#98 - Dragon Master

When the fire dragon soared in the sky, a torrent of flames would erupt from its wide-open maw. The fire would fall upon the earth, instantly creating a black trench half a meter deep.

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On the main road leading to the North City Gate, the fire dragon's intense flames slammed Mikael and Augustine, two spellcasters, into the shops lining either side of the street.

"When did the fire dragon's aim get so good? Cough, cough..."

After being hurled into a general store, Mikael frantically waved away the thick dust in front of him.

Neither his war service nor his academy studies had ever informed Mikael that a fire dragon could accurately target two spellcasters on the ground.

"Major, there seems to be someone on the fire dragon's back!"

Because the shops across the street had already been emptied, Augustine, unobstructed after being thrown inside, immediately ran out.

Then he saw a person wearing a red robe on the fire dragon's back.

"Someone? No way!"

Hearing Augustine's words, a distant memory suddenly flashed through Mikael's mind.

However, he wasn't entirely certain. To confirm the truth of this information, which had been sealed away in the spellcaster academy's archives, he quickly ran out of the building.

But after he came out, the fire dragon ascended again, and he could only vaguely see a blurry figure on its back.

"No wonder they dared to attack Flowing Cloud City at night. It turns out they've completed the Dragon Rider mage's inheritance."

"Dragon Rider mage?"

Augustine had never heard of this, and that sealed file wasn't accessible to spellcasters with the rank of lieutenant.

"That's right. It's the most unique branch among the Menila Empire's court mages. Because the requirements for successors are particularly strict, there hasn't been a suitable candidate. During the last Sovereign War, the fire dragons fought independently, without human control. This time, I'm afraid it's really going to be difficult."

Hearing the Major's words, Augustine was greatly shaken.

The [Defense Shield] spell was originally created based on the lessons learned from dealing with fire dragons in the last war.

But now, not only are they short on personnel, but the mysterious Dragon Rider mage has appeared, causing his heart to beat faster and faster involuntarily.

"Stop dawdling. Just do what you learned at the academy."

As the two of them raced towards the city gate, Mikael reminded him again.

"But this..."

Augustine hadn't recovered from the shock of the Dragon Rider mage. At this moment, he couldn't help but glance again at the fire dragon swooping down from the sky.

However, before he could express his opinion again, Mikael had already dragged him to a giant iron gate seven or eight meters high.

"No 'buts,' Lieutenant Augustine! Obey orders!"

"Yes, sir!"

With a pillar of support, Augustine took several deep breaths, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and began to recall the [Defense Shield] taught at the academy.

He clasped his hands together in front of his chest, concentrating all his mental energy.

Then, he separated his palms, bringing his two thumbs together and pointing them downwards.

As his hand gestures changed continuously, complex incantations poured out of his mouth.

"Protection of mystical power ~" (Ancient language)

"Shield enhancement ~" (Ancient language)

"Protection of mystical power ~" (Ancient language)

"Shield endurance enhancement ~" (Ancient language)

At the same time, Mikael made the same movements and chanted similar incantations.

During the process of the two spellcasters continuously chanting their spells, a bright blue wave of light slowly appeared on the iron gate.

Whoosh ~

Before the magical effect could cover the entire gate, the fire dragon's breath struck again.

Thump! Thump!

Crack!

The city gate, constructed from huge bluestone bricks, instantly had a three-meter-wide trench burned into it.

One corner directly above the city gate also had a semi-circular hole burned through it.

"Stop struggling, ants." (Imperial language)

The fire dragon roared past again, and as it passed over the city gate, a slightly childish, clear voice came down from its back.

Mikael and Augustine were not shaken by these words.

The strict education of the Spellcaster Military Academy played its true role at this moment.

[Magic flows constantly, unwavering perseverance; the incantation unfinished, the oath unbroken]

This school motto, engraved in front of the Spellcaster Military Academy's teaching building, allowed the two spellcasters to complete the entire [Defense Shield] spell under the fire dragon's attack.

The bright blue light screen quickly merged together and then rapidly dissipated into nothingness.

"Augustine, don't fall asleep. We must leave here."

After casting [Defense Shield], Lieutenant Augustine collapsed to the ground, exhausted. He had no strength left and had to lean against the seemingly unchanged city gate to sit down.

"Sir, I can't move anymore..."

Mikael knew that this spellcaster under his command, who had only graduated two years ago, had done his best.

But as a comrade and senior, he couldn't abandon him.

Mikael reached out and put his arm around Augustine's right arm, supporting him as they headed towards the defensive cave below the gate tower.

Bemi Williams, riding on the back of the fire dragon, was able to easily understand the fire dragon's language, and so became the first Dragon Rider mage cultivated by the Menila Empire in nearly fifty years.

After Bemi received the temporary order last night, he rode the hundred-year-old fire dragon "Black Flame" over Snow Eagle Mountain and arrived at Flowing Cloud City.

Originally thinking that he could exceed expectations on his first mission, Bemi's eyes flashed with anger when he saw the two spellcasters on the ground willing to waste all their magic to defend the city gate.

"Damn ants!"

Just as he was preparing to persuade the fire dragon to launch another strong attack, Bemi suddenly saw a firework rise from the city.

"Damn it! They finished so quickly?"

After dissuading the fire dragon, which had already begun to dive, Bemi reluctantly glanced at the gate, which had only been slightly burned.

"Next time! I will definitely burn this gate down, no, I will burn the entire city down!"

After the fire dragon flew away, another spellcaster quickly arrived from the center of Flowing Cloud City.

"Major Mikael, I saw the fire dragon attacking the city. How is it now?"

"It's over. Have you finished your business?"

"General Leeds has surrounded the Governor's residence with troops. When I came, the two sides were still fighting fiercely."

"Governor Suarez! Could it really be him?"

"That's right. General Leeds brought the arrest warrant from Still Blue City. The Suarez family has betrayed the Federation again!"

Every main city of the Federation is equipped with a Governor and a Military Officer.

Because these two positions have no hierarchical relationship, the Military Officer has no right to arrest the Governor.

But now that the arrest warrant has come from Still Blue City, it can only be an order issued by the Federation's Supreme Council of Five.

Captain Duke (spellcaster) followed General Leeds on this secret mission.

However, this arrest was not very smooth. Governor Suarez vehemently defended himself, but did not gain trust.

The two sides eventually broke out into a fierce battle. When the fire dragon attacked, after the only spellcaster left, two groups broke out of the Governor's residence and scattered.

A small team was guarding Suarez's youngest son. They left the city through a small section of the city wall burned down by the fire dragon.

Then, taking advantage of the night, they plunged into the dense jungle and quietly crept towards Xilin Harbor.