DragonLord - part 1

“Who are you, really?” Kael demanded, his eyes narrowed, the scar on his jaw stark in the flickering firelight, the air thick with smoke and sulfur.

Caio flashed a half-smile, his sharp mind bracing for trouble. “Never said I was a healer, after all.” This is why I hate attention. Questions, questions, more questions, he thought, the crystal in his chest pulsing like a dark heart.

Before the conversation could deepen, the ground shook, a dense wave of mana making the air crackle as if reality were glass splintering. Kael swung his sword toward the charred forest, where shadows danced under the blood-red glow of the largest of the three moons. “We’ll talk later. That’s trouble.”

Seriously? Trouble after trouble. I should bolt, but… no way out, Caio thought, adrenaline laced with sarcasm. He channeled black mana to his eyes, the world slowing, but what he saw chilled him. What is this? This mana’s beyond any demon I’ve faced.

Matching the danger, Caio summoned a black mana sword, its liquid blade gleaming like a living shadow. “Guess we’ll have to fight together, Kael. This one’s bad.”

“No chance against it alone,” Kael said, face grim, as the presence neared, the cracked ground vibrating. Then, like magic, she appeared on the battlefield, the smoldering earth hissing under her feet. Teleport? No, she’s just that fast, Caio thought, his mana-enhanced eyes unable to track her.

The figure emerged: a woman, not tall, with flowing white hair like liquid silver, her ember-red eyes blazing. Her tight black armor seemed to absorb light, and each step made reality shimmer, as if gravity bent to her will.

“Well, we have two fine warriors here,” she said, her thin voice laced with a chill that cut the air. “Hello, humans. I’m Lysara.” The name made Kael shudder, eyes wide.

“Caio, run! We can’t face her!” Kael shouted.

“Who is she?” Caio asked, gripping his sword. “No way I’m escaping. Let’s fight together.”

“Fine,” Kael said, voice low. “She’s Lysara, the Lightning Usurper, one of the seven demonic rulers. She’s toppled human armies.”

Lysara laughed, the sharp sound echoing through the ruined village. “I’m flattered. Didn’t know I was so famous, haha.”

Why do I keep running into these big shots? Caio thought. “Why are you here, in a backwater like this?”

“No need to tell you, human,” Lysara said, her gaze locking on Caio. “But since you’ll die, know this: we came for something that arrived in this world.”

“What are you talking about?” Kael yelled.

Lysara laughed, her eyes on Caio. In a blink, she appeared before him, her hand touching his chest. “Such mana you have.” A black shock from the crystal repelled her, dark sparks flaring.

“Absorption? Intriguing trick,” Lysara said, curious.

“Back off!” Kael shouted, swinging a mana-infused sword. But Lysara stopped the blade with one finger and flicked him into a pile of rubble. Kael crashed, coughing blood, struggling to rise.

Caio tried a sneak attack, his mana sword slashing, but Lysara dodged effortlessly. “Easy, don’t rush. Let’s talk.”

“Got nothing to say to you,” Caio shot back, channeling more mana to his eyes and summoning a second sword, both hands wielding trembling blades.

“Such mana,” Lysara said, eyes glinting. “You’re the one we seek.”

Me? They’re after me? It’s the crystal, Caio thought. No time to dwell, he channeled mana through his body, purple symbols pulsing on his skin.

“That’s dangerous,” Kael gasped. “You have mana but don’t know how to use it.”

Lysara smirked, matching Caio’s mana. Countless red energy spheres materialized around her. “Fall,” she commanded.

The spheres surged at Caio. He sliced one, then another, his black mana absorbing some demonic energy, but they kept coming. Suddenly, Lysara appeared before him, her hand on his chest. “Your eyes brim with darkness. You’re no human. How did you gain this?” She smiled. “No more time. Come with me.”

“As if I’d—” Caio began, but Lysara tapped his chest, a mana surge making his body convulse. He collapsed, the cold ground biting his skin. Under the blood-red moon, casting a lurid glow, Caio saw dragons slicing the sky, their obsidian scales glinting.

“She’s already here,” Lysara said, glancing up. “No time. You’re coming with me.”

Before she could grab him, Lysara spun, leaping back as thunder roared, the air torn by lightning. “Think you’d escape, demon?” a firm voice shouted.

The Dragon Hero Squadron landed, their winged forms blotting out the moonlight. Their commander, Sylvara, a tall woman in silver armor etched with runes, her golden eyes blazing, dismounted a black dragon. “Justice? Don’t make me laugh. Demons deserve none. Fall under the sword of light!” With a downward gesture, she unleashed the dragons’ attack, energy blasts converging from all directions.

“Unfair, a squadron against one?” Lysara laughed. “See you later, human.” With a snap of her fingers, she vanished.

“Damn it, too late!” Sylvara cursed, striding toward Caio. But before she reached him, his eyes closed, and he blacked out on the smoldering ground.