The cavern thrummed with tension.
The Plant Dragon's vines writhed restlessly, thorns twitching as though eager to tear through flesh. Its emerald eyes glowed with cold suspicion, never leaving Draco.
"You speak boldly, human. Too boldly. You claim to offer strength, yet your body reeks of mortality. You are fragile. Weak. Worthless."
Draco smirked, tilting his head. "If that were true, you'd have ignored me instead of wasting breath on a worm."
The Dragon growled low, a deep rumble that shook the cavern walls.
Then—
WHOOSH!
Its vines shot forward like spears, sharp enough to pierce stone. Their numbers were in a multitude, more than enough to turn him to skewers if he wasn't careful.
Draco leapt back, invoking Preto's Breath.
Darkness wrapped around him, his body melting into shadow. The first volley of vines missed, slamming into the ground where he had stood, pulverizing it into rubble.
He reappeared ten steps to the side, exhaling slowly.
