So good news! I have decided for the Month of December to continue with the Daily releases. The year is almost done and I got plenty of time with the holiday season!
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Standing atop a raised stone platform at the heart of Veilpetal Sanctum, Artorius gazed out over the vast expanse of his army. Looking over his gathered force, Artorius had come far. He recalled the small band he started off with in the Silver dragon tower of thirty something dragons. A group of misfits and broken things barely enough to hold that tower they were tortured in.
Now look at him. A force of 1,000 stood before him. His rise had been swift, fueled by the strength of his will and the loyalty of those who followed him. Yet, as he stood there, looking out over his army, a deep weight settled upon his shoulders. With such power came the undeniable burden of responsibility.
Was he ready to throw them all for the fuel of his ambitions. A feeling of unease settled in him when he thought of the cost that needed to be paid. He could rest on his laurels and enjoy the fruit of his vast conquest.
But would he be satisfied? He knew he would never be happy with stagnation, Artorius knew himself far too well.
The weight on his shoulders wasn't merely that of an army, but of a vision, one that stretched beyond the present, beyond the next battle or the next conquest. He'd made his choice long ago: to fight, to conquer, to shake the foundation of the Nest.
Because what else did he have to live for…
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The Hollow Marshes were a bleak, suffocating expanse, where the land seemed to breathe beneath the weight of old curses. The air was thick with mist and the pungent scent of decay. Here, at the last remaining stronghold of the White Lady's forces, the last remnants of hope clung to the ice-cold stone walls like the last rays of a dying sun. The stronghold's walls, though towering and fortified, were already scarred by months of siege. The White Lady's forces, pushed to their limits, had nowhere left to retreat.
Vorthul, the Shadow Hydra, stood at the forefront of the stronghold's defenses, his heads snapping in anticipation. Behind him, Ravagan the Crimson Drakonar paced restlessly, his eyes flicking between the distant horizon and then finally there was the Frost Dragon, half brother to the White Lady.
The forces of the White Lady, nearly 1,000 strong stood ready, though their numbers had been greatly dwindled due to the losses they suffered. The ground trembled beneath them as the Oblivion Dragon's legions closed in from all sides, determined to crush this last vestige of resistance.
"Hold steady," Ravagan's deep voice echoed through the cold air. His crimson-scaled form radiated a commanding presence. "This is it. We cannot afford to falter. The Lady's light must be preserved, or all is lost."
"Let them come," Vorthul muttered as the oblivion dragon forces began their attack renew. "We will tear their armies to pieces."
The ground shook with every step of the Oblivion Dragon's army as they formed their lines once more. Nearly 1,250 grim looking dragons, warriors from forgotten eras stood like statues in the dense marshland. At the helm of this endless tide of ruin was Xytherion, the Oblivion Dragon, his immense form towering above the others. His wings, vast and torn, stirred the very air, and his eyes burned with the fury of ages long buried.
Xytherion's deep, rumbling voice echoed across the marshes, his words laced with the weight of ancient rage. "Today, we finished what was started long ago. The White Lady will fall, and the world will know our wrath once more."
The vast army began to spread across the marshland, encircling the stronghold from all directions. Xytherion's gaze was fixed upon the crumbling walls before him which they had been able to wear down for countless days and weeks. He could already smell victory in the air, the stench of desperation mixed with the cold scent of ice.
"We take the stronghold. We break them. Nothing survives this day." His forces roared as the first wave of Oblivion Dragon soldiers, led by the noble Metal Dragon, slammed into the outer walls, sending a shockwave through the stronghold's defenses. The siege had begun in earnest.
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The signs of battle reached them days later. Artorius' army had been traveling through the hollow marshes for many days now. Shadows moved within the fog, the Hollow Marshes was a dark and cursed place. Fog hung low and heavy, a suffocating shroud that clung to armor and scale alike. The air tasted of metal and rot, thick with the memory of death.
They had been extra careful to remove any enemy scouts or watch points left behind so they did not get word that another army was coming their way. So they had to advance slowly, soon though they came upon sights of previous battles with broken weapons half-sunk in the muck. Charred dragon bones protruding from the mud like fallen giants. The air grew hotter, and the once-silent horizon now trembled with distant thunder not of storms, but of war.
Scouts returned bearing grim tidings: the White Lady's frost armies and the Oblivion Dragon's host were locked in a final siege deep in the southern expanse of the Marshes. The landscape ahead was aflame and frozen in equal measure, a place where frost and fire met and neither could claim victory.
Ouroboros coiled tighter. "They are tearing each other apart. This is it, this is our chance."
"That's when we strike," Artorius said, voice cold.
Finally they came upon the sight of the final battle. Before them stretched a nightmare horizon. The Hollow Marshes were no longer a swamp, it was a battlefield of a dying world. Towers of black flame marked the advance of the Oblivion Dragon's army, beasts of dark steel and ash belching smoke into the heavens. The White Lady's forces stood within their final bastion, a fortress of frost and light slowly melting under the relentless heat. The very air hissed where fire met ice, creating endless storms of steam and thunder.
Artorius looked upon it all, his expression unreadable. His army gathered behind him, their breath misting in the charged air, weapons drawn and ready. Standing beside him were his three powerful dragon nobles, Black Dread, the Water Lindwurm, and the Thunder Dragon. The golden imugi was not a fighter so she was in the rear to help direct his forces where they needed to be.
Zoklath was first to speak, "if death claims any of us today then know it was a good ride!"
"Already feeling suicidal," Kelthar snorted.
"It's true, I never made more progress leveling up and being alive then right now," Raijin grinned. "Who knew raiding and warring would be this amazing."
"I'm surrounded by battle junkies!" Kelthar shook his head.
"We will all make it," Artorius spoke with quiet confidence, his voice carrying over to some of the soldiers listening. "We already made it this far and soon we will make it beyond this Nest!"
Looking at the fighting, he spotted the oblivion dragon forces already breached the walls as they were pouring in. It looked like it was over for the White Lady forces, only death awaited them. Ouroboros whispered, "If we enter that storm, there will be no turning back."
Artorius's reply was calm, resolute. "There never was." It was due or die now. Already he could see some dragons taking notice of them who knew if the two opposing forces would team up against them like Ouroboros guessed.
He raised his lance toward the burning sky, its edge gleaming with reflected fire and frost alike. "To arms!" Artorius shouted, his voice carrying over the battlefield, filled with the commanding force of a man used to leading in the heat of battle.
And with that, his Host advanced into the maelstrom, their war cries rising to challenge the other dragons. With savage discipline his army tore through the marshland like storms unleashed, the black dread started right off the bat raining down meteors. The water lindwurm shot out pressurized jets of water and some acids he just learned. The thunder dragon form crackled with thunder as his fists strike with deadly grace.
The Oblivion Dragon's forces were momentarily distracted, their attention split between the assault on the stronghold and the unexpected attack from behind. Artorius's dragons tore through their rear lines, scattering the lesser dragons and throwing the ranks of the Oblivion army into disarray.
"Push forward!" Artorius ordered, his lance raised high. "Strike down the stragglers and cut them off before they can regroup."
What followed was a bloody, chaotic clash, a battle unlike any the marshes had seen before. The White Lady's forces, though besieged on all sides, fought back with desperation and the strength born of desperation. The Oblivion Dragon's forces were stuck in between both of them but fought with savage ferocity. While Artorius kept pushing forward.
The clash was brutal as countless foes fell before him, the system recognized his deeds as he got a message; Congratulations! You have leveled up. Race: [True-Blood DragonMen] → Lv. 19
Stat gains: +1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 PER, +1 CHA
The Hollow Marshes were no longer a silent expanse of decay and shadows, but a hellish battleground where the many forces clashed in a storm of violence and destruction. The skies above were torn asunder by the flames of battle, it was a chaotic, brutal confrontation.
Artorius was at the forefront, his lance gleaming with deadly intent as he pierce through the ranks of Oblivion's dragons. Spotting the head of the enemy force, Xytherion was fighting against the Frost Dragon who he found out was the half-brother of the White Lady.
Using inspect he looked at their levels.
[High Noble Oblivion Dragonling — Level 30]
[High Noble Frost Dragonling — Level 25]
It was just funny how much they overleveled him by, but seeing how the frost dragon was getting pushed back inch by inch and coming short in the confrontations soon they would all be facing the Oblivion dragon alone.
Looking at the battle which was going poorly for the Oblivion dragon forces as they were sandwiched between two armies. The White Lady's forces, though beleaguered its two leaders, Ravagan the Crimson Drakonar and Vorthul the Shadow Hydra were in the thick of it, their imposing presences leading the charge against the invading Oblivion forces.
His forces led by his three noble dragons were making short work of the dark army which was having problems fighting on two fronts. Still the army that the Oblivion dragon was able to gather was formidable.
Oblivion Fire rained down from above, scorching the land and leaving nothing as these dark dragons dove into the fray. Their flames tore through both lines, turning the ground to ash and blackened stone.
Trusting in his army to take care of them he spread his wings wide and took to the air to face Xytherion. Viserion was summoning Glacial Shields to block incoming attacks of the oblivion dragon and even some of his forces were jumping in to aid him as Snow Serpents strike with lightning speed, their icy jaws snapping shut on the throat of the Oblivion dragon.
He seemed to be just laughing as he cut them apart with his claws as the ones that came too close lasers shot out from his eyes that disapparated them. Artorius stealthy used his mist clock to close the gap and stab the dragon with a flaming lance powered with a heroic blow.
His attack was able to hit it right in the shoulder making it scream in pain, he teleported away when his foresight len showed him a retaliatory attack. "You," the Oblivion dragon turned to face him with baleful wrath in his eyes. "Your that new upstart causing a ruckus down sight."
Unable to help himself, Artorius smiled and decided to get a rise out of him since he looked like someone it was so easy to. "Yep, that's me. I saw there was some fighting going on here and couldn't help myself to come over and help an old timer like you move onto the next life."
"I'm only 18 years old, you brat," the dragon roared as he charged at him. Artorius nearly did a double take as he teleported once again from the breath attack that came his way. Was he older than all these creatures here in this Nest?
"Its good to see you," Viserion joined him. "I heard much about your most recent deeds. I take it Shiun is still alive?"
"Yes," Artorius slowly replied, unsure of the connection between them. Though he didn't remark that this alliance was temporary, most likely even they knew it. Turning
"You and I have a score to settle, Xytherion," Viserion turned to face the Oblivion dragon his voice rumbled, a mix of anger and determination in his words.
The Oblivion Dragonling gave a cruel laugh, his shadowy form twisting and shifting in the air like smoke. "You think you can defeat me, Viserion? You, a mere half-blood, and this scaleless pitiful creature."
Artorius stepped forward, his lance crackling with energy as he pointed it toward the massive dragon. "We'll see about that."
The fight was on, Artorius leapt into action along with the frost dragon. Exchanging some blows it was soon clear taking down the Oblivion dragon would be a great undertaking.
Channeling his power through the magic lance as a barrier of crystal formed around him. The dragon breath of nothingness collided with the crystal shield, causing it to crack and shudder under the strain before it was simply gone.
Viserion thankfully came in with a frost breath of his own, freezing the edges of Xytherion's attack before it could fully reach them. "You think you can stop me," Xytherion roared as he flared his wings, sending a wave of dark energy surging forward. Some strange resonance rippled through the battlefield, distorting the space around him.
The very ground and air seemed to warp as gravity became unstable. The space around Artorius and Viserion shifted, pulling them both in different directions. "Brace yourself!" Viserion shouted as they were tossed around and worse than that he felt as if his body was being pulled apart from the inside.
Xytherion's laughter filled the air as he specifically came for him, Artorius tried to teleport away to dodge the deadly laser attack aimed at him but he couldn't. It was obvious the strange distortion had more effects than he thought, it was only quick thinking on his part and his lens showing him where the attack was heading that he was only able to twist away at the last second.
Still he was grazed, looking at the wound, he saw a wide gaping hole in his shoulder quickly gushing blood. Grimacing in pain, he clamped a hand on it to stem the bleeding and swore under his breath.
If this was any other element he had developed an adaptation to it he would have been able to tank it but since this was one of those esoteric elements that he couldn't train against in his machine this was his first time getting the brunt of it.
As if to finish him off first with another beat of his massive wings, Xytherion descended like a shadow, his claws descending for a final strike. "Now you die." Xytherion's voice was filled with cruel satisfaction as his claws gleamed with dark energy. A pulse of energy exploded outward from the attack, distorting space and reality itself. He could see cracks forming in the air as a great attack was built up.
Gritting his teeth, Artorius was left with no choice but to power up his own ultimate ability. He combined the words of flame and crystal into plasma and added a heroic blow into the mix, not holding back anything as he could see the power behind that attack. He wished he could add the damage he suffered from his crystal harness, but for some reason it didn't seem to register the attack he suffered.
The two attacks collided and thankfully his came out on top as it shot through its attack and his elongated lance pierced through its claw. Let out a roar of agony, Viserion took advantage of the opening to unleash a Blizzard that tore through the air releasing a storm of ice and wind colliding with the Oblivion dragon and trapping him in the midst of it.
Artorius used that chance to command it, "STOP!"
Xytherion froze in place as Viserion shot into the air, his body glowing with a faint, icy fire. He exhaled another stream of Frozen Flame, this time wider and more intense, engulfing Xytherion in an icy inferno.
For a moment, Xytherion was trapped, his massive form encased in a shell of ice. But the Oblivion Dragonling was far from finished. With a violent roar, he shattered the ice, his body crackling with dark energy as he surged forward, his claws slashing through the air.
"You cannot win!" Xytherion bellowed, summoning a strange trait, a dark energy that radiated outward in all directions. It twisted the air, weakening Artorius and Viserion, draining their strength as the very essence of life around them seemed to wither.
Then the oblivion dragon turned to face his army which hadn't been doing all too well since they had been busy fighting. The battle between the three armies had reached its crescendo. The Hollow Marshes, once a land of decaying swamps and misty silence, were now a roiling pit of elemental warfare.
Dragons clashed with each other in the sky, their roars and the sound of their wings tearing through the atmosphere creating a symphony of chaos. Flames of fire, ice, and dark magic filled the air, and the earth beneath the battle trembled as if it, too, could feel the violent rage of the dragons.
The Oblivion Dragon army, once the most numerous and filled with the promise of victory, was faltering. They were caught between two forces, the battlefield was a swirling maelstrom of destruction, with the echoes of roars and screams reverberating across the Hollow Marshes, their once-deathly silence now shattered forever.
"I will show, I will show you all," Xytherion bellowed, his voice filled with fury, desperation, and a twisted sense of finality. His forces were slowly getting decimated as they could only fight with frantic, wild, ferocity as they were trapped.
He turned to face his forces and called out, "Bring out the Secret Weapon!" Obeying without hesitation, a massive spherical device, unlike anything Artorius had ever seen, was being slowly lowered and brought out into the open. The device, dark and polished like obsidian, hovered several meters off the ground, suspended by the dark magic of the Oblivion Dragonling's forces.
The sphere shimmered ominously, its surface gleaming with an otherworldly energy. A black aura radiated from it, and the air around it seemed to warp and bend, as though reality itself was being distorted.
"He wouldn't," Viserion whispered, his voice filled with horror as he tried to resist the weakening ability.
"What is it?" Artorius asked, his body quickly adapting to this effect.
Viserion turned, his expression darkening as he saw the weapon. "A Blackhole Bomb…A weapon of unimaginable power left by the Great Ones. It's capable of creating a miniature black hole, destroying everything in its vicinity. There's no escaping it once it detonates.""
"You will burn with me," the Oblivion dragon started laughing. "You will all burn with me!" The bomb was activated, and it started powering up to be unleashed.
"STOP HIM," Artorius commanded as he put everything into that order causing it to grasp hold of countless dragons. His very being connected to the minds of many dragons, pulling them under his will. Subjecting them all under his order. Like mindless puppets they all ran towards the bomb.
Seeing that the Oblivion dragon did the unthinkable and charged at them, roaring "As if I will let you win. If I am going to fall, then you will all fall with me!" He let loose a devastating blast of Void Breath that destroyed anything in his path.
Looking at what he done, even he was surprised at the wide ranging effect of his command. Countless dragons were rushing headlong at the bomb, there had to be not dozens but a hundred of them. And they will not be denied.
Even with all the oblivion dragon might he was not enough to stop the tide of unrushing dragons as he got swarmed like an ant tide ganging up on a lone prey. They were almost there, they were almost about to get to the bomb when…
"ALL SHALL BE CONSUMED!" Xytherion bellowed, his voice rising to a shrieking crescendo as he released the full force of his dark energy into the bomb, igniting its final detonation.
Time seemed to stretch and warp around him as the black hole began to form, a swirling mass of darkness and gravity. The very air around the bomb began to distort, as the gravitational forces increased exponentially, pulling everything in its path into the event horizon.
The first wave of dragons, those closest to the bomb, were consumed instantly, sucked into the void as if they were nothing but dust. The shockwave of the explosion reverberated across the battlefield, tearing through the remaining forces of the Oblivion Dragonling, the White Lady's frosty legions, and Artorius's own Host.
The battlefield was thrown into utter chaos as the very air was ripped apart. Dragons were tossed about like leaves in a storm, their bodies crushed under the immense gravitational forces. Whole sections of the battlefield were swallowed, the landscape itself bending and warping, as if it could not withstand the sheer power of the bomb.
Artorius could only stare in horror!
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Author Note: Well if you corner an animal expect to get bitten.
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Chapter 28 Recap!
Leveled up Race: True-Blood DragonMen to Lvl. 19!
+1 STR, +1 DEX, +1 CON, +1 PER, +1 CHA