Chapter 16) Fighting Fury Dragons.

What about Master Kim Sao Chen?

The Astral Mystic was still on the other side of the magically locked lab door, unable to help Xavier Xerxes. Kim Sao had been preoccupied with casting the spell when Xavier disappeared. He had seen the lasso wrap around the young mystic's neck to drag him through the hole, but had not been quick to stop it. Now he couldn't go through.

"System, what's going on?" Kim Sao wondered, feeling uneasy. He was scared for Xavier. There was no way Xavier would be able to contend with what was on the other side of the door.

[A Forcefield Mesh spell has been cast over the entire research lab. System is processing information about the strength of mana involved in the spell.]

Kim Sao frowned. That meant only one thing. There was a Mystic involved in the wrong activity going on inside the lab.

People of Lazuli had some sort of false notion about Mystics. They thought that every mystic was valiant and brave and heroic. That Mystics could do no wrong, and only lived to restore peace and order to the world. This was far from the truth. For every hundred mystics registered each year, at least twenty of them chose to go their own paths after a few years at the academy. These paths were not always good ones. Some used their powers to gather riches, awed followers, cause havoc and even gain more powers.

Many times, Kim Sao had had to battle with rogue mystics to stop them from causing more harm. No, he had never killed any of them. Mystics were tough to physical harm, and most times could only be subdued using Weakening spells. Then they were shipped off to Abyssal, the unmapped Mystic prison, for a while before being released. Abyssal was a very dark place that was hopefully avenue for the rogue mystics to think about their wrong ways and make amends. That wasn't always the case, though. Many mystics had spend decades of their long lifespans at the prison but still always chose to cause destruction afterwards.

"Bring up the Rune scripts for reversing the Forcefield Mesh."

[The spell had been cast by a Mystic of a higher Level. It would require enormous mana points to reverse.]

"I have to do it. Xavier is in there alone." Kim Sao said. "Also, there is a strange aura in the air. A certain heat. It feels familiar." He had a hunch who this rogue Mystic was, and if his hunch was correct, then Xavier was in big trouble.

[Reverse Forcefield Charm> It is a Reversal spell against all strongholds, forcefield and shields.]

[Requirement> This is calculated based on the strength of Crystal core of Mystic who had cast the Stronghold, Forcefield of Shield spell.]

(-Mana Points: 5000)

(-Strenght: 100)

(-Stamina: 100)

(-Peception: 200)

[Current Stats of Host Mystic.]

[Mana Points: 8500/10000]

[Health Points: 380/400]

[Strength: 300/400]

[Agility: 350/400]

[Stamina: 400/400]

[Perception: 400/400]

[Charisma: 320/400]

[System Remark: Mystic may proceed with the Reverse Forcefield charm.]

Kim Sao Chen gathered mana into his palms and began to swirl them in the air as he muttered the spell words. Pearly sparks spread out from his body to cover the entire door. He was halfway through the spell when his Danger Sense picked up something.

He paused to listen carefully. "System, I'm picking up warning—"

Something heavy crashed through the opposite glass wall, spraying glass shards everywhere. It was something red and huge.

Master Kim Sao activated Forcefield Shield just in time to prevent the rain of glass from piercing his skin. The broken shards struck the pearly shield and bounced off harmlessly. Kim Sao gathered wind around his body and flew back a few meters, puting space between himself and his uninvited companion. This was a good move because a mighty tail slammed down on the place the Astral Mystic had been standing a few seconds before.

The tail belonged to an enormous dragon with black scales running all over its crimson body. It had four small but muscular feet along its serpentine body, and a mane of black fury hair around its huge head like a lion. Three pairs of small wings spread out evenly along its sides. The dragon growled thunderously, showing off rows of razor sharp teeth and a hooked tongue.

Kim Sao Chen was familiar with this creature.

"Nice to see you again, Fierce." Kim Sao was not happy about this turn of events. Fierce was a fury dragon, and was bonded to none other than his arch nemesis, Selena Montes-Carlos. That meant Xavier was in the lab alone with a very powerful and treacherous Wizard Mystic. Whatever Selena was hoping to achieve in the lab was certainly something really destructive.

He glanced at the lab door. He had to get in there as soon as possible. The dragon had prevented him from completing the spell, meaning he would have to start again after managing to defeat it. Fury dragons were the worst of their kind, the most ferocious creature that a Fire affinity Mystic could ever be bonded with. They had thick armor that repelled most spells and great intelligence beyond their nature. If he missed a single step, the dragon would finish him off in mere seconds.

Fierce roared again and shot towards the Astral Mystic. Kim Sao rose into the air and released Lightning Blasts towards the dragon. They sizzled over the dragon's scales but the creature seemed unaffected. It kept on charging forward, fire already building up from its stomach. The dragon released the torrent of wild flames towards Kim Sao.

The Astral Mystic activated Forcefield Stronghold around his entire body. The fire enveloped him but he felt neither heat nor pain. The shield was strong but would progressively weaken with every attack. So once the dragon exhausted its fire breath, Kim Sao flew towards it as fast as a released arrow. A cushion of air wrapped around his fist before he punched the dragon squarely between its lidless eyes. A flurry of punches followed after that, each one delivered with added power behind his strikes.

[Offensive Skill: Storm Punch.]

[Requirement: 100 MP, 50 Strength and 20 Stamina.]

The dragon took the hit well for a whole minute before dashing forward so suddenly that Kim Sao couldn't react. He was thrown over the dragon's head and landed squarely on its scaly back. He gasped as pain tore through his sides, but Fierce was already in motion. The dragon crashed through another wall of glass, sending shards of it raining down. The dragon went airborne, soaring over Ferling City with the Astral Mystic upon it.

Kim Sao scrambled to his feet but stumbled back because of the dragon's rapid movement under him. The dragon curled its head around and released another torrent of fire towards him. Kim Sao activated Forcefield Stonghold again, but using the charm twice in such a short span of time meant he hadn't given it enough time to gain power.

The blast of flames struck the weak shield with such force that Kim Sao was thrown cleanly off the dragon's back. He felt the heat of the fire this time, and had to release excess of his mana to prevent his body from burning up. He was about to gather air to keep himself afloat when he landed on something soft and white. His soul creature.

"Elsa! How am I glad to see you." Kim Sao said in relief.

The Snow Peacock let out a feint whistling sound, probably voicing her happiness to be back with him too.

They had no time for a big reunion, though. The fury dragon, Fierce, was right behind them and gaining speed fast. Fire bubbled through its throat before shooting out towards Elsa's tail.

Elsa swerved sideways, just barely avoiding the flames. The dragon might've been bigger, but Elsa was swifter. She flipped over gracefully until they were directly below the dragon before Kim Sao released the crackling ball of Lighting Blast he had been filling up with sparks. This time the blast struck Fierce in a vulnerable spot, it's underbelly that had few of the scaly armor. The dragon trembled as the charges energy travelled through its body.

The Astral Mystic didn't waste any time. He took control of the air, causing the element to form a suffocating bubble around the dragon. The bubble was devoid of any form of wind, meaning the dragon had no traction behind its wings. Kim Sao pushed his control against the bubble, throwing it far out till it disappeared over the peaks of the mountain in the distance.

"Hurry back, Elsa." Kim Sao urged. "We have to save Xavier immediately. I have a really bad feeling about this night."

Elsa circled around and shot back towards the hospital buildings.

Overhead, a mass of ominous red clouds were gathering right above the skyscrapers of the hospital. The sky around them was gradually darkening as night approached.

But neither of the moons, Venza or Camri, was in sight. Hidden within the red clouds was the black moon. It had appeared for two nights in a row. Something really terrible was about to happen on Lazuli again.

Master Kim Sao took this all in with dread. Was he already too late to save Xavier and stop Selena from causing havoc?