Divine Beast Ascension

Netra could tell that the drake was weaker than her. She wasn’t sure whether the drake was a mid-elder or a high-elder, though Netra assumed the latter. But that made it all the more shocking to the fox girl when she realized that the drake, with his streamlined body and wings, was marginally faster than her. And that was without taking into account the drake’s ability to fly and avoid the buildings blocking his path.

With her studious mind, Netra committed that subtle lesson to heart. *There are all sorts of beasts out there. I can’t assume I’m at the top until I’ve definitively clawed my way there.*

The palace guards were also focused on the incoming drake. Only, with terrorized hearts and soiled undergarments.

And due to the palace being only a few blocks away from where Vloz and Netra had teleported, there was no time to prepare as the drake breathed fire on the palace gates.

ROOOAAR!!

Oli crashed down through the burnt and gnarled steel gate. His black body sauntered through the purple flames, cementing the horrifying scene into the brains of every palace guard unlucky enough to not be relocated to the wall.

Then, while shock was still setting in, Oli only stood still for a second. He flapped his wings and tore through the first line of guards before flying just barely higher than the reach of the guards’ spears.

If a guard threatened him, Oli spat flames. If a guard either didn’t threaten Oli or was too shellshocked to act, Oli allowed them to live another day.

.....

Oli’s goal was the palace doors just ahead.

“Form a wall!”

Immediately, along with the rest of the palace guards, Oli spotted the guard captain left on duty outside the palace.

The more fearless, adrenaline-filled guards joined their captain to form a spear-raised barricade in front of the palace. One row of guards kneeled and one stood behind them. Together, they formed a threatening blockade for the savage drake.

“All who stand in my way will DIE!!” Oli roared, speaking for the first time with purple flames already oozing out of Oli’s pointed, menacing maw.

Many guards fell to one or two knees. It was as if one of their scariest childhood fairytales had come to life. And it proved that the drake wasn’t just a savage on a rampage. But that the drake was fully sentient and acting with a specific goal in mind.

Extreme relief filled the minds of those that hadn’t raised their spears at the drake while it flew by.

However, the guards already in barricade formation felt differently.

Before any of those guards had a moment to rethink their actions or question their captain’s orders, the drake had already made his move.

Oli showed his control and finesse as he suddenly flew to the side with a sharp turn, as if aiming for the palace wall. Then, before a split second could pass, Oli made another sharp turn while letting his purple flames erupt from his mouth. He flew in parallel with the palace walls, just far enough to avoid being stabbed by a thrusted spear. And Oli’s flames poured out all over the guards in front of the door.

The first, kneeling row of guards was too easy a target. They were doused in drake fire. Without a second thought, they all fled to try any and every possible means of putting out the flames.

The second, standing row, was a bit luckier. Though they had been hit by the splash damage of the flames, very few of them had their armor and clothes ignited due to the front row taking the brunt of the damage.

“Aim and throw!” the captain shouted, both in passion for glory and in fear for his life. “Kill that beast!!”

For a moment, the surviving guards felt another shot of adrenaline entering their systems. So they anxiously hurled their spears at the nearby beast.

But, without explanation, all guards missed. Terribly.

In the dark of night and in the heat of the moment, the guards were too focused on the flying drake before it could turn back around. They were too busy to notice the shadow tendrils rising out of the shaded palace walls, grappling and pulling the guards’ backs into the wooden doors.

“Hurry! Use essence to free yourself!” the captain shouted. He quickly drew his sword and cut through the tendrils with a burst of wind essence.

Yet, the same couldn’t be said for the common guards.

They each drew their standard-issue swords and did their best to coat them in essence. But, unlike their peak-elder captain, they failed to fully free themselves.

Unable to save both his men and himself, the captain dove to the side, yelling, “DON’T DIE!”

ROOOAAR!! FWOOSH!

Oli held true to his declaration. All who dared to confront and threaten him would perish.

Another streak of drake fire fell onto the guards and the palace doors. At the same time, Oli was shooting himself directly toward the peak-elder captain.

“DIE! You savage!” the guard barked in concern. His eyes were riddled with worry and sorrow for his fallen comrades.

A wind blade was propelled off of the captain’s swinging sword. Rather than launch a few, he attacked with a single, consecrate wind blade. He had quickly understood that he was the next target and that the drake was coming straight for him.

But Oli wouldn’t make it so easy for the captain.

Oli suddenly shifted to the side, narrowly dodging the attack with his speed-boosting battle art. And a new set of shadow tendrils were already wrapping around the captain’s legs, yanking him to the ground and stealing the captain’s sure footing.

Nonetheless, the captain swung his sword again. Albeit with little to no chance to hit his target.

Oli, in response, coated his claws in dark-death essence, swatting the faulty swing aside. One claw instantly wrapped around the captain’s neck, lifting the man high above the ground. The other claw slashed the man across the shoulders. That arching swipe ripped open the captain’s upper torso and rendered both shoulders unusable.