Chapter 473
The dragon beast, its frustration mounting, unleashed a devastating wave of ice magic. The air shimmered, and a massive ice construct, shaped like a colossal fist, slammed down towards the prince. The sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave through the ice, cracking the surface and sending shards flying.
The prince, however, had already moved. He had used the moment of the beast’s attack to propel himself forward, his blade leaving a trail of crimson light as he closed the distance. He was now within striking range, the scent of the beast’s icy breath and the metallic tang of its draconic blood filling his senses.
"Now," he whispered, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Let’s see how well your ice protects your underbelly." He aimed his blade, the crimson aura around it intensifying, ready to strike.
The dragon beast, its massive form surprisingly agile, reacted with a speed that belied its size. The icy floor beneath it surged upwards, tilting precariously, propelling the creature backward in a desperate attempt to create distance. Simultaneously, it tucked its enormous body, minimizing its profile, and its tail, encased in a rapidly forming sheath of ice, transformed into a colossal, jagged sword. The ice sword, crackling with frozen energy, slashed down towards the prince, a brutal, sweeping arc designed to cleave him in two.
"You think your speed will save you, whelp?" the beast roared, its voice a guttural rumble that echoed across the frozen wasteland. "My ice is more than a shield; it is my weapon, my very essence!"
The prince, caught off guard by the beast’s sudden maneuver, had to react instantly. He couldn’t fully evade the massive ice sword. Instead, he channeled his demonic affinity, his crimson aura flaring, and used his sword to parry the blow. The impact was cataclysmic, a shockwave that sent tremors through the ice, cracking it further. The force of the blow sent him skidding backwards, his boots carving deep furrows into the frozen surface.
"Impressive," the prince hissed, his voice strained, "but not enough." He felt a searing pain in his arm, where the ice sword had grazed him, and a thin line of crimson blood welled up, staining the pristine white of the snow.
The dragon beast landed with a resounding thud, the ice beneath its feet cracking and splintering. It then unleashed another barrage of ice shards, this time infused with a chilling, necrotic energy. The shards, glowing with an eerie blue light, flew towards the prince, leaving trails of frost in their wake.
"You bleed still punk," the beast taunted, its eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction. "Your crimson aura cannot protect you from everything. You are but a fragile thing, a flicker of flame against an eternal winter."