colossal spider-like appendages extended from the front of the Alientech Dragon, reaching out hungrily towards the dragons circling above. With horrifying precision, the legs impaled the dragons' hearts one by one, eliciting agonized cries before their bodies disintegrated into shimmering green particles. These particles were then greedily absorbed by the glowing orbs adorning Gazelle's wings, fueling its insatiable thirst for power.

"What the hell is happening over there?" I exclaimed telepathically. "Is he absorbing those dragons?"

"It appears so," Hiraya replied through gritted teeth. "Didn't you witness Gazelle's transformation like this in the previous timeline?"

"No," I admitted. "This is the first time he's ever been injured or killed. I never imagined he could transform into such an eldritch abomination. We've never pushed him this far to reach his Phase 2."

"This is dire," Hiraya sighed heavily. "Forget about the bell tower. That monstrosity is our top priority now."

"What about the bell tower and Johnny?" I pressed, torn between the urgency of the situation and concern for our other objectives and allies. "Should we leave them as is?"

Hiraya's keen elven senses caught a sound, prompting us to turn our attention to the southeast. There, a crimson dragon with fiery wings and a mechanical arm soared through the skies—a Warflame Dragon. Perched atop it was an oni adorned in shrine maiden attire, her flowing red hair a striking contrast against the backdrop.

"Miss Hiraya!" The Fourth Dragon Lord, Mariko Septem, greeted us with evident joy, waving enthusiastically. Given her position atop the Warflame Dragon, it was clear who her companion was.

"Kate! Mariko!" Hiraya's face lit up with delight. "Your timing couldn't be better!"

"It seems you're in a bit of a bind, so we've come to lend a hand!" Kate, in her Warflame Dragon form, communicated telepathically.

"We're grateful for your assistance, Kate. And your dragon form is absolutely stunning—it suits you perfectly," Hiraya complimented. "Now, time is of the essence. Let's get straight to our plan. Kate, Mariko, your task is to handle Johnny Wolvesbane and his new companion."

Suddenly, Hiraya's hand came to rest on my oversized dragonic forehead, sending a tingling sensation coursing through my scales. "Lysander, we need to divide our efforts for our objectives. I'll handle the bell tower, and you take on... whatever monstrous form Gazelle has become. Set aside your fear of spiders for now."

"Don't worry about me," I reassured her telepathically. "I'm fearless."

Hiraya arched an eyebrow. "I saw you flee from a home spider yesterday. You flailed around and tripped over a chair. It was simultaneously hysterical and sad."

"I'm mostly fearless," I corrected myself telepathically, feeling a bit sheepish.

"Ahem!" Hiraya cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "Anyway, now that you have your orders, it's time to move out!"

"Understood!" We all chorused in unison.

"Let's go!" Hiraya's voice rang out with determination.

The Warflame Dragon surged forward, its fiery wings propelling us towards the forest where Johnny and his dragonoid had crashed moments earlier.

Meanwhile, I ignited my wings with blue flames, propelling myself forward at full throttle. Mid-flight, Hiraya activated her neon green Wings of Light and veered towards the bell tower.

As for me, my destination was the Alientech Dragon in its next phase. Upon spotting me, its glowing red eyes flared with recognition and hostility.