Chapter 24: Dragon Slayer

Chapter 24: Dragon Slayer

Neglecting to put distance between themselves and the destructive clash, Finn watched in complete disbelief at the power that someone had managed to achieve in such a short span.

"...He's doing it–is he really beating that thing?" Damian stammered out.

The same thought was shared by the others as they witnessed the creature of mountainous proportions shake its head, forcing the man off who was left falling at the height of a skyscraper.

Seung smiled, slowing his descent as he grabbed onto the building behind him, sliding along it as the colossal jaws of the beast parted.

It was like staring into a star being birthed; a funnel of flames awakened, coming up the dragon's throat as the burning light emitted from its open maw. The shine of it was like staring up at the sun, producing a blinding glow.

"What is that–" Damian observed. Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

"Get back–now!" Finn said, beginning to back up as he gestured for his friends to follow.

–It was too late.

From the gargantuan mouth of the beast, a tidal wave of heat emerged. It swept outward with a thunderous boom, causing the wind to howl. The shock wave alone was enough to push them back, nearly knocking Finn and Charlotte off their feet entirely–

"Gotcha!"

Finn found himself still kept upright, glancing behind him to see the armor-clad friend of his supporting both his body and the girl's.

"Thanks–we have to get behind something!" Finn said, quickly moving.

The closest object to use as a shield from the source of heat and light was a broken down truck. Finn jumped over the bed of it, slipping behind it while Charlotte spun around the back of it. In a more aloof movement, Damian slid over, taking cover.

Using the body of the turquoise truck, the majority of the overwhelming burst of heat was shielded.

Finn caught his breath, looking down at his reddened hands as he felt as though he just stepped out of an oven.

Even from the distance they were, the flames that poured from the grandiose beast's mouth was that intense; it laid waste to multiple skyscrapers in the path of its exhale.

"Fuck! How is something like that even allowed to exist?! It's unfair!" Damian shouted, keeping his back pressed against the truck as it rumbled.

The temperature continued to soar as Finn felt himself exuding sweat like he never had before. They all panted like dogs, having to expel each breath as it felt as though fire was inhaled and exhaled from the burning wind.

Finn glanced over the top of the truck bed, though having to immediately close his eyes from the sheer brightness beyond.

After what felt like an eternity, though only spanned a few seconds, the destructive flash of fire fizzled out.

Finn stood up, with the other two hesitantly doing the same. The sight was something straight out of a nightmare; the entirety of the top half of the cloud-reaching skyscraper was reduced to cinder, along with multiple blocks directly behind it.

It looked as though an entire portion of the city had been painted black, reduced to a lifeless crisp as embers fluttered in the air like a red hot snowfall.

"I don't care what "level" that guy was," Damian said as sweat dripped from his chin. "Nobody is surviving that. Nothing is."

"Hey, Damian," Finn said.

That question seemed like it'd be answered swiftly as Finn found himself making accidental eye contact with the dragon-slaying stranger.

'Shit–' Finn thought.

Before he could attempt to duck back down, the air flexed as the figure was gone. The truck was knocked into the air, revealing the three as standing right there was the gauntlet-wearing man.

It took a moment for Finn to realize what had happened, as the truck was flipped through the air so casually and the inposojf man now stood there.

'He...kicked it? The truck?' Finn realized just as the vehicle crashed back down onto the street behind him.

They were all frozen, not so much as moving a muscle in front of the man who was just on fire moments prior.

"You three are petrified. That means you recognize I'm way above your level—not bad," Seung remarked, scratching his chin as his eyes specifically laid on the assassin.

Finn had already readied his dagger, squeezing the handle as he kept his eyes on the man.

The golden-haired man of many scars stood a head taller than the assassin, still holding a relaxed smile, "Even knowing that, you're still ready to kill me."

Seung's words addressed Finn, though the cautious assassin remained silent, honing his focus to the highest degree.

With such a disparity in physical ability, he knew that he'd need to latch onto even the slightest inclination of hostility and act first.

Finn found the man staring right into his eyes; it was like looking at an apex predator as Seung's irises were sharp diamonds of a scarlet hue.

"Ha-ha!" Seung suddenly laughed as the tension was dispelled. "I'm not going to attack you. Relax, relax!"

"You aren't?" Charlotte asked hesitantly.

The blonde-haired man waved his hand, "I'm not interested in people of your level. As it stands, none of you are a threat to me—so, no issue."

It was a bit underhanded of a reason, though Finn was relieved by the forward claim of the man.

"Anyway, got places to be. Try not to die, or don't—I don't care," Seung casually said with a wave of his hand before launching into the air.

Like a star flickering across the horizon, the strange man took his leave.

"I'm jealous...What class lets you fly around like that?" Damian said, putting his hand against his brow as he watched the figure disappear into the distance.

"None. That flight is from his gauntlets," Finn informed him.

"Seriously? That seems overpowered," Damian remarked.

"Flight would be convenient," Charlotte added.

"Yeah, I'm not sure how he got his hands on them," Finn remarked before beginning to move along.

As they walked down the street with the charred remains of the block behind them, the entire experience remained fresh on everyone's minds.