Chapter 249: Zach

Chapter 249: Zach

Ambush

The roar of the dragon echoed through the cavern. In the faint light filled with shadowsmostly produced by a few glowing gems on a pile of items, crystals, and things that Zach didnt even have the time to identifyhe could see the expressions of everyone around him.

Basthecs surprise and worried face morphed into an eager grin, the man that Zach remembered from the tournament peeking through. Varia and Kethasi looked toward the entrance, their expressions calm and expectant. They were monster hunters; this was what they did for a living. Naha exchanged a look with Zach from his side, and he saw the predator in her peeking through.

But all of them had seen the hoard, the massive mound of treasure. It meant that they faced an Elder Dragon, the rarest of the dragon monster type. It was dangerous, perhaps more dangerous, but not necessarily in the way that they had expected. Basthec had provided information on dragons prior to them leaving, and Zach had done some research himself. One thing separated Elder Dragons from other types: they were intelligent monsters, they could think and speak, just like any of the nine races. It did not mean that they were stronger, but fighting an opponent that could think and reason intelligently was a lot harder than fighting a monster that was mindless or just driven by its instincts.

The Elder Dragons were the rarest of the dragon type monsters, for a simple reason, their hoards. The cavern was filled with treasure, items looted from adventurers and caravans, high tiered monster bones, crystals and gems of all kinds. That was the reason why they were rare, because adventurers were willing to risk everything to get to them, because they were hunted everywhere.

The dragon roared again, louder this time; it was getting closer.

We have two choices, Basthec said, turning to Zach. Its roaring on approach to its lair, they do that to intimidate any monsters that mightve remained in its territory. It will take its time to circle around its lair, we have time to escape. Or we can set up our trap now, quickly.

The drake glanced back at the cavern and the treasure.

If we leave the dragon will notice that we were here. Our protection prevents its power senses from feeling our presence, but it will smell our presence in here. We wont catch it unaware again.

She looked at the treasure along with everyone else. Its a hoard, Varia said with more passion in her voice than he had heard from her before. This can set us up for life. If we leave if someone else finds it, they will take it.

Ive given you the choice, Basthec said his eyes gleaming. Regardless of what you chose, I am staying. This is why I became an adventurer.

Zach saw Naha look around, then back at Zach. We might not find another dragon for years, she whispered. And with whatever we find here, we can do a lot.

Everyone seemed to be in agreement. Zach nodded his head; he had never intended to run. They had prepared, this was the reason why they had come.

We fight, Zach said.

Varia, you and Kethasi are near the entrance, place your arrays and get ready to use your powers, the two control specialists sprung into motion as Basthec turned to Zach and Naha. The two of you place your things as we discussed before, then hide and get ready. We are going to hit it with enough powers and array to stun it, you two need to hide and hit it hard and fast to kill it while it is down. Ill draw its attention if it is necessary.

Zach and Naha moved, setting up inside the cavern, but closer to the entrance. The plan had always been to find the dragons lair. They had protections that kept them from being sensed by powers, and Basthec had powers and items that could let him check if a monster was nearby. They might not have known how powerful or what type the dragon was, but it didnt really matter. They had brought enough equipment and traps in order to deal with a wide range of opponents. And the ultimate decision was Basthecs, he was the monster hunting expert and the one that led this mission. Zach only knew that fighting a powerful opponent's head on was very different than laying a trap and ambushing one.

Zach placed the strength amplifying array on the floor, behind some rocks to hide it. It would double the strength of anyone inside the array. Zach and Naha will be expecting it, the dragon will not. The plan called for it to be stunned once it entered, the array itself will disorient it, having one's strength doubled without notice could be disorienting.

Nahas array would silence power use in a small area for 2 seconds, enough for them to strike.

The last thing that Zach set up was the formation. It was an engraved plate, which would explode with Force Essence when triggered, and Zach had the trigger. He placed it on the floor in front of the entrance and hid it by covering it with a stone that he had in his storage just for that purpose.

The dragon roared again as they placed other items that they had bought for the trap. Barrels filled with water went behind the wall at the entrance, out of sight, all engraved with formations that removed scent and obscured them from sight. Varia and Kethasi downed several potions one after another as they heard the dragons roar get closer, followed by a thump of it landing on the plateau.

Naha slipped out of the shadow, her dagger cutting into the dragons back leg, severing a tendon. Everyone knew that Zach needed to do the most damage. She cut and got away immediately as the dragons leg gave out and it dropped to a knee on that side. The wood armor lashed out, bare branches growing out like curbed spikes.

Zach focused on his blade and then swung, sending a |Crescent Sealing Slash|. It hit the dragon, but he knew that it would silence its power for only a fraction of a moment, but it was enough to stop the growth of the branches long enough for the others to get away.

Pests! The dragon roared as everyone moved out of the way of it lashing out. In an instant, it moved quickly, somehow ignoring the slowing field around it. It turned around and lashed out with its tail, hitting Basthec and sending him flying back to smash into the hoard.

You dare! It spoke as it got its bearing. You came for my hoard, little chosen, weaklings and thieves!

Zach saw that his attack had done a lot more damage than he had thought, he had cut through the wood and the dragons right eye. The other eye glowed with an emerald fire, and it was focused on him.

Zach blinked close to the dragon again, and then he shouted.

Rift Shout ripped the air in front of him, weakening the space in the cavern and creating new weak spots. The force of the shout was physical, and it staggered the dragon, which didnt last for long. Before he could move in, the dragon smashed his leg into the ground and roots broke out of the stone beneath Zachs feet, forcing him to take to the air with his wings.

Something about the dragon was bothering him, but he didnt have the time to worry about that. Another slowing field hit the dragon and just like before its head turned nearly instantly despite it being slowed and ignoring the small wounds that Kethasis debuffs gave it every time it moved sufficiently. It looked in Varias direction and opened its mouth. A blast of green smoke burst forward out of it, hitting Varia before she could react. He saw her fall to her knees, the smoke surrounding her. She coughed and retched as her skin melted and her clothes disintegrated. She died in less than a second and with her went her slowing effects.

Kethasi raised a hand and sent a blast forward that hit the dragon in the head and stunned it.

Naha attacked from the shadows again, stabbing with her dagger at the dragons other leg.

Basthec returned and swung hands that had turned into what appeared to be a hammer made of earth. He hit it in the shoulder, cracking bones beneath.

Unworthy wretches, the dragon spoke again as it lashed out with its tail and one of its front legs. The wooden spikes on its armor grew more, seeking to grab anyone near and forcing both Basthec and Naha to retreat. Zach and Naha threw bombs at it that cracked its wooden armor, but didnt do much more.

Zach saw that the dragon had been taken off-guard by the attack, even while it was physically still able to fight. Their plan had done what they wanted, the dragon had been immobilized and its ability to move was hindered. All Zach had to do was finish it.

He blinked back in again, and then he reached out with his hand and pulled as he activated Forceful Rift. The weak spot behind the dragon, one leading into the Ethereal Realm ripped open, the blast hit the dragon in the back and made it cry out as the Ethereal Essence scorched its soul. Taking advantage, Basthec moved forward just as they planned. Naha came out of the shadows and together then hit the dragon in the side, making it stumble back toward the portal.

With only a few seconds remaining on his wings. Zach shot through the air straight at the dragon, he pulled the wind around him and pushed himself faster. He smashed into the dragon with his wind blade, pushing it further back and into the Ethereal Realm.

The Ethereal Realm in this place was a copy of the Real World, obviously without the dragons horde. As they passed through, the dragon rolled over the ground, and Zach landed and stumbled, falling to his knees. He changed his blade to Time and prepared to end this. As the dragon recovered, Zachs wings dissipated, and he blinked forward. Once he was near the dragons head, he swung his weapon at the hole he made before intending to stab it through the brain. He activated Time Stop to secure his victory.

As his blade came near the dragon, everything stopped. He felt the familiar sensation again and he felt his Soul Weapons power stretching. As if something was pulling on it.

The dragons other eye moved and focused on Zach.

I am Werssix, the Heir of the Moment, the dragon somehow spoke. It looked like only certain parts of them were frozen. You dare use my legacy of my ancestors against me?

The familiar sensations that he had been feeling were the use of time related powers, he realized now. He didnt think that the dragon had intended this, whatever this was. Both of them had to have used powers at the same time, and they had interacted in this manner. Freezing them in a moment.