The Queen of Dragons rose in the heart of Drakenvaar, freeing herself from her millennia-old prison of stone. Her jade scales glistened in the moonlight, sparkling like a living jewel.
With each movement, fragments of rock fell from its body, crashing onto roofs and walls, which bowed under the creature's strength. Its wings, opening for the first time in centuries, covered part of the sky like a storm curtain.
It was huge.
Its claws crushed the square, and its eyes shone with a primitive glow, not of hatred, but of recognition.
Arisa couldn't contain the trembling in her hands. Her bow, once the symbol of her courage, now seemed too light, too insignificant.
Renji, beside her, felt the weight of instinct. His body screamed to hide somewhere where that titanic force couldn't reach him. But his legs refused to move.
Yui stared at the dragon queen with an empty expression, as if her soul was no longer there. Fear froze her every thought, and the mere sight of that imposing being was enough to almost make her faint.
But the Dragon Queen didn't seem interested in any of them. Her narrowed eyes were fixed on Toru.
She moved her huge head closer, her hot breath escaping through her sharp fangs.
Toru took a step back, feeling the air grow heavy, and his feet wobbled. He raised his hand instinctively, as if he could ward off the monstrous presence with a simple gesture.
A shiver ran down his spine as the Dragon Queen began to laugh. A deep laugh, which reverberated through the room like distant thunder.
"You're not him..." Her voice was deep and ancient, with a tone of debauchery. "But you have his scent... the scent of Art."
Toru took a step back.
"Art...? What are you talking about?"
The creature tilted its head, as if pondering its own words, and then continued.
"I smelled my master... and then the Art of the Immortals was used." She closed her eyes for a moment, as if reflecting on distant memories. "He died a long time ago... so much so that his path was inherited. You... must be his reincarnation."
Toru took another step back, completely confused.
"Reincarnation!? What!?"
The Queen's eyes shone even brighter. She lowered her head even further, until her jade scales were almost touching the ground in front of Toru.
"I await your orders... master."
The shock ran through the necromancer's body like an electric current. Was that real? Was the Dragon Queen, a creature of unimaginable power, bowing down to him?
○
Meanwhile, far above the clouds, two titanic figures confronted each other.
The Maestro hovered in the air, his eyes fixed on the gigantic creature that was now moving through the city below.
Next to him, an adversary he knew very well. The Saint, who with a relaxed expression, materialized a sword behind his back, ready to act.
"Did you plan this?" The Maestro asked, without looking away from the city.
The Saint smiled nonchalantly.
"Ha, come on. I had no idea the boy had such power." His floating sword glowed with an ethereal light. "The idea was just to rescue the kid's friends. The boss came as a gift."
Those words reminded Maestro of something the gray-haired man had mentioned earlier.
"You said you could break my control?"
The Saint let out a short laugh.
"Ha, are you doubting me?"
"Far from it..." He replied calmly, taking a deep breath. "I know I can't underestimate you."
The air became heavy. The clouds above swirled slowly.
The Maestro then took a deep breath.
The Saint frowned, his gaze sharpening. He noticed something subtle. The Maestro's heart was racing and his body seemed to be enveloped by a growing aura of energy.
"Another passive..." He muttered to himself.
Before he could react, the Saint attacked. The floating sword behind him shot towards the Maestro, spinning in a deadly trajectory. Surprisingly, however, the leader of Drakenvaar dodged, moving faster than the gray-haired man expected.
"But how!?"
The Maestro then stretched his fingers towards the sky. A magical pulse ran through the atmosphere, clouds condensed in seconds. Thunder exploded.
BZZT!
A colossal bolt of lightning struck, aiming directly at the Saint, who only raised his right hand.
A blade appeared. Made of pure light and wind, it spun in his hand, cutting the lightning in two.
"Climatic magic... cheap but classic appeal." Mocked the white-haired man.
The Maestro advanced at the same moment, with a sonic boom.
He was a blur in the air, appearing at the Saint's back in an instant. His fist wrapped in purple energy struck the back of his rival's chest.
The impact was devastating.
The Saint was launched like a missile, passing through a cloud and crashing into a rocky hillside outside the city, which exploded into rocks and dust.
The Maestro then put his hand to his eye, taking advantage of the gap to communicate with his servants. "Give me the situation!"
The answer came almost instantly.
"We've got a big problem here!" It was Renji. "The boss's level is unknown. What's more, Yui has awakened. Her path... is absurdly powerful."
The Maestro was silent for a moment, but then gave his orders.
"Spend your forces only on Toru. The dragon is the greatest threat. If the necromancer falls, the beast goes with him."
His voice was full of urgency.
"I can't help you now, because if I remember correctly, this is an elite rank boss."
Arisa intervened, nervously. "What does that mean, Maestro?"
"Elite rank bosses take on the level of the strongest creature nearby. If Santo or I get close, it will copy our level."
The silence was profound. Both Arisa and Renji were shocked. They knew they were completely on their own.
At that moment, a sword of lightning pierced the Maestro's back, impaling him. Communication was cut off abruptly.
"But... how!"
The Saint stood behind him, an arrogant smile on his lips.
"I didn't stand still, you know? In the time we've been apart, I've taken the opportunity to gain some new skills!"
○
On the ground, the ruined city was the scene of a battle that threatened to destroy everything.
Renji, in a cold sweat, gripped his dagger tightly. He knew that fighting this creature was suicide, but he couldn't allow himself to hesitate.
Arisa gasped heavily. Her eyes moved between the dragon and Toru. She couldn't understand why everything was falling apart so quickly.
Yui, meanwhile, hiding behind the necromancer, looked at the creature with a frightened expression.
The Jade Queen then narrowed her bright eyes and focused on Yui.
"Who is that, new master?" her voice rumbled like muffled thunder.
Toru swallowed.
"That's... Yui. A colleague of mine."
"Colleague? Colleague?" The Queen's tone fluctuated, charged with unexpected emotion. "Are you betraying me, sir?"
"What...?"
"I can't believe that everything I've done has been useless to you... The others weren't enough. Now this girl?"
"Wait, you've got it all wrong!" Toru stepped back, raising his hands. "I'm not who you think I am. I don't even know you!"
"Ah..." The Queen's face contorted in pain and anger. "Have you forgotten me...? I... meant nothing to you?"
The atmosphere became even heavier. Toru was trapped emotionally, while the creature mixed old feelings with a reality that no longer existed.
Renji, taking advantage of the collapse of the "relationship", discreetly signaled Arisa to move away and take a position. She understood the message and began to prepare a lightning arrow. It was the only thing that could make a real impact, if she was lucky.
Meanwhile, the rogue synchronized with the goblins' speed and launched himself among the wreckage, running in a zigzag pattern, almost invisible to normal eyes.
When he got close, he changed synchronicity, switching to the power of the Goblin King. Increasing his strength and endurance. The plan was simple: neutralize Toru and end the Queen's bond.
But...
"Renji, wait!"
It was Yui.
She stood in front of him at the last second, her arm outstretched in a desperate gesture. A blue screen appeared before her eyes:
[Change of Suit - Sword Mode ♤]
A bluish blade formed around his wrist, faster than human vision could follow. Renji dodged on instinct, he wouldn't be surprised again. However, the blade still grazed him.
"What...?!" he shouted, staggering to the side. There was a cut on the side of his stomach.
Yui, surprised by her own action, widened her eyes. But she didn't hesitate. The sword symbol shattered into sparks and was replaced by another.
[Change of Suit - Clover Mode ♧]
A black portal opened behind her, and from within it, a staff in the shape of the clover symbol emerged, spinning at high speed. It struck Renji with brutal force, hitting him in the chest.
The armor, although enchanted, did not resist. The impact threw Renji to the ground, knocking over posts, barrels and stones. His body bounced on the ground until he came to a stop, panting, blood dripping from his forehead.
"What the fuck?" he spat, furious.
He tried to synchronize again.
Nothing.
The system didn't respond.
He then quickly opened the interface.
╔════════╗
○ Mana: 0
○ Stamina: 0
╚════════╝
"No..."
Arisa, who had already positioned herself in the distance, read the situation.
"She's absorbed your statistics."
"What do you mean?"
"The sword drained her stamina. The staff... her mana." Arisa swallowed, taking a step back. "Whatever this path of hers is... it's more powerful than yours and mine combined."
Yui, in the distance, raised his eyes. His tone was cold, almost bored.
"Give up. I don't want to keep hurting you."
That voice. That calm. It was no longer the Yui of before.
Arisa gritted her teeth, her frustration exploding.
She drew her bow, loading the fastest of her arrows: lightning. The projectile flashed like encapsulated thunder. In a single movement it shot out, like lightning, it tore through the wind, destroying everything in its path.
Yui sighed.
[Change of Suit - Hearts Mode ♡]
A pink aura enveloped her body, materializing a heart-shaped halo behind her head. Her hands rose instinctively, and a glittering barrier took shape in front of her and Toru.
The arrow hit the barrier with a thud, snaking across the surface like a bolt of lightning stuck in metal, struggling until it dissipated completely.
Arisa lowered her bow in disbelief.
"What the fuck?!"
Yui watched her hands with fascination, as if seeing magic for the first time and knowing deep down that she was born to use it.
And then the Queen's voice cut through the silence:
"You see, master? Your mistress can protect you."
"Stop being crazy!"
Toru exploded.
"She just got her powers! She doesn't even know how to fight! And I... I don't have corpses to control!"
The dragoness snarled.
"Really? Help me out here. If you don't do something, the Maestro will kill everyone here."
The Queen hesitated.
"Maestro..." she muttered. "I remember that name."
"He's the emperor of this city." Toru said, looking around. "The festival that took place here was to celebrate his victory... against you."
Just then, Yui's voice rang out, exhausted:
"Toru, hurry! I won't be able to hold the barrier for long!"
Cracks were spreading across the surface of the pink dome. The girl didn't have enough mana to keep that thing up for several minutes in a row.
The Queen then sighed, realizing her beloved necromancer's concern.
"All right."
She stretched out her neck, opening her immense jaw, while covering Yui and Toru with one of her paws. A greenish aura escaped from its teeth like toxic smoke, exhaling death and the souls of hundreds of fallen warriors.
It was facing the rogue and the archer. Her real intentions were apparent, but the two of them didn't have the speed to react to what was coming next.
And then came the blast.
A blast of pestilential energy was launched at Renji and Arisa, creating a trail of crystals that covered both the houses and the streets of Drakenvaar. At the end of the attack, only a greenish mist hung over the battlefield. Along with a deafening silence.
When the smoke finally cleared, the two of them were lying on the ground, covered in a jade green crust.
The Queen licked her teeth slowly, her gaze hungry; it had been centuries since blood and human flesh had slipped between her teeth. "I'm going to devour them."
"NO!"
Toru shouted, holding out his hand.
"What?"
"They're my friends! Don't hurt them!"
The creature's eyes widened for a moment in surprise.
"Friends...? Have you gotten so soft Art?"
○
In the devastated skies of Drakenvaar, the fight between the two titans had finally come to an end. The Saint, wounded and exhausted, was now writhing under the Maestro's suffocating grip.
"Pathetic... you can't defeat me." The Maestro said coldly, the veins in his hand pulsing as he squeezed his opponent's throat.
And then something changed.
A crack ran through the Maestro's chest. He lost focus for a moment. His eyes widened and his hand wavered slightly in his grip.
"What? Are you afraid to kill? Or is your skill taking too high a toll?" the Saint teased between coughs.
But it wasn't fear. The Maestro had just felt something impossible, the fall of Renji and Arisa.
"What the fuck?" he muttered, more to himself than to the other.
With a dry movement, the Maestro stretched out his free hand, covering the Saint's face with his palm enveloped in black energy.
"Release."
An explosion resounded in the sky.
The impact threw the Saint like a shooting star, crashing into the distant ground. A crater formed under his body, and everything around him fell silent for an instant.
Without hesitation, the Maestro flew towards the battlefield, aiming to protect his chosen one. Like a comet, his form cut through the sky above Drakenvaar, leaving a trail of energy.
When it touched the ground of the city, the earth shook. A crash shook the rubble and what remained of the towers and statues collapsed. Dust rose to cover the entire street surrounding the square.
Yui barely had time to react. With a desperate reflex, she erected a new barrier, protecting the group from the shockwave.
"Wha... what...?" she shouted, her voice laced with fear.
Toru staggered backwards, his eyes wide.
"No... he was supposed to lose."
The Queen turned slowly. Her eyes lit up at the figure emerging from the dust. "You...! I remember you!"
On the Maestro's display, a notification flashed:
[The Dragon Queen Is Assimilating Your Level...]
[Scan Complete]
[Queen of Dragons - Elite Rank - Level 100]
He gritted his teeth.
"Shit..."
And before he could retreat, the Queen opened her jaw.
An emerald blast crossed the field, like a toxic gale of pure energy. The Maestro threw himself to one side, his reflexes heightened by hidden passives. Even so, the trail of puff covered the city.
Where there had once been streets and houses, there was now jade. The floor, the walls, the windows, everything was crystallized in a living, glittering layer.
Then... the greenish crystals shook.
Cracks appeared.
And from within them, life was born.
Lizards, snakes, semi-humanoid creatures. All molded in perfect jade, with eyes glowing a dark shade.
[Jade Slave Detected - Level 100] (33x)
The Maestro's eyes widened.
"It... evolved? I don't remember that ability."
The beasts rushed forward like a tide, grunting and roaring. However, the king of Drakenvaar counterattacked, crushing skulls, throwing bodies and conjuring up explosions. But it was all in vain. The creatures rebuilt themselves from their own wreckage.
"The only way would be to disintegrate... but I don't have enough mana."
And then a flash cut through the sky.
This time, it wasn't the Queen. Nor the Maestro.
It was the Saint.
Bruised.
Drenched in blood.
But standing.
Floating with a sword of white light in his hands.
The city fell silent to hear him.
"Sanctifying Blade..."
He pointed the sword at the sky.
"...Path Breaker."
The world glowed white.
And everyone, for a brief moment, forgot about the war.