Chapter 341: Crimson Blade (Part 4)
"Counterattack. We must counterattack, or our end will only be death!"
Dexus. Flaregold gritted his teeth tightly, speaking to his two remaining companions.
However, Klein did not respond. His blue eyes reflected an illusory clock turning within. With the rhythmic movement of the hands, his expression grew increasingly grave, and beads of sweat dripped down his forehead.
Ingrid, meanwhile, seemed utterly paralyzed by fear, clutching her staff as she softly pleaded, "No, we can't win."
"Stop, Dexus."
"I beg you…"
Dexus shook his head slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Ingrid had only joined "Crimson Blade" a year ago. Unlike them—rough-and-tumble adventurers—she was more like a sheltered flower who had only ever experienced battles where the odds were overwhelmingly in her favor.
"I will not fall here!"
"Pursuit. Vowed Nemesis!"
Finally, Dexus. Flaregold flapped his wings desperately, charging towards the enemy.
"Piercing Smite!"
He raised his golden longsword, sweeping it in an elegant arc through the air. With his motion, a crescent-shaped beam of light slashed through the air, rending the earth.
This was a full-power strike from a Vengeance Paladin!
"Shhh—"
But Cassius merely exhaled softly, the starlike energy scales surrounding his body effortlessly deflecting the attack.
Yet Dexus. Flaregold did not lose heart.
The Vengeance Angel-form Paladin spread his wings, rapidly skimming across the ground before diving towards his target.
Soon, gritting his teeth, he flew above the red dragon, gripping his golden longsword tightly, his face twisted in rage.
"Wicked Dragon!"
"The great 'Dragonslayer' Dexus. Flaregold will take your head!"
However, before the 30-meter-long behemoth, the Paladin's fearless charge looked as insignificant as Don Quixote tilting at windmills.
"Vengeance's Spirit!"
Dexus roared, and the sword representing his Vow of Retribution Authority shone brightly.
Illusory figures of Grom, Rano, and others surrounded him, spirits born from the will of vengeance, ready to attack the seemingly invincible foe.
But in the next moment, Dexus felt a wave of heat as the massive red figure sidestepped and appeared behind him.
Neither divine guidance nor the spirits of vengeance could withstand the nearly tangible dragon's aura that crushed them.
Desperately, he flapped his wings to create distance while swinging his golden sword—but it was all futile. The enemy was simply too fast.
The sky might be the angel's domain, but it was ultimately the dragon's mastery.
Cassius' enormous and ferocious claws snatched the Paladin mid-air like catching a fragile bird.
"Got you."
Cassius spoke indifferently.
Dexus struggled with all his might, aiming to stab the claw with his sword in a desperate attempt.
But with a slight squeeze, the armor on Dexus's body crumpled, his flesh turned mangled, and blood vessels burst in his eyes as he coughed up thick, sticky blood.
For the first time, Dexus felt his life was in the grip of an enemy, ready to be snuffed out at any moment.
The once-unwavering resolve in his eyes was replaced with long-forgotten fear—he was afraid; he wanted to live.
"Stop, stop."
"My lord, I…I don't want to die."
Cassius brought him close, peering at him with a faint smile, his voice low. "What reason do you have for me to spare you?"
"You are 'the great Dragonslayer' after all. Since you chose this path, if you cannot slay a dragon, being slain by one is only natural."
"I…I…"
Dexus's purplish lips trembled.
He had not anticipated his earlier grandiose words becoming his death warrant.
After a long hesitation, his gaze landed on the emblem on his sword hilt, sparking a final desperate thought.
"You can't kill me! I'm a chosen of the gods! I'm an emissary of Amanatta!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Cassius burst out laughing, his wings trembling with mirth, his thundering laughter shaking the ground.
"Did you see that glowing silver dragon earlier? With divine artifacts, now that is a chosen."
"But you, haha, someone with not even a single piece of legendary equipment—dare to call yourself chosen?"
"And besides…"
He dragged out the words, his golden eyes gleaming with menace, a palpable dragon's aura suffusing the air.
Dexus felt as though he had plunged into an icy abyss.
Because he heard only one phrase.
"I detest liars."
Before the words faded, blazing flames erupted from Cassius' claw, engulfing Dexus. Flaregold entirely.
"No—"
"I don't want to die…"
Soon, with defiant roars and harrowing wails, his flesh burned to ash, scattering with the wind.
All that remained in the dragon's claw was a set of luxurious heavy armor and a radiant golden longsword.
"Oh?"
"Looks like I underestimated you. These are indeed legendary items—albeit low-tier and with added magical disguises."
"Tsk, quite cautious indeed."
Cassius casually shook off the residual ashes, inspecting Dexus's equipment, a trace of unexpected delight in his voice.
But there was no doubt about it—
Dexus. Flaregold, the famous "Dragonslayer" leader of Crimson Blade, was utterly dead.
Being slain by a dragon is the inevitable fate of most dragonslayers.
Either they retire halfway with wealth and glory or walk to the bitter end of self-destruction. The path of dragonslaying has never led to heroism; only to corruption and death.
"C-Captain…"
Watching their leader's demise, Ingrid clasped her hand over her mouth, letting out a muffled cry.
But there was nothing she could do. The overwhelming dragon's aura emanating from Cassius made it impossible even for divine spells to take effect, let alone conventional magic.
Klein's face, meanwhile, was etched with disbelief because the illusory clock in his eyes shattered.
That was the unique ability of a Time Mage—
[Collapse of the Future]
He could glimpse possible futures and magically channel one to ensure specific outcomes.
Klein had long prepared a teleportation spell model to escape.
But when he peered into his possible futures at great cost, every single one showed disastrous consequences should he attempt the spell.
What chilled him even more was that he could not see the red dragon's future.
Klein sought to glimpse destiny, yet the "Dragon Prince" seemed shrouded in a silver mist.
"Hubris!"
Even his mind was struck by a sublime force, as if a colossal dragon a thousand meters long roared and raged in his thoughts.
"No… Impossible…"
Klein stood frozen, muttering to himself, blood tears streaming from his eyes.