Chapter 32:THE DRAGON'S WRATH
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Chapter 32: The Dragon's Wrath
A chilling wind swept across the land as Rio, Retina, and Iris stood before the looming vampire castle. The eerie silence was deafening, broken only by the distant growls of the Ghouls still feasting on lifeless bodies.
"We need a way in," Rio muttered, his eyes narrowing as he studied the towering structure.
"Or… we could go over it," Retina said softly, her crimson eyes glowing faintly.
Rio turned to her, his gaze questioning. "You're thinking of—"
"Summoning the dragon." Retina's lips curled into a confident smirk. "It's time we use our advantage."
"Do it," Rio said with a nod.
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Summoning the Fallen Dragon
Retina raised her hands, her fingers glowing with an arcane light. She closed her eyes, her voice steady as she chanted the ancient summoning spell.
> [Retina activates: Dragon's Covenant!]
The air grew heavy as a surge of magic erupted around them. The ground trembled, and in an instant, a massive shadow formed above them.
With a deafening roar, the dragon they had once defeated in the dungeon emerged, its obsidian scales reflecting the moonlight. Its glowing crimson eyes fixed on Retina, acknowledging its master.
"Welcome back, old friend," Retina murmured, her voice filled with authority.
The dragon let out a low growl, lowering itself so the trio could climb onto its back.
"Let's go," Rio said, his grip steady as he mounted the dragon.
Retina and Iris followed, and with a powerful beat of its wings, the dragon lifted off the ground, soaring toward the castle.
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An Unexpected Attack
As they approached the castle, the night air grew colder. The oppressive aura surrounding the fortress thickened, making it harder to breathe.
"We're almost there," Rio murmured, his eyes fixed on the castle below.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound echoed through the night.
"Watch out!" Iris shouted.
A barrage of dark energy bolts shot toward them from the castle towers.
The dragon roared in pain as one of the bolts grazed its wing, causing it to falter mid-flight.
"Retina!" Rio called out, his voice urgent. "What do we do?"
Retina's eyes flashed with determination. "Rio?"
"Command the dragon," Rio said, his voice steady despite the tension. "Tell it to unleash its full power. We're burning this castle to the ground."
"Got it." Retina's hand glowed with magical energy as she placed it on the dragon's neck.
"By my command… unleash your wrath!"
> [Retina activates: Dragon's Inferno!]
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A Rain of Destruction
The dragon's chest swelled as its energy surged, and within moments, a torrent of blazing fire erupted from its jaws.
The flames roared as they engulfed the castle below, scorching everything in their path. The Ghouls and lesser vampires had no time to react as the inferno consumed them.
The ground trembled as the castle's outer walls began to collapse, weakened by the dragon's relentless assault.
"Direct hit!" Rio shouted, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Almost too easy…" Iris muttered, but her expression was cautious.
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A Dangerous Presence Emerges
Just as the flames began to die down, a chilling aura filled the air.
"Wait…" Retina's voice was barely above a whisper. "Something's coming…"
From the heart of the burning castle, a figure emerged.
Tall, regal, and exuding an aura of sheer dominance, the leader of the vampires stepped into view. His crimson eyes glowed with ancient power, and his expression was unreadable.
"Damn…" Rio muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. "That's him."
The vampire lord's gaze locked onto the dragon above, his eyes narrowing as realization dawned.
"He knows…" Retina whispered. "He knows we're stronger than we appear."
Rio's jaw clenched. "Good. Let's use that to our advantage."
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A Plan in Motion
"We'll play this smart," Rio said, his voice calm but firm. "If he wants to negotiate, we take it smoothly. But…"
"If he attacks…" Retina's eyes darkened.
"Then…" Rio's lips curled into a confident smirk. "I'll show him what the King's sword can really do."
> [Skill Unlocked: A Thousand Slashes!]
"'A Thousand Slashes'…" Retina murmured, her gaze meeting Rio's. "That's new."
"Just wait," Rio said with a glint in his eyes. "If he tries anything, he'll regret it."
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Eyes on the Castle
"Iris," Rio turned to her. "Keep your beast vision active. I want eyes on everything happening around that castle."
"On it," Iris replied, her silver eyes glowing as she activated her beast vision.
> [Iris activates: Beast Vision!]
Her vision extended across the castle grounds, capturing every movement, every shift in energy.
"Nothing's getting past me," Iris assured.
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Commanding the Dragon
"Retina," Rio said softly. "Keep the dragon ready. If things go south… we might need another rain of fire."
"Understood." Retina's hand rested gently on the dragon's scales, her connection with the creature steady and unwavering.
"Let's see how this plays out…" Rio murmured, his eyes narrowing as the vampire lord took a step forward.
The game was about to begin.
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