Chapter 39: The Dragon's Wrath
Grim approached the lair of the red dragon, his steps steady and eyes locked on the beast's towering form. The sheer presence of the dragon was enough to make the ground tremble and the air grow heavy, its aura laced with the scent of fire and death. For most, such a creature would be the embodiment of terror.
But for Grim, it was merely a challenge—a beast to be conquered. Because Grim was different. He thrived on the thrill of battle, the dance of death, and the madness of the impossible.
The dragon lay curled upon a bed of molten rock, its crimson scales shimmering with heat, each breath causing a low rumble that echoed through the cavern.
It was a creature born of arrogance, believing itself untouchable, its magic barrier a testament to its overwhelming strength. To it, the world was filled with nothing but insects that fled at the mere sight of its majesty.
But Grim was not like others. He moved with calculated precision, his presence masked as he crept closer, a spear clenched tightly in his hand. There was no hesitation. No fear. His left foot slid forward, his right rooted back, and his muscles coiled like a taut spring. With a savage thrust, he hurled the spear at the dragon's neck. The weapon tore through the air with a force amplified by Grim's Void ability, its edges cloaked in darkness.
The magic barrier around the dragon cracked and shattered like glass. The spear drove deep into the beast's neck, blood spraying from the wound as the dragon roared in agony, its bellow shaking the cavern.
But even a wound like that was far from enough to fell a creature of such power. Enraged, the dragon swung its massive tail with the force of a collapsing mountain. Grim twisted his body, dodging the strike, but the instant his feet touched the ground, he lunged forward and slammed his fist against the spear, driving it even deeper.
The dragon's roar turned into a shriek of pain, and its anger flared, eyes burning with savage fury. It released a wave of malevolent energy—the power of Fear 'Dragon Fear'. A spell more dreadful than fire, designed to bring forth one's most nightmarish terrors.
But Grim felt nothing. No dread. No hesitation. Only a crushing pressure that slowed his movements slightly.
The dragon seized the opportunity and struck with its tail, slamming into Grim with the force of a hurricane. The impact sent him hurtling through the air like a broken arrow, his body twisting as he flew helplessly toward the jagged rocks below.
"Now, darling, the wind!" Grim roared.
Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind surged beneath him, catching his fall and propelling him back toward the dragon's lair. Aurelia's magic. The icy chill of her power resonated through the air, her determination sharpening its edge.
Grim was airborne when the dragon unleashed a torrent of flame that engulfed him. But the searing heat never touched his skin. The moment the fire neared him, Grim activated his Void ability, the darkness swallowing the flames whole, leaving nothing but a smoldering trail of ash.
He crashed down toward the beast and slammed his fist into its skull. The force was so great it shattered the bones in his hand, but the pain only seemed to fuel his frenzy.
Grim charged at the red dragon like a beast unleashed from the darkest abyss. His body blurred, moving at a speed beyond the comprehension of most, his steps so fast that the ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of his momentum. His fists swung with the fury of a tempest, smashing against the dragon's shimmering scales, each impact a clash of raw strength and unyielding will.
But the dragon was no ordinary foe. Its amber eyes tracked Grim's every movement, the beast's vision sharp enough to pierce through the veil of speed. It twisted and swayed, its enormous body coiling and uncoiling with a fluid grace that defied its size. It dodged Grim's strikes with ease, the air rippling from the sheer power of Grim's blows as they missed their mark.
Grim's fists crashed against the dragon's scales like hammers striking a mountain. The force of each blow sent shockwaves through his bones, the pain searing, relentless. But he didn't stop. Couldn't stop. His fists were already bloodied, the skin split and torn, but his savage grin only widened.
"Is this all you've got?!" Grim roared, his voice echoing through the cavern, twisted with madness and thrill.
The dragon retaliated with a swipe of its massive tail, the movement so fast and brutal it tore through the air like a whip. Grim leaped over it, his body spinning midair as he swung his spear with ruthless precision. The sharp edge of the weapon slashed across the dragon's wing, slicing through the membrane with a sickening tear.
The beast roared in agony, the sound deafening. Its wings flapped desperately, trying to take flight, but the damage was done. Blood poured from the wound, staining the molten rock below.
Aurelia's magic shot through the air like a deadly storm. Fire bullets, ice shards, and blasts of wind hammered the dragon from all directions, each attack fired with pinpoint accuracy. But Aurelia's constant teleportation made her position impossible to pinpoint. One moment she was to the dragon's left, the next she was high above, her gaze sharp and determined.
The dragon's frustration grew as it swung its claws in every direction, snapping its jaws with a force that could crush boulders. Each time it lunged at Grim, trying to catch him in its merciless maw, the young man would dart away at the last moment, his speed a terrifying blur.
It unleashed torrents of fire, scorching waves of heat that could have incinerated armies. It conjured bolts of lightning and storms of poison, but Grim's Void ability swallowed it all. The darkness clung to him like a shadowy armor, devouring every ounce of magic the beast threw at him. The dragon's arsenal of spells was rendered useless.
With nothing left but brute force, the beast roared and lunged. Its claws carved through the air, missing Grim by mere inches. Its jaws snapped shut with the power to chew him alive, but each time, Grim twisted away with a monstrous speed that left the dragon growling in rage.
"Your magic's useless now, huh?" Grim taunted, swinging his spear at the dragon's wing joint. The blade pierced deep, the muscles tearing and blood spraying like rain.
The dragon slammed its massive arm down, forcing Grim to leap away before the ground split under the impact. But before Grim could even catch his breath, the beast whipped its tail at him, the strike faster than a hurricane's wrath.
This time, Grim couldn't dodge completely. The tail struck him across the chest, launching him like a broken doll into the air. His back slammed against the stone wall, blood spraying from his lips. But even as agony coursed through his body, his eyes glowed with savage hunger.
"Is that all you've got?!" Grim laughed, his voice a crazed shout. The thrill of the fight was intoxicating. Even pain was just another stimulant, pushing him forward.
The dragon lunged at him, jaws wide, fangs gleaming like blades. One bite would be enough to end his life. But Grim twisted his body, rolling to the side, his spear cutting through the dragon's arm, leaving a deep, bloody gash.
Aurelia's magic continued its onslaught, her spells darting from the shadows like ethereal assassins. The dragon's head snapped in every direction, unable to pinpoint the source. Its eyes widened in frustration, then fury.
Grim took advantage of its confusion, charging forward and slamming his fists against its scales. The blows were savage, relentless, each strike fueled by pure willpower. His bones screamed in protest, but his madness only grew.
Ten hours.
Ten hours of fighting, dodging, clashing, and tearing. Both combatants were on the verge of collapse. The dragon's wings were shredded, its scales chipped and broken, blood pouring from wounds too numerous to count.
Grim's body was barely holding together. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes burned with defiance.
The two stared at each other, their bodies swaying from exhaustion. For a moment, the world was silent. The dragon's amber eyes narrowed, expecting to see fear in its opponent's gaze.
Instead, Grim smiled.
His lips curled into a wicked grin, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth that seemed to gleam with a sinister light. The corners of his mouth stretched wide, almost unnaturally so, as if the smile itself was a mask concealing darker intentions. His eyes, cold and calculating, sparkled with a mischievous delight that sent a shiver down the dragon's spine.
It was a smile that promised danger, a smile that hinted at secrets and malevolence hidden just beneath the surface.
For the first time in its life, the dragon felt true terror.
Rage flared within the beast as it roared in defiance. Its body began to glow with a terrifying radiance, gathering all of its magical power into a single, devastating attack meant to annihilate everything before it. The air trembled with the sheer intensity of the power being unleashed.
Grim's body trembled, not from fear, but from pure exhaustion. His limbs felt like lead, his strength barely holding him upright. He could feel his consciousness slipping, his vision darkening.
From afar, Aurelia watched in horror. She couldn't let it end like this.
But then a voice tore through the chaos, a scream so loud and fierce it made the dragon hesitate.
"I'm not going to let my husband die, you damn dragon! He's mine! If he has to die, he needs my permission!" Aurelia's voice thundered through the air.
From her position, Aurelia's hands trembled as she gathered every last drop of mana stored in her heart, her eyes blazing with ferocious determination. She poured everything into a single spell, a blast of icy fury so overwhelming it froze the very air.
The spell crashed against the dragon with such force that it tore through its scales and skin, encasing the beast in a crystalline prison of ice so thick it shimmered like a frozen ocean.
But the cost was catastrophic. Aurelia's body collapsed, her heart struggling to beat, her vision blurring as all the mana in her body was spent. Her body could not function without mana, and her heartbeat began to slow.
Seeing his chance, Grim summoned the last of his strength and lunged at the dragon. His shattered fist slammed into the spear still lodged in the beast's neck. With one final, devastating blow, the spear tore through the dragon's throat, bursting from the other side in a spray of blood.
The dragon's life ended with a broken, gurgling breath. Its massive body slumped to the ground, lifeless.
Grim collapsed beside the corpse, his body trembling, his consciousness flickering. But even through the haze of pain and exhaustion, his thoughts were only of Aurelia.
And she was dying.