Chapter 202 Conquered



Smoke filled the cave, veiling the dragon in a smog filled room. Though it would not work, and it seemed that the dragon knew this too. I could see it in his eyes, The way that it scanned the surroundings m. Looking for any place that it could use as both cover and a veil for our eyes. 

However I could also see the apprehension, the nervousness that we would still find it. 

I could tell by the way that it rapidly retreated that it didn't expect us to be hindered by the smoke that it had activated.

And it would be right though only in how we would not be affected. With a mental thought I activated my shared soul sight. a silhouete appeared in my vision, the exact place of the dragon.

I could tell that it didn't expect for us to recover so soon. My eyes glowed in the fog, searching until I found the soul that was hiding from me.

It was faint, despite the power lurking within it. 

'Heh, so you can hide your soul' it was not something that I had seen before, to be able to hide from Aoif's sight. 

Even though it wasn't as stealthy as he might have intended it was still a feat. To be able to do something such as that.

That was not the only impressive feat it had either, the speed was impressive l.

To be able to go from dodging our attacks to veiling us in smoke before ultimately retreating hundreds of feet away from us.

It was impressive. If it was only the retreat it wouldn't have been much, but to be able to do all of that within a less than a second.

That. That was impressive.

However that did not mean that I wasn't still hunting him down. No, instead I hunted him down with more vigor. 

I closed the gap between us in mere moments, though I wasn't the only one that had done that. I noticed that Aoif had followed closely behind me, her own knife poised to strike down the dragon.

However it wasn't to be as like a slippery snake he dodged both of our attacks. Instantly after my face was filled with fire.

I could feel the heat on my face, the way that it burned my skin. I quickly dodged out of the way however the damage was already done. Burns littered my face and my eyes were unusable.

I heard a shout of anger from somewhere around me and I knew the moment that I heard it that it was Aoif.

Ice gathered around me, the cold staving off the rabid heat that seemed determined to scar me. I took a deep breath as the sounds of battle faded into the distance.

Aether flew from my reserves and into my wounds, pain appeared however I ignored that. I had gone through worse.

Moments later I was done healing. My eyes opened to the sight of blue, glacial blue.

A wall of ice separated me from the battle that was occurring just to the side. I sighed to myself before jumping above the wall and back into the fray.

In the seconds that I had left her Aoif had caused deep injuries to the dragon yet none of them were sticking.

Hundreds of ice spears were shot then created again. Most of them were reduced to steam by the time that they reached the dragon though a rare few did make it through those defenses and through the tough hide of the dragon.

The dragon shrunk again, dodging the majority of the spears that made it past his defenses before lunging at Aoif.

With my spear in hand I jumped forwards, the tip pointed towards where the dragon was going.

A moment passed, the time passing by in my ears before my attack connected. Apparently the dragon had forgotten about me, enough for me to actually get a hit in.

Though it was not fatal it still did a significant amount of damage and allowed for Aoif to close the distance with that fog of hers.

It coalesced around the small form of the dragon before solidifying and burying him in a coffin of ice.

I could see blood pool in the coffin before a notification rang in my ear.

[Congratulations you have gained 7/10 ownership of the cavernous realm.]

[You currently control 9/10 ownership]

"Nine out of ten'

That meant that with the last remaining fragment in Aoif's hand we had complete ownership over this realm.

I felt another piece being given to me, a hand on my shoulder congratulating me on my victory. I smiled at that as my head turned to take the lips of Aoif.

She moaned into my mouth, deepening the kiss before she explored my mouth with her tongue. We continued like that for a moment before Delta interrupted us.

She pointed to the ceiling where lava was pouring down. I just sighed, Aoif who wa sun my arms pouting at the situation m.

It seemed like that dragon was keeping the volcano still by the nature of its presence.

The dots were starting to connect, the nervousness and resignation of that mayor.

The reason why that town looked so gloomy.

Thoughts such as those ran through my head as I fled the volcano. Behind me lava was looking and starting to run.

It was not like lava normally worked instead it ran like water would. With a ferocity that rivaled rivers.

No wonder those villagers were so scared of the volcano. Even now it was catching up to us.

It was of no threat but it would be one to the villagers.

I sighed, they were now my subjects. I could no longer be so callous with their lives.

"Aoif" 

I called, my head turning towards her own. 

"Yes?"

"Do you think you have enough aether to seal the lava within here?"

For a moment Aoif went introspective, her footsteps following my own as her eyes closed in focus.

"Yeah- yeah I can do that."

I nod before continuing our run, I could see Delta. She was already out of the cavern.

I jumped through the open cavern and turned around.

Looking back I found Aoif creating a wall of ice. It was constantly steaming and turning to water however it seemed that it was working. 

The lava was no longer flowing as it was. In fact it seems like I didn't need to worry so much. 

The ice melted into water that then started to cook the lava. Soon emo h it started to turn into rocks.

Those rocks then prevented the lava from going any further.

Eventually after a couple minutes of this cycle there was no longer any threat.

…

I walked through the town, my eyes on the villagers. They were wary. 

Their eyes showed just that, gazing at us when we weren't looking. Hands reaching toward their sides.

It seemed that something was happening, something that we were not informed of.

Idly my hand reached to my back where Memoria was sheathed. The calming cold of the hilt allowed for me to think clearly.

I was the lord of not only this town but of this realm. 

I would not be cowed by some stares. It was this very reason that I glared back.

It took a couple of minutes walking but eventually we did reach the mayors office.

The lazy secretary pointed us towards his room.

I knocked at the door, then knocked once more when there was no response.

"Come in." 

It was after the third and final time that he finally gave in and let us in.

"You- you actually came back" 

His eyes widened in both surprise and panic. 

Surprise that we survived and panic at something that I couldn't identify.

Though immediately after saying this he ignored us, despite us being there source of his revelation he still just kicked his chair away.

Next he opened a couple drawers, aether flying everywhere as various things were checked.

"The seal… the seal's gone."

"This seal… what do you mean by it?" I ask.

A sigh came from him, his body tensing for a moment before relaxing. It was as if he forgot that we were there

"The seal is- was a formation that protected this little village."

He sat down before pulling something out and drinking it.

"Sit" he said as he noticed us still standing.

"But it was more like a prison for us, we were not allowed out, nor were we allowed to forage or hunt for food."

"What else"

"What else?" He repeats his voice unsure.

"Yes there must be something else for you to be so relieved, some cost or some other."

He sighs before holding his hand to his forehead. 

ραпdαn૦νel "Yes there was one- I can't lie to you can I"

"No, no you can not"

"Ha… then that answer comes with a story. One not particularly happy."