Journey to Become the Zenith

Chapter 274: Crimson Flame and Divine Judgment [Part-2]

Crimson Flame and Divine Judgment [Part-2]

CRAAAAACK!!

Silver lightning raced across the undead dragon’s skeleton.

The creature convulsed.

Its movements abruptly slowed.

The death mana surrounding it became unstable.

"It’s working!" Clara shouted.

Videl clenched her fists.

"Now!"

Ruby had already moved.

The moment Natalia created an opening, Ruby acted without hesitation.

Years of combat experience allowed both holy maidens to understand each other’s intentions instinctively.

Even if they disliked each other.

Even if they argued whenever they met.

On the battlefield, their synchronization was flawless.

Ruby tightened her grip around her halberd as mana surged through her body.

Crimson flames suddenly ignited along the weapon’s blade.

At first, they were little more than flickering embers.

Then they exploded outward.

The flames roared to life, spreading across the entire halberd as if a sleeping volcano had awakened. The heat rose rapidly, distorting the surrounding air and causing the space around her to ripple.

Ruby drew a deep breath.

Every muscle in her body tensed.

Every drop of strength she possessed poured into the weapon.

Behind her, the radiant symbol of the War Goddess appeared once more, blazing brilliantly against the dark sky.

A fierce grin spread across Ruby’s face.

"Let’s see if this cracks your skull!"

With a powerful swing, she hurled the halberd.

BOOOOOOM!!

The weapon shot through the air like a divine spear descending from the heavens.

A trail of crimson fire stretched behind it, expanding into a blazing inferno that illuminated the entire forest.

The distance of several hundred meters vanished in the blink of an eye.

The undead dragon sensed the danger and attempted to evade.

Unfortunately for it, Natalia’s chains still bound its massive body.

The brief hesitation was all Ruby needed.

CRASH!!

The flaming halberd slammed directly into the dragon’s skull.

A deafening explosion erupted.

Crimson flames swallowed the creature’s head as fragments of bone scattered in every direction.

The halberd pierced through the outer layers of its skull.

Not enough to completely destroy it.

But enough.

Ruby’s eyes lit up.

"It worked!"

The moment the weapon lodged itself into the dragon’s head, holy flames erupted outward.

Crimson fire spread across the undead dragon’s skeletal body like a living plague.

Holy energy and death mana collided instantly.

The two opposing forces tore into each other with savage intensity, devouring and erasing one another wherever they met.

The dragon threw back its head and released an earth-shaking roar.

ROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!

The sound exploded across the forest.

Trees trembled.

Leaves rained from above.

Even the ground beneath them vibrated.

Videl instinctively covered her ears, her face turning pale under the overwhelming pressure.

The undead dragon thrashed violently.

Its enormous body twisted and convulsed as the holy flames continued to burn.

The chains wrapped around its wings groaned under the strain.

Natalia’s expression darkened.

This creature was far stronger than she had anticipated.

Even with holy flames consuming its body, the undead dragon refused to fall.

Instead—

Its massive wings slowly spread.

A terrifying storm of wind and death mana erupted outward.

The surrounding trees bent violently as the pressure skyrocketed.

Then the dragon flapped its wings once.

BOOOOOOM!

A hurricane swept across the battlefield.

Trees bent.

Dust filled the sky.

The crimson flames flickered.

The dragon flapped again.

The powerful winds weakened the holy fire surrounding its body.

Ruby clicked her tongue.

"Damn it! It’s trying to extinguish the flames!"

The dragon rose higher.

Its skeletal wings beat against the sky.

Natalia was still gripping one of the chains connected to its wing.

Her body was suddenly dragged upward.

The ground rapidly shrank beneath her.

The wind howled around her ears.

For the first time, a hint of concern appeared in her eyes.

Ruby immediately shouted.

"Natalia! Let go!"

Natalia glanced upward.

The dragon continued ascending.

If she held on any longer, she would lose control entirely.

Her grip tightened.

Then loosened.

With obvious reluctance, she released the chain.

The moment she let go, her body dropped back toward the forest below while the undead dragon continued rising into the sky.

Natalia who was holding onto one of the wings had no choice but to let go since if she didn’t she might be pulled upward.

The wind howled around her ears as she fell.

For a brief moment, all she could see was the enormous skeletal dragon climbing higher into the heavens.

Then a golden flash shot upward.

Ruby.

The holy maiden of the Dragon War Goddess Kia grabbed Natalia’s arm.

"Try not to get yourself carried into the clouds next time."

Natalia snorted despite her exhausted state.

"Perhaps if someone had pierced deeper than a few inches, we wouldn’t be in this situation."

"You want to test whose contribution was greater after we survive?"

"I would gladly accept."

Even while falling, the two somehow found time to argue.

Videl almost laughed.

Almost.

Unfortunately, the dragon above them reminded her that their situation remained disastrous.

Boom!

Natalia and Ruby landed heavily on the ground.

The impact sent dust flying everywhere.

Around them, pieces of shattered trees and frozen debris continued raining from the sky.

Not far away, Clara stood in front of the weakened group.

Her sword moved repeatedly.

Slash.

Slash.

Slash.

Large chunks of debris exploded apart before reaching them.

"Stay behind me!" Clara shouted.

A frozen tree trunk nearly crashed into Lane’s unconscious body.

Clara immediately stepped forward.

Boom!

Her blade split the trunk in half.

Eon looked genuinely impressed.

"I’ll stop calling you useless."

Clara glared at him.

"Keep talking and I’ll use you as a shield."

"See? This is why nobody compliments you."

Despite the banter, relief appeared in their eyes.

Clara was still standing.

Still fighting.

Still protecting everyone.

Above them, the undead dragon suddenly stopped ascending.

Its gigantic skeletal body hovered in the sky.

Green flames burned brighter inside its empty eye sockets.

Then something horrifying happened.

The surrounding mana began flowing toward its mouth.

Vast amounts.

The air trembled.

The clouds twisted.

A giant vortex appeared.

Ruby’s expression instantly changed.

Natalia’s face became grim.

Both women spoke simultaneously.

"Dragon Breath."

The surrounding group immediately fell silent.

Even those unfamiliar with dragons knew that name.

It was one of the most feared attacks in existence.

The signature ability of the strongest race to ever walk the world.

Videl looked upward.

Her heart sank.

The concentration of mana was absurd.

"Can we stop it?" Clara asked.