Chapter 83: The Burning Fields (1/2)
“I suggest we run,” Manling Victor pleaded to his master.
The dragon glanced down at his minion. The two had gathered, alongside Sweet Chocolatine—why a disaster happened whenever his lackey prepared to breed, Vainqueur would never understand—in the tropical forest to make their stand, before Wotan’s arrival. The gate to his hoard, created by [Golden Road], remained open next to them; the dragon had tossed his full princess bag atop his mountains of gold.
“We will not retreat, minion,” Vainqueur replied, the overwhelming pressure of the enemy's aura growing stronger. “We shall make our stand there. Wotan cost me a crown, and I will have Troll Barnabas craft me a new one from his bones.”
“It was a miracle we survived his [Ragnarok] spell the first time,” his Grand Vizier pointed out. “While we have advance warning this time, we are fighting a lightning user in the middle of the ocean. If we laid an ambush on more favorable terrain...”
“On the contrary, minion, I believe we must face him in this place. We have the power, we have the skills, we have the will. Wotan will not relent in his hunt, and a dragon does not run.”
“You have me, Vic!” Chocolatine said with conviction. “I can summon help!”
“If the terrain does not favor us, we must change it,” Vainqueur decided. “The foe we face is strong, but V&V does not know defeat! We have bested grasshoppers, vampires, fairies, and all foes who stood in my way! The empire will prevail!”
Charisma check successful! You have reminded your servant of your own invincibility!
“Alright, in that case, no time to waste,” Manling Victor said, with the true authority of a tactical chief of staff. “I will call allies with my [Diabolism] spells, and so will Chocolatine. Meanwhile, His Majesty must burn the forest to the ground.”
“This will reveal our location, minion,” Vainqueur pointed out.
“But the smoke and flames will reduce their air maneuverability, and both of us are immune to fire. Not them.” He turned to Chocolatine. “Can you—”
“[Fire Ward],” the priestess replied, casting protection on herself.
Vainqueur moved to action. Closing his [Golden Road] to keep his SP, he unleashed his mighty breath on the trees. Within seconds, he started an inferno so powerful, even the rain could not extinguish it. His flames spread all around the group, smoke, and steam filling up the skies.
“[Summon Prayer of Isengrim]!” Chocolatine prayed, two giant golden wolves materializing at her side. The sweet girl herself soon transformed into a silver-furred werewolf, her clothes adapting to her new size, and she quickly cast fire protection spells on her allies.
Manling Victor’s own summoning sounded decidedly more impressive. “[Ars Goetia: Happyland Battle Harem]!”
In total, eight creatures materialized to answer his chief of staff, each of them female. Four manling-like females with velvet bat wings and sinuous pointy tail; two dark cousins of Miel the angel, with black feathered wings and wielding bows of fire; and finally two womanly creatures with the lower body of snakes and six arms instead of two, each carrying a different weapon.
“Oh, hi Mr. Victor,” one of the serpentlike women said, sounding like the leader of the troop. “Good to see you again. Why did you call our company for? Security service, or the group massage special?”
“Vic...” Chocolatine trailed, sound half jealous, half hungry. “What are these, a buffet? Succubi are not good at fighting!”
“We find the term ‘succubi’ old fashioned and racially demeaning,” one of the bat-winged demoness’ replied. “We prefer the term ‘horizontal angels.’”
“I swear they are very good at close combat,” Manling Victor said. “I checked. Also, battle special.”
”Oh,” one of the winged creatures said, disappointed.
“The happiness of our major shareholders is the paramount goal of our VIP security company,” the second snake creature said. Vainqueur found it very pleasing to see his minion had recruited more 'scaled' creatures. “Ladies, form a perimeter.”
“I cannot cast protection spells on His Majesty since your [Spell Purge] will remove them,” Manling Victor lamented, raising his hands at the skies. “But I can take away that storm [Control Weather: Sunny Day]!”
Obeying the might of Manling Victor’s sorcery, the rainy clouds dispersed, letting the bright sun shine strong in the skies.
The weather condition changed to [Sunny Day]! [Fire], [Plant], [Light] and [Sun] effects will be strengthened, while [Water], [Darkness], and [Frost] effects are weakened!
“Good, now [Spirit Shield].” The minion summoned his protective barrier around himself, but no sooner did he do so, than dark clouds and lightning bolts reappeared.
King Wotan’s [Storm Caller] passive Perk changed the weather to [Heavy Thunderstorm]! [Lightning], [Wind] and [Water] attacks will be greatly strengthened, [Fire] attacks will be weakened!
“Argh, the storm is a passive ability,” Victor complained, as he kept casting buffing spells on himself. “I can counter it, but whenever my focus slips away, it returns… and he can strengthen [Ragnarok].”
Once, Vainqueur would have flown straight to the enemy, fearlessly engaged him in aerial combat without bothering to prepare. He would have fought Wotan the dragon way.
But Bat Lavere had taught him a very important lesson when she had almost trapped the dragon in a bottle. That some foes could hurt him, and underestimating them could be fatal. If Wotan had trained all his life to fight dragons, then Vainqueur would defeat him as a dragon tactician.
“Then minions, you shall protect my Vizier, while he clears the weather,” Vainqueur declared with his commander voice. “Do not let Wotan summon his lightning. [Fire Crown], [Spell Purge]!”
As flames surrounded his body, incinerating his captain’s hat but leaving his kingly mantle unharmed, Manling Victor once again cleared the skies of the thunderstorm… only for an arrow of light to pierce the smoke clouds, aiming straight at Manling Victor.
“[Heartseeker Spear]!”
“[Victory Fist],” Vainqueur said as he flew towards the projectile, deflecting it from its course with his hands. An electrical shroud around the weapon damaged his claws slightly, but the spear landed on cindered trees nearby, having widely missed its targets.
Here came Dragonbane.
Riding on his monstrous horse’s back, King Wotan flew through the clouds of smoke, eight valkyries following him. His spear returned to his hand without a word, while Vainqueur’s wounds closed on their own as [Master’s Shield] activated.
The fairy lord offered no word of warning, no unworthy boast. He offered Vainqueur only the swift promise of a fight to the death.
“[Call the Hunt],” Wotan thundered, two monstrous fairy beasts appearing in a puff of smoke among the flames, trapping Manling Victor’s group in a pincer attack. These elephant-sized hounds of pure darkness growled back at Chocolatine’s wolves, who howled back. Meanwhile, the fomor’s valkyries called upon a ghostly, warrior spirit each, doubling their numbers.
“Sigrun!” Wotan pointed his spear at Vainqueur. “Leave the dragon to me, and slay the rest!”
“[Master’s Aegis]!” One of the valkyries, which Vainqueur assumed to be the leader, called upon her magic. Silvery bonds of light briefly linked Wotan and his escort before vanishing.
Half of any damage King Wotan receives shall be distributed to his Valkyries!
Good, that way Vainqueur could kill them all at once!
“For the empire!” the great wyrm roared, as he lunged at Wotan in the skies, leaving his minions to fight in the burning forest. “For my hoard!”
[Victory Roar] activated! All enemies had their strength lowered by one stage!
Stat decrease negated by King Wotan’s [Fomor Arrogance]!
The dragon and the fairy lord circled one another above the burning forest, while on the ground their minions fiercely engaged one another amidst the flames. Vainqueur opened his mouth to unleash a devastating fireball, opening the hostilities.
The fairy lord called upon a shield of swirling winds, deflecting the flames around his horse and himself. He charged at the dragon, intending to pierce his hide, and Vainqueur welcomed the closer proximity. Trusting in his abilities, the Emperor attempted to grab the spear and disarm Wotan, pulling him from his horse.
But the fairy lord, sensing a trap, immediately backed down, the dragon pursuing him relentlessly.
“You fight better, Knightsbane, but not well enough.” King Wotan enhanced his spear and lightning, clearly intending to replicate the strategy that allowed him to surprise Vainqueur last time. “[Supreme Thunder: Dragonslayer], [Maximize Lightning].”
King Wotan’s [Lightning] attacks will ignore resistance, and inflict additional [Dragonslayer] damage!
[Lightning] element greatly strengthened!
The dragon didn’t let him. “[Shining Majesty]!”
Vainqueur’s scales brightened to gold, and then unleashed a searing, blinding flash of light. King Wotan, too certain that his windy shield would protect him, was hit head-on.