Chapter 25 - Wings of the Sovereign
The wind roared past Kai's face.
Below him, the Dragonbone Frontier stretched endlessly, its valleys and cliffs reduced to tiny shapes.
This was the first time he had ever flown.
Not on an ordinary beast...
But upon the back of Aurelius, the Celestial Roc.
The Crimson Flame Fox stood firmly on Kai's shoulder, its crimson eyes fixed on the battlefield ahead.
"Forty-eight wyverns," it whispered.
"Too many."
Kai tightened his grip on the black spear.
"Then we don't fight them all."
"We find the shortest path."
The fox grinned.
"That's the Kai I know."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts shimmered.
Golden letters appeared across its pages.
Beast Sovereign Technique
Command Beyond Words
A true Sovereign does not rule beasts through fear.
He inspires them through trust.
Condition: Gain the respect of an enemy beast.
---
Kai frowned.
"Respect..."
"Not domination."
He glanced towards the corrupted wyverns.
"They're victims too."
---
The hooded controller raised his crimson staff.
"Destroy them!"
The Bone Wyverns screamed as they dived towards Aurelius.
The sky became a storm of claws, fangs and ghostly flames.
Aurelius folded one wing.
The Divine Roc spun through the air with impossible grace.
Three wyverns crashed into one another.
Another was struck aside by a single sweep of its golden feathers.
Yet more kept coming.
"There are too many!" Kai shouted.
"Then speak to them!" Aurelius replied.
---
Kai's eyes widened.
"Speak?"
The Roc's voice remained calm.
"You possess the gift."
"Use it."
Kai closed his eyes.
He reached through the bond created by the Book.
Instead of seeing the wyverns...
He felt them.
Pain.
Confusion.
Fear.
Every one of them cried out from beneath the corruption.
Kai opened his eyes.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I know you can hear me!"
"You are not slaves!"
"You are dragons!"
"Fight!"
For one heartbeat...
Nothing happened.
Then...
The nearest wyvern hesitated.
Its crimson eyes flickered blue.
It struggled against the dark chains wrapped around its body.
The Book glowed brilliantly.
---
Hidden Skill Activated
Voice of the Sovereign
Current Mastery: Beginner
Effect:
A small number of corrupted beasts may briefly regain their senses.
---
The first wyvern suddenly turned.
Instead of attacking Kai...
It lunged at the hooded controller.
"What?!"
The controller barely blocked the attack with his staff.
"You dare betray me?"
Dark chains lashed out, piercing the wyvern's chest.
The creature cried out in agony before falling towards the valley below.
Kai clenched his fists.
"No!"
---
The remaining wyverns became enraged.
The controller roared,
"No beast disobeys the Divine Temple!"
Dark energy exploded from his staff.
Every corrupted dragon shrieked in pain.
Even the Bone Dragon trembled violently.
---
Aurelius spoke quietly.
"Now you understand."
"The Temple does not fear powerful beasts."
"It fears beasts that are free."
Kai stared at the suffering Bone Dragon.
"I'll free them."
"No matter what."
---
The Celestial Roc folded its wings.
They plunged directly towards the Bone Dragon.
The corrupted wyverns gave chase.
Ghostly fire filled the sky.
Kai activated Spirit Step across Aurelius's back, moving swiftly to maintain his balance as the Roc twisted through the storm.
The Bone Dragon grew larger.
Its enormous ribcage loomed before him.
At its centre...
The black Corruption Core pulsed like a dark heart.
"We're almost there!"
The fox's ears twitched.
"Kai..."
"Behind us!"
Kai turned.
The hooded controller had abandoned the dragon's skull.
He stood upon a floating platform of black energy, racing towards them.
In his hand appeared a crimson spear crackling with dark lightning.
His eyes burned with hatred.
"You should have died at the academy."
"This time..."
"I'll kill you myself."
With a roar, he hurled the crimson spear.
It tore through the sky like a falling star.
Kai had only a fraction of a second to react.
The chapter ended as the spear closed in, and Aurelius cried,
"Jump, Kai!"