Chapter 60

The dragon, coated with darkness, has emerged from the shadow of Reynolds. The large foot of the dragon was placed next to the man, as the ground under it cracked. The second came out right after, and it ended up tens of meters away from the first. The sheer size of its legs was enough to overshadow beasts nearby.

When the dragon fully came out of the darkness, the rest of his two legs were located outside of the forest's range, so they were not visible to the gang.

"You little toys of Agrona... You have quite an attitude regardless of how weak you are." The dragon lowered its head closer to the place where Jasmine and the "toy" were. The shadow soldiers in general didn't need to breathe, but to intimidate the enemy even more. Like a kettle when the water boils, the dragon released steam.

'Who the hell is this?! An asura?'

Meanwhile, the person in front of the dragon's face was screaming in his mind. He was told that the Asuras aligned themselves with the Vritra, but here it was. The majestic dragon although its size was way bigger than those explained in the stories he was told so far.

'No, it's definitely not an Asura! Even Agrona doesn't have that intimidating pressure!' The more he stared at the dragon, the more confused he grew. He was trying to see the actual shape of a dragon, but the black scales were like a void. As if he was getting dragged in it, the man couldn't even comprehend how far away the dragon was from him.

"The power that is rising within me...I'm forever grateful to you, my lord. I shall bring this lesser to you as an offering." The dragon opened its wide mouth, and like blades, it unsheathed enormous teeth. Each of them was larger than the bulky man.

"Jasmine Flamesworth, kindly move away from this place with the lord's family."

'It knows my name?'

Just like everybody else, Jasmine was surprised to hear the dragon call out for her. Another surprise came soon, as the shadow close to her rose just like Reynold's. This time the creature of lesser size came out.

'This…It's Hawky!'

Jasmine could instantly recognize the creature next to her, and it was hard to even forget it. Their first encounter was years ago, but those eyes were the same. The colors didn't affect it at all.

"Don't just stand there…"

"Ah, yes."

The Vritra didn't even bother with Jasmine; he just let her off. The short woman jumped on the Hawky, who quickly made a run down and picked up the rest of the Twin-Horns. It even used its feather to safely pick up Adam and even altered its size considerably.

"Now, we may begin…" The dragon stated.

The whole forest felt the ground shake as those who had sworn allegiance to the shadow monarch rose to fulfill the command. The thousands of purple eyes, all of them burning with fierce passion. They were finally called in to help their liege. The dragon, in particular, who raised its head to its full height, looked overly intimidating.

Windsom, previously known as the Asura, this time was a full-fledged dragon, currently one of the strongest in the shadow army, capable of erasing his opponents in one breath. With the permission given to him, he can order the rest of the soldiers to fulfill certain duties.

"The lord's desires are ours as well, and we shall fulfill them." The electric crackles escaped from Windsom's mouth as the ball of energy began quickly forming in it. The Vritra beneath him shot up into the sky in an attempt to avoid the blast.

He began flying away from the dragon as far as he could, his movements like a zig-zag. To his surprise, Windsom didn't even need to fire an energy blast; he was just bashed by the draconic tail.

'How is it so quick despite its enormous size?!' The Vritra crashed into the ground, forming a crater. His painful scream could be heard kilometers away from there.

Windsom, with his loud steps, approached the tiny crater and stood over it. Looking down, he confirmed that the enemy was still in place. Once again he opened his mouth to launch a blast of energy at the little lizard.

The Vritra burst from the crater's depths. His leap shattered more fissures in the crater and swept in a lot of dust. The man approached Windsom's head with a tremendous boom, breaching the sound barrier in the process, but the dragon attacked him right on the head.

The lesser lizard jumped out of the crater. His leap created even more cracks around the crater and pulled up a lot of dust. With a thunderous sound, the man approached Windsom's head, in the process breaking the sound barrier. Unfortunately, the dragon unleashed the attack right on his head.

The air around the blast began boiling as the ground simply melted down because of the high temperature. The trees began burning, which also affected nearby mana-beasts. Even those with better luck met the same fate as the shadow soldier didn't let them slip away.

"Clear this forest." Windsom roared out for all the shadows to hear. It was a command to obliterate every remaining enemy force.

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The giant creature with glowing wings floated over the ground with a group of people on its back. It was Hawky, the second-most adorable killing machine after Beru. On its back were the Twin-Horns.

"Hawky has grown…"

"Everybody is going to ignore the fact that we just witnessed a literal dragon?"

"Yes." Helen's question was immediately shut down by others. By this time, Adam has woken up and his first words after falling unconscious were.

"Is this heaven?"

What would you expect him to say? After his eyes opened groggily, the first thing he was met with was clouds. Adam was also placed on the soft shadowy fur of a hawk. Hell, he couldn't even feel his body properly.

"I'm hungry…"

"Ok, Adam is alright." Everyone agreed that it was typical Adam and the poison didn't work as some kind of drug.

"I can't feel my body, how can I be alright guys?!" The vein burst on Adam's forehead. He heard it clearly, and his consciousness began working like before. The twin-horns laughed, just what they expected from a typical Adam.

But the laughter died down as they heard a voice, unfamiliar and very pitchy. As if the individual talking was using the tongue for the first time.

"The effect shall pass very soon."

"Huh?" The twin-horns looked around, even Adam tilted his head by little to learn who it was.

"It's the one you are sitting right now."

The dumbfounded group turned their attention towards Hawky's head. While the flying creature stared back at them as if they were idiots, Adam in particular.

"I think…I'm really dead." Adam stared at the flying creature with a studying look, still contemplating if he was alive or not. Unluckily for him, the creature answered his question.

"No, you are alive."

Adam clicked his tongue, "Damn, I thought I would finally get a rest."

Others looked at them strangely as he continued to grumble at Hawky. Mostly because the animal casually conversed with them, then it clicked to them that it was indeed Hawky as its feathers detached and whizzed near Adam's eyes. Ashborn's alleged bond, which appeared to have changed appearance and started speaking.

"We are approaching the city, there are enemy forces so get prepared."

"Enemy forces? What are you talking about?"

"That's exactly what I said. The city is being captured by the Alacryans. There were attacks on other cities as well. They are in danger as well, but we will succeed in repelling them. Only this city was sold out by the 'ally' so only this one got tricked."

"Sold out?" The question marks appeared over their heads. Were they betrayed by someone, maybe even by the commander? Hawky cleared their confusion by nodding his birdy head. The shadow army constantly observed what was happening around them. They knew the exact way certain events would progress. Especially if they heard conversations.

"But by who?"

"Jasmine Flamesworth, you must better than anyone else know who it can be." Hawky told the crimson-eyed woman.

The woman's face immediately changed to one of disdain. Naturally, she'd figure out who it was. It was so clearly addressed that the others in her group grasped the situation quite quickly. Adam even scowled so loudly that his throat hurt.

"That bastard!"

"Take us to him immediately, please!"

"What do you mean Jasmine?!" Everyone on the Hawky was surprised at Jasmine's sudden rise in voice. The exclamation was soon answered by her,

"I… I have to do it myself, it's my responsibility…"

Her voice was shaky as she looked down while clenching her fist. Hawky, just like anyone else, caught the hint. Although the flying creature was unsure if it was a good idea, she could barely even say it, and now she plans to kill her own father…

"No! Jasmine, this is too much."

"I have to do it, Helen!"

Helen stumbled back as a result of the rapid outburst. Everyone in the group was taken aback when they saw Jasmine's determined expression. The resolute look in her eyes sent chills down everyone's spines, while the flying creature just nodded. It accelerated its speed, also attaching a few more feathers to the group for them not to fall.

"Our destination is the Etistin bay, from what I can see they already took down Dicathen's flag."

"Already?!"

"Unfortunately, so. The trick on their side was very impressive, I must say. Although we had predicted such an outcome, we couldn't intervene because of command."

"Sounds like an excuse."

"..." Adam received an indifferent glare from Hawky.

"Nevermind…" He found the mana-feathers very interesting just to avoid looking at the purple eyes of the creature.

"It will be a little tough for your first time, but don't worry you will remember everything when we get there." More of the feathers detached from Hawky's wings as they clanged on the group. The group grew confused about what was to come.

"What?"

"You just won't see much." With this said the creature burst forward and this was where everything got blurry for the crew. The torments of air that hit their eyes, including the sheer speed of Hawky, made it hard for them to see and even breathe. They feared that they would fall down as the resistance put up just by air was so hard that they thought they were being pressed on the brick wall with gravity magic.

Reynolds' mouth was wide open as the wind flew in and expanded his cheeks, filling them up like a balloon. The idiot tightened his muscles just to shut his mouth again. Who would have thought he would need to use magic even in that situation?

'What a bunch of idiots…'

Meanwhile, Hawky couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment. A shadow soldier wasn't talking about the idiots on its back, but those in the city they were approaching. Hawky was partly a bird; it could see at large distances very well. Along with its reaction speed, Hawky observed everything in slow motion.

The whole doctrine, at least in this city, was disturbed this easily. There were capable leaders, but their inexperience still caught them in a disturbing situation. They were tricked, and that's why Etistin is under siege. Hundreds, if not more, of ships, could be seen on the horizon; some of them had even reached the beach. A very few particular silhouettes were also floating over the city as well.

'The target is located…'

The pair of purple-glowed eyes caught a certain someone's glimpse. Trodius Flamesworth had a Dicathenian flag which was set ablaze by the said person as well. He was moving to the city square where the massive gathering was taking place... no, it was a straight-up massacre.

'This woman…' Then Hawky gazed at Jasmine with uncertainty. There was something different with Trodius; he had changed from the previous time. Could this woman actually fulfill her desire?

'Doesn't matter.'

.

"Bring the hostages here!"

Trodius Flamesworth yelled at the Alacryan soldiers in the city square to bring the captive Dicathenians. Several of them were already kneeling in front of him, their wrists bound behind their backs. The clothes were soaked in blood leaking from cuts, and they were all in horrible shape. Fortunately for them, unlike many of the others, they survived.

"Trodius you bastard, how could you?!" One of them shouted.

"Huh? How could I? Then you tell me, would you like to just give up your life so easily? It's not like I did this only for my survival. If the continent Dicathen wanted to survive, then it was necessary to align ourselves with those people. It was foolish on our side to fight them." Trodius explained.

"What did they offer you huh?! You are now hot*hit there, ordering soldiers around!"

Trodius clicked his tongue and turned to the soldier next to him, "Execute him already." He commanded.

"Oh, what do I see. The lesser scum believes that he has permission to give such an order, well, since you want it so bad here you go!"

Almost instantly, someone blurred to Trodius. The latter wasn't surprised at this, rather he was surprised by the scorched bodies of the Dicathenian soldiers. It happened so fast that he couldn't even see the flames.

"Don't think that you can do whatever you decide. Just one vial doesn't make you a commander here. Be thankful that you even survived." The newly emerged person had orange hair and wore a mask with a smile engraved on it.

"Anyway, since you are doing my job, I'll let you. Go ahead with the rest of the detained." The orange-haired man waved him off. In the next second, it leaped onto the nearby building and watched how Trodius did his job.

'Hm… interesting if I will get promoted? I heard there was a shortage of Scythes lately.'

Draneeve only recently got promoted to the position of retainer. He, however, for a long time, operated on this continent. He had a mission, but it got abandoned for some reason that wasn't explained to him. Nonetheless, he received a new rank and an upgrade to his capabilities. He was also stationed under a powerful scythe. Well, they were all-powerful.

"And here are the newer targets coming. Hm?" Draneeve sensed the group of people riding a flying creature land in this massive city square.

'One injured… others weak as well. The beast is unique, however.' He had never seen anything as particular as the purple-winged hawk, with its body being darker than the Vritra magic.

Draneeve's ears picked up the noise coming from Trodius, "Jasmine?"

"Hoh?" The orange-haired man noticed the surprised look on the Dicathenian. Taking a closer look made it clear to him that the woman called "Jasmine" was definitely related to Trodius. The moment she unsheathed daggers, Draneeve exclaimed.

"Oh, a family drama! Keep going, don't mind me!" With eager interest, Draneeve stared at the events unfolding in front of him. Shame that he didn't have popcorn with him.

.

'What the hell… why can't I sense his mana-core level now?'

Jasmine's expression got tense. Just a day before, she could view her father's core level, but now she couldn't.

'Did he succeed in breaking through another one?' The idea was dismissed by Jasmine herself. Her father used a lot of elixirs during his youth, which only limited his future progress. He was stalled for a long time, so the current breakthrough is definitely unnatural.

"Jasmine?" Hearing him call out her name, Jasmine growled.

"What are you doing here, Jasmine?" Trodius asked his daughter, and he received a very straightforward answer.

"I'm here to kill you."

"Kill me?" The father raised his eyebrows. He just heard his daughter threatening to kill him. Any father would feel a little weird.

"Abandon this foolish idea immediately Jasmine, I see you grew strong, but it's still not enough to defeat me."

To pressure his daughter, the man lit up his body in flames. The temperature around him made him look distorted. Jasmine immediately felt her skin getting hotter with each second that passed. Any exposed liquid evaporated instantly, and it was difficult to keep the eyes open as the tears in them met the same fate.

"Tch." Jasmine covered her body in wind-mana, more or less avoiding any more effects on her body. She glanced back to ensure that everyone was okay. Hawky covered them with its large wings, so they were alright.

"Such a serious guy, don't you think it's unfair to go against your relative with newly acquired powers?"

Trodius didn't respond to the provocations coming from Draneeve. He didn't plan to kill Jasmine anyway. Unless she stayed on her own until the very end, then he might actually kill her. After all, Jasmine has proven herself to be strong.

Trodius caught Jasmine off guard, as he launched himself at her. The flames that erupted around him became more intense, giving him a push. Jasmine didn't have time to react to his quick approach and couldn't even hold up her daggers to block his affair. Trodius had ruthlessly struck his blazing fist into her abdomen. Along with a burned piece of cloth, Jasmine now received a terrible burn on her skin in the shape of a fist.

"Jasmine, don't start your foolish acts here. The people's lives are on the line…" Trodius crouched down to kneeling Jasmine and whispered in her ear. She wanted to curse him soo badly but was unable to because of the previous strike.

"If you apologize for the previous act…I might forgive your friends as well. I'm sure you don't want them killed." The nobleman glanced at the rest of the Twin-Horns. They were behind the bird-like creature.

The man nonchalantly continued, "What an interesting specimen." He couldn't even notice the plum of black smoky substance rising behind him. It eventually revealed a silhouette.

Draneeve pushed himself up and leaped towards the rising silhouette of an unknown man the instant he caught a glimpse of Trodiu's shadow shifting. The previously immobile flying thing drove its claws into the concrete like butter and surged forward, causing a large shockwave, much to his amazement.

'This thing is so fast!'

Hawky grabbed with its claws onto the orange-haired man, dragging him far away on the way, occasionally smashing him into concrete. Trodius, slack-jawed, stared at the trail in the concrete.

'That beast, I knew there was something fishy in it!' Trodius looked back at the woman on the ground, only to be met with nothing. Jasmine was now lying in the hands of Alice, being treated by her as well. The group of Twin-Horns was surrounding him, but instead, there was another person standing in the circle.

'There were seven before…'

"It's all safe now, you may rest assured. I'll take care of everything. After all, it's what family does..."

'Who the hell is this guy?!' Trodius went as far as to unsheathe his sword, but for some reason, his hand never reached the handle. The swordsman couldn't feel his hand, and he quickly came to realize by looking down that he didn't have a hand...

*Badum*

His heart skipped a beat, and he felt the wind flowing behind his back.

"Don't you think so as well?"

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Hoho! I'm back with another chapter guys, sorry for another delay.

Georgia(The country I live in)is getting chaotic these days, the Russian and Ukrainian crisis is affecting the whole world for sure. I have close ones in Ukraine as well as in Russia so, kinda sh*tty you must understand. Nonetheless, I wish this useless war end quickly and innocent citizens to stay safe. I have huge respect for Ukrainians, they helped us a lot in 2008, at the same time I'm sure that those young Russian soldiers didn't wish to invade the innocent country.

Anyway, the chapter is here and I'm disappearing again until the next one.

Discord: https://discord.gg/r2VSvS5kaH

Cya