Chapter 333: Grapple
"Order?"
"The new order shall be established by me!"
Cassius let out a thunderous roar toward the sky. His veins bulged, muscles protruding like iron blocks. With a mighty flap of his wings, his colossal form shot into the heavens like an arrow loosed from a bow.
"Boom!"
The ground where the red dragon once stood cracked violently, forming dense, web-like fissures and a massive crater tens of meters wide.
Invisible shockwaves radiated outward from the crater, sweeping across the barren plain. The gust, filled with sand and debris, blew so fiercely that even mortals hundreds of meters away couldn't keep their eyes open.
The red dragon tucked his wings tightly against his body, streamlining himself to cut through the air.
He ascended rapidly, sparks flying off his scales from friction. Firelight emerged from the pores along his neck and tail, and a blazing trail followed him. Like a meteor in reverse, he soared to an altitude of hundreds of meters in less than a breath.
Cassius was enveloped in flames, lightning, and ash. As his speed increased, a torrent of magical energy surged around him.
His massive body tore through the air, creating sonic booms one after another as he hurtled directly toward the ancient silver dragon high above.
Oszedro's expression grew increasingly grim as he recognized the terrifying power of this overwhelming strike.
The ancient silver dragon raised the astral scepter in his claw, chanting ancient draconic words imbued with infinite magic. Countless silver stars encircled him, connecting and spinning rapidly to form a glowing sphere with a diameter of over a hundred meters.
But that wasn't all. The outer layers of the network were coated with smooth, transparent ice crystals exuding chilling frost and reflecting dazzling magical light. Together, they formed an orderly and enormous polyhedron.
"Boom!"
Cassius's attack struck directly against it but failed to break through.
The searing flame jetting from his maw struck the smooth surface, only to be reflected outward, creating yet another molten crater on the unlucky ground below.
This unbreakable defensive spell absorbed and reflected all surrounding energies, shielding the ancient silver dragon within.
Watching Cassius's repeated setbacks, Oszedro smirked confidently.
"Red dragon! Your attacks are weak and feeble!"
But Oszedro overlooked one critical detail—he had not sealed the spatial dimensions.
With millennia of ingrained habits, the silver dragon presumed sorcerers primarily relied on elemental spells for energy output, as few understood the intricacies of spatial magic.
Moreover, sorcerers could not choose their spell tables, which was why they were disdainfully called "barbarians among spellcasters." However, he was unaware that Cassius was no ordinary sorcerer.
"Whoosh—"
Cassius grinned menacingly, extending his claws to tear through space itself. A fiery portal emerged, its edges aflame, leading straight into the protective spell's interior.
"No!"
Oszedro's expression shifted dramatically as he hastily attempted a counterspell. But the red dragon's speed was far too great.
In an instant, the spatial distortion rippled, and a blurred figure zipped through. Even Oszedro's true sight-enhanced eyes struggled to track the movement. The red dragon was suddenly upon him, seizing his wings with his powerful claws.
"Got you, you troublesome old lizard!"
Cassius roared, locking his grip with all his might. His fiery maw lunged toward the silver dragon's neck.
But the magic-obsessed dragon had reflexive contingencies; layers of triggered protective spells manifested across his silver body, resisting the red dragon's piercing teeth.
However, ordinary spells were no match for the red dragon's might.
Those magical barriers lasted only seconds before his sharp teeth shredded through them as if tearing thin paper. They punctured the scales with a violent thrust.
Shattered silver scales scattered in the air, glinting brilliantly under the sunlight.
Red blood sprayed forth.
"Aaargh—"
The silver dragon's high-pitched wail drew the attention of all living beings on the battlefield. Humans, tieflings, and dragons alike turned their gazes skyward to witness two colossal creatures locked in ferocious combat. It felt as though an ancient battle was unfolding before their eyes, and the red dragon clearly held the upper hand.
Yet the ancient silver dragon's strength was formidable, and his battle experience far surpassed Cassius's.
Oszedro struggled fiercely in the air, thrashing and twisting. He cast multiple transmutation and protective spells upon his immense silver body, sending icicles, force fields, and whirlwinds toward the red dragon. These unconventional counterattacks eventually dislodged Cassius's grip, freeing the silver dragon from his crushing hold.
But the silver dragon had no time to recover. Before he could even cast another spell, the red dragon struck again with blinding speed.
The two dragons collided, tumbling downward in a chaotic spiral. They crashed into an icy mountain below, shattering it with an earth-shaking impact.
In the close-quarters scuffle, Oszedro seemed to notice something peculiar.
A scent.
This red dragon carried the scent of rainwater.
He recognized it well—a distinctive fragrance unique to the silver dragon lineage, reminiscent of the freshness after rainfall.
Before he descended with his clan, there was only one silver dragon in the Anzeta Wasteland—his cherished granddaughter, "Silver Star" Olivia.
Oszedro's expression changed drastically. Disregarding the dignified composure of a mage, he lunged at the red dragon in fury, shouting:
"Red dragon! You carry the scent of a silver dragon!"
"Where is Olivia?"
"What have you done to her?!"
Overwhelmed by rage, the ancient silver dragon's aura surged. His muscles bulged with anger, and his strength grew more formidable than ever, temporarily overpowering the red dragon.
Over a thousand years of life had dulled Oszedro's emotions, leaving him detached from most worldly concerns. He no longer sought to uphold justice as fervently as in his youth, nor did he care for the lives of mortals.
But family remained his final sanctuary—a responsibility he could never forsake.
"Hahaha!"
"Old lizard, didn't you know? Your precious granddaughter is now a proud citizen of the kingdom!"
Cassius laughed maniacally, mustering immense strength to slam the silver dragon's twisted face aside before clawing deep gashes into his opponent's flank.
Oszedro ignored the injuries on his face, unfurling his broad silver wings. Enraged, he charged at the red dragon, roaring:
"You're lying!"
"Olivia was personally trained by me. She is inherently kind and righteous. How could she possibly submit to a bloodthirsty fiend like you?!"
Cassius lunged forward to meet him head-on, colliding with the silver dragon's massive form. His claws and fangs tore through the silver scales.
"Old lizard, this only proves that your outdated ideals no longer hold!"
"Even your own granddaughter rejects your so-called 'order.' And you think such nonsense can make you the world's arbiter of balance?"
"What a joke!"
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