Chapter 461: Fierce Battle
The sound of air rupturing.
A pillar of blue-white flame erupted from the red dragon's maw, descending like divine retribution and striking directly toward the fire elemental Pasha.
The terrifying heat distorted the surrounding space, even overwhelming the Fire Elemental Plane itself.
[Primordial Flame Breath]
"Fire Lord above..."
His face turned pale under the searing light as he instinctively prayed, then raised his shield with all his might.
If that breath hit him—
He would die!
Even though Ismail was a spirit of fire, he couldn't withstand such a high-tier energy assault.
The rings and necklaces on his body glowed simultaneously, activating multiple protective spells. Layers of magical shields materialized above the fire elemental.
"Boom!"
The collision of energy triggered an explosion.
Flames scattered, and chaotic waves of elemental energy surged in all directions.
The stalemate lasted only a few seconds before the blue-white pillar of fire pierced through several protective spells and crashed into the fire elemental's shield.
"Red dragon—"
Ismail raised the shield high, his muscles bulging as he miraculously withstood the fire.
But the sheer force pressed him down, cracking the ground beneath him and revealing flowing magma below.
While blocking the breath, Ismail shifted across the ground, searching for a chance to counterattack.
Yet, a faint green glow streaked past him unnoticed.
High above, Cassius had extended a single clawed finger, aiming directly at him.
"Bang!"
The green beam struck the shield and released a spherical field of disintegration magic.
The [Shield of the Ancient Beast] instantly dulled, cracks forming across its surface before it shattered into a pile of dust.
"What is this—"
"Not good, Greater Disintegrate!"
Ismail's expression shifted drastically, but his extensive combat experience kicked in. The moment the disintegration field touched his other gear, he reacted.
[Antimagic Field]
A silver ring on his finger lit up, conjuring an antimagic field that intercepted the disintegration effect.
The 1% chance for Greater Disintegrate to bypass antimagic defenses and destroy artifacts didn't trigger this time, sparing him.
For powerful warriors, such defensive magic gear was standard.
Ismail rolled forward, then tore through space and reappeared hundreds of meters away.
"A dragon sorcerer..."
"This just got tricky."
Ismail gazed up at the red dragon hovering above, his expression growing more serious.
A red dragon alone was already a natural war machine.
Their scorching breath, razor-sharp teeth, and powerful tails were formidable weapons, not to mention their innate spellcasting abilities.
But a red dragon sorcerer, who could cast not only standard draconic spells but also unexpected and powerful sorcery, was far more terrifying.
Engaging in a long-range spell duel with such a creature was like asking for death.
This wasn't looking good.
But Cassius didn't give Ismail much time to strategize.
The pillar of fire plowed through the ground, carving deep trenches as it swept relentlessly toward the Pasha.
Without his legendary [Shield of the Ancient Beast], Ismail could only scramble to evade on foot.
"No, this can't go on!"
He rolled forward again, narrowly dodging the fiery blast. Determination filled his eyes as he gritted his teeth.
There was no other choice.
The red dragon's breath was too powerful, and with its sorcery capabilities, continuing like this would only lead to defeat—or death.
The fire elemental Pasha let out a furious roar:
"Red dragon! I intended to use the power granted by the Grand Sultan against the Holy Flame Prince!"
"But you've pushed me too far!"
Ismail threw his head back and howled, the orichalcum rings around his neck spinning rapidly and releasing immense energy.
The ground trembled beneath him.
Flames danced wildly around him.
The entire Fire Elemental Plane seemed to resonate with his power, as steam surged and embers flickered while ash rained from the sky.
It was as if the plane itself celebrated his call.
As an elemental native, every fire elemental was naturally connected to the plane, but only the strongest could harness this power.
Cassius wasn't one to sit around waiting for transformations. He unleashed a flurry of icy torrents, crackling lightning, and blinding fire pillars.
But the plane's inherent rules blocked his breath attacks, shielding Ismail behind a barrier of flames, ash, and steam.
Cassius could deploy stronger abilities, of course—
But there was no need.
He observed the roaring Pasha with an intrigued glint in his golden eyes.
"So this is the power of the Grand Sultan, huh..."
"Ah, now I understand why the system rated him at challenge level 24. This guy's interesting."
Ismail's chants echoed across the land:
"O Fire Lord, in the name of the son of the Elemental Plane, I pray to you..."
"Grant me the power... to repel this invader!"
"Boom!"
A column of fire shot skyward!
Bathed in blinding flames and surrounded by steam clouds, Ismail's body rapidly expanded, growing larger and more imposing.
He swelled into a towering figure nearly thirty meters tall, standing amidst flowing magma and roaring flames as he unleashed a thunderous roar.
"Red dragon!"
"You've angered the one opponent you should never have provoked!"
"I, the noble fire elemental Pasha Ismail, in the name of the Grand Sultan, shall deliver your demise!"
Ismail raised his brass scimitar high and glared at the distant red dragon with fiery eyes.
Fiery threads danced around him, and molten ripples spread across the ground, distorting the space around him with every motion.
The Fire Elemental Plane was the very essence of fire incarnate.
As a spirit of fire and self-proclaimed ruler of the plane, the Pasha now wielded a sliver of its power.
"Ismail..."
"Now you're finally worth taking seriously."
Cassius exhaled a breath of sulfur-scented heat, his gaze brimming with excitement as he stared at the towering elemental before him.
He flapped his wings and ascended once more.
[Immortal Reversal Scales]
[Serpent's Grace]
[Energy Damage Immunity]
[Enhanced Energy Scales]
Cassius's body shimmered with a network of magical lights, each enchantment reinforcing every inch of his form.
He wasn't just relying on his innate draconic magic—embedded between his scales were various magical artifacts gifted by the empire's citizens.
Even the membranes of his wings were inscribed with spells like [Otiluke's Exorcism Barrier] and [Radiant Sigil].
He had learned many tricks from "Silver Wing" Ostzedro.
"Damn lizard..."
Ismail seethed, feeling the power surging within him as he glared at the distant dragon. He wanted nothing more than to tear Cassius apart.
This power could only be used once every hundred years.
He had intended to use it to achieve glory during the Burning War.
But this sudden red dragon had disrupted his plans and now threatened his life.
"Red dragon! You are powerful!"
"But you will never defeat a noble Pasha in the heart of the Fire Elemental Plane!"
"Boom!"
Ismail roared as he stomped the ground, creating fractures across the land before leaping hundreds of meters into the air.
His massive form left a trail of ash and smoke behind as he slashed through the air with his brass scimitar, aiming straight for the airborne red dragon.
The scimitar glowed with a searing brilliance, its edge cutting through space itself.