The World of Mercenaries

Chapter 15: Dark Magic

The green dragon’s figure dissolved into specks of light, seemingly disappearing into the vast sky. But just as the four adventurers heaved a sigh of relief, the green specks suddenly grew larger and split into two—another dragon had joined the fray.

The immense force of their descent was overwhelming. With powerful wingbeats, one dragon sliced through the air, folding its wings tightly for greater speed before striking again. Meanwhile, the other dragon materialized shards of ice before it, like countless knives raining down upon Leige. From the injured dragon oozed crimson blood, and fiery orbs, accompanied by gleeful laughter from attached fire spirits, shot out like a rapid-fire barrage.

The Wind Phantom Dragon floating in midair was decimated almost instantly under the assault of fire and ice.

Without pause, the elemental fury tore through the phantom dragon’s illusory form, surging toward Leige like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Centered around Leige, the fire and ice clashed against his Absolute Magic Barrier, scattering outward in every direction. The white ice blades and red flames combined into a towering wall of destruction.

Though the barrier could deflect Tier-1 and Tier-2 magic, it could not withstand the relentless physical pressure of successive impacts. Leige was forced back, step by step, under the onslaught.

“Spirits of darkness, I command you to become my shield,” Leige chanted. With no other options, he resorted to summoning a Dark Shield, a rare defensive spell from the domain of dark magic. By concentrating energy into a massive black shield, this spell absorbed impacts and mitigated damage, far surpassing standard magical barriers. Its only drawback was its limited duration.

With the help of the Dark Shield, the ice blades and flames were quickly absorbed and dissipated.

Suddenly, the green dragon burst through the veil of fire and ice, its massive claws slashing through the air like lightning, tearing into the Absolute Barrier.

Dragons, without a doubt, are incredibly intelligent creatures.

Upon realizing their foe could neutralize magic and cast high-level spells, they swiftly changed tactics. By employing quick, low-level magical attacks, they pressured Leige into abandoning the time-consuming preparation of advanced spells. Then, they turned to physical strikes to break through the barrier designed to repel only magical assaults.

And they succeeded.

Even the Dark Shield could not withstand the dragon’s claws.

Dragons’ magical attacks are devastating against groups, but when facing formidable single opponents, their sharp fangs, powerful wings, and long tails become their most fearsome weapons. Most terrifying of all are the razor-sharp claws on their forelimbs. A mature dragon’s claws, measuring up to a meter long, can effortlessly tear through the hide of elephants and rhinos. Even a heavy infantryman’s oak shield would be shredded like paper—let alone the frail body of a human.

Ten sharp claws slashed through the Absolute Barrier like spears. The Dark Shield delayed them only briefly before the claws tore through with a whistling wind.

Suddenly!

A flash of silver erupted. A massive steel shield met the dragon’s claws with a deafening clang, sending sparks flying. “Ugh,” came a muffled groan as Chi Hanfeng and his steed Xiaobai staggered back two steps from the impact.

As a seasoned knight, Chi Hanfeng knew that a mage belonged behind a warrior, casting spells from a safe distance. Prepared to intervene, he hadn’t expected the dragon’s assault to be so swift and ferocious. Even with Xiaobai’s snow affinity granting him exceptional speed, it had been a last-second defense against the dragon’s deadly blow.

Yet even then, a dragon’s strength was beyond human reckoning. Crimson blood seeped from Chi Hanfeng’s lips as he swallowed hard, showing no hesitation. From beneath the shield, his gleaming knight’s lance darted forward like a venomous serpent, aiming for the injured dragon’s belly.

Caught by inertia, the green dragon’s massive body crashed against the shield. It twisted desperately to evade, but the lance pierced through its left wing.

“Hiss—” The dragon let out a mournful wail, flapping its wings to ascend once more. But after rising a few meters, it twisted midair and came crashing down onto the snow-covered slope, sending a cloud of snow flying.

“Dark dragon Landa, I summon you in the name of darkness,” Leige began chanting again, his voice steady despite the chaos.

The second dragon, sensing the immense power and magical surge emanating from its foes, abandoned the fight. It flew over the injured dragon, gripping its back with its claws. With a resonant cry, both dragons disappeared behind the mountain ridge.

“Ha! A great knight steps forth, and two mere dragons flee instantly!” Chi Hanfeng struck a triumphant pose, lance pointed skyward and shield at his chest. Holding the pose for an exaggerated 20 seconds, he asked smugly, “How’s that for style?”

“Stylish, absolutely stunning,” Amy replied, accustomed to such antics, playing along with resignation.

Chi Hanfeng draped an arm over Leige’s shoulder, feigning tears. “Leige, you can’t die! What will I tell my family, my family’s family, and my family’s family’s family if you leave me like this?” His melodramatic lament abruptly cut off.

“Oh, you think you’re so stylish? Fine, stay in that pose for two hours,” Leige retorted, leading the two children onward.

Xiaobai followed behind, carrying the now-petrified Chi Hanfeng. Low-hanging branches and protruding cliffs scraped against him, leaving a trail of small cuts and bruises on his previously “stylish” pose. No doubt, Chi Hanfeng was silently crying inside.

That night, while the two children slept, Chi Hanfeng motioned for Leige to join him away from the fire.

“Leige, why didn’t you use your Tier-5 Ice Blizzard Dragon spell earlier?” Chi Hanfeng asked.

“The green dragon is ice-affiliated. That spell would have been ineffective,” Leige replied, his tone unusually serious.

“I recall Dark Dragon Landa is the ultimate spell of the dark element. Is that correct?”

“Yes. I didn’t expect you to know so much about magic. Why didn’t you study it? It’s not too late to start…” Leige tried to deflect.

“You’re a neutral-aligned mage. How could you cast a dark-element ultimate spell?” Chi Hanfeng pressed.

Leige fell silent for a long moment, meeting Chi Hanfeng’s gaze. “There are some things I can’t tell you yet. Please understand.” With that, the mage returned to the fire and lay down, a soft sigh escaping him.

That night, neither Leige nor Chi Hanfeng slept well.

The next day, as they ascended higher, the snow thickened, and the path disappeared entirely. The wind howled fiercely, threatening to sweep them away if they didn’t hold tightly to the branches.

After crossing a small ridge, they found themselves standing before a vast, empty circular plain, nearly 1,000 meters in diameter—aptly named the Green Dragon Terrace. At the center stood a massive rock, its southern face marked by a dark, gaping cave. Wisps of white vapor rose from the entrance.

This was their destination.

Lü’er, spotting the cave, bounded forward, tumbling clumsily in its eagerness. Daqingshan followed closely, worried the little dragon might hurt itself.

Inside, the cave wasn’t dark. Every 20 meters, a magical flame floated in midair, casting cold, flickering light. Maintaining such an extravagant array of wizard’s fire, with each flame lasting only two hours, would require countless mages.

As they proceeded, glowing green ice spirits emerged along the path, disappearing into the walls upon seeing Lü’er.

The path sloped downward but remained dry. Perhaps due to the depth, the air grew warmer. Suddenly, the space opened up into a colossal cavern.

It was a sight beyond imagination.

The ceiling was adorned with massive, multicolored stalactites, some over ten meters long. The tips crackled with tiny arcs of lightning, connecting to form a vast electrical grid. The walls glittered with fish-scale-like white crystals, reflecting brilliant light. At the center of the cavern stood a platform piled high with gold, gems, and other treasures, gleaming in the dim light.

Lü’er scrambled onto the platform, sniffing curiously before diving into the hoard, rolling gleefully among the riches.

But as Lü’er rolled, the cavern trembled. The lightning on the stalactites surged, cascading like waterfalls, and a massive green dragon materialized within the electric web. It was five times larger than the earlier dragons.

This was the voice they had heard in the valley.

“My child, this is our final meeting,” the dragon said, its voice heavy with emotion. “The Dragon God summons me. All that you see here is yours to inherit. For years, I have sealed your magic. Now, by the will of Pyrot, I release your full potential.”

Bolts of lightning converged on Lü’er, engulfing it in a storm of energy. As the lightning crackled, Lü’er’s form began to change: small horns sprouted on its head, tiny buds grew into wings on its back, and it let out a pained cry, spewing a stream of fire.

“Farewell, my child,” the dragon said, fading away with the last of the lightning.

Chi Hanfeng and Leige, sensing the release of tension, immediately pounced on the treasure hoard.

Chi Hanfeng clutched a handful of gold coins, laughing maniacally. “I’ve struck it rich! No more scrimping and saving! These lean years are finally over.”

Leige, meanwhile, sifted through the pile, discarding items he deemed unworthy and pocketing the valuables.

“Whoosh!” A burst of fire from Lü’er’s mouth stopped them in their tracks. The little dragon seemed deeply offended by their thievery.

Feigning innocence, Chi Hanfeng quickly dropped the bag of coins. “Oh, you don’t want me to take it? Well, you should’ve said something! Spraying fire willy-nilly—what if you melt the gold?”

Despite his words, he discreetly grabbed another handful of coins. “These are for Daqingshan’s tuition. Very reasonable, considering I’m a Spirit Beast Knight. Back in the capital, this would cost an entire bag of gold. This is a discounted rate—just 88% off!” he declared.

Lü’er, bewildered, nodded hesitantly, unaware it had been swindled.

Thus, with treasures far exceeding their expectations, the group left the dragon lair. That night, Chi Hanfeng, clutching his bag of gold, couldn’t sleep. Leige, repeatedly checking his books and rings, also remained awake. Lü’er, however, slept soundly but was plagued by nightmares.

In the annals of history, the year 199 of the Red Moon Calendar would prove momentous:

The first ice-element Archmage in nearly a century, Leige, emerged from the Tower of Ice Wishes, heralding a sudden resurgence of magical spirits across the continents.

The future King of Mercenaries met his lifelong companion, Daqingshan.

For the first time, the ancient Sacred Dragons displayed their terrifying power, beginning with the Ice Dragons.

—Notes from the Research of Neil Haber